t]-.i1\- ctil . 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 ^917.1 
 
 
 ROM HISTORICAL SURVEY
 
 / 

 
 *y 
 
 
 rf' 
 
 $**'
 
 vco y. "2-^
 
 LETTERS 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Outchefs of Lesdiguieres; 
 
 Giving an Account of a. 
 
 VOYAGE to CANADA, 
 
 A N £> 
 
 T ravels through that vaft Country. 
 
 AND 
 
 L o u i s i a n A, to the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
 UNDERTAKEN 
 
 By Order of the prcfent King of FRANCE, 
 By Father CHARLEVOIX. 
 
 Being a more full and accurate De- 
 fcription cf Canada, and the neigh- 
 bouring Countries than has been 
 before published ; the Character of 
 Every Nation or Tribe in that vaft 
 Tratt being given ; their Religion, 
 Cuftoms, Manners, Traditions, Go- 
 vernment, Languages, and Towns ; 
 the Trade carried on with them, 
 and at what Places ; the Ports or 
 Forts, and Settlements, eftablifhed 
 by the French ; the great Lakes, 
 V.'ater-Falls, and Rivers, with the 
 :mer of navigating them j the 
 
 Mines, Fiflieries, Plants, and Ani- 
 mals of thefe Countries. 
 
 With Reflections on the Miftakes the 
 French have committed in carrying 
 on their Trade and Settlements j 
 and the m ft proper Method of 
 proceeding pointed out. 
 
 Including alfo an Account of the Au r 
 thor's Shipwreck in the Channel of 
 Bahama, and Return in a Boat to 
 the Mijfijjippi, along the Coaft of 
 the Gulf of Mexico, with his Voy- 
 age from thence to St. Dcv.inge. 
 and back to France. 
 
 "%JP 
 
 ted for R. Goadby, and Sold by R. Baldwin in Pater- 
 Noster-Row, London. 1763.

 
 
 xin.i 
 
 THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 A BEN A QUI S, the Village of 
 thefe Savages at Bcckancourt, 52. 
 their Village at St. Francois, 60. of 
 their Nations, 112. 
 Algonquins, of the Algonquin Language, 
 112. the Lower Algonquin*, 112. 
 the Higher Algonquins, 1 13. Charac- 
 ter of the Algonquin Lar guage, mi. 
 Particularities of this Language, 
 122. Difference between the People 
 of the Huron Nations and the Al- 
 juins, 123. Origin of the War 
 which the Algonquim and the Hu- 
 ron: have maintained againft the Iro- 
 quois, 124. and Sequel of this War, 
 
 126. 
 
 <Jk Anticcfic, Ifle, its Defcription, 13. 
 
 ".'-, offenfive and defenfive, of the 
 c3 Savages, 143. 
 
 '-? Affnuboih, Savages, their Character ; 
 ^ Lake of the Ajjiniboih, no, in. 
 D» Ai'ij Trtet, of Canada, 93. 
 q-Adour, a Pink of the Company's; the 
 ,j Author embarks in it, 345. the 
 S hip ill commanded, 346. fets fail, 
 347. the bad Management of this 
 Ship, and its Wreck, 349. 
 *» Akanjas, a Savage Nation: Defcripti- 
 rf^on of the River of the A&anfds, 
 T different Tribes of thefe People, 
 306, 507. Mortality among them, 
 
 i 3°7- 
 
 <* Ambaffadors, their Reception and Au- 
 M dience by the Natcbex, ->-iz. 
 
 2 Abalacbcs, a Savage Nation, 363. 
 
 Apparitions, how the Savages come to 
 ^j believe them, 275. 
 3 Autmtn::, Jugglers of Acadia, 270, 
 
 V 
 
 B 
 
 Bank, the Great, of Newfoundland, 
 defcribed, 2. Caufe of the Wind 
 and Fogs there, 3. 
 
 Bay, Hudfons, of the Inhabitants of 
 its Environs, 107. and the follow- 
 ing; other Savages of this Bay, 
 
 "3- 
 
 Bay, of the Tfonnontbouans, its Defcrip- 
 tion, 145. 
 
 Bay, of the Noquets, 202. 
 
 Bay, of the Puans, or fimply, the Bay, 
 a Fort and Million in this Place, 
 203. the Savages of this Bay dance 
 the Calumet, 207. 
 
 Beecb Tree, 94. 
 
 Bear, Preparations and Superflitions 
 of the Savages for hunting this Ani- 
 mal, 55. The Bear is fix Months 
 without eating, 56. The Manner 
 of hunting the Bear ; a ridiculous 
 Ceremony when a Bear is killed ; 
 how the Hunters are received at 
 their Return, 57. Some Particula- 
 rities of the Bear, 58. 
 
 Beaver, Difference of that of Canada 
 fro 11 that of Europe, 38. Of their 
 Fur, 39. Anatomical Defcription of 
 this Animal, 39, 40. Of the fat and 
 dry Beaver Skins, 41, 42. Different 
 Ufes of the Fur, 42. The Induftry 
 • and Labours of the Beavers, 42, 43, 
 &c. Their Forefight, 44, 45. Of the 
 Land Beavers, 45. Of hunting the 
 Beaver, 46. Some Particularities of 
 this Creature, 47. 
 
 Bcckancourt, its Situation, 50. River 
 
 of the fame Name; why called the 
 
 Stinking River, 50, 51. Of the 
 
 A Abenaqui 
 
 ■41-
 
 IV 
 
 C O N T E N 1 S 
 
 AbeMom Village of Beckancourt, 52. 
 
 Birds, various Kinds of, S3. The Fly 
 Bird, So. How it differs from the 
 Humming- Bird of the Iftands, 90. 
 
 Bujfaloe, Hunting the Buffaloe in Ca- 
 nada, GS. Description of this Ani- 
 mal, 68. 
 
 Bull-mujk, Defcription of this Animal, 
 69. 
 
 Bahama, Paffage thro" the Channel, 
 375. Route we muft take to go 
 from thence to St. Domingo, 376. 
 Old Channel of Bahama, 376. 
 
 Bay of St. Bernard, 343. 
 
 Bay of Matanxa, dcfcribed,- 375. 
 
 Ba/ife, Ifle of, or Tbouhufe, Salt Springs 
 here, 335. 
 
 Bayagoulas, a Savage Nation, 33c. 
 
 Bean 'Tree, of Canada, Z3-%\ 
 
 Bellona, a Veffel of the Company, the 
 Author embarks in i,t, 371. The Go- 
 vernor of the Ha-vai. :.:b tefg&s to 
 let this VefTel enier hj.s Port, 374. 
 Mistake of the 'Pilots in their Reck- 
 oning, 377. Difncul'ties the) are un- 
 der on difcovcring Land, the Kefo- 
 lution they take, 377. Upeype 
 Succtfs of their Attempt, \-'i. Ar- 
 rival at C#p Frjn.ji;, 379. 
 
 Bihxi, Arrival at, 340. Defcription of 
 theCoafc & Road of E'lkx'i, Whence 
 it had this Name, 340, 341. Ck 
 of Bihxi., Departure Irons thence, 
 
 344. Observations on this Ccali, 
 
 345. Return of the Author andPajt 
 of the Crew of the Adour to Bihxi, 
 367. Second pepariu.v from this 
 Place-, 371. 
 
 Csfamet, cf the Calumet of the '" 
 ge.->, and its Ufe, 13;, 13.;. Oi - 
 Origin, 1 ; . : . - ' - -, :;>-n oi the 
 Dance of the Calumet, 207. Tiea- 
 ties ffi&js by A.e:.:i3 of ti.-is D. — , 
 2cA 
 
 .V, falfe Notions People had of it 
 in I ra;,u, 3:. .-...Pakcs that were 
 iv.a-Je at the firft Sctti^^pr^j " 3 >3 2 - 
 II! Conduct in RejjpeQ to the 
 Trade, 33. Of Licences, and their 
 Abufes, 34, 35. V"afipHj Changes 
 in the Money, 36, 37, «c. The 
 Diffcrenc. of Iks Leaver of C. 
 
 from that cf Europe, 38. Of 
 Lordfhips of Canada, 49. The right; 
 of Patronage not attached to them.. 
 Gentlemen are allowed to trade, 50. 
 Canada not known in France but by 
 its word Side; exceffive Cold there, 
 96. The happy Condition of its In- 
 habitants, 102. Its Extent, icq. 
 Of the Vines of this Country, 12S. 
 Why the Trees have no Leaves ia 
 the Month of May, 130. 
 
 Canadians, Crecies oi Canada, their hap- 
 py Condition, 102. Many know no'; 
 how to make Advantage of it, 102. 
 Good and bad Qualities of the Cre- 
 oles, 103, 104, &c. 
 
 Canoes, Defcription of the Canoes of 
 Bark, 11S. 
 
 Carcaj'.u, or S^i- /u.iiou, how it hunts 
 the Qrigryt, 66, 67. 
 
 Card:",,/ Bird, in Cn-jda, Sa. 
 
 oil, Defcription of this Creature, 
 67. 
 
 idiqgojt, River, its Defcription, 
 "144. 
 
 CqSor, oi the Iflcs, and the Nation of 
 the Caftor, (Beaver) 135. 
 
 Cafiom -, what, it is, 41. 
 
 Cqtaracoui, Reflexions ion the Fort of 
 Cataracou), and on the Way I 
 take to ro to it, 117. Defcription 
 of this Fort, 120. Route from this 
 Place to Famine Bay ; a Defcription 
 of the Country, 128, 129. 
 
 Cedari, of two Species in Canada, 03, 
 Ced/ars white and red, 171. 
 
 Cbambty Tort, its Situation, S3, 84. 
 
 . Author of thefe Letters^ 
 
 i.ts fail, 2. Lfeapes a itorm, 4, 
 
 How he is received by the Poute- 
 
 :, 175. His Departure from, 
 
 Lcrr.it tO CO tO Ml 
 
 190. An Adventure that hap- 
 pened so Lim in the F.iver Si. Jo- 
 jtpb ,223,. His - : pa rt u re from For: 
 St. j.T^zjz. 1 I i he bear* 
 
 at B'unitewg,, he finds himfelf be- 
 tv.'n: four Parties of Enemies, 2S4. 
 His Lifricuities, 225. Ti:. 
 the Chief for his Safety, 2S7. He 
 baptizes the Daughter of this Chief, 
 aSC. His i igptu tare from the JS'ar- 
 de.i, 326. Fie embarks in the A- 
 ihur, 345. He arrives r.t V.j-vrc at 
 Grace, 3S4,
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 '•, of the Savreges ; Remarks on 
 their Names, 1S1. Of the Succe!"- 
 jicn and Ele&i -n of the Chiei - 
 of their Power, i3i, 182. Of the 
 War Chiefs, 1S2. 
 
 C:d, of the Cod and the Fifhery, Sec. 
 5,6. 
 
 CM, excefTive, in Canada, 96, 97. The 
 Inconveniencies of it, 97 . Reflexion 
 on the Caufes of the great Cold, 98, 
 &c. 
 
 Comfiafi, Remark on the Variation of 
 the Compafs, 17. 
 
 Ccf&er, Mmes of Copper -on the Bor- 
 ders of the Upper Lake, 194. 
 
 !, of three Savage Nations held 
 with the Commandant of Detroit, 
 the Refult of it, 173, 174. Of the 
 Afiiftants, or Counsellors, in the 
 (. uncils of the Savages, 182. The 
 Wifdom of thefe Councils, 183. Of 
 the Orators who have a Right to 
 fpeak in them, 184. 
 
 , in t!ie River of the Tafous, 
 
 ». 
 
 u, Description of the Grand 
 Cacique, 378. 
 
 . ratuoh, of St. Domingo, its De- 
 fcription, 3S0. Of the Plain of the 
 Cape, Obfervations on this Colony 
 3S1, 3S2. Departure from die Cape, 
 $1. 
 
 :, or Apalachine, a Shrub, the 
 Virtue of its Leaves, 341. 
 luaebas, a Savage Nation, 334. 
 
 Cbapitoulas, a Savage Nation, 332. 
 macbas, a Savage Nation, 330. 
 
 CiAcacc.is,^ Savage Nation, 305. River 
 of the Cbicaeias, 305. 
 
 Colapiffas, a Savage Nation, 33c. 
 
 Cold, extreme, 301, 303. 
 
 Cotton, on the Tree in Louifar.a, 312. 
 Remark on the Root of the Tree 
 that bears it, 329. 
 
 Crew, of the Adour, Meafures they 
 take to fave themfclves, 351. The 
 Paffengers diftruft tl'cm, 352. Dif- 
 turbances in the Ship, 354. The 
 Steadinefsof the Officers, 355. An 
 .'ijb Ship endeavours in vain to 
 iuccour them, 355. They deliberate 
 on the Courfe they are to take, 3 58. 
 They are divided, 3^8. The great- 
 eft Number return to Biloxi, 359. 
 Their Defpair, 359. Their Provisi- 
 
 ons fail, 360. They meet with fome 
 iardi who had been wrecked. 
 
 Danger of being deflroyed, 361. 
 
 They arrive at St. Mark d 'slj.ah.ke, 
 
 361. Departure from thence, 5^;. 
 
 Falfe Alarm, 365. They arrive at 
 
 St. JoUpb, 365. Depasture fix .rt 
 
 thence, 368. Arrive -t Per. ■ 
 
 368. And from thence at Eikxi, 
 
 369. 
 Cuba, Lefcnption of the North 
 
 of this illand, •348. 
 Currents, Remarks on thofe ol 
 
 LaKcs of Canada : Great . 
 
 between the Turtle Iflanck an 1 
 
 Mar'yrs, 359. 
 
 -, of Louijuna, Remark ■. . , 
 'Virtues, 329. 
 
 D 
 
 Dance of Fire, among the Savarc 
 Defcription, 148, 149. A cto; 
 this Subjeft, 149. 
 
 Dance of the Calumet, its Dcfcripticn r 
 207. Dance of the Difeovery, 208. 
 Treaties made by Means of the 
 1 'ance of the Calumet, zcS. Other 
 Dances, 20S. Dance of the Bulb 
 209. La,ntts ordered bj the Miyn- 
 cians, 209. 
 
 Description, ot the Great Bank of New 
 fcunala.-.d, z, 3. Of a Storm, 4. G£ 
 the Ifle of Jinv.fzfie, 13. Ol S^uebec, 
 19, &-c. Of the .Mifiion of Loretto, 
 2S. Of the Tc.vn of Trois Ri-viertrs, 
 53. Of the Crignal, 64. O' the 
 w.ld Bull or BuffJoe, 63. Of the 
 Iviufk Euil, 69. Of the Ufend and 
 Town of Montreal, 73, 74, &c. Of 
 the Seal, "o. 01 the Falls of the 
 River St. Laurence, 116, 117, no, 
 Of the Cat oes of Bark, 118. o'f 
 the Fort of Catarscouif 120. Of 
 the Sooth Cor.it of Lake Ontario, 
 136. Of the ^'.acquets for walking 
 upon the Snow, and of the fledges 
 for carryiBg the 7 "j??;age, 142. Of 
 the River Ca) ■:, 144. Of the 
 
 Bay of the Tfotmontbmam, 145 Of 
 the River Niagara, 145. Of the 
 Country of &n Environs of th:s 
 River, 147. Of the i ire Dance, 
 143. Of tfae Fall of Nu *ar*, 152,, 
 153, &c. Of Lake Erie', 169. 
 Of' the Upper Lake, 193. Of the 
 
 Dane*
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 vt 
 
 Dan:e of the Calumet, 207. 
 
 1 f, Arrival at Detroit, the Nature 
 of the Country, 17 1. Of the Savages 
 fettled near the Fort, 172. 
 
 Begs, of the Dogs the Savages ufe for 
 hunting, ^8. 
 
 Death, what paffcs at the Death of a 
 Savage, 273. Their Generofity to 
 Dead : Of theirFnnerals,Tombs, 
 Apparitions, various Practices a- 
 bout the Dead, 273, 274, &c. What 
 paffes after the Interment : Of 
 Mourning, 276. The Notion of the 
 Savages about thofe who die vio- 
 lent Deaths, 277. The Feaft of 
 Souls, 277. The Manner of mourn- 
 ing for the Dead among the Illinois^ 
 287. 
 
 Bciige, Tradition of the Deluge a- 
 mong the Savages, 297. 
 
 Befcription of : !i e Feftival of Dreams, 
 259, &c. Of the Theakiki, 279. Of 
 the KafiafquMZS, 292. Of the / 
 
 i ahov'e" the Illinois, 294, &c. Of 
 "the Country of the Natcl.cz, 310. 
 Of the great Village and Temple of 
 the Natchez, 312. Of a ' eftival of 
 the Natcltex, 31S. Of New Orleans, 
 324. Of" the River and Village of 
 the T-otncas, 327. Of the principal 
 Mouth of -he M\§ffipp, 336, &c. 
 Of the Coaft, the Road, and the 
 Port of Biloxi, 340, H*. Of the 
 North Coaft of the Ifianc! of Cuba, 
 348. Of the Martyr Iflands, 356. 
 Of the Country of the Afalacbes, 
 362. Of St, Jofefb, 366. Of the 
 Bay of 1 367. Of the Port 
 
 of the E b, 373. Of the Bay 
 
 of Matanza, 375. Of the grand 
 Cacique, 37S. Of Cape France];, 
 380, Of "the Port of Plymouth, 
 
 38-3. 
 
 , frequent in Louifia \a, 3-0. 
 
 f)iego, Don, Cacique of ihe Savages of 
 the Martyrs, viiits the French who 
 efcaped from the Wreck of the A- 
 dour, 356. His Authority : He re- 
 refufes to give the French Guides to 
 
 goto S *>357- 
 
 commori among the Savages, 
 . Their extravagant Notion of 
 Difeafcs, 269. 
 DcraJw, Remark on the Doradoes, 
 
 -■ 
 ms, of thvir Nature according to 
 
 the Savages, 257. A Story on this 
 Subject, 257. How they are Satis- 
 fied about a Dream, when it is too 
 hard to accompiifh its Inflections, 
 258. Of the Feftival of Dreams : A 
 Defcription of one of thefe Fefti- 
 vals, 259, £sc. 
 
 Eagles, of two Kind in Canada, 87. 
 Eclipfes, what the Savages of Canada 
 
 think of them, 29S. 
 Eds, of the Eel Fifhery in Canada, 100. 
 Elms, two Species of Elms in Canada, 
 
 94- 
 
 Englifo, Difference between the Englip 
 and French Colonies, 27. The Eng- 
 I'.jh oppofe a Settlement on the Ri- 
 ver Niagara without Effect, 147. 
 An Er.glijh Ship endeavours in vain 
 to fuccour the Crew of the Ar 
 dour, 355. An EngRJh Interloper at 
 Eiloxi, his Fate, 369, 374. Endea- 
 vour to bring over the French Allies 
 ro their Party, ^70. The French 
 meet with an Englijh Ship, 382. 
 The Captain's Behaviour, 383. The 
 Ingenuity of the Enghjb to catch 
 Pirates, 384. 
 
 Enie, Defcription of Lake Erie, 169. 
 Of the North Coaft of this Lake, 
 169. 
 
 EJkimaux, Savages, their Character & 
 Cuftoms, 106 Sec. 
 
 of Niagara, defcribed, Remarks 
 on this Cafcade, 152, 153. Falls of 
 the River St. Laurcr.ce, 116, 117, 
 119. Fall of Montmorenci, 19. Fall- 
 of the Recollet, 75. Fall of St. 
 Lsuis; Iroquois Village there, 76, 
 77. Origin of this Settlement, 105. 
 te, Route from Cataraccui to Fa- 
 mine Bay, 128. Defcription of this 
 Place, 129. 
 
 Fins, four Species of, in Canada, 92. 
 
 Fire, Defcription of the Fire Dance ; a 
 Story on this Subject, 148, 149. 
 
 Fijh, of thofe that are taken in the 
 Gulf and River St. Laurence, 85. 
 Fifh peculiar to Canada, 87. Armed 
 Fifh, how it catches Birds, 86. 
 
 Flea Plant, its Effects, 178. 
 
 Fmnh
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Fountains, Angular, 145. 
 
 Fcxes, of Canada, 70. 
 
 French, Difference between the French 
 Colonies and the Englifh, 27. 
 
 Fafts, of the Savages, 252. 
 
 Feftiial, of the Dead, among the Sa- 
 vages of Canada, 277, 278, &C. A 
 Feftival of the Natchez, 318. 
 
 Fire, Religion of Tire in Florida, 
 
 3 2 3- 
 Florida, the Inconveniencies of the 
 
 Coaft of Florida, 360. 
 
 Forefts, of Lcuifiar.a, 306. 
 
 French, deprived of Spiritual Aids a- 
 mong the Natchez, 325. Their fre- 
 quent Defertions in houifiana : A 
 Confpiracy of fome difcovered, 370. 
 
 Fruit Trees of Lcuif ana, 293, 294. Why 
 the Leaves fall fo foon, and appear 
 fo late on the Trees of Loui/iana, 
 302. 
 
 Funerals cf tire Savages of Canada, 274. 
 
 G 
 
 vn 
 
 pie of this Language, 115. Charao 
 ter of the Huron Language, 12 1. 
 Particularities of this Language, 
 122. Difference between ihe Iht- 
 rons and the Algonquins, 123. Ori- 
 gin of the War which the Hurons 
 and Algonquins have maintained a- 
 gainft the Iroquois, 124, 125, &c 
 An extraordinary Malady of a H:i- 
 rcu Woman, and the ridiculous Me 
 thod of her Cure, 150, 151. In 
 what Temper the Author finds the 
 Hurons of Detroit, 175. How they 
 puniih Murder, 187, iSS. Regula- 
 tions about Things found, 188. A 
 fmgular Inftance of a Thing found, 
 189. 
 
 Hair, why the Savages have no Kan 
 on their Bodies, 220. 
 
 Ha-vannah, Defcription of the Port of 
 the Havantiabf 373. The Governor 
 refutes Lsrive to enter his Port, 374, 
 
 Game, of the Game of the Dim, or 
 of the Little Bones, 176. Superfti- 
 tious Ule of it for the Cure of Dif- 
 te.rpers, 176. 
 
 Came cf the Straws, and other Games 
 ufed among the Miamies, 226, 227. 
 
 or C- rrtr, Bay and Point of 
 this Name, 112. 
 
 Gulf, in the Place of a Mountain, 
 overturned, 15. 
 
 Go:-:, Good and Evil, according to 
 the Savages, 250. The neceffary 
 Preparations to obtain a Guardian 
 Geniu;. 250. The Savages fome- 
 times change their Guaidian Genii, 
 and why, 251. Of the evil Cenii, 
 262, 
 
 Ginjcr.g, of that of Canada, 225. 
 
 Grant, of Mr. Law, 307. A Grant 
 badly fituated, 309. Other Grants 
 ill fituated, 328. The Grants of St. 
 Reyne, and of Madam De Mez. 
 329. That of M. Diron, 329. That 
 of M. le Comte D ^Anagnon, 331. 
 
 Gulf, in the River of Mijjijfippi, 310. 
 
 H 
 
 Harts, of Canada, 67. 
 
 liontan, (the Baron dc la) his Calumny 
 
 on the Fair of Montreal, 78. 
 Hurons, a Savage Nation : Of the Peo- 
 
 :',, Defcription of their College at 
 bee, 23. 
 Illinois, a Savage Nation, feem to have 
 the fame Origin as the Miamies, 
 
 114; 
 
 Iroquois, of the Fallot St. Louis, and 
 the Mountain. Diford-;rs cauftd by 
 Brandy among them, 77. Origin of. 
 their Settlement at the Fall of Su 
 Lpuis, 105. Policy of the Iroquois., 
 1S4. 
 
 IJlands, Bird, II. IHands aux Coudret, 
 15, 16. Ifle of Orleans, 17. Ifiandi 
 of RicbSeu and Sr. Francois, 59, 
 Iflar.d of Jefus, 75. Ifbncls of Si, 
 Peter, 10. 
 
 yews, the Affinity of the Savages 
 with the yews, 253. 
 
 Tdinois, a Savage Nation on the River 
 of the Illinois, 280, 2S1. Their Re- 
 ception of their Prifoners,2S2. Their 
 Manner of burning them, 282. Par- 
 ticularities of their Parties of War, 
 283. Their doleful Songs, 283. A 
 remarkable Story of one of their 
 Chiefs, 2S6. Their Manner of 
 mourning for the Dead, 2S7. Dif- 
 ferent Tribes of the Illinois, 296. 
 The UTefulnefs of the Pcft of the 
 Illinois, 300. Marks of the Warri- 
 ors, 304. 
 
 Indigo, of htttifiana, 312.
 
 VI II 
 
 C O N T E N T S. 
 
 Jugglers, of Canada, 263, 264, &C. 
 Their Tricks, 264. Inftallation of 
 the Jugglers, 265. Irripo/lure of the 
 Jugglers, 7.70. Their Cruelty to the 
 Sick in defperate Cafes, 270. jug- 
 glers of Acadia called AtttntoXrii, 270, 
 jugglers of the jtfat'cbex-, 321, 
 
 Wikafota, a Savage Narton, 114. 
 Kajiafquias, Defcription of the Kaf- 
 kajquias, 292, 293. 
 
 Lake, Of the AJJlniboih, lit. Lake of 
 St. Piter, 52. 
 
 Lake, the Upper, its Defcription, I93. 
 Fable of the Savages about this 
 Lake, 193. Copper Mines on its 
 Borders, 194. 
 
 Lakes, the Flux and Reflux in thofe 
 of Canada, 129. 
 
 Language , of Canada, Huron Language^ 
 Algonquin Language ; Particularities 
 of the two Languages, 122. 
 
 Lemons, of the Strait (Det-oit) 178. 
 
 Lencorr.ct, Defcription of this Fifh ; 
 Method of taking it, 85. 
 
 Licences, the Abufe of Licences, 34. 
 
 Loretto, a Village in Canada, Defcrip- 
 tion of the Minion fettled there, 
 28. 
 
 Lakes, of Canada, Remark on their 
 Currents, 21 r. 
 
 Lake, of Pontebartrain, 345. 
 
 Law, Mr. his Gr.ant.at the Akary.s, 
 
 3°7- 
 Louijiana, Fruit Trees of this Coon- 
 try, ^93, 294. Its Forefts, 306. 
 Where they ought to build their 
 Houfes, 338. From whence pro- 
 ceeds the wrong Notion, which 
 they have in France, of this Coun- 
 ty* 339- Frequent Defsrtions in 
 Louifiana, 370. 
 
 M 
 
 Magdalen, or Magdileini, Cape Mag- 
 dalen, 54. 
 
 Magicians, how puniihed among the 
 Savages, 188. 
 
 Malhomines, or •u.i.'d Oats', i Savage 
 Nation, 202, 
 
 Maple, of its Tuice, 60. Maie affra 
 Female Maple, 93. 
 
 Ma'rriagesj of tffe Savages, Of the 
 Plurality of Wives and Hufbands. 
 Of the Degress of Kindred, 196. 
 Particular Laws' ftft Marriages, 
 196. How they treat of Mar 
 Je"s, 197. The Ceremonies oi 
 Marriage, 198. 
 
 mat, a Savage Nation, 1 14. 
 
 jtfiames, Savages, feem to have t-ir- 
 fains Origin as the Illinois, 114. 
 Their particular Ctrftdfhs to pre- 
 pare themfelves for War, 141. 
 
 Michiilimakinac, the Situation of this 
 Poft, 192. Traditions of the Sa- 
 vages about M'ubiliimakinac. PieRty 
 cf Fifh here, J94, 195. 
 
 /.'.,.' urly the Savage 5 of the M) 
 defeat a Party of Spaniards, 204. 
 
 Money, various Changes in that of 
 Canada, 3S, 37. 
 
 Montreal, Difference between the 
 Country of SJtiebcc and that of 
 Montreal, 72. Defciiption of thf 
 Illand and Town of Montreal, 73, 
 74. Of the Environs of this Ifland, 
 76. Of the Fair of Montreal, 78. 
 
 M Main, Jrofuoh Village of the 
 Mountain, 77. 
 
 , Corn of Canada, 237. Of the 
 Bread of Maiz, 239. Maiz rotted, 
 how ufed by the Savages, 238. 
 meg, river, its mines, 291, 292. 
 uette, river of Father Marquette} 
 222. 
 
 Marriages, of the ffatcb'ex, 3 1 9. 
 
 "7, Englijh Interloper at Bi'cx:., 
 
 ; '*> 374- 
 iges in the Ifles of, 351. 
 
 Defcription of thofe Ifies, 356. Great 
 Currents between the Martyrs and 
 the Turtle Ijlands, 359. 
 Matanxa, Defcription of the Bay of 
 Matanza, 375. 
 
 He, River of, 343. 
 'er, hoW punifhed by the Hurons^ 
 1S7, 188. 
 
 i'K, the Principles on which al} 
 the Phyfic cf the Savages is found- 
 ed, 269. 
 Men, their Origin, according to the 
 Savages, 2.? 8, 249. 
 
 ties, a Savage Nation ; Games 
 ufed among them, 226, 227. 
 Michigan, Danger of the Navigation 
 
 ©f
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 ©F Lake Michigan : Remark on the 
 Rivers that run into it from the 
 Eafi, 221, 222. 
 Minet, Secrecy of the Savages about 
 the Mines of their Country, 225. 
 Mines of the River Marameg, 291. 
 Mines of Iron, 303. 
 Mijionaries, among the- Natchez, with- 
 out Succefs, 325. 
 Mijfjftppi : Entrance into it by the 
 River of the Illinois, 290. Conflu- 
 ence of the Mtff'ouri and the Mijft- 
 Jippi, 291. Defcription of this River 
 above the Illinois, 294, 295. The 
 Manner of navigating the Mijfffippi, 
 301. Changes that have happened 
 in the Mouth of it, 333. Of the 
 Pafles of the MiJfiJJippi, 335. Of its 
 principal Mouth, and other Partes, 
 336. Means of opening the prin- 
 cipal Pafs, 337. Breadth between 
 the Paffes, 337. Difficulty of na- 
 vigating the River, 338, 345. Re- 
 mark on the Waters of the Mijfijjip- 
 pi, 348. 
 MiJJ'ouri, Confluence of this River and 
 the MiJJiJfippi, 291. People fettled 
 on this River and its Environs, 
 294. 
 Mourning, of the Savages of Canada, 
 
 276. That of the Natchez, 321. 
 Myrtle : Of the Myrtle Wax, 342. 
 
 N 
 
 Name, Obfervations on the Names of 
 the Savage Chiefs, 18 r. Of naming 
 their Children, 200. Remarks on 
 their Names, 201. 
 
 Necklaces, of the Strings, Necklaces, 
 or Belts of Porcelain, 132. 
 
 Newfoundland, of the Inhabitants of 
 this Ifland, 105. 
 
 Niagara, River. Its Defcription, 145. 
 Projedt of a Settlement on this Ri- 
 ver. Fruitlefs Oppofition of the 
 Englijh, 147. Defcription of the 
 Country of Niagara, 147. De- 
 fcription of the Fall of Niagara. 
 Remarks on this Cafcade, it;2, 153. 
 
 Noquets, Savages. Bay of the No- 
 quets, 202. 
 
 Natchez, a Savage Nation ; Defcripti- 
 on of their Country, 310, &c. De- 
 fcription of the great Village, and 
 th« Temple, 312, &c. Of the Na- 
 
 IX 
 
 tion in general, 314. Of the Gre at 
 
 Chief, and the Woman Chief, 315. 
 
 What happens at their Death, 316. 
 
 Their Manners and various Cus- 
 toms, 317, 318. Defcription of one 
 
 of their Feftivals, 318. They offer 
 thefirft Fruits in the Temple: Of 
 their Marriages : Of levying Sol- 
 diers, 319; Of the Provifions for 
 War : Of their Marches and 
 Encampings : Of the Prifoners : 
 Names of the Warriors, 320. Of 
 their Jugglers : Of Mourning. 
 321. Their Treaties: Audience 
 given to Ambaffadors, 322. Mif- 
 fionaries at the Natchez without 
 Succefs, 325. 
 
 Oaks, of two Species in Canada, 93. 
 
 Ontario, Defcription of the South 
 Coaft of Lake Ontario, 136. 
 
 Onneyoutb, Courage of an Onneyouth 
 Captain, burnt by the Hurons, 166. 
 
 Orignal, or Elk. Defcription of this 
 Animal, 64. The proper Time to 
 hunt the Orignal, 65. Various 
 Ways of chacing him, 6?, 66. 
 How the Carcajou, or wild Car, 
 hunts him, 66. 
 
 Outagamits, Savages, 1 14. 
 
 Outaouais, Savages, 113, 
 
 Orleans, (Nov) its Defcription, 324, 
 Remarks on its Situation : Little 
 Depth of the Country below this 
 City, 332, 333. The State of it at 
 the Departure of the Author, 334. 
 
 Ouabache, River. Its Situation, 303. 
 
 Oumas, a Savage Nation, 330. 
 
 Oyficrs, of two Sorts on the Coaft of 
 Florida, 360. 
 
 Partridges, three Sorts in Canada, 88. 
 Peltry, 111 Conduct in RefpecT: to this 
 
 Trade, 33, fs:. Of what they 
 
 call the fmall Peltry, 70. 
 Pines, of two Species in Canada, 92. 
 Porcelain, of Canada, 132. Of the 
 
 Strings, Necklaces, or Belts of 
 
 Porcelain. Their Ufe, 132, 133. 
 Pof, how they go Port in a Sledje, 
 
 49,8:, 
 
 Pitpaifes,
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Porpoifes, of two Colours, 81. Ufe 
 of their Skins, 82. The Way of 
 fifliingfor them, 82,83. 
 
 Pouteouatamies, Savages, 114. The 
 Author's Reception of them, 175. 
 Ifles of the Pouteouatamies, 202. 
 
 Pnejis, who are Priefts among the 
 Savages, 253, 266. 
 
 Prifiners, of War among the Savages. 
 Their firft Reception, 160. Their 
 Boaftings, 161. What they make 
 them fufter at their Entrance into 
 the Village, 161. TheDiftribution 
 of the Captives, 162. How they 
 decide their Fate, 162. Of the 
 Adoption of a Captive, 163. Of 
 thofe that are to be burnt, 164. 
 How they receive their Sentence of 
 Condemnation, 164. The Prin- 
 ciple of the Barbarity they exercife 
 on thefe Occalions, 165. 
 
 Prifoners, of War : Their Reception 
 by the Illinois, and the Manner of 
 burning them, 282. How they are 
 treated by the Natchex, 320. 
 
 Provence, a Angular Adventure of a 
 Ship of Provence, 27, &C. 
 
 Puans, (fiinking) Savages fo called, 
 203. Of the Fort and Million of 
 the Eay of the Puans, 203. 
 
 Parrots, of Louijiana, 2S4. 
 
 Pajfengers, efcaped from the Wreck of 
 the Adam- : What paries between 
 them and the Savages of the Mar- 
 tyrs, 352. They diftruft the Ship's 
 Crew, 352. Several fav'd by a 
 good Providence, 353. Their 
 Trouble from the Savages, 353. 
 
 Penfaccle, Tides at Penfacole, 364, De- 
 fcription of the Bay of Penfacok, 
 -67. It is reftored to the Spaniards, 
 369. 
 
 Pimiteouy, Village of the Illinois, 284. 
 Remarkable Story of the Chief of 
 this Village, 286. His Care for the 
 Safety of Father Charlevoix, 287. 
 His Daughter is baptized, 288. 
 
 Pines, red and white, 223. 
 
 Pirates, Ingenuity of the Englijh to 
 catch them, 384. 
 
 plymmtb, Arrival at Plymouth: De- 
 fcription of this Port, 383. 
 
 Point, cut off, 308. Second Point cut 
 ft, 328. 
 
 Pouteouatamies, a Savage Nation Of 
 their Chief, and their Orator, 228:. 
 
 Pyromancy, prattifed by the Savages- 
 265. 
 
 Quebec, Origin of the Name of this 
 City, 18. Its Situation, 19. De- 
 fcription of this City, and its prin- 
 cipal Buildings, 19, 20, &c. The 
 Epifcopal Palace, 21. The Ca- 
 thedral and the Seminary, 21. The 
 Fort and Cape Diamond, 22. The 
 Recollets and the Urfulincs, 22. The 
 Jefuits College, 23. The Hofpital, 
 
 24. The General Hofpital, 24, 
 
 25. Of the Fortifications, 25. Of 
 the Inhabitants of this City, 26. 
 Difference between the Country of 
 Quebec and that of Montreal, 72. 
 
 Quarry, on the Banks of the Mij- 
 
 JW'Pp'h 3 IQ . 
 
 R 
 
 Race, (Cape) its Situation, 10. 
 
 Racquets, Defcription of the Racquets 
 for walking on the Snow, 142. 
 
 Rat, (Mufk) its Defcription, 48. 
 
 Rattle-Snake, its Defcription. Re- 
 medy for its Bite, 91. 
 
 Recollets, Defcription of their Houfe 
 at Quebec, 22. 
 
 Richlieu, Iflands of Ricblieu, 59, 72, 
 Of Fort Richlieu, 62. 
 
 River, of Beckancourt, 50, 51. 
 
 River des Prairies, (of the Meadows J 
 
 75- 
 
 Roe-buck, Particularities of that of 
 Canada, 69. 
 
 Rojicrs, Cape Rojiers, 12. 
 
 Reeds, 302. 
 
 Remarks, on the Heat, and on the dif- 
 ferent Latitudes, 372, 373. On the 
 Colony of Cape Francois, in St. D»- 
 mingo, 381. 
 
 Rivers, Remarks on thofe that run 
 into Lake Michigan, 222. 
 
 River, of Father Marquette, 222. 
 
 River, of the Illinois, 280. Its Courfe, 
 290. Its Entrance into the Mij- 
 
 M'ppU *9 - 
 
 River Ouabache, or Wabache, 303. 
 
 River, of the Chicachas, 305. 
 
 River, of the Manfas, its Defcrip- 
 tion, 306. 
 
 Rher, of the Taftus, 308. 
 
 RivcT 3
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 XI 
 
 River, (Red) 32S. 
 River, of Maubile, 343. 
 
 Saguenay, River, 14. 
 
 Saint Laurence, of the Gulf of this 
 Name, 11. Of the Entrance of 
 the River St. Laurence, 12. Of its 
 Tides, and the Variation of the 
 Compafs, 16, 17. Of the Fifh 
 taken in the Gulf arid River of St. 
 Laurence, 85, 86. Defcription of 
 the Falls of this River, 116, 117, 
 119. 
 
 St. Francois, Ifles and Village of St. 
 Francois, 59, 60. Lake of St. Fran- 
 cois, 118. 
 
 St. Paul, (Bay of) 16. 
 
 St. Peter s Fijb, Defcription of it, 85. 
 
 St. Peter's Ijlar.ds, 10. Lake of St. 
 Peter, 52. 
 
 Sakis, a Savage Nation, 204. A 
 Council of the Satis, and on what 
 Occafion, 205. 
 
 Savages, Zeal of the Cbriftian Savages 
 of Loretto, 28. Preparations and 
 Superstitions of the Savages for 
 hunting the Eear, 55, 56. The 
 Manner of hunting the Bear : A 
 ridiculous Ceremony when the 
 Bear is killed : Kow the Hunters 
 are received at their Return, 57. 
 Of their hunting Dogs, 58. They 
 marry the Seine before they ufe it, 
 S6. Character of thofe of the En- 
 virons of Hudfons Bay, 107, 108. 
 Of the Savages of the North of 
 Canada. 112. Other Savages of 
 Hudfons Bay, 1 1 3. The Manner 
 of declaring War among the Sa- 
 vages, 130. Motives which en- 
 gage the Savages to make War, 
 3 3^, T 37- See War. The No- 
 tion the Savages have of Cou- 
 rage, 139, 140. The Principle 
 of the Barbarity they excrcife to- 
 wards their Prifoners of War, 165. 
 Their Skill in Negociations, 167, 
 368. Savage Nations fettled near 
 the Fort of Detroit, 172. Council 
 of the three Nations at the Fort, 
 173. The Refult of it, 174. 
 
 Savages, of Canada : Why they are 
 more eafily converted than more 
 ■civilized Nations, 179. A general 
 
 Idea of their Government, 180. 
 Divifions of the Nations into 
 Tribes, 180. Obfervations on the 
 Names of the Chiefs, 181. Of the 
 Succeflion and Election of the 
 Chiefs, 181. Of their Power, 182. 
 Of the Affiftants or Counfellors : 
 Of the Body of the Elders : Of 
 the War-Chiefs, 182. The Power 
 of the Women in fome Nations, 
 183. The Wifdom of thefe Coun- 
 cils, 183. Of the Orators: Of 
 the Inteiefts of thefe People : The 
 Policy of the Iroquois, 184. Of the 
 Government of the Villages '. The 
 Defects of this Goverment, 185. 
 How jealous the Savages are of 
 their Honour, 189. The Pains the 
 young Savages take to adorn them- 
 felves, 191. Fable of the Savages 
 about the Upper Lake, 193. Their 
 Traditions about Mich'iliimakinac, 
 194. Their Marriages, 196, &c. 
 Jealoufy of the Savages, 197. Of 
 naming their Children, 200. Re- 
 marks on their Names, 201. The 
 Savages of the Bay des Puans dance 
 the Calumet, 206. Superftitions 
 of the People near the Bay, 210. 
 Various Nations to the North and 
 Weft of Canada, 211. - 
 Savages, of Canada : Their Portrait : 
 Their Strength, 212. ^heir Vices: 
 Why they do not multiply : Advan- 
 tages they have over us, 213. Their 
 Eloquence : Their Memory : Their 
 Penetration : Their Judgment, 
 
 214. Their Greatnefs of Soul, &c. 
 Their Conftancy in fuffering Pains, 
 
 215. Their Valour: Their Kind- 
 nefs to each other, 217. Their 
 Pride, and their other Failings, 217. 
 Their Qualities of the Heart, 218. 
 Example of the little Affection of 
 Children for their Parents, 218. 
 Particular Friendships among the 
 Savages, 219. The Colour of the 
 Savages, 219. Why they have no 
 Hair on their Bodies, 220. Their 
 Secrecy concerning their Simples, 
 and the Mines of their Country, 
 225. The fad Conlequer.ces of their 
 Drunkennefs, 228. Their Happi- 
 nefs, 229. Their Contempt for 
 our Way of living, 230. The Care 
 Mothers take of their Children, 
 
 250.
 
 Xlt 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 230. The ridiculous Shapes which 
 fome give to their Children, 231. 
 What ftrengthens them, and makes 
 them fo well fhaped, 232. Their 
 firft Exercifes, and their Emulation. 
 232. In what their Education con- 
 Ms, 233. Of the Pafiions of the 
 Savages, 233. How they prick 
 themfelves all over the Body, 234., 
 How, and why they paint their 
 Faces : The Ornaments of the 
 Men, 235. Of the Ornaments of 
 the Women, 236. Of their Sow- 
 ing and Harveft : Of the Maiz, 
 237. Of the Sagamitty : Of the 
 Rock Tripe, and rotten Maiz, 
 23S. Of the Bread of the Maiz : 
 Various Roots, &c. and their Ufe : 
 Works of the Women, 239. Works 
 of the Men : Their Tools : The 
 Form of their Villages, 240. Their 
 Manner of fortifying themfelves : 
 Of their Winter Camps, 241. Their 
 Naftinefs : The Inconveniencies of 
 the Summer for them, 244. A 
 fhort Portrait of the Savages, 245. 
 Their Notion of the Origin of 
 Man, 248. Their Notion of Spi- 
 rits, 249. Their Sacrifices : Their 
 Fafts : Their Vows, 252. Their 
 Affinity with the Jews : Their 
 P.riefts, 253. Their Veftals : Their 
 Thoughts of the Immortality of 
 the Soul, 254. Their Notion of 
 wh2t becomes of the Soul, when 
 Separated from the Body : Why 
 they carry Provisions to the Tombs : 
 The Prefents they make to the 
 Dead : Of the Country of Souls, 
 ..55. How they pretend to merit 
 eternal Happinefs : What they think 
 of the Souls of Bearts, 256. The 
 Nature of Dreams, according to 
 the Savages, 257. Their common 
 Diftempers, 266. The Ufe they 
 make of their Simples : Divers 
 other Remedies, 267. The Prin- 
 ciples on which their whole Prac- 
 tice of Phylic is founded : Their 
 extravagant Notions of Diftem- 
 pers, 269. What pafi'es at their 
 Deaths, 273. Their Gencroiity to 
 the Dead : Of their Funerals : Of 
 their Tombs, 274. Their Notions 
 about Apparitions : Various Prac- 
 tices aboitf the Dead, 275, &C 
 
 Their Notion about thofe who die 
 violent Deaths, 277. Their Inge- 
 nuity to furprize their Enemies, 
 289. Their Traditions of the Sin 
 of the firft Woman, and of the 
 Deluge, 297. How they know the 
 North when the Sky is cloudy, 
 298. What they think of Eclipfes 
 and Thunder, 298. Their Manner 
 of dividing Time, 299. 
 Savages, on the Martyr Iflands : 
 What paffed between them and the 
 French who efcaped from the Wreck, 
 
 352. Trouble from the Savage3, 
 
 353. Who thefe Savages were, 354. 
 Sacrifices, of the Savages, 252. 
 Sagamitty, the common food of the 
 
 Savages, 238. 
 
 Salt Springs, in the Ifland of Tbolcufe, 
 or Baliae, 335. 
 
 SaJJ'jfras, a Tree of Canada, 225. 
 
 Sea-Cows, their Defcnption, and how 
 they fiihfor them, 81. 
 
 Seal, of the Seal Fifhery, 78. De- 
 fcription of the Seal, and the feve- 
 ral Species of them, 79. Ufe of 
 the Flefh and Skin of the Seal, 80. 
 Some Particularities of thefe Ani- 
 mals, 81. 
 
 Sein, the Savages marry the Sein be- 
 fore they ufe it, 86. 
 
 Simples, Secrecy of the Savages con- 
 cerning them, 225. The Ufe they 
 make of them, 267. 
 
 Sioux, Savages : Their Manner of 
 Living, 110. 
 
 Sledges, Defcription of the Sledges 
 ufed for carrying the Baggage, 142. 
 
 Spaniards, one of their Parties de- 
 feated by the Savages of the Mi}* 
 fouri, 204. 
 
 Sturgeon, how they fi(h for it, 86. 
 
 Swoi-d-Fijh, defcription of this Fifli, 
 
 and its Fight with the Whale, 6. 
 ■ St. Mark i v j3paladtt, a Fort of the 
 Spaniards : Defcription of its En- 
 virons, 362. 
 
 St. Jchp!.\ Description of the Bay and 
 Fort' of St.Jofeph: Civilities of 
 the Spanijk Governor, 366. 
 
 St. Domingo, Route from the Channel 
 of Bahama to St. Domingo, 376. 
 
 St. Rife, Channel and Ifle of St. R.'t, 
 368". 
 
 S& BtrtiahTf Bay, 343. 
 
 Soul,
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 S*ul, Thoughts of the Savages con- 
 cerning its Immortality, 254. Their 
 Notion of what becomes of it when 
 feparated from the Body, 255. < f 
 the Country of Souls, 255. Their 
 Notion of the Souls of Beafts, 256. 
 
 Sorcerers, among the Savages, 262. 
 
 Spirits, The Notion of the Savages 
 concerning them, 249. See Genii. 
 
 Stars, the Notion of the Savages of 
 the Stars and Planets, 297. 
 
 Sun, Name of the Great Chief of the 
 Natchez, 315. 
 
 Sweating, how the Savages ufe it, 
 268. 
 
 Tadoujfac, Port of this Name, 14. 
 Tamfas, a Savage Nation, 331. 
 Tamarouas, Nation of the Illinois : 
 
 Their Village, 291. 
 Tempcft, and its fad Confequences, 
 
 S45- 
 Temple, of the Natchez : Its Defonp- 
 
 fion, 312, &c. Firft Fruits offered 
 
 in the Temple, 319. 
 Thcakiki, River : Its Springs, 272, &c. 
 
 Its Defcription, 279. 
 Thunder, What the Savages think of 
 
 it, 2 9 3. 
 Tides, ot the River St. Laurence, 1 6, 
 
 17. A Sort of Tides in the Lakes 
 
 of Canada, 129. 
 Tides, at Penfacole, 364. 
 Tobacco, fucceeds in the Country of 
 
 the Natchez, 311. 
 Tomht, why the Savages carry Provi- 
 sions to the Tombs, 255. Of their 
 
 Tombs, 274. 
 Tonihata, lfle : Its Situation, 119. 
 Tonkas, a Savage Nation : Defcription 
 
 of their Village : Of their Chief : 
 
 The State of this Nation, 327. 
 Touloufe, Ifland of Touloufe, or Balife, 
 
 335- 
 
 tes, a Sort of Wood Pidgeons : 
 
 Their Paffage in Canada, 101. 
 
 Trade, of Brandy : The Diforders it 
 occafions among the Iroqutis\oi the 
 Fall St. Louis, and of the Moun- 
 tain, 77. 
 
 Travelling, the Inconveniencies of tra- 
 velling in Canada, 135, 136. The 
 Pleafme and Conveniencies of it, 
 170., 
 
 Xlll 
 
 Trees, peculiar to Canada, 54. Why 
 they have no Leaves in the Month 
 of May, 130. 
 
 Tripe, of the Rock : What it is, and 
 the Ufe the Savages make of it, 
 238. 
 
 Turtles, plenty in Acadia, 85. 
 
 Turtle, Iflands : Great Currents be- 
 tween them and the Martyrs, 359. 
 
 Vercheres, (Madam and Mifs de) : The 
 Bravery of thefe two Canadian La- 
 dies, 63. 
 
 Vejlals, whether or not among the 
 Savages, 254. 
 
 Villages, Form of thofe of the Sa- 
 vages, and how they fortify them, 
 240, 241. 
 
 Vows, of the Savages, 252, 253. 
 
 Urfu lines, of Quebec, 22. 
 
 W 
 
 Walnut-Tret, 93. 
 
 it-Trees, of Louijiatta, and their 
 Properties, 304. 
 
 War, how the Savages fing the War- 
 Song, 130. Of the God of War, 
 151. Of the Declaration of War, 
 131. Motives which engage the 
 Savages to make War, 136. The 
 Manner how a War is refolved on, 
 137. Preparations of the Chief, 
 137. The Deliberation of the 
 Council : The Meafures they take 
 to get Prifoners, 138. Songs, 
 Dances, and Feafts of the War- 
 riors, 139. The Notion thefe Peo- 
 ple have of Courage, 139. The 
 Trial which they make of the 
 Warriors, 140. The Precautions 
 for the Wounded, T40. The Fare- 
 well of the Warriors, 142. Of 
 their Arms, offenfiveand derenfive r 
 143. Of the Care they take to 
 carry their Deities, 143. Circum- 
 ftances of the March of the War- 
 riors, 154. Of their Encamping : 
 Of the Meeting of different Par- 
 ties of War, 155. Of their En- 
 trance into an Enemy's Country : 
 Of their Approaches and Attacks, 
 156. Their Way of fighting: 
 Their Inftinct to know the Mark of 
 
 their
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 XIV 
 
 their Enemies Steps, T57. Pre- 
 cautions to fecure their Retreat, 
 and to keep their Prifoners, 157. 
 Of the Marks they leave of their 
 Victory, 158. Triumph of the 
 Warriors, 160. 
 
 Wax, of the Myrtle Wax, 34a. 
 
 Whale, its Fight with the Sword-Fifll, 
 6. Of the Whale Fifhery, 83. 
 
 Wheat, why it has not fucceeded in 
 Louijiana, 302. 
 
 Widowhood, of Widowhood and fe- 
 cond Marriages among the Savages, 
 
 277. 
 Wild Cherry -Tree of Canada, 93. 
 Wild-Cats, of Louifiana, 304. 
 Wtodsf of Canada, 92. 
 
 Wolves, or wild Cats, of Canada, 70. 
 
 Woman, Tradition, of the Sin of the 
 firft Woman, among the Savages, 
 297. Woman Chief of the Nat- 
 chez, 315. 
 
 Women, their Power in fome Savage 
 Nations, 183. Advantages of the 
 Mothers over the Fathers, 199. Of 
 their Lying-in, and its Confe- 
 quences, 199. The Care they take 
 of their Children, 200. 
 
 Tajous, a Savage Nation : River of 
 the Tafous, 308. Fort of the Ta* 
 feus, 309.
 
 By the Tranflator's being at a Diftance from the Prefs, the 
 following Errata have happened. 
 
 Page 10 line 19 read Ray inftead of Race. Page 18 line 9 Breton inftead of 
 Britain. Page ao line 4 des inftead of de. Pare 24 Hne 41 Chaplain inftead of 
 Jllmcner. Page 36 (the Note) A Li-vre is 10 d. Halfpenny inftead of A Li-ore is 
 is. %d. Page 40 line 33 bread inftead of round. Page 60 line 19 Chaudiere in- 
 ftead of Chandiere. Page 61 the laft line Plane inltead of Plain. Page 64laft 
 line Sbamois inftead of Shamios. Page 6S line 4?. arair.fi the Wind inftead of 
 ivith the Wind. Page 70 line 31 after the Word Kind rend of. Page 74 laft line 
 read la before Flccke. Page 81 line 38 Bete for Beet. Page 85 line 28 turning 
 for burning. Page 95 line n Soleil for Soliel. Page 97 line 40 read m after the 
 Word Time. Page 99 line 4 read it before is. Page 103 line 23 fruitful inftead 
 of faithful. Page m line 32 Scandinavia inftead of Scar.dinaria. Page 115 
 line 9 not inftead of no. Page 136 line 16 read 100 Poles for 70 Yards. Page 
 375 line 16 read Grandmother inftead of Great Grandmother. Page 183 line 
 21 Grandmother inftead of Great Grandmother. Page 190 line 27, 100 Poles in- 
 ftead of 70 Yards. Page 204 line 44 Chaplains inftead of Almoners. Page 205 
 line 12 Chaplain inftead of Almoner. Page 232 read Letter XXII. inftead of 
 XXVI. Page 238 line, 45 Maiz. inftead of Wheat. Page 259 line 14 read 
 Majs inftead of Mefs. Page 269 line 36 Wood of White Fir inftead of Wood 
 •f Epinette. Page 283 line 8 is inltead of his. Page 284 line 8 Stragglers in- 
 ftead of Stagglers. Page 325 line 5 re3d Seme for Siene. Page 338 read Great 
 Gainers by inftead of Great by Gainers. In feveral flaces from Page 345 read 
 Bihxi inftead of the Bilc.ri. Page 373 line 18 read in inftead of the. Page 376 
 line 25 reckoned inftead of redentd. Page 379 line 3 by Eafi inftead of by 
 North Eafi,
 
 ^c^^c^^c^^^*^^*^^^^^^ 
 
 Advertisement of the Translator. 
 
 ALthough thefe Letters were begun to be written in the 
 Year 1720, yet the Writer has, by Notes, taken Notice 
 of what material Alterations have been made fince. — It is, be- 
 yond Doubt, the moil perfett Account of Canada that is extant. 
 And it is faid that it was from this Work in particular that our 
 Minifters formed their Notions of the Importance of Canada, 
 and the vaft Advantages which might be derived therefrom. 
 And at the fame Time it gives the moil accurate Defcription of 
 the Country, it affords much Entertainment, by the particular 
 Account it gives of the Manners, Cuftoms, cifc. of the various 
 Inhabitants of thefe vaft Countries. 
 
 ^%«^%«4P%«^y&m^^^^^^%±
 
 M *>S g ;*>£ & *>C & J & & *>£ 3ec *>C &*& 
 
 t* Tftr *^jr ^(p-" Sjp-" *»jp' v^ 
 
 A N 
 
 HISTORICAL JOURNAL 
 
 O F 
 
 Travels in North America: 
 
 Undertaken 
 
 By Order of the King of France. 
 LETTER I. 
 
 A Voyage from Roche lle to Quebec. Some Remarks upon the 
 Voyage, the Great Bank of Newfoundland, and the River S t . 
 Laurence. 
 
 Quebec, Sept. 24. 
 
 Arrived in this City after a tedious and trouble- 
 fome Paftage of 83 Days : We had however but 
 1000 Leagues to make, fo that you fee we don't 
 always go Poft at Sea, as M. the Abbot de Chcify 
 ufed to fay. I made no Journal of this Voyage, 
 !j^9 becaufe I fufFered greatly by the Sea Sicknefs a- 
 bove a Month. I flattered myfelf that I fhould have been free 
 from it, becaufe I had fufFered it twice before; but there are fome 
 Constitutions which cannot fympathize with this Element, and 
 fuch is mine. And in the Condition we find ourfelves under this 
 Sicknefs, it is not poffible to attend to what pafies in the Ship : 
 On the other Hand, nothing is more barren than a Voyage like 
 this ; for the chief Obfervation to be made, is, whence the Wind 
 blows, how much the Ship gets forward, and if it keeps in the 
 right Courfe ; for during two thirds of the Way there is nothing 
 to be feen but Sky and Water. However, I fhall proceed to in- 
 form you of what I can remember, that is molt likely to give you 
 
 B fome
 
 4 An Hijlcrical Journal of 
 
 foffie Minutes Amufement; to keep, as well as I can, the PromJie 
 I made you. 
 
 We ftaid in the Road of Aix the ill of July, and the 2d we got 
 under Sail by Favour of a fmall Breeze from the North-Eaft. The 
 three firft Days we had fcarce any Wind, but yet it was in our Fa- 
 vour, and we comforted ourfeives, becaufe this made the Sea very 
 pleafant. It looked as if it wanted to flatter us, before it fhewe'd 
 itfelf in it's worft Humour. The 4th or the 5 th the Wind changed, 
 and came dire&ly againft us, the Sea ran high, and for near fix 
 Weeks we were tofTed in a very extraordinary Manner j the 
 Winds changed continually, but they were oftner againft than 
 for us, and we were almoft always obliged to fail as near the 
 Wind as poffible. 
 
 The 9th of Auguft our Pilots thought themfelves upon the 
 
 ^ n.fi. -•/.,,•„ r *l Great Bank of Newfoundland* and they 
 A Uejcnption of the -i . A J . t, r 1 
 
 Great Bank were much miftaken. But from the 
 
 9th to the 1 6th we made fcarce any Way. 
 What they call the Great Bank of Ne-ixfoundland , is properly a 
 Mountain hid under Water, about 600 Leagues from France to 
 the Weft. The Sieur Denys, who has given us a very good 
 Work of North dtnerica, and a very inftructive Treatife on the 
 Cod Fifhery, makes this Mountain extend 150 Leagues from 
 North to South ; but according to the moft exact Sea Charts, it 
 begins on the South Side, in 41 Degrees North Latitude, and it's 
 Northern End is in 49 Degrees 25 Minutes. The Truth is, it's 
 two extremities grow fo narrow, that it is difficult to mark it's 
 Bounds. It's greateft Width from Eaft to Weft, is about 90 
 French and Englijh Sea Leagues ; between 40 and 49 Degrees of 
 Longitude. I have heard fome Seamen fay, that they have call 
 Anchor in five Fathom Water, which is againft the Sieur Denys, 
 who fays, that he never found lefs than 25 on the Bank ; it is 
 certain that in many Places there are above 60. About the Mid- 
 dle of it's Length on the Side of Europe, it forms a kind of Bay, 
 which they call the Pit; and this is the Reafon, that of two Ships 
 which are upon the fame Line, and in Sight of each other, one 
 fhall find Ground, and the other none. 
 
 Before we arrive at the Great Bank we m^et with a fmaller one, 
 which is called the Jacquet Bank : Some fay there is another be- 
 fore this, which is of a conical Figure ; but I have feen feme 
 Pilots who of the three make but one, and they anfwer the 
 Objections which are made to this, by faying that there are Hol- 
 lows in the Great Bank, the Depth of which has deceived thofe wha 
 make three of it, becaufe they did not let out Line fufficient. 
 Whatever may be the Figure and Extent of this Mountain, 
 which it is impoffible to know exactly, they find here a prodi- 
 gious Quantity of Shells, and many kinds of Fifli of all Sizes ;. 
 
 8 the
 
 Travels in North America. % 
 
 the greateft Part of which ferve the Cod for Food; the Number of 
 which feem to equal the Grains of Sand that cover the Bank. For 
 above two Centuries they have loaded two or three hundred Ships 
 every Year, and the Number fcarce appears to be leffened. But 
 they would do well to difcontinue this Fifhery now and then, 
 efpecially as the Gulf of St. Laurence, the River itfelf for above 
 60 Leagues, the Coafts of Acadia, of IJJe Royal f, and of New- 
 foundland, are almoft as well ftock'd with this Fifh as the Great 
 Bank. Thefe are, Madam, real Mines, which are more valuable, 
 and require much lefs Expence, than thofe of Mexico and Peru. 
 We fuffered greatly all the Time that the contrary Winds 
 
 cr-i r> e *• .1 kept us upon the Frontiers of this Kino-- 
 
 1 be Lau/e of the 1 r r F> , r>-n f • • A n ,P r 
 
 or- j j -n J dom of Cod rifh, for it is the molt dif- 
 
 tf inas ana togs a- ui j • • t> r ^ 
 
 , 1 n 7 & agreeable and inconvenient Part of the 
 
 tout the Bank. S_ , ~. rj-,, c r n 
 
 whole Ocean. 1 he Sun Icarce ever fhews 
 
 himfelf, and the greateft Part of the Time we have thick and 
 Cold Fogs ; which is fuch a Sign of approaching the Bank, that 
 they cannot be miftaken. What can be the Caufe of a Pheno- 
 menon fo remarkable and conftant ? Can it be the Neighbour- 
 hood of the Land and the Woods that cover it ? But, befides that 
 Cape Race, which is the neareft Land to the Great Bank, is Thirty- 
 five Leagues diftant, the fame Thing does not happen upon all 
 the other Sides of the Ifland ; for the Ifiand of" Newfoundland is 
 not fubjett to Fogs but on the Side of the Great Bank, every 
 where elfe its Coafts enjoy a pure Air, and a ferene Sky. It is 
 therefore probable, that it is the Nearnefs of the Great Bank that 
 caufes Fogs that cover Cape Race, and we muft feek for the Caufe 
 upon the Bank itfelf. The following are my Conjectures upon 
 it, which I fubmit to the Judgment of the Learned. 
 
 I begin by obferving that we have another Sign of approach- 
 ing the Great Bank, which is that upon all its Extremities, which 
 they commonly call its deep Shores or Precipices; the Sea is al- 
 ways rough, and the Winds high. May we notlook upon this as the 
 Caufe of the Fogs which reign here, and fay that the Agitation 
 of the Water, the Bottom of which is mingled with Sand and 
 Mud, thickens the Air, and makes it greafy and that the Sun 
 draws only the thick Vapours from it, which it can never 
 difperfe: It may be afk'd me, Whence comes this Agitation of 
 the Sea upon the Borders of the Great Bank, svhilft every where 
 elfe, and upon the Bank itfelf, there reigns a profound Calm ? 
 This is the Caufe if I miftake not : We find every Day in thefe 
 Seas, Currents which run fometimes one Way, and fometimes 
 another. The Sea, irregularly driven by thefe Currents, and 
 itriking impetuoufly againft the Sides of the Bank, which are 
 almoft every where perpendicular, is repulfed with the fame 
 1 iolence; which caufes the Agitation we find here. 
 + This is what we call Cape Bntoi, 
 
 B 2 If
 
 4 An Hiflorical Journal of 
 
 If the fame Thing does not happen upon the Approach of all 
 deep Coafts, it is becaufe all have not fuch a great Extent as 
 this ; that they have no Currents about them, or that they are 
 not fo ftrjpng ; or that they do not crof3 one another; that they do 
 not meet fuch fteep Coafts, and are not repulfed with fo much 
 Force. Skilful Mariners agi-ee, that the Agitation of the Sea, 
 aad the Mud which it ftirs, contribute greatly to thicken the 
 Air j but that the Winds occafioned hereby do not reach far ; 
 and upon the Great Bank, at fome Diftance from its Sides, 
 the Sea is as calm as in a Road, unlefs there is a ftrong Wind 
 coming from fome other Part. 
 
 It was on Friday the 17th of Anguft, at feven o'Clock in the 
 - <, _ Evening, we found ourfelves upon the Bank, in 
 
 75 Fathom Water. Our Ship's Crew longed for 
 frefh Cod ; but as the Sun was fet, and the Wind was fair, it was 
 thought beft to take Advantage of it. About eleven o'Clock at 
 Nisht we had a ftrons Wind at South Eaft, which with a Mizen 
 Sail alone would have driven us 3 Leagues in an Hour. Jf this 
 had been all, by furling all our other Sails, which was inftantly 
 done, we fhould have had no Caufe of Complaint ; but there 
 followed fuch a heavy Rain, as if all the Cataracts of Heaven 
 were opened, attended with Thunder and Lightening, which fell 
 fo near us that the R.udder remained unmoveable, and all the 
 Seamen who worked the Ship felt the Blow. It redoubled after- 
 wards, and a Hundred Pieces cf Cannon fired together would 
 not have been louder : We could not hear one another ; one Clap 
 fucceeding another, before the firit was over. We could not fee 
 each other in the midft of the Lightening, becaufe it dazzled our 
 Eyes ; in fhort, during an Flour and a half we feemed to be in the 
 hoiteft Fire of a Trench ; the Hearts of the Boldeft trembled, for 
 the Thunder always remained over our Heads ; and if it had 
 fallen a fecond Time upon us, we might have gone to feed the 
 Cods, at whofe Expence we reckoned foon to have feafted. 
 Had not what is called St. Elmo's * Fire given us Notice of 
 this Hurricane, we might have been furprized and overfet under 
 Sail. 
 
 - After an Hour and a Half the Rain ceafed, the Thunder 
 grumbled only at a Diftance, and the Lightening^ were only 
 weak Flames in the Horizon. The Wind was ftili fair, but not 
 fo ftrong, and the Sea appeared as fmooth as Glafs ; then every 
 ore wanted to lay down, but all their Beds were wetted; the Rain 
 had penetrated thro' the imperceivable Cracks, which is inevi- 
 table when the Veffel is greatly loaded : We fhifted as we could, 
 and thought ourfelves happy to come off fo well. Whatever 
 
 * Thefc Fires moft commonly appear upon the Yards,at the Approach 
 of a Storm. 
 
 is
 
 Travels in North America. t, 
 
 is violent never lafts long, efpecially the South Eaft Wind ; a c 
 leaft in thefe Seas. The Cr.lm returned with the Day, we made 
 no Way ; but we made ourfelves Amends by Fifhing. 
 
 Every Thing is good in the Cod while it is frefh ; it loofes 
 nothing of its Goodnefs, and becomes fome- 
 Of the Lod and t fa n g nrrncr when it has been two Days in 
 the Fijhery. g alt . ^ j t j g the ftftiirs only who eat the 
 
 beft Parts of it ; that is to fay, the Head, the Tongue, and the 
 Liver: To preferve all thefe Parts would take up too much Salt; 
 fo they throw all into the Sea which they cannot confume at 
 the Time of Fifhing. The largefc Cod that I faw was not 3 
 Feet long ; yet thofe on the Great Bank are the Iargeft ; but there 
 is perhaps no other Creature in Proportion to its Bignefs, that 
 has fo wide a Mouth, or that is more voracious. We find in the 
 Stomach of this Fifh, Pieces of broken Pots, and Cits of Iron 
 and Glafs. Some People fancy they digeft all this, but this is 
 difcovered to be a Miilake, which was founded upon finding in 
 them fome Pieces of Iron half worn away. Now we are convinced, 
 that the Cod can turn itfelf Infide-out like a Pocket, and that 
 the Fifh frees itfelf from any Thing that troubles it by this 
 Means. The Fifh of the Great Bank is what is falted ; and this 
 is what they call White Cod, or more commonly Green Cod. M. 
 Days fays, he has feen as fine Salt made in Canada, as they bring 
 from Brouage ; but after they had made the Experiment in Marines, 
 which they had dug for that Purpofe, they flopped them up 
 again. Thofe who moil exclaimed that this Country was good 
 for nothing, have been more than once the very People that have 
 hindered us from making any Advantage of it. The Dry Cod 
 cannot be made but upon the Coaft ; and this requires great Care 
 and Experience. M. Denys, who allows that all thofe that he has 
 feen carry on this Trade in Acadia, had ruined themfelves by it, 
 proves perfectly, and makes it appear very plain, that it was 
 wrong to conclude from hence, that there was not a Plenty of 
 Cod. But he alledges, that to carry on the Fifhery with Succefs, 
 the Fifhermen muft be fettled in the Country ; and thefe are 
 his Reafons. Every Scafonis not fit for this Fifhery, it can only 
 be carried on from the Beginning of May to the End of Auguji. 
 Now if you have Seamen from France, either you muft pay them 
 for the whole Year, and the Charges will eat up the Profit ; or 
 you will only pay them during the Time of the Fifhing, and 
 that will not do for them. To think of employing them the 
 reft of the Time in fawing Planks, and cutting Wood, is quite a 
 wrong Notion, for it would not amfwer the Expence.* But ifthey 
 
 * This Remark, if a juft one, may put us out of Fear of the Fn 1 .'• 
 rivalling; us at preterit in the Finery by what is allowed to them by the 
 late Treaty. 
 
 are
 
 6 An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 are Inhabitants, you will be better ferved ; and it will be their 
 
 own Faults if they don't thrive : They will take their Time 
 
 for the Fifhery ; they will chufe the bell Places ; they will gain 
 
 much during four Months, and the reft of the Year they will 
 
 work for themfelves, in their Habitations. If this Method had 
 
 been taken a hundred and fifty Years ago, Acadia had now been 
 
 one of the mod powerful Colonics in America. For whilft they 
 
 affefted to publiih in France, it was impoflible to make any Thing 
 
 of this Country, it enriched New England, by the Fifhery alone; 
 
 altho' the Fnglijb had not all the Advantages there, which we 
 
 could have had. 
 
 When we are parted the Great Bank, we meet with feveral 
 
 fmaller ones, almoft equally abounding with Fifh as the Great 
 
 Batik. There are indeed few or none of thofe Fifh which require 
 
 warmer Seas ; but there are a great Number of Whales, Spouting 
 
 Fifh, Porpoifes, &c. and many others of lefs Value. We have 
 
 more than once had the Diverfion of the Fight between the 
 
 Whale and the Sword Fifh, and nothing is more entertaining : 
 
 The Sword Fifh is as thick as a Cow, feven or eight Feet long, 
 
 gradually leffening towards the Tail. It takes its Name from 
 
 its Weapon, a Kind of Sword three Feet long, and four Inches 
 
 wide ; it is fixed above its Nofe, and has a Row of Teeth on each 
 
 Side an Inch long, at an equal Diftance from each other : This 
 
 Fifh is good with any Sauce, and is excellent eating ; its Head 
 
 is better eating than a Calf's, and is bigger and fquarer; and 
 
 the Eyes are very large. 
 
 The Whale and the Sword Fifh never meet without fighting, 
 
 p. j f , and the latter, they fay, is always the Aggref- 
 
 T rr, j& J ~ < , for. Sometimes two Sword Fifh join aeainft 
 Whale and J he , xr -, , i ,,1 • i ** i 
 
 r, , p.„ a Whale, and then it is not an equal Match: 
 
 if - r pi ls "Whale has neither Weapon offenfive nor 
 
 defenfive but its Tail ; to make Ufe of it againft her Enemy, 
 fiie plunges her Head under Water, and if fhe can ftrike her 
 Enemy fhekills him with a Blow of her Tail ; but he is very 
 dexterous to fhun it, and inftantly falls upon the Whale, and 
 runs his Weapon in its Back ; moil commonly it pierces not to 
 the Bottom of the Fat, and fo does it no great Injury. When 
 the Whale can fee the Sword Fifh dart to ftrike him, he pluno-es; 
 bat the Sword Fifh purfues him in the Water, and obliges him 
 to appear again : Then the Fight begins again, and latls till 
 the Sword Fifh loofes Sight of the Whale, which fights al- 
 ways retreating, and fwims beft on the Surface of the Wa- 
 ter. 
 
 The Fhttan or Hallibut is like a large Plaice ; what they 
 call the Flet, is a fmaller Kind ; it is dark coloured on the 
 Back, and white under the Belly j it is generally four or five 
 
 Feet
 
 Travels in North America. 7 
 
 Feet long, and at leaft two Feet broad, and a Foot thick; it has 
 a large Head : Every Part of it is extremely good and tender ; 
 they get a Juice out of the Bcnes, which is better than the fmeil 
 Marrow. The Eyes and the Edges of the two Sides, which they 
 call Relmgues, are very delicate Bits. They throw the whole 
 Body into the Sea to fatten the Cod, whofe meft dangerous E- 
 nemy is the Flettan, who will eat three of them at a Meal. — I 
 fhall fay nothing of the various Kinds of Birds which live upon 
 thefe Seas, and fubfiit only by Fiftung ; for here all are Fifhers. 
 Many Travellers have defcribed them, and have faid nothing on 
 this Head that deferves to be repeated. 
 
 The 1 8th, the Wind fair, we think the Winds have carried 
 hs a little too much to the South, and we (leer Weft North Weft, 
 to get into our Latitude. The Reafon is, we have not feen the 
 Sun thefe ten or twelve Days, and therefore could not obferve 
 our Latitude. This frequently happens, and is what caufes the 
 greateft Danger of this Voyage. About eight in the Morning 
 we faw a fmall VefTel, which feemed to make towards us ; we 
 met it, and when we were near we enquired in what Latitude we 
 were : It was an EngUfi Ship, and the Captain anfwered in his 
 own Language : We thought we underftood him that we were 
 in 45 Degrees ; we could not greatly truft to this Account, for 
 he might be under the fame Miftake as ourfelves : However, we 
 took Courage, and as the Wind continued fair, we flattered our- 
 felves, if it did not change, we lhould have pa/Ted the Gulph in 
 two Days. 
 
 About four in the Afternoon the Wind fell, which was a 
 
 Error of the Pi Concern to ^ s '■> however, this faved us. At 
 
 lots, and the dan- ^nat Night the Horizon appeared very 
 
 gerous Conferences ^ bef ° re US ' r th ° eVe ,2 W c he [ e el{e c ^= 
 * r- t 1 Sky was very ferene : The Sailors of the 
 
 Watch * made nofcruple to fay it was Land; 
 
 the Officer made a Jeft of it, but when he found they perfifted 
 
 in the fame Opinion, he began to think they might be in the 
 
 right. By good Fortune there was very little Wind; fo that ue 
 
 hoped Day would appear, before we lhould come too near the 
 
 Land. At Midnight the Watch changed ; the Sailors who 
 
 fucceeded the firft, were directly of their Opinion ; but their 
 
 Officer undertook to prove by good Rcafons, that the- Land 
 
 could not be there, and what they faw was only aFo^, which 
 
 would difperfein the Morning ; he could not make them think 
 
 fo, and they continued pofitive in their Opinion, that the Sky 
 
 * A Ship's Company is divided into four Bands, each of which are on Duty 
 four Hours ; each Band is commanded "by an Officer, 
 
 vas
 
 8 An Hijl or ical Journal of 
 
 was too clear to have any Fog on that Side, if there was no 
 Land. 
 
 At Day-break they all cried out that they faw Land, the Offi- 
 cer would not vouchfafe fo much as to look that Way, but 
 fhrugged up his Shoulders, and four o'Clock ftriking, he goes 
 to Bed, affirming that when he waked, they would find this pre- 
 tended Land melted away. The Officer that fucceeded, who 
 was the Count de Vaudreuil, being more wary, began furling 
 fome Sails, and foon faw this Precaution was neceflary. As foon 
 as it was Day-light they faw the Horizon almoft all bordered with 
 Land ; and they difcovered a fmall Englijh Veflel at Anchor, 
 about the Diftance of two Cannon Shot from us. M. de Voutron, 
 who was informed of it, immediately fent for the incredulous 
 Officer, who came out of his Cabin with much Reluctance, where 
 he ftill perfifted that we could not be fo near Land ; he came, 
 however, after two or three Summonfes, and at Sight of the Dan- 
 ger we had been expofed to by his Obftinacy, he flood afto- 
 nifhed. He is, notwithftanding, the moft (kilful Man in France 
 to navigate thefe Seas ; but too much Skill fometimes does Harm, 
 when we rely too much upon it. 
 
 Neverthelefs, Madam, if the Wind had not failed the Day be- 
 fore, at four in the Afternoon, we had certainly been lofl in the 
 Night ; for we were running full Sail upon fome Breakers, from 
 whence we could not have efcaped. The Difficulty was to know 
 whereabouts we were; it was certain we were not in 45 Degrees 
 the Day before, but were we more to the South or North ? On 
 this we were divided in our Opinions. One of our Officers 
 affirmed, that the Land we faw before us was Acadia ; that he 
 had been there before, and remembered it : Another afferted, that 
 it was the Lies of St. Peter : But what Probability is there that 
 we are fo far advanced ? It is but twenty-four Hours fmce we 
 were upon the Great Ba?ik, and it is more than 100 Leagues from 
 the Great Bank to the Ifles of St. Peter. The Pilot Cbaviteau 
 maintained it was Cape Race: What a Miftake, fays he, is there 
 in our Reckoning! there is no Doubt of it, and it is no Wonder, 
 as it is impoffible to make Allowances for Currents we do not know, 
 and which vary continually, as we have had no Obfervation 
 to correct our Errors ; but there is no Probability that we 
 ihould be either on the Coafts of Acadia, or on the Ifles of 
 St. Peter. His Reafons appeared * good, yet we ihould have 
 
 * About 5 Years after, the fame Cba-viteau miftook in his Reckoning in * 
 JVfapner much more fatal ; he was ftill Mafter of the Camel, and having been 
 feveral Days without an Obfervation, the Night of the 25th of Auguft, this 
 Ship was wrecked upon a Rock near Lomfiourg, in Ijle Royal, and no 
 Prrfon vras fjved. They found by the Journals of the Pilots, that they 
 reckoned themfelves 70 Leagues from that Pl;;ce, 
 
 been
 
 Travels in North America. 9 
 
 been very glad if he had been mi flaken ; for we conceived how 
 vexatious it would be to be Wind-bound under Cape Race. In 
 this Uncertainty, we refolved to enquire of the Captain of the 
 Englijh Ship, and Cbaviteau had Orders to do it : At his 
 Return he reported, that the Englijh were as much furprized as 
 we to find themfelves in this Bay, but with this Difference, that 
 it was the Place they were bound to : That Cape Race was before 
 us, and Cape Brolle ten Leagues lower; that from themidft of thofe 
 Breakers, upon which we had run a Rink of being loft, there if- 
 fued a River, at the Entrance of which there was an Englijh 
 Village, whither this little Vefi'el was carrying Provifions. 
 
 About 15 Years fince, there happened to us in the fame 
 Place, a very fingular Adventure, which put us in as much Dan- 
 ger as that which I have juft now mentioned. It was in Augaft, 
 and we had till then felt the Weather very hot: One Morning 
 when we rofe, we were fo pierced with the Cold, that every Body 
 put on their Winter Garments. We could not conceive from 
 whence it could proceed, the Weather being fine, and no North 
 Wind. In fhort, the third Day at four o'Clock in the Morn- 
 ing, aSailorcried as loud as hecould, Luff; that is to fay, turn the 
 Helm to the Windward ; he was obeyed, and the Moment after 
 they perceived a vail: floating Piece of Ice, which ran clofe by the 
 Ship's Side, and againft which we fliould have been wrecked, if 
 the Sailor had not had good Eyes, and if the Steerfman had not 
 direclly turned the Helm. 
 
 I did not fee this Ice, for I was not yet up ; but all who were then 
 upon Deck allured us, that it feemedas high as the Towers of No- 
 tre Dame at Peris, and was for certainty much higher than the Mails 
 of the Ship. I have often heard it affirmed that fuch a Thing was 
 impofiible, becaufe it muft have been prodigioufly deep to rife fo 
 high above the Sea ; and that it was not poffible that a Piece of 
 Ice fhould acquire that Height : To this I anfwer in the firft 
 Place, that to deny the Facl: we muft give the Lie to many People, 
 for it is not the firft Time that fuch floating Rocks have been 
 feen in the Sea. The Ship called the Mother of the Incarnation, 
 making the fame Courfe as we did, ran the fame Danger in open 
 Day; the Rock of Ice which nearly occafioned its Lofs, for Want 
 of Wind to ihun it, was feen by the whole Ship's Company, and 
 judged to be much greater ftill, than that which we met. They 
 add that the General Abfolution was given, as in Cafes of the 
 greateft Danger. 
 
 It is certain in the fecond Place, that in Hud/on' s Bay there arc 
 fome of thefe Rocks of Ice formed by the Fall of Torrents, which 
 tome from the Tops of the Mountains, and which break away 
 with a vaft Noife during the Summer, and are afterwards driven 
 about by the Currents. The Sieur Jereiny who lived many Years 
 
 C i§
 
 i o An Hiftorlcal Journal of 
 
 this Bay, fays he had the Curiofity to found at the Foot of one 
 of thefe Rocks of Ice which vva3 aground, and that they let out 
 an hundred Fathoms of Line without reaching the Bottom. But 
 I return to our Voyage. 
 
 Gap Race Madam, is the Sour 1 ! Eaft Point of the IJland of New- 
 
 OfCape Race. f°" ndla ' ld \ *« is fit "«ed in 46 Degrees, and 
 J r about 30 Minutes North Latitude ; the Coaft 
 
 runs from thence 100 Leagues to the Weft, making a little to 
 the North, and terminates at Cape Race, which is in 47 Degrees. 
 About half Way is the great Bay of Placentia, which makes one 
 of the fir.eft Ports in America. Weft South Weft of this Bay, 
 there is a high Land, which isfeen at a great Diftance, and ferves 
 to make it known : It is called k Chapeau rouge (the Red Hat) 
 becaufe at a Diftance it appears in the Shape of a Hat, and is of 
 a reddiih Colour. The 23d at Noon we were over againft it, and 
 in the Evening we came up with the Ifles of St. Peter, which were 
 on our right Hand. 
 
 They are three Iflands, the two firft of which are very high, 
 
 ThelJlesofSt. and fl '°f the Side on which we were, they 
 p et J appeared to be nothing but Mountains 
 
 covered with Mofs. They fay that this Mofs 
 covers in feveral Places fine Porphyry. On the Side of New- 
 foundland there are fome Lands which may be cultivated ; and a 
 pretty good Port, were we formerly had fome Habitations. The 
 greater!: and moft Weftern of the three, which is moft commonly 
 called the Ifle Miquelon, is net fo high as the other two, and 
 appears very level ; it is about three quarters of a League 
 long. The 24th at Day break, it was 5 or 6 Leagues behind 
 us; but after Midnight we had no Wind : About four o'Clock 
 in the Morning, there arofe a fmall Breeze from the South Eaft. 
 Waiting till it was firong enough to fill our Sails, we amufed 
 ourfelves with Fifhing, and took a pretty large Quantity of Cod. 
 Weftopt two Hours longer than we fhould have done, for this 
 Fishery, and we had foon Caufe enough to repent it : It was eight 
 o'Clock when we got under Sail, and we run all the Day in 
 Hopes of difcovering Cafe Ray, which was on our right, or the 
 little Ifle of St. Paul, which we were to leave on the left, and 
 which is almoft over againft Cape Ray ; but the Night came on 
 before we could difcover either. We heartily wifl.ed then, we had 
 made Ufe of the Time we had loft. What was the more vexatious 
 we had about Midnight another Storm, much like that on the Great 
 Bank, and knowing that we were near one of thofe two Iflands 
 which we were to pafs between, we did not dare to make Ufe of 
 the Wind, which would have carried us on at a great Rate. So, 
 contrary to the Opinion of Chaviteau, who engaged to go for- 
 ward without Danger, we lay by. 
 
 At break of Day we difcovered Cape Ray, upon which the 
 
 Currents
 
 Travels in North America, u 
 
 Currents bore us, and to encreafe our Misfortune, we had no 
 Wind to keep us off : We were almoft upon it, when about 
 half an Hour pad iive in the Morning a fmall Breeze from the 
 North Well, came in very good Time to our Affiftance. We loll 
 nothing of it, and we got out of Danger. The North Well 
 after having done us this good Ortice, would have obliged us 
 extremely, if it had given Place to ibme other Wind ; but it 
 did not, and for two Days kept us at the Entrance of the Gulf 
 of St. Laurence. On the third Day we palled between the Ifle of St. 
 Paul, and Cape St. Laurence, whic h is the moll northerly Point of Ifle 
 Royal ; this Paflage is very narrow, and we do not hazard ourfelves 
 in it, when the Air is foggy. The PalTagc which is between the 
 Ifle of St. Paul and Cape Ray, is much wider ; but our Sails 
 were fet to take the other, and we made Ule of it. 
 
 The Gulf of St. Laurence is 80 Leagues long, which we pafled 
 
 Of th C If f w ^ a S 00 ^ Wind in twenty-four Hours, by 
 
 / ' U J °J, the help of the Currents. About half Way we 
 
 St. Laurence, a;;d v, ., n . , Tn , ... } n ~ 1 
 
 , n . , T ,7 j meet with the Bird Hands, which we palled 
 
 the Bird ittands. • , • n c , / j 1 • 1 n. l 
 
 J within Lannon Shot, and which mull not be 
 
 confounded with thofe which James Cartier diicovered near the 
 Ifland of Newfoundland. Thefe I fpeak of, are two Rocks, 
 which appeared to me to rife perpendicular, about 60 Feet above 
 the Sea ; the largeft of which is not above 2 or 300 Paces in 
 Circumference : They are very near each other, and I believe 
 there is not Water enough between them for a large Boat. It is 
 difficult to fay what Colour they are, for the Dung of the Birds 
 entirely cover their Surface and Sides : Yet we difcovcred in 
 fome Places, Veins of a reddilh Colour. They have been often 
 vilited, and Boats have been entirely loaded here with Eggs of 
 all Sorts : They fay that the Stench is infupportabie. They 
 add, that with the Penguins, which come from the neighbouring 
 Lands, they find many other Birds which can't fly. The 
 Wonder is, that in fuch a Multitude of Nells, every Bird im- 
 mediately finds her own. We fired a Gun, which gave the Alarm 
 thro' all this flying Commonwealth, and there was formed 
 above the two Hands, a thick Cloud of thefe Birds, which was 
 at leall two or three Leagues round. 
 
 The next Day, about the Dawn, the Wind dropt all at once. 
 In two Hours more we could have doubled Cape Rojiers, and 
 have entered the River St. Laurence, which runs North Ealland 
 South Well, and the North Well Wind which rofe foon after, 
 would have ferved us ; but we loft two Hours of the twenty-four 
 in Filhing,and in Confequence, two Days at the Entrance'of the 
 Gulf; and we were obliged to wait here till the North Well 
 dropped, which was not in five Days, in which we made only five 
 Leagues. 
 
 C 2 Cane
 
 3 2 An Historical Journal of 
 
 Cape Rcfiers is properly the Entrance of the River St. Laure):ce f 
 and from hence we mult meafure the Width of its Mouth, which 
 is about 30 Leagues. A little on this Side, more to the Souths 
 are the Bay and Point of Ga/pe, or Gacbepe. Thofe who pre- 
 tend that the River St. Lauretta is 40 Leagues wide at its Mouth, 
 meafure it probably from the Eaiiern Point of Ga/pe. Below 
 the Bay we perceive a Kind of Ifland, which is only a fteep 
 Rock, about 30 Fathoms long, 10 high, and 4 in Breadth : It 
 looks like Part of an Old Wall, and they fay it joined formerly to 
 Mount Joli, which is over agair.ir. it on the Continent. This 
 Rock has in the midft of it an Opening like an Arch, under 
 which a Boat of Bifcay may pafs with its Sail up, and this has 
 given it the Name of the pierced Ifland ; Sailors know they are 
 near it, when they perceive a flat Mountain ftand above others ,- 
 and which is called Rowland' 's 1 'able : The Ifland of Bonaventure is 
 a League diitant from the pierced Ifland; about the fame Diftance 
 as the Ifland Mij'cou, which is eight Leagues in Compafs, and has 
 a very good Haven. Not far from this Ifland, there rife? out of 
 the Sea a Spring of Frefh Water, which bubbles up, and makes a 
 Jet like a Fountain pretty high. 
 
 All thefe Coafts are excellent for their Fifliery, and the An- 
 chorage is good every where. It would be eafy alfo to eiiablifh 
 Magazines here for the Ufe of Quebec. But we have loft a great 
 deal of Time in purfuing the Fur Trade, which we (hould have 
 employed in the Fifliery for Cod and many other Sorts of Fiih, 
 with which this Sea abounds, and in fortifying ourfelves in 
 thofe Ports, the Importance of which we have difcovered too 
 late. 
 
 But to return to our Voyage : It was natural upon having 
 near us fuch fafe and convenient Retreats, that we fhould have 
 made Ufe of them, to wait for the Return of a fair Wind; but 
 they hoped it would return every Minute, and they wanted te 
 take Advantage of it immediately. 
 
 At length, on Thurfday the 10th of September, the North 
 Weft Wind dropt about Noon, when finding we could not ad- 
 vance, or fcarcely work the Ship, we amufed ourfelves with 
 fifhing, and this Amuefment was again hurtful to us ; for the 
 Steerfman minding his fifhing more than his Helm, let the 
 Wind come upon his Sails : During the Calm, we had driven 
 much upon the Ifle of dntieojle, and this Ncgleft of the Steerf- 
 man brought us fo near, becaufe the Currents carried us that 
 Way, that we faw plainly all the Breakers with which the Ifland 
 is bordered. To compleat ourMisfortune, the little Wind which 
 was juftrifen failed us in our Necefhty. 
 
 Had this Calm continued but a fhort Time, we had been loft. 
 A Moment after our Sails fwellcd a little, and we endeavoured 
 
 to
 
 Travels in North America. 13 
 
 to change our Courfc, but the Ship, contrary to what is ufual, 
 would not come to the Wind, and this twice together: A certain 
 Proof, that the Current by which it was carried was very ftrong. 
 We thought ourlelves loir without Refource, becaufe we were 
 very near the Rocks: To run the Rifle of turning about with the 
 Wind in our Poop was extremely hazardous ; but after all, there 
 was nothing elfeto be done; fo we fetourfelvesto work, ratherto 
 have nothing to reproach onrfelves with, then in Hopes of laving 
 ouri'elves; and in an Initant we found by Experience, that Goi> 
 comes to the Afliftance of thofe that endeavour to help them- 
 felves.The Wind changed to the North, it freshened by Degrees, 
 and about feven o'Clock at Night we cleared the Point of Jnti- 
 cofie, which had put us in fo much Fear. 
 
 This lfland extends about 40 Leagues North Eaft, and South 
 . Weft, about the Middle of the River St. Lau- 
 
 Defirtpttmofthe but h as little Ereadth. It was granted 
 
 IJit of Anticotte. tQ ^ g ieQr y f&/> upon his Rcturn from the 
 
 Difcovery of the MiJ/iJippi, but they made him no great Prefent. 
 It is abiclutely good for nothing : It is poorly wooded, its Soil 
 is barren, and'it has not a fingle Harbour where a Ship may be in 
 Safety. There was a Report fome Years ago, that there was a 
 le of Silver difcovered in this liland ; and for Want of Mi- 
 ners, they fent from Quebec (where I was at that Time) a^Gold- 
 fmith to make the Proof of it ; but he did not go far. He foon 
 perceived by the Difcourfe of the Perfon who raifed the^ Re- 
 port, that the Mine exifted only in his own whimfical Brain. 
 
 TheCoaftsof this lfland are pretty well ftored with Fifli ; 
 nevertheless I am perfuaded, that the Heirs of the Sieur J diet 
 would willingly change their vail Lordfhip, for the fmalleftFief 
 01 France. 
 
 When we have pafi'ed this lfland, we have the Pleafure to fee 
 Land on both Sides, and to be afl'urcd of the Way we make ; 
 but we mull fail with a great deal of Caution up the River. 
 Tuc/day the 3d, we left on the left Hand the Mountains of 
 Notre 'Dame, and Mount Louis', it is a Chain of very high Moun- 
 tains, between which there are ibme Vallies, which were 
 formerly inhabited by Savages. The Country round about 
 Mount Louis has fome very good Land, and fome French Habi- 
 tations They mieht make here a very good Settlement for 
 the Fifherv, especially for Whales ; and it would be convenient 
 for Ships which come from France, to find Afliftance here, which 
 hey fometimes extremely want. The next Night the Wind 
 encreafed, and was very near playing us an ugly Trick. We 
 were not far from Trnuty Po:nt, which we were to leave upon 
 our right ; and the Steerfman thought us wide enough from it 
 Jo be out of Danger; but M. it Vovtron ftarted up in a Fright,
 
 14 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 crying out to the Steerfman to keep ciF the Shore. If this 
 Order had been deferred a Quarter of an Hour, the Ship had 
 run upon the Point, which appeared fome Moments after. The 
 4th at Night, we anchored for the firft Time, a little below 
 what they call the Paps of Matane. They are two Heads of the 
 fame Mountain, which is ab at two Leagues within Land. I 
 do not think one can fee a wilder Country ; there is nothing to 
 be feen but poor Woods, Rocks, Sands, and not one Inch of 
 good Land ; there are indeed fome fine Springs, and Plenty of 
 good Wild-Fowl ; but it is impoflible for any but Savages and 
 Canadians to follow their Game in fuch a Place. On the other 
 Side of the River is the Shoal of Manicouagan, famous for more 
 than one Ship-wreck, which advances two Leagues into the 
 River. It takes its Name from a River which rifes in the Moun- 
 tains of Labrador, makes a pretty large Lake, which bears 
 the fame Name, but more commonly that of St. Barnabas, and 
 difcharges itfelf into the River St. Laurence acrofs the Sand : 
 Some of our Maps call it la Ri-vure Notre (the Black Ri<ver.) 
 
 The 8th we fet Sail, but it was not worth our while for the 
 Way we made; but Variety of Amufement and Exercife is good 
 for Sailors. In the Nightof the 10th we made 15 Leagues; and in 
 half a League more we had cleared the moft difficult Paftage of 
 the River. 'We alfo mould have got into the ftrong Tides, for to 
 this Place they are hardly yet perceivable but at the Shores : But 
 the Wind changed fuddenly to the South Weft, and obliged us 
 to feek for Shelter, which we found under Ifle Verte or Green 
 IJland, where we remained five Days. We wanted nothing here, 
 but at the End of this Time, we refolved to try if we could not 
 find on the North Side, as we were made to hope, fome Land 
 Winds, which would carry us into the great Tides. 
 
 We went therefore, and anchored at MoulinBaude (Baude Mill) 
 q~ q the Traverfe is five Leagues over. Upon ar- 
 
 / xl % \ r riving here, I aiked to fee the Mill, and they 
 and the Port of „ b , ' r „ , , ' .„. } , 
 
 T do (T J ihewed me iome Rocks, from whence limed 
 
 a ftream of clear Water. They might build 
 
 a Water-Mill here, but it is not likely it will ever be done. 
 
 There is not perhaps a Country in the World lefs habitable than 
 
 this. The Saguenay is a little higher ; it is a River which the 
 
 largeft Vefiels may go up 25 Leagues ; at the Entrance we leave 
 
 the Port of Tadoujfac to the Right. The greateft Part of our 
 
 Geographers have here placed a Town, but where there never 
 
 was but one French Houfe, and fome Huts of Savages who 
 
 came there in the Time of the Trade, and who carried away 
 
 their Huts or Booths, when they went away ; and this was the 
 
 whole Matter. It is true that this Port has been a long Time 
 
 the Refort of all the Savage Nations of the North and Eaft, and 
 
 that
 
 Travels in North America. 15 
 
 that the French reforted hither as foon as the Navigation was 
 free, both from France and Canada ; the Miflionaries aJfo made 
 Ufe of" the Opportunity, and came to trade here for Heaven : 
 And when the Trade was over, the Merchants returned to their 
 Homes, the Savages took the Way to their Villages or Forefts, 
 and the Gofpel Labourers followed the laft, to compleat their 
 Inftru&ions. Yet fome Accounts, and fome Travellers, have 
 fpoken much of TadcuJ/dc; and the Geographers have fuppofed 
 it was a Town ; and fome Authors have given it a Jurifdidtion. 
 
 Tadoujfac in other Refpecls, is a good Port, and they allured 
 me that 25 Men of War might lay here fheltered from all Winds ; 
 that the Anchorage is fafe, and Entrance eafy. Its Shape is al- 
 moft round, fome lteep Rocks of a prodigious Height furround 
 it on all Sides, and a fmail Stream runs from them, which may 
 fupply the Ships with Water. All the Country is full of Mar- 
 ble ; but its greateft Riches would be the Whale Fifhery. In 
 1705, being at Anchor with the Herce in this Place, I faw four 
 of thefe Filh, which were between Head and Tail, almoft as long 
 as our Ship. The B if earners have followed this Fifhery formerly 
 with Succefs, and there is ftill upon a little Ifland of their Name, 
 and which is little lower than Ifle Verte (Green IJland) fome Re- 
 mains of the Furnaces, and the Ribs of the Whales. What a 
 Difference is there betwixt a fixt Fifhery, which they might fol- 
 low quietly in a River, and that which they go to Greenland for 
 with fo much Danger and Expence. The two following Days 
 there was no Land Wind, and we greatly regretted our firft An- 
 chorage, near which there were fome French Habitations, whereas 
 here we faw neither Man nor Beaft : In fhort, the 3d Day at 
 Noon we weighed Anchor, and we cleared the Paffage of Vljle 
 Rouge (Red IJland) which is difficult. You mult firft bear upon 
 the Ifland as if you would land on it, this is to fhun the Pointt 
 aux Allouetts (Lark Point) which is at the Entrance of Saguemay 
 upon the Left, and which advances greatly into the River; hav- 
 ing done this, we change our Courfe. The PafTage on the South 
 of Vljle Rouge is much fafer, but to do this we muft have gone 
 back, and the Wind might have failed us. L'lJIe Rouge is only 
 a Rock a little above Water, which appears red, and upon 
 which more than one Ship has been loft. 
 
 The next Day with little Wind and Tide, we came to an 
 Of th III aux Anchor above the Ifland Coudres, which is 15 
 
 r- j ' j ,i Leagues from Quebec and Tadouljdc : and this 
 
 L-ondres, and the „ ^ P . , ^-- , ■?? „l. . . 
 
 P i~ raifage is dangerous, when the Wind is not 
 
 to our Defire; it is rapid, ftraight, and a Mile 
 
 long. Formerly it was much fafer, but in 1663 an Earthquake 
 
 rooted up a Mountain, and threw it upon the Ifle of Ccudres, 
 
 which was made one half larger than before, and in the Place of the 
 
 Mountain
 
 1 6 An Hijlorical 'Journal of 
 
 Mountain there appeared a Gulf, which it is not fafe to approach. 
 We might have pafled on the South of the Ifland Coudrcs, and 
 this Pafiage would have been fafe and eafy ; it bears the Name 
 of M. d^ Iberville, who tryed it with Succefs, but it is the Cuftom 
 to pafs by the North, and Cuftom is an abfolute Law for the Ge- 
 nerality of Mankind. 
 
 Above the Gulph I have jufc mentioned is the Bay of St. Paul, 
 
 - . „ where the Habitations begin on the North 
 
 Vf the Bay of side . and there are fome Wf)ods of p ine . 
 
 Trees, which are much valued : Here are alfo 
 fome red Pines of great Beauty. MelTrs. of the Seminary of 
 Quebec are Lords of this * Bay. Six Leagues higher, there is 
 a verv high Promontory, which terminates a Chain of Moun- 
 tains, which extend above 400 Leagues to the Weft : It is call- 
 ed Cape Torment, probably becaufe he that gave it this 
 Name, fufFered here by a Guft of Wind. The Anchorage is 
 o-ood, and we are furrounded by Iflands of all Sizes, which afford 
 a very good Shelter. The molt confiderable is the Ifle of Or- 
 leans, the Fields of which being all cultivated, appear like an 
 Amphitheatre, and terminate the Profpeft very pleaiingly. This 
 Ifland is about 14 Leagues in Compafs ; and in 1676 it was 
 made a Title of Honour, and firft gave Title of Count to Francis 
 Berthclot, Secretary General of the Ordinance, by the Stile of 
 Count St. Laurence ; who purchafed it of Francis de Laval, firft 
 Biihop of Quebec. It contained then four Villages, but it has 
 now fix Parifhes pretty well peopled. Of the two Channels 
 made by this Ifland, that of the South only is navigable for 
 Ships : Even Boats cannot pafs that of the North but at high 
 Water : So that from Cape Torment we muft traverfe the River 
 to go to Quebec, and this Traverfe has its Difficulties ; we meet 
 with feme moving Sands, on which there is not always Water 
 enough for large VelTels, fo that this is never attempted but 
 whilft the Tide flows. But this Difficulty might be fhunned by 
 taking the Pafiage of M. d' Iberville. Cape Torment, from which 
 we pals to make the Traverfe, is 1 10 Leagues from the Sea, and 
 vet the Water is a little brackifh : It is not fit todrink, but at the 
 Entrance of the two Canals, which form the Ifle of Orleans. 
 This is a Phoenomenon pretty hard to explain, efpecially .if we 
 confider the great Rapidity of the River, notwithftanding its 
 Breadth. The Tide flows here regularly 5 Hours, and ebbs 
 feven. At Tadoujfac it ebbs and flows fix Hours ; and the higher 
 we go up the River, the more the Flood diminifhes, and the Ebb 
 increafes. At twenty Leagues above Quebec it flows three Hours, 
 and ebbs nine. Higher up the Tide is not perceivable. When it is 
 
 * A very good Lead Mine has been found here lately. 
 
 half
 
 'Travels in North America. 1 7 
 
 half Flood in the Port of Tadouffac, and at the Entrance of Sa- 
 guenay, it is but juft beginning to flow at Cbecoutimi, twenty-five 
 Leagues higher up the River Saguenay; and yet it is high Water 
 at the three Places at the fame Time: This happens no Doubt 
 becaufe the Rapidity of the River S ague nay, greater than 
 that of St. Laurence, running againft the Tide, makes an Equili- 
 brium for fome Time between Cbecoutimi, and the Entrance ot 
 the Saguenay into the Great River. This Rapidity was not fo great 
 but fince the Earthquake of 1663. This Earthquake overthrew a 
 Mountain in the River, which ir.raiter.ed its Bed, and formed a 
 Peninfula, which they call Cbecoutimi, above which the Stream is 
 fo ftrong, that Canoes can't get up it. The Depth of Saguenay, 
 from its Mouth up to Cbecoutimi, is equal to its Rapidity : So that 
 it would not be fafe to anchor in it, if they could not make fall 
 their Veffels to the Trees that cover the Banks of this River. 
 
 It is alfo found that in the Gulf of St. Laurence, at eight or 
 ten Leagues from the Land, the Tides are different, according 
 to the various Situations of the Land, or the Difference of the 
 Seafons ; that in fome Places they follow the Winds, and in o- 
 thers they run againft the Wind ; that at the Mouth of the River, 
 at certain Months of the Year, the Currents always run to the 
 Sea, and in others always towards the Land ; and laftly,, that in 
 the River itfelf, till near the feven Iflands, that is to Jay, fixty 
 Leagues, there is no Flux on the South Side, nor any Reflux on 
 the North Side. It is not eafy to give any good Reafons for all 
 this ; all that can be faid, with the greateft Probability, is, that 
 there are fome Motions under Water, which produce thefe 
 Irregularities, or that there are fome Currents which come and 
 go from the Surface to the Bottom, and from the Bottom to the 
 Surface, in the Manner of Pumps. Another Observation to be 
 made here is, that the Variation of the Compafs (which in fome 
 Ports of France, is but two or three Degrees North Weft) con- 
 tinues always decreafing till we come to the Azores, where there 
 is no longer any Variation ; but from thence it increafes in fuch 
 a Manner, that upon the Great Bank of Newfoundland it is 
 twenty-two Degrees and more ; afterwards it begin? to decreafe, 
 but fibwly, fince it is ftill fixteen Degrees at Quebec, and twelve 
 in the Country of the Hurons, where the Sun fets thirty-three 
 Minutes later than at Quebec. 
 
 Sunday the twenty-fecond, we caft Anchor by the Ifle of Or- 
 
 .. , rn . leans, where we went to take an Airing, 
 Of tbe JJle of m the Return of the Tide _ j found this 
 
 Uileans. Country fine, the Soil gocd, and the Inha- 
 
 bitants pretty well at their Eafe. They have the Charaaer of 
 being given to Witchcraft; and they are confulted, they fay, up- 
 on future Events, and concerning what pafies in diilant Places. 
 
 D F p:
 
 i J An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 For Inftance : If the Ships of France do not arrive fo foon as 
 ixfual, they are confulted to hear News of them, and it is faid 
 they have fometimes anfwered pretty true ; that is to fay, having 
 gueffed right once or twice, and having out of Diverfion made 
 People believe that they fpoke ;rom a certain Knowledge, Peo- 
 ple fancied they had confulted the Devil. 
 
 When James Cartier difcovered this Ifland, he found it full of 
 Vines, and named it the Ifle of Bacchus. This Navigator was a 
 Britain. After him there came fome Normans ; who plucked up 
 the Vines, and fubftituted Pomona and Ceres in the Room of 
 Bacchus. In Fact, it produces good Wheat and excellent Fruit. 
 They alfo begin to cultivate Tobacco, and it is not bad. — At 
 length, on Monday the 23d, the Camel anchored before Quebec, 
 where I arrived two Hours before in a Canoe of Bark. I have 
 a thoufand Leagues to travel in thefe brittle Vehicles : I muft 
 
 ufe myfelf to them by Degrees.- This is, Madam, all that 
 
 I could recollect of the Particulars of my Voyage.— I fhall have 
 fomething of more Confequence to write hereafter. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 A Defer ipiion cf Quebec, Char acler of the Inhabitants, and the 
 Marnier of Living in the French Colony. 
 
 Madam, Quebec, Qa. 28, 1720. 
 
 I Am going to fpeak of Quebec — All the Defcriptions I have 
 hitherto feen of it are fo different, that I thought it would 
 be a Pleafure to you to fee a true Picture of this Capital of 
 Nenv France. It really deferves to be known, were it only for 
 the Singularity of its Situation ; for it is the only City in the 
 World that can boaft of a Port in frefti Water a hundred and 
 twenty Leagues from the Sea, and capable of containing one 
 hundred Ships of the Line. It is alfo fituated on the molt navi- 
 gable River in the World. 
 
 This River, up to the Ifle of Orleans, that is to fay, on* 
 ' , ,. hundred and ten, or one hundred and twelve 
 
 Whence the Name Le from the Sea> j, never lefs than f our 
 
 cf Quebec « de- Qr £ ye Leagues wi(le . but above the Ifland 
 rzw "' it grows narrower all at once, fo that before 
 
 Quebec it is but a Mile broad, which gave it the Name _ of Que* 
 beio, or Quebec ; which, in the Algonquin Language, fignifies Con- 
 traction* The Abenaqtnt, whofe Language, is a Dialect of the 
 
 Algonquin,
 
 Travels in North America. 19 
 
 Jlgonquin, call it Quelibec, which fignifies fomethingy&K/ up ; be- 
 caufe, at the Entrance of the little River Chaudiere, by which 
 the Savages came to Quebec from the Neighbourhood of Acadia* 
 the Point of Levi which advances upon the Ifle of Orleans, en- 
 tirely hides the South Channel, and the Ifle of Orleans hides the 
 North ; fo that the Port of Quebec appears only like a great Bay. 
 The firft Thing that appears upon entering the Road, is a fine 
 Th F II f Sheet of Water, about thirty Feet wide, and 
 
 A/T™<l^n,-; * ort y Feet ni g n - It is diredly at the En- 
 
 Montmorenci. ' c ^i_ ?• ^i ™ i r i m <■ ^ 
 
 trance of the little Channel of the Ifle of Or- 
 leans, and it is feen from a long Point of the South Coall of the 
 River ; which, as I faid before, feems to bend upon the Ifle of 
 Orleans. This Cafcade is called the Fall of Montmorcnci, and 
 the Point bears the Name of Levi ; for New France had fuccef- 
 fively for Viceroys, the Admiral Mcntmorenci, and the Duke de 
 Ventadour his Nephew. Every Body would judge that fuch a 
 large Fall of Water, which runs continually, was the Difcharge 
 of fome fine River, but it is only derived from an inconflderable 
 Current which in fome Places is not Ancle deep ; but it runs 
 continually, and has its Rife from a Lake about twelve Leagues 
 from the Fall. 
 
 The City is a League higher, and on the fame Side, in the 
 
 cT-v o-. , • c very Place where the River is narro well ; but 
 The situation of , / , . , , Tn . \ 
 
 Quebec. between the City and the Ifle of Orleans, 
 
 ^- ' there is a Bafon a full League in Extent every 
 
 Way, into which the River St. Charles difcharges itfelf, which 
 comes from the North-Weil. Quebec is between the Mouth of 
 this River and Diamond Cape, which advances a little into the 
 River St. Laurence. The Moorings are over-againll the City. 
 There is twenty-five Fathom Water, and good Anchorage ; yet, 
 when the North-Earl blows hard, Ships fometimes drive upon 
 their Anchors, but without Danger. 
 
 When Samuel de Champlain founded this City in 1608, the 
 
 n r .... c Tide rofe fometimes to the Foot of the 
 Uclcnption of t> I e* .U m- L r> • 1 
 
 Quebec Rock. Since that Time the River has re- 
 
 T" ' tired by Degrees, and left a great Space dry, 
 
 where they have built the lower City, which is at prefent high 
 
 enough above the Shore to fecure the Inhabitants againil the 
 
 Inundations of the River. The firft Thing we find at landing, 
 
 is a pretty large Spot of an irregular Figure, which has in 
 
 Front a Row of Houfes pretty well built, their Backfide clofeto 
 
 the Rock, fo that they have but little Depth : They make a 
 
 pretty long Street, which takes up the whole Breadth of the 
 
 Place, and extends from Right to Left to two Ways, which lead 
 
 ro the upper City. The Place is bounded on the Left bv a 
 
 fmall Church, and on the Right by two Rows of Houfes bui I ton 
 
 D 2 a Parallel.
 
 2o An Hljlorical Journal of 
 
 a Parallel. There is one Row on the other Side between the 
 Church and the Port ; and at the Turning of Cape Diamond, 
 there is another pretty long Range of Houfes on the Side of a 
 fmall Bay, which is called the VAnJede Meres, (Mother's Bay.) This 
 Quarter may be reckoned a Kir.d of Suburb to the lower City. 
 
 Between this Suburb and the great Street we afcend to the 
 upper City, by a Way fo fteep, that they have been obliged to 
 make Steps, io that we can only afcend on Foot : But taking 
 the Right Hand Side, they have made a Way which 
 is not lb fteep, and which is bordered by Houfes : 'Tis 
 at the Spot where the two Ways meet, that the upper City be- 
 gins on the Side towards the River St. Laurence ; for there is 
 another lower City on the Side of the River St. Charles. The 
 firft remarkable Building we find to the Right of thefirft Side, is 
 the Bifhop's Palace : All the Left is bordered with Houfes. 
 Twenty Paces further, we arrive at two pretty large Squares, or 
 Openings : That on the Left is the Place of Arms, which is 
 before the Fort, where the Governor-General refides. The Re- 
 €o!lets areover-againft it, and fome pretty good Houfes are built 
 on the other Side of the Square. 
 
 Jn that on the Right Hand, we meet firft the Cathedral, which 
 alfo ferves as aPariih Church to all the City. The Seminary is 
 on one Side, upon the Angle made by the River St. Laurence and 
 the River St. Charles. Over-againft the Cathedral, is the Je- 
 fuits College, and between both there are pretty good Houfes. 
 From the Place of Arms, we enter two Streets, which are eroded 
 by a third, which is entirely taken up by the Church and Con- 
 vent of the Recollets. The fecond Opening has two Defcents 
 to the River St. Charles ; one very fteep on the Side of the Se- 
 minary, where there are few Houfes ; the other, by the Side of 
 the J'fuits Inclofure, which winds very much, and has the Hotel 
 Dicu about the Mid-way, is bordered by fmall Houfes, and ends 
 at the Palace of the Intendant. On the other Side of the Je- 
 ''fiats College, where the Church is, there is a pretty long Street, 
 in which are the Urfulincs.— -To conclude, all the upper City is 
 built on a Foundation of Marble and Slate, (a) 
 
 This is, Madam, the Topography of Quebec ; which, as you 
 fee, has a pretty large Extent. Moft of the Houfes are built of 
 Stone ; and yet it is reckoned to contain but about feven thou- 
 fand Souls. — But to give you a juft Idea of this City, I fliail de- 
 fcribe its principal Buildings more particularly, and then I (hall 
 give an Account of its Fortifications.— -The Church of the lower 
 City was built in Confequence of a Vow made during the Siege 
 
 (a) Tills City is considerably increafed within the laft twenty Years. 
 
 Of
 
 Travels in North America. 2 1 
 
 of Quebec, in 1690. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Viftory, and 
 ferves the Inhabitants of the lower City. It is a very plain 
 Building : All its Ornament is a modeft Neatnefs. Some Sifters 
 of a Congregation which I fhall mention hereafter, are lodged 
 between this Church and the Port. There are but four or five, 
 and keep a School. 
 
 This Epifcopal Palace is finifhed, excepting the Chapel, 
 and half the Buildings of the Defign, which was intended to be 
 a long Square. If it is ever finifhed, it will be avery fine Build- 
 ing. The Garden extends to the Brow of the Rock, and com- 
 mands all the Road. — When the Capital of New France fhall be 
 as flourifhing (a) as that of the Old, (we muftdefpair of nothing, 
 Paris was a long Time much lefs than Quebec is now,) as far as 
 the Eye can reach they will fee only Towns, Caftles, Country 
 Houfes ; and all this is already fketched out : And the River St. 
 Laurence, that majeftically rolls her Waters, and brings them from 
 the Extremity of the North or the Weft, will be covered with 
 VefTels. The Ifle of Orleans, and the two Banks of the two 
 Rivers that form this Port, will difcover fine Meadows, rich 
 Hills, and fertile Fields ; and nothing is wanting for this End, 
 but to be more peopled. A Part of a charming Valley (which 
 the River St. Charles winds pleafingly through) will, no Doubt, 
 be joined to the City, of which it will certainly make the fineft 
 Quarter : And when they have bordered all the Road with no- 
 ble Quays, and we fhall fee three or four hundred Ships loaded 
 with Riches which hitherto we have not known how to value, 
 and bringing back in Exchange thofe of the Old and New 
 World, you will acknowledge, Madam, that this Terrafs will 
 afford a ProfpecT: that nothing can equal. 
 
 The Cathedral would not be a fine Farifh Church in one of 
 a-, n 7 , 1 the fmalleft Towns in France. Judge, then, 
 The Cathedral if {t deferves t0 be the Seat of the only'Bi-* 
 and the Seminary. ^^j. whkh is in all the French Empire HX 
 
 America, of greater Extent, than was ever that of the Romans. 
 The Architecture, the Choir, the great Altar, the Chapels of 
 this Cathedral, appear only fit for a Country Church. The 
 moft tolerable Thing belonging to it, is a very high Tower or 
 Steeple, folidly built, and which at a Diftance makes fome Ap- 
 pearance. The Seminary, which joins to the Church, is a large 
 Square, the Buildings of which are not finifhed : What is built, 
 
 (a) The Event of Things has fliewn, that this Author had not a true Pro- 
 phetic Spirit. How mull the French he mortified, to find al! their fond Hopes 
 of railing Quebec to fuch a Height of Magnificence, fruftrated by the Valour 
 cf the Engtt/b Arms ; and to fee that vaft Empire, which they flattered 
 themfelves they mould be able to eftablifh in North America, all transferred ar.d 
 annexed to the Imperial Crown of Britain I ' 
 
 is
 
 2 2 An Historical Journal of 
 
 is well done, and with all the Conveniencies neceffary in thfs 
 
 Country. This is the third Time of building this Houfe. It 
 
 was burnt entirely in 1703. And in October, 1705, when it was 
 
 julf. rebuilt, it was almoft totally deftroyed by Fire. From the 
 
 Garden there is a Profped of tfee Road, and the River St. Charles, 
 
 as far as the Eye can reach. 
 
 The Fort is a fine Building, which is to be flanked with two 
 
 97, r j advanced Pavillions. There is but one 
 
 ^ " -p.- ' , built at prefent. They fay the other is to be 
 Cape Diamond. ; .- r .- , . . rJ, i. * 1 
 
 r built very loon, (a) I he Entrance is a large 
 
 and regular Court; but it has no Garden, becaufe the Fort is 
 built upon the Edge of the Rock. A fine Gallery, with a Bal- 
 cony that runs the whole Length of the Building, makes fome 
 Amends for this Defecl. It commands the Road ; to the Mid- 
 dle of which onemayeafily make onefelf heard with a fpeaking 
 Trumpet; and the lower City appears under your Feet. Coming 
 cut of the Fort, and pafiing to the Left, we enter into a pretty 
 large Efplanade ; and, by a gentle Afcent, we arrive at the 
 Top of Diamond Cape, which is a very fine Platform. Befides 
 the Pleafure of the Profpecl, we breathe in this Place the pureir. 
 Air, we fee Numbers of Porpoifes, white as Snow, play on the 
 Surface of the Water, and fometimes pick up Stones which are 
 more beautiful than thofe of Jlmcoi:, or Briftol. I have feen fome 
 as well formed as if they came out of the Hands of the bell 
 Workman. Formerly thev were common, and this gave the 
 
 Name to the Cape. At prefent they are very fcarce. The 
 
 . Oefcent to the Country here is more gentle than on the Side of 
 ihe Efplanade. 
 
 The Recolku have a large and fine Church, which would be an 
 The Recollets Honour to them at Ferfailles. It is neatly 
 
 „*,/*/;*T'U.r»K„„o' roofed, adorned with a large Gallery (fome- 
 anrtlke Uiiuiines. , . , N ,- , T7 , ft .* >■ ,. . 
 
 thing heavy) 01 Wood, well wrought, which 
 
 goes all round ; in which are made the ConfefTionals. In fhort, 
 it wants nothing ; but they fnould take away fome Pictures that 
 are very poorly painted. Father Luke has placed fome here that 
 do no Credit to the Place. The Houfe is anfwerable to the 
 Church : It is great, Yoiidly built, and convenient, accompa- 
 nied with a large Garden w'ell cultivated. The Urfulim Nuns 
 have fufFered twice by Fire, as well as the Seminary : And withal 
 they have fuch a Sender Provifion, and the Portions they receive 
 with the Maids of this Country are fo fmall, that the firft Time 
 their Houfe was burnt, they had Thoughts of fending them 
 back to France : However, they have made a Shift to re-efhblifh 
 thcmfelves both Times, and their Church is quite finimed. 
 
 (a) It is now finifhed. 
 
 The,
 
 Travels in North America. 23 
 
 They are neatly and conveniently lodged : It is the Fruit of 
 the good Name they have acquired in the Colony by their Piety, 
 CEconomy, Sobriety, and Labour : They gild and embroider. 
 All are ufefully employed ; and whatever comes from their 
 Hands, is generally of a good Tafte. 
 
 You have feen, without Doubt, Madam, in feme of the Rela- 
 ctl i r ■ r 1 llons > tnat the College of the Je/uits is a very 
 y^JeluitsCo/- g ne Building. It is certain, that when this 
 * e Z e ' City was a rude Heap of French Barrack*, 
 
 and Savage Cabins, this Houfe (the only one with the Fort 
 that was btiilt of Stone) made fome Figure. The firft Travel- 
 lers, who judged by Comparifon, have reprefented it as a very 
 fine Building.^ Thofe who followed them, and who, according 
 to Cuftom, copied after them, fpoke the fame Language : But 
 the Cabins have difappeared, and the Barracks are changed to 
 Houfes, moftof them well built ; fo that the College is now a 
 Difgrace to the City, and is in a very ruinous Condition, (a) 
 The Situation is bad : It is deprived of the greater! Advan- 
 tage it could have, which is the ProfpccT It had at firft the 
 View of the Road, and its Founders were good enough to fancy 
 that they would be allowed to enjoy it, but they were deceived. 
 The Cathedral and the Seminary make a Mafk that leaves them 
 nothing but the View of the' Square, which has nothing to 
 make Amends for what they have loft: The Court of the Col- 
 lege is fmall and dirty ; nothing refembles more a Farm Yard. 
 The Garden is large and well kept, and is bounded ^by a little- 
 Wood, a precious Remain of the antient Foreft that formerly co- 
 vered this whole Mountain. 
 
 The Church has nothing fine on the Outfide, rbut a pretty Sort 
 of a Steeple : It is entirely covered with Slate, and is the only 
 one of Canada that has this Advantage, for every Thing here is 
 covered with Shingles. The Infide is well adorned : It has a 
 fine Gallery, bordered with an Iron Baluftrade, painted, gilt, and 
 well contrived ; a Pulpit entirely gilt, and well wrought in 
 Wood and Iron ; three handfeme Altars ; fome good Pictures ; 
 the Roof not arched, but flat, and pretty well 01 anniented ; no 
 Pavement, but a good Floor, which makes this Church more 
 fupportable in Winter, whilft People are frozen with Cold in the 
 others. I do not mention the four great cylindric mafftve Cci: 
 made of one Block of a certain Porphyry Hack as jet, without Spot* 
 or Feins, with which it pleafcd the Baron de la Hontan to enrich the 
 grand Altar. They would certainly be much better than thofe 
 they have, which are hollow, and coarfely covered with Mar- 
 ble. But this Author might eafily obtain Pardon, if he had 
 difguifed the Truth, only to adorn the Churches. 
 (a) The College is fince rebuilt, and is now very fir-,
 
 24 An Hiftorh al Journal of 
 
 The Hofpital has two large Halls, one for the Men and the 
 other for the Women ; the Beds are well 
 
 The. He/pit al. kept, the Sick are well attended, and every 
 
 Thing is convenient, and very neat. The 
 Church is behind the Woman'. Hall, and has nothing remarka- 
 ble but the great Altar, the Altar-piece of which is very fine. 
 This Houfe is ferved by fome Nuns of St. Auftin, the firft of 
 which came from Dieppe. They have begun a good Houfe here, 
 but it is very likely '..hey will not foon finifh it for Want of a Fund. 
 As their Houfe is fituated on the Midway of a Hill, on a Spot 
 that advances a little upon the River St. Charles, they have a 
 very pretty Prcfpeft. 
 
 The Houfe of the Intendant is called the Palace, becaufe the 
 
 Chief Council meets there. It is a Grand Pavillion, the Ends 
 
 of which project fome Feet, to which we afcend by a double 
 
 Flight of Steps. The Front towards the Garden is much plea- 
 
 fanter than that of the Entrance, having a View of the little 
 
 River. The Royal Magazines are on the right Side of the 
 
 Court, and the Prifon is behind. The Gate at the Entrance is 
 
 mafked by the Mountain, on which the upper City ftands, and 
 
 which prefents in this Place only a fteep Rock, very difagreea- 
 
 ble to the Sight. It was much worfe before the Fire, which 
 
 fome Years ago entirely deftroyed this (a) Palace, for it had no 
 
 Court in Front, and the Buildings flood upon the Street, which 
 
 is very narrow. Going down this Street, or mere properly 
 
 fpeaking, this Way, we come into the Country, and about half 
 
 a Mile diftant ftands the General Hofpital. It is the finefl 
 
 rr-i r> i tj r Houfe in Canada, and would be no Difgrace 
 The General Hof- fo our greateft Cities of Frat!ce , The Re- 
 
 i ltaL collets formerly pcfTefTed this Place : M. de St. 
 
 Vallicr, Bifhop of Quebec, removed them into the City, bought 
 the Ground, and fpent 100,000 Crowns in Buildings, Furni- 
 ture, and a Fund for its Support. The only Defect of this Hof- 
 pital is, its being built in aMarfh; however, they hope to remedy 
 it by draining the Marfh ; but the River St. Charles makes an 
 Elbow in this Place, and the Waters do not eafily run off, and 
 this can never be well mended. 
 
 The Prelate, who is the Founder, has his Apartment in the 
 Houfe, and makes it his ordinary Refidence ; he lets out his 
 own Palace, which is alfo his own Work, for the Benefit of the 
 Poor. He did not difdain to ferve as Almoner to the Hofpital, 
 as well as to the Nuns, and he performed the Duty of this Office 
 with a Zqal and Afliduity, which would be admired in a com- 
 mon Priefl, who was to live by this Employment. Artifts or 
 
 (a) This Palace was again entirely burnt down. 
 
 others
 
 7 > creels in North America. 25 
 
 tLers, whom great Age or Infirmities have deprived of getting 
 
 their living, are received into this Hofpital, to a certain Number 
 
 of Beds that are appropiated for this Purpofe, and thirty Nuns 
 
 are employed to attend them. It is a Copy of the Hotel Dicu of 
 
 Quebec, but to diftinguifh the Nuns, the Bifhop has given them 
 
 fome particular Regulations, and makes them wear a Silver 
 
 Crols upon their Breafts. The greateft Part of them are of good 
 
 Families, and as they are not of the richeft of the Country, the 
 
 Bifhop has given Portions to many. 
 
 Quebec is n t regularly fortified, but they have been long 
 
 r\c j 77 ■/• employed in making it a defensible Place : 
 Of the Fort in- „,' /,. • J > , 
 
 . J J J his Lity is not ealy to be taken in its pre- 
 
 fent Condition. The Port is flanked by two 
 Baftions, which at the high Tides, are almoft level «rith the 
 Water, that is to fay, about twenty-five Feet high, for the Equi- 
 noctial Tides rife fo high. A little above the Baftion on the 
 right, they have made a half Baftion in the Rock, and higher 
 up, by the Side of the Gallery of the Fort, there is a Battery of 
 twenty-five Pieces of Cannon. There is alittle fquare Fort called 
 the Citadel ftill above this J and the Ways to go from one Forti- 
 fication to another are very fteep. To the left of the Port, all 
 along the Road up to the River St. Charles, there are good Bat- 
 teries of Cannon, and fome Mortars. 
 
 From the Angle of the Citadel, which looks towards the City, 
 they have made an Oreille of a Baftion, from whence they have 
 made a Curtain at right Angles, which runs to join a very high 
 Cavalier, upon which there is a Mill fortified. Defcending from 
 this Cavalier, we meet, at about the Diftance of Mufket Shot, a 
 firft Tower with Baftions, and at the fame Diftance from this a 
 fecond. The Defign was to cover all this with a Stone facing, 
 which was to have the fame Angles as the Baftions, and which 
 was to terminate at the End of the Rock over againft the Palace, 
 where there is a little Redoubt, as well as on the Diamond Cape. 
 I know not why this has not been executed. Such was, Madam, 
 pretty near the State of the Place in 171 1, when the Englijb 
 fitted out a great Fleet for the Conqueft of Canada, which 
 failed of Succefs through the Rafhnefs of the Commander, who, 
 contrary to the Advice of his Pilot, came too near the feven 
 Ifles, and loft all his largeft Ships, and three thoufand Men of 
 his beft Troops. 
 
 After having mentioned what is moft material in our Capital, I 
 muft fay a Word or two of its Inhabitants ; this is its Beauty, /.nd 
 if upon confideringonly itsHoufes, Squares, Streets, and public 
 Buildings, we may reduce it to the Rank of the fmalleft Cities 
 of France, the Worth of thofe who inhabit it, fecures it the Title 
 of Capital. 
 
 E I have
 
 26 An lliftorlcal Journal of 
 
 I have already faid that they reckon fcarcely at Quebec fever- 
 C)f !•■> T ,h h' thoufand Souls ; but we find here a little 
 choien World, which wants nothing to make 
 an agreeable Society. A Governor Ge- 
 neral (a) with his Attendants, Nobility, Officers of the Army, 
 and Troops : An Intendant (b) with an upper Council, and the 
 inferior Jurifdiftions : A Commiflary of the Marine (r) : A 
 Grand Provoft (dj : AGrand Surveyor of Highways, and a Grand 
 Mailer of the Waters and Forefts (e) whole Jurifdiftion is cer- 
 tainly the moftextenfive in the World : Rich Merchants, or who 
 Uveas if they were fuch : A Bifhop and a numerous Seminary :• 
 Rccollcts and Jefuits : Three Societies of Maidens, well compofed : 
 Circles as brilliant as in any other Place, at the Governor's, and 
 the Intendant's Ladies. Here feems to me to be every Thing 
 for all Sorts of People to pafs their Time very agreeably. 
 And fo they do in Reality, and every one endeavours to con- 
 tribute what they can towards it. They play, they make Parties 
 of Pleafure, in Summer, in Chariots, or Canoes ; in Wintet, 
 in Sledges on the Snow, or Ikeating on the Ice. Shooting 
 is much followed ; Gentlemen find this their only Refource to 
 live plentifully. The News current is but little, becaufe the 
 Country furnifhes fcarce any, and the News from Europe comes 
 all together ; but this affords Converfation for great Part of 
 the Year : They make political Remarks on Things par}, 
 and raife Conjectures on future Events : The Sciences and the 
 fine Arts have their Turn, and Converfation never grows dull. 
 The Canadians, that is to fay, the Creoles of Canada, breath at 
 their Birth an Air of Liberty, which makes them very agreeable 
 in the Commerce of Life; and our Language is no where fpoken 
 with greater Purity. 
 
 There is nobody rich here, and 'tis Pity, for they love to live 
 generoufly, and no one thinks of laying up Riches. They keep 
 good Tables, if their Fortunes will afford it, as well as to 
 drefs handfomely ; if not, they retrench the Expence of their 
 Table to beftow it on Drefs ; and indeed we muff allow that 
 our Creoles become their Drefs. They are all of good Stature, 
 and the bell Complexion in the World in both Sexes. A plea- 
 fant Humour, and agreeable and polite Manners are common to 
 all ; and Clownifhnefs, either in Language or Behaviour, is not 
 known among; them. 
 
 o 
 
 (a) The Marquis de VtmdratU. (h) M. Begon. ( c ) M. Ckrambaut d^A'tgrc* 
 wmu {d) M, Detys de St. Simon. (<r) M. le Baron de Jitkancourt. 
 
 J:
 
 Travels in North America. z 7 
 
 It is not fo, as they fay, with the Engirt? our Neighbours, 
 Tiff.. r 1, an d they who know the two Colonies only 
 
 1 1 i-ru by the Manner of living, adline and fpeakinp- 
 tioeentbe Enghfh £ . r i_ L - 6 u B «. • i r • j 6 
 
 vc u ? - ; of the Inhabitants, would certainly judge 
 and rrench Go/o- , , ., a .-. T x < J r ° 
 
 ours to be the molt nourifhing. Jn Aeiv Eng- 
 land, and the other Provinces of the Conti- 
 nent of America, fubjett to the Britijb Empire, there prevails an 
 Opulence, of which they feem not to know how to take the Be- 
 nefit; and in Nezv France, a Poverty difguifed by an Air of Eafe, 
 which does not feem conitrained. Commerce, and the Culture 
 of Plantations, ftrengthen the former; the Indultry of the In- 
 habitants fupports the latter, and the Talte of the Nation diffufes an 
 unbounded Agreeableneis. The JLngliJh Colonilt gathers Wealth, 
 and never runs into any fuperiluous Expence: The French enjoys 
 what he has, and often makes a Shew of what he has not. One 
 labours for his Heirs ; the other leaves them in the Necefiity in 
 which he found himfelf, to fliift as well as they can. The Eng- 
 lijh Americans are entirely averfe to War, becaufe they have much 
 to lofe ; they do not regard the Savages, becaufe they think they 
 have no Occafion for them. The Youth of the French, for the 
 contrary Reafons, hate Peace, and live well with the Savages, 
 whofe Eiteem they gain during a War, and have their Friendship 
 atall Times. Icould carry the Parallel further, but I mull; finifh : 
 The King's Ship is ready to fail, and the Merchant Ships are 
 preparing to foljow it ; and perhaps in three Days there will not 
 be afingle Ship in our Road. 
 
 / ayn, ScC. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 Of the Huron Village : What has hindered the Progrefs of the 
 F R E K c H C o L x v o/Canada; Of the Money current there. 
 
 Madam, Quebec, Feb. 15. /fl/ 
 
 I Am returned from a little Journey of Devotion, of which I 
 (hall give you an Account, but I mult firft acquaint you, that 
 I was miltaken at the End of my laft 'Letter, when I faid the 
 Road of Quebec would be empty in three Days. A Ship from 
 Marjcilles lies here ltill, and has found Means to be under Shel- 
 ter of the Ice, with which this R'wer is covered. This is a 
 Secret which may be of fome Ufe. It is good to have fome Re- 
 fource againit any Accident that m ay happen. The Captain of 
 this Ship weighed Anchor the 2 2d in the Evening, and after he 
 
 had 
 E 2
 
 2.3 An tUjlorical Journal of 
 
 had made about a League, he anchored again to wait for fome 
 of his Paffengers, who embarked in the Middle of the Night : 
 He then gave Orders to prepare for failing as foon as the Tide 
 lhould begin to fall, and went to Bed in pretty good Time. 
 About Midnight they waked him, to let him know that the 
 VefTel was filling with Water : They pumped, but to noPur- 
 pflfe : The Water increafed continually, initead of diminifh- 
 ing. In fnort, every one began to think of faving himlelf, and 
 it was Time. The lait were not yet afhore when the Ship dif- 
 appeared. A Bark loaded with Merchandize from Montreal 
 met with the fame Fate at the Lake St. Pierre, (St. Peter, J but 
 they hope to get them both up again, when the fine Weather 
 returns ; and they flatter themfelves that the greateft Part of the 
 
 Loading of thefe two Veffels will not be loft, The Affair of 
 
 the Ship of Marfeilles may have fome Confequences ; for the 
 Captain fufpefts that fome Body play'd him a Trick. 
 
 I now come to my Pilgrimage. Three Leagues from hence, 
 to the North-Eaft, there is a little Village of 
 A Defcripnon of Chri j Uan Hu rons, whofe Chapel is built after 
 Loretto. the Model, and with alitheDimeniions, of the 
 
 $anta Cafa of Italy, or the Houfe of Loretto ; from whence they 
 fent to our new Converts an Image of the Virgin, like that which 
 is in that celebrated Place. They could not well have chofen a 
 wilder Place for this Miffion : Neverthelefs, the Concourfe here 
 is very great ; and whether it be Fancy, Devotion, or Prejudice, 
 or what you pleafe, many Perfons have affured me that they 
 were feized upon their Arrival here with a fecret and holy Hor- 
 ror, which they could not refill: : But what makes a ftill 
 greater Imprefiion, is the folid Piety of the Inhabitants of this 
 be fart. 
 
 They are Savages, but they retain nothing of their Birth and 
 rr-i v i r l Original but what is valuable ; that is to fay, 
 Toe Leal of the ^ simplicity and Freedom of the firft Age "of 
 Savages. thg ^f or \^ with the Addition of Grace ; the 
 
 Faith of the Patriarchs, a fincere Piety, that Rectitude and Do- 
 cility of Heart, which is the Character of Saints, an incredi- 
 ble Innocence of Manners, a pure Chriftianity, on which the 
 World has never breathed the contagious Air that corrupts it, 
 and often Actions of the mod heroic Virtue. Nothing is more 
 affecting than to hear them fing in two Choirs, the Men on one 
 Side, and the Women on the other, the Prayers of the Church, 
 and Hymns in their own Language. Nothing is comparable to 
 the Fervour and Modeity which they make appear in all their 
 Exercifes of Religion. I never faw any Peribn who was not 
 touched with it to the Bottom of his Soul. 
 
 This Village was formerly more populous ; but Difeafes, and 
 fomethin?, I know not what, that reduces infenfibly to nothing 
 
 all
 
 'ravels in North America. 29 
 
 all the Nations of this Continent, have greatly diminished the 
 Number of Inhabitants. The Age and Infirmities of fome of 
 their antient Pallors had alfo made fome Breaches in their firft 
 Fervour ; but it was not difficult to recover them ; and he that 
 governs them at prefent, has nothing to do but to keep Things 
 upon the Footing he found them. It is true, that they take all 
 Manner of Precautions to hinder their falling off again. Strong 
 Liquors, the moll common, and almott the only Stumbling- 
 Plock, which makes the Savages fall, are forbid by a folemn 
 Vow, the Tranfgreflion of which is puniihed with publick Pe- 
 nance, as well as every other Fault wnich caufes Scandal j and 
 the fecond Offence generally Suffices to baniih the Guilty, with- 
 out rlope of Return, from a Place which ought to be the impene- 
 trable Afylum of Piety and Innocence. Peace and Subordina- 
 tion reign here intirelv ; and the whole Village feems to make 
 but one Family, regulated upon the pureft Maxims of the 
 Gofpel. This always furprizes e/cry one who knows how far 
 thefe People (2nd the Huron* especially) do naturally carry Pride 
 and the Spirit of Independence. 
 
 The greateft, and perhaps the on'y Trouble of a Miffionary 
 here, is to find Provifion for his Flock. 1 he Diltricl they poffefs, 
 cannot fufficiently fupply them; and there are good Reaibns 
 why they do not permit them to abandon it. — Monlieur and 
 Madam Be«cn were of our Pilgrimage, and were received by 
 thefe good People with a Refpecl due to Perfons of their Rank, 
 and who never let them want Neceflaries. After a Reception 
 entirely military on the Part of the Warriors, and the Shouts of 
 the Multitude, they began the Exercifes of Piety, which was 
 mutually edifying : They were followed by a general Feaft, at 
 the Expence of Madam Began, who received all the Honours of 
 it. The Men, according to Cuilom, eat in one Houfe, and the 
 Women and Children in another : I fay Houfe, and not Cabin ; 
 for thefe Savages are lately lodged after the French Manner. The 
 Women on thefe Occafions ufed only to (hew their Gratitude by 
 their Silence and Modelly ; but becaufe it was a Lady of the 
 firil Rank that was then in the Colony, who treated the whole 
 Village, they granted the Huron Women an Orator, by whom 
 they difplayed to their illultrious Benefaftrcfs all the Sentiments 
 >.eir Hearts. As for the Men, after the Chief had made a 
 Speech to the Intendant, they danced and fung as long as we 
 pieafed. Nothing, Madam, is lefs diverting, than thefe Songs 
 and Dances : Firft, all are feated upon the Earth like Apes, 
 without any Order. From Time to Time a Man rifes up and 
 comes forward llowly into the Midi! of the Place, always 
 keeping Time, as they fay, he turns his Head from Side to Side, 
 
 figns
 
 3<> An Hijtorical Journal of 
 
 ilngs an Air, which is far from being melodious to any one but 
 a Savage born, and pronounces fome Words which have no great 
 Meaning. Sometimes it is a Song of War, fometimes a Song of 
 Death, fometimes an Attack or a Surprize ; for as thefe People 
 drink nothing but Water, they h we no drinking Songs, and they 
 have not yet thought of fmging their Amours. Whilft they 
 iing, ali the Company never ceafe to beat Time by drawing 
 from the Bottom of their Breaft an He, which never varies. The 
 Connoiffeurs fay they always keep Time exactly. I refer it to them. 
 When one has ended, another takes his Place : And this conti- 
 nues till the Afiembly returns them Thanks ; which would foon 
 happen, without a little Complaifance, which it is good to have 
 for this People. It is in Fact a very tirefome and difagreeable 
 Mufick, at leaft to judge by what I have heard. Throats of 
 Iron, always in one Tone ; Airs which have always fomething 
 fierce, or mournful. But their Voice is quite different when 
 they fing at Church. As for the Women, their Voices have a 
 farprizing Sweetnefs ; they have alio a good deal of Tafle and 
 Inclination for Mufick. 
 
 Upon thefe Occafions, the Speech is the belt Thing. Thev 
 explain in few Words, and generally very ingenioufly, the Occa- 
 iion of the Feaft ; to which they never fail to give fome high 
 Motives. The Praifes of the Founder are never forgotten ; and 
 they take the Opportunity of the Prefence of fome Perfons 
 (efpecially when they fpeak before the Governor-General or the 
 Intendant) to afk fome Favour, or to make fome Reprefentation. 
 
 The Orator of the Hurons, on that Day, faid fuch witty Things, 
 that we fufpecled that the Interpreter (who was the Miflionary 
 himfelf) had lent him his Wit and Politenefs with his Voice ; 
 buthe protefted that he had added nothing of his own ; and we 
 believed him, becaufe he is known to be one of the molt open 
 andfincerelVlenin the World, (a) 
 
 Before I had taken this little Journey, I had made feveral Ex- 
 curfions about this City ; but as the Earth was every where co- 
 vered with Snow, five or fix Feet deep, I could thereby learn 
 nothing of the Nature of the Soil ; but I have been over it 
 formerly in all Seafons, and I can aflure you that it is very rare 
 to fee Lands more fruitful, or of a better Quality. I applied 
 inyfelf very diligently this Winter, to inform myfelf of the Ad- 
 vantages which might be made of this Colony, and I will com- 
 municate to you the Fruit of my Labours. Canada does not 
 
 enrich France ; this is a Complaint as old as the Country, and 
 it is not without Foundation. It has no rich Inhabitants : This 
 is aifo true. Is this the Fault of the Country, or is it not owino- 
 alfo to the firft Settlers ? I fhall endeavour to make you able to 
 decide this Point. 
 
 (a) Father Tccr-Dan, Rider, 
 
 The
 
 5"rj; - c/i in Nbrih America* ?r 
 
 The firft Source of the ill Fortune of this Country, which is 
 
 <r'l f 1" N honoured with the Name of*New France, was 
 
 jejoje o- t ] ie R eport w h^h was at firft fpread through 
 
 iions People had of A T ^-f , _ .1 . .. i j * »»• *», 
 
 p , ^ J the kingdom, that it had no Mines ; and 
 
 they did not enough confider that the oreateft 
 
 Advantage that can be drawn from a Colony, is the Increafe of 
 
 Trade : And to accompliih this, it requires People ; and thefe 
 
 Peoplings mud be made by Degrees, fo that it will not appear 
 
 in fuch a Kingdom as France : And that the two only Objects 
 
 which prefented themfelves firft in Canada and Acadia, (I mean 
 
 the Furs and the Fifhery,) required that thefe Countries fhould 
 
 be peopled : If they had been fo, they had perhaps given 
 
 greater Returns to France, than Spain has drawn from the richeft 
 
 Provinces of the New World ; efpecially if they had added 
 
 Ship-building : But the Luitre of the Gold and Silver which 
 
 came from Mexico and Peru fo dazled the Eyes of all Europe, that 
 
 a Country which did not produce thefe precious Metals, was 
 
 looked upon as a bad Country. Let us hear upon this Subject a 
 
 fenfible Author, who had been in thefe Places. 
 
 " The common Queftions they make (fays Mark Lefcarbot) 
 
 " are thefe : Is there any Gold or Silver ? And no Body afks, 
 
 " Are thefe People inclined to hear the Chriftian Doclrine ? 
 
 " And as to the Mines, there are fome indeed, but they muft be 
 
 " wrought with Induitry, Labour, and Patience. The finefl 
 
 " Mine that I know of, is that of Corn and Wine, and the 
 
 M breeding of Cattle. They who have this, have Money ; and 
 
 " we do not live upon Mines. The Sailors who go from all 
 
 " Parts of Europe to get Filh at Newfoundland and beyond, eight 
 
 " or nine hundred Leagues diftant from their Country, find there 
 
 " good Mines, without breaking the Rocks, digging into the 
 
 " Bowels of the Earth, and living in the Darknefs of Hell. 
 
 " They find, I fay, good Mines at the Bottom of the Waters, 
 
 " and in the Trade of Fur and Skins, of which they make good 
 
 " Money." 
 
 They not only gave Ne-zv France a very bad. Name without 
 
 M'ff h tJ knowing it ; but thofe who thought to get 
 
 -* , m , fome Profit by it, took no Meafures for this 
 
 'were made at the n r „.'„ ', i rr- , 
 
 r a o ..i Purpofe. firit, they were a long lime be- 
 
 nr/t settlement. e !■%. r 1 j 1,1 n?, , , 
 
 J J fore they fettled upon a Place : 1 hey cleared 
 
 the Land without having firit well examined it : They fowed it, 
 and raifed Buildings upon it ; and then, without knowing why, 
 they often abandoned it, and went to fome other Place. This 
 Inconftancy was the great Caufe of our lofing Acadia, and hin- 
 dering us from making any Thing of it, whilft we were in Pof- 
 feffion of that fine Country. — The Author I have already cited, 
 and who was a Witnefs of our Want of Refolution, was not 
 
 afraid
 
 2 2 An Hijforical Journal cf 
 
 afraid to blame thofe who were mod guilty in this Affair. '* It 
 " is thus (Cays he) that at all Times we make much ado about 
 " nothing, that we purfue new Enterprizes with great Heat, and 
 " that we projecl fine Beginnings, and then quit every Thing. 
 " In Reality, for fuch Undertakings there mult be a Subfiitence 
 «« and Support ; but we muft alfo have Men of Refolution, who 
 " will not foon be disheartened, and have this Point of Honour 
 •« in View, Viclory or Death, that Death being great and glorious 
 '« which happens in executing a great Defign ; fuch as laying 
 " the Foundation of a New Kingdom, and eitablifhing the 
 " Ckriftian Faith among People where GOD is not known." 
 
 I come now to Trade. The Trade of Canada has been a 
 
 Jong Time folely in the Fifhery and Skins. The Cod Fifhery 
 was carried on upon the Great Bank, and upon the Coafts of 
 Newfoundland, a long Time before they diicovered the River 
 of St. Laurence: They bethought themfelves too late, of 
 making a Settlement upon the Ifiand ; and we had Suffered 
 the Englifi to be before-hand with us. At length we took Pof- 
 fefiion of the Port and Bay of Placentia. The Militia of Ca- 
 nada have performed here many warlike Exploits, equal to thofe 
 of the boldeft Buccaneers of St. Domingo. They have often de- 
 stroyed the Inhabitants, and ruined the Trade of the Engl; Jb in 
 this Ifiand : But they who fuffered their Strongest Places to be 
 eafily taken from them, knew their Enemy too well to be dif- 
 heartened. AccuStomed to fee the Canadian Fire break out 
 amidft the Northern Ice, and die away of itfelf in the Midft of 
 what ought to have giyen it more Power, they behaved them- 
 felves at the Approach of our Heroes like a Skilful Pilot upon 
 the Approach of a Storm. They prudently yielded to the 
 Temper!, and afterwards repaired without any Hindrance the 
 Damage which had been done to their Ports ; and by this Con- 
 dud tho' they were always beat in Newfoundland, either when they 
 attacked or defended themfelves, they have always carried on a 
 much greater Trade than their Conquerors, and have at laft re- 
 mained the fole Matters and quiet PoSTeSTors of this Ifiand. We 
 have behaved ftill worfe in Acadia. This great and rich Province 
 has been a long Time divided amongft divers private Perfons, 
 none of which are grown rich, whilft the Englijk have made an 
 immenfe Profit of the Fifhery upon the Coafts. 
 
 The Settlements which thefe Proprietors made here, not being 
 uponafolid Foundation, and wanting themfelves Judgment, and 
 ruining one another, they left the Country in much the fame 
 Condition they found it ; and with fuch an ill Name, that it 
 never recovered till the Moment we loft it. But our Enemies have 
 made us know the Value of it. 
 
 The
 
 Travels in North America. 2 2 
 
 The Trade to which they confined themfelves folely for a 
 
 hi r- j a • l° n £ Time in Canada, was that of Skins or 
 ill Conduit m r> r . • trw i . ix. i- t 
 
 P r fit th 9/' *"urs. -It is linpoiiible tc reiate the taults 
 
 er ' > which have been here committed. The Ge- 
 
 nius of our Nation never, perhaps, was 
 fhewn more than on this Occafion. When we difcovered this 
 vaft Continent, it was full of Deer and other Beafts of the 
 Chace : But a Handful of Frenchmen have within a fmgle Age 
 found Means to make them almoft entirely difappear, and there 
 are fome Species of them entirely deftroyed. They killed the 
 Orignals, or Elks, for the fole Pleafure of killing them, and to 
 fhew they were good Markfmen. No Body thought of inter- 
 pofing the King's Authority to put a Stop to fuch an extrava- 
 gant Diforder : But the greateft Evil proceeded from the infa- 
 tiable Covetoufnefs of private Perfons, who applied themfelves 
 folely to this Trade. They came for the moft Part from France, 
 like Simonides ; that is to fay, poffeffing only what they had 
 upon their Backs ; and they were impatient to appear in a bet- 
 ter Condition. At firft, this was eafy : The Savages did not 
 know the Treafure their Woods contained, but by the Eager- 
 nefs the French (hewed to get the Skins out of their Hands, 
 they got from them a prodigious Quantity, by giving them 
 Things which fome People would not pick up : And even fince 
 they have been better informed of the Value of this Merchan- 
 dize, and expected to be fomething better paid for it, it was very 
 eafy for a long Time to fatisfy them at a fmall Expence: With a 
 little Conduct, this Trade might have been continued on upon 
 a tolerably good Foundation. It would be difficult, however, to 
 name a fingle Family, at this Time, that has been enriched by 
 this Trade. We have feen fome Fortunes, as immenfe as fud- 
 den, raifed and difappear almoft at the fame Time ; like thofe 
 moving Mountains of Sand which fome Travellers fpeak of, and 
 which a Whirlwind raifes and levels again in the Plains of Af- 
 rica. Nothing is more common in this Country, than to lee 
 People fuffera languifhing old Age under Mifery and Contempt, 
 after having had it in their Power to have made a handfome 
 Settlement for themfelves. 
 
 After all, Madam, thefe private Perfons who have miffed 
 making Fortunes which they did not deferve, would have been 
 unworthy of the Public Concern, if the Effects of it did not 
 fall upon the Colony ; which foon found itfelf reduced to fuch a 
 State, as to fee entirely dried up, or running in another Channel, 
 a Spring from whence fo many Riches might flow into its Bofom. 
 , Its Ruin begun by its Plenty. By Means of heaping up Bea- 
 ver Skins, which were always the principal Object of this 
 Trade, there was found fuch a vaft Quantity in the Magazines, 
 
 F that
 
 24 An Hijiorlcal Journal of 
 
 that they could not be difpofed of : Whence it happened, that 
 the Dealers not being willing to take them, our Adventurers* 
 whom they call here Coureurs de Bois, (Foreji Rangers) carried 
 them to the Englifi, and many of them fettled in New York. Se- 
 veral Attempts were made to hinder thefe People from deferting 
 the Colony, but with little Succefs ; on the contrary, thofe who 
 went over to our Neighbours for the Sake of Intereft, were de- 
 tained there by the Fear of Punifhment ; and fome Vagabonds, 
 who had taken a Liking to Independency, and a wandering 
 Life, remained among the Savages ; from whom they could not 
 be diftinguifhed, but by their Vices. Recourfe was had feveral 
 Times to the publifhing of Pardon to all that would return ; 
 which at firft had little Efteft ; but at length this Method, ma- 
 naged with Prudence, anfwered the expefted End. 
 
 They made Ufe of another Method, which was ftill more ef- 
 11 . . , fedlual. This was, to allow a Number of 
 
 Of Licences, ana p erfons> whom they thought they could con- 
 their Abujes. fide ^ tQ gQ and trade the Countries of 
 
 the Savages, and prohibit all other Perfons to go out of the Co- 
 lony. The Number of thefe Licences were limited, and they 
 were diftributed to poor Widows and Orphans, who could fell 
 them to the Traders for more or lefs, according to the Value of 
 the Trade ; that is, according to the Places where the Licences 
 permitted them to go ; for they had taken the Precaution to 
 mark out the Places, to hinder them from going all one Way. 
 
 Befides thefe Licences, (the Number of which was fettled by 
 the Court, and the Diftribution of which belongs to the Governor 
 General) there are fome for the Commanders of Polls, and for 
 extraordinary Occafions ; and the Governor gives fome alfo by 
 Name of Jimple PermiJJions : So that a Part of the young Men are 
 continually roving the Woods ; and though they do not commit 
 any longer, or at leafl fo openly, the Diforders which have fo 
 much difgraced this Profeflion, yet they ftill contratt a loofe vagrant 
 Habit, of which they are never entirely cured : They lofe at 
 leaf! an Inclination for Labour j they wafte their Strength, and 
 become incapable of the leaft Reftraint ; and when they are no 
 longer able to bear the Fatigues of thefe Journies, (which foon 
 happens, becaufe thefe Fatigues are very great) they remain 
 without any Refource, and are no longer fit for any Thing. 
 From hence it proceeds, that Arts have been a long Time neg- 
 lected, that much good Land lies ftill uncultivated, and that the 
 Country is not peopled. It has been often propofed to abolifh 
 thefe pernicious Licences, and to make fome French Settlements 
 in fome chofen Places, and where it would be eafy to afiemble 
 the Savages, at leaft at certain Seafons of the Year. By this 
 Means the Trade would be rendered more flouriming. Thefe 
 
 9 vaft
 
 Travels in North America, 35 
 
 vaft Countries would be infenfibly peopled ; and this would 
 perhaps be the only Means to execute what the Court has had 
 fo long at Heart, to frenckify thefe Savages. I believe I may at 
 leaft affert, that if this Project, had laeen followed, Canada 
 would have been at this Time much more populous than it is ; 
 that the Savages, attra&ed and retained by the Help and kind 
 Treatment they would have found in our Habitations, would 
 have been lefs roving, lefs miferable, and in Confequence would 
 have encreafed in Number, (inftead of which their Numbers 
 are furprifmgly diminifhed) and they would have been attached 
 to us in fuch a Manner, that we might have made the like Ufe 
 of them by this Time, as of the Subjects of the Crown ; and 
 the more fo, as the Million aries would have found much lefs 
 
 Difficulty in their Conversion. What we now fee at Loretto, 
 
 and in fome Meafure amongft the Irsqims, the Algonquuis, and 
 the Abenaquis, who live in the Colony, leaves no Room to doubt 
 of the Truth of what I advance ; and there is no Perfon amongft 
 thofewho have been moft converfant with the Savages, who does 
 not agree that we can never depend on thefe People till they are 
 Chrijiians. I will cite no other Example than the Abenaquis ; 
 who, though few in Number, were during the two laft Wars 
 the principal Bulwark of N$w France againft Keiv England. 
 
 This Project, which I have laid before you, Madam, is as 
 old as the Colony, it was that of M. de Cham/Jain its Founder, 
 and it was the Defire of almoft all the Mifilonaries whom I have 
 known, and whofe painful Labours in the Situation in which, 
 Things have been a long while, do not produce any great Fruit 
 in the Millions which are at a.ny Diltance. It would be in Faft 
 very late to take up this Delign now with Refpect to the 
 Savages, who difappear in fuch a Manner, as is fcarce conceiva- 
 ble. But what fhould hinder us from following it, with Refpeft 
 to the French, and to continue the Colony from one Neighbour- 
 hood to another, till it can reach out a Hand to that of Louijtana^ 
 to Strengthen each other. By this Means the Englijh in lefs 
 than an Age and a half have peopled above five hundred 
 Leagues of Country, and have formed a Power on this Con- 
 tinent, which we cannot help beholding without Fear when we 
 
 take a near View of it. Canada may and does fome- 
 
 times carry on a pretty confiderable Trade with the Ifles of Ame- 
 rica, in Flour, Pianks, and other Wood lit for Buildings ; as there 
 is not perhaps a Country in theJWorld that has more Variety of 
 Wood, nor a better Sort: Judge what Riches this may one Day 
 produce. It appears that few People underftand this Article ; Ico 
 not underftand it enough myfelf toenter intoa more particular Ac- 
 count: I have fomethingmore Knowledge in the Article of Oils, of 
 which Iihallfoon take Notice. Being inHafte to finilh my Letter, I 
 
 F 2 have
 
 36 An WJforlcal Journal of 
 
 have only Time to compleat what concerns the Trade in ge- 
 neral. 
 
 Nothinghas more contributed todiftrefs theTrade than thefre- 
 7 , „, quent Changes which have been made in the 
 
 • V " no " sChanSeS Money ; ;his is the Hiftory of it in few 
 tn the Money. Words. In 1670, the Weft-India Company, 
 
 to whom the King had given the Domain of the Iflands of the 
 Continent of French America, had leave to fend to thefe Iflands 
 a hundred thoufand Livres (a) in fmall Money, marked with a 
 particular Legend, that was proper to it. The King's Edift is 
 dated in February, by which this Species was to be current enly 
 in the Iflands. But upon fome Difficulties which arofe, the 
 Council made an Order November 18, 1672, that the faid Mo- 
 ney, and all other Species that was current in France, fhould 
 pafs alfo, not only in the French Iflands, but alfo on the Conti- 
 nent of America fubjecl.to the Crown, with an Augmentation of 
 one fourth Part ; that is to fay, the Pieces of fifteen Sous for 
 twenty, and the reft in Proportion. The fame Order decreed 
 that all Contracts, Notes, Accounts, Sales, and Payment?, fhculd 
 be made according to the Rate of the Money, without making Ufe 
 of Exchanges, or accounting in Sugar or other Merchandize, on 
 the Penalty of making all fuch A els void. And for all paft it was 
 ordered, that all Cuntrafts, Notes, Debts, Dues, Rents in 
 Sugar, or other Merchandize, Ihculd be paid in Money, ac- 
 cording to the Currency of the faid Species. In the Execution 
 of this Order, Money encreafed one fourth in Ne-vu France, which 
 foon occasioned many Difficulties. In Fact, M. de Chomptgny 
 Noroy, who was made Indendant of Quebec in 1684, and who is 
 now Intendant at Havre-de-Grace, found himfelf foon embarrafled, 
 both in the Payment of the Troops, and other Expences of the 
 King in this Colony. 
 
 Befides this, the Funds which were fent from France, almoft 
 always cametco late ; and by the firft of January the Officers and 
 Soldiers were to be paid, and other Payments to be made, which 
 were equally indifpenfable. To fatisfy the moft preffing De- 
 mands, M. de Chompigny made Notes to fupply the Place of Mo- 
 ney, obferving always the Augmentation. And by Order of the 
 Governor and the Intendant, they fet on every Piece of this Mo- 
 ney (which was a Card) theTreafurer's Sign Manual, the Arms of 
 Franc, and the Seals of the Governor and Intendant in Wax; they 
 afterwards got them printed in France, on Pafteboard, with the 
 fame Marks as the current Money of the Kingdom ; and it was 
 ordered that they fhould be prefented every Year before the 
 Arrival of the Ships from France, to add a Mark, to prevent 
 Counterfeits. 
 
 (a) A Livre is about is. 3d. of our Money. 
 
 This
 
 Travels hi North America. 37 
 
 This Pafteboard Money did not laft long, and they made Vfc 
 again of Cards, on which they graved new Devices. The 
 Intendant figned all that were of four Livres Value and above, 
 and only made a Flourifh upon the others. In latter Times 
 the Governor General figned all that were of fix Livres or 
 more. In the Beginning of the Autumn, all the Cards were car- 
 ried to the Treasurer, who gave for their Value Bills of Ex- 
 change upon the Treafurer General of the Marines, or his 
 Clerk at Rocbfort, on the Account of the Expences for the next 
 Year. Thofe which were damaged or defaced were burnt, after they 
 had takenaproper Account of them. So long as thefe Billsot Ex- 
 change were faithfully paid, thefe Cards were preferred to Money; 
 but when the Bills were not paid, the Cards were no longer carried 
 to the Treafurer ; fo that in 1702, M. de Cba?npigny gave him- 
 felf a great deal of Pains to no Purpofe, to call in thole he had 
 made. His Succeffors were oblige., to make new ones every 
 Year to pay Officers, which multiplied them to fuch a Degree, 
 that they fell to no Prke, and nobody would receive them any 
 longer. Trade was hereby entirely ruined, and the Decider 
 went fo far, that in 17 13 the Inhabitants propofed to lofe half, 
 on Condition that the King would take them again ;^nd pay tlie 
 other half: This Propofal was accepted the Year following, but 
 the Orders given in Confequence, were not entirely executed 
 till 1717. An Order was then made to abolifh the Money of 
 Cards, a-nd they begun to pay in Silver the Officers of the Co- 
 lony. The Augmentation of one fourth was alfo abolifhed at 
 the' fame Time : Experience having' made it appear that the 
 Augmentation cf the Species in a Colony, is not the Way to 
 keep it in it, which was the Thing propofed ; and that Mo- 
 ney can never circulate greatly in a Colony, but when they pay 
 in Merchandize for all they have from the Mother Country, in 
 Facl, in this Cafe, the Colony keeps the Species, inftead of which, 
 if it has not Merchandize fufficient to anfwer the whole Derm.n is 
 upon it, it is obliged to pay the Surplus in Money, and how 
 will it come back again? 
 
 In (hort, Madam, you will be furprized to hear, that in 1706, 
 the Trade of the oldeft of our Colonies was carried on with a 
 Fund of only fix hundred and fifty thoufand Livres, and Things are 
 not much changed fince that Time. Now this Sum difperfed 
 amongft thirty thoufand Inhabitants, cannot fet them at their 
 Eafe, nor afford them Means to purchafe the Merchandize of 
 France. So the greateft Part of them go naked, efpecially thofe 
 who are in the diftant Settlements. They do not even fell the 
 Surplus of their Merchandize to the Inhabitants of the Towns, 
 becaufe the latter are obliged for a Subfiitence to have Lands 
 in the Country, and to improve them themfelve*. 
 
 When
 
 3 8 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 When the King took Canada out of the Hands of the Compa- 
 nies, his Majefty fpent much more for fome Years than he has 
 done fince ; and the Colony, during this Time, fent to France 
 near the Value of a Million of Livres in Beaver Skins every Year, 
 tho* it was lefs peopled than it is now : But it has always had 
 more from France than it coulu pay, and has afted like a private 
 Perfon, who has thirty thoufand Livres a Year Eftate, and who 
 fpends forty thoufand or more. By this Means its Credit is 
 fallen, and in falling, has brought on the Ruin of its Trade ; 
 which, fince the Year 1706, has conMed in nothing more than 
 fmall Peltry. All the Dealers fought for them, and this was their 
 Ruin, becaufe they often bought them dearer of the Savages, 
 than they fold them in France. 
 
 lam, Sec. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 Of the Beavers {/"Canada, ho-zu they differ from the Beavers of 
 Europe: Of 'their Manner of Building: The Manner of hunting the 
 Beaters: Of the Advantage to be made of them . Of the Musk Rat. 
 
 M ada M, Qu E b E c, March 1 . lYl I 
 
 I Was to go from hence a Day or two after I had clofed my laft 
 Letter, but I myft ftill flop 'for Want of Carriage. The bed 
 I can do in the mean Time, is to entertain you with the Curiofi- 
 ties of this Country ; and I begin with what is moft fingular, 
 that is, the Beaver. The Spoils of this Animal has hitherto 
 furnifhed New France with the principal Object cf its Trade, ft 
 is of itfelf one of the Wonders of Nature, and it may be to Man 
 a great Example of Forefight, of Induftry, Skill, and Conftancy 
 in Labour. 
 
 The Beaver was not unknown in France before the Difcovery 
 
 TU n 'W- °^ ■d mer * ca > an< i we 6°^ in fome ancient Writ- 
 
 ' e l Jj e ' n i n gs of the Hatters of Paris, fome Regula- 
 
 ef the Bea-ver of .. ° c 1 • t> u ' n-i n 
 
 J , - , J tions for making Beaver Hats : 1 he Beaver or 
 
 Euro e Caftor is entirel y the fame Creature; but 
 
 °J * * either that the European Beaver is become ex- 
 
 treamly fcarce, or its Fur was not fo good as that of the Ameri- 
 can Caftor, we hear little Mention now but of the laft, unlefs it 
 be with Refpeft to Qafioreum, of which I mail fay a few Words 
 at the End of this Letter. I do not know that any Author has 
 fpoken of this Animal as being any Thing curious ; perhaps it 
 was for Want ofobferving it attentively; perhaps alfo that the 
 
 Caftors
 
 Travels in North America. 39 
 
 tors or Beavers of Europe are like the Land Carters, the Dif- 
 ference of which from the others I fhall prefently make you 
 underftand. 
 
 However that may be, Madam, the Beaver of Car.ada is an 
 n , , p F amphibious Quadrupede, which cannot how- 
 1 n g . Ur e ^er remain a long Time in the Water, and 
 
 the Heave) . can j without being in it, provided it has the 
 
 Opportunity of warning itfelf fometimes : The largelt Beavers 
 are fomething under four Feet long, about fifteen Inches from 
 one Hip to the other, and weigh about fixty Pounds. The 
 Colour of this Animal is different, according to the dif- 
 ferent Climates where it is found. In the molt diitant Parti 
 of the North they are generally quite black, though fome- 
 times they are found there white. In the more temperate 
 Countries they are brown, and by Degrees, as they ad- 
 vance towards the South, their Colour grows more and more 
 light. Amongft the Ilinois, they are almofl of a fallow Colour, 
 and fome have been found of a ftraw Colour. It it further ob- 
 ferved, that the lefs black they are, the lefs they are furnifhed with 
 Fur, and of Confequence their Skins are lefs valuable. This is 
 an EfFett of Providence, which defends them from the Cold, as 
 they are the more expofed to it. Their Fur is of two Sorts all 
 over the Body, except the Feet, where there is but one Sort very 
 fhort. The longeix Sort is about eight or ten Lines, or Parts of 
 an Inch long, fuppofe an Inch to be divided into twelve Parts. 
 It is even two Inches long on the Back, but diminifhes by 
 Degrees towards the Head and Tail. This Fur is ftiff and 
 glofly, and is what gives the Colour to the Creature. Upon view- 
 ing it with a Microicope, the middle Part of it is found to be 
 the cleareft, which proves that it is hollow; this Fur is of no Ufe. 
 The other Fur is a very fine Down, very thick, and at mod not 
 above an Inch long, and this is what is made Ufe of. It was 
 formerly called in Europe, Mufcouy Wool. This is properly the 
 Cloathing of the Beaver, the firlt ferves him only for Ornament, 
 and perhaps helps him in fwimming. 
 
 They fay that the Beaver lives from fifteen to twenty Years ; 
 
 A 4 '■ I tnat ^ ie female goes four Months with Younci 
 
 r> r j.*- r.i- and has commonly four Young; ones; fcrr.e 
 Defer iption of this , r ,, , / XT , . ■= ' . , 
 
 /. l i J 1 raveJlers make the Number amount to e:ght, 
 
 but I believe this feldom happens : She] has 
 four Dugs, two on the great Pectoral Mufcle, between trie 
 fecend and third Ribs, and two about four Inches higher. The? 
 Mufcles of this Animal are very ftrong, and bigger than feems 
 neceffary to its Size. Its Inteflines on the contrary arc very 
 tender; its Bones are very hard, its two Jaws, which are all 
 even, have a very great Strength; each Jaw is furnifhed with ten 
 Teeth, two cutting ones and eight Grinders. The upper cut- 
 ting
 
 40 An Hijiorical yournal of 
 
 ting Teeth are two Inches and a half long, the lower are above 
 three Inches, and follow the Bend of the Jaw, which gives them 
 a Strength which is admirable in fuch little Animals. It is ob- 
 ferved alfo, that the two Jaws do not meet exactly, but that the 
 upper reach over the lower, f that they crofs like the Edges of 
 a Pair of Sciffars ; and laftly, that the Length of all their Teeth 
 is exactly the third Part of the Roots of them. The Head of a 
 Beaver is nearly like the Head of a Field Rat, the Snout is 
 fomewhat long, the Eyes little, the Ears fhort and round, cover- 
 ed with Down on the Outfide, and naked within ; its Legs are 
 fhort, particularly thofe before, they are feldom above four or 
 five Inches long, and like thofe of a Badger ; its Nails are as it 
 were. cut floping, and are hollow like a Quill. The hind Legs 
 are quite different, they are flat, and furnifhed with a Mem- 
 brane ; fo that the Beaver goes but flowly on Land, but fwims 
 as eafily as any other Water Animal : And on the other Hand, 
 by its Tail, it is entirely a Fifh ; and fo it has been declared by 
 t\\e College of Phyficians at Paris, and in Confequence of this 
 Declaration, the Doctors of Divinity have agreed, that the Flefli 
 might be eaten on Faft Days. M. Lemery was miftaken, when 
 helfaid that this Decifion was only confined to the Tail of the 
 Beaver. It is true that we can make but little Advantage of this 
 Condefcenfion : The Beavers are fo far from our Habitations at 
 prefent, it is rare to have any that are eatable. The Savages 
 who dwell amongft us, keep them after they have been dryed 
 in the Smoak, and I allure you, Madam, that I know of nothing 
 more ordinary. We muft alfo, when the Beaver is frefh, put it in 
 fom'e Broth to make itlofeawild and naufeous Taftej but with this 
 Precaution there is no Meat lighter, more dainty, or wholfome : 
 They fay that it is as ncurifhing as Veal : Boiled it wants 
 fomething to give it a Relifli, but roafted it it wants nothing. 
 
 What is ftill mod remarkable in the Shape of this Animal, is 
 the Tail. It is near four Inches round at its Root, five in the 
 midft, and three at the End, (I fpeak always of the large 
 Beavers) it is an Inch thick, and a Foot long. Its Subftance is 
 is a hard Fat, or a tender Sinew, which pretty much refembles 
 the Fleih of a Porpoife, but which grows harder upon being 
 kept a long Time. It is covered with a fcaly Skin, the Scales 
 of which are hexagonal, half a Line thick, and three or four 
 Lines long, which lay one upon another like thofe of a Fifh ; 
 they lay upon a very tender Skin, and are fixt in fuch a Man- 
 ner, that they may be eafily feparated after the Death of the 
 Animal. This is, Madam, in few Words, the Defcription of 
 this curious amphibious Creature. 
 
 The
 
 Travels in North America. 41 
 
 The true Tefticles of this Animal were not known to the 
 
 Of ih C f -Ancients, probably, becaufe they are very 
 fmall, and hid under the Groin. They had 
 given this Name to the Purfes or Bags of the 
 Cajioreum, which are very different, and four in Number, in the 
 lower Belly of the Beaver. The two firft, which they call the 
 upper, becaufe they are higher than the others, have the Shape 
 of a Pear, and communicate with each other like the two 
 Pockets of a Wallet. The two others, which are called the 
 lower, are rounded at the Bottom. Thefe contain arefinous, foft, 
 glewy Matter, mixt with fmall Fibres, of a greyifh Colour 
 without, and a yellowifh within ; of a ifrong Smell, difagreea- 
 ble and penetrating, and which is eafily inflammable. This is 
 the true Cajioreum : It grows hard in the Air in a Month's 
 Time, and becomes brown, brittle, and friable. If we are in a 
 hurry to harden it, it need only be hung in the Chimney. 
 
 They fay that the Cajioreum which comes from Dantzic, is 
 better than that of Canada, I refer to the Druggifts ; it is cer- 
 tain that the Bags of the latter are fmaller, and that here alfo 
 the larger! are efteemed. Befides their Bignefs, they fliould be 
 heavy, of a brown Colour, of a penetrating and ftrong Smell, 
 full of a hard brittle and friable Matter, of the fame Colour, cr 
 yellow, interleaved with a thin Membrane, and of a fharp Ta'lte. 
 The Properties of Cajioreum, are to attenuate vifcous Matter, to 
 itrengthen the Brain, to remove Vapours, to provoke the Menfes, 
 to hinder Corruption, and to evaporate bad Humours by Trans- 
 piration; it is ufed alfo with Succefs againft the Epilepfy, the 
 Palfy, the Apoplexy, and Deafnefs. 
 
 The lower Bags contain an uncluous fat Liquor like Honey. Its 
 Colour is a pale Yellow, its Odour fetid, little differing from that 
 of Cajioreum, butfomething weaker and fainter. It thickens with 
 keeping, and takes the Confidence of Tallow. This Liquor is 
 refolving, and ftrengthens the Nerves ; for this Purpofe, it need 
 only be applied to the Part affecled. Ic is a Miftake to fay, as 
 fome Authors do ftill, upon the Credit of the ancient Natura- 
 .lilts, that when the Beaver is purfued, it bites oft thefe pretended 
 Teflicles, and leaves them to the Hunters to fave his Life. It is of 
 his Fur which he ought rather to deprive himfelf, for in Compa- 
 rifon of his Fleece, the reft is hardly of any Value. But how- 
 ever, it is this Fable, which has given it the Name of Cailor. The 
 Skin of this Animal, deprived of its Fur, is not to be neglected ; 
 they make Gloves and Stockings of it ; but as it is difficult to 
 get oft all the Fur without cutting the Skin, they feldorn ufe 
 any but thofe of the Land Beaver. You have heard, perhaps, 
 Madam, of the fat and dry Beaver Skins ; the Difference is this, 
 the dry Skin is the Skin of a Beaver that has never been ui";d ; 
 
 G the
 
 42 An Uijiorical Journal of 
 
 the fat Skin is what has been worn by the Savages, which, after 
 they have been well (craped within, and rubbed with the Marrow 
 of certain Animals which I do not know, to make it more plia- 
 ble, they few feveral together, and make a Kind of Mantle, 
 which they call a Robe, w : rh which they wrap themfelves up 
 with the Fur inwards. They wear it continually in Winter, 
 Day and Night ; the long Hair foon falls off, and the Down re- 
 mains, and grows greafy : In this Condition it is much fitter for 
 the Ufe of the Hatters ; they cannot not even ufe the dry Sort, 
 without mixing fome of the other with it. They fay that it mull 
 be worn fifteen or fixteen Months to be in Perfection. I leave 
 you to judge, if at firft they were weak enough to let the Savages 
 know, that their old Clothes were fuch a precious Merchandize. 
 Eut a Secret of this Nature, could not be long hid from them; 
 it was truited to Covetoufnefs, which is never long without be- 
 traying itfelf. 
 
 About three Years ago one Guigues, who had the Farm of 
 - . TT/ - e the Beaver Skins, finding himfelf burdened 
 
 Another UJe of wkh a prodigious Qu antity f the f e Skins, 
 
 the Beaver. thought to encreafe the Confumption, by hav- 
 
 ing the Fur fpun and carded with Wool; and with this Compo- 
 sition he made Cloths and Flannels, and wove Stockings, and 
 fuck-like Works, but with little Succefs. 
 
 It is evident by this Tryal, that the Beaver Fur is good for 
 nothin? but to make Hats. It is too fhort to be fpun alone, it 
 muft be mixt with above half Wool; fo that there is but little 
 Profit to be made of thefe Works. There is, however, ftill one 
 of thefe Manufactures in Holland, where they make Cloths and 
 Druggets; but thefe Stuffs are dear, and do not wear well. The 
 Beaver Fur Separates foon, and forms a Kind of Down upon the 
 Surface, which takes off all their Beauty. The Stockings which 
 were made of it in France, had the fame Fault. 
 
 This is, Madam, all the Advantage this Colony can receive 
 (T-, r ,n j from the Beavers, with Refpect to its Trade. 
 r i . "ft "^? The Indufixy of the Beavers, their Forefight, 
 
 ou J •> the Unity and Subordination fo much admir- 
 
 ed in them, their Attention to procure them- 
 felves Conveniences, the Comforts of which, we thought former- 
 ly Brutes were not fenfible of, furnifh to Man more Inilruction 
 than the Ant, to which the Holy Scriptures fend the Idle. They 
 are at leait amongft Quadrupedes, what the Bees are amongit 
 flying Infecls. I never heard that they had a King or a Queen, 
 and it is not true that when they are at work together in Com- 
 panies, that they have a Chief who commands and punifhes 
 the idle : But by Virtue of that InftincT: given to Animals, by him 
 whofe Providence governs them, every one knows what he has 
 
 to
 
 Travels in North America. 43 
 
 to do, and every Thing is done without Confufion, and with fo 
 much Order as can never be fufHciently admired. Perhaps, after 
 all, we are fo much altonifhed but for Want of looking up to that 
 Supreme Intelligence, who makes Ufe of thefe Beings, who 
 want Reafon, the better to difplay his Wifdom and Power, and 
 to makes us know that our Reafon itfelf is frequently, by our 
 Prefumption, the Caufc of our going aftray. 
 
 The nrft Thing that is done by thefe Creatures, when they want 
 to make a Habitation, is, to afi'emble themfelves : Shall I fay in 
 Tribes or Societies ? It fhall be what you pleafe : But there are 
 fometimes three or four hundred together, making a Town, which 
 might be called a little Venice, (a) At firft they chufe a Place were 
 they may find Plenty of Provifions, and Materials for their build- 
 ing: Above all, they mull have Water. If there is no Lake 
 or Pond near, they fupply the Defect, by flopping the Courfe 
 of fome Brook or Rivulet, by the Means of a Dyke; or, as they 
 call it here, a Caufey. For this End they go and cut down fome 
 Trees above the Place where they intend to build : Three or 
 four Beavers fet themfelves about a great Tree, and cut it down 
 with their Teeth. This is not all: They take their Meafures 
 fo well, that it always falls on the Side towards the Water, that 
 they may have the lefs Way to carry it when they have cut it 
 to Pieces ; as they are fenfible their Materials are not fo eafily 
 tranfported by Land as by Water. They have nothing to do 
 after, but to roll thefe Pieces into the Water, and guide them 
 to the Place where they are to be fixed. Thefe Pieces are thicker 
 or thinner, longer or lhorter, as the Nature and Situation of the 
 Place require; for one would fay that thefe Architects conceive at 
 once every Thing that relates to their Defign. Sometimes they 
 employ large Trunks of Trees, which they lay flat : Sometimes 
 the Caufey is made only of Stakes ; fome as thick as a Man's 
 Thigh, or lefs ; which they drive into the Earth very near each 
 other, and interweave with fmall Branches ; and everywhere the 
 hollow Spaces are filled up with Clay fo well applied, that not 
 a Drop of Water can pafs through. It is with their Paws that 
 the Beavers prepare the Clay ; and their Tail does not only 
 ferve them for a Trowel to build with, but for a Hod to carry 
 this Mortar. To place and fpread this Clay, they fir ft make 
 Ufe of their Paws, then their Tail. The Foundation of the 
 Dams are generally ten or twelve Feet thick ; but they decreafe 
 in Thicknefs upwards : So that a Dam which is twelve Feet 
 thick at the Bottom, is not above two at the Top. All this is 
 done in exact Proportion, and, as one may fay, according to the 
 Rules of Art; for it is obferved, that the Side towards the Cur- 
 
 (a) The City of Venice is built in the miilil of Waters. 
 
 G z rent
 
 44 An Hiftcrical Journal of 
 
 rent of the Water is always Hoping, in order to break the Pref- 
 fure of the Water, and the other Side perfectly perpendicular. 
 In a Word, it would be difficult for our beft Workmen to make 
 any Thing more folid and regular. The Conftruftion of their 
 Cabins is not lefs wonderful. They are generally made upon 
 Piles in the midft of thefe little Lakes, which the Dykes have 
 made : Sometimes by the Side of a River, or at the Extremity 
 of a Point that advances into the Water. Their Shape is round 
 or oval ; and the Roof is arched. The Walls are two Feet thick, 
 built with the fame Materials as the Caufey, but lefs, and every 
 where fo well plaiftered with Clay on the Infide, that the leaft 
 Breath of Air cannot enter. Two thirds of the Building is out 
 of the Water, and in this Part every Beaver has a feparate Place,- 
 which he takes Care to ftrew with Leaves, or fmall Branches of 
 Firs. It is always free from Ordure ; and for this End, befides 
 the common Door of the Cabin, and another Outlet by which 
 thefe Creatures pafs to bathe themfelves, there are feveral Open- 
 ings by which they can dung into the Water. The common Ca- 
 bins lodge eight or ten Beavers, fome have been found which 
 held thirty, but this is uncommon. They are all near enough 
 each other, to have an eafy Communication. 
 
 The Beavers are never furprized by the Winter ; all the 
 q*. . „ r , Works I mention, are finiihed by the End of 
 lheirtorejight. g^^^ an( j then every one provides his 
 
 Store for the Winter. Whilft they go backwards and forwards 
 in the Woods or Fields, they live upon Fruits, the Bark and 
 Leaves of Trees ; they alfo catch Cray-Filh and other Fifh : 
 Then they have Variety of Food. But when they are to pro- 
 vide themfelves for the whole Seafon, that the Earth being co- 
 vered with Snow fuppiies them with nothing, they content 
 themfelves with foft Woods, fuch as the Poplar and the Afpen, 
 and fuch-like. They r pile it up in fuch a Manner, that they 
 can always take thofe Pieces which are foaked in the Water. It 
 is always obferved, that thefe Piles are larger or fmaller, as the 
 Winter will prove longer or lhorter ; and this is an Almanack 
 for the Savages, which never deceives them in Regard to the* 
 Cold. The Beavers before they eat the Wood, cut it in very 
 fmall Pieces, and carry it into their feparate Lodges ; for every 
 Cabin has but one Magazine for all the Family. When the melt-* 
 ing of the Snow is at its Height, as it never fails to caufe great 
 Floods, the Beavers leave their Cabins, which are no longer 
 habitable, and every one takes which Way he likes beft. The 
 Females return as foon as the Waters are run off, and then bring 
 forth their Young : The Males keep the Country till towards 
 the Month at Jul?, when they re-ali'emble to repair the Breaches 
 which the Floods have made in their Cabins or Dykes. If they 
 
 have
 
 Travels in North America* 4 5 
 
 have been deftroyed by the Hunters, or if they are not worth 
 the Trouble of repairing, they make others : But many Rea- 
 fons oblige them to change their Abode frequently, the moil 
 common is the Want of Provifion ; they are alio obliged to do 
 it by the Hunters, or Beaits of Prey, againft which they have 
 no other Defence than Flight. We might think it ftrange, that 
 the Author of Nature has given lefs Power of Defence to the 
 greateil Part of ufeful Animals, than to thofe which are not ufe- 
 ful ; if this Circumftance did not the more difplay his Wifjom 
 and Power, in that the former, notwithstanding their Weaknefsj 
 multiply much more than the latter. 
 
 There are fome Places which the Beavers feem to have taken 
 fuch an Affection to, that they cannot leave them, though they 
 are continually difquieted. In the Way from Montreal to Lake 
 Huron, by the great River, they never fail to find every Year in 
 the fame Place, a Lodgment which thefe Animals build or repair 
 every Summer. For the firil Thing PafTengers do who pafs this 
 Way, is to break down the Cabin, and the Caufey which furniihes 
 it with Water, If this Caufey had not kept up the Water, they 
 would not have enough to continue their Way, and they would 
 be obliged to make a Portage; fo that it looks as if thefe offi- 
 cious Beavers ported themfelves here folely for the Convenience 
 of Paffengers. The fame Thing, as they fay, is to be feen near 
 S^/teiec, where the Beavers labouring for themfelvesj fupply Wa- 
 ter to a Mill for fawing Planks. 
 
 The Savages were formerly perfuaded, if we believe fome 
 Of th T d R eiat i° ns > that the Beavers were a reafonable 
 ^ J . Kind of Creatures, which had their Laws, their 
 
 Government, and their particular Language 1 
 That this amphibious People chofe Commanders, who in their 
 common Labours appointed to every one his Talk, placed Cen=- 
 tinels to give Notice of the Approach of an Enemy, and pu- 
 nched or banifhed the idle. Thefe pretended E:dles are pro- 
 bably thofe which they call the Land Beavers, which in Facl 
 live apart from the others, Jo not labour, and live under 
 Ground, where their whole Care is to make themfelves a co- 
 vered Way to go to the Water. They are known by the little 
 Fur they have upon their Back.s, which proceeds no doubt from 
 their rubbing it conftantly againft the Earth ; and withal they 
 are lean, the Effect of their Sloth : More of thefe are found in 
 the South than in the North. I have already obfewed, that 
 our Beavers of Europe are more like thefe, than the others. In 
 Fact, M. Lenzery fays, they live in Holes and Cavities on 
 Banks of Rivers, efpecialiy in Poland. There are fome alfo in 
 Germany upon the £ fie, and in France upon the Rhone, the . 
 and the Oife, It is certain, that we d; not rind in the Euro
 
 46 An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 Beavers thofe extraordinary Qualities which Co much diflinguiih. 
 thofe of Canada. 'Tis a great Pity, Madam, that none of thefe 
 wonderful Creatures were found in the Tyber, or in the Territo- 
 ries of Pamajfus, what fine Things would the Greek and Roman 
 Poets have faid on this Subjecl. 
 
 It appears that the Savages of Canada did not diilurb them 
 greatly till our Arrival in their Country. The Skins of the 
 Beavers were not the moil ufed by thefe People for Garments, 
 and the Flelh of Bears, Elks, and other wild Creatures was 
 more approved bv r them. They hunted them, neverthelefs, and 
 this Chace had its Seafon, and its peculiar Ceremonies ; but 
 when they hunted only for what was merely necefTary for a pre- 
 fent Supply, they made no great P>.avages ; and indeed when we 
 came to Canada, we found a prodigious Number of thefe am- 
 phibious Creatures in the Country. 
 
 There is no Difficulty in hunting the Beaver, for this Animal 
 
 nr , . j has not in anv Degree the Strength to defend 
 p U J b * ntm l m himfelf, nor' the Skill to fhun the Attacks of 
 his Enemy, which it difcovers in providing 
 for itfelf Lodging and Provisions. It is during Winter they 
 make War againft him in Form ; that is to fay, from the Begin- 
 ning of November till April. Then it has, like all other Ani- 
 mals, more Fur, and the Shin is thinner; this hunting is per- 
 formed four different Ways, with Nets, with the Gun, the 
 Trench, and the Trap ; the firft is generally joined to the 
 third, and they feldom make Ufe of the fecond, becaufe the 
 Eyes of this little Animal are fo piercing, and his Ears are fo 
 quick, that it is difficult to approach near enough to fhoot him, 
 before he gets into the Water, which he never goes far from 
 during this Seafon, and into which he immediately plunges. 
 They would lofe him alfo if he were wounded before he gets 
 into the Water, becaufe he never comes up again if he dies of 
 his Wound ; it is therefore the Trench or the Trap that are ge- 
 nerally ufed. 
 
 Though the Beavers have made their Proviiion for the Win- 
 ter, they flili continue to make fome Excurficns into the Woods 
 to find fome fresher and tenderer Food, and this Daintinefs colls 
 many their Lives. The Savages fet up Traps in their Way, 
 made almoll like a Figure of 4, and for a Bait they put little 
 Pieces of foft Food newly cut ; as foon as the Beaver touches it, 
 a gs-eat Log falls upon him and breaks his Back, and the Hun- 
 ter'coming up makes an End of hisn without any Trouble. 
 The Trench requires more Caution, and they proceed in this 
 Manner : When the Ice is but half a Foot thick, they cut an 
 Opening with an Ax, the Beavers come here to breathe more 
 freely; the Hunters wait for them, and perceive them coming 
 
 at
 
 Travels in North America. 4- 
 
 at a good Diftance, becaufe in blowing they give a confiderable 
 Motion to the Water ; fo that it is eafy to take their Meafures 
 to kill them as foon as they appear above Water: But for the 
 greater Certainty, and not to be feen by the Beavers, they throw 
 upon the Hole which they make in the Ice fome broken Reeds 
 or Stalks of Indian Wheat, and when they find that the Ani- 
 mal is within Reach, they feize him by one of his Paws, and 
 throw him upon the Ice, where they knock him on the Head 
 before he has recovered of his Surprize. 
 
 If the Cabin is near fome Rivulet, they are taken with lefs 
 Trouble, they make a Cut acrofs the Ice to let down their Nets, 
 then they go and break down the Cabin. The Beavers that are 
 in it never fail to run into the Rivulet, and are caught in the Net, 
 but they muft not be left there long, for they would foon make 
 their Way out by gnawing it. Thofe which have their Cabins 
 in the Lakes have, at three or four hundred Paces from the 
 Shore, a Kind of Country-houfe, where they may breathe a bet- 
 ter Air : Then the Hunters divide tliemfclves in two Parties, 
 one goes to break down the Country Cabin, and the other Party 
 falls upon that of the Lake ; the Beavers which are in the latter 
 (and the Hunters take the Time when they are all there) fiv for 
 Refuge to the other; but they find nothing there but Daft, 
 which has been thown in on Purpofe, and which blinds them 
 fo that they are eafily taken. Laftly, in fome Places, they 
 make a Breach in the Caufey ; by this Means the Beavers 
 foon find themfelves aground, and without Defence, or elfe the, 
 immediately run to remedy the Evil of which they do not know 
 the Authors, and as they are well prepared to receive them, 
 the Beavers feldom efcape, or at leail fome of them are taken. 
 
 There are fome other Particularities of the Beavers which 
 
 Some Parucula- I find ' m f ° me Uem ™ s > the T ™^ of which 
 rities of this Crea- cannot warrant. I hey pretend, that when 
 t . J thefe Animals have difcovered any Hunter:-, 
 
 or any of thofe Beafts that prey upon them, 
 they dive, ftriking the Water with their Tail, with fuch a great 
 Noife, that they may be heard half a League oil": This is "pro- 
 bably to give Notice to the reft to be upon their Guard. They 
 fay alfo that they have the Senfe of fmelling fo exquifite, that 
 being in the Water they fmell a Canoe at a great Diilance. But 
 they add, that they only fee Side-ways like a Hare, and that 
 through this Defect they often fall into the Hands of the Hun- 
 ter whom they feek to Ihun. And laftly they afiirm, that when a 
 Beaver has loll his Mate, they never couple again with another, as 
 is reported of the Turtle Dove. The Savages take great Care to 
 hinder their Dogs from touching the Bones of the Beaver, becaufe 
 they arc fo hard they would fpoil their Teeth ; they fay ihe fame 
 
 Thing
 
 4.8 An Historical Journal of 
 
 Thing of the Bones of the Porcupine. The Generality of the 
 'ages give another Reafon for this ; it is, they fay, not to 
 enra Spirits of thefe Animals, which would hinder at an- 
 
 other Time the Chace from being fuccefsful. For the reft, Ma- 
 dam, I wonder they have not ried to tranfport fome of tbefe 
 wonderful Creatures into France; we have Places enough where 
 they might find Food enough, and Materials for building, and 
 I believe they would multiply there prefently. 
 
 We have here alfo a little Animal much of the fame Nature 
 
 r\f i M & as t ^ e Beaver, which in many Refpedts feems 
 
 j s j tQ ^ a f ma ji er Sp ec i eS) and is called the 
 
 -' Mufi Rat. It has, in Faft, almoft all the 
 
 Properties of the Beaver, the Shape of the Body, and efpecially 
 of the Head of both, is fo alike, that one would take the Mulk 
 Rat for a little Beaver, if his Tail was cut off, which is almoft 
 like that of our Rats ; and if its Teliicles were taken away, which 
 contain a meft exquilite Mufk. This Animal, which weighs about 
 four Pounds, is much like that which Mr. Ray defcribes under 
 the Name of Mus Jlpinus. It takes the Field in the Month of 
 March, and its Food is then fome Bits of Wood, which it peals 
 before eating them. After the Snows are melted, it lives upon 
 
 Roots of Nettles, then on the Stalks and Leaves of this 
 Plant. In Summer it feeds moftly on Rafberries and Straw 
 berries, and afterwards on other autumnal Fruits. During this 
 Seafon, the Male is feldom feen without the Female : When 
 Winter begins they feparate, and each goes to find a Lodging 
 in fome Hole, or the FIollow of a Tree, without any Provifions ; 
 and the Savages affirm that as long as the Cold lafts they eat 
 nothing. ■ 
 
 They build alfo Cabins, fomething like thofe of the Beavers, 
 but very far from being fo well built. As to their Situation, it 
 is always by the Water Side, fo they have no Occafion to make 
 any Dams. They fay that the Fur of the Mufk Rat may be 
 snixt with that of the Beaver in making Hats, without any 
 Prejudice to the Work. Its Fleih is not bad but in rutting 
 Time; then it is not pofiible to deprive it of a Mufkinefs, which 
 
 is not fo pleafant to the Tafte as to the Smell. 1 was very 
 
 much inclined, Madam, to give you an Account of the other 
 Chaees of the Savages, and of the Animals that are peculiar to 
 
 Country, but 1 mnft defer it to another Opportunity. I am 
 juft now informed that my Carriage is ready, and I am going 
 to fet out, 
 
 I «/;;, &c. 
 
 LE T.
 
 Travels in North America. 49 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 A Journey from Quebec to Trois Rivieres (the Three Rivers ;) 
 Hozv they go Poji upon the Sno-iv. Of the Lordjhips or Manors of 
 New France. A Defer ipt ion o/"Beckan court. The Tradition 
 in regard to the Name of the River Puante (the Stinking River.), 
 A Defer ipt ion ©/"Trois Rivieres. A Continuation of the fever at 
 Huntings of the Savages. 
 
 Madam, Trois Rivieres, March 6. 
 
 I Arrived Yefterday in this Town, after two Days Journey, and 
 though it is twenty-five Leagues diftant from Quebec, I could 
 have performed the Journey in twelve Hours, becaufe I came in 
 a Sledge, which the Snow and Ice makes a very eafy Way of 
 travelling in this Country during the Winter, and which does 
 not coft more than the common Carriages. The Sledge runs 
 fo fmoothly, that a fingle Horfe fuffices to draw it, and always 
 goes a Gallop. One finds at different Places frefh Horfes at a 
 a cheap Rate. In Cafe of Need one might travel this Way . 
 threefcore Leagues in twenty-four Hours, much more con- 
 veniently than in the bell Poft-Chaifes. 
 
 I lay the the firit Night at Pointe aux Trembles, (Afpen Tree 
 
 s^r i t jrL-± Point) feven Leagues from the Capital, which 
 OftheLordJhtps j left but one Hour before Nig] £ Th . s . s 
 
 of Canada. one Q f ^ ^ oQ ^ p^n^s f t hj s Country. 
 
 The Church is large and well built, and the Inhabitants in 
 good Circumftances. In general, the old Inhabitants are richer 
 here than the Lords of the Manors, and this is the Reafon : 
 Canada was but a great Foreft when the French firft fettled it. 
 Thofe who obtained Lordfhips, were not People to improve the 
 Land themfelves ; they were Officers, Gentlemen, and Compa- 
 nies, who had not Funds fufficient to eftablifh a proper Num- 
 ber of Labourers for this Purpofe. They were therefore obliged 
 to fettle Inhabitants, who, before they could get a Siabfiftence, 
 were obliged to labour much, and to advance all the Charges ; fo 
 that they paid their Lords but a very flender Rent ; and all the 
 ufual Fines of a Manor amount here but to a fmall Sum. A 
 Lordfhip of two Leagues in Front, and of an unlimited Depth, 
 brings in but a fmall Income in a Country fo thinly peopled, and 
 where there is fo little Trade in the inward Parts, 
 
 H This
 
 £G An Bificrical Journal of 
 
 This was without Doubt, one of the Reafons that engaged 
 Ofth R' ht f Lews the XlVth to allow all Nobles and 
 
 p J C tl Gentlemen fettled in Canada, to trade both by 
 
 *i/'». Sea and Land, without being liable to be troubled 
 men are allowed to . L . * ,*, , , » 
 
 cr j on this /tec. int, or reputed to have derogated from 
 
 1 raae ' their Birth and Family. Thefe are the Terms 
 
 of the Order, which was made by the Council, the ioth of March 
 1685. And further, there are no Lordihips in this Country, even 
 of thofe which give Titles of Honour, to which the Right of 
 Patronage belongs; for upon the Claim of fome Lords, founded 
 upon their having built a Parifh Church, his Majefty being; pre- 
 fent in Council, declared the fame Year, 1685, that this Right 
 belonged only to the Bifhop, as well becaufe he is more capa- 
 ble than any other of judging who are the fitteft Perfons, as be- 
 caufe, that the proper Allowance of the Curates, is paid out of 
 the Tythes that belong to the Bifhop. The King in the fame 
 Order declares, that the Right of Patronage is not to give any 
 Rank of Honour. 
 
 I departed from Pointe aux Trembles before Day, with a one 
 
 Of tb Situa- eye( * ** ori k' * changed him afterwards for 
 
 . J. - j»_„i ' ~ a lame one, and then him for a broken winded 
 
 Hon of Se.kan- Q ^ wkh thefe three Rda ^ j ^^ { ^ en _ 
 
 teen Leagues in feven or eight Hours, and I 
 arrived early at the Baron de Becka?/ccurt's, chief Surveyor 
 of the Highways of New France, who would by no Means 
 fufFer me to go forward. This Gentleman has a Village of 
 Abenaquis, under the Diredlion of a Jefuit in Matters of Re- 
 ligion, to whom I was very glad to pay my Refpecls by the Way. 
 The Baron lives at the Entrance of a little River that comes 
 from the South, which runs entirely through his Lordlhip, and 
 bears his Name. The Life which M. de Beckancourt leads in 
 this Defert (for here are no other French Inhabitants as yet but 
 the Lord) naturally brings to Mind the antient Patriarchs, 
 who did not difdain to divide with their Servants the Labours of 
 their Country, and lived almoft in as plain a Manner as they. 
 The Advantage which he makes by the Trade with the Savages 
 his Neighbours, by buying Skins of them at the firft Hand, is 
 more than the Profits he could make of Inhabitants, to whom 
 he mould divide his Land. In Time, it will be his own Fault 
 if he has no VafTals, and he will make more advantageous Con- 
 ditions when he has cleared all his Land, The River Beckan- 
 court was formerly called Riviere Puante, or the Stinking Ri- 
 ver. I enquired the Caufe of this Name, for the Water ap- 
 peared to me very fine, and they allured me that it is very good, 
 and that there is no bad Smell in all this Quarter. Yet fome told 
 jne it was fo called on Account of the. bad Qualities of the 
 
 Waters i
 
 Travels in North America. 51 
 
 Waters : Others attributed it to the great Number of Mufk Rats 
 that are found in it, the Scent of which the Savages cannot bear; 
 but here is a third Reafon, which they who have made the greateft: 
 Refearches into the antient Hiftory of the Country fay, is the 
 true one. 
 
 Some Algonquins were at War with the Onnontcharonnons, better 
 known by the Name of the Iroquct Nation, which antiently 
 dwelt in the Ifland of Montreal. The Name it bears proves, that 
 .it was of the Huron Language ; but they fay it was thefe Hurons 
 who drove them from their antient Habitation, and who have 
 in Part deftroyed them : However that may be, this Nation was 
 at the Time I fpeak of, at War with the Algonquins, who, to 
 make an End at once of the War, which they began to be 
 weary of, contrived a Stratagem, which fucceeded. They fet 
 themfelves in Ambufh on the two Sides of a little River, which 
 is now called Bcckancourt. Then they detached fome Canoes, 
 which made a Shew of Fifhing in the Great River. They knew 
 that their Enemies were not far off", and they made no Dcuibt 
 that they would foon fall upon thefe pretended Fifhermen : And 
 in Fact, they foon faw a Fleet of Canoes coming in Hafte to 
 attack them ; they feemed to be afrighted, fled, and got up the 
 River. They were followed very clofe by the Enemy, who 
 thought to make a very eafy Conqueft of this Handful of Men ; 
 and to draw them on, they affected to be greatly terrified. This 
 Feint fucceeded, the Purfuers (till kept advancing, and making 
 moft hideous Cries, according to the Cuftom of thefe Bar- 
 barians, they thought they were inftantly going to feize their 
 Prey. 
 
 Then a Shower of Arrows from behind the Bufhes which bor- 
 dered the River threw them into Confufion, which they gave 
 them no Time to recover. A fecond Difcharge which followed 
 clofe upon the firft, entirely routed them. They ftrove to fly in 
 their Turn,, but they could no longer ufe their Canoes, which 
 were every where pierced with Arrows : They leaped into the 
 Water, hoping to fave themfelves by fwimming, but befides 
 that the greateft Part were wounded, they met at landing the 
 Death they fled from, and not one efcaped the Algonquins, who 
 gave no Quarter, and did not even amufe themfelves with ma- 
 king of Prifoners : The Iroquet Nation never recovered this fa- 
 tal Blow, and though fome of thefe Savages have been feen 
 fince the Arrival of the French in Canada, at prefent there are 
 none remaining. In the mean Time the Number of dead Bodies 
 which remained in the Water and upon the Sides of the River 
 infe&ed it in fuch a Manner, that it ftill retains the Name of 
 Riviere Puante, (the Stinking River. J 
 
 H 2 Th«
 
 •£fi An Hljiorical Journal of 
 
 The dbenaqui Village of Beckatzccurt is not fo populous as it 
 
 Of the Abena- was *° me Years a S ' ? €t . the ^ woulcl be ot 
 ~„:rsn rv great Affiftance to us in Cafe of a War. 
 
 qui Filiate of Bee- &,, r c , , , , _ 
 
 kancourt Savages are always ready to make In- 
 
 roads into Neiv England, where their Name 
 alone has often carried Terror even into Bojion. They would alfo 
 ferve us as effectually againft the Iroquds, to whom they are no 
 ways inferior in Valour, and are better difciplined. They are 
 .all Chrijlians, and they have a pretty Chapel, where they prac-~ 
 tife with much Edification all the Exercifes of the Chrijiian Re- 
 ligion. We muft, neverthelefs, acknowledge, that they are great- 
 ly fallen from the Fervour which appeared in them the firft 
 Years ot their Eftablifhment amongft us. They carried them 
 Brandy, which they took a great Liking to, and the Savages never 
 drink but to get drunk. We have learnt by fatal Experience, that 
 in Proportion as thefe People depart from God, in the fame Mea- 
 fure they pay lefs Refpeft to their Pallors, and grow more in 
 the Intereit of the Englijh. It is greatly to be feared that the 
 Lord will permit them to become our Enemies, to puniih us 
 for having contributed, fora fordid Intereit, to render them vici- 
 ous, as it has already happened to fome other Nations. 
 
 After having embraced the Miffionary of Beckancourt, (a) vi- 
 c . ,■ »,, fited his Village, and made with him fomefor- 
 
 bltuatZOn Of the r l n a c£ 1_-L ii -r r 
 
 q- r 'f'rois rowru * Reflections which naturally anfe from 
 
 Riviere* tbe Diforders I nave mentioned, and for 
 
 which he is often reduced to groan in the 
 Sight of God, I crofled the River St. Laurence to come to this 
 Town. Nothing is more charming than its Situation. It is built 
 upon a gentle Hill of Sand, which is only barren for the Space 
 it may occupy, if it ever becomes a confiderable Town ; 
 for at prefent it is but of little Confequence. It is fur- 
 rounded by whatever can render a Town agreeable and 
 wealthy. The River, which is near half a League wide, runs 
 at the Bottom. Beyond, we fee a cultivated fruitful Country, 
 that is crowned with the fineit. Forefts in the World. A little 
 below, and on the fame Side as the Town, the Great River re- 
 ceives another tolerably fine River, which before it mixes its 
 Water with the firft, receives at the fame Time two others, one 
 to the right and the other to the left, which has given the Name 
 of Trots Rivieres (Three Rivers) to the Town. 
 
 Above, and at about the fame Diftance, begins the Lake of 
 
 Of the Lake of S *.', iW ' ) vhich , is about th r ee leagues 
 
 St. Pierre (St. ™ de ' and **!"* lon 2 : S ?, tnat , n ° thm S 
 
 Peter.) bounds the Sight on that Side, and the Sun 
 
 appears to fet in the Waves. This Lake, 
 
 which is only an Enlargement of the River St, Laurence, receives 
 
 (d) Father Euflacbe Le Sui-ur. 
 
 many
 
 Trawls in North America. 53 
 
 Rivers. It appears probable, that it is thcfe Rivers that in a 
 Courfe of Years have eaten away the low and light Soil, through 
 which they run. This is moil apparent in the River St. Francois, 
 the Mouth of which hath may little Iflands interfperfed in it, 
 which probably were formerly joined to the Continent. And 
 moreover, in all the Lake, unlefs in the midll of the Channel 
 where the Strength of the Current of the Great River has pre- 
 ferved its Depth, there is no pafling but in Canoes. There are 
 alfo fome Places where great Canoes, if they are but lightly 
 loaded, cannot eafily pafs. But it is every where full of Fifh, 
 and the Fifh arc excellent. 
 
 They reckon but about feven or eight hundred People in the 
 n , . . Town of Trots Rivieres, but it has in its 
 
 ADeJcnpticn of Neighbourhood wherewithal to enrich a 
 the Vo-ivn. great City ; that is to fay, very good Iron 
 
 Mines, which may be wrought with Profit at at any Time (a). 
 Upon the whole, though this Tosvn is but thinly peopled, 
 its Situation renders it of great Confequence, and it is one of 
 the oldeft Settlements in the Colony. From the firit, this Poft 
 has had a Governor, he has a thoufand Crowns Salary, and an 
 Etat Major (a certain Number of General Officers of the Army 
 under him.) Here is alfo a Convent of Recollcts, a pretty good 
 Parifh Church ferved by this Society, and a very fine Hofpital, 
 joined to a Nunnery of Ur/ulities, to the Number of forty, who 
 are employed as Nurfes to the Hofpital. This is alfo a Founda- 
 tion of M. de St. Vallier. From the Year 1650, the Senechal 
 (whofe Office and Power was afterwards abolifhed and inverted 
 in the Superior Council of Quebec, and the Intendant) had a 
 Lieutenant at Trois Rivieres : At prefent, this Town has a com- 
 mon Court of Juilice, the Chief of which is a Lieutenant Ge- 
 neral. 
 
 It owes its Origin to the great Refort of Savages of different 
 
 en, • a r Nations to this Place. At the Beginning of 
 
 ca u-n the Colony there came down many, elpecially 
 
 of its tjlablijb- from the fartheft Parts of the North, by the 
 
 three Rivers, which have given the Name to 
 this Town, and by which they go up a great Way. The Situa- 
 tion of the Place, joined to the great Trade that was carried on 
 here, engaged fome French to fettle here; and the Neighbour- 
 hood of the River de Sore/, then called the Iroquois Ri<ver, (which 
 I fhall mention foon) induced the Governor General to build a Fort 
 here, where was maintained a good Garrifon, and which had from 
 the firft a Governor of its own. This Poft was then looked 
 
 (a) They are actually wrought at this Time, and produce the bed Iron 
 in the World. 
 
 upon
 
 54 <& Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 upon, as one of the mod important in New France. After fome 
 Years, the Savages being tired of being continually harraffed by 
 the Iroquois, from whom the French themfelves had Tmv.ble 
 enough to defend themfelves, andhaving no longerthe Liberty of 
 the Paffes, where thefe proud Enemies laid wait for them conti- 
 nually, and not being fafe even in Sight of, and under the Can- 
 non of our Fort, they forebore to bring hither their Peltry or 
 Skins. The Jefuits with all their new Converts retired three 
 Leagues lower, upon fome Lands that were given them by the 
 Abbot de la Madeleine, one of the Members of the Society of 
 the hundred Aflbciates, formed by the Cardinal de Richlieu, from 
 whence this Place took the Name of Cape de la Madeleine, which 
 it bears to this Day (a). 
 
 The Million which was tranfported hither, did not fubfift a 
 Of C be Ma- ^ on & Time. This was partly the Effeft of 
 ^ t < " the Ficklenefs of the Savages, but principally 
 
 the Confequence of the Wars and Diieafes 
 which have almoft entirely deftroyed this rifing Church. There 
 are ftill in the Neighbourhood a Company of Algonquins, the 
 greater!: Part of whom were baptized in their Infancy, but have 
 now no regular Exercife of Religion. The Gentlemen of the 
 Wefi-India Company, who have now the Beaver Trade, have in, 
 vain endeavoured to draw them to Checoutime, where they have 
 already re-united feveral Families of the fame Nation, and of 
 the Nation of the Mountains, under the Direction of a Je/uit 
 Miffionary. Others wanted to unite them with the Abenaquis of 
 5/. Francois. All their Anfwer to thefe Invitations was, that 
 they could not refolve to quit a Place where the Bones of their 
 Fathers reft. But fome People believe, and not without Foun- 
 dation, that this Refufal proceeds lefs from themfelves, than 
 from fome People to whom their Neighbourhood is advantage- 
 ous ; and who, without Doubt, do not fufficiently confider that 
 they facrifice the Salvation of thefe Savages to a little Intereft. 
 I have juft been informed, Madam, that in a few Days I (hall 
 have an Opportunity of fending this Letter to Quebec, from 
 whence it may go early to France by the Iile Royal. I mail fill it 
 
 up with what concerns the Huntings of the Savages. The 
 
 hunting of the Beaver, as I have before obferved, was not their 
 principal Concern, till they faw the Value which the French fet 
 upon the Skin of this Animal. Before this, the hunting of the 
 Bear held the firft Place, and was performed with the greateft 
 Superftition. This is what is obferved at this Day in this 
 Chace, amongft thofe who are not Chrijlians. 
 
 (a) Befides the Iron Mines, which are very plentiful at Cape Madeleine, 
 here have been difcovered fome Years ago, feveral Springs of Mineral 
 Waters. 
 
 It
 
 1 ravels in North America. r, 4 
 
 It is always a War-Chief who fixes the Time, and has the 
 _ , , Care of inviting the Hunters. This Invita- 
 
 Uf hunting the ^ Q ^ w hi c h is made with great Ceremony, is 
 followed with a Faft of eight Days ; during 
 which they mull not drink even a Drop of Water. And 1 will 
 tell you by the Way, Madam, that what the Savages call falling, 
 is to take abfolutely nothing at all. Still more, in Spite of the 
 extreme Weaknefs which fuch an Abftinence one may fuppofe 
 cannot fail to caufe, they never ceafe finging all the Time it 
 lads. They obferve this Faft, in order to induce the Genii, or 
 Spirits, to difcover the Places where they may find many Bears. 
 Many even do much more to deferve this Favour. Several have 
 been feen to cut their Flefti in feveral Places of their Body, to 
 render their Genii, or Spirits, more propitious. But it is proper 
 to obferve, that they do not afk their Affiftance to conquer thefe 
 furious Animals : It fuffices them to be informed where they 
 are. As Ajax did not alk of Jupiter to give him the Vidlory over 
 his Enemies, but only Day enough to make an End of his 
 Conqueft. 
 
 The Savages fupplicate alfo on the fame Account the Manes 
 of the Beafts which they have killed in former Huntings ; and 
 as their Thoughts run wholly on the Matter whilft they xic 
 awake, it is natural that during their Sleep (which can't be very 
 found upon fuch empty Stomachs) they fhould often dream of 
 Bears. But this is not enough to determine them : It is necef- 
 fary that all, at leaft the greateft Number, fhould in their Sleep 
 have feen Bears in the fame Place : And how (you will fay) 
 fhould all their Dreams agree in this ? The Cafe feems to be 
 thus : Provided a fkilful Hunter has thought he has dreamt two 
 or three Times together of feeing Bears in a certain Place, ei- 
 ther through Complaifance, or through continual talking of it, 
 their chimerical Brain at laft takes the Impreffion, and every Body 
 prefently dreams the fame, or feign that they have dreamt fo, and 
 
 a Refolution is taken to go to that Place. The Fail being 
 
 over, and the Place of the Hunt fettled, the Chief who is chofen 
 for the Chace gives to all thofe who are to be of the Party a 
 great Feafl ; but no Perfon dares be prefent, without having firft, 
 bathed ; that is to fay, without having plunged into the River, 
 let the Weather be ever fo fevere, provided the River is not 
 frozen. This Feaft is not like many others, in which they are 
 obliged to eat up all : Though they have failed fo long before 
 it, (and perhaps it is for this Reafon) they eat moderately. He 
 who gives the Feaft, eats nothing ; and all his Employment, 
 whilft the others are at Table, is to relate his former Achieve- 
 ments in hunting : Frefh Invocations of the Manes of dead 
 Bears, finifhes the Feall. Then they begin their March, equipp'd 
 
 o as
 
 5 6 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 as for War, and their Faces befmeared with Black, amidft the 
 Acclamations of the whole Village; for the Chace, amongft 
 thefe People, is as noble as War. The Alliance of a good Hun- 
 ter is more fought after than that of a famous Warrior, becaufe 
 the Chace provides the whole 3 amily with Provifion and Cloath- 
 ino-, and the Savages defire nothing more : But a Man is not 
 efteemed a great Hunter, till he has killed twelve great Beafts in 
 one Day. 
 
 Thefe People have two great Advantages over us in this Ex- 
 ercife; for, in the firft Place, nothing flops them, neither Bufhes, 
 Ditches, Torrents, Ponds, nor Rivers. They always go for- 
 ward upon a ftrait Line. In the fecond Place, there are few, or 
 rather no Creatures, which they cannot overtake in running : 
 They have been feen, as it is faid, entering a Village, leading 
 Bears in a Wythe, (which they had tired by running down) as 
 if they had been leading a Flock of Sheep ; and the nimbleft 
 Deer is not fwifter than they are. Laftly, the chief Hunter 
 muft make little Advantage himfelf of his Game : He is oblig'd 
 to be very liberal of it : If they even prevent his Gift, and 
 take it away from him, he muft liiffer the Lofs without faying 
 any Thing, and be contented with the Glory of having labour'd 
 for the Public. Neverthetefs, it is not complained of, if in the 
 Diftribution which Jie makes of the Game, he gives the firft 
 Part to his own Family. But we muft confefs, that thofe Sa- 
 vages with whom we have moft Commerce, have loft fomething 
 of that antient Generofity, and that wonderful Difintereftednefs 
 which they were remarkable for.— Nothing is more contagious 
 than the Spirit of Intereft, and nothing more capable of alter- 
 ing the Manners of a People. 
 . Winter is the Seafon for hunting the Bear : Then thefe Ani- 
 
 cr-i p • c mals are hid in hollow Trees ; or if they find 
 
 J be Hearts Jtx \>\ own down, they fhelter themfelves un- 
 
 Months wtbout de J the Roots of them> and ftop up the En _ 
 
 eating. trance with Branches of Pine, fo that they 
 
 are perfectly fcreened from the Rigour of the Seafon ; otherwife, 
 they make a Hole in the Earth, and take great Care, when they 
 are in, to flop up the Opening. Some have been found at the 
 Bottom of a Cavern, hid in fuch a Manner as not to be per- 
 ceived, though looked very narrowly for. But in what Manner 
 foever the Bear is lodged, he never leaves his Retreat for the 
 whole Winter: This is no longer doubted of. It is as certain that 
 he never makes any Provifion for the Winter, and of Confe- 
 quence, that during all that Time he never eats or drinks : As 
 to his living all this Time by fucking his Paws, as fome Authors 
 have affirmed, every one is allowed to believe what he pleafes : 
 But this is certain, that they have been kept chained up during 
 
 the
 
 'Travels in North America. 57 
 
 he Winter, without having any Thing given them to eat or to 
 drink, and at the End of fix Months they were as fat as before. 
 It is without Doubt furprizing that a Creature cloathed with fuch 
 a good Fur, and who has not the Appearance of being very ten- 
 der, fhould take fuch Precautions againft the Cold, which no 
 one elfe would think there was any Need of. This fhews we 
 mult not judge by Appearances : Every one beft knows his own 
 Wants. 
 
 There is no Need of running much to catch the Bear : 
 cri tut . ^ It is only neceffary to know the Places 
 , . , „ . where the greateft Number is hid. As fcon 
 '& as the Hunters think they have found fuch a 
 
 Place, they form a Circle of a Quarter of a League in Circum- 
 ference, or more or lefs, according to the Number of Hunters : 
 Then they advance, coming ftill clofer and clofer together ; and 
 every one looks before him, to find out the Retreat of fome 
 Bear ; fo that if there is any, it is difficult for one to efcape, for 
 our Savages are excellent Ferrets. The next Day the fame Ma- 
 noeuvre begins again at fome Diirance from thence, and all the 
 Time of the Chace is employed in this Manner. 
 
 When a Bear is killed, the Hunter puts the End of his 
 
 /f V J C lighted Pipe between his Teeth, blows into 
 
 , the Bowl ; and thus filling the Mouth and 
 
 D " < /■;,", Throat of the Beaft with Smoak, he conjures 
 
 Hear is kilted. . P . . , ,. r c . . m- J , 
 
 its Spirit to bear no Malice ror what he has 
 
 juft done to the Body, and not to oppofe him in his future 
 Huntings : But as the Spirit does not anfwer, the Hunter (ro 
 know if his Prayer is granted) cuts the String under the Bear's 
 Tongue, and keeps it till he returns to the Village : Then they 
 all throw, with great Ceremony, and after many Invocations, 
 thefe Strings into the Fire : If they crackle, and fhrink up, as 
 feldom fails to happen, this is taken for a certain Sign that the 
 Spirit of the Bear is appeafed ; if not, they believe they are en- 
 raged, and that the Chace of next Year will not be fuccefsful, 
 unlefs they can find a Way to reconcile them ; for, in lhort, there 
 is a Remedy for every Thing. 
 
 The Hunters make good Cheer, as long as the Chace lafts ; 
 
 H - 1 th H 2nc ^ even if tne y have but little Succefs, they 
 
 , c?rry off with them enough to treat their 
 let s are received at r . J , , r , . . r «?,. , „. 
 
 ,/ ■ n , rriends, and reed their r amines a lone lime. 
 
 their Return. „, . „, ' . . „ .. ° 
 
 ihisrlelh is in Reality no great Ragout, 
 
 but every Thing is good to the Savages. To fee how they are 
 
 received, the Praifes they give them, the pleafed and felf-fuffi- 
 
 cient Airs they take upon themfelves, one would fay they were 
 
 returning from fome grand Expedition, loaded with the Spoils of 
 
 a whole Nation deftroyed. The People of the Village fay, It 
 
 I muii
 
 5 8 An Hijloricai Journal of 
 
 muji be a Man (and the Hunters fay fo themfelves) to fight ivitb 
 and conquer Bears in this Manner. — Another Thing for which they 
 receive no lefs Praife, and upon which they as much pride them- 
 felves, is to leave nothing of the great Feaff, which is given them 
 at their Return from the Chsce by the chief Hunter. The firft 
 Service that is prefented, is thelargeil Bear they have taken; and 
 they ferve it up whole, with all its Entrails : It is not even 
 fkinned ; they only finge the Skin as one does that of a Hog for 
 Bacon. This Fealt is performed to a certain Spirit, whofe An- 
 ger they think they fhould incur if they did not eat all : 
 They muft not even leave any of the Broth in which the Meat 
 was boiled, which is fcarce any Thing but Fat melted and re- 
 duced to Oil : Nothing can be worfe ; and it generally kills 
 fome of them, and makes many of them very fick. 
 
 The Bears are not mifchievous in this Country, but when 
 . . they are hungry, or when they are wounded ; 
 
 Some Particular howererj p'i e are on their Guard when 
 rtties of the Bear, they approach them> They feldom attack . 
 
 they even generally run away as foon as they fee any Perfon, 
 and there needs only a Dog to make them fcour quite away. The 
 Bear ruts in July. He then grows fo lean, & his'Flefu is foinfipid 
 and ill tailed, that even the Savages who often eat thofe Things, 
 the Sight of which would turn cur Stomachs, can hardly touch 
 it. Who would believe that this Paliion fhould wafte an Animal 
 of this Kind and Shape more in one Month, than a total Abfli- 
 nence from Food for fix Months ? It is lefs furprizing that he 
 fhould then be fo fierce and ill-natured, that it is not fafe to 
 meet him in his Way. This is the Effecl: of his Jealonfy. 
 
 This Seafon being over, the Bear grows fat again, and no- 
 thing contributes more to it than the Fruits which he finds in the 
 Woods, of which he is very fond. Above all, he is fond of 
 Grapes ; and as all the Fore fls are full of Vines, which grow to 
 the Tops of the higheli Trees, he makes no Difficulty to climb 
 up them : But if a Hunter finds him there, his Daintinefs cofls 
 him his Life. When he has thus well fed upon Fruits, his 
 Flefh has a very good Talle, and keeps it till Spring : It ha?, 
 neverthelefs, always a great Fault ; it is too oily ; and if it is 
 not ufed with Moderation, it caufes the Bloody Flux. On the 
 other Hand, a Bear's Whelp is as good as a Lamb. 
 
 I forgot, Madam, to tell you that the Savages always carry a 
 
 c\f i n / great Number of Dogs with them when they 
 
 Sa r f° g J hunt ; they are the only Domeftic Creatures 
 
 avager uje /si which rhey bring up, and they bring them. 
 
 bunting. up only f(M . jj unt ; ng . They a jj f eem to bg 
 
 of the fame Species : Their Ears itand upright ; their Nofe ij 
 k>ng, like that of a Wolf; but they are very faithful and ar- 
 
 q tached
 
 Travels in North America. 59 
 
 tached to their Mailers ; who, neverthelefs, feed them but 
 poorly, and never fondle them : They break them betimes to 
 that Kind of Chace they are intended for, and they are excel- 
 lent Hunters. I have not Time to add any Thing more, for 
 theycall me to depart. 
 
 / am, Sec. 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 A Defcription of the Country, and the Ifands cf Richlieu and St. 
 Francois. Of the Abenaqui Village. Of the anticnt Fort of 
 Richlieu, and cf thofe that have been built in each Pari/h. A 
 brave Action of two Canadian Ladies. 
 
 Madam, St. Francois, March II. 
 
 I Departed on the 9th from Trots Rivieres, and crofi'ed the 
 Lake of St. Peter, inclining a little to the South. I per- 
 formed this Journey in a Sledge, becaufe the Ice was Hill flrong 
 enough to bear all Sorts of Carriages ; and I arrived at Noon 
 at St. Francois, I employed the Afternoon, and all Yefteruay, 
 to vifit this Quarter ; and I {hall now give you an Account of 
 what I obferved here. 
 
 At the Weft End of Lake St. Pierre, there is a'vaft Number of 
 nr 1 777 v Iflands of all Sixes, which they call the 
 c tf- tv 1Jia7:ds , I/lands of Richlieu ; and turning to the Left, 
 
 \ £ lcl ;J ieu > a ! ld w hen we come from Quebec, we find fix others, 
 9/ &t. Francois. wh;<;h border & pr£tty de£p Bay> {nt0 whkh 
 
 a River difcharges itfelf, the Spring Head of which is in the 
 Neighbourhood of Ne-zv York. The Iflands, the River, and all 
 the Country it waters, bear the Name of St. Francois. Each of 
 thefe Iflands are about a Mile long ; their Breadth is unequal : 
 The greateft Part of thofe of Richlieu are fmaller : They were 
 all formerly full of Stags, Deer, Goats, and Elks : Here was 
 alfo a furprizing Plenty of wild Fowl, which is not now very 
 fcarce ; but the great Beads have difappeared. 
 
 We get alfo excellent Fifh in the River of St. Francois, and at 
 its Mouth. In Winter they make Holes in the Ice, and let 
 down their Nets of five or fix Fathom long, and they feldom take 
 them up empty. The Filh which they commonly take, are the 
 gilt Fifli, Achigans, and particularly the Mafquinongez, which are 
 a Kind of Pike : It hath a Head larger than ours, and the 
 Mouth under a hooked Snout, which gives them an odd Look. 
 The Lands of St. Francois, if we may judge by the Trees that 
 
 I 2 grow
 
 60 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 grow here, and by that which is already cultivated, are very 
 good. The Inhabitants are, notwithstanding, poor enough ; 
 and many would be reduced to the greater! Indigence, if the 
 Trade with the Savages, their Neighbours, did not help them a 
 little. But is it not this Trade that hinders them from mend- 
 ing their Circumftances, by making them lazy ? 
 
 The Savages I fpeak of, are the Abcnaquis, amongfi: which 
 Or 1 AK there are fome Algcnquins, and alfo Sckokis and 
 
 ' vfl a " Mahingans, better known by the Name of the 
 
 quis Village. Wolves. This Nation was formerly fettled 
 
 upon the River of Manhatte, in Nemo York, and it appears that 
 they were antient Inhabitants of that Country. The Abenaquis 
 came to St. Francois from the Southern Parts of New France, 
 which are nearer! New England. Their firft Station, upon leav- 
 ing their Country to come to live amongft us, was a little River 
 that difcharges itfelf into the River St. Laurence., almoft over- 
 againft Syllery ; that is to fay, about a League and a half 
 above Quebec, on the South Side. They feated themfelves in the 
 Neighbourhood of a Fall, which was called the Fall de la Chan- 
 diere, (the Kettle.) They are now fituated on the Bank of the 
 River St. Francois, two Leagues from its Mouth, in the Lake St. 
 Pierre. The Place is very pleafant ; but the Misfortune is, that 
 thefe People do not enjoy the Pleafures of a fine Situation, and 
 the Cabins of the Savages, efpecially of the Abenaquis, do not 
 adorn a Country. The Village is well peopled, and is inha- 
 bited only by Chrijlians. This Nation is docible, and were at 
 all Times well affected to the French (a) ; but the Miffionary 
 has no lefs Trouble on their Account, than his Brother of Beck- 
 ancourt, and for the fame Reafons. 
 
 I was treated here with Maple Juice : This is the Seafon in 
 df i m l wn ich it is drawn. It is delicious, of won- 
 
 Juile derful Coolnefs > and vei 7 wholefome. The 
 
 J ' manner of drawing it is very eafy. When 
 
 the Sap begins to rife, they make a Jag or Notch in the Trunk 
 of the Maple, and by the Means of a bit of Wood which they 
 fix in it, the Water runs as by a Spout : This Water is received 
 into a Vefiel, which they fet under it. To make it run plenti- 
 fully, there muft be much Snow upon the. Ground, the Night 
 mult be frofty, the Sky clear, and the Wind not too cold. Our 
 Maples would have perhaps the fame Virtue, if we had in France 
 as much Snow as in Canada, and if it lafted as long. By Degrees, 
 as the Sap thickens, it runs lefs, and after fome Time it flops en- 
 tirely. It is eafy to judge, that after fuch a Bleeding, the Tree 
 is not the more healthy : They afHrm, however, that it can bear 
 «his many Years together. 1 hey would do better perhaps, to 
 
 (*) Father Jcfepb Albery. 
 
 let
 
 Travels in North America* 61 
 
 let. it reft a Year or two, that it might recover its Strength. 
 But at Laft, when it is worn oat, it ferves to cut down, and its 
 Wo id, Roots, and Knots, arc fit for many Things. This Tree 
 mult be very plenty here, for they burn much of" it. 
 
 The V .lap!? is pretty clear, though a little 
 
 whitifh ; it is \ iling, and leaves in the Mouth a Tafte like 
 
 that of Sugar, v . agreeaole. It is a very good Pectoral ; and in 
 wh^t Quantity foever it is drank, though you are never fo much 
 heated, it never docs Harm; for it has not that Rawnefs which 
 caufes the Fleurify ; but on the contrary, a balfamick Virtue, 
 which fwectens the Blood, and a certain Salt, which keeps up 
 the Heat of it. They add that it never congeals ; but if they 
 k .•■> it a certain Time, it becomes an excellent Vinegar. I do 
 not warrant this fcr Fact, and I know that a Traveller ought 
 not to take every Thing for Truth which he hears. It is very 
 able that the Savages, who are well acquainted with the 
 Virtues of all their Plants, have at all Times made the fame Ufe 
 as Water, which they do at this Day; but it is certain they 
 did no: know how to make a Sugar of it, which we have fince 
 taught them. They were contented to let it boil a little, to 
 thicken it fomething, and make a Sort of Syrup, which is pretty 
 enough. What is further required to make Sugar of it, is to let 
 it boil till it takes a proper Confluence, and it purifies itfelf 
 without any foreign Mixture. There needs only Care not to 
 boil it too much, and to fcum it well. The greateft Fault in 
 making it, is to let it harden too much in its Syrup, which makes 
 it oily, and to keep a Taile of Honey, which renders it lefs 
 palatable, unlefs it is refined. 
 
 This Sugar made with Care, and it requires much lefs than 
 ours, is natural, pectoral, and does not burn the Stomach. 
 Befides, the making of it is very cheap. It is commonly thought 
 that it is impofible to refine it, like that which is made from 
 Canes ; but I do not fee the Reafon of this ; and it is certain, 
 that as it comes out of the Hands of the Savages, it is purer and 
 much better than the Sugar of the I/lands, which has undergone 
 no more Management. I gave fome to a Sugar Baker of Or- 
 leans, who found no other Defect in it, than that which I have 
 already mentioned, and which he attributed folely to its not being 
 fufficiently purified. He thought it alfo of a better Kind than 
 the other, and made fome Lozenges °f i f > which I had the 
 Honour to prefent to you, Madam, and which you found fo ex- 
 cellent. It will be objected, that if it was of fuchagood Quality, 
 it would have become an Object of Trade, but there is not enough 
 made for this Purpofe; but perhaps they are in the wrong in not 
 trying what may be done. There are many other Things be- 
 fides this, that are neglected in this Country.— The Plain-Tree, 
 
 the
 
 62 Art Hijt erica! Journal ef 
 
 the fmall Cherry, the Afh, and the Walnut-Trees of different 
 Sorts, give alfo a Wat^r that makes Su«ar, but in lefs Quantity, 
 and the Sugar is not fo good. Yet fome People give the Pre- 
 ference to that which is drawn from the Afh, but there is very- 
 little made. Could you have I elieved, Madam, that we fhould 
 find in Canada? what Virgil fays in foretelling the Renewal of 
 the golden Age, that Honey fhordd How from the Trees (a). 
 All this Country has been a long Time the Theatre of many 
 Of F / /?»* / bloody Scenes, becanfe during the War with 
 *. J the Iroquois, it was the moil expofed to the 
 
 Excurfjons of thofe Barbarians. They came 
 down upon the Colony, by a River that difcharges itfeif into 
 the River St. Laurence, a little above Lake St. Pierre, on the fame 
 Side as that of St. Francois ; and to which, for this Reafon, they 
 at firft gave their Name. It has been fince for fome Time called 
 Ricblieu, and is now called the River dt Sere/. The lilands of 
 RschUeu, which they came to firft, ferved them equally for their 
 AmbunheS; and for a Retreat ; but when we had fhut up this 
 PafTage by a Fort, built at the Entrance of the River, they took 
 their Way by the Landc above and below, and threw themfelves 
 efpecially on the Side of St. Francois, where they found the fame 
 Advantages to exercife their Robberies, and where they have 
 committed Cruelties which are horrible to relate. 
 
 They fprsad themfelves afterwards through the whole Colony, 
 f, f , , p ., - and they were obliged in order to defend 
 u t i p -a themfelves from their Fury, to build in every 
 
 Parifh a Kind of Fort, where the Inhabitants 
 may take Refuge" on the firft Alarm. They kept in each Fort 
 one or two Centinels, who did Duty Night and Day, and they 
 had all fome Field-Pieces, or at leaft fome Pattereroes, as well to 
 difperfe the Enemy, as to give Notice to the Inhabitants to be 
 Upon their Guard, and to inform when they wanted Sir.cours. 
 Thefe Forts are only Inclofures, defended with Pallifadocs, with 
 fome Redoubts ; The Church and the Manor-Houfe are always 
 in this Inclofure ; and there is flill Room enough left, in cafe of 
 need, to give Refuge to the Women and Children, and the Cat- 
 tle. This has been found fufficient to preferve them from 
 any Infult ; for I never heard the Iroquois took any of thefe 
 Jorts, 
 
 They very feldorn block them up, and fcarce ever attack them 
 to take them by Affault. One is too dangerous for Savages, who 
 have no defenfive Arms, and do not love a Victory flained with 
 their Blood; The other Way does not agree with their Manner 
 of making War, Two attacks of the Fort a'e Vcrcberes, are never- 
 
 (a J £ t dura Quircus fudabunt rofcide mella, 
 
 thelefs
 
 ^travels in North America. 6 J 
 
 ..v/lefs famous in the Annals of Canada ; and it locks as if the 
 Iroquois had attempted it twice, contrary to their Cuftom, only to 
 Jifplay the Valour and Intrepidity of two Amazons. 
 
 In \6cjq, thefe Savages being informed that Madam de Varcbengt 
 
 .. , was aknoft alone in her Fort, approached jt 
 
 G *~ ~r without being feen, and attempted to fcale 
 
 f J vo LaJudiaQ ^ pallifadoes : Some Mufket Shot that were 
 
 Ladies. ^^ tQ go0(i p_ ur p f e> U p 0n trje fofl N ife 
 
 they made, difperfed them ; but they foon returned, and they 
 were again repulfed ; and what fupnfed them the more was, that 
 they faw only a Woman, and her they faw every where. This 
 was Madam de Vercheres, who kept up as good a Countenance 
 as if fne had had a numerous Garrifon. The Hope which the Be- 
 siegers had conceived at firft, to take a Place eaiily, which they 
 lenew was without Men, made them return fevera'l Times to the 
 Charge; but the Lady with the Help of the Women with her, 
 always beat them off. She fought in this Manuel two Days, 
 with fuch Bravery and Presence of Mind, as would have done 
 Honour to an old Warrior: and at la ft &e obliged the Enemy 
 to retire, for Fear of having iheir Retreat cut off, greatly 
 afnamed of being forced to My before a Woman, 
 
 Two Years alter another Party of the fame Nation, much, 
 more numerous than the other, appeared in Sight of the fame 
 Fort, whilft all the Inhabitants were abroad, and the greateil 
 Part employed in the Fields. The Ireq:ic;s finding them thus 
 difperfed, without any Sfclpioien of an Enemy, feized .them ail 
 one after another., then inarched towards the Fort. The Datgh- 
 ther of the Lord, who was ttmefl but fourteen Year:, old, was 
 about two hundred Paces off the Fort. At the firft Cry fke heard, 
 fhe ran to get in : The Savages purfued her, and one of them 
 -came up with her juft as fhe got to the Door; but having feized 
 iier by a Handkerchief that was about her Neck, (he let it flip 
 ■from her, and fogotin, and flint to the Gate. 
 
 The;e was nobody in the Fen but a young Soldier and a 
 Company of Women ; who, at the Sight of their HuAands whom 
 the Savages were binding and carrying away Prifoners., fent 
 forth moft lamentable Cries. The young Lady loft neither her 
 Judgment nor Courage. She beg^n by pulling oif her Cap, 
 fhe tied up her Hair, put on a Hat and a Jacket, and locked up 
 all the Women, whofe Cries and Tea'.; could but encourage 
 the Enemy. Then fte nred a Cannon and fome Mnfltfit Shot„ 
 and fhewing herfelf with her Soldier fometiraes in one Eedoubt. 
 and foinetimes in another, changing frequently their Drefs, and 
 firing to good Purpofe whenever (he faw the /repeat approach the 
 Pallifade, the Savages fancied there were many People in tht 
 tj and when tbe Chevalier de Cr';Jhy, upon hearing the firing,
 
 64 -/4» Hi 
 
 .rcour the Pla: 
 
 Let U5 now return : 
 
 _ not ha iefs profitable 
 
 a that 
 
 " - . ". . .-. : 
 
 — •:.'. ;r :;;:/■ 1;. :: =c the - :ecir5, -'. .-.-.: ::". ".... -- - - -::i ••!"".:;>. 
 - 
 
 " - : in -msipf, I 
 Jr , - .. a-.i .' Z.'< G; 
 
 He 
 Quar: 'arge, tj 
 
 .igh, the Legs and Feet like 1 : a long EL 
 
 coTers the Withers, the Neck, er Part of the Hair 
 
 The Head is above two Feet long, and he carries it cut,, whi 
 gives him an ill Look : Its ad lei? 
 
 upper Part like that of a Camel, an i frriis are fo lar g 
 
 mar c. in half ones Arm. It5 Horns are not lefs long 
 
 : .: .-. :':::; : :' ;. H ; ::. ar.i :v. .::>.•••:.'-::: -"---." -'- ri_: .i~i :" :k; . 
 like thefe of a Deer, and are renewed every Year ; but 
 nc: ::" _r:mthe new Growth, they make an In 
 z.:::i the Are :" '■' r A:.:~:l. 
 
 They :'. I the Orignal is fubjeel to the I 
 
 when : : feize him, he gc: : zhmg ':. 
 
 Ear with hii left hind Foot till he draws Blood, which ha: 1 
 the Hoof of this Foot be eireemed a Specitc again!!: the failing 
 Sicknefs. It is applied to the Heart of the P_ tnd they do the 
 
 : 5 cure the Palpitation of the Heart: 1 
 ft Hand of thePerlbn who is disordered, and rub his Earw: 
 it : But why fhould they not draw Blood from him a!: :ae 
 
 Orignal does ? This Hoof is a!fo reckoned very -good agaiofl 
 the Pleuriiy Cholick Pains, the Flux, i the 
 
 Purples, by reducing it to Powder, and giving it in Water. I 
 have been told that the Algmupdns t who former Fldh 
 
 of this Animal their common Food, were very much fubjeel to 
 the Epileply, and never ufed this Remedy : Perhaps they had 
 better. . . Hair of the : i a Mixture of light grey and 
 
 rk red. It grows hollow as the Beaft grows old, and never 
 loir elaiiic Pow: 1 rat it ever fo long it fprings n 
 
 =s are made of it, and Saddles. Its Flelh is well 
 led, light, and nouriihing ; it would be a Pity that it mould 
 caafe the Epilepry; but our Hunters, who have lived upcr 
 whole Wi er found that it had any bad Quali:- . 
 
 Skin is feccg, foft and fubflantial ; it is made into Sbamios, an i 
 
 excel! . "
 
 ream t 
 
 — - 
 
 : . : . 
 
 ; 
 
 him ; 1 
 
 : a 
 I 
 
 .- we do cf am 
 
 and who re 
 
 the L 
 
 — - very Cc*. 
 
 ■ 
 The C 
 
 tr 
 
 "'■ 
 I 
 
 - 
 
 I : 
 
 the 1 . : 
 
 . 1 
 
 I - 
 
 ei. \ I-.. :. -r- 
 
 ! - 
 I I 
 
 - 
 1 « - . 
 
 : 
 Pov. . <en in I F C 
 
 and 
 
 mim hi :' pa- 
 
 ir ■ ur r- forming this Hunt which i 
 *» withost D_ 
 
 felves into two Companies : Ok I
 
 66 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 Canoes ; and thefe Canoes keeping at fome Diftance from each 
 other, form a large Semicircle, the two Ends of which touch the 
 Shore : The other Company that remains on the Land, performs 
 much the fame Operation, and enclofe a large Space. Then 
 thefe Hunters let go their Dogs, and rouze all the Orignals that 
 are in that Space; and driving them forward, oblige them to 
 run into the River, or the Lake. They are no fooner in the 
 Water, than they fire upon them from all the Canoes : Every 
 Shot takes Place, and very feldom even a fingle Orignal efcapes. 
 Chatnplain fpeaks of another Manner of hunting not only the 
 Orignals, but alfo Harts and Caribous, which is fomething like 
 this Way. They inclofe (fays he) a Part of a Foreit with Stakes, 
 interwoven with Branches of Trees, and leave but one narrow 
 Opening, where they lay Snares made of raw Skins. This 
 Space is triangular, and from the Angle of the Entrance they 
 draw another Triangle, much larger : So thefe two Inclofures 
 communicate together by the two Angles : The two Sides of 
 the fecond Triangle are alfo fhut up with Stakes, and the Hun- 
 ters ranged upon a Line form the Bafe. Then they advance, 
 without breaking the Line ; and drawing nearer and nearer to 
 each other, they make a great Shouting, and flrike upon fome- 
 thing that makes a great Noife. The Beafts being driven for- 
 ward, and not able to efcape either to Right or Left, and being 
 affrighted with the Noife, know not where to fly, but into the 
 other Inclofure ; and many, as they enter it, are caught by the 
 Horns or the Neck. They ftruggle greatly to get loofe, and 
 fometimes they carry with them or break the Snares : Sometimes 
 alfo they ftrangle themfelves, or at leaft give the Hunters Time 
 to {hoot them at their Eafe. Thofe which efcape this, fare no 
 better : They are inclofed in too fmall a Space to fhun the Ar- 
 rows which the Hunters let fly at them from all Sides. 
 
 The Orignal has other Enemies than the Savages, and which 
 
 TT , n make a no lefs rough War againA him. The 
 
 .,, n ^ molt terrible of all is the Carcajou, or Qum- 
 
 i J i r\ ■ i cajou, a Sort of wild Cat : whofe Tail is fo 
 
 hunts the Ungual. , J ., ^ .. •a-.r irn- , 
 
 long, that it can twill it feveral Times round 
 
 its Body : Its Hair is a reddifh brown. As foon as this Hunter 
 can come up with an Orignal, he leaps upon him ; and fixing 
 upon his Neck, twifts its long Tail round it ; after which, 
 it tears the Jugular Vein. The Orignal has but one Way to 
 efcape this Misfortune ; that is, to get into the Water as foon as 
 he is feized by this dangerous Enemy. The Carcajou, who can- 
 not bear the Water, lets go his Hold immediately. But if the 
 Water is too far off, it has Time to kill the Orignal before he 
 can get into it. Commonly this Hunter, whofe Smell is not the 
 bell, brings three Foxes to the Chace, and fends them out upon 
 
 the
 
 Travels in North America. 6y 
 
 the Difcovery. As foon as they have fmelt out an Orignal, two 
 place themfelves at his Sides, and the third behind him, and they 
 all three make fuch a fine Manoeuvre, harrafling the Beaft, that 
 they oblige him to go where they have left the Carcajou, with 
 which they agree afterwards about dividing the Game. ---Ano- 
 ther Stratagem of the Carcajou, is to climb up a Tree: There ly- 
 ing along upon an extended Branch, he waits for the palling by 
 of an Orignal, and leaps upon him as foon as he is within his 
 Reach. 
 
 Many People have imagined, Madam, that the Relations of 
 Canada give the Savages more Wit and Senfe than they have. 
 They are, neverthelefs, Men : And under what Climate mall 
 we find Brutes that have an Initinct more ingenious than- the 
 Beaver, the Carcajou, and the Fox ? 
 
 The Hart of Canada is abfolutely the fame as in France, per- 
 Cif A H d ^ a P s common '. v a litttle larger. It does not 
 
 . -L ., appear that the Savages diiturb him much ; 
 
 the Caribou. ^ }e ^ j do nQt find ^ they make War 
 
 againft him in Form, and with any Preparations. It is not the 
 fame with Regard to the Caribou (a). This is an Animal not io 
 high as the Orignal, which has more of the Afs than the Mule 
 in its Shape, and which equals the Hart in Swiftnefs. Some 
 Years ago, one appeared upon Cape Diamond, above Quebet : It 
 was, no Doubt, flying from the Hunters, but he perceived foon 
 he was not in a Place of Safety, and he made almoft but one 
 Leap from thence into the River. A wild Goat of the Alps could 
 not have done more : Then he fwam very fwiftly acrofs the Ri- 
 ver ; but it was all to no Purpofe: Some Canadians, who were 
 going to make War, and who were encamped near the Point of 
 Levi, having difcovered him, waited for his landing, and killed 
 him. They greatly efteem the Tongue of this Animal, which 
 herds molt about Hud/bn's Bay. The Sieur Jeremy , who has palled 
 many Years in thefe Northern Parts, fays, that between the Danes 
 River and Port Nelfon, during the whole Summer, they fee prodi- 
 gious Numbers of them; which being driven from the Woods 
 by the Flies and Gnats, come to refrelh themfelves by the Sea 
 Side ; and that for the Space of forty or fifty Leagues they meet 
 almoft continuity with Herds of ten thoufand at leaft. 
 
 It appears that the Caribou has never been in any great Num- 
 bers in the moll frequented Places of Canada ; but the Orignals 
 abounded every where when we firft difcovered the Country ; 
 and it might have made an Article of Trade, and a great Con- 
 venience of Life, if they had been careful to preferve the Breed : 
 But this they have not done j and, either becaufe they have 
 
 (a) It differs not from the Rain-Deer, but in its Colour j which is brown, 
 Or a little reddffh, 
 
 K z thinned
 
 68 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 thinned the Species, by killing great Numbers, or that by 
 frightening them they have been driven to fome other Country, 
 nothing is more Scarce at prefent. 
 
 In the Southern and Weftern Parts of New France, on both 
 qp j . , Sides the MiJ/iffippi, the moft famous Hunt is 
 ■d /• i ' "^ that of me Buffaloe, which is performed in 
 
 ~" " this Manner: The Hunters range thernfelves 
 
 on four Lines, which form a great Square, and begin by fetting 
 Fire to the Grafs and Kerbs, which are dry and very high : 
 Then as the Fire gets forwards they advance, clofmg their 
 Lines: The Buffaloes, which are extremely afraid of Fire, keep 
 flying from it, and at laft find thernfelves To crouded together, 
 that they are generally every one killed. They fay that a Party 
 feldom returns from hunting without killing Fifteen Hundred 
 or Two Thoufand. But leii the different Companies mould 
 hinder each other, they all agree before they fet out about the 
 Place where they intend to hunt. There are alio fome Penalties 
 appointed againft thofe who tranfgrefs this Rule, as well as 
 againil thofe who, quitting their Foil, give way to the Beafts 
 to efcape. Thefe Penalties confiil in giving a Right to every 
 Perfon to ftrip thofe who are guilty, and to take away even their 
 Arms, which is the greateft Affront that can be given to a Sa- 
 vage ; and to pull down their Cabins. The Chiefs are fubjecl 
 to this Penaltv, as well as the _ and if any were to endea- 
 
 vour to exempt them from this Law, it would raife a Civil War 
 amongfc them, which would not end foon. 
 
 The Bull, or Buffaloe, of Canada is bigger than ours; his 
 p, r ■. ■ fi i„ Horns are lew, black, and ftiort 5 he has a 
 
 •ij »77 H d e g rcat Beard of Flair under his Muzzle, and 
 wdBull, or Buf- & ^^ Tuft of Ra ; r upQn h[$ Re ^ ^^ 
 
 J aoe% falls down upon his Eyes, and gives him a 
 
 hideous Look. Lie has a great Bump upon his Back, which 
 begins at his Hips, and goes increafing up to his bhoulders ; 
 and this Bump is covered with Hair, fomething reddilh, and 
 very long ; the reft of the Body is covered with black Wool, 
 which is much valued. They fay that the Shin of a Buffaloe 
 has eight Pounds of Wool on it. This Animal has a large Cheft, 
 the hind Parts fmall, the Tail very fhojt, and one can fcarce fee 
 any Neck it has, but its Head is bigger than that of the European 
 Bulls. He runs away generally at the Sight of any Perfon, and 
 one Dog is enough to make a whole Herd take to a full Gallop. 
 The Buffaloe has a good Smell, and to approach him without 
 being perceived near enough to fhoot him, you muft go with 
 the Wind. When he is wounded he is furious, and turns upon 
 the Hunters. He is as furious when the Cows have newly 
 «L Flis Flefh is good, but they feldom eat any but that of 
 
 o the
 
 Travels in North America, 69 
 
 the Cows, becaufe the Buffaloes are too tough. As for liis 
 Skin, there are none better ; it is eaiily dreffed, and tho' very 
 itrong, it becomes fupple, like the bell Shamois. The Savages 
 make Shields of it, which are very light, and which a Mufket 
 Ball will not eafily pierce. 
 
 They lind about Hud/on* s Bay another Bull, whofe Skin and 
 
 Of '■ V th ^ °°1 zre tiie ^ ame wi^ thofe I have already 
 ~ ./ defcribed. This is what M. 'Jeremy fays of 
 
 it: " Fifteen Leagues from the Dane s River, 
 " is the River of Seals, fo called becaufe there are many in this 
 " Place. Between thefe two Rivers there, is a Kind of Bulls which 
 " we call the Mufk Bulls ; becaufe they have Co ftrong a Smell of 
 " Mufk, that at fome certain Times there is no fuch Thin** as 
 " eating their Flefh. Thefe Animals have a very fine Wool, and 
 " it is longer than that of the Barbary Sheep. I brought fome to 
 " France in 1708, of which I had fome Stockings made, which 
 " were finer than thofe made of Silk. Thefe Bulls, though 
 " they are fmuller than our's, have Horns much thicker and 
 *' longer : Their Roots join on the Crown of the Head, and 
 " defcend by the Side of the Eyes almoft as low as the Throat ; 
 " afterwards the End rifes up, and forms a Kind of Crefcent. 
 " There are fome fo large, that I have feen of them, which be- 
 " ing feparated from the Skull, weighed both together fixty 
 " Pounds : Their Legs are very ihort, fo that their Wool 
 " drags upon the Ground when they walk; which makes them 
 " fo deformed, that it is difficult at a little Diftance to know 
 " which Way the Head Hands. There are not many of thefe 
 " Animals ; io that the Savages would foon deftroy them, if 
 " they were to hunt them. Moreover, as their Legs are very 
 « c Ihort, when there is much Snow they kill them with Lances, 
 ** as they are not able then to make any Speed." 
 
 The moft common Quadrupede at this Time in Canada, is the 
 
 r\r .1 v Roe-Buck, which differs in nothing from 
 Of the Koe- , Tt • r ■ , . ^ „ , ^ s> 
 
 j, -i ours. It is laid that it fheds Tears when it is 
 
 run down by the Hunters. Whilft it is young 
 its Hair is ftriped with many Colours lengthwife : Afterwards 
 this Hair falls off, and another grows up of the Colour of the 
 common Roe-Buck. This Creature is not fierce, and is eafily 
 tamed, and fcems naturally to have an Affection for Man. The 
 Female that is ufed to the Houfe, retires into the Woods in rut- 
 ting Time, and as foon as it has coupled with the Male, returns 
 again to the Houfe of her Mailer. When her Time is come to 
 bring forth, fhe returns into the Woods, and remains there fome 
 Days with her Young ; then fhe returns again to her Matter; 
 but continues to viiit her Young very affiduoufly : When they 
 think proper, they follow her and take her Young, and fhe 
 
 brings
 
 ~o An Hijlorkal Journal of 
 
 brings them up in the Houfe. It is fomething ftrange that all 
 cur Habitations have not whole Herds of them. The Savages 
 hunt them but feldom. 
 
 There arc alfo in the Woods of Canada many Wolves, or ra- 
 ^^ tts 1 tner w ^d Cat% for they only refemble the 
 Of the Wolves WolvC5 in a Kind of Hosvling : In every 
 end Foxes. Thing elfe, fays Mr. Sarrafm, they are ex 
 
 genere /ditto (of the Cat Kind.) They are true Hunters, which 
 live only on the Animals they catch, and which they purfue to 
 the Tops of the higheft Trees. Their Flefh is white and good 
 to eat. Their Skins are well known in France ; it is one of the 
 fneft Furs of this Country, and one of the greater! Articles of 
 its Trade. 
 
 There are a Sort of black Foxes in the northern Mountains, 
 whofe Skins are much valued, but they are very fcarce. There 
 are fome that are more common, the Hair of which is black or 
 ©rev, and others of a tawny red. They find fome going up 
 the Mffijfippi that are very beautiful, the Fur of which is of a 
 Siiver"Colour. We alfo meet with here Tygers, and Wolves 
 of a fmaller Kind than our's. The Foxes here catch Water- 
 Fowl in a very ingenious Manner. They go a little Way into 
 the Water, and come out again, and make a thoufand Capers 
 upon the Bank of the River. The Ducks, the Buftards, and the 
 like Birds who are pleafed with this Sport, approach -the Fox : 
 When he fees them within his Reach, he keeps himfelf very 
 ouiet at firft, not to fcare them ; he only wags his Tail to draw 
 them nearer, and the ally Birds give into the Snare fo far as to 
 pick his Tail. Then the Fox leaps upon them, and feldom 
 ir.ifles his Aim. Some Dogs have been broke to this Way with 
 Succefs, and thefe Dogs make a (harp War with the Foxes. 
 
 Here is a Kind Pole- Cat, which they call Enfant de D table or 
 ^ r j. Bete Puanie (the Child of the Devil, or ftink- 
 
 Of the Jmall ^ Beaft) becaafe when it is pur f Lie d ; it 
 
 Peltry. makes a Urine which llinks the Air for half a 
 
 Mile round. It is in other Relpecls, a very pretty Animal. It is 
 about as high as a fmall Cat, but bigger round, has bright Hair 
 inclining to grey, with two white Lines, which form on the 
 Back an oval Figure from its Head to the Tail. Its Tail is 
 buihy like a Fox's, and it carries it like a Squirrel. Its Fur is 
 like that of the Pekans, another Kind of wild Cat, about the 
 fame Bignefs of our's. Otters Skins, common Pole-Cat's, the 
 pitois or Stote, the Field Rat's, the Ermine's, and the Marten's, 
 are what we call the fmall Peltry. The Ermine is about the 
 Lv/.c of cur Squirrel, but fomething longer ; its Hairisafuie 
 white, and it has a very long Tail, the End of which is as black 
 £s Tet. The Martens in Canada are not fo red as thofe of 
 
 France
 
 : I ravels in North A tea. 7 1 
 
 France, and have a finer Fur. They keep generally in the miJfl 
 of the Woods, out of which they never come but once in two or 
 three Years ; but they always come out in great Troops. The 
 Savages believe that the Year when they fee them come out, will 
 be good for Hunting; that is to fay, that there will be a deep Snow. 
 The Martens Skins are actually fold here at a Crown a-picce, 
 I mean the common ones, for thofe that are brown fetch up to 
 twenty-four Livres, and more. The Pitta or Stote differs no- 
 thing from the Pole-Cat, but in that the Fur is blacker, longer, 
 and thicker. Thefe two Animals make War with the Birds, 
 even with thelargelt, and make great Ravages in Hen-Roofts and 
 Dove-Houfes. The Fieid Rat is twice as big as ours, and has 
 an hairy Tail, and its Fur is of a very fine Silver grey. There 
 are fome which are entirely white, and a very beautiful White. 
 The Female has a Purfe under the Belly, which opens and fhuts 
 when fhe will. She puts her young ones in it when ike is purfued, 
 and faves them with herfelf. As to the Squirrels, they give 
 them very little Difturbance here, fo that there are a prodigious 
 Number in this Country. They diftinguiih them into three 
 Sorts; the red, which does not differ from ours, the S*wi/s, 
 which are a little fmaller, and are fo called becaufe their Fur is 
 Itriped lengthwife with red, black, and white, much like the 
 Sivifs of the Pope's Guard ; and the flying Squirrels, of much 
 the fame Size as the Sivifs, whofe Fur is a dark grey. They 
 call them flying, not becaufe they really fly, but becaufe they 
 leap from one Tree to another, the Ditlance of forty Paces at 
 lean 1 . When they leap from a high Place to a lower, they leap 
 twice as far. What enables them to make fuch Leaps, are two 
 Skins which they have on their Sides, between the fore and hind 
 Feet, and which ftretch to the Breadth of two Inches. They 
 are very thin, and only covered with Down. This little Animal 
 foon grows familiar ; it is very lively when it does not fleep ; 
 but it often fleeps in any Place it can creep into, as a Pocket, 
 Sleeve, or Muff. It foon grows fond of its Mailer, and will 
 find him out amongft twenty Perfons. The Porcupine of Canada 
 is as thick as a middling Dog, but fhorter, and not fo high ; its 
 Quills are about four Inches long, about the Thicknefs of a 
 fmall Straw, white, hollow, and very ftrong, particularly on the 
 Back. Thefe are its Arms, both offenfive and defensive. It 
 darts them direftly at thofe who attempt its Life, and if it enters 
 ever fo little in the Flefh, it muft be drawn out inftantly, or elfc 
 it finks in entirely. Its for this Reafon, that they ere very 
 careful to hinder their Dogs from approaching thefe Animals. 
 Their Flefh is good eating. A roafted Porcupine, is as good 
 as a fucking Pig. The Hares and Rabbits here are like thofe of 
 Europe, excepting that their hind Legs are longer. Their Skins 
 
 are
 
 7 2 An Rijlorical Journal of 
 
 are of no great Ufe, becaufe they ihcd their Fur continu: 
 which is a Pity, for their Fur is very fine, and would do no Da- 
 mage in the Hat Manufacture. In Winter tbefe Animals turn 
 grey, and feldcm come out of tueir Holes, where they live upon 
 the fraallefl Branches of the Birch Tree. In Summer, their Fur- 
 is of a yeliowiih red. The Foxes make a (harp War with them 
 in all -•-. and the Savages take them in Winter in Gins, 
 
 wiieo chey go out to feek for Food. 
 
 / am, Sec. 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 KT- 
 
 A Defcription of the Country betnxieen Lake St. Pierre, p.7id Mo- 
 re a L : In ivhat it differs from Qu EEEC. A Defcription of the 
 Ifland and Town of Montreal, and its Environs. Of the 
 Fijheryfor Seals, the Sea Co-iv, Porpoife, and JVhale. 
 
 Madam, Montreal, March 20. 
 
 Cif th 777 J "W" Departed the 13th from St. Francois, and 
 rR KT -*- ^ e next ^ a y ^ an "i ve d in this Town. I 
 
 J ' had not in palling here, which is about twenty- 
 
 Leagues, the Pleafure I had formerly in coming this fame Route 
 in a Canoe, in the fineft Weather in the World, to fee open be- 
 fore me by Degrees as I advanced, Canals that reached out of 
 Sight, between a prodigious Number of Illands, which at a Di- 
 ftance feemed to make one Land with the Continent, and flop 
 the River in its Courfe, thofe pleafmg Views, which changed 
 every Moment like the Decorations of a Theatre, and which 
 one would think were contrived on Purpofe to recreate a Travel- 
 ler : But I had fome Reeompence in the Singularity of the 
 Sight of an Archipelago, that was become in fome Manner a Con- 
 tinent ; and by the Convenience of travelling in a Sledge, or 
 Kind of Calafh, upon Canals between Ifiands, which appeared 
 as if they had been plac'd by a Line like Orange Trees. 
 
 As for the Profpeft, it is not fine in this Seafon. Nothing is 
 
 p..„. , more melancholy than that White which co- 
 
 ijjerence e- yers ever y Thing, and which takes the Place 
 
 f C) h oun r y of that beautiful Variety of Colours which is 
 
 % ^i\/r \ UK \ the greateft Ornament of the Country ; than 
 
 that oi "Montreal. ™ s , • , 1 .. j • »i, c 1 
 
 J 1 rees, whicn appear planted in the bnow, and 
 
 which prefent to our Sight only hoary Heads, and Branches 
 
 loaded with Ificles. In other Refpects, Madam, the Lake 
 
 of St. Pierre is here what the River Loire is in France. On the 
 
 Side
 
 Travels in North America. 73 
 
 Side of £>uel>ee the Lands are good ; but in general you fee no- 
 thing that can recreate the Sight. Moreover, the Climate is 
 very fevere ; for the more we go down the River, and the more 
 we advance towards the North, of Confequence the Cold is more 
 piercing. Qi/cbec is in 47. 56. Latitude. T'rois Rivieres is in 
 46. and fome Minutes : And Montreal between 44. and 45. The 
 River St. Laurence, above the Lake of St. Pierre, making an El- 
 bow to the South. It feems therefore, when we are paft 
 the IJlandsof Ricblieu, as if we were tranfported all at once into 
 another Climate. The Air is fofter, the Land more level, the 
 River finer ; and its Banks have a Je ne fcai quoi, more pleafing. 
 We meet from Time to Time with Iflands, fome of which are 
 inhabited ; the others, in their natural State, offer to the Sight the 
 fineft Landfcapes in the World. In a Word, it is Touraine and 
 la Limagnc of Awvergne, compared with Maine and Normandy. 
 The Ifle of Montreal, which is as it were the Centre of this 
 n f . . F fine Country, is ten Leagues long from Eail 
 l TrtJTn °J to Weft, and near four Leagues over in its 
 the IJIe of Mox\- teft Breadth. The Mountain from 
 
 which it takes its Name, and which has 
 two Heads of unequal Height, is almoft in the Midft of the 
 Length of the Ifland, but it is but half a League from the 
 South Coaft, upon which the Town is built. This Town was 
 called Ville-Marie, by its Founders ; but this Name hath never 
 been brought into common Ufe : It is only mentioned in public 
 Writings," and amongft the Lords, who are very tenacious of it. 
 Thefe Lords, who have the Domain not only of the Town, but 
 alfo of the whole Uland, are Miffionaries of the Seminary of St. 
 Sulpice : And as all the Lands here are very good, and well culti- 
 vated ; and as the Town is as well peopled as Quebec, we may 
 affirm that this Lordihip is worth half a Dozen of the befl in 
 Canada. This is the Fruit of the Labour and good Condnft of 
 the Lords of this Ifland ; and certainly twenty private Perfons, 
 amongft whom this might have been divided, would not have 
 put it in the State we now fee it, nor have made the People fo 
 happy. The Town of Montreal has a very chearful Afpeft : It 
 is well fituated, open, and well built. The Agreeablenefs of its 
 Environs, and its Profpefts, infpires a certain Gaity, of which 
 every one feels the Effett. It is not fortified : A fingle Pallifade, 
 which is but poorly kept up, is all its Defence ; with a bad Re- 
 doubt upon a little Eminence, which ferves for a Bulwark, and 
 which terminates with a gentle Slope at a little Square. This is 
 what we meet with at firft, in coming from Quebec. It is not 
 forty Years ago, fir.ee the Town was quite open, and expofed to 
 be burnt by the Savages or the Englifi. It was the Chevalier de 
 Callieres, Brother of the Plenipotentiary of Rifwick, who en- 
 
 L clofed
 
 74 Aft Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 clofed it whilft he was Governor. They have talked fome Yeau 
 of furrounding it with Walls (a) ; but 'it will not be eafy to en- 
 gage the Inhabitants to contribute towards it : They are brave, 
 and not rich ; and are hard x> be perfuaded of the Neceffity of 
 this Expence, being fully convinced that their Valour is more 
 thanTufficient to defend the Town againft any Enemy that fhould 
 dare to attack it. Our Canadians, on this Article, have all a 
 pretty good Opinion of themfelves, and we mult allow it is not 
 ill founded ; but in Confequence of the Confidence which this 
 gives them, it is not fo difficult to furprize them, as to conquer 
 them. 
 
 Montreal is a long Square, fituated on the Bank of the River ; 
 which rifing infenfibly, divides the Town in its Length into 
 High and Low ; but the Afcent from one to the other is fcarcely 
 perceiveable. The Hotel Dieu, and the King's Magazines, are 
 in the Lower Town, and almoft all the Traders live there. The 
 Seminary and the Parifh Church, the Recollets, the Je/uits, the 
 Maids of the Congregation, the Governor, and greateft Part of 
 the Officers, are in the Higher Town. Beyond a little Rivulet, 
 which comes from the North Weft, and bounds the Town on 
 that Side, there are fome Houfes and the Hofpital General ; and 
 going to the Right, beyond the Recollets, whofe Convent is at the 
 End of the Town, on the fame Side, there begins to be formed a 
 Kind of Suburb, which in Time will make a very fine Quarter. 
 
 The Jefuits here have but a very little Houfe ; but their 
 Church, which is juft finifhed, is large and well built. The 
 Convent of the Recollets is much larger, and the Society more 
 numerous. The Seminary is in the Centre of the Town: It 
 appears that they ftudied more to make it folid and convenient, 
 than fine ; but yet it has the Air of belonging to the Lords of 
 the Place : It communicates with the Parifh Church, which has 
 much more the Appearance of a Cathedral than that of Quebec. 
 The Service is performed here with a Modefty and Dignity 
 which infpires Refpeft for the Majefty of the God who is here 
 adored. 
 
 The Houfe of the Maids of the Congregation, though one 
 of the largeft in the Town, is yet ftill too little to lodge fo nu- 
 merous a Society ; It is the Chief of an Order, and the Novici- 
 ate of an Ihftitution, which ought to be fo much dearer to Nno 
 France, and to this Town in particular, becaufe it took its Rife 
 here, and becaufe all the Colony feels the Advantages of this 
 fine Foundation. The Hotel Dieu is ferved by Nuns, the firft of 
 which were taken from Fkche in Anjou, 
 
 (a) This is now don<*. 
 
 <3 They
 
 Travels in North America. 75 
 
 They are poor, yet their Poverty does not appear in thei r 
 Hall ; which is large, and well furnifhed with Beds and othe r 
 Furniture ; nor in their Church, which is fine and well adorn'd* 
 nor in their Houfe, which is well built, neat and convenient : 
 But they have but a poor Maintenance, though they are all inde- 
 farigably employed in the Inftru&ion of Youth, and in the Care 
 of the Sick. 
 
 The Hofpital General owes its Foundation to a private Per- 
 son, named Charron, who aflbciated himfclf with many pious 
 Perfons, not only for this good Work, but alfo to furnifh the 
 Country Parifhes with School-Matters, who mould inftrufr. the 
 Boys, as the Sitters of the Congregation do the Girls : But the 
 Society was foon diflblved : Some left it for other Affairs, and 
 fome through Ficklenefs ; fo that the Sieur Chatron was left 
 alone. However, he was not difcouraged ; he emptied his 
 own Purfe, and found Means to open thofe of fome powerful 
 Perfons : He built a Houfe, and procured a Number of School- 
 Matters, and Perfons to attend the Hofpital. The Public took 
 a Pleafure to afiift and give Authority to a Man who fpared nei- 
 ther his own Subftance, nor his Pains, and whom nothing could 
 difcourage. In fhort, before his Death, which happened in 
 17 19, he had the Comfort to fee his Project out of all Danger cf 
 failing, at leaft with Refpedt to the Hofpital General. The 
 Houfe is fine, and the Church very pretty. The School- 
 Matters are not yet well eitablifhed in the Parifhes ; and the 
 Order they have received from Court, forbidding them to wear 
 an uniform Habit, or to engage themfelves by Vows, may hin- 
 der their Ettablifhment. 
 
 Between the Ifland of Montreal and the Continent on the 
 Ofthlil ] f ^* orth Side, there is another Ifland about 
 
 Jcfiis, Jndtbeti- ?« h * L "8f s lon S' ; nd Tfl tW °i L 5 a JS? es ° Ver : 
 
 %er des Prairies, * was u fir ? T named f the ™ and of %""&!& 
 
 /^ff-t,^i\/r„ a \ from the Name or a Governor General of 
 
 (or the Meadows) „ , T r j j ^i. 
 
 ' Canada : It was afterwards granted to the 
 
 Jefuit:, who called it the Ifland of Je/us ; and it has preferved 
 this laft Name, though it has patted from the Hands of the Jc~ 
 fiats to Meflieurs of the Seminar)' of Quelec, who have begun 
 to place fome Inhabitants here ; and as the Lands are good, 
 there is Room to hope that the whole Ifland will foon be cleared. 
 The Channel which feparates the two Iflands, is called the Ri- 
 TbeFall f th ver • ? ra * r * es % {Meadows) becaufe it runs 
 in 11 ^ '' in the Midft of fine Meadows. Its Courfe is 
 impeded towards the Middle by a Torrent 
 Which they call the Reccl et's Fall, in Memory of one of that Or- 
 der, who was drowned here. The Ecclefiattics of the Seminary 
 
 L 2 of
 
 76 An Hijiorlcal Journal of 
 
 of Montreal, for a long Time, had a Million of Savages near this 
 
 Place, which they have fince removed to another Part. 
 
 The third Arm of the River is ftrewed as it were with fuch a 
 
 Of f ; p ' • prodigious Number of Iflands, that there is 
 
 f i\/T T°'~\ alrnoft as much Land as Water. This Chan- 
 row of Montreal. ^ ^ called M// „.^ or River of &< j m ^ 
 
 {thou/and Iflands, or St. John's River.) At the Head of the 
 .Ifland Je/us, is the little Ifland Bizard, fo called from the Name 
 of a StvI/s Officer, to whom it belonged, and who died a Major 
 at Montreal. A little higher towards the South, is the Ifland 
 Perrot ; thus called by Mr. Pcrrot, who was the firft Governor of 
 Montreal, and the Father of Madam the Countefs de .la Rcche~ 
 Allard, and of Madam the Prefidentefs of Lubert. This Ifland is 
 near two Leagues every Way, and the Lands are good, and they 
 begin to clear them. The Ifle Bizard terminates the Lake des 
 deux Montagues (of the two Mountains) and the Ifland Perrot fe- 
 parates the fame Lake from that of St. Louis. 
 
 The Lake of the two Mountains is properly the Mouth of the 
 Great River, otherwife called the River of the Outaouais, into the 
 River St. Laurence. It is two Leagues long, and near as wide. 
 The Lake of St. Louis is fomething larger, but it is in Fadt no- 
 thing more than an Enlargement of the River St. Laurence. Till 
 lately, the French Colony extended no farther to the Weft ; but 
 they begin to make fome new Habitations a little higher, and 
 the Lands are every where excellent. 
 
 That which has been the Security of Montreal and its Envi- 
 
 (m- «2 r // /• rons during the laft Wars, are two Villages 
 Vr the rail of r T . %. .„. , I ~ . _,, 9, 
 
 St Lou" Iroquois Lhrijttans, and the rort de Chambly. 
 
 The firft of the two Villages is that of the 
 Fall of St. Louis, lituated on the Continent on the South Side, 
 three Leagues above the Town of Montreal. It is very popu- 
 lous, and has always been efteemed one of our ftrongeft Barriers 
 again ft the Heathen Iroquois, and the Englijh of Ab York. It has 
 already been twice removed within the Space of two Leagues. 
 Its fecond Situation, where I faw it in 1708, was over- againft the 
 Fall of St. Louis ; and it keeps this Name, though it is now a 
 good Diftance from it. It looks as if they had fixed it now ; 
 for the Church, which is juft finiihed, and the Houfe of the Mif- 
 flonaries are, each in its Kind, two of the fineft Buildings in 
 the Country. The Situation is charming : The River St. Laurence, 
 which is very wide here, is alfo hereabouts full of Iflands, which 
 have a very fine Effeft. The Ifland of Montreal, entirely peopled, 
 is a Perfpeftive on one Side ; and the View has fcarce any Bounds 
 on the other Side, on Account of the Lake St. Louis, which be- 
 gins a little higher. 
 
 The
 
 Travels in North America. 77 
 
 The fecond Village is called de la Montagne, (of the Mountain) 
 
 _ , T • becaufe it was a long Time on the Mountain 
 
 /{'f! lr °q uols w hkh gave the Name to the Ifland. It has 
 
 cf the Mountain. fince been rem0yed tQ the Rcco//et > s Fall> as f 
 
 faid before. It is now on the Continent, over-againft the Well 
 End of the Ifland. It is governed by the EcclefiaiKcs of the Se- 
 minary of Montreal. Thefe two Villages have produced many 
 brave Men, and their Fervour in Religion was admirable before 
 the Avarice of our Traders had introduced Drunkennefs, which 
 has made ftill greater Ruin here than in the Miflions of St. Fran- 
 cois and Beckanccurt. 
 
 The Miffionaries have in vain employed all their Induflry and 
 
 •n.- r , Vigilance to put a Stop to this Diforder. It 
 
 Vrjordcrsocca- ^ t() n(> p fe that th called {n th(J 
 
 Jloncd by the Brandy Aid of thg M iftrat threatened the 
 
 Vdla'es ^ Wrath ° f Heaven > and °f ered the moft P er " 
 
 " a & ' fuafive Reafons : All fignified nothing. Even 
 
 the moft fatal Accidents, in which the Hand of GOD evidently 
 appeared heavy on the Authors of this Evil, have not been fufti- 
 cient to open the Eyes of fome Chrijlians, whom a Thirft af- 
 ter fordid Gain hath blinded. One fees even in the Squares 
 and Streets of Montreal, the moft frightful Spectacles, the certain 
 Confequences of the Drunken nefs of thefe Barbarians : Huf- 
 bands and Wives, Fathers, Mothers and their Children ; 
 Brothers and Sifters, taking each other by the Throat, tearing 
 off each other's Ears, and biting one another like furious Wolves. 
 The Air refounds in the Night with Rowlings, more horrible 
 than thofe which the wild Beafts make in the Woods. 
 
 Thofe who have moft to reproach themfelves with for thefe 
 horrible Diforders, are the firft to afk, 1'f thefe People are Chrif- 
 tians ? We may anfwer them, Yes, they are Chrijlians, and new 
 Converts, who know not what they do : But thofe who cooly, 
 and knowing the certain Effect, bring them by their Avarice to 
 this Condition, have they any Religion ? They know that the 
 Savages would give all they have for a Glafs of Brandy : This 
 is a Temptation to the Traders ; againft which, neither the Cries 
 of the Paftors, nor the Zeal and Authority of the Magiftrates, 
 nor Refpeft of the Laws, nor the Severity of the Sovereign Ju- 
 rifdiction nor the Fear of GOD's Judgments, nor the Thoughts 
 of Hell, (a Reprefentation of which is feen in the Drunker, nefs of 
 
 thefe Savages) have been able to reftrain them. But let us 
 
 turn away our Eyes from thefe difagreeable Objects. 
 
 The great Trade for Skins, after the Town of Trots Rivieres 
 was no longer frequented by the Nations of the North and Weft, 
 was carried on feveral Years at Montreal, whither the Savages re- 
 forted at certain Seafons from all Parts of Canada. This was * 
 
 Kind
 
 «y 8 An Hijtoricai Journal of 
 
 Kind cf Fair, which brought many French to this Town. The 
 "Governor General, and the Intendant, came hither alio, and 
 they took Advantage of this Occafion to accommodate the Dif- 
 ference that might have happened between our Allies. But if 
 vou meet, Madam, by Chance, with the Book of La Hontan, 
 where Mention is made of this Fair, I would have you take 
 Care how you give Credit to what he fays of it : He does not 
 even preferve Probability. The Women of Montreal never gave 
 any Foundation for what this Author reports of them, and there 
 is no Fear that their Honour mould ever fufFer any Blemifh from 
 the Savages. There is no Example that any have ever taken 
 the leait Liberty with the French Women, even when they were 
 their Prifoners : They not even feem to have an Inclination 
 to it ; and it were to be wifhed that the Frenchmen had the fame 
 Diflike to the Savage Women. La Hontan could not be ignorant 
 of what is {q publickly known in this Country ; but he wanted 
 to give a Gaiety to his Memoirs, and for this Purpofe he faid 
 any Thing. We are always fure to pleafe certain Perfons, 
 when wc give no Bounds to a Liberty of inventing Stories, and 
 of flandering. 
 
 One fees now and then little Fleets of Savages arrive at Mon- 
 treal ; but nothing in Ccmparifon of former Times. It is the 
 Iroquois War that has interrupted this great Concourfe of Na- 
 tions in the Colony. To make Amends for this Failure of the 
 Savages coming to Montreal, they have eftablifhed amongft the 
 . jateitPartof them Magazines and Forts, where there are always 
 an Officer and Soldiers enough to fecure the Merchandize. The 
 Savages will always have a Gunfmithin thefe Places; andinmany 
 there are Miflionaries ; who would do more Good if there were 
 bo other French there. There is Reafon to believe it would be 
 better to {et Things upon the antient Footing, fmce Peace has 
 been eftablifhed both within and without the Colony : This 
 would be the Means to reftrain the Wood-Rangers, whofe Cove- 
 toufnefs (not to mention theDiforders caufed by their Licentiouf- 
 nefs) makes them every Day guilty of mean Actions, which ren- 
 der us defpicable in the Sight of the Savages, have lower'd 
 our Merchandizes, and raifed the Price of Skins. Befides, the 
 Savages, naturally proud, are grown infolent, fmce they find 
 that we feek after them. 
 
 The Fifhery might much more enrich Canada than the Chace; 
 
 ~„ , n " i and this does not depend on the Savages ; 
 
 ■r^.y _ ' Two weighty Reafons for following it, which 
 
 * « - y ' vet have not been fufficient to engage our Co- 
 
 lonifts to make it the principal Object of their Trade.- 1 have 
 
 nothing to add to what I have already faid on the Cod Fifliery, 
 which alone would be worth more to us than Peru, if the Foun- 
 ders
 
 Travels in North America. 79 
 
 3er» of Neiv France had taken proper Meafures to fecure the 
 Poffeflion of it toourfelves.---I begin with the Fifhery for Seals, 
 Sea Cows, and Porpoifes, which may be carried on every where 
 in the Gulph of St. Laurence, and a great Way up the River. 
 
 The Sea Wolf, or the Seal, takes its Name from its Cry, which 
 is a Sort of howling ; for in its Shape it refembles not the Wolf, 
 nor any Land Animal that we know. Lefcarbot afferts, that he 
 has heard fome cry like Screech-Owls ; but thefe might be only 
 young ones, whofe Cry was not quite formed. They make no 
 Hefitation here, Madam, to place it in the Rank of Fifhes ; 
 though it is not mute, though it is brought forth on the Land, 
 and lives as much on it as in the Water, and is covered with 
 Kair : In a Word, though it wants nothing to make it to be 
 confidered as an amphibious Creature. But we are in a new 
 "World, and it muft not be required of us always to fpeak the 
 Language of the Old ; and Cuftom, againft which there is no 
 reafoning, is here in PofTeflion of all its Rights. So that the 
 War th?v make with the Seals, though it is often on Land, 
 and with the Gun, is called a Fifhery; and that which they 
 make with the Beavers in the Water, and with Nets, is called a 
 Chace. 
 The Head of a Seal is fomething like a Bull-Dreg's : He has 
 _ r . . four Legs, very fnort, efpecially thofe be- 
 
 Definition of hind . } n every other Refpeft it is a Fifh. 
 the ueaJ. j t dra g S itTelf rather than walks upon its 
 
 Feet. Its Legs before hr.ve Nails, thofe behind are like 
 Fins : His Skin is hard, and covered with fhort Hair of divers 
 Colours. There are fome Seals all white, and they are all fo at 
 firfl ; but fome, as they grow up, become black, others tawny : 
 Many are of all thefe Colours mixed together. 
 
 The Fifhermen diftinguifh feveral Species of Seals : The 
 
 . . largeft weigh up to two thoufind Pounds, 
 Of the Jeveral and ^ p - ^-^ ^ Q r e j s more p j nted t ' nan 
 
 bpecies of btati, t h e others. ' There are fome that only frifk 
 about in the Water : O^r Saiiors call them Brajfurs, (Brewers.) 
 They have given the Name of Nau to another Sort ; for which I 
 can give no Reafon, ncr know the Meaning of the Word. Ano- 
 ther Sort they call Grafts Tetes, (Great Heads.) There are fome 
 fmall ones that are very lively and fkilful in cutting -the Nets 
 they are taken in : They are of a Tyger Colour ; they are full 
 of Play and Spirit, and as pretty as - Creatures of this Shape can 
 be. The Savages learn thefe to follow them like little Dogs, 
 and eat them notwithftanding. 
 
 M. Denys fpeaks of two Sorts of Seals that are found upon the 
 Coafts of Acadia. One Sort (fays he) are fo bie, that their 
 Young are larger thnn our lalrgeft Porkers. He adds, that foon 
 
 after
 
 So An Hiji or ical Journal of 
 
 after they are brought forth, the old ones carry them to the Wa- 
 ter, and from Time to Time bring them afhore again to fuck : 
 That the Time of fucking them is the Month of February ; 
 when the young ones, which they aim chiefly to catch, go fcarce 
 any more into the Water : That at the firft Noife the old ones 
 fly, making a great Noife to give Notice to the young ones to 
 follow them ; which they never fail to do, if the Fifhermen do 
 not make Halle to give them a Blow on the Nofe with a Stick, 
 which is enough to kill them.-— The Number of thefe Animals 
 mull be very great upon thefe Coalts, if it true, as the fame Au- 
 thor affirms, that in one Day they take fometimes eight hundred 
 ©f the young ones. 
 
 The fecond Species of thefe Seals, which M. Deny* fpeaks of, 
 is very fmall, and has little more Oil but what it has in its Blad- 
 der. Thefe laft never go far from the Shore, and there is always 
 one that Hands Centinel : At the firft Signal he gives, they all 
 throw themfelves into the Sea : After fome Time they approach 
 the Land, and raife themfelves upon their hind Feet to fee if 
 there is nothing to fear : But in Spite of all their Precautions, 
 they furprize a great Number of them on Shore, and it is almoit 
 impoffible to take them any other Way. 
 
 It is agreed, that the Flefli of the Seal is not bad to eat, but 
 TTf r tl vi fh * l * s more profitable to make Oil of it : 
 
 and Skin of the This is " 0t difficult> The y melt the Fat 0n 
 01 •* the Fire, and it difiblves into an Oil. Some- 
 
 times they only put the Fat of a great many 
 Seals on Square Planks; and leave it to diflblve of itfelf, a Hole 
 being made at the Bottom, for the Oil to run through. This Oil 
 whilft it is new is very good for Kitchen Ufes ; but that of the 
 young Seals foon grows rank, and the other dries too much, 
 upon keeping any time : They then ufe it to burn, or to drefs 
 Skins with. It keeps clear a long Time, has no Smell, and 
 leaves no Lee, nor any Kind of Foulnefs at the Bottom of the 
 Veffeh 
 
 At the firft fettling the Colony, they ufed a great Quantity 
 of Seal Skins to make Muffs ; but that is now out of Fafhion; 
 and their chief Ufe now is to cover Trunks, c5V. When they 
 are tanned they have almoft the fame Grain as Morocco Lea- ■ 
 ther : They are not fo fine, but they are ftronger, and wear 
 better. They make of them very good Shoes, and Boots ; which 
 will not take Water. They are alfo ufed to cover Seats of 
 Chairs, the Frames of which are fooner worn out than the Co- 
 vers. They tan thefe Skins here with the Bark of the Spruce 
 Fir, and in the Tinclure, they ufe to dye them black, they mix 
 a Powder, drawn from certain Stones they find upon the Banks of 
 the Rivers ; which are called Thunder Stones, or Marcafites. 
 
 The
 
 Travels in North America, 8 1 
 
 The S«als couple upon the Rocks, and fomctimes upon the 
 c d • / ^ ce > where alfo the Females bring forth their 
 borne t 'ar ticula- Y oun<r. They have commonly two, and 
 "'"" °J thc 'J c An " they fuckle them pretty often in the Water, 
 but oftencr upon the Land. When they would 
 accuftom them to fwim, they carry them, as they fay, on their 
 Backs in the Water, and let them off from Time to Time into the 
 Water, then take them again, and continue this Practice till 
 the young ones can fwim alone. If this Faft is true, this is 
 a itrange Filh, which Nature has not taught what the greateft 
 part of Land Animals are capable of almoft as foon as they come 
 into the World. The Seal has its Senfes very quick, and this is 
 its fole Defence ; but this does not hinder them from being often 
 furprized, as I have before remarked ; but the raoft com- 
 mon Method of fifhing for them is this : The Cuftom of this 
 Animal, when it is in the Water, is to come with the Tide into 
 the Creeks. When they have difcovered the Creeks, where a 
 great Number come, they fhut them up with Stakes and Nets ; 
 they only leave a fmall Space open by which the Seals enter. 
 When the Tide is up, they ftop this Opening, fo that after the 
 Tide is out, thefe Fifti remain on the Shore, and they have only 
 the Trouble to knock them on the Head. They follow them 
 alfo in a Canoe, in Places where there is Plenty of them, and 
 when they put their Heads out of the Water to breathe, they 
 fhoot them. If they are only wounded, they eafily take them ; 
 but if they are mot dead, they fink dire&ly to the Bottom, like 
 as the Beavers do. But they have great Dogs, which are train'd 
 to fetch them up at the Depth of feven or eight Fathom, 
 Our Fiftiermen take but few Sea -Cows on the Co alts of the 
 Gulph of St. Laurence ; I know not whether they have taken any 
 in other Places. The Englijh formerly eilablifhed a Filhery for 
 them at the Ifle of Sable ;° but they made no great Advantage 
 of it. The Shape of this Animal is not very different from the 
 Seals. What is peculiar to it, are two Teeth, of the Bignefs 
 and Length of a Man's Arm, a little bent back at Top, and 
 which appear at a Diftance like Horns; this is probably the Rea- 
 fon they are called Sea-Cows. Our Sailors Call them more plainly 
 la beet a la grande dent, (the great toothed Beaft) thefe Teeth are 
 of very fine Ivory, as well as all thofe which are in the Jaw of 
 this Fifti, and which are four Inches long. 
 
 There are in the Paver St. Laurence Porpoifes of two Colours : 
 
 n . r - In the Salt Water ; that is to fay, till a little 
 
 Porpoijes cft-zvo bdow ^ m& q{ Q) . lean . f they do not differ 
 
 dolours. from thofe found inthe g ea . ln the frefh 
 
 Water they are all white, and as big as a Cow. The firft go 
 generally in Companies, I have have not observed the fame of the 
 
 M others, 
 
 i
 
 $2 An Hifiorical Journal of 
 
 others, though I have feen many of them playing in the Port 
 of Quebec. They feldom go higher than this City, but there 
 are many on the Coafts of Acadia, as well as of the firft Kind ; 
 fo that the Difference of their Colour does not proceed from the 
 Difference of the fait and fern Water. The white Porpoifes 
 yield a Hoglhead of Oil, and this Oil is little different from 
 that of the Seals : I never faw any Perfon who had eaten the 
 Flefh of this Animal ; but as to the Black Porpoife, they fay, that 
 they are not bad eating : They make Puddings and Chitterlings of 
 their Entrails, the Harflet is excellent in Fricaffee, and the Head 
 better than that of a Sheep, but not fo good as a Calf's. 
 
 The Skins of both Sorts are tan'd like Mcrocco Leather. At 
 T j. " , . firft it is foft like Fat, and is an Inch thick, 
 UJe of their t ^ f cra p e it a long Time, and it becomes 
 **""' like a tranfparent Leather ; and how thin 
 
 foeverit is, even fo as to be fit for Waiftcoats and Breeches, 
 it is always very ftrong and Proof againft a Mufket Ball. There 
 are fome eighteen Feet long, and nine wide ; they fay that there 
 is nothing better to cover the Tops of Coaches. They have 
 lately eftablifhed two Fifheries below Quebec for Porpoifes, one in 
 the Bay of St. Paul, and the other feven or eight Leagues lower, 
 over-againft a Habitation called Camourafca, from the Name of 
 certain Rocks that rife confiderably above the Water. The Ex- 
 pences are not great ; and the Profits would be confiderable, if 
 the Porpoifes were Animals fettled in a Place : But either 
 through Inftinft, or Caprice, they often break the Meafures of 
 the Fifhermen, and take another Route than that where they 
 wait for them. Moreover, thefe Fifheries, which would only en- 
 rich fome few Perfons, have occafioned an Inconvenience which 
 made the common People complain ; which is, that they have 
 greatly diminifhed the Eel Fifhery, which is a great Help to the 
 poor Inhabitants. For the Porpoifes, finding themfelves dif- 
 turbed below Quebec, are retired to fome other Place ; and the 
 Eels, finding no longer thefe great Fifh in their Way, which 
 obliged them to return back, go down the River without any 
 Hindrance ; whence it happens, that between Quebec and Trots 
 Rivieres, where they took a prodigious Number every Year, they 
 now fcarce take any. 
 
 The Way of fifhing for Porpoifes is much the fame as that 
 I have been mentioning for Seals. When the Tide is out, they 
 fet Stakes in the Mud, or Sand, pretty near one another, and 
 they faften Nets to them in the Shape of Funnels, the Opening- 
 of which is pretty large, and made in fuch a Manner, that when 
 once the Fifh has entered, he can't find his Way out again. 
 They take Care to put upon the Tops of the Stakes Branches 
 of Greens. When the Tide rifes, thefe Fifh giving Chace to 
 
 Her-
 
 Travels in North America. 83 
 
 Herrings, which always run to the Sides, and being allured by 
 the Greens which they greatly love, are engaged in the Nets, 
 and find themfelves fhut up : As the Tide finks, it is pleafant to 
 fee their Trouble, and their fruitlefs Attempts to efcape : At lafl 
 they remain on dry Land, and often one upon another in fuch 
 great Numbers, that one Blow with a Stick kills two or three of 
 them. They fay that there have been found fome among the 
 white Sort, which weighed three thoufand Pounds. 
 
 Every one knows the Nature of the Whale Fifhery, therefore 
 Ofth Wl I I mall fay nothing of it. It is faid here, that 
 ■* the Bifcayners, who carried it on formerly in 
 the River St. Laurence, discontinued it only to apply themfelves 
 entirely to'the Fur- Trade, which required not fomuch Expence or 
 Labour, and the Profits of which were then more confiderable, and 
 of a quicker Return. On the other Hand, they had not all the 
 Conveniencies for this Fifhery, which may be had at prefent, now 
 there are Habitations very near the Gulf. Some Years ago they 
 tried to re-eftabliih it, but without Succefs : The Undertakers 
 either had not a fufKcient Fund to make the necefTary Advances, 
 or expe&ed their Charges to be reimburfed fooner than the Thing 
 would allow, or elfe they wanted Perfeverance. It appears never- 
 thelefs^certain that this Fifhery might be a great Article in the 
 Trade of this Colony (a), and might be carried on with lefs 
 Expence and Danger than on the Coafts of Greenland; and what 
 fhould hinder to fix it here, as M. Denys propofed to do that of 
 the Cod-Fifhery in Acadia. This is, Madam, all that con- 
 cerns the Fifheries, that may enrich Canada. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 "Of the Fort j/Chamely: Of the Fijh; of the Birds : And of font! 
 Animals, peculiar to Canada. Of the Trees which are the fame 
 nvith thofe 0/" France; and of thofe which are peculiar to this 
 Country. 
 
 Madam, Chambly, March I. 
 
 ONE of the chief Defences of Montreal againft the Iroquois 
 and New York, is Fort Chambly : It is from this Fort I 
 have the Honour to write to you. I came hither to pay a Vifit 
 
 (a) It is to be hoped that we fhall now cftablifh a Whale Fifhery in thefe 
 Tarts ; as there fcims great Probability that a vaft Advantage may be reaped 
 f:oru it, 
 
 M 2 to
 
 #4 An Historical Journal of 
 
 to the Commandant, who is M. de Sahre-vois, of one of the beft 
 families of Beauce, my Friend, my Companion in the Voyage, 
 and a good Officer. I fhall defcribe this important Fort, and 
 the Situation of it, in a few Words. 
 
 In the hrft Years of 01 r Settlement in this Country, the Iro- 
 quois, to make their Incurfions into the very Centre of our Ha- 
 bitations, came down a River which diicharges itfelf into the 
 River St. Laurence, a little above Lake St. Pierre, and which for 
 this Reafon, was called firft the Iroquois River. It has been 
 fmce called the River of Richelieu, from a Fort which bore this 
 Name, and which was built at its Mouth. This Fort being in a 
 ruinous Condilion, M. de Sortl, Captain in Cari^ncn-SalicressXtgi- 
 ment, built another, which he called by his own Name. This Name 
 communicated itfelf to the River, and it is Hill called (o, tho' 
 the Fort has not been Handing for a long Time. When we 
 have gone up the River about feventeen Leagues, going always 
 towards the South, but a little to the South Weft, we rind a 
 Torrent or Water- fall, and overagainft it a Kind of little Lake, 
 formed by the River itfelf. It is by the Side of the Water-fall, 
 and overagainft the Lake, that the Fort is fituated. It was hrft 
 built of Wood, by M. de Cbambly, at the fame Time that M. de 
 Scrcl built his Fort, but it has been fince built of Stone, and 
 flanked with four Baftions, and there is always a pretty good 
 Garrifon kept in it. The Lands round it are very good, and 
 they begin to eftablifh fome Habitations here, and many People 
 think that in Time, they will build a Town in this Place. From 
 Chamhly to Lake Champlain, it is but eight Leagues. The 
 River Scrcl crofies the Lake ; and there is perhaps no Part 
 -•ef A«v France which is more fit to be peopled. The 
 Climate is milder than any other Part of the Colony, and the 
 Inhabitants will have the Iroqucis for Neighbours, who at the 
 Bottom are a good Sort of People, who will not feek to quarrel 
 with us, when they fee us in a Condition not to be afraid of 
 them, and who will find their Account I believe ftill better from 
 this Neighbourhood, .than from that of New Tcrk. Many 
 other Realbns ought to engage us in this Settlement, but if I 
 fhouid write all, I ihould have nothing to fay when I have the 
 Honour to fee you again. I fhall take Advantage of the Leifure 
 Hours I have here, to continue to entertain you with the Par- 
 ticularities of this Country. I have already given an Account 
 of what the Gulf and the River of St. Laurence may fupply for 
 the Trade of Nenv France; it remains for me to fpeak of the 
 Refources which the Inhabitants may find here for the Support 
 of Life. 
 
 Whereve?
 
 Travels in North America S$ 
 
 Wherever the Water of the River is fait, that is to fay, from 
 
 _.„ ... Cape Torment to the Gulf, one may take al- 
 
 FtJbMare ^ ^ ^ that ^ b ^ $ea> as g^ 
 
 /«&« « /^Or//r mon> Tunnv> S had, Trout, Lamprey, Smelts, 
 and River 0/ bt. Conger £el ^ Mackere l, Soals, Herrings, An- 
 l^aurence. chovies, Pilchards, Turbots, and many 0- 
 
 thers that are not known in Europe. They are all taken with a 
 Sein, or other Nets. In the Gulf they take Hallibuts, three 
 Sorts of Thornbacks, the common, the curled Sort, which they 
 fay is better than in France, and another Sort that is not efteem- 
 ed; Lencornets, a Kind of Cuttle Filh, St. Peter's Fiih, Requiems, 
 Sea Dogs, a Kind of Requiems much lefs mifchievous whilit 
 alive, and beyond Companion better when dead, than the com- 
 mon Sort. 6\ iters are very plenty in Winter on the Coails of 
 Aacida, and the Manner of fi&ing for them is fomething Angu- 
 lar . They make a Hole in the Ice, and they thruit in two Poles 
 together in fuch a Manner, that they have the EfrecT: of a Pair 
 of Pinchers, and they feldom draw them up without an Oyfter. 
 The Lencornet is, as I have faid, a Kind of Cuttle Fiih, but how- 
 ever, it is very different from the common Cuttle Fiih. It is quite 
 round, or rather oval; at the End of its Tail is a Sort of Leage, 
 which makes him a Kind of Shield, and his Head is fnrrounded 
 with Barbs half a Foot long, which he makes life of to catch 
 other Fiih. There are two Kinds, which differ only in Bignefs;^ 
 the fmaller Sort is about a Foot long. They take few but of 
 the laft Sort, and thofe by the Light of a Flambeau : They love 
 the Light much, they (hew it 'them on the Shore when the Tide 
 is at Height, but jufl upon burning, they approach it, and fo are 
 left aground. The Lencornet roafted, boiled, or fricaffeed, is very 
 good eating, but makes the Sauce quite black. f 
 
 The St. Peter's Fiih is like a fmail Cod, has the fame Tafie, 
 p , and is dried alio like that. It has two black 
 
 * f ??' ,V? Spots on the Sides of its Head, and the Sai- 
 fiJb.Oftbe Sal- JJ ( f this is the Fifh in whkh St> p £ter 
 
 men yo-auandthe ^^ ^ piece of y^ to pay the Tri _ 
 1 art le y Z5c. ^ ute tQ ^ R c: , }:an Emperor, for our Lord and 
 
 himfelf ; and that its two Spots are the two Places by which 
 he took hold of it: For this Reafon they call it St. Peter's Fiih. 
 The Sea Plaice is firmer and better than the River Plaice. 
 They catch them as well as Lobfters with long Sticks aimed 
 with a fharp Iron, which is notched to prevent the Efcape 
 of the Fiih. In fhort, in many Places, efpecially to- 
 wards Acadia, the Ponds are full of Salmon Trouts, and Tur- 
 < ties two Feet in Diameter, the Flelh of which is excellent, and 
 the Top Shell itreaked with white, red, and blue. 
 
 Among
 
 86 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 Among the Fifh with which the Lake Champlain, and the Ri- 
 
 r\f fj. /i . j vers which fiow into it, abound, M. Cham- 
 
 p-. plain obferved one pretty fingular, which he 
 
 •J ' calls Chaoufarau, probably from the Name 
 
 given it by the Savages. It is a particular Species of the Armed 
 
 Fifh, which is found in many Places. This has a Body nearly 
 
 of the fame Shape as a Pike, but it is covered with Scales 
 
 that are Proof againft the Stab of a Dagger : Its Colour is a 
 
 filvergrey, and there grows under his Mouth a long bony Sub- 
 
 ftance, jagged at the Edges, hollow, and with a Hole at the End 
 
 of it; which gives R.eafon tojudge, that it breaths by it : The 
 
 Skin that covers it is tender : The Length of it is proportioned 
 
 to that of the Fifh, of which it makes a third Part. It is 
 
 two Fingers in Breadth in the fmalleft. The Savages allured M. 
 
 Cbamplain that fome of thefe Fifh were eight or ten Feet long, 
 
 but the largeft he faw were but five Feet, and about as thick as 
 
 a Man's Thigh. 
 
 One may eaiily conceive that fuch an Animal is a Ravager 
 
 T , ,. „.., among; the Inhabitants of the Water, but one 
 
 , „. , * would not imagine that it mould make War 
 catches htras. wJth the Inhabitants of the Air . whkh he 
 
 does, however, with much Art, in this Manner: He hides him- 
 felf in the Reeds in fuch a Manner, that only this Inftrument 
 of his is to be feen, which he thrufts out of the Water in an up- 
 right Pofition ; the Birds that want to reft themfelves take this 
 for a dry Reed, or Piece of Wood, and perch upon it. They 
 are no fooner on it, than the Fifh opens his Mouth, and makes 
 fuch a fudden Motion to feize his Prey, that it feldom efcapes 
 him. The Teeth which edge the Inftrument that he ufes to 
 fuch good Purpofe, are pretty long and very (harp. The Sa- 
 X'ages fay, that they are a fovereign Remedy againft the Head- 
 Ach, and that pricking with one of thefe Teeth where the Pain 
 is fharpeft, takes it away inftantly. 
 
 Thefe People have a wonderful Skill in ftriking Fifh in the 
 <Tfj M " f Water, efpecially in the Torrents. They fifh 
 tl <?' ''- arna £ °J alfo with the Sein, and they have an odd Ce- 
 remony before they ufe this Net. They marry 
 it to two young Maids, and during the Wedding Feaft they 
 place it between the two Brides. They exhort it very ferioufly 
 to take a great many Fifh, and they think to engage it to do 
 fo by making great Prefents to its pretended Fathers -in-Law. 
 The Sturgeon here is a Sea and a frefh Water Fifh ; for they 
 
 „ rn- r ta ke it upon the Coafts of Canada., and in the 
 Vf pjbing Jor ^^ Lakes which crofs th(j Riyer ^ Lau _ 
 
 bturgeon. ^^ Many p efjple think h {g thg rea} Dq ^ 
 
 phin of the Antients j jf this is true, it was fitting that thi s 
 
 King
 
 Travels in North America. 87 
 
 King of Fifh fhould reign equally in the Ocean and the Rivers. 
 Be that as it may, we lee here Sturgeons of eight, ten, and 
 twelve Feet long, and big in Proportion. This Animal has on. 
 the Head a Sort of Crown railed about an Inch, and it is co- 
 vered with Scales of half a Foot Diameter, almofl oval, and 
 fprinkled with fmall Figures which fomething refemble the 
 Flower de Luce -of the Arms of France. The Savages take them 
 in the Lakes in this Manner : Two Men are at the two Ends of 
 a Canoe ; he behind fleers, and the other Hands up, holding a 
 Dart in one Hand, to which a long Cord is faftened, the other 
 End is tied to one of the Bars of the Canoe. As foon as he 
 fees the Sturgeon in his Reach, he throws his Dart, and endea- 
 vours to ftrike where there are no Scales ; if the Fifh is wound- 
 rd it flies, and draws the Canoe alfo pretty fwiftly, but after 
 having fwam about 150 Paces it dies, then they draw up the 
 Cord and take it. There is a fmall Kind of Sturgeon, the Flefh 
 of which is very tender and delicate. 
 
 The River St. Laurence produces many Fifh which are not 
 
 t../, , ,. known in France: The moft efteemed are the 
 
 rib peculiar to , , . , . n ._ ,-,, ,-,.,„.„ 
 
 Canada Achtgan, and the Poiflbn-dore (the Gilt Fijh)i 
 
 the other Rivers of Canada, and efpecially 
 thofe of Acadia, are as well flocked as this River, which h?.> 
 perhaps the molt Fifh of any in the World, and of the moft v; - 
 rious Kinds, and the beft of the Sorts. There are fome Seafons 
 when the Fifh alone might feed the whole Colony; but I know 
 not what Credit may be given to what I have feen in the Ma- 
 nufcript of an antient Miffionary, who affirms that he faw a 
 Mer-man in the River de Sore!, three Leagues below Cbambly. 
 The Relation is written with much Judgment, but the better to 
 ftate the Faft, and to fhew that the firit Appearance did not de- 
 ceive him, the Author fhould have added to his Account a De- 
 fcription of this Monfter. We are fometimes feized at the firri 
 Glance with a Refemblance, which upon viewing more atten- 
 tively immediately vanifhes. Furthermore, if this Fiih in hu- 
 man Shape came from the Sea, it came a long Way to get fo 
 near Cbambly, and it is fomething flrange that it was net feea 
 but in this Place. 
 
 Our Forefts are not fo well flocked with Birds as our Lakes 
 T-mo Sorts of an( * divers are with Fifh; however, here are 
 r a7 l es *" ome which have their Merit, and are pecu- 
 
 liar to America. We fee here two Sorts of 
 Eagles, the largeft has the Neck and Head almolt white ; they 
 prey upon the Hares and Rabbits, which they take in ti 
 Talons, and carry to their Magazines and their Nefts. Ths 
 others are all grey, and are contented to make War with the 
 Birds : And they are all pretty good Filter*. The Falcon, 
 
 8 : .
 
 ur Partridges are of three Kinds, grey, red, and black ; the 
 
 laft are the leaft efteemed, they have too much 
 
 rree Sorts of Tafte qC the GrapCj J un iper, and Fir : Their 
 
 rtdges. Head and Eyes are like the Pheafant's, and 
 
 88 An Hiji or ical Journal of 
 
 Gofs Hawk, and the TafTel, are entirely the fame as in France; 
 but we have a fecond Sort of Falcons which live only on 
 
 Fifth. 
 
 Our Partridges are of three Kinds, grey, red, and black ; the 
 
 'Three 
 Partr 
 
 their Flefh is brown. They all have a long Tail, and fpread 
 it as a Fan, like the Turkey Cock : Thefe Tails are very fine, 
 fome are mixed with red, brown, and grey ; and others of a 
 lirrht and dark grey. I faid that the black Partridges were not 
 moil efteemed, but fome People prefer them to the red. They 
 are all bigger than in France, but fo filly, that they fuffer 
 themfelves to be fhot, and even approached, without fcarce 
 ilirring. 
 
 Befides the Snipes, which are excellent in this Country, and 
 the fmall Game of the Rivers, which is eve- 
 Other Birds. ^ wnere plenty, they find fome Woodcocks 
 about the Springs, but in a fmall Number. Amongft the Ilinois, 
 and in all the fouthern Parts of New France, they are more 
 common ; M. Denys afferts, that the Crows of Canada are as 
 eood to eat as a Fowl. This may be true on the Side of Acadia, 
 but I do not find in thefe Parts that they are much of this Opi- 
 nion. They are bigger than in France, and fomething blacker, 
 and have a different Cry. The Ofprey on the contrary is 
 fmaller, and its Cry is not fo difagreeable. The Screech-Owl 
 of Canada differs from that of France only by a little white 
 Pvuff about the Neck, and a particular Cry : Its Flefh is good 
 to eat, and many People prefer it to a Fowl. Its Provifion for 
 the Winter is Field Mice ; whofe Feet it breaks, and then nou- 
 rifhes and fattens them with Care till it has Occafion to feed 
 upon them. The Bat is bigger here than in France. The Black- 
 birds and Swallows are here Birds of Paffage, as in Europe. 
 The firft are not black, but inclining to red. We have three 
 Sorts of Larks, the fmalleft of which are as big as a Sparrow. 
 The Sparrow is but little different from our's, and has the fame 
 Inclinations, but an ugly Sort of a Look. We fee in this Coun- 
 try a prodigious Quantity of Ducks, they reckon twenty-two 
 different Species. The moft beautiful, and thofe whofe Flefh is 
 moft delicate, are the Branch Ducks ; They call them fo becaufe 
 they perch on the Branches of Trees ; their Plumage is very 
 much varied, and very brilliant. Swans, Turkies, Water-hens, 
 Cranes, Teal, Geefe, Buftards, and other great River Birds 
 fwarm every where except in the Neighbourhood of the Habi- 
 tations, which they never approach. We have Cranes of two 
 Colours, fome white, and others giidelin. All of them make 
 
 excellent
 
 Travels in Ncrth America. 89 
 
 excellent Soup. Our Wood-Peckers are very beautiful ; there 
 are fome which are of all Colours, others are black or a dark 
 brown all over except the Head and the Neck, which are of a 
 very fine red. 
 
 The Nightingale of Canada, is much the fame as that of France 
 for Shape, but ithas but half its Song : The Wren has robbed it of 
 the other Half. The Goldfinch has not fo fine a Head as in 
 Europe, and all its Plumage is mixt with Yellow and Black. As 
 I never faw any of them in a Cage, I can fay nothing of their 
 Song. All our Woods are full of a Sort of Birds, which are 
 Yellow all over, about the Bignefs of a Linnet, which has a 
 pretty Note, but its Song is very Ihort, and not varied. It 
 has no other Name but that of its Colour, being called the Yel- 
 low Bird. A kind of Ortolan, whofe Plumage is of an Aih 
 Colour on the Back, and White under the Belly, and which they 
 call the White Bird, is the bell Songfter of all the Inhabitants of 
 our Woods : It is little inferior to the Nightingale cf France, but 
 it is the Male only that fings, the Female which is of a deeper 
 Colour is filent even in a Cage. This little Bird has a very 
 pretty Plumage, and is well called an Ortolan for its Tafle. I 
 know not where it retires during the Winter, but it is always 
 the firit to proclaim to us the Return of Spring. As foon as the 
 Snow is melted in fome Places, they come in great Flocks, and 
 we take as many of them as we pleafe. 
 
 It is feldom, but at a hundred Leagues from hence towards the 
 
 Of UC •</' / South, that we begin to fee the Cardinal Bird. 
 
 j t ai.ina There are fome at Par/V, that were tranfported 
 
 from Louifiana t and I believe they will make 
 
 their Fortune in France, if they can breed them there like the 
 
 Canary-Birds. The Sweetnefs of its Song, the Brilliancy of its 
 
 Plumage, which is of a fine Scarlet, a little Tuft of Feathers they 
 
 have upon the Head, and which pretty well refembles the Crowns 
 
 which Painters give to Indian Kings and Americans, feems to 
 
 confirm to them, the Empire of the Air. They have neverthelefs 
 
 a Rival here who would have all the Votes for it, if it pleafed 
 
 the Ear as much as it charms the Sight. This is what they call 
 
 in this Country VOifeau Moucbe, (the Fly-Bird.) It is thus called 
 
 for two Reafons : The firit, on Account its 
 
 OftheFIj-Bird, Smallnefs, for it is but little bigger than 
 'with its Feathers. the common May-Bug, or Chaffer. The 
 fecond, is on Account of a pretty loud 
 Humming, which it makes with its Wings ; which is much like 
 that of a great Fly. Its Legs, which are about an Inch long, 
 are like two Needles, its Bill is the fame, and it puts out of it a 
 little Trunk, which it thrufts into the Flowers, to draw out their 
 Juice, upon which it feeds. The Female has nothing brilliant, 
 
 N o a pretty
 
 go Travels in North America. 
 
 a pretty fine White under the Belly, and an Afh Colour on the 
 reft of her Body, is all its Ornament ; but the Male is a perfect 
 Beauty. Ithas on the Top of the Head, a little Tuft of a beautiful 
 Black, the Throat red, the Belly white, the Back, the Wings,^ 
 and the Tail of a green like that of Rofe Leaves ; a Lay of 
 Gold fpread over all this Plumage gives it a great Brilliancy, 
 and a little imperceptible Down, gives it theiineft Shades that 
 can be feen. 
 
 Some Travellers have confounded it with the Humming-Bird, 
 
 „ . .... of the Ifiands; and in Fa&it appears to be a 
 Howrt drftrs g ies of k . but that is a Httle bigger> its 
 
 fromibeHummtng- p f umage is n0t fo brilliant, and its Bill bent 
 B ird ' a little downward. I may however be deceiv'd 
 
 in regard to the Brilliancy of the Humming- Bird's Plumage, 
 becaufe I have never feen any alive. Some have faid it has a 
 very melodious Song, if this is true, it has a great Advantage 
 over our Fly- Bird, which Nobody has heard fing. But I have 
 heard myfelf a Female, which whittled in a harm and difagree- 
 ableNote. This Bird has a very ftrong Wing, and flies with 
 furprizing Swiftnefs ; you fee it upon a Flower, and in a Moment 
 it rifes up to a great Height in the Air, almoft perpendicular. 
 It is an Enemy to the Crow, and a dangerous one too. I heard one 
 fay, who was worthy of Credit, that he has feen one fuddenly 
 quit a Flower it was fucking, rife up as fwift as Lightning, and 
 go and thrutt itfelf under the Wing of a Crow, that was float- 
 ing very high in the Air, with its Wings fpread out, and peirc- 
 ing it with its Trunk, made it fall down dead ; either kill'd 
 by the Fall, or the Wound. 
 
 The Fly-Bird feeks Flowers, which have the ftrongeft Smell ; 
 and it fucks them, keeping always upon the Fluttering: Butitrefts- 
 itfelf from Time to Time ; and then one may view it perfectly : 
 They have been keptfome Time upon fugared Water, and Flow- 
 ers; I kept one formerly for 24 Hours : It fuftered itfelf to 
 betaken, and handled, and feigned itfelf dead ; as foon as I let 
 it go, it took its Flight, and kept fluttering about my Window : I 
 made a Prefent of it to one of my Friends, who the next Morn- 
 ing found it dead ; and that Night there had been a little Froft. 
 Thefe little Animals take Care to fhun the firft cold Weather, 
 It is very probable, that they return towards Carolina ; and it is 
 affured that they are not there but in the Winter. They make their 
 Nefts in Canada, where they hang them to a Branch of a Tree, 
 and turn them in fuch Manner, that they are fheltcred from all 
 the Injuries of the Weather. Nothing is fo neat as thefe Nefts. 
 The Bottom is made of very little Bits of Wood, platted like a 
 Bafeet ; and the Infide is lined with I know not what Sort of 
 Down, which appears like Silk. The Eggs are about the Big- 
 
 nefs
 
 An Hiji or ical Journal of 91 
 
 nefs of a Pea, and have yellow Spots upon a white Ground. 
 
 They fay they have commonly three, and fornetimes five Eggs. 
 Amongfl the Reptiles of this Country, I know of none but 
 __ - - . the Rattle-Snake that deferves any Attention. 
 Of the Rattle- There are fome of thcfe as big as a M an*s 
 
 ° 9akt ' Leg, and fornetimes bigger, and they are 
 
 long in Proportion : But there are fome, and I believe the 
 greatelt Number, that are not bigger nor longer than our largeft 
 Adders in France : Their Shape is pretty fingular. Upon a flat 
 and very thick Neck they have but a fmall Head : Their Co- 
 lours are lively, without being brilliant ; a pale Yellow predo- 
 minates, with fome Clouds that are pretty enough. 
 
 But what is moft remarkable in this Animal, is its Tail, which 
 is fcaly like a Coat of Mail, a little flat ; and they fay that it 
 grows every Year one Ring or Row of Scales, fo that they know 
 it-, Age by its Tail, as we do that of a Horfe by his Teeth. In 
 moving, it makes the fame Noife as a Cricket in flying : For 
 you know, without Doubt, Madam, that the pretended Singing 
 of a Cricket is only the Noife of its Wings. And the Refem- 
 biance I fpeak of is fo alike, that I have often b&en deceived by 
 it myfelf : It is this Noife that has given this Serpent the Name 
 it bears. 
 
 The Bite of this Serpent is mortal, if a Remedy i? not applied 
 immediately ; but Providence has provided a Remedy. In all 
 the Places where this dangerous Reptile is found, there grows a 
 Plant which is called RaJ tie- Snake Herb ; the Root of which is a 
 certain Antidote againft the Venom of this Serpent :_ It need 
 only be pounded or chewed, and applied like a Poultice upon 
 the Wound : It is a beautiful Plant, and eafily known : Its round 
 Stalk, a little bigger than a Goofe's Quill, rifes to the Height of 
 three or four Feet, and ends in a yellow Flower of the Shape and 
 Bignefs of a common Daifey : This Flower has a very fwect 
 Smell. The Leaves of the Plant are oval, and are fupported 
 five together, like the Claw of a Turkey, by a Stalk of an Inch 
 long. 
 
 The Rattle-Snake feldom attacks the PafTenger that does not 
 meddle with it. I have had one at my Feet, which was cer- 
 tainly more afraid than myfelf ; for I did not perceive it till it 
 was running away : But it" you tread upon it, you are immedi- 
 ately flung ; and'if you purfue it, if it has but a little Time to 
 recover itfelf, it folds itfelf round with the Head in the Middle, 
 and then daris itfelf with great Violence and Fury againft its 
 Purfuer : Neverthelefs, the Savages chace it, and find its Fleftl 
 verv good. I have even heard fome Frenchmen, who had tailed 
 it, fay, that it was not bad eating ; but they were Travellers, and 
 fuch People think every Thing good, becaufc tftey are oftsn 
 
 N 2 hungry.
 
 92 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 hungry. But this is at leaft certain, that it does no Harm to 
 thofe thateat it. 
 
 I know not, Madam, whether I mould undertake to fpeak to 
 /*»/• j vtr j y ou °f tne Woods of Canada. We are in the 
 Vf the Moods M idft of the greateft Forefts in the World. 
 of Canada. j n ^ Appearance they are as old as the 
 
 World itfelf, and were not planted by the Hands of Men. No- 
 thing is more magnificent to the Sight ; the Trees lofe them- 
 felves in the Clouds ; and there is fuch a prodigious Variety of 
 Species, that even among thofe Perfons who have taken moft 
 Pains to know them, there is not one perhaps that knows 
 half the Number. As to their Quality, and the Ufes to which 
 they may be employed, the Sentiments are fo different in this 
 Country, and in France, that I even defpair of ever being able 
 to give you that Satisfaction which I could wifli upon this Article : 
 At leaft, for the prefent, I muft confine myfelf to fome Obferva- 
 tions which I have made myfelf, and have had from other Peo- 
 ple, who have more Skill and Experience in this Matter than 
 myfelf. 
 
 What ftruck my Sight moft the firft Time I came into this 
 -. ", Country, were the Pines, the Firs, and the 
 
 Ofthetzvo bpe- Cedar£> whkh are of f ur p r i z i ng Height and 
 
 aes of Pines. Bignefs. There are here two Sorts of Pines. 
 
 They all produce a Rofin which is very fit to make Pitch and 
 
 Tar : The white Pines, at leaft fome of them, have at the very 
 
 Tops of them a Kind of , Mufhroom, Which the Inhabitants call 
 
 Guarzgue, and which the Savages make Ufe of with Succefs 
 
 againft Diforders of the Breaft and Bloody-Fluxes. The red 
 
 Pines are fulleft of Gum, and the heavieft Wood, but they do not 
 
 grow fo large. The Lands which produce both Sorts, are not 
 
 the belt to produce Grain ; they generally confiil of Gravel, 
 
 Sand, and Clay. 
 
 There are four Species of Fir in Canada ; the firft refembles 
 
 . our's : The ether three Sorts are the White, 
 
 Four Species of thc Red> and thfi g pruce . The fecond an(J 
 
 * irs * the fourth Sort grow very high, and are fit 
 
 for Mails, efpecially the White, which is alfo fit for Carpenters 
 Work : It grows generally in wet and black Lands ; but which 
 being .drained, may bear all Sorts of Grain : Its Bark is fmooth 
 and fhining ; and there grows upon it fome little Bladders, the 
 Bignefs' of a Kidney-Bean, which contain a Kind of Turpen- 
 tine, moft excellent for Wounds, which it cures in a fhort Time; 
 and even for Fractures. They affirm, that it allays Fevers, and 
 cures the Diforders of the Stomach and Lungs. The Way to 
 ufe it, is to out two Drops of it into Broth : It has alfo a purg- 
 ing Quality.* This is what they call at Paris, the White Balfam* 
 
 Tha
 
 Travels in North America. 93 
 
 The red Fir has fcarce any Refemblance with the white : Its 
 Wood is heavy, and may be employed for Building. The 
 Lands where it grows are only Gravel and Clay. The Spruce 
 Fir is gummy, but does not throw out enough Gum to be made 
 Ufe of : Its Wood lafts a long Time in the Earth without rot- 
 ting, which renders it very fit to make Inclofurcs : Its Bark is 
 very fit for the Tanners ; and the Savages make*of it a Dye, 
 which is pretty near a deep Blue, The greatefl Part of the 
 Land where this Tree grows, is Clay. I have neverthelefs {een 
 fome very large in a fandy Soil, but perhaps under the Sand 
 there might be Clay. 
 
 The Cedars are of two Species, White and Red : The firft 
 
 rr c . c are the largeft : They make Pales of it ; and 
 I<we bpectes 0/ ^ Wood h what they general]y make 
 
 Cedars. Shingles with, becaufe of its Lightnefs. 
 
 There diftills from it a Kind of Incenfe, or Perfume ; but it 
 
 bears no Fruit like that of Mount Lebanon. The red Cedar is 
 
 fmaller : The moft fenfible Difference between one and the other 
 
 is, that the Smell of the firft is in its Leaves, and of the other in 
 
 the Wood ; but the laft is by much the moft agreeable. The 
 
 Cedar, at leaft the White, grows only in a very good Soil. 
 
 There are every where in Canada two Species of Oaks, di- 
 
 c\f A n i ftinguifhed by the Names of White and Red. 
 
 Uf the Vaks, The firft are often fbund j n a low> wet> aRd 
 
 Maples, wild fertile Soi]> whkh j s fit tQ prodnce Grain and 
 
 w7 y 1 Pulfc - The Red > whofe Wood is lefs 
 
 alnut > Scc ' ctteemed, grows in a dry and fandy Soil : 
 
 Both Kinds bear Acorns. ---The Maple is very common in Ca- 
 nada, and fome are very large, of which they make handfome 
 Furniture : They grow on high Grounds, which are filteft for 
 Fruit-Trees. They call the Female Maple here Rbcne, the 
 Wood of which is wav'd, but paler than that of the Male : In 
 other Refpefts it has the fame Shape and Qualities ; but it 
 
 requires a wet and fruitful Soil. The wild Cherry-Tiee, 
 
 which grows promifcuoufly with the Maple and the White 
 Wood, makes very fine Furniture : It yields more Water or 
 Juice than the Maple ; but it is bitter, and the Sugar made of 
 it never lofes its Bitternefs. The Savages make Ufe of its Bark 
 in certain Diforders that happen to Women. 
 
 There are in Canada three Sorts of Am ; the True, the Mon- 
 grel, and the Baftard : The firft Sort, which grows amongil 
 the Maples, is fit for the Carpenters Ufe, and to make Caflcs lor 
 dry Goods : The fecond has the fame Properties, and grows as 
 the Baftard Kind docs, only in a low and good Soil. 
 
 They reckon alfo in this Country three Kinds of Walnuts ; 
 the hard, the foft, and a third Kind which has a very thin Bark i 
 
 The
 
 94 An Hijiorkal Journal of 
 
 The hard Kind hears very fmall Nuts, good to eat, but hard to 
 il : Its Wood is good for nothing but to burn. The foft 
 Kind bears long Nuts, as big as thofe of France, but the Shells 
 are very hard : The Kernels are excellent. The Wood is not 
 fo fine as our's ; but to make .Amends, it fcarce ever decays, ei- 
 ther in Earth or in Water, and is with Difficulty confumed in 
 the Fire. The third Sort bears Nuts of the Bignefs of the 
 firft, but in a greater Quantity ; which are bitter, and inclofed 
 in very foft Shells. They make very good Oil of thefe Nuts. 
 This Tree yields Aveetcr Water than the Maple, but in a fmaller 
 Quantity : It grows only, like the foft Walnut, in the bell Soils. 
 
 Beach Trees are very plentiful here. I have feen fome on 
 fandy Hills, and in very fruitful low Lands : They bear much 
 Maft, from which it would be eafy to extraft an Oil. The Bears 
 make it their principal Food, as do alfo the Partridges. The 
 Wood is very foft, and fit to make Oars for Boats ; but the Rud- 
 ders of Canoes are made of Maple. The White Wood, which 
 grows amongft the Maple and the wild Cherry, is very plenty. 
 Thefe Trees grow large and ilrait : They make Boards and 
 Flanks of them, and alio Calks for dry Goods : It is foft, and 
 eafy to work. The Savages peel off the Bark to cover their 
 Cabins. 
 
 Elms are very common through the whole Country. There 
 
 o-. .. fa • f are white and red. The Wood of the firil 
 -xv / i ^ is harder! to work, but lafts longer!. The Iro- 
 quois make their Canoes of the Bark of the 
 red Elm : There are fome of a fmgle Piece, which will hold 
 twenty Men. There are alfo fome hollow Elms, where the Bears 
 and wild Cats retire from November to April. The Afpen-Tree 
 commonly grows here by the Sides of Rivers and Marines. 
 
 They find in the thicker! Woods a great Number of Piumb- 
 
 _, ,. Trees, loaded with Fruit, but very four. The 
 
 Trees peculiar U T ,. a- „. , ' /, ... 
 
 ,;■ /. f. yinepar-'-lrec is a Shrub very Pithy, which 
 
 yields Bunches of a iharp truit, of an Ox- 
 Blood Colour. By infilling them in Water they make a Kind of 
 Vinegar. The Pettnpe is another Kind of Shrub which grows 
 by the Side of Brooks, and Meadows. It bears a Bunch of 
 Fruit of a lively red, which is ailringent. There are three 
 Sorts of Goofoerries that grow naturally in this Country. They 
 are the fame as in France. The Sloe grows here as in France : 
 This Fruit is wonderful for curing the Bloody-Flux in a very 
 ihort Time. The Savages dry them as we do Cherries in 
 France. 
 
 The Atoca is a Fruit with Kernels as big as a Cherry : This 
 Plant, which runs upon the Ground in the Marines, produces 
 
 its
 
 Travels in North America. 95 
 
 its Fruit in the Water. The Fruit is fharp, and they make 
 Sweet-Meats of it. The White-Thorn is found by the Sides of 
 Rivers, and produces much Fruit with three Kernels. This is 
 the Food of many wild Beafts. They call here the Cotton- 
 Tree a Plant which moots up like Afparagus, to the Height of 
 about three Feet, at the Top of which grow many Tufts of 
 Flowers. In the Morning, before the Dew is off, they fhake 
 thefe Flowers, and there falls off with the Water a Kind of 
 Honey, which is made into Sugar by_ boiling. The Seed grows 
 in a Bladder, which contains a very fine Sort of Cotton. The 
 Solid (the Sun) is another Plant very common in the Fields of 
 the Savages, and which grows feven or eight Feet high. Its 
 Flower, which is very large, is in the Shape of a Marigold, and 
 the Seed grows in the fame Manner. The Savages by boiling 
 it draw out an Oil, with which they greafe their Hair. The 
 Plants which thefe People principally cultivate are Maiz, or 
 
 Turkey Wheat, Kidney- Beans, Gourds, and Melons. They 
 
 have a Kind of Gourd left than our's, which has a fweet 
 Tarte. They boil them whole, or roalt them under the Allies, 
 and eat them thus without any thing with them. The Savages 
 before our Arrival here had the common Melons, and the Wa- 
 ter Melons. The firft are as good as our's in France, efpccially 
 in this Iiland, where they are very plenty. Hops and Maiden- 
 Hair are the natural Growth of this Country ; but the Maiden- 
 Hair grows higher here, and is infinitely better than in France. 
 
 Here is a Letter, Madam, in which you will eafily 
 
 diflinguifh a Traveller who ranges thro' the Woods and Plains 
 of Canada, and who is entertained with every thing that prc- 
 fencs itielf to his View. 
 
 LETT E R
 
 96 An HiJIorica! Journal of 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 Of the Caufes of the Cold of Canada. Of the Refources they have 
 for Subfifience. Of the Char after cf the French Canadians. 
 
 Madam, Montreal, April 22. 
 
 IT is furprifing that in France, where they fo often fee Ptr- 
 fons who have palled a good Part of their Lives in Canada, 
 they fhould have fuch a wrong Idea of this Country. This pro- 
 n a ■ f cee( is without Doubt from the Information 
 , . t? of thofe People who know it by its worft 
 
 , / a oide. 1 he Winter generally begins before 
 
 but by its ixorjt „, ,r „. , f ., c -° } , . 6 , . 
 
 e-j the Veiieis fail for France, and it begins in a 
 
 Manner that aftonilhes thofe who are not 
 
 ufed to it. The firft Fro ft fills the Rivers with Ice in a few 
 
 Days, and the Earth is foon covered with Snow, v/hich lafts 
 
 fix Months, and always rifes fix Feet high where the Wind has 
 
 not Power. 
 
 There is indeed no Want of Wood to provide againft the 
 
 r rr nil Cold, which foon becomes exceflive, and lafts 
 Jtxcejjive Lold. ..., ,J5 c . r 1 n • ■ 
 
 M till the bpring is pretty forward : But it is 
 
 very melancholy not to be able to ftir out without being frozen, 
 or without being wrapt up in Furs like a Bear. Befides, What 
 a Sight is the Snow, which dazzles one's Eyes, and hides all 
 the Beauties of Nature ! There is no longer any Difference be- 
 tween the Rivers and the Fields, no more Variety, even the 
 Trees are covered with a Rime, and all their Branches are hung 
 with Ihcles, under which it is not fafe to ltand. What can one 
 think when we fee the Horfes have Beards of Ice a Foot long? 
 And how can one travel in a Country, where the Bears for fix 
 Months dare not venture out of their Holes ? And indeed, I 
 never palled a Winter in this Country, but I faw fome People 
 who were carried to the Hofpital, to have their Legs and Arms 
 cut off that were frozen. In Fact, if the Sky is clear, there 
 blows from the weftern Parts a Wind that cuts the Face. If the 
 Wind turns to the South or the Eaft, the Weather grows a little 
 milder, but there falls fuch a thick Snow, that you cannot fee 
 ten Paces at Noon Day. If there comes a thawing Air, adieu 
 to all the Capons, Quarters of Beef and Mutton, the Fowls and 
 the Fifh, which had been laid up in the Store-Rooms : So that in 
 Spight of the Rigour of the exceflive Cold, they are ftill ob- 
 liged to wilh for its Continuance. It is to no Purpofe to fay 
 
 the
 
 Tra*veh in North America. 97 
 
 the Winters are not fo cold as they were eighty Years ago, that 
 in all Appearance they will grow milder hereafter. The Misfor- 
 tune of thole who came before us, and the good Fortune of thole 
 who fhall come after us, is no Cure for the prefent Evil which 
 we fufFer. A Cn ok of Marthnco, who ihould have landed the 
 full Time in France during the great Froft in 1709, would he 
 have been much relieved by hearing me fay, who came at that 
 Time from Quebet , that the Cold was not lb fharpas in Canada? 
 For though 1 fpoke the Truth, and had good Evidences of it, 
 yet he might have anfwered me, that he did not find the Cold 
 of France lei's piercing by hearing that it was fharper ftill in 
 Canada. Neverthelefs, as foon as the Month of May is come, 
 the Scene is foon changed, the Sweetnefs of this End of the 
 Spring is fo much the more pleafmg, as it fucceeds a more ri- 
 gorous Seafon. The Heat of the Summer, which in lefs than 
 four Months Time lhews us both Seed-Time and Harveft faj, 
 the Serenity of" the Autumn, in which we enjoy a Courfe of 
 fine Days, which are feldom feen in moll of the Provinces 
 of France; All this, added to the Liberty which they enjoy in 
 this Country, is a Compenfation which makes many People 
 think an Abode here, at leatt as agreeable as in the Kingdom 
 where they were born ; and it is certain, that our Canadians do 
 not fcruple to give it the Preference. 
 
 After all, there are in this excefliveand long Cold, fome Ir.- 
 
 ,_., T . conveniencies which can never be well re- 
 
 Tbelnconvemen- m ^^ . j ^ pkce ; n the fij . ft Rank> ^ 
 
 cm of the great Difficulty of feeding Cattle, which during 
 the whole Winter can find absolutely nothing 
 in the Fields, and of Confequence coil much to feed, and the 
 Flefh of which, after fix Months dry Food, has fcarceany Tafte. 
 The Fowls require alfo a great deal of Care, and much Corn, 
 to preferve them during fo long and fevere a Winter. If we fave 
 the Expence by killing at the End of Oclober, all the Animals 
 we are to eat till May, one may eafily judge that fuch Meat is 
 very infipid, and in the Manner that I have faid they take Fifli 
 under the Ice, they cannot be very plenty ; befides that, thev 
 are immediately frozen. So that it is almoll impofTible to have 
 them frefh in the Seafon when it is moil difficult to do without. 
 We fhould alfo be very much embarraired during Lent, without 
 Cod and Eels. There is at that Time frefh Butter and Eggs ; 
 and there is but little Nourifhment to be expedled in eating the 
 
 (a) They plow the Fields in Summer, they fow from the midft of April 
 to die 10th of May, they cut the Corn from the 15th of Augufl to the 20th 
 of September. The Lands that are not plowed till the Spring bear lefs, 
 becaufe they are not fo well impregnated with the nitrous Parts of the 
 Snow. 
 
 O ■ Pulfe,
 
 98 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 Pulfe, and Roots, which they preferve in Store-Rooms as well 
 
 as they can, but which has fcarce any Virtue when they hare 
 
 been kept there fome Months. 
 
 Add to this, that excepting Apples, which are excellent 
 
 here, and the fmall Summer Fruits which do not keep, the 
 Fruits of France have not fucceeded in Canada. Thefe, Ma- 
 dam, are the Difadvantages Vv.iich are caufed by the great Cold. 
 We are, notwithstanding, as near the Sun as they are in the 
 moft fouthern Provinces of France., and as we advance in the 
 Colony, we come nearer ftill. From whence can this different 
 Temperature of the Air proceed under the fame Parallels ? 
 This is what, in my Opinion, no Perfon has yet well ex- 
 plained. 
 
 The greateft Part of the Authors, who have treated on this 
 
 „ „ . , Matter, have fatisiied themfelves with fay- 
 
 r Reflexion on the . tha{ tMs , and feyere CoM eeds 
 
 Caujes of the great ^ ^ g^jj kying fo long Qn ^ 
 
 Cut Ground, that it is impoffible that the Ground 
 
 Ihould be well warmed again. But this Anfwer makes the 
 Difficulty ftill greater, for one may afk what is it that produces 
 this great Quantity of Snow, in Climates as hot as Langv.edoc, 
 and Presence, and in Parts that are much more diftantfrom any 
 Mountains. The Sieur Denys, whom I have cited feveral Times 
 before, afferts, that the Trees grow green before the Sun is 
 high enough above the Horizon to melt the Snow, and to warm 
 the Earth ; that may be true in Acadia, and on all the Sea 
 Coafls, but every where elfe it is certain that all the Snow is 
 melted in the thickeft Foreft before there is a Leaf upon the 
 Trees. This Author feems not to have any better Authority for 
 faying, that the Snow melts rather by the Heat of the Earth, 
 than that of the Air, and that it is always at the Bottom that it 
 begins to melt : For who can be perfuaded that the Earth, co- 
 vered with a frozen Water, fhould have more Heat than the 
 Air, which receives immediately the Heat of the Rays of the 
 Sun. Befides, it does not Anfwer the Queftion, what is the 
 Caufe of this Deluge of Snow, which overflows vail Countries 
 in the midft of the temperate Zone ? 
 
 There is no Doubt but that, generally fpeaking, the Moun- 
 tains, Woods, and Lakes, contribute much to it ; but it appears 
 to me, that we muft ftill feek for other Caufes. Father Jofeph 
 BreJ/ani, an Italian Jefuit, v«ho paft the beft Years of his Life in 
 Canada, has left us in his native Tongue, a Relation of New 
 France, in which he endeavours to clear up this Point of Phi- 
 lofophy. He cannot allow that we ihould attribute the Cold, 
 of which we feek the Caufe, to any of the Caufes I have jull 
 mentioned, <z/«. the Mountains, Woods, and Lakes, with which 
 
 this
 
 Travels in North America. 99 
 
 this Country abounds ; but he feems to go too far ; for there is 
 nothing to anfwer again ft Experience, which makes us fenfible of 
 the Abatement of the Cold, in Proporth n as the Country is clear- 
 ed of the Woods, altho' is not in fo great a Proportion as it 
 ought to be, if the Thicknefs of the Woods was the principal 
 Caufe of it. What he allows himfelf, that it is common to fee 
 a Froft in Summer after a very hot Day, appears to me a De- 
 monitration againft him ; for how ca» we explain this Phceno- 
 menon otherwife, than by faying that the Sun having opened 
 in the Day Time the Pores of the Earth, the Moifture that 
 was inclofed in it, and the nitrous Particles which the Snow left 
 in it in great Quantities, and the Heat which is continued 
 after the fetting of the Sun, in an Air fo fubtil as that we breathe 
 in this Country, form thefe little Frofls in the fame Manner as 
 we make Ice on the Fire : Now the Moifture of the Air is 
 evidently a great Part of the Caufe of the Cold ; and from 
 whence lhould this Moifture come in a Country where the Soil 
 is generally mixt with much Sand, if it was not from the 
 Lakes and the Rivers, from the Thicknefs of the Forefts, and 
 from Mountains covered with Snow, which in melting water 
 the Plains, and from Winds which carry the Exhalations every 
 where. 
 
 But if Father Brejfani was miftaken, as I think, from exclud- 
 ing all thefe Things from the Caufes of the exceffive Cold of 
 Canada, what he fubftitutes in Lieu thereof, feems to me to 
 contribute greatly towards it. There are, fays he, in the hot- 
 ted Climates, fome moift Lands, and there are fome very dry in 
 the coldeft Countries: But a certain Mixture of dry and moift 
 makes Ice and Snow, the Quantity of which make? the Excefs 
 and Duration of the Cold. Now if one was to travel but very 
 little in Canada, we mould perceive this Mixture in a very re- 
 markable Manner. It is without Contradiftion a Country 
 where there is the moil Water of any Country in the World, 
 and there are few, where the Soil is more mixt with Stones and 
 Sand, Add to this, it feldom rains here, and the Air is ex- 
 tremely pure and healthy ; a certain Proof of the natural Dry- 
 nefs of the Earth. In Fatt, Father Brejfani affirms, that during 
 fixteen Years that the Million fubfifted in the Country of the 
 Hurons, there lived there at the fame Time fixty Frenchmen, many 
 of whom were of a tender Conftitution ; that they all fared very 
 hardly in Point of Diet, and fuffered in other Refpe&s beyond 
 all Imagination, and that not one died. 
 
 In Fa£t, this prodigious Multitude of Rivers and Lakes, 
 
 which occupy as much Space in New France as half the Lands 
 
 n Europe, one would imagine lhould furnifh the Air with new 
 
 Vapours ; but, befides that the greateft Part of thefe Waters 
 
 O 2 are
 
 too An H ijl or ical Journal of 
 
 arevery clear, and on a fandy Bottom, their great and continual 
 Agitation blunt the Rays of the Sun, hinder it from railing many 
 Vapours, or caufes them to fall again in the Fogs ; for the 
 Winds excite upon thefe frefh Water Seas as frequent and as 
 violent Storms as upon the Ocean : And this alfo is the true 
 Reafon why it feldom rains at Sea. 
 
 The fecond Caufe of the exceffive Cold of Canada, according 
 to Father Breflani, is the Neighbourhood of the Northern Sea, 
 covered with mcnftrous Heaps of Ice above eight SVIonths in the 
 Year. You may here recoiled, Madam, what I faidin my iirft 
 Letter of the Cold we felt in the Dog Days, from the Neigh- 
 bourhood of a floating Ifland of Ice, or rather from the Wind 
 which blew upon us from the Side where it was, and which 
 ceafed the Moment it was under the Wind. It is moreover 
 certain, that is does not fnow here, but with a North Eaft Wind, 
 which comes from the Quarter where the Ice of the North lies ; 
 and though we do not feel fo great Cold while the Snow falls, 
 there is no Doubt but it contributes greatly to render fo piercing 
 the Weft and North Weft Winds, which come to us acrofs vaft 
 Countries, and a great Chain of Mountains which are covered 
 with Snow. 
 
 Laftly, if we take the Opinion of this Italian Mifllonary, the 
 Height of the Land is not the leaft Caufe of the Subtilty of the 
 Air which we breathe in this Country, and confequently of the 
 Severity of the Cold. Father Breffbmi takes great Fains to prove 
 this Elevation by the Depth of the Sea, which increafes, fays 
 he, in Proportion as we approach Canada, and by the Number 
 and Height of the Falls of the Rivers. But it feems to me that 
 the Depth of the Sea proves nothing at all, and that the Falls 
 of the River St. Laurence, and of fome Rivers in New France, 
 prove no more than the Catarafts of the Kile. On the other 
 Hand, we do not obferve that from Montreal, where the Falls 
 begin, down to the Sea, that the River St. Laurence is much 
 more rapid than fome of our Rivers in Europe. I think there- 
 fore, we muft keep to the Neighbourhood of the Ice of the 
 North, as the Caufe of the Cold, and that even in Spite of this 
 Neighbourhood, if Canada was as free from Woods, and as well 
 peopled as France, the Winters here would not be fo long and 
 fo fevere. But they would be always more fo than in France, 
 becaufe of the Serenity and Purity of the Air : For it is certain 
 that in Winter, all other Things being equal, the Froft is 
 keener when the Sky is clear, and the Sun hasrarified the Air. 
 When the Winter is paft, Filhing, Shooting, and Hunting, 
 Cifth F iF'ih abundantly fupplies thofe with Provifions 
 * 'J who take the Pains for it : Befides the Fifli 
 
 ™' and Wild Fowl, which I have already men- 
 
 tioned, the River St. Laurence and the Foreft, furniih the Inha- 
 bitants
 
 Travels in North America ioi 
 
 bitaats with two Sorts of Manna, as we may call it, which arc 
 a great Support to them. From Qtebcc to Trots Rivieres, they 
 take in the River a prodigious Quantity of great Eels, which 
 come down, a^ they fay, horn Lake Ontario, where they 
 are bred in (bine Marllies, on the Side of the Lake ; but as they 
 meet, as I before remarked, with white Porpoifes, which chafe 
 them, the greater* Part drive to return again, and this is the 
 Reafou they take fuch a great Number. They fjfh for them in 
 this Manner : L T pon a Part of the Shore which is covered at 
 high Water, and which is left dry when the Tide falls, they 
 pk.ee Boxes at certain Diitances, and fix them againft a Fence 
 of Ozier Hurdles, which leaves no Paffage open for the Eels. 
 Large Nets, or Bafkets of the fame Matter, are fixed by the nar- 
 rower! End into thefe Boxes and the other End, which is very 
 wide, lies againft the Hurdles, upon which they place at Inter- 
 vals feme Bunches of Greens. When ail is covered with the 
 Tide, the Eels, which always run to the Side, and which are en- 
 ticed by the Greens, come in great Numbers along this Fence, 
 and enter into the Bafkets, which conduct them to the Prifons 
 prepared for them. And often in one Tide the Boxes are 
 filled. 
 
 Thefe Eels are bigger than our's, and yield a great deal of 
 Oil. I have already obferved, that with whatfoever Sauce they 
 are eaten, they always retain a rank Taite, to which we can- 
 not reconcile ourfelves but with Difficulty : Perhaps this is the 
 Fault of our Cooks. Their Bones all terminate in a Point a 
 little bent, which I do not remember to have feen in thofe of 
 France. The belt; Method of drefiing this Fifh is to hang it up 
 in the Chimney, and there let it roalt flowly in its Skin : This 
 Skin comes off of itfelf, and all the Oil runs out. As they pro- 
 vide great Store of them during the three Months that the 
 Fiihery laits, they fait them, and put them in Barrels like Her- 
 rings. The other Manna I fpoke of, is a Kind of Wood-Pi- 
 geons, which come here in the Months of May and June. It 
 is faid that formerly they darkened the Air by their Multitudes, 
 but it is not the fame now. Neverthelefs, there (till comes into 
 the Neighbourhood of the Towns a pretty large Number to reit 
 upon the Trees. They commonly call them Tourtes, and they 
 differ in Fact from Wood-Pigeons, Turtles, and the common 
 Pigeons of Europe, enough to make a fourth Species. They 
 are fmaller than our largert Pigeons of Europe ; but have their 
 Eyes, and the like Clouds of their Neck. Their Plumace is of a 
 dark brown, except their Wings, where they have fome Feathers 
 of a very fine blue. i 
 
 One would think that thefe Birds fought to be killed, for if 
 there is any dry Branch on a Tree, they chufe that to perch 
 
 upon ;
 
 The happy Con- 
 dition of the Inha- 
 t ants of Canada. 
 
 102 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 upon ; and they range themfelves in fuch a Manner, that the 
 \vorft Markfman may knock down fix at leaft with one Shot. 
 They have alfo found a Way to take many alive, and they feed 
 them till the firft Froft ; then they kill them, and lay them up in 
 their Store-Rooms, where they keep all the Winter. 
 
 It follows from hence, Madam, that every one here has the Ne- 
 ceifaries of Life : They pay little to the King; 
 the Inhabitant knows neither Land-Tax nor 
 Poll-Money ; he has Bread cheap ; Meat and 
 Fifh are not dear; but Wine and Stuffs, and 
 every Thing they have from France, is very dear. The moft to 
 be pitied are the Gentlemen and Officers here, who have only 
 their Salaries, and are burthened with Families : The Women 
 feldom bring any other Portions to their Huibands than much 
 Wit, Love, Agreeablenefs, and Fruitfulnefs. But as God gives 
 to the Marriages of this Country the Bleffing which he gave to 
 the Patriarchs, they ought alfo, in order to fubfift fuch numerous 
 Families, to live like the Patriarchs ; but thofe Times are paft. 
 In New France there are more Gentlemen than in all the reft of 
 our Colonies together. The King maintains here twenty-eight 
 Companies of Marines, and three Etats Majors. Many Families 
 have been enobled here, and there have remained here feveral 
 Officers of the Regiment of Car ignan-S 'aliens, which have peopled 
 the Country with Gentlemen, the greateft Part of which find it 
 hard to live. It would be harder with them ftill, if they were 
 not allowed to trade, and if every one here had not a common 
 Right to fifh, fhoot, and hunt. 
 
 After all, if they fuffer Want, they are a little to blame them- 
 felves. The Land is good almoft every 
 where, and Agriculture does not degrade a 
 Gentleman. How many Gentlemen in all 
 the Provinces of France would envy the com- 
 mon Inhabitants of Canada if they knew it ; and thofe who 
 sanguifh here in a fliameful Indigence, can they be excufed for 
 net embracing a Profeflion, which the fole Corruption of Man- 
 ners and weak Maxims have degraded from its antient Ho- 
 nour ? We do not know in the World a Country more healthy 
 than this : There prevails here no particular Difeafe ; the Fields 
 and Woods are full of Herbs of wonderful Virtue, and the 
 Trees diftill moft excellent Balfams. Thefe Advantages ought 
 at leaft to keep thofe in this Country who are born here; but 
 Fkklenefs, and Averfion to diligent and regular Labour, and 
 a Spirit of Independency, have driven out a great Num- 
 ber of young People, and have hindered the Colony from being 
 peopled, 
 
 Thefe, 
 
 Many know not 
 hew to make Ad- 
 vantage of this.
 
 \i fe, Madam, are the Failings of which they accufe, with the 
 r> j j l v t&o& Foundation, the French of Canada 1 , The 
 
 irood and bad §av ; Uive alfo thefaine . one wou ld think 
 
 palates of the ^^ the ^ whkh th breathe in this vaii 
 Creoles of cana- Contin(J|nt contr {butes to it ; but the Exam- 
 ple and Company of the natural Inhabitants, 
 who place all their Happintfs in Liberty and Independence, are 
 more than fufficient to form this Character. They accufe alfo 
 our Creoles of being very greedy, and of heaping up Riches, and 
 truly for this Purpofe, they perform Things one would not 
 believe without feeing : The Journies they undertake, the Fa- 
 tigues theyendure, the Dangers they expofe themfelves to, the Ef- 
 forts they make, exceed all Imagination. There are, notwithstand- 
 ing, few Men lefs covetous, who diffipate more cafily what has 
 coll them fo much Pains to acquire, and who ihew lefs Concern 
 for having loll it. And there is no Room to doubt, but that 
 they generally undertake thefe painful and dangerous Journies 
 through Inclination. They love to breathe an open Air, they 
 are accuitomed betimes to live a roving Life ; it has Charms 
 for them that makes them forget the pail Dangers and Fatigues; 
 and they pride themfelves in braving them anew. They have 
 much Wit, (efpecially the Women, whofe Wit is brilliant and 
 eafy). They are faithful in Expedients, bald, and capable of 
 conducting Affairs of the greatett Moment. You have known, 
 Madam, more than one of this Character, and you have often 
 exprelfed to me your Surprize at it. I do allure you, that 
 the greateft Part here are fuch ; and they are the fame in all 
 Ranks. 
 
 I know not whether I mould place among the Failings of 
 
 the Canadians, the good Opinion they have of themfelves. It 
 
 is certain at leaft that it infpires them with a Confidence that 
 
 makes them undertake and execute what would feem impoffible 
 
 to many others. We mult allow, on the other Hand, that they 
 
 have excellent Qualities. They are of a good Stature, and well 
 
 fhaped in Body. Their Strength of Conltitution is not always 
 
 anfwerable thereto ; and if the Canadians live long, they are old 
 
 and worn out betimes. This is not entirely their own Fault, it 
 
 is partly that of their Parents, who for the molt Part do not 
 
 watch enough over their Children to hinder them from ruining 
 
 their Health in an Age, in which, when it is ruined, there is no 
 
 Refource. Their Agility and Dexterity are without equal ; 
 
 the molt fkilful Savages do not guide their Canoes better in 
 
 the molt dangerous Torrents', and are not better Markfmen. 
 
 Many People arc perfuaded that they are not fit for the 
 Sciences, which require much Application, and a Courfe of 
 Study. I cannot fay whether this Prejudice is well or ill 
 
 o founded,
 
 xo4 -rfn Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 founded, for we have had no Canadian yet who has undertaken 
 to confute it. Perhaps they are lb only from the loofe diffipat- 
 ed Way they are brought up in. But every one muft acknow- 
 ledge, that they have a wonderful Genius for Mechanics : They 
 have fcarce any Need of Matters to exxel in them, and we {^c 
 every Day fome who fucccjd in all Trades without having 
 ferved an Apprenticefhip. borne charge them with Ingra- 
 titude, yet they have appeared to me to have Hearts good 
 enough, but their natural Levity often hinders them from con- 
 iidering the Duties that Gratitude requires. It is faid they 
 make bad Valets; this is becaufe they are too high fpirited, and 
 love their Liberty too much to fubmit to Servitude. On the other 
 Hand, they are very good Mailers. This is quite contrary to 
 what is faid of thole from whom the greatefl Part take their 
 Origin. They would be perfect Men, if with their own good 
 Qualities, they had preferved thofe of their Anceftors. Some 
 have complained that they are inconftant Friends : This is far 
 from being generally true, and in thofe who have given Room 
 for this Complaint, this proceeds from their not being ufed to 
 any Reilraint, even in their own Affairs. If they are not eafy 
 to be difciplined, this comes from the fame Principle ; or be- 
 caufe they have a Difcipline of their own, which they think 
 the properefl to make War with the Savages, in which they 
 are not altogether in the wrong. On the other Hand, they feem 
 not to be Mailers of a certain Impetuofity, which makes them 
 fitter for a Coup de Main, or a fudden Expedition, than for the 
 regular and fettled Operations of a Campaign. It has alfo been 
 remarked, that amongfl a great Number of brave Men, who 
 have diilinguifhed themfeives in the late Wars, there have been, 
 few found who had Talents to command. This was perhaps, 
 becaufe they had not fufficiently learnt how to obey. It is true 
 that when they are well headed, there is nothing they cannot 
 accomplifh, either by Land or Sea ; but for this End, they mull 
 have a great Opinion of their Commander. The late M. 
 a" Iberville, who had all the good Qualities of his Country, 
 without any of its Defects, would have led them to the End of 
 the World. 
 
 There is one Thing upon which it is not eafy to excufe them, 
 which is, the little Pvegard they have for their Parents ; who 
 on their Side, have a Tendernefs for them that is not juflifiable. 
 The Savages fall into the fame Error, and it produces amongll 
 them the fame Effects. But what above all Things ihould make 
 us value our Creoles is, that they have a great deal of Piety and 
 Religion, and that nothing is wanting in their Education on 
 this Point. It is alfo true, that out of their own Country they 
 retain fcarce any of their Faults. As with this, they are ex- 
 tremely
 
 Travels in North America. 105 
 
 trcmely brave and dexterous, they might be rendered very fer- 
 viceable for War, for the Sea, and for trie Arts ; and I believe it 
 would be for the Good of the State to promote their Increafe 
 
 moro than has hitherto been done. Men are the principal 
 
 Riches of a Sovereign ; and Canada, though it could be of no 
 other Ufe to France, out for this Purpofe, would ftill be, if it was 
 well peopled, one of the moll important of our Colonies. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 LETTER X; 
 
 Of the Iroquois Village. Of the Fall of St. Louis ; and of the 
 
 different People -zuho inhabit Canada. 
 
 Madam, Fall of St. Louis, May 21. 
 
 TH I S Village was at firft placed by St. Magdalen's Mea- 
 dow, about a League lower than the Fall of St. Louis, to- 
 wards the South. The Lands not being found fit for producing 
 Maiz, it was removed over-againft the Fall itfelf, from whence 
 it took the Name it ftill bears, though it has been removed again 
 a few Years ago a League ftill higher. I have already faid that 
 its Situation is charming, that the Church and the Houfe of the 
 Miffionaries are two of the fineft Buildings in the Country ; 
 from which we may conclude, that effectual Meafures have been 
 taken not to be obliged to make more Removals. I reckoned, 
 when I came here, to go away immediately after the Eafier Ho- 
 lidays ; but nothing is more fubjed to Difappointments of all 
 Kinds, than thefe Sort of Journies. I am yet uncertain of the 
 Day of my Departure ; and as we muft make Advantage of 
 every Thing, when we make fuch Excurfions as mine, I have 
 endeavoured to make Ufe of this Delay : I have paffed the 
 Time in converfing with fome antient Miffionaries, who have 
 lived a long Time with the Savages, and have had from them 
 many P*articulars concerning various People who inhabit this 
 vaft Continent ; which, Madam, I fhall now communicate to 
 you. 
 
 The firft Land of America that we meet with coming from 
 
 r.. , T , ,. France to Canada, is the Ifland of Ncwfound- 
 Of thelnhabi- w> Qne of ^ {v ft that we know> It 
 
 tants of New- could neyer be knQV/n for Certainty, whe- 
 ioundland. ther . { haJ any Native Inhabitants : Its Bar- 
 
 rennefs, fuppofing it every where 'as real as it is thought to be, 
 is not a fufticient Proof that it has had no Native Inhabitants ; 
 
 p for
 
 io6 . An Hijl or teal Journal of 
 
 for Filhing and Hunting is fufficient to maintain Savages. This 
 is certain, that here was never feen any but EJkimaux, who are 
 not Natives of this Country. Their real Country is Labrador, 
 or Neav Britain : It is there . t leaft that they pafs the greateft 
 Part of the Year ; for it would be prophaning the Name of Na- 
 tive Country, to apply it to wandering Barbarians, who having 
 no Affettion for any Country, travel over a vaft Extent of 
 Land. In Fatt, befides the Coafts of Newfoundland, which the 
 EJkimaux range over in the Summer, in all the vaft Continent 
 which is between the River St. Laurence and Canada, and the 
 North Sea, there has never been feen any other People than the 
 EJkimaux : They have been met with alfo a good Way up the 
 River Bourbon, which runs into Hudjon's Bay, coming from the 
 Weft. 
 
 The original Name of thefe People is not certain ; however, 
 it is very probable that it comes from the Abenaqui Word Efqui- 
 mantfec, which fignifies an Eater of ravj Flejh. — The EJkimaux are 
 in Faft the only Savages known that eat raw Flefh, though they 
 have alfo the Cuftom of dreffing it, or drying it in the Sun : It 
 is alfo certain, that of all the People known in America, there are 
 none who come nearer than thefe to compleat the firft Idea 
 which Europeans had of Savages. They are almoft the only 
 People where the Men have any Beard ; and they have it fo 
 thick up to their Eyes, that it is difficult to diftinguiftj any Fea- 
 tures of the Face : They have befides fomething hideous in their 
 Look : Little Eyes, looking wild ; large Teeth, and very foul : 
 Their Hair is commonly black, but fometimes light, much in 
 Diforder, and their whole outward Appearance very rough. 
 Their Manners and their Character do not difagree with their 
 ill Look : They are fierce, furly, miftruftful, and uneafy, always 
 inclined to do an Injury to Strangers, who ought therefore to be 
 upon their Guard againft them. As to their Wit and Under- 
 Handing, we have had fo little Commerce with this People, that 
 we can fay nothing concerning them ; but they are however 
 cunning enough to do Mifchief. They have often been feen 
 to go in the Night to cut the Cables of Ships that were at An- 
 chor, that they might be wrecked upon the Coaft ; and they 
 make no Scruple of attacking them openly in the Day, when 
 they know they are weakly mann'd. It was never poffible to 
 render them more tradable ; and we cannot yet treat with 
 them, but at the End of a long Pole. They not only refufe to 
 approach the Europeans, but they will eat nothing that comes 
 from them ; and in all Things, they take on their Part fuch 
 Precaution, asfhews'a great Diffidence, which gives Room to 
 miftruft reciprocally every Thing that comes from them. They 
 are tall, and pretty well fhaped : Their Skin is as white as Snow, 
 
 which
 
 Travels in North America. 107 
 
 which proceeds without Doubt from their never going naked in 
 the hotteft Weather. Their Hair, their Beards, the Whitenefs 
 of their Skin, the little Refemblance and Commerce they have 
 with their neareft Neighbours, leaves no Room to doubt that they 
 have a different Origin from other Americans : But the Opinion 
 which makes them defcended from the Bifcayyiers, feems to me 
 to have little Foundation, elpecially if it is true, as I have been 
 affured, that their Language is entirely different. For the reft, 
 their Alliance would do no great Honour to any Nation ; for if 
 there was no Country on the Face of the Earth lefs fit to be inha- 
 bited by Men than Newfoundland and Labrador, there is perhaps 
 no People which deferve more to be confined here than the EJki- 
 tnaux. For my Part, I am perfuaded they came originally from 
 Greenland. 
 
 Thefe Savages are covered in fuch a Manner, that you can 
 hardly fee any Part of their Face, or the Ends of their Fingers. 
 Upon a Kind of Shirt made of Bladders, or the Guts of Fifh 
 cut in Slips, and pretty well fewed together, they have a Coat 
 made of Bear or Deer Skins, and fometimesof Birds Skins. A 
 Capuchin of the fame Stuff, arid which is faftened to it, covers 
 their Head ; on the Top of which there comes out a Tuft of 
 Hair, which hangs over their Forehead : The Shirt comes no 
 lower than their Waift; their Coat hangs behind down to their 
 Thighs, and terminates before in a Point fomething below the 
 Waift ; but the Women wear them both before and behind, to 
 the Middle of the Leg, and bound with a Girdle, from which 
 hang little Bones. The Men have Breeches of Skins, with the 
 Hair inwards, and which are covered on the Outfide with the 
 Skins of Ermine, or fuch-like : They wear alfo Socks, with the 
 Hair inwards, and over this a Boot, furred in like Manner on the 
 Infide ; then a fecond Sock and fecond Boots : And they fay 
 that thefe Coverings for the Feet are fometimes three or four- 
 fold ; which does not, however, hinder thefe Savages from be- 
 ing very nimble. Their Arrows, which are the only Arms they 
 ufe, are armed with Points made of the Teeth of the Sea-Cow, 
 and they fometimes make them of Iron, when they can get it. 
 Jt appears that in Summer they keep in the open Air Night and 
 Day, but in the Winter they lodge under Ground in a Sort of 
 Cave, where they all lie one upon another. 
 
 We are little acquainted with the other People which are in 
 
 nr f u d */ r the Environs, and above Hudfon's Bay. In 
 (J/ the People of , u T , .. r «• r> , J 
 
 Port ■ Nelfon Southern Part of this Bay, they trade 
 
 with the MiJlaJJhis, the Monfonis, the Crijlinaux, 
 and the AJJiniboils. Thefe laft came here from a great Diftance, 
 fince they inhabit the Borders of a Lake which is to the North 
 or the North Weft of the Sioux, and their Language is a Dialed 
 
 Pa of
 
 io8 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 of the Sioux. The other three ufe the Algonquin Language. 
 |The Qriftinaux, ox Killijiinons, come from the North of the upper 
 Lake. The Savages of the River Bourbon (a), and the River 
 SitinteT'bcrefe, have a Language entirely different from either : It 
 is probable they are more acquainted with the EJkiraaux Lan- 
 guage. It isobferved, that they are extremely fuperftitious, and 
 offer fome Sort of Sacrifices. Thofe who are the mod ac- 
 quainted with them affirm, that they have, like thofe of Canada, 
 a Notion of a good and evil Spirit ; that the Sun is their great 
 Deity ; and that when they deliberate on an important Affair, 
 they make him as it were fmoke ; which they perform in this 
 Manner : They affemble at Day-break in a Cabin of one of 
 their Chiefs ; who, after having lighted his Pipe, prefents it 
 three Times to the rifing Sun ; then he guides it with both 
 Hands from the Eaft to the Weft, praying the Sun to favour the 
 Nation. This being done, all the Aflembly fmoke in the fame 
 Pipe. All thefe Savages, though they are of five or fix different 
 Nations, are known in the French Relations by the Name of the 
 Savenois, becaufe the Country where they inhabit is low, marfliy, 
 poorly wooded, and becaufe in Canada they call Savancs (b) thofe 
 wet Lands which are good for nothing. 
 
 Going to the North of the Bay, we find two Rivers ; the firft 
 of which is called the Danes River, and the fecond the River of 
 Seals. There are fome Savages en the Sides of thefe Rivers, to 
 whom they have given .(I know not why) the Name, or rather 
 the Nick-Name, of the flat Sides of Dogs. They are often at 
 War againft the Scvanois, but neither one nor the other treat 
 their Prifoners with that Barbarity which is ufual amongft the 
 Canadians ; they only keep them in Slavery. The Savanois are 
 often reduced by Want to ftrange Extremities : Either through 
 Idlenefs on their Part, or that their Land produces nothing at 
 all, they find themfelves, when the Chace and the Fifhery fail, 
 without any Prcvifions ; and then it is faid, they make no Diffi- 
 culty to eat one another : The Weakeft, no Doubt, go firft. It 
 is alfo faid, that it is a Cuftom amongft them, that when a Man 
 is arrived to an Age in which he can be of no longer Service to 
 his Family, but on the contrary a Burden to it, he puts a Cord 
 himfelf about his Neck, and prefents the two Ends of it to him 
 of his Sons whom he is moil fond of, who ftrangles him as foon 
 as he can : He even thinks that in this he does a good A&ion, 
 
 (a) They fay that when they have gone one hundred Leagues up this Ri- 
 ver, it is no longer navigable for fifty Leagues, and that afterwards it runs 
 in the midft of a very fine Country, and this lafts to the Lake of the Ajfm'.- 
 bolh, where it rifes. 
 
 (h) The EngHJb call them S-wsmbu 
 
 not
 
 Travels in North America. 109 
 
 not only becaufe he puts an End to the Sufferings of his Father* 
 hut alfo becaufe he is periuaded he hallcns his Happinefs ; for 
 thefe Savages imagine that a Man who dies in old Age, is born 
 again in the other World at the Age of a fucking Child ; and 
 that on the contrary, thofe who die young, are old when they 
 come into the Country of Souls. The Daughters of thefe Peo- 
 ple never marry, but with the Confent of their Parents, and the 
 Son-in-Law is obliged to live with his Father-in-Law, and be 
 fubjeftto him in every Thing, till he has Children. The Sons 
 leave their Father's Houfe early. Thefe Savages burn their 
 Dead, and wrap up their Alhes in the Bark of a Tree, which 
 they bury in the Earth : Then they raife over the Grave a Kind 
 of Monument with Poles, to which they fallen Tobacco, that the 
 Deceafed may have wherewith to fmoke in the other World. l£ 
 he was a Hunter, they hang up alfo his Bow and Arrows. Tho' 
 the Mothers weep for their Children twenty Days, the Fathers 
 receive Prefents, and in Return make a Feaft. War is much 
 lefs honourable amongll them than the Chace ; but to be 
 efteemed a good Hunter, they muft fall three Days together 
 without taking the leafl Nourilhment, having their Faces 
 fmeared with Black all this Time. When the Fail is over, the 
 Candidate facrifices to the Great Sprit a Piece of each of the 
 Beafts he hath been wont to hunt ; this is commonly the Tongue 
 and the Muzzle, which at other Times is the Hunter's Share : 
 His Family or Relations don't touch it ; and they would even 
 fooner die with Hunger than eat any of it, it being appropri- 
 ated to the Hunter to feaft his Friends and Strangers with. As 
 to the reft, they fay that thefe Savages are perfectly difinterefted, 
 and are of moil inviolable Fidelity ; that they cannot bear a 
 Lye, and look upon all Deceit with Horror. 
 
 This is, Madam, all that I could learn of thefe Northern Peo- 
 ple, with whom we never had a fettled Intercourfe, and whom 
 
 we never faw but en paJJ'ant. Let us come to thofe we are 
 
 better acquainted with. — One may divide them into three ClafTes, 
 diftinguilhed by their Language, and their particular Genius. 
 
 In that Extent of Country which is commonly called AVw 
 
 <r , v France, which has no Bounds to the North., 
 
 Ihetxtent of ^ Qn thg side of Hudjin > f £av> which was 
 
 Newt ranee. difmembered from it by the Treaty of Utrecht, 
 
 which has no other on the Eaft but the Sea, the Englijh Colonies 
 on the South, Lot 'tana to the South-Eaft, and the Spanijh Ter- 
 ritories to the Weft : In this Extent of Country, there are but 
 three Mother Tongues, from which all the others are derived : 
 Thefe are the Sioux, the Algonquin, and the Huron. We know 
 but little of the People that fpeak the firft of thefe Languages, 
 and no Body knows how far it extends. We have hitherto had 
 
 no
 
 no An Hijicrical Journal of 
 
 no Commerce but with the Sioux and the Ajfmiboils, and this has 
 not been greatly followed. 
 
 Our Milhonaries have endeavoured to make a Settlement 
 , „. among the Sioux; and I knew one who greatly 
 
 Vf the bioux. regretted t b at he had not fucceeded, or ra- 
 ther, that had not remained longer among thefe People, who 
 appeared to him docible. There are none perhaps from whom we 
 may gain more Information concerning all that is to the North 
 Weft of the MiJiJJippi, as they have an Intercourfe with all the 
 Nations of thefe vaft Countries. They dwell commonly in 
 Meadows, under Tents made of Skins, and well wrought : 
 They live on wild Oats, which grow in Abundance in their 
 Marfhes and Rivers, and by hunting, efpecially of the Buffa- 
 loes that are covered with Wool, and which are in Herds of 
 Thoufands in their Meadows : They have no fixed Abode, but 
 travel in great Companies like the Tartars, and never ftay in one 
 Place any longer than the Chace detains them. 
 
 Our Geographers difHnguifh this Nation into wandering Si- 
 c/.'.r, and Siozix of the Meadows, into Sioux of the Eaft, and Sioux of 
 the Weft. Thefe Divifions don't appear to me to be well ground- 
 ed : All the Sioux live after the fame Manner ; whence it hap- 
 pens that a Village which was laft Year on the Eaft Side of the 
 Mijfijfppi, (hail next Year be on the Weft Side ; and that thofe 
 who were at one Time by the River St. Pierre, are perhaps now 
 far enough from it in fome Meadow. The Name of Sioux, 
 which we have given to thefe Savages, is entirely our own mak- 
 ing, or rather is the two laft Syllables of NadoueJJioux, as they are 
 called by many Nations : Others call them Nadou:]Jis. They 
 are the moil numerous People we know in Canada : They were 
 peaceable enough, and little ufed to War, before the Huron and 
 Oiitaouais took Re tugcin their Country, flying from the Fury of 
 the Iroquois. They derided their Simplicity, and made them 
 Warriors to their own Coil. 
 
 The Sioux have feveral Wives, and they feverely punilh thofe 
 that fail of Conjugal Fidelity. They cut off the End of their 
 Nofes, and cut a Circle in a Part of the Skin on the Top of their 
 Head, and pull it off. I have feen fome People who are per- 
 fuaded that thefe Savages had a Cbinefe Accent : It would no* 
 be difficult to know the Truth of this, nor to know if their 
 Language has any Affinity with the Cbinefe. 
 
 Thofe who have been amongft the Ajfmiboils fay, that they are 
 
 Of t) A <T ' ta ^' ^ ve ^ ma( ^ e ' ftrong, nimble, inured to the 
 , •/ Cold and all Manner of Fatigues ; that they 
 
 prick themfelves all over the Body, and mark 
 out Figures of Serpents, or other Animals, and that they under- 
 take very long journies. There is nothing in this that diftin- 
 
 guilhes
 
 Travels in North America. 1 1 1 
 
 guifhes them much from the other Savages of this Continent, 
 whom we know ; but what is particular in their Charaftcr is, 
 that they have a great deal of Gravity ; at lead they appear fo, 
 in Comparifon of the Criftmaux, with whom they have fome In- 
 tercourfe. The Criftinaux are in Fact of an extraordinary Vi- 
 vacity ; they are always finging and dancing ; and they fpeak 
 with fuch a Volubility and Precipitation, that has never been 
 obferved of any other Savages. 
 
 The Native Country of the Afp.'iiboils is about a Lake which 
 , . ' bears their Name, and which is little known. 
 
 / (a ■ -i i ^ A Frenchman whom I have feen at Montreal, 
 the Amniboils. affured me he had been there) but that he had 
 
 feen it as they fee the Sea in a Port and en pajfant. The com- 
 mon Opinion is, that this Lake is fix hundred Leagues m Com- 
 pafs, that we cannot go to it but by Ways which are almoft im- 
 pafiable, that all the Borders of it are charming, that the Air 
 here is very temperate, though they place it to the North Weft 
 of the upper Lake, where die Cold is extreme, and that it con- 
 tains fuch a Number of Ifknds, that they call it in thefe Parts 
 the Lake of Ifiands. Some Savage* call it Michimpi, which figm* 
 fies the Great Water ; and it feems in Fact to be the Source of 
 the greateft Rivers and all the great Lakes of North America : 
 For by feveral Evidences, they make the River Bourbon to rife 
 out of it, which runs into Hud/on's Bay ; the River St. Laurence, 
 which carries its Waters to the Ocean ; the Mijfijjjppi, which dis- 
 charges itfelf into the Gulph of Mexico; the MeJfottrt\ which 
 mingles with the Iaft ; and which, to the Place where they join, 
 is in no Reipeft inferior to it ; and a fifth which runs, as they 
 fay, to the Weft, and which of Courfe mult go into the South 
 Sea. It is a great Lofs that this Lake was not known to the 
 Learned, who have fought every where for the terreftial Paradife. 
 It would have been at leaft as well placed here as in Scandinaria. 
 But I do not warrant, Madam, all thefe Facts for Truth, which 
 are only founded upon the Reports of Travellers ; ranch lefs 
 what fome Savages have reported, vix. that about the Lake of 
 the AJfiniboih there are Men like the Europeans , and who are 
 fettled in a Country where Gold and Silver is fo plenty, that it 
 ferves for the mo ft common Ufes. 
 
 Father Marquette, who difcovered the MiJJijJtppi in 1673, fays in 
 his Relation, that fome Savages not only fpoke to him of the Ri- 
 ver, which taking its Rife from this Lake, runs to the Weft, but 
 that they alfo added, that they hadfeen great Ships in its Mouth. 
 It appears in the old Maps under the Name of Poualaks, and of 
 whom fame Relations fay that their Country is the Boundary to 
 that of the Cri/hnaux-, or Killiiiinons. 
 
 The
 
 112 An Hifioricai Journal of 
 
 The Algonquin and Huron Languages have between them almoit 
 , . all the Savage Nations of Canada that we 
 
 Of the Peopk are ac ainted with . Whoever mould well 
 of the Algonquin underftand bot h, might travel without an In- 
 Language. terpreter above one thoufand five hundred 
 
 Leagues of Country, and make himfelf underftood by one hun- 
 dred different Nations, who have each their peculiar Tongue. 
 The Algonquin efpecially has a vaft Extent : It begins at Acadix 
 and the Gulf of St. Laurence, and takes a Compafs of twelve 
 hundred Leagues, twining from the South Eaft by the North to 
 the South Weft. They fay alio, that the Wolf Nation, or the 
 Mahingans, and the greatefl Part of the Indians of New England 
 and Virginia, {peak Algonquin Diale&s. 
 
 The Algonquin*, or Cam has, who are Neighbours to New Eng- 
 . , land, have for their neareft Neighbours the 
 
 Of the A ben a- Etechemin ^ or Malecites, about the River Pen- 
 quis Nations, and f . and more tQ the Eaft are the Micmaht 
 
 toe lower Algon- * Souriquoht ' w hofe proper or Native Country 
 < l uins ' is Acadia, the Continuance of the Coaft of 
 
 the Gulf of St. Laurence, up to Gafpe, (from whence one Writer 
 calls them Gafpefeans) and the neighbouring Hands. In going 
 up the River St. Laurence, we meet with at prefent no Savage 
 Nation, till we come to Saguenay. Neverthelefs, when Canada 
 was firft difcovered, and many Years afterwards, they reckoned 
 in this Space many Nations, which fpread themfelves in the 
 Tfland Anticofte, towards the Hills of Notre-dame, and along the 
 North Side of the River. Thofe which the antient Relations 
 fpeak moil of, are the Berfa?nites, the Papinachois, and the Mon- 
 tagne-z. They call them alfo (efpecially the laft) the lower Al- 
 gonquin*, becaufe they inhabited the lower Part of the River 
 with Re{pe£tto&ue6ec But the greater!: Part of the others are 
 reduced to fome Families, which we meet with fometimes in one 
 Place, and fometimes in another. 
 
 There were fome Savages who came down into the Colony 
 _ from the North, fometimes by Saguenay, and 
 
 Of the Savages oftener by Troh Ritv ieres, of whom we have 
 cf the North. heard nothing for a long T } me . T h ere were 
 
 amongft others the Altika?neques : Thefe Savages came from far, 
 and their Country was furrounded by many other Nations, who 
 extended themfelves about the Lake St. John, and to the Lakes 
 of the Mijlafpns and Ncmifeau. They have been almoft all de- 
 ftroyed by the Sword of the Iroquois, or by Diflempers that were 
 the Confeauence of the Sufferings to which the Fear of thefe 
 Barbarians reduced them. This is a great Lofs : They had no 
 Vices ; they were of a very mild Difpofition, eafily converted, 
 and very affeclionate to the French. 
 
 Between
 
 
 Travels in North \ America. * 113 
 
 tw'oen Queicc and M '. towards Trsis Rivieres, we met:; 
 
 llil! with foTaeJlgoncptiHS,h\\l who Jo not make a Village, and who 
 
 trade with the French. At our firlt Arrival here, this Nation oc-, 
 
 cupied all the Northern Side of the River from Qytbtt (where 
 
 IVL dt Champlain found them fettled, and made an Alliance with 
 
 them) up to the Lake St. Pierre. 
 
 From the Ifle of Montreal, going towards the North, we meet 
 
 , ., with fome Villages of NipiJJings, of Temif- 
 
 Uf fife Algon- cam - of Tetes de BouleSi (Round Heads) f 
 
 quins, the Uuta- ^ .^^ and of Qutmuais (a)% The fi r ft arc 
 ouais, and ot.:er fhe trug j[ uins> and who have a i one pre - 
 bigber Algon- ferved the A j„ onquin Language, without any 
 ( l uins ' Alteration : They have given their Name to 
 
 a little Lake fttuated between Lake Huron and the River of the 
 Outaouais. The Tcmifcamings occupy the Borders of another 
 little Lake, which bears their Name, and which appears to be 
 the real Source of the River Outaouais. The Round Heads are 
 not far oft" : Their Name comes from the Shape of their Heads : 
 They think a round Head to be a great Beauty ; and it is very- 
 probable that the Mothers give this Shape to the Heads of their 
 Children in their Infancy. The Amikoues, which they call alfo 
 the Nation of the Beavers, are reduced almoft to nothing : The 
 Remains of them are found in the Illand Manitoualin, which is 
 in the Lake Huron, towards the North. The Outaouais, for- 
 merly very numerous, were fettled on the Borders of the great 
 River which bears their Name, and of which they pretended to 
 be Lords. I know but of three Villages of this Nation, and 
 thofe but thinly peopled, which I lhall fpeak of hereafter. 
 
 Between Lake Huron and the upper Lake in the Streight it - 
 ielf, by which the fecond flows into the flrft, is a Torrent, or Fall, 
 which' is called Saulte Sainte Marie, (the Fall St. Mary.) Its En- 
 virons were formerly inhabited by Savages who came from the 
 South Side of the upper Lake, whom they call Saulteurs ; that 
 js to say, the Inhabitants of the Fall. They have probably given 
 them this Name, to fave the Trouble of pronouncing their true 
 Name ; which it is not pothole to do, without taking Breath 
 two or three Times (b). There is no Nation fettled (at leaft 
 that I know of) on the Borders of the upper Lake ; but in the 
 Pofts which we poflefs there, we trade with the Criftinaux, who 
 come here from the North Eaft, and who belong to the Algonquin 
 Tongue, and with the AJJiniboils, who are to the North Weft. 
 
 fij Many write and pronounce Outaouais. 
 r h) Pautirigouc'ioubak. 
 
 <£, The
 
 114 An Hijiorkal Journal of 
 
 The Lake Michigan, which is almoft parallel with Lake ffte« 
 n _ , „ ran, into which it difcharges itfelf, and which 
 
 Vf the route- - s (- e p arate( j f rom lt b u t by a Peninfula one 
 ouatamis, and hundred Leagues long, which grows nar- 
 other Savages of rQwer continual i y towards t he North, has few 
 the tsay. Inhabitants on its Banks. I do not know 
 
 even that any Nation was ever fettled here, and it is without any 
 Foundation called in many Maps the Lake of the Ilinois. In 
 going up the River St. Jofeph, which runs into it, we find two 
 Villages of different Nations, which came from other Parts not 
 long fince. This Lake has on the Weft Side a great Bay, which 
 extends twenty-eight Leagues to the South, and which is called 
 the Bay des Puans, or fimply, the Bay. Its Entrance is very wide, 
 and full of Iflands, fome of which are fifteen or twenty Leagues- 
 in Compafs. They were formerly inhabited by the Pouteouata- 
 mis, whofe Name they bear, excepting fome which we leave to 
 the Right, where there are ftill fome Savages called Noquets. The 
 Pouteouatamis poftefs atprefent one of the fmalleft of thefe Iflands ; 
 and they have belides two other Villages, one in the River St. 
 Jofeph, and another in the Streight. In the Bottom of the Bay 
 there are fome Sakts and Qtchagras. Thefe laft are called Puans, 
 ( (linking), but for what Reafon I know not. Before we come to 
 them, we leave upon the Right another little Nation, called MaU 
 kemines, or Folks A<voines, (wild Oats.) 
 
 A little River, much ruffled with Torrents, difcharges itfelf 
 r\r u r\ i nto tne Bottom of the Bay : It is known by 
 
 yJ 'r ^ r aga ~ the Name of the River des Renards, (of the 
 
 I ? 1S ' yii™' Fixe O- All this Country is very beautiful ; 
 tins, and the rU- and ^ {& m] mQre ^ ^^ extends frQm 
 
 Ca P ous - the South to the River of the Ilinois. It is 
 
 notwithftanding only inhabited by two little Nations, which 
 
 are the Kicapcus and the Mafcoutins. Some of our Geographers 
 
 have been pleafed to call the laft the Nation of Fire, and their 
 
 Country the Land of Fire. An equivocal Word gave Rife to 
 
 this Name. 
 
 Fifty Years ago, the Miamis were fettled at the South End of 
 
 -v- , »». • the Lake Michigan, in a Place called Cbicaemi, 
 
 Of the Mmvai% , • , • , r */7 xt r i- .1 n- 
 
 J ' ry . which is alio the Name of a little River 
 
 and the llmois. whkh runs intQ thg j^e, the Spring of 
 
 which is not far from that of the Ilinois. They are at prefent 
 divided into three Villages, one of which is on the River 5/. Jc~ 
 feph, the fecond on another River which bears their Name, and 
 runs into Lake Erie, and the third upon the River Ouahache, 
 which runs into the Mifjiffippi. Thefe laft are more known by 
 the Name of Ouyatanons. There is fcarce any Doubt but that this 
 Nation and the Ilinois were, not long fiuce, one People, confider- 
 
 ing
 
 Travels in North America. 115 
 
 mg the Affinity of their Languages. I fhall be able to fpea k 
 vvhh more Certainty, when I have been among them. For 
 the reft, the greateft Part of the Algonquin Nations, excepting 
 thofe which are more advanced towards the South, employ thera- 
 felves bur little in cultivating the Lands, and live almoft wholly 
 upon Hunting and Fifhing ; fo that they are not fixed to any 
 Place. Some of them allow Plurality of Wives ; yet, far from 
 multiplying, they decreafe every Da"y. There is not any one of 
 thefe Nations that confifts of fix thoufand Souls, and fome no 
 of two thoufand. 
 
 The Huron Language is not by far fo extenfive as the Algon* 
 
 r\f t u p */ r 9 uin •' 1 ne Reafon of which is, without 
 
 / ' e eo f °J Doubt, that the People who fpeak it have 
 
 the Huron Lan- . , f .. *"7 ., r . T r 
 
 been lefs roving than the Algonquin; : I fay 
 
 5 ua & ' the Huron Language, in Conformity to the 
 
 common Opinion ; for fome. maintain that the Iroquois is the 
 Mother Tongue. Let that be as it will, all the Savages which 
 are to the South of the River St. Laurence, from the River Sore! 
 to the End fcf the Lake Erie, and even pretty near Virginia, be- 
 long to this Language : And whoever underftands the Huron t 
 underftands th-em all. The Dialetts are indeed extremely mul- 
 tiplied, and there are almoft as many as there are Villages. The 
 five Cantons which compofe the Iroquois Commonwealth, have 
 each their own Language ; and all that was formerly called 
 without any Diftinction the Huron, was not the fame Language. 
 I cannot find out to what Language the Cherokees belong, a 
 pretty numerous People, which inhabit the vaft Meadows which 
 are between the Lake Erie and the MiJJijfippi. 
 
 But it is worth while to obferve, that as the greateft Part of 
 the Sayages of Canada have at all Times been converfant with 
 each other, fometimes as Allies, and fometimes as Enemies, al- 
 though the three Mother Tongues-which I have fpoken of, have 
 no Manner of Affinity or Agreement with each other, thefe 
 People have nevertheless found Means to treat together without 
 the Help of an Interpreter: Either that long Cuftom makes 
 jt eafy to underftand each other by Signs, or that they have 
 formed a Kind of common Jargon, which they learn by Ufe. — 
 I have juft received Notice that I muft embark : J mall finifh 
 this Article at my firft Leifure. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 0.2 LETTER
 
 n6 An llijlorkal Journal of 
 
 LETTER XI. 
 
 Voyage to CaTAROcOui. A Defcription of the Country, and cf 
 the Falls of the River St. Laurence. Defcription and Si- 
 tuation of the Fort Catarocoui. Of the Languages of Ca- 
 nada, and of the People that fpeak them. The Occafon of the 
 War between /Z* Iroqjjois and the Algoncjuins. 
 
 Madam, Catarocoui, May *\\. 
 
 Departed from the Fall St. Louis the Day after I had clofed 
 my laft Letter, and went to lie at the Weftern Point of the Ifle 
 of Montreal, where I did not arrive till Midnight. The next 
 Day I employed all the Morning in vifiting the Country, which 
 is very fine. ' In the Afternoon I croffed the Lake St. Louis to go 
 to the Cafades, where I found thofe of my People who went 
 hither in a dire£t Way : I found them bufy in mending their 
 Canoe, which they had let fall in carrying it on their Shoulders, 
 
 and which was fplit from one End to the other. This is, 
 
 Madam, the Convenience and Inconvenience of thefe little Car- 
 riages : The leaft Thing breaks them, but the Remedy is ready 
 and eafy. It fufflces to furnifli one's felf with Bark, Gums, and 
 Roots ; and there are very few Places where one does not find 
 Gums and Roots fit to few the Bark. 
 
 What they call the Cafades, is a Water-fall fituated exadtly 
 - . . above the Ifland Perrct, which makes the Se- 
 
 Di/cnptten of paration of the Lake St . Louis, and the Lake 
 the tails of the Ki- ^ d _ ux Mmt } ( j- the fciv0 Mountains J. 
 ver St. Laurence. Tq ayoid ^ wg gQ a Jmle Way tQ tfce Right> 
 
 and make the Canoes pais empty in a Place they call/? Trcu, 
 (the Holt) : Then they draw them to Land, and make a Portage 
 of half a Quarter of a League ; that is to fay, they carry the 
 Canoe with all the Baggage on their Shoulders. This is to 
 avoid a fecond Fall called le BuiJJbn, (theBujh). This is a fine 
 Sheet of Water, which falls from a flat Rock about half a Foot 
 high. They might eafe themfelves of this Trouble, by deep- 
 ening a little the Bed of a fmall River which runs into another 
 above the Cafades : The Expence would not be great. 
 
 i? Above
 
 Travels in North America '1.17 
 
 Above the Baffin, the River is a Mile wide, and the Lands on 
 
 y „ . 1 both Sides are very good, and well wooded. 
 
 Kcftcx.on on the Thcy fa in [q ^ thoft , whkh afe on ^ 
 
 *"* ?' ^-t.,ro- North s - de ^ ^ d k wQuld bevcrvea f yto 
 COUl, and en toe ^^ a Road frQm the ?o{ ^ whkh Js Qver 
 
 r/.Ty/^/**/*^ again athe Kland Montreal, to a Bay which 
 they call la Galeae. They will lhun by this 
 forty Leagues of Navigation, which the Falls render almoft im- 
 practicable, and very tedious. A Fort would be much better fitu- 
 ated and more neceilarv at la Galctte than at Catarocoui, becaufe a 
 fr.igle Canoe cannot pafs her.- without being feen, whereas at 
 Catarocoui, they may Hip behind the Iilands without being ob- 
 ferved : Moreover, the Lands about Galctte are very gocd, 
 and they might in Confequence have always Provifions in 
 plenty, which would fave many Charges. Befides this, a Bark 
 might go in two Days with a good Wind to Niagara. One of 
 the Objects which they had in View in building the Fort Ca- 
 tarocoui, was the Trade with the Iroquois ; but thefe Savages 
 would come as willingly to la Galette, as to Catarocoui. They 
 would have indeed fomething further to go, but they would avoid 
 a PafTage of eight or nine Leagues, which they mult make over 
 the Lake Ontario : In fhort, a Fort at la Galette would cover the 
 whole Country, which is between the great River of the Ou- 
 taouais, and the River St. Laurence; for they cannot come into this" 
 Country, on the Side of the River St. Laurence, becaufe of the 
 Falls ; and nothing is more eafy than to guard the Banks of 
 the River of the Outaouais. I have thefe Remarks from a Com- 
 mifiary of the Marine fa), who was fent by the Xing to vifit 
 all the diflant Polls of Canada. 
 
 The fame Day, May the third, I went three Leagues, and ar* 
 rived at the Cedars ; this is the third Fall ; which has taken its 
 Name from the Quantity of Cedars that grew in this Place ; but 
 they are now almoft all cut down. On the fourth, I could go no 
 farther than the fourth Fall, which is called the Ccteau du Lac, 
 (the Hill of the Lake) tho' it is but two Leagues and half from 
 the other ; becaufe one of the Canoes burit. You will not be 
 furprifed, Madam, at thefe frequent Wrecks, when you know 
 how thefe Gondola's are made. J believe that I have already 
 told you that there are two Sorts of them, the one of Elm Bark, 
 which are wider and more clumfily built, but commonly bigger. 
 I know none but the Iroquois who have any of this Sort. The 
 others are of the Bark of Birch Trees, of a Width lefs in Pro- 
 portion than their Length, and much better made : It is^thefe 
 that I am going to defenbe, becaufe all the French, and almoft all 
 the Savages, ufe them. 
 
 (a) M. de Cl:ratr.baui, d" Aigremont. 
 
 They
 
 i'|8 An Hijhrhal Journal of 
 
 They lay the Bark, which is very thick, on flat and very thin 
 
 J)efcription of the 
 danoes of Bark. 
 
 Ribs made of Cedar : Thefe Ribs are con- 
 fined their whole Length by fmall Crofs-Bars, 
 which feparate the Seats of the Canoe ; two 
 main Pieces of the fame Wood, to which thefe little Bars are 
 few'd, ftrengthen the whole Machine. Between the Ribs 
 and the Bark they thruft little Pieces of Cedar, which are thin- 
 ner itill than the Ribs, and which help to ftrengthen the Canoe, 
 the two Ends of which rife by Degrees, and infenfibly end in 
 fMrp Points that tarn inwards. Thefe two Ends are exactly alike; 
 fo that to change their Courfe, and turn back, the Canoe-Men 
 R§@d only ehange Hands. He who is behind fleers with hjs 
 Oar, working continually; and the greateft Occupation of 'him 
 who is forward, is to take Care that the Canoe touches nothing 
 to burft jt. They fit or kneel on the Bottom, and their Oars are 
 Paddles of five or fix Feet long, commonly of Maple ; but when 
 ihey go againft a Current that is pretty ftrong, they muft ufe a 
 Pole, and (land upright. One mull have a good deal of Practice 
 to preferve a Ballance in this Exercife, for nothing is lighter, and 
 ef Confluence eafier to overfet, than thefe Canoes j the great- 
 eft of which, with their Loading, does not draw more than half 
 a Foot Water.. 
 
 The Bark of which thefe Canoes are made, as well as the Ribs 
 &nd the Bars, are few'd with the Roots of Fir, which are more plia- 
 ble, and dry much lefs than the Ozier. All the Seams are gum'd 
 within and without, but they muft be viewed every Day, to fee 
 that the Gum is not peeled off. The largeft Canoes carry twelve 
 Men, two upon a Seat; and 4000/. Weight. Of all the Sava- 
 ges, the moft fkilful Builders of Canoes are the Outaouais ; and 
 jn general the Algonquin Nations fucceed herein better than the 
 Hfrons, Few French as yet can make them even tolerably ; but to 
 guide them, they are at leaft as fafe as the Savages of the Coun- 
 try ; and they praclife this Exercife from their Childhood. All 
 the Canoes even the fmalleft carry a Sail, and with a good Wind 
 can make twenty Leagues in a Day. Without Sails they muft be 
 good Canoe-Men to make twelve Leagues in a dead Water. 
 From the Hill of the Lake to Lake St. Francois, is but a good 
 Of h T h *>r na ^ League. This Lake which I patted the 
 hJi n fifth is feven Leagues long, and three Leagues 
 
 rrancois, wide at thfi moftin its greate fl. Breadth. The 
 
 JLands qn both Sides are low, but they feem to be pretty good. 
 The Courfe from Montreal to this Place is a little to the South. 
 Weft \ and the Lake of St. Francois runs Weft South Weft, and 
 E&ft: North Eafl. I encamped juft above it, and in the Night I 
 Was wakened by fome piercing Cries, as of People complain- 
 ing, I was frightened at firft, but foon recovered myfelf, when 
 
 they
 
 Tratieh in North Amerka. i \ 9 
 
 tlvey told me they were Huars, a kind of Cormorants ; they added 
 that thefe Cries were acertainSign of Wind the next Day, which 
 proved true. 
 
 The fixth I parted the Chef naux du Lac, they call thus fomS 
 rt u p u Canals , which form a great Number of 
 
 Uther tails. Tfl ands that jJ mofl cove ^ t h e River in this 
 
 Place. I never faw a Country more charming, and the Lands 
 appear good. The rcil of the Day we employed in parting the 
 Falls, the moil confidcrable of which they call the Moidinet ; it \% 
 frightful to look at, and we had a great deal of Trouble to get: 
 thro' it. 1 went however that Day near feven Leagues, and I 
 encamped at the Bottomof the Long Fall; this is aTorrent half a 
 League long, which the Canoes cannot go up but with half their 
 Loading ; we palled it at feven in the Morning, then we failed 
 till three o'Clock in the Afternoon ; but then the Rain obliged 
 us to encamp, and detained us all the next Day : There fell the 
 eighth a little Snow, and at Night it froze as it does in Frafict 
 the Month of Jan. we were neverthelefs under the fame ParaL 
 lels as Languedoc. The ninth we pafTed the Flat Fall, about feVert 
 Leagues diltant from the Long Fall, and five from the Galetsy 
 which is the laft of the Falls* La Galctte'n a League and a half 
 further, and we arrived there the tenth. I could not fufficiently 
 admire the Country which is between this Bay and les Galois, it 
 is impofiible to fee finer Forelts, and I obferved efpecially fome 
 Oaks of an extraordinary Height. 
 
 Five or fix Leagues from la Galeae, there is an Ifland called 
 Of th Jd d ^cnikata, the Soil of which appears pretty 
 ,j, /, '' "* fertile, and which is about half a League 
 
 long. An Lk-oquois, whom they call the &$&* 
 ker, I know not why, a very fenfible Man, and well affected td 
 the French, obtained the Domain of it from the late Count d< 
 Frontenac, and he (hews the Writing of this Grant to any one that 
 will fee it ; he has neverthelefs fold the Lordmip, for four Pots 
 of Brandy ; but has referved to himfelf all other Profits of the 
 Land, and has aflembled here eighteen or twenty Families of his 
 Nation. I arrived the twelvth in his Ifland, and I paid him a 
 Vifit ; I found him working in his Garden, which is not the 
 Cuftom of the Savages ; but he affe&s all the Manners of the 
 French : He received me very well, and would treat me, but the 
 Finenefs of the Weather obliged me to go forward ; I took my 
 Leave of him, and went to pafs the Night two Leagues further, 
 in a very fine Place. I had (till thirteen Leagues to Cataracoui , 
 the Weather was fine, the Night very clear, and this engag'd us 
 to embark at three in the Morning. We parted thro' the midtf 
 of a Kind of Archipelago, which they call Mille IJles, (the Thou/and 
 {lies, J and I believe there are above five hundred : When we are 
 
 pafTed
 
 120 An Hijrorical Journal of 
 
 pa/Ted thefe we have a League and half to arrive at Catarocout J 
 
 the River is more open, and is at iaaft half a League wide ; 
 
 then we leave upon the. Right three great Bays pretty deep. 
 
 and the Fort is built in the third. 
 
 This Fort is a Square with four Eaftions built with Stone, 
 
 a t\ r ■+.■ r- an< i tne Ground it occupies is a Quarter of 
 A Delcripticn of T • r> r • £• • l" m 
 
 r. ■ P \ r ■ J League in Lompa-fs. its Situation has really 
 Fort Catarocoui. r -l- 1 c . 1 o-j e jC 
 
 iomething very pleaiant ; jae Sides or the 
 
 River prefent every Way a Landfcape well varied, and it is the 
 fame at the Entrance of Lake Ontario, which is but a fma'i 
 League diftant ; it is full of Iilands of different Sizes, all well 
 wooded, and nothing bounds the Horizon on that Side : This 
 Lake was fome Time called St. Lads, afterwards Frontenac, as 
 well as the Fort of Catarocoui, of which the Count de Frontenac 
 was the Founder; but infenfibly the Lake has gained its antient 
 Name, which is Huron or Iroquois, and the Fort that of the 
 Place where it is built. The Soil from this Place to la G alette 
 appears fomething barren, but this is only on the Edges, it be- 
 ing very good farther on. There is over-againil the Fort a 
 very pretty Kland in the midft of the River; they put fome 
 Swine into it, which have multiplied, and given it the Name 
 of IJle des Pores: There are two other Iilands fomewhat fmaller, 
 which are lower, and half a League diftant from each other; 
 one is called the IJle of Cedars, the other IJle aux Cerfs, (Harts 
 IJland). The Bay of Catarocoui is double, that is to Jay, that al- 
 moft in the midft of it there is a Point that runs out a great 
 Way, under which there is good Anchorage for large Barks. 
 M. de la Sale, fo famous for his Difcoveries and his Misfortunes, 
 who was Lord of Cataracoui, and Governor of the Fort, had 
 two or three here, which were funk in this Place, and remain 
 there, ftill : Behind the Fort is a Marfh where there is a 
 great Plenty of Wild Fowl : This is a Benefit to, and Employ- 
 ment for, the Garrifon. There was formerly a great Trade 
 here, efpecially with the Iroquois ; and it was to entice them to 
 us, as well as to hinder their carrying their Skins to the Eng- 
 li/h, and to keep thefe Savages in Awe, that the Fort was built: 
 But this Trade did not laft long, and the Fort has not hindered 
 the Barbarians from doing us a great deal of Mifchief. They 
 have ftill fome Families here on the Outfides of the Place, and 
 there are alfo fome Mifftfaguez, an Algonquin Nation, which ftill 
 have a Village on the Weft Side of Lake Ontario, another at 
 Niagara, and a third in the Streight. 
 
 I find here, Madam, an Opportunity of fending my Letters 
 to Quebec: I mall take Advantage of fome leifure "Hours to fill 
 up this with what I have further to fay to you on the Difference 
 of the Languages of Canada, Thofe'who have ftudied them 
 
 perfectly
 
 Travels in North America. 1 2 1 
 
 !v, fay that thofc three of which I have fpoken have all 
 the Characters of primitive Languages ; and it is certain that 
 tiicy have not the fame Origin ; which the Pronunciation alone 
 is fufficient to prove. The Siou whittles in fpeaking ; the Hu- 
 ron has no labia] Letter, which he cannot pronounce, he fpeaks 
 in the Throat, and afperates almoft every Syllable ; the Algon- 
 quin pronounces with more Sweetnefs, and fpeaks more natu- 
 turally. 1 can learn nothing particular of the firft of thefe 
 three Languages, but our antient Miflionaries have much ftu- 
 died the two laft, and their principal Dialetts : This is what I 
 have heard from the mod fkilful. 
 
 The Huron Language has a Copioufncfs, an Energy, and a Sub- 
 limity perhaps not to be found united in any of the fineft that 
 we know ; and thofe whofe native Tongue it is, tho' they are 
 now but a Handful of Men, have fuch an Elevation of Soul 
 that agrees much better with the Majefty of their Language, 
 than with the fad State to which they are reduced. Some have 
 fancied they found in it fome Similitude with the Hebrew ; 
 others, and the greateft Number, have maintained it had the 
 fame Origin as the Greek ; but nothing is more trifling than the 
 Proofs they bring for it. We mud not depend efpecially upon the 
 Vocabulary of Brother Gabriel Sagbard, a Recollet who hath been 
 cited to fupport this Opinion ; much lefs on thofc of James Car- 
 tier and the Baron de la Hontan. Thefe three Authors took at 
 Random fome Terms, fome of which were Huron, others Al- 
 gonquin, which they ill retained, and which often fignified quite 
 different from what they thought. And how many Errors have 
 been occafioned by fuch Miilakes of many Travellers. 
 
 The Algonquin Language has not fo much Force as the Huron, 
 
 f>, - j but has more Sweetnefs and Elegance : Both 
 
 Lbaracler of the , n - l r r t? tr xt • X. 
 
 ., -i have a Richneis or LxpreiliDns, a Variety of 
 
 Algonquin Lan- m D • . r rp *> i J - 
 
 b ^ 1 urns, a Propriety or 1 erms, a Regularity 
 
 & ua S e ' which altonifh : But what is more furprifing 
 
 is, that among thefe Barbarians who never fludy to fpeak well, 
 and who never had the Ufe of Writing, there is not intro- 
 duced a bad Word, an improper Term, or a vicious Conftruc- 
 tion ; and even Children preierve ail the Purity of the Lan- 
 guage in their common Difcourfe. On the other Hand, the 
 Manner in which they animate all they fay, leaves no Room to 
 doubt of their comprehending all the Worth of their Exprefli- 
 ons, and all the Beauty of their Language. The Diale£ls which 
 are derived from both, have not preferved all their Beauties, 
 nor the fame Force. The Tfonnontbouans, for Inftance (this is one 
 of the five Iroquois Cantons) pafs among the Savages to have a 
 vulgar or rude Language. 
 
 R In
 
 122 , An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 In the Huron all is conjugated ; a certain Device which I 
 
 „ . , . . - cannot well explain to you, diftinguifhes the 
 Particularities of Verbs> the Nouns> the Pronouns> the Ad _ 
 
 the Huron Lan- verbs> y^ The fimple y erbs haye a doubk 
 
 i ua S e ' Conjugation, one abfolute, and the other re- 
 
 ciprocal ; the third Perfons have the two Genders, for there are 
 but two in thefe Languages ; that is to fay, the noble and the 
 ignoble Gender. As to the Numbers and Tenfes, they have the 
 fame Differences as in the Greek: For InUance, to relate Travels, 
 they exprefs themielves differently according as it was by Land, 
 or by Water. The Verbs a&ive multiply as often as there are 
 Things which fall under Adion; as the Verb which fignifies to 
 eat varies as many Times as there are Things to eat. The Action 
 is expreffed differently in Refpeft to any thing that has Life, and 
 an inanimate Thing ; thus to fee a Man, and to fee a Stone, are 
 two Verbs ; to make Ufe of a Thing that belongs to him that 
 ufes it, or to him to whom we fpeak, are two different Verbs. 
 There is fomething of all this in the Algonquin Language, tho' 
 _ .... " not the fame, of which I am not able to give 
 Particularities of any Account . Notwithstanding, Madam, if 
 the Algonquin Lan- ^ the Htde j baye faid ., foUowS) that ^ 
 
 & ua i e ' Richnefs and Variety of thefe Languages ren- 
 
 ders them extremely difficult to learn ; their Poverty and Barren- 
 nefs produces no lefs Difficulty : For as thefe People, when we firft 
 converfed with them, were ignorant of almoft every Thing they 
 did not ufe, or which did not fall under their Senfes, they wanted 
 Terms to exprefs them, or they had let them fall into Oblivion: 
 Thus, having no regular Worfhip, and forming of the Deity, 
 and of every Thing which relates to Religion, but confufed 
 Ideas, not making fcarce any Reflexions but on the Objects of 
 their Senfes, and on nothing which did not concern their own 
 Affairs, which were confined within a fmall Compafs. and not 
 being accuftomed to difcourfe on the Virtues, the Paffions, and 
 many other Subjects of our common Converfation ; not cultivat- 
 ing any Arts, but thofe which were neceffary for them, and which 
 were reduced to a very fmall Number ; nor any Science, only 
 obferving what was within their Ability ; and for Life, having 
 nothing fuperfluous, nor any Refinement : When we wanted to 
 fpeak to them of thefe Things, we found a great Vacuity in 
 their Languages, and we were obliged, in order to make our- 
 felves underftood, to fill them up with Circumlocutions that were 
 troublefome to them as well as to us : So that after having learnt 
 of them their Language, we were obliged to teach them another, 
 compofed partly of their own Terms, and partly of cur's tranf- 
 lated into Huron and Algonquin, to make the Pronunciation 
 cafy to them. As to Characters they had none, and they fup- 
 
 plied
 
 Travels in North America. 123 
 
 plied the Defeft by a Sort of Hieroglyphicks. Nothing fur- 
 prifed them more than to fee- us exprefs ourfelvcs as eafily by 
 writing as by fpeaking. 
 
 If it is afked how we know that the Siou, the Huron, and the 
 Algonquin, are rather Mother Tongues than fome of thofe which 
 we look upon as their Dialefts, I anfvver, that it is not eafy to 
 siiftake in this, and I think there needs no other Proof than the 
 Words of the Abbe Dubcfs, which I have already cited ; but in 
 fhort, as we can judge here only by Comparifon, if from thefe 
 Reflexions we may conclude that the Languages of all the Savages 
 of Canada are derived from thofe three which I have noted, I allow 
 it does not prove abfolutely that thefe are primitive, and of the 
 firft Inftitu- tion of Languages. I add, that thefe People have in 
 their Difcourfe fomething of" the Afiatic Genius, which gives 
 Things a Turn, and figurative Expreffions ; and this is, perhaps, 
 what hasperfuaded fome Pcrfons that they derive their Origin 
 from JJia, which feems probable enough. 
 
 The People of the Huron Language have always applied them- 
 felves more than the others to cultivating the Land; they have 
 alfo extended themfelves much lefs, which has produced two 
 Effects : For in the firfl: Place, they are better fettled, better 
 lodged, and better fortified ; and there has always been amongft 
 - them more Policy, and a more diftinguifhed Form of Gover- 
 ment. The Quality cf Chief, at leaft among the true Hurons, 
 which arc the Tknnontatts, is Hereditary. In the fecond Place, till 
 the Iroquois Wars, of which we have been Witnefles, their Coun- 
 try was more peopled, though they never allowed Polygamy. 
 They are alfo reputed more induflrious, more dexterous in their 
 Affairs, and more prudent in their Refolutions; which cannot be 
 attributed but to a Spirit of Society, which they have preferved 
 better than theothers. This is remarkedparticularly cf the Hurons 3 
 that tho' fcarcely any longer a Nation, and reduced to two Villa- 
 ges not very large, and at a great Diftance one frcm the other ; 
 yet they are the Soul of all the Councils, when they confult on 
 any general Affairs. It is true, that in Spite cf that Differ- 
 ence which is not feen at the firft Glance, there is much Refem- 
 blance in the Senfe, the Manners, and all the Cuftoms of the 
 Savages of Canada ; but this is the Confequence of the Inter- 
 course which has been always between them for many Ages. 
 
 This would be the Place to fpeak to you concerning the Go- 
 vernment of thefe People, of their Cuftoms, and of their Re- 
 ligion ; but I fee nothing in this yet but a Chaos, which it is 
 impoflible for me to clear up. 
 
 There are fome Travellers who make no Scruple to fill their 
 Journals with whatever they hear faid, without troubling them- 
 Idves about thcTiuthof any Thing. You would not, doubtlefs, 
 
 R v? have
 
 •124 -An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 have me follow their Example, and impofe upon you for Troth 
 all the extravagant Things that have been placed to the Ac- 
 count of our Savages, or that have been taken as they could 
 from their Traditions. Thefe Traditions, on the other Hand, 
 are fb little to be relied on, and almoft always contradict each 
 other fo grofsly, that it is almoft impoiiible to diicover any 
 Thing from them that may be depended en. In Fact, how 
 could fucn People, as we found thefe, tranfmit faithfully down 
 to Poftcrity what has palled between them for fo many Ages, hav- 
 ing nothing to help their Memory ? And can we conceive that 
 Men, who think fo ! ; ttle of Futurity, lhould ever bufy them- 
 felves about what is part, to make any faithful Reco.ds of it? 
 So that after all the Enquiries that could be made, we are (till 
 at a Lofs to know what was the Situation of Canada when 
 we made the firit Difcovery thereof, about the Middle of the 
 -fixth Century. 
 
 The only Point of their Hiftory, which is derived to us with 
 
 n . . f th an y ^ ort °^ Probability, is the Origin of the 
 
 ,, r rt &' a . J ' War, which M. de Chamilain found very much 
 
 War ivinc/j the* u; ,, , ., . ., o S J 
 
 .. . , kindled between the Ircquois on tne one 
 
 Algonquins and sid and the ff and A! im on the 
 
 /** Hurons have othef; and ^ whkh he e £ * d ]limfelf 
 maintained agamji much more than was agreeable ^to our true 
 the Iroquois. i ntere ft. I cannot difcover the firft Beginning 
 
 of this War, but I do not think it was very antient. What I fhall 
 fay about it, I give you Notice before Hand, I do not war- 
 rant the Truth of, though I have it from pretty good Authority. 
 The Algonquins, as I have already obferved, poffeffed all that 
 Extent of Country which is from Quebec, and perhaps alfo from 
 Tadoufac quite to the Lake of Nipijjing, following the North Shore 
 of the River St. Laurence, and going up the great River, which 
 runs into it above the Ifte of Montreal. By this we my judge 
 that this Nation was then very numerous ; and it is certain, that 
 for a long Time it made a very great Figure in this Part of 
 America, where the Nitrons were alone in a Condition to difpute 
 with them the Pre-eminence over all the reft. For the Chace 
 they had no Equals, and for War they acknowledged no Supe- 
 riors. The few who remain to this Day, have not degenerated 
 from the antient Merit of this Nation, and their Misfortunes 
 have not yet lefTened their Reputation. The Ircquois had made 
 with them a Kind of Confederacy, very ufeful to both Sides ; but 
 which in the Opinion of the Savages, amongft whom a great 
 Hunter and a great Warrior are equally efteemed, gave the 
 AJgonquins a real Superiority over the Iroquois. The latter, almoft 
 wholly employed in the Culture of the Lands, had engaged to 
 give Part of their Harveft to the Algonquin* ; who, on their Side, 
 
 were
 
 Travth in North America, 125 
 
 were to 'divide with them the Fruit of the Chace, and to defend 
 them againft whoever fliould undertake to dilturb them. The 
 tv.o Nations lived thus a long Time in a good Underflanding ; 
 but an ill timed Haughtinefs on one Side, and a Refentment, which 
 was not expected, on the other Side, broke this Union, and 
 e a Quarrel between thele tv\o People that hath been never 
 reconciled. 
 
 As Waiter is the great Seafcn for the Chace, and that the 
 Eartn, then covered with Snow, gives no Employment to them 
 who cultivate it, the two Confederate Nations joined together 
 to winter in the Woods; but the Iroquois commonly left the Lhace 
 to the Algonq . ,d contented themfelves with Heaing the Beafts, 
 drying the Flefh, and taking Care of the Skins. This is at prefent 
 every where the Work of the Women, perhaps then it was not 
 the Cuftom : However, the Iroquois made no Difficulty of it. From 
 Time to Time, however, fome of them took a Fancy to try 
 themfelves in the Chace, and the Algonquin* did not oppofe it, in 
 which they were bad Politicians. 
 
 It happened one Winter, that a Troop of both Nations flopped 
 in a Place where they expected Plenty of Game, and fix young 
 Algonquins, accompanied with as many Iroquois of the fame Age, 
 were detached to begin the Chace. '1 hey prefently difcovered 
 fome Elks, and they all prepared themfelves directly to purfue 
 them ; but the Algonquins would not fuffer the Iroquois to fol- 
 low them, and gave them to underltand that they would have 
 enough to do to flea the Beads they fliould kill. Unfortunately 
 for thefe Boalters, three Days palled without their being able to 
 bringdown a fingle Orignal, though a great Number came in 
 Sight. This bad Succefs mortiried them, and probably was no 
 Difpteafure to the Iroquois, who earneftly defired to obtain Leave 
 to go another Way, where they hoped to be more fuccefsful. 
 Their Propofal was received by the Algonquins, as was formerly 
 that by the Brothers of David, which tne young Shepherd made 
 to go and right with the Giant Goliab: TKey told them that they 
 were very vain to pretend to have more Skill than the Algon- 
 quins ; it was their Bufinefs to dig the Earth, and that they fliould 
 leave the Chace to thofe that were fit for it. The Iroquois, en- 
 raged at this Anfwer, made no Reply ; but the next Night they 
 departed privately for the Chace. The Algonquins were furprifed 
 in the Morning at not feeing them, but their Surprife was foon 
 changed into extreme Vexation ; for in the Evening of the fame 
 Day, they faw the Iroquois returning loaded with the Flefh of 
 Orignals. There are no Men in the World who are more fuf- 
 ceptible of Spite, and who carry the Effects of it further : 
 The Refult of that of the Algonquins was fudden : The Iroquois 
 were no fooner afleep than they were all knocked on the Head. 
 
 Such
 
 126 'An Hijiorlcal Journal of 
 
 Such an Aflaffination could not be long a Secret ; and though 
 the Bodies were buried privately, the Nation was foon informed 
 of it. At firft, they complained with Moderation, but infilled 
 on having the Murderers puniihed. They were too much def- 
 pifed to obtain this Juflice : T'e Algonquins would not fubmit to 
 make even the leaft Satisfaction. 
 
 The Iroquois in Defpair made a firm Refolution to be revenged 
 _, ' , ' • for this fcornful Treatment, which irrnated 
 
 The bequel of themmore than the Aftaffination of which they 
 this War. comulained. They fwore they would all die 
 
 to the laft Man, or have Satisfadion ; but as they perceived 
 themfelves not in a Condition to cope with the Algonquins, whole 
 Name alone kept almoft all the other Nations in Awe, they de- 
 parted from them a great Diftance, to make a Proof of their 
 Arms againft lefs formidable Enemies, which they did by Way 
 of Diverfion ; and when they thought themfelves fufhaently 
 inured to War, they fell fuddenly on the Algonquins, and began 
 a War of which we only faw the End, and which fet all Canada 
 in a Flame. It was continued on the Side of the Iroquois with a 
 Fiercenefs fo much the more terrible, as it was the more deli- 
 berate, and had nothing of that precipitate Fury which hinders 
 Meafures from being well taken. Moreover, the Savages do not 
 think themfelves thoroughly revenged, but by the utter Deftruc- 
 tion of their Enemies, and this is ftill truer of the Iroquois than 
 of the reft. They fay commonly of them, that they come like 
 Foxes, they attack like Lions, and fly away like Birds. Thus 
 they feldom fail in their Attempts ; and this Conduct has made 
 them fofuccefsful, that had it net been for the French, there would 
 perhaps be no Mention made at this Day of any of the Nations 
 who have dared to oppofe this Torrent. Thofe_ who fuffered 
 the moft were the Hurons, who were engaged as Allies or Neigh- 
 bours of the Algonquins, or becaufe their Country lay in the Way 
 between both. We have ken with Aftonifhment, one of the 
 moft numerous Nations, and the moft warlike of this Continent, 
 and the moft efteemed of all for their Wifdcm and Undemand- 
 ing, difappear almcft entirely in a few Years. We may alfo fay, 
 that there is not a Nation in this Part of America, which has not 
 fufiered greatly by the Iroquois being obliged to take up Arms ; 
 and I know of ncne but the Abenaquis in all Canada, whom they 
 have not dared to difturb in their own Country : For fince they 
 have taken a Tafte for War, they cannot remain long quiet, like 
 Lions, who by the Sight and Tafte of Blood, increafe their m- 
 fatiable Thirft for it. Cr.c would hardly believe how far they 
 have travelled to feck Men to fight with. Neverthelefs, by 
 being thus continually at War, as they have from Time to Time 
 met with very great Checks, they find themfelves greatly di- 
 
 minifhed,
 
 Travels in North America. ■ 127 
 
 minilhed ; and were it not for the Prifoners which they have 
 brought from all Parts, and the greateft Number of which they 
 have adopted, their Situation would not be much more happy 
 than that of the Nations they have fubdued. 
 
 What has happened in this Refpefl to the Iroquois, maybe faid 
 with more Reaibn of all the other Savages of this Country, and 
 it is not ftrange if, as I have already obferved, thefe Nations de- 
 creafe every Day in a very fenfible Manner. For though their 
 Wars do not appear at firfc fo deftruduve as our's, they arc much 
 more fo in Proportion. The moll numerous of thefe Naticns 
 has never had perhaps more than fixty thoufand Souls, and from 
 Time to Time there is much Blood fpilt. A Surprize, or a Coup 
 de Main, femetimes deftroys a whole Town ; and often the Fear 
 of an Irruption drives a whole Canton to forfake their Country, 
 and then thefe Fugitives, to avoid dying by the Sword of their 
 Enemies, or by Torture, expofe themfelves to perifh by Hun- 
 ger and Cold in the Woods or on the Mountains, becaufe they 
 feldom have Leifure or Precaution to carry Provifions with them. 
 This has happened in the laft Age' to a great Number cf Al~ 
 gor.quins and Hurons, of whom we could never hear any Ac- 
 
 count. 
 
 lam, Sec. 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 A De/cription of the Country up to the River of the Oknontagufs .• 
 Of the Flux and Ref.ux in the great Lakes of Canada. The 
 Manner ho-iv the Salvages fng their War-Song. Of the God of War 
 among ft thefe People. Of the Declaration of War. Of the Necklaces 
 cf Shells : And cf the Calumet : And of their Cujtoms of Peace 
 and War. 
 
 Madam, Famine Bay, May 16. 
 
 I Have the Misfortune to be detained here by a contrary Wind, 
 which in all Appearance will laft a long Time, and keep 
 me in one of the word Places in the World. 
 
 I fhall amufe myfelf with writing to you. Whole Armies of 
 thofe Pigeons they call Tourtes pafs by here continually ; if one 
 of them would carry my Letter, you would perhaps have News 
 of me before I leave this Place : But the Savages never thought 
 of bringing up Pigeons for this Purpofe, as they fay the Arabs 
 and many other Nations formerly did. 
 
 I em-
 
 12 8 An Hiftorkal Journal of 
 
 I embarked the 14th, exactly at the fame Hour I arrived at 
 
 ~ _ Catarocoui the Evening before. I had but fix 
 
 Departure from Leagues tQ g0 to the Ifle of Cbe-vreulh, (Roe- 
 
 Catarocoui : 1 be £ ^ k , ^^ there ^ fi gt p Qit tha[ can 
 
 ./Co#/ /cjvtf thence • , u 1 u.t* «,., /^ ./• k„j 
 
 „ •/. D . receive large harks ; but my Lanaaians had 
 
 /ob amine hay:^ nQt examined their Canoej and the Sun had 
 Dejcrtption of the ^^ ^ Gum of [t [n mafiy pj^ . h 
 
 oun r y % took Water every where, and I was forced 
 
 to Iofe two whole Hours to repair it in one of the Iflands at the 
 Entrance of the Lake Ontario. After that we failed till Ten 
 o'Clock at Night, without being able to reach the Ifle of Cbev- 
 reuils, and we were obliged to pafs the reft of the Night in the 
 Corner of a Foreft. 
 
 This was the firft Time I perceived fome Vines in the Wood.. 
 
 _ , „. . There were almoft as many as Trees \ to the 
 Vftbe Hnes of r ^ of wMch they rife j ha(J nQt yet made 
 
 na a " this Remark, becauie I had always till then 
 
 flopped in open Places ; but they allure me it is the fame every 
 where, quite to Mexico. The Stocks of thefe Vines are very large, 
 and they bear many Bunches of Grapes ; but the Grapes are 
 fcarcely fo big as a Pea ; and this muft be fo, as the Vines are 
 not cut nor cultivated. When they are ripe, it is a good Manna 
 for the Bears, who feek for them at the Tops of the higheft 
 Trees. They have, neverthelefs, but the Leavings of the Birds, 
 who have foon gathered the Vintage of whole Forefts. 
 
 I fetout early next Morning, and at Eleven o'Clock I flopped 
 at the Ifle auxGallots, three Leagues beyond the lileaux Chcurss, 
 (of Goats), in 43 . 33'. I re-embarked about Noon, and made a 
 Traverfe of a League and a half, to gain the Point of the Tra- 
 'verfe. If to come hither from the Place where I paifed the 
 Night, I had been obliged ro coaft the Continent, I fhould 
 have had above forty Leagues to make ; and we muft do this, 
 when the Lake is not very calm ; for if it is the leaft agi- 
 tated, the Waves are as high as in the open Sea : It is not even 
 poflible to fail under the Coalt, when the Wind blows hard from 
 the Lake. From the Point of the Ifle aux Gallots, we fee to 
 the Weft the River Chouguen, otherwife called the River d'On- 
 nontague, which is fourteen Leagues off. As the Lake was calm, 
 and there was no Appearance of bad Weather, and we had a 
 little Wind atEaft, which was but jufc enough to carry a Sail, I 
 refolved to make directly for this River, that I might fave fifteen 
 or twenty Leagues in going round. My Conductors, who had 
 more Experience than myfelf, judged it a dangerous Attempt; 
 but, out of Complaifance, they yielded to my Opinion. — The 
 Beauty of the Country which I quitted on the Left Hand, did 
 not tempt me any more than the Salmon, and Numbers of other 
 
 excellent
 
 I 
 
 
 Travels in North America. 129 
 
 excellent Fifh, which they take in fix fine Rivers which are at 
 two or three Leagues Diftance one from the other (a) : We took 
 then to the open Lake, and till Four o'Clock we had no Caufe 
 to repent of it ; but then the Wind rofe fuddenly, and we would 
 willingly have been nearer the Shore. We made towards the near- 
 eft, from which we were then three Leagues off, and we had much 
 Trouble to make it. At length, at Seven at Night we landed at 
 Famine Bay ; thus named, finceM. de la Barre, Governor Gene- 
 ral of New France, had like to have loll: all his Army here by 
 LIunger and Diftcmpers, going to make War with the Iroquois. 
 It was Time for us to get to Land ; for the Wind blew ftrong, 
 .j - , . and the Waves ran fo high, that one would not 
 
 j ptton oj have ventured to pafs the Seine at Paris, over- 
 againft the Louvre, in fuch Weather. As to 
 the reft, this Place is very fit to deftroy an Army, which depends 
 on the Chace or the Fiihery for their Subfiftence, befides that 
 the Air appears to be very unhealthy here. But nothing is finer 
 than the Woods that cover the Borders of the Lake : The white 
 and red Oaks rife up here even to the Clouds. There is alfa 
 here a Tree of the largeft Kind ; the Wood of which is hard, 
 but brittle, and much refembles that of the Plane-Tree : The 
 Leaf has five Points, is of a middle Size, a very fine Green on 
 the Infide, and whitifh without. It is called here the Cotton-Tree, 
 becaufein a Shell nearly of the Bignefs of a Horfe Chefnut, it 
 bears a Kind of Cotton ; which appears, neverthelefs, of no 
 
 Ufe. As I walked upon the Side of the Lake, I obferved 
 
 that it lofes Ground on this Side fenfibly : This is evident, 
 becaufe for the Space of half a League in Depth the Land is 
 much lower and more fandy than it is beyond. I have 
 obferved alfo in this Lake (and they allure me the fame happens 
 in all the others) a Kind of Flux and Reflux almoft momentane- 
 ous ; fome Rocks which are pretty near the Shore being covered 
 and uncovered feveral Times within the Space of a Quarter of 
 an Hour, although the Surface of the Lake was very calm, and 
 there was fcarce any Wind. After having confidered this fome 
 Time, I imagined it might proceed from Springs which are at the 
 Bottom of the Lake, and from the Shocks of thofe Currents 
 with thofe of the Rivers, which flow in from all Parts, and which 
 produce thefe intermitting Motions. 
 
 (a) The River of the Affump'wn, a League from the Point of the Ira- 
 ■verfe ; that of Sables, three Leagues further ; that of la Blanche, (the Plank) 
 two Leagues further j that of la grande Famine, (the great Famine) two 
 Leagues more ; that of la petite Famine, (the little Famine) one League ; that 
 of la grojft Eeorce, (the thick Bark) one League. 
 
 o Bu:
 
 130 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 But would you believe, Madam, that in this Seafon, and in 
 Why the Trees 43 Degrees Latitude, there is not yet a. Leaf 
 
 z J T . upon the Trees, though we. have fometimes as 
 
 have no Leaves in ^ tt l ■ -1. »* l r or 7 
 
 *i ha <l /-i\a great Heat as you have in the Month of July, 
 
 the Month of May. &,, D r r *u* • -*u . t» u i_ 
 
 J J The Reafon of this is, without Doubt, be- 
 
 caufe the Earth, which has been covered with Snow feveral 
 Months, is not yet heated enough to open the Pores of the 
 Roots, and to make the Sap rife. For the reft, the great and the 
 little Famine do not deferve the Name of Rivers ; they are but 
 Brooks, efpecially the laft, but are pretty well flocked with Fifh. 
 There are here fome Eagles of a prodigious Bignefs. My Peo- 
 ple have juft now taken down a Neft, which confifled of a Cart 
 Load of Wood, and two Lagles which were not yet fledged, and 
 which were bigger than the largeft Hen Turkeys : They eat 
 them, and found them very good. 
 
 I returned to Cataroeoui ; where, the Night that I ftaid there, 
 I was Witnefs to a Scene that wa? fomething: curious. About 
 Ten or Eleven o'Clock at Night, juft as I was going to Bed, I 
 heard a Cry, which they told me was a War-Cry ; and a little 
 after, I faw a Company of MiJJifagucz, enter the Fort ringing. 
 Some Years iince, thefe Savages engaged themfelves in the 
 War which the Iroquois make with the Cherokees, a pretty nume- 
 rous People, who inhabit a fi ne Country to the South of Lake 
 Erie, and flnce that Time the young People are eager for War. 
 Three or four of thefe Heroes, equipped as for a Mafquerade, 
 their Faces painted in a horrible Manner, and followed by almoft 
 all the Savages who live about the Fort, after having run thro' 
 all their Cabins finging their War-Song to the Sound of the 
 Chichikoue (a), came to do the fame in all the Apartments of the 
 Fort, in Honour to the Commandant and the Officers. I confefs 
 to you, Madam, that there is fomething in this Ceremony which 
 fills one with Horror the firft Tir.e one fees it ; and I found by 
 it what I had not (o fenfibly perceived before, as I did then, -viz. 
 that I was amongft Barbarians : Their Singing has always fome- 
 thing mournful and difmal ; but here I found in it fomething ter- 
 rifying, caufed perhaps folely by the Darknefs of the Night, 
 and the Preparation of the Feaft, for it is one for the Savages. 
 This Invitation was addreffed to the Iroquois ; but they, who be- 
 gin to be Lofers by the War with the Cherokees, or who were not 
 in a Humour for it, demanded Time to deliberate, and every one 
 returned to his own Home. 
 
 (a) TheCbidikcue is a Kind of Calibafli, full of Pebblci. 
 
 It
 
 Travels in North America, i g : 
 
 It appears, Madam, that in thefe Songs they invoke the God 
 nr A r // f °* ^ ar » w hom the Hurens call Arcjkoui ; and 
 ^J e *° °J t ] ie J r0 q UO i s call him A^rejkoue. I know not 
 what Name they give him in the Algonquin 
 Language. But is it not fomething llrange ihat in the ( >reek Word 
 Ares, who is the Mars, or the God of War, in all the Countries 
 where they have followed the Theology of Homer, we find the 
 Root from which feveral Terms of the Huron and Iroquois Lan- 
 guage feem to have been derived, which relate to War ? Aregouen 
 hgnifies to make War, and is thus declined ; Garego, I make 
 War ; Sarego, thou makeft War ; Arego, he makes War. For the 
 reft, Arejkoui is net only the Mars of thefe People ; he is alfo their 
 chief God ; or, as they exprefs it, the Great Spirit, the Creator 
 and Mafter of the World, the Genius who governs every Thing : 
 But it is chiefly for Military Expeditions that they invoke him ; 
 as if the Attribute which does him the moit Honour, was that of 
 the God of Ho/Is : His Name is the War-Cry before the Battle, and 
 in the Height of the Engagement : Upon the March alfo they 
 often repeat it, by Way of Encouragement to each other, and to 
 implore his Aifiitance. 
 
 To take up the Hatchet, is to declare War : Every private 
 r\c l n / Perfon has a Right to do it, without any one 
 
 • V f tbe Jr eclara ~ having a Power to hinder him ; unlefs it be 
 tion of ar. among the Hurens and the Iroquois, with whom 
 
 the Mothers of Families can declare or forbid War when they 
 pleafe. We fhall fee, in its proper Place, how far their Authority 
 extends in thefe Nations. But if a Matron would engage one who 
 has no Dependence on her, to make a Party of War, either to 
 appeafe the Manes of her Hufband, of her Son, or of a near 
 Relation, or to get Prifoners to fupply the Places of thofe in her 
 Cabin whom Death or Captivity have deprived her of, fhe is 
 obliged to make him a Prefentof a Collaror Necklace of Shells, 
 and it is very feldom that fuch an Invitation is without Effect. 
 
 When the Buiinefs is to make a War in all the Forms between 
 two or more Nations, the Manner of exprefGng it is, to bang the 
 Kettle upon the Fire ; and it has its Origin, without Doubt, from 
 the barbarous Cuftom of eating the Prifoners, and thofe that 
 were killed, after they had boiled them. They fay alfo in direct 
 Words, that they are goingtoeata Nation ; tofignify, that they will 
 make a cruel War againft it ; and it feldom happens otherwife. 
 When they would engage an Ally in a Quarrel, they fend him a 
 Porcelain ; that is to fay, a great Shell, to invite him to drink the 
 Blood, or (according to the Meaning of the Terms they ufe) the 
 Broth of the Flefh of their Enemies. After all, this Cuftom 
 may be very antient ; but it does not follow from hence, that 
 thefe People were always Man-Eaters : It was perhaps, in the 
 
 S 2 primitive
 
 132 An Hiji cried Journal of 
 
 primitive Times, only an allegorical Way of fpeaking, fuch as 
 we often find even in the Scripture. The Enemies of David 
 did not, as appears, make it a Cuftom to eat the Flefh of their 
 Enemies, when he faid, Pf. xxvii. <i>. 2. When the Wicked, even 
 mine' Emmies, came upon me to eai up my Flejb. In after Times, cer- 
 tain Nations that were become favage and barbarous, fubllituted 
 the Fadl in the Room of the Figure. 
 
 I have faid that the Porcelain of thefe Countries are Shells : 
 
 , n . „• They are found on the Coails of New Env- 
 
 A DigreJIion on , / , 1r . . rr,, , ,<5 
 
 7 r> 1 tana and Virginia : i hey are cnanneld, 
 the Porcelain, or . * ,* - . J , . , . 
 
 Venus Shell of ^^ Ion 2' a htt ! e P 01nted » without Au- 
 p j * J ricles, and pretty thick. The Fifh thatis in- 
 clofed in thefe Shells, is not good to eat ; but 
 the Infide of the Shell is of fuch a fine Varnifh; and fuch lively 
 Colours, that Art cannot come near it. When the Savages went 
 quite naked, they applied them to the fame Ufe as our fir ft Pa- 
 rents did the Fig Leaves, when they faw their Nakednefs, and 
 were afhamed of it. They hung them alfo about their Necks, 
 as the moft precious Thing they had ; and it is at this Day one 
 of their greateft Treafures, and fineft Ornaments. In a Word, 
 they have the fame Idea of them, as we have of Gold, Silver, 
 and precious Stones ; being fo much the more reafonable in this, 
 as they need only in a Manner ftoop to obtain Treafures as real 
 as our's, fince all depends upon Opinion. 
 
 'James Cartier fpeaks in his Memoirs of a Kind of Shell feme- 
 thing like thefe, which he found in the I fie of Mont real: He 
 calls it Efurgni ; and afTerts, that.it had the Virtue to flop bleed- 
 ing at the Nofe. Perhaps it is the fame with that we are fpeak- 
 ing of ; but they find none about the Iile of Montreal, and I never 
 heard that thefe Shells had theProperties which Cartier mentions. 
 They are of two Sorts, or of two Colours ; one White, the 
 Of th> 9/ ' other Violet : The firft is the moft common, 
 
 j \r i; ' *> and perhaps for this Reafon is lefs eileemed . 
 and necklaces of r^, r c \ , t .. 
 
 p j . J The fecond appears to be fomething of a hner 
 
 Grain when it is wrought. The deeper the 
 Colour is, the more valuable it is. They make of both Sorts 
 little cylindrical Beads : They pierce them, and firing them ; 
 and it is of this that they make Strings and Necklaces of Porcela, . 
 The Strings are nothing cKe but four or five Threads, or little 
 Slips of Skin about a Foot long, on which the Beads are ftrung. 
 The Necklaces are a Sort of Fillet, or Diadems formed of thefe 
 Strings ; which are confined by Threads, which make a Texture 
 of four, five, fix, or feven Rows of Beads, and of a propor- 
 tionable Length : This depends on the Importance of the Af- 
 fair they treat of, and on the Dignity of the Perfcns to whom the 
 Necklace is prefented. 
 
 By
 
 Travels in Noftk America. I 3 4 
 
 By the Mixture of Beads of different Colours they form 
 what Figures and Characters they pleafe, which often ferve to 
 exprefs the Affairs in Queilion. Sometimes alfo they paint 
 the Beads ; at leaft it is certain they often fend red Necklaces, 
 when it concerns War. Thefe Necklaces are preferred with Care, 
 and they not only make a Part of the public Treafure, but they 
 are alfo as it were Records and Annals which are laid up in the 
 Cabin of the Chief: When there are in one Village two Chiefs 
 of equal Authority, they keep the Treafure and Records by 
 Turns for a Night; but this Night at prefent is a whole 
 Year. 
 It is only Affairs of Confequence that are treated of by 
 n „ , . TJf Necklaces; for thofe of lefs Importance 
 Vf thur i . they ufe Strings of p or celain, Skins, Cover- 
 lets, Maiz, either in whole Grains or in Flour, and o f her 
 fuch-like Things; for the public Treafure is a Receptacle for 
 all thefe. When they invite a Village or a Nation to enter into 
 a League, fomctimes inltead of a Necklace they fend a Flag 
 dipt in Blood ; but this Cuftom is modern, and it is very pro- 
 bable that the Savages took the Notion from the Sight of the 
 white Flags of the French, and the red Flags of the Englljh. 
 It is laid alfo that we made Ufe of thefe firft with them, and 
 that the took a Fancy to dye their Flags in Blood when t 
 intended to declare War. 
 
 The Calumet is not lefs facred among thefe People than the 
 
 „ , . r j Necklaces of Porcelain ; if vou believe them, 
 
 UJ tbeLalumet, ^ ^ derived from Heaveri) 'f or t l iey f ay it is 
 
 and its UJe. a p refent which was ma j e them by the Sun. 
 
 It is more in Ufe with the Nations of the South and Weft, than 
 thofe of the North and Eaft, and it is oftencr ufed for Peace 
 than for War. Calumet is a Norman Word, which fignifies Reed, 
 and the Calumet of the Savages is properly the Tube of a Pipe ; 
 but they comprehend under this Name the Pipe alfo, as well as 
 its Tube. In the Calumet made for -Ceremony, the Tube is 
 very long, the Bowl of the Pipe is commonly made of a Kind 
 of reddifh Marble, very eafy to work, and which is found in 
 the Country of the Jjouez beyond the MiJJijpppi : The Tube is 
 of a light Wood painted of different Colours, and adorned with 
 the Heads, Tails, and Feathers of the fineft Birds, which is in 
 all Appearance merely for Ornament. The Cuilom is to fmoke 
 in the Calumet when you accept it, and perhaps there is no In- 
 ftance where the Agreement has been violated which was made 
 by this Acceptation. The Savages are at leaft perfuaded, that 
 the Great Spirit would not leave fuch a Breach of Faith unpu- 
 nilhed: If in the midft of a Battle the Enemy prefents a Calu- 
 met it is allowable to refufe it, but if they receive it they muft 
 
 inllantly
 
 134 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 ntly lay down their Arms : There are Calumets for every 
 Kind of Treaty. In Trade, when they have agreed upon the 
 Exchange, they preient a Calumet to confirm it, which renders 
 it in fome Manner facred. When it concerns War, not only the 
 Tube, but the Feathers alfo rhat adorn it, are red : Sometimes 
 are only let on one Side ; and they fay that according to 
 the Manner in which the Feathers are difpofed, they immediate- 
 ly know what Nation it is that prefents it, and whom they in- 
 tend to attack. 
 
 There is fcarce any Room to doubt but that the Savages, in 
 making thofe fmoke in the Calumet, with whom they would 
 trade or treat, intend to taice the Sun for Witnefs, and in 
 fome Meafure for a Guarantee of their Treaties ; for they never 
 fail to blow the Smoke towards this Planet : But that from this 
 Practice, and the common Ufe of the Calumets, one mould in- 
 fer as feme have done, that this Pipe might well be in its Ori- 
 gin, the Cadiueus of Mercury y does not appear to me to be 
 probable, becaufe this Caduceus had no Relation to the Sun ; and 
 becaufe in the Traditions of the Savages, we have found nothing 
 that gives any Room to judge, that they ever had any Know- 
 ledge of the Greek Mythology. It would be in my Opinion, 
 much more natural to think that thefe People, having found by 
 Experience rhat the Smoke of their Tobacco draws Vapours 
 from the B] akes the Head clearer, roufes the Spirits, 
 
 ?.r.d makes us fitter to treat of Affairs, have for thefe Reafons in- 
 troduced the if it in their Councils, where in Fact they have 
 d\\ ays the Pipe in their Mouths; and that after having gravely de- 
 Jsberated and tak: a their Resolution, they thought they could ne- 
 ver find a Symbol fitter to put a Seal to their Determinations, 
 jRor any Pledge more capable of confirming the Execution of 
 them, than the Instrument which had fo much Share in their De- 
 lations. Perhaps it will appear to you more fimple, Ma- 
 cam, to fay that thefe Feople could net find 2ny Signs more 
 natural to mark a itricl Union, than to fmoke in the fame Pipe; 
 efpecially if the Smoke they draw from it, is offered to a Deity 
 •ho puts the Seal of Religion to it. To fmoke in the fame Pipe 
 rfore in Tc;;en of Alliance, is the fame Thing as to drink in 
 the fame Cup, as has been practifed at all Times by many Na- 
 tions. Thefe are n uftoms which are too natural, to feek any Myf- 
 tery in them. 
 
 The Largenefs, and the Ornaments of the Calumets, which 
 are prefented to Perfons of Diftinclion, and on important Occa- 
 fioas, have nothing neither that fhould make us fearch far for the 
 Motive of it. When Men become ever fo little acquainted, and 
 have a mutual Refpeft, they accuitom themfelves to a certain Re- 
 gard for one another, chiefly on Occafions of a publick Con- 
 cern j
 
 Trazrh in North America. 135 
 
 cern ; or when they ftrive to gain the Good-will of thofe with 
 whom they treat ; and from thence comes the Care they take to 
 give more Ornament to the Preients they make. For the reft, 
 they fay that the Calumet was given by the Sun to the Par.:;, 
 a Nation fettled upon the Borders of the Mijjluri, and which ex- 
 tends much towards Ne-uu Mexico. But thele Savages have pro- 
 bably done like many other People, they have pretended feme- 
 thing marvellous, to make a Cuftom eiteemed, of which they 
 were the Authors ; and all that we can conclude from this Tradi- 
 tion is that the Panis were the moil antient Worfhippers of the 
 Sun, or were more diftinguifhed in their Way of Worfhip of it, 
 than the other Nations of this part of the Continent of Ameri- 
 ca, and that they were the nril who thought of making the Ca- 
 lumet a Symbol of Alliance. In thort if the Lalumet was in 
 in its Institution, the Caduccus of Mercury, it would be employ- 
 ed only for Peace, or for Trade ; but it is certain that it is ufed 
 in Treaties which concern War. Thefe Reflexions, Madam, ap- 
 peared neceflary to me, to give you a perfeel Know ledge of what 
 concerns the War of the Savages, which I mail entertain you 
 with in my Letters, till I have entirely exhaufted this Subject 1 
 if they are Digreffions they are not quite foreign to my Subject. 
 Befides, a Traveller endeavours to place in the beft Order he 
 can, whatever he learns on his Route. 
 
 1 at, Sec. 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 
 A Defcription of the Ccuntry fycm Famine Bay, to the Riz-er of Sa- 
 bles. Mctiz-:s of the Wars of the Savages. Departure of the War- 
 riors, and what preceeds their Departure. Their Farewell. Their 
 Arms Offenfiue and D- The Care they take to carry with 
 
 them their TutelarDeities. Particulars of the Country up 19 
 Niagara. 
 
 Madam, River cf Sables, May 19. 
 
 I AM again detained here by a contrary Wind, which arofe 
 the Moment that we were in the faireft Way to proceed. It 
 alfo furprifed us fo fuddenly, that we fhould have been in a bad 
 Condition if we had not very luckily met with this little River 
 to fhelter us. You muft allow, Madam, that there are many 
 Difficulties and Inconveniencies to get over in a Journey like 
 this. It is very melancholy to travel fometimes two hundred 
 Leagues without finding a Houfe, or meeting a Man ; not to be 
 
 able
 
 ig6 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 able to venture a Traverfe of about two or three Leagues 
 to fave going twenty, without endangering one's Life by 
 the Caprice of the Winds ; to be detained, as it fometimes 
 happens, whole Weeks on a p oint or on a barren 8hore, where 
 if it rains you muft-remain under a Canoe or under a Tent : If 
 the Wind is high, you mull feek Shelter in a Wood, where 
 you are not without Danger of being killed by the Fall of a 
 Tree. One might fhun fome of thefe Inconveniencies by build- 
 ing Barks, to fail up the Lakes, but to do this the Trade ought 
 to be of more Worth. 
 
 We are here upon the Edge of the Iroquois Cantons : We em- 
 
 p. r . . f barked Yefterday early in the Morning, in 
 ejaipaon j the fineft Weather in the World; there was 
 "^ ' not a Breath of Air, and the Lake was as 
 
 fmooth as Glafs. About nine or ten o'Clock we pafled the Mouth 
 of the River Onnontague, which appears to me about feventy 
 Yards wide. The Lands are fomewhat low, but very well wood- 
 ed. Almoft all the Rivers which water the Iroquois Cantons flow 
 into this, the Source of which is a Lake called Gannentaha, on the 
 Borderof which there are fome Salt Springs. About half an Hour 
 after eleven o'Clock, a little Wind from the North Eaft made us 
 fet up our Sail, and in a few Hours carried us to the Bay of 
 Goyogouins, which is ten Leagues from Qnnontague. All the Coaft 
 in this Space is varied with Marfhes and high Lands, fomething 
 fandy, and covered with very fine Trees, efpecially Oak, which 
 feem as if they had been planted by the Hand. 
 
 A violent Wind from the Land, which came upon us near the 
 Bay of Goyogouins, obliged us to take Shelter in it. It is one of the 
 fineft Places I ever faw. A Peninfula well wooded advances 
 in the Middle, and forms a Kind of Theatre. On the left 
 of the Entrance, we perceived a little Ifland, which hides 
 the Entrance of a River by which the Goyogouins defcend into 
 the Lake. The Wind did not laft, we purfued our Courfe, 
 and we made three or four Leagues more. This Morning we 
 embarked before the Rifing of the Sun, and we made five or fix 
 Leagues. I know not how long the North Weft Wind will keep 
 us here ; in the mean time I fhall refume my Account of the 
 Wars of the Savages where I broke off. 
 
 It feldom happens, Madam, that thefe Barbarians refufe to 
 
 n, t . 7.7 engaee in a War, when they are invited to 
 
 Motives ivhtcb • ? s , . .„. r^, 1 J „ m 00 j • 
 
 ' , r, it by their Allies. They have no Need in 
 
 engage the e>a<v a pes * . r T . ' , \„ mr . *v,~ 
 
 * h w general of Invitation to take up Arms ; the 
 
 to mane war. kaft M(Jtive Qr Trifle> eyen noth i ng , often 
 
 induces them to it. Revenge efpecially : They have always 
 fome old or new Injury to revenge, for Time never in them 
 heals thefe Sorts of Wounds, how light foever they may be. 
 
 So
 
 Travels in North America. 137 
 
 So that there is no depending upon Peace being folidly eftablifh- 
 ed between two Nations which have been Enemies a long Time. 
 On the other Hand, the Defire of fupplying the Place of the 
 Dead by Prifoncrs, or of appeafing their Spirits, the Whim of 
 a private Perfon, a Dream that he explains his own Way, and 
 other Reafons or Pretences as frivolous, are the Caufes that we 
 often fee a Troop of Adventurers fet out for War, who thought 
 of nothing lefs the Day before. 
 
 It is true that thefe little Expeditions, without the Confent of 
 the Council, are commonly of no great Confequence, and as 
 they require no great Preparations, little Notice is taken of 
 them ; and generally fpeaking, they are not much difpleafed to 
 fee the young People thus cxercife themfelves, and they mult 
 have very good Reafons who would oppofe it. Authority is fel- 
 dom employed for this Purpofe, becaufe every one is Mailer of 
 his 'own Conduct. But they endeavour to intimidate fome by 
 falfe Reports, which they give out ; they folicit others un- 
 der-hand, they engage the Chiefs by Prefents to break the Par- 
 ty, which is very eafy ; for to this Purpofe there needs only 
 a true Dream or a feigned one. In fome Nations the laft Re- 
 fource is to apply to the Matrons, and this is almolt always ef- 
 fectual ; but they never have Recourfe to this but when the Af- 
 fair is of great Confequence. 
 
 A War which concerns all the Nation is not concluded on fo 
 n-., ,, , eafily : They weiffh with a great deal of 
 
 ThcManncrhonu Th{ / ht ^ InC0 nveniencies and the Ad- 
 cllar is refolded vanta | es of it . and whilft they deliberate, 
 they are extremely careful to avoid every 
 Thing that would give the Enemy the leaft Caufe to fufpedl that 
 they intend to break with them. War being refolved on, they 
 directly confider of the Provifions and the Equipage of the 
 Warriors, and this does not require much Time. The Dances, 
 Songs, Feafts, and fome fuperltitious Ceremonies, which vary 
 much, according to the different Nations, require much more. 
 He who is to command does not think of raifing Soldiers till 
 (T-., p.. he has faded feveral Days, during which he 
 
 3 r- 1 ' r?i ■ r is fmeared with black, has fcarce any Con- 
 
 tions of the Lmef. c • • , i 7 v j 
 
 J J venation with any one, invokes Day and 
 
 Night his tutelar Spirit, and above all, is very careful to obferve 
 
 his Dreams. Being fully perfuaded, according to theprefumptuous 
 
 Nature of thefe Savages, that he is going to obtain a Victory, 
 
 he feldom fails of having; Dreams according; to his Wilhes. The 
 
 Fall: being over, he afTembles his Friends, and with a Collar of 
 
 Beads in his Hand, he fpeaks to them in thefe Terms, " My 
 
 " Brethren, the Great Spirit authorifes my Sentiments, and in- 
 
 " fpires me with what I ought to do : The Blojd of fuch a 
 
 T one
 
 *$ 
 
 An Eijlorical Journal of 
 
 *< one is not wiped away, his Body is not covered, and I will 
 *' acquit myfelf of this Duty towards him." He declares alfo 
 the other Motives which make him take Arms. Then he adds, 
 " I am therefore refoved t > go to fuch a Place, to pull off 
 " Scalps, or to make Prifoners ; or elfe I will eat fuch or fuch a 
 " Nation. If I perifh in this glorious Enterprize, or if any of 
 " thofe who will accompany me fhould lofe their Lives, this 
 ■■ Collar lhall ferve to receive us, that we may not continue to 
 «' lie in the Duft, or in the Dirt." By which is meant, probably, 
 that it lhall belong to him who fhall take Care to bury the dead. 
 In pronouncing thefe lail Words, he lays the Collar on the 
 Ground, and he who takes it up, declares himfelf by doing it his 
 Lieutenant : Then he thanks him for the Zeal he fhews to re- 
 venge his Brother, or to fuppcrt the Honour of his Nation. Af- 
 terwards they heat Water, they wafh the Face of the Chief, they 
 fet his Hair in Order, greafe it, and paint it. They alfo paint 
 his Face with various Colours, and put on his fineil Robe. Thus 
 adorned, he fmgs in a low Tone the Song of Death ; his Soldiers, 
 that is to fay, all who have offered to accompany him, (for no 
 Perfon is conftrained to go) then fing out with a loud Voice, 
 one after another, their War-Song ; for every Man has his own, 
 which no other is allowed to fing. There are ibme alfo peculiar 
 to each Family. 
 
 After this Preliminary, which paffes in a remote Place, and 
 —. n ,., often in a Stove, the Chief goes to communi- 
 
 cate his Projeft to the Council, which con- 
 fults upon it without ever admitting to this 
 Author of the Enterprize. As foon as his 
 Projeft is accepted, he makes a Feaft, of which the chief, and 
 fometimes the only Dilh, mull be a Dog. Some pretend that 
 this Animal is offered to the God of War before it is put into 
 the Kettle, and perhaps this is the Cuftom among fome Na- 
 tions. For I mull inform you here, Madam, that what I 
 fhall fay to you on this Article, I do not warrant to be the ge- 
 neral Cuftom among all the Nations. But it appears certain, 
 that on the Occafion now mentioned, they make a great many 
 Invocations to all the Spirits good and evil, and above all to the 
 God of War. 
 
 All this lafts many Days, or rather is repeated many Days 
 together: And though all the People feem en- 
 tirely employed in thefe Feafts, each Family 
 takes their Meafures to have its Share of the 
 Prifoners that lhall be made, in order to re- 
 pair their Loffes, or to revenge their Slain. With this View 
 they make Prefents to the Chief, who, on his Side, gives his 
 Word and Pledges. In Cafe of Want of Prifoners they afk Scalps, 
 
 and 
 
 cf the Council. 
 Confultation, the 
 
 The Meafures they 
 take to get Pri- 
 foners.
 
 Trarjels in North America. 
 
 : this is eaiier to obtain. In feme Places, as among the 
 ■.-, as foon as a military Expedition is refolved upon, they fct 
 on the Fire the Kettle of War, and they give Notice to their 
 Allies to bring fomething for it ; in doing which they de-: 
 it they approve the Undertaking, and will go Part n 
 
 lofc who engage themfelves, give to the Chief, as a 
 Sign cf their Engagement, a Bit of Wood, with the:. 
 Whoever, after this, mould go back from his Word, would run, 
 a Pifque of his Life, at leail he would be difgraced for e 
 The Party being formed, the War Chief prepares 2. : - I 
 to which all th : ~e muft be invited ; and before any Thing 
 
 is touched, he fays, or an Orator for him, and in his Name, " Bre- 
 " thren, I fci that I am not yet a but you know. 
 
 " verthelefs, that I have feen the Enemy near enough. We have 
 " been flain, the Bones of fuch an : a one rema: r.co- 
 
 '* rered . 1 ..-'.;, wemuirfarisfy them: Th-eywere 
 
 :ould we forget them fo foon, and rer 
 *' quiet upon our Mats? In fh:rt, the Spirit tha: d in 
 
 " my G _s infpired me to revenge them. Your 
 
 " Courage, drefs your He:: :your Faces, fill your Qur 
 
 ::ake our Fore (Is echo with vour Song; of War; let us re- 
 "1; f our dead, and inform them that they are 
 
 '• g be revenged." 
 
 After this D. . and the -""ail to 
 
 and D " Et0 ^ "" 
 
 : his Fi 
 
 Soldier cr him I -" to 
 
 :11, or : apt B ac- 
 
 companied ■ res, to make 
 
 that they v. ill not fly from the E . But 1: 1 : nat 
 
 that no S -3e- 
 
 cendence. Th. e to acV alofUi 
 
 and Harmony. On the other Hand, the 
 take, requires great Retires from die Chi;: 
 every Time that in the public Dance 1 
 
 Hatchet - Poft fet up on P . -.- in 
 
 i of his brave . ! liways h ; Cluef un- 
 
 der whofe Conduct he r. id to make 
 
 him a P &aioag -~- 
 
 -.5. 
 The Songs are fcilowed bv Dir.ces : S 
 - ,- . ; -.a proud Step, but keeping Time; 
 
 -, therTin- -0- 
 
 J tions, repreientingthe ^am- 
 
 ~:eeping Time. At lengtk 
 ■. 
 
 T aS.
 
 140 tin H/Jiorical Journal of 
 
 a Spectator of it, with a Pipe in his Mouth : It is the fame 
 Thing commonly in all their Feafls of Preparation, that he 
 who gives them, touches nothing. The following Days, and 
 till the Departure of the Warriors, there paffes many Things 
 which are not worth Notice, ond which are not conftantly prac- 
 tifed. But I mufl not forget a Cuflom which is lingular enough, 
 and which the Iroquois never difpenfe with : It appears to have 
 been invented to difcover thofe who have Senfe, and know how 
 to be Mailers of themfelves ; for thefe People whom we treat 
 as Barbarians, cannot conceive that any Man can have true 
 Courage if he is not Mailer of his Paifions, and if he cannot 
 bear the higheft Provocations : This is their Way of pro- 
 ceeding. 
 
 The oldeil of the Military Troop affront the young People 
 
 ct'i er ■ i i • j ln tne m °ft injurious Manner they can think 
 TveTnal which c r ■ „ -\i r u t. r 
 
 .7 , - :, . of, eipecially thoie v/ho have never yet feen 
 
 they make of their ..-i • ■£ ; mi i_ i /->. / 
 
 Trf . J their h-nemy : They throw hot Coals upon 
 
 their Heads, they make them the fharpefl Re- 
 proaches, they load them with the moil injurious Exprefhons, and 
 carry this Game to the greateil Extremities. This mufl be en- 
 dured with a perfedl Infenfibility : Tofhewon thefe Occafions the 
 leafl Sign of Impatience, would be enough to be judged unworthy 
 of bearing Arms for ever. But when it is pradlifed by People of 
 the fame Age, as it often happens, the AggrefTor mufl be well 
 afTured that he has nothing to account for himfelf, otherwife 
 when the Game is done, he would be obliged to make Amends 
 for the Infult by a Prefent : I fay, when the Game is done ; for 
 all the Time it lafls, they mufl fuffer every Thing without being 
 angry, though the Joke is often carried fo far as to throw Fire- 
 brands at their Heads, and to give them great Blows with a 
 Cudgel. 
 
 As the Hope of being cured of their Wounds, if they have the 
 
 rr', r, *• Misfortune to receive any, does not contri- 
 
 V he Precautions , . .-., . -J in r 
 
 r , i , bute a little to engage the braveft to expofe 
 
 for the wounded. «i r-t „ ,! . r ° ° ,. n -r, r r 
 
 J themfelves to the greateil Dangers, after 
 
 what I have related, they prepare Drugs, about which their 
 
 Jugglers are employed. I fhall tell you another Time what Sort 
 
 of People thefe Jugglers are. All the Village being aiTembled, 
 
 one of thefe Quacks declares that he is going to communicate 
 
 to the Roots and Plants, of which he has made a good Provi- 
 
 fion, the Virtue of healing all Sorts of Wounds, and even of re- 
 
 floring Life to the dead. Immediately he begins to fing, o- 
 
 ther Jugglers anfwer him ; and they fuppcfe that during the 
 
 Concert, which you may imagine is not very harmonious, and 
 
 which is accompanied with many Grimaces of the Actors, the 
 
 healing Virtue is communicated to the Drugs. The principal 
 
 Juggle*
 
 Travels in North America. 141 
 
 Juggler proves them afterwards : He begins by making his Lips 
 bleed, he applies his Remedy ; the Blood, which the Impoftor 
 takes Care to fuck in dexteroufly, ceafes to run, and they cry 
 out a Miracle! After this betakes a dead Animal, he gives 
 the Company Time enough to be well afTured that he is dead, 
 then by the Means of a Pipe which he has thruft under the Tail, 
 he caufes it to move, in blowing fome Herbs into its Mouth, and 
 their Cries of Admiration are redoubled. Laftly, all the Troop 
 of Jugglers go round the Cabins finging the Virtue of their Me- 
 dicines. Thefe Artifices at the Bottom do not impofe on any 
 one ; but they amufe the Multitude, and Cuilom mull be fol- 
 lowed. 
 
 There is another Cuftom peculiar to the Miamis, and perhaps 
 „ . ■ to fome Nations in the Neighbourhood of 
 
 CufiZs Part ot " th Loui f tana ' l had thefe Par ticul ars from a French- 
 
 uj cms oj .e man ^ w h was a "Witnefs of them. After a 
 
 lamis pie- f i emn pg^ thev placed, faid he, on a Kind 
 
 pare tbmfelves for of A] ^ {omQ p agods made wkh Bear skin ^ 
 
 the Heads of which were painted green. All 
 the Savages pafled this Altar bowing their Knees, and the Jug- 
 glers lead the Van, holding in their Hands a Sack which con- 
 tained all the Things which they ufe in their Conjurations. 
 They all ftrove to exceed each other in their Contorfions, and 
 as any one difHnguifhed himfelf in this Way, they applauded 
 him with great Shouts. When they had thus paid their firfl 
 Homage to the Idol, all the People danced in much Confufion, 
 to the Sound of a Drum and a Chkhicouc ; and during this Time 
 the Jugglers made a Shew of bewitching fome of the Savages, who 
 feemed ready to expire : Then putting a certain Powder upon 
 their Lips, they made them recover. When this Farce had 
 lafled fome Time, he who prefided at the Fealt, having at his 
 Sides two Men and two Women, run through all the Cabins to 
 give the Savages Notice that the Sacrifices were going to begin. 
 When he met any one in his Way, he put both his Hands 
 on his"Head, and the Perfon met embraced his Knees. The Vic- 
 tims were to be Dogs, and one heard on every Side the Cries 
 of thefe Animals, whofe Throats they cut ; and the Savages, 
 who howled with all their Strength, feemed to imitate their Cries. 
 As foon as the Flefh was drefled, they offered it to the Idols ; 
 then they eat it, and burnt the Bones. All this while the Jugglers 
 never ceafed raifing the pretended dead, and the whole ended by 
 the Distribution that was made to thefe Quacks, of whatever was 
 found moil to their Liking in all the .ViHage. 
 
 From
 
 142 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 From the Time th.it the Refolution is taken to make War, 
 . n r . . till the Departure of the Warriors, they fing 
 
 A Defcnption of their War . Songs eV ery Night : The Days 
 the Racquets for are ffed in maki p re p ara tions. They 
 walhng upon toe d fome Warrlors to t0 fir , g the War . 
 
 Snow -; and of the ^ amon ait their Neighbours and Allies, 
 Sledges for carry- ^ m ± beforehand by fecret Ne- 
 
 sng the Baggage. gociationg> If ^ hcy ar g t0 go by Water, they 
 build, or repair their Canoes : If it is Winter they furnifh them- 
 felves with Snow Shoes and Sledges, The Raquets which they 
 muft have to walk on the Snow are about three Feet long, and 
 about fifteen or fixteen Inches in their greateft Breadth. Their 
 Shape is oval, excepting the End behind, which terminates in a 
 Point; little Sticks placed acrofs at five or fix Inches from each 
 End, ferve to flrengthen them, and the Piece which is before is 
 in the Shape of a Bow, where the Foot is fixed, and tied with 
 Leather Thongs. The Binding of the Raquet is made of Slips of 
 Leather about a fixth Part of an Inch wide, and the Circumference 
 is of light Wood hardened by Fire. To walk well with thefe Ra- 
 quets, they muft turn their Knees a little inwards, and keep their 
 Legs wide afunder. It is fome Trouble to accuftom ones fell" 
 to it, but when one is ufed to it, one walks with as much Eafe 
 .and as little Fatigue as if one had nothing on ones Feet. It is 
 not pofiible to ufe the Raquets with our common Shoes, we 
 snuft take thofe of the Savages, which are a Kind of Socks, made 
 cf Skins dried in the Smoke, folded over at the End of the root, 
 
 I tied with Strings. The Sledges which ferve to carry 
 Baggage, and in Cafe of Need the fick and wounded, are two lit- 
 tle Boards, very thin, about half a Foot broad each Board, and fix 
 or feven Feet long. The fore Part is a little bent upwards, and the 
 Sides are bordered by little Bands, to which they fafr.cn Straps 
 to bind what is upon the Sledge. However loaded thefe Car- 
 riages may be, a Savage can draw them with Eafe by the Help 
 of a long Band of Leather, which he puts over his Breaft, and 
 which they call Collars. They draw Burdens this Way, and the 
 Mothers ufe them to carry Children with their Cradles, but 
 then it is over their Foreheads that the Band is fixed. 
 All Things being ready, and the Day of Departure being come, 
 
 _ . they take their Leave with great Demonftra- 
 
 The Fare-well of d<m of real Tendernefs . Every Body de- 
 vf the ff amors. fires fomething that h as been ufed by the 
 Warriors, and in Return give them fome Pledges of their Friend- 
 ship, and AfTurances of a perpetual Remembrance. They fcarce 
 enter any Cabin, but they take away their Robe to give them a 
 better, at leaft one as good. Laftly, they all meet at the Cabin 
 of the Chief ; They find him armed as he was the firft Day he 
 
 ipoke
 
 travels in North America. 143 
 
 fpoke to them ; and as he always appeared in publick from 
 that Day. They then paint their Faces, every one according 
 to his own Fancy, and all of them in a very frightful Manner. 
 The Chief makes them a fliort Speech ; then he comes out of 
 his Cabin, finging his Song of Death : They all follow him in a 
 Line, keeping a profound Silence, and they do the fame every 
 Morning when they renew their March. Here the Women go 
 before with the Provifions ; and when the Warriors come up with 
 them, they give them their Clothes, and remain almonVnaked, at 
 leall as much as the Seafon will permit. 
 
 Formerly the Arms of thefe People were Bows and Arrows, 
 _ , . 'j' and a Kind of Javelin; which, as well as 
 
 Uf en 1 . , their Arrows, was armed with a Point of 
 tffenfiveandaefen- Bone WJ . ought in different Shapes. Befides 
 ft' ve ' this, they had what they call the Head- 
 
 breaker : This is a little Club of very hard "Wood, the Head of 
 which is round, and has one Side with an Edge to cut. The 
 greater! Part have no defeniive Arms ; but when they attack an 
 lntrenchment, they cover their whole Body with little light 
 Boards : Some have a Sort of Cuirafs made of Ruihes, or fmall 
 pliable Sticks, pretty well wrought : They had alfo Defences 
 for their Arms and Thighs of the fr.me Matter. But as this 
 Armour was not found to be Proof againlt Fire Arms, they have 
 left it off, and ufe nothing in its Stead. The Weilern Savages 
 always make Ufe of Bucklers of Bulls Hides, which are very 
 light, and which a Mufket-Ball will not pierce. It is fomething 
 furprifing that the other Nations do not ufe them. 
 
 When they make Ufe of our Swords, which is very feldom, 
 they ufe them like Spontoons ; but when they can get Guns, 
 and Powder, and Ball, theylayafide their Bows and Arrows, and 
 fhoot very well. We have often had Reafon to repent of letting 
 them have any Fire Arms ; but it was not we who firft did it : 
 The Iroquois having got fome of the Dutch, then in Poffefhon of 
 Ne<w York, we were under a Neceffity of giving the fame to our 
 Allies. Thefe Savages have a Kind of Enfigns to know one 
 another, and to rally by : Thefe are little Pieces of Bark cut 
 round, which they put on the Top of a Pole, and on which they 
 have traced the Mark of their Nation, and of their Village. Jf 
 the Party is numerous, each Family or Tribe has its Enfign with 
 its diftinguifhing Mark : Their Arms are alfo diflinguifhed with 
 different Figures, and fometimes with a particular Mark of the 
 Chief. 
 
 But what the Savages would Hill lefs forget than their Arras, 
 
 Of the Care a which they have the greateft Care about 
 
 *&_*.*» m m,'rv the >' are ca pable of, are 'their Manitcus. \ 
 
 - n~*;.. ina11 iP ea k of them more larocly in another 
 
 - Deities* r>i „ t. r a: /• 1 1 . 
 
 Place : itiumces to (ay here, that they ai - 
 
 the
 
 144 ^ n Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 the Symbols under which every one reprefents his familiar Spi- 
 rit. They put them into a Sack, painted of various Colours ; 
 and often, to do Honour to the Chief, they place this Sack in the 
 fore Part of his Canoe. If there are too many Manitous to be 
 contained in one Sack, they diftribute them into feveral, which 
 are entrufted to the Keeping of the Lieutenant and the Elders 
 of each Family : They put with thefe the Prefents which 
 have been made to have Prifoners, with the Tongues of all 
 the Animals they have killed during the Campaign, and of 
 which they muft make a Sacrifice to the Spirits at their Return. 
 
 In their Marches by Land, the Chief carries his Sackhimfelf, 
 which he calls his Mat ; but he may eafe himfelf of this Bur- 
 then, by giving it to any one he chufes ; and he need not fear 
 that any Perfon mould refufe to relieve him, becaufe this carries 
 with it a Mark of Diftinaion. This is, as it were, a Right of 
 Reverfion to the Command, in Cafe the Chief and his Lieute- 
 nant mould die during the Campaign. 
 
 But whilft I am writing to you, Madam, I am arrived in the 
 River of Niagara, where I am going to find good Company, and 
 where I fhall flay fome Days. I departed from the River of Sa- 
 bles the 21ft, before Sun-rife ; but the Wind continuing againft 
 us, we were obliged at Ten o'Clock to enter the Bay of the 
 \fonnontbcuans. Half Way from the River of Sables to this Bay, 
 there is a little River, which I would not have failed to have vi- 
 fited, if I had been fooner informed of its Singularity, and of 
 what I have juft now learnt on my arriving here. 
 
 They call this River Cafconcbiagon : It is very narrow, and of 
 . „. little Depth at its Entrance into the Lake. 
 
 Vftbe Kiyer A j.^ hi hej . f it is one hundred and forty 
 of Laiconcnia- Yards ^^ and they fay k is deep enotlgh 
 
 £ on# for the largeft Veflels. Two Leagues from 
 
 its Mouth, we are flopped by a Fall which appears to be fixty 
 Feet high, and one hundred and forty Yards wide. A Mufket 
 Shot higher, we find a fecond of the fame Width, but not fo 
 high by two thirds. Half a League further, a third, one hun- 
 dred Feet high, good Meafure, and two hundred Yards wide. 
 After this, we meet with feveral Torrents ; and after having 
 failed fifty Leagues further, we perceive a fourth Fall, every 
 Way equal to the third. The Courfe of this River is one hun- 
 dred Leagues; and when we have gone up it about fixty Leagues, 
 we have but ten to go by Land, taking to the Right, to arrive at 
 the Ohio, called La belle Riviere : The Place where we meet with 
 it, is called Ganos ; where an Officer worthy of Credit (a), and 
 
 (a) M. de Jwcaire, at prefent a Captain in the Troops of Ke<iv France. 
 
 o the
 
 Travels in North America. 1 45 
 
 the fame from whom I learnt what I have jud now mentioned, 
 a Mured me that he had feen a Fountain, the Water of which is 
 like Oil, and has the Tarte of Iron. He faid alio, that a little 
 further there is another Fountain exactly like it, and that the 
 Savages make Ufe of its Water to appeafe all Manner of Pains. 
 
 The Bay of the Tfonnonthouans is a charming Place : A pretty 
 . n - . . r River winds here between two fine Meadows, 
 
 A Vcjcnption oj bordered vvith lktle Hilhj betwe en which we 
 the Bay of the jifcover Vallies which extend a great Wav, 
 Tfonnonthouans. and the whole forms the fineft ProfpecT: iff 
 the World, bounded by a great Forell of high Trees ; but the 
 Soil appears to me to be fomething light and fandy. 
 
 We continued our Courfe at half an Hour pair. One, and we 
 failed till Ten o'Clock at Night. We intended to go into a 
 little River which they called La Riviere aux Bceufs, (Ox River) ; 
 but we found the Entrance ihut up by Sands, which often happens 
 to the little Rivers which run into the Lakes, becaufe they 
 bring down with them much Sand ; and when the Wind comes 
 from the Lakes, thefe Sands are ftopped by the Waves, and form 
 by Degrees a Bank fo high and fo ftrong, that thefe Rivers can- 
 not break through it, unlefs it be when their Waters are fwelled 
 by the melting of the Snow. 
 
 I was therefore obliged to pafs the reft of the Night in my 
 
 n , „. Canoe, where I was forced to endure a pretty 
 
 , T . J fharp Froft. Indeed one could fcarcely here 
 
 °' " * perceive the Shrubs begin to bud : All the 
 
 Trees were as bare as in the Midft of Winter. We departed from 
 thence at half an Hour paft Three in the Morning, the 22d, be- 
 ing Afcenjion-Day, and I went to fay Mafs at Nine o'Clock in 
 what they call le Grand Marais, (the great Marfi>). This is a 
 Bay much like that of the Tfonnonthouans, but the Land here ap- 
 peared to me not to be fo good. About Two in the Afternoon we 
 entered into the River Niagara, formed by the great Fall which 
 I {hall mention prefently ; or rather, it is the River St. Laurence, 
 which comes out of the Lake Erie, and partes through the Lake 
 Ontario, after a Streight of fourteen Leagues. They call it the 
 River of Niagara from the Fall, and this Space is about fix 
 Leagues. We go South at the Entrance. When we have made three 
 Leagues, we find upon the Left Hand fome Cabins of Iroquois 
 Tfonnonthouans, and fome MiJ/ifaguez, as at Catarocoui. The Sieur 
 Joncairty a Lieutenant in our Troops, has alfo a Cabin here, to 
 which they give before-hand the Name of Fort (a) ; for they 
 fay that in Time it will be changed into a real Fortrefs. 
 
 (a) The Foi t has been built fince at the Entrance of the River Niagara, 
 on the fame Side, and exactly in the Place where M. dc Dernn-vMh had built 
 one, which did not fublift a long Time. There is alfo here the Beginnings 
 ef a French Village. 
 
 U I fjund
 
 146 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 I found here fcveral Officers, who muft return in a few Days 
 to Quebec, which obliges me to clofe this Letter, that I may fend 
 it by this Opportunity. As for myfelf, I forefee I fliall have 
 Time enough after their Depai cure to write you another ; and the 
 Place itfelf will furnifh me with enough to fill it, with that 
 which I fhall learn farther from the Officers I have mentioned. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 What paffed between the Tfonnonthouans and the Englifh, on the Oc- 
 cajjon of our Settlement at Niagara. The Fire-Dance : A Story 
 en this Occajion. A Defcription of the Fall of Niagara. 
 
 Madam, Fall of Niagara, 3% 26. 
 
 I Have already had the Honour to inform you that we have 
 here a Project of a Settlement. To understand well the Oc- 
 cafion of it, you muft know, that by Virtue of the Treaty of 
 Utrecht, the Englijh pretend to have a Right to the Sovereignty 
 of all the Country of the Iroquois, and of Confequence to have 
 no Bounds on that Side but the Lake Ontario. Neverthelefs, it 
 was conceived that if their Pretenfions took Place, it would 
 foon be in their Power to fettle themfelves ftrongly in the Cen- 
 tre of the French Colony, or at leaft to ruin their Trade entirely. 
 It was therefore thought proper to guard againft this Inconveni- 
 ence ; neverthelefs, without any Infringement of the Treaty : 
 And there was no Method found better than to feat ourfelves in 
 a Place which mould fecure to us the free Communication of the 
 Lakes, and where the Englijh had no Power to oppofe our Set- 
 tlement. The Commiffion for this Purpofe was given to M. de 
 Joncaire ; who having been a Prifoner in his Youth amongft the 
 Tfonnonthouans, gained fo much the Favour of thefe Savages, 
 that they adopted him : And even in the greateft Heat cf the 
 Wars which we have had againft them, in which he ferved very 
 honourably, he has always enjoyed the Privileges of his Adop- 
 tion. 
 
 As foon as M. de Joncaire received his Orders for the Execu- 
 cution of the Project I have mentioned, he went to the Tfonnon- 
 thouans; and aflembled the Chiefs ; and after having aftured them 
 that he had no greater Pleafure in the World than to live among 
 his Brethren, he added alfo, that he would vifit them much 
 oftener, if he had a Cabin among them, where he might retire 
 when he wanted to enjoy his Liberty. They replied, that they had 
 
 never
 
 Travels in North America* 147 
 
 never ceafed to look upon him as one of their Children ; that 
 he might live in any Place, and that he might chufe the Place 
 that he judged molt convenient. He required no more : He 
 came directly here, fixed upon a Spot by the Side of the River 
 that terminates the Canton of the Tfonnontbouans, and built a Ca- 
 bin upon it. The News was foon carried to New Tori, and 
 caufed there fo much the more Jealoufy, as the Englijh had never 
 been able to obtain in any of the Iroquois Cantons what was now 
 granted to the Sieur Joncaire. 
 
 They complained in a haughty Manner, and their Complaints 
 
 <ru v rn, were fupported by Prefents, which brought 
 
 Ibelngixihop- the oth£r four Cantons intQ thdr Jnterclt . 
 
 without Em But this fl 3 nified . nothing, becaufe the **. 
 
 •v ec quois Cantons are independent of each other, 
 
 and very jealous of this Independence : It was therefore ne- 
 ceflary to gain the Tfonnontbouans, and the Englijh left no Means 
 untried for this Purpofe ; but they foon perceived that they 
 mould never fucceed in diflodging M. de Joncaire from Niagara. 
 Then they reduced their Terms to this Requeil, that at lealt they 
 might be permitted to have a Cabin in the fame Place. " Our 
 " Land is in Peace, (faid the Tfonnontbouans to them) the French 
 " and you cannot live together without diilurbing it : Fur« 
 " thermore, (added they} it is of no Confequence that M. dejon- 
 " caire dwells here ; he is a Child of the Nation ; he enjoys 
 f* his Right, raid we have no Right to deprive him of it." 
 We mult allow, Madam, that there is fcarce any Thing but a 
 
 n . . . _ Zeal for the public Good that can engage 
 Description x Bt ^ officej . tQ ^ ]r a Country like tMs> j t 
 
 oun ry oj - g mi p {fj D { £ t0 f ee one more favage and 
 
 a S ara frightful. On one Side we fee under our 
 
 Feet, and as it were in the Bottom of an Abyfs, a great River 
 indeed ; but \thich, in this Place, refembles more a Torrent by 
 its Rapidity, and by the Whirlpools which a thoufand Rocks 
 make in it, through which it has much Difficulty to find a Paf- 
 fage, and by the Foam with which it is always covered. On 
 the other Side, the View is covered by three Mountains fet one 
 upon another, the laft of which lofes itfelf in the Clouds ; and 
 the Poets might well have faid, that it was in this Place the Ti- 
 tans would have fcaled Heaven. In ihort, which Way foever 
 you turn your Eyes, you do not difcover any Thing but what in- 
 ipires a fecret Horror. 
 
 It is true that we need not go far to fee a great Change. 
 Behind thefe wild and uninhabitable Mountains we fee a rich 
 Soil, magnificent Forelts, pleafant and fruitful Hills : We 
 breathe a pure Air, and enjoy a temperate Climate, between two 
 
 U 2 Lakt-i,
 
 148 An Historical Journal of 
 
 :es, the leaft (a) of which is two hundred and fifty Leagues 
 in Compafs. 
 
 It appears to me, that if we had had the Precaution to have 
 fecored ourfelv. by a good Fortrefs, and by a moderate 
 
 peopling of a Pcil of this T mportance, all the Forces of the 
 Ir :. ana : ~ '.- oined together, would not be capable at 
 ing us cut of it, and that we fhould be our- 
 felvesin a Condition to gi e Lav - to the firft, and to hinder the 
 greateft Part of the Savages from carrying their Peltry to the 
 fecond, as they do with Impunity,- every Day, 
 
 The Company which I found here with hi. de jcncaire, was 
 compofed of the Baron de Longueil, the King's Lieutenant at 
 Montreal, and the Marqui ~nal, Sen of the Marquis de 
 
 VaudreuV., the prefent Governor General of New France, and of 
 . Captain, and the Sieur de la Chat ie, En- 
 
 iign, and the K Interpreter for the I Language. Thefe 
 
 Gentlemen are going to negeciate an Accommodation with the 
 Canton of /, and had Orders to vifit the Settlement of 
 
 M. de Jcr.:a:r c , with which they were very well fatisfied. The 
 % . renewed" to them the Promife thty had made to fup- 
 
 port him. This was done in a Council ; where M. <U Jcncaire, 
 as I have been told, fpoke with all the Senfe of the moft fenfible 
 Frenchman, and with the moft fublime / hoquence. 
 
 The Night before their Departure, that is te . the 24th, a 
 
 - ituj gave us an Entertainment which is 
 
 *h, FirpT>!rl fomething lingular. He was quite naked when 
 
 it began ; and when we entered the Caoin 
 
 of this Savage, we found a Fire lighted, near which a Man beat 
 
 (finging at the fame Time) upon a Kind of Drum : Another (hook, 
 
 lont ceding his C : :/.:':■:, and fang alio. This lafted two 
 Hoars, till we were quite tired of it ; for they (kid always the 
 lame rhing, or rather they formed Sounds that were but half 
 articulate, without any Variation. We begged of the Mafter of 
 the Cabin to put an End to this Prelude, and it was with much 
 Reluctance : u this I lark of his Complaifance. Then 
 
 wefawapp;- fix Women; who placing themfelves Side 
 
 by Side en the fame Line, as clofe as they could to each o: 
 
 l their Arms hax p a, fung and danced, that is tt 
 
 without breaking the Line, they made feme Steps in Cadence, 
 fometimes :" . and fometimes backward. When they had 
 
 inued this about a Quarter of an Hour, they put out the 
 Fire, which alone gave Light to the Cabin ; and then we (aw 
 nothing but a Savage, who had in his Mouth a lighted Coal, 
 and who danced. The Symphony of the Drum and the Chi 
 
 kotte 
 fm) The Lake C ..■_- is, The Lake Erieis three hundred Leagues in Ccmpafs-
 
 Travels in North America. 149 
 
 hone ftill continued. The Women renewed from Time to Time 
 their Dances and their Song. The Savage danced all the Time; 
 but as he was only to be dillinguilhed by the faint Gloom of the 
 lighted Coal which he had in his Mouth, he appeared like a 
 Spectre, and made a horrible Sight. This Mixture or 1 
 Songs, Internments, and the Fire of the Coal which ftill kept 
 lighted, had fomething odd and favage, which arnufed us for 
 half an Hour ; after which we went out of the Cabi.i, but the 
 Sport continued till Day-light. And this is all, Madam, that I 
 have feen of the Fire-Dance. I could never learn what p; 
 the reft of the Night. The Mufick, which I heard ftill I 
 
 e 
 
 Time, was more tolerable at a Diftance than near. The C 
 
 trail of the Voices of the Men and Women, at a certain Di- 
 
 ftance, had an Effect that was pretty enough ; and one may fay, 
 
 that if the Women Savages had a wood Manner of finding-, it 
 
 would be a Pleafure to hear them ling. 
 
 I had a great Delirc to know how a Man could hold a ligh: 
 
 „ „ , . Coal fo long- in his Mouth, without burnine 
 
 A Story on this i ■*? . . ■ • • - ■, , , 6 
 
 ,. J it, and without its being; extinguiflied ; but 
 
 bu - all that I could learn of it was, that the Sa- 
 
 vages know a Plant which fecures the Part that is rubbed v 
 it from being burnt, and that they would never c: 
 the Knowledge of it to the £ We kne Jarlick 
 
 and Onions will produce the lame Effect, but then it is c: 
 fhortTime (a). On the other Hand, how could this Coal conti- 
 nue fo long on Fire r However this may be, I remember to have 
 read in the Letters of one of our antient Miflionaries of Ca 
 fomething like this, and which he had from another 
 who was a Witnefs thereof. This laft ihewed him one D a 
 Stone, which a Juggler had thrown into the Fire in hi» Prefence, 
 and left it there till it was thoroughly heated ; af ich, 
 
 growing, as it were furious, he took it between his Teeth, and 
 carrying it all the Way thus, he went to fee a fick Perfo::, whi- 
 ther the Miffionary followed him. Upon entering the Cabin, he 
 threw the Stone upon the Ground; and the Miffionary having 
 taken it up, he found printed in it the Marks of the Teeth of 
 the Savage, in whofe Mouth he perceived no Marks of Burning. 
 The Miffionary does not fay what the Juggler did afterwards 
 
 for the Relief of the fick Perfon. The following is a Fact of 
 
 the fame Kind, which comes from the fame Source, and of 
 which you may make what Judgment ; ou u'-.afe. 
 
 fa) They fay that the Leaf of the riant of tie Anemony of Cat -. 
 fhoughof acauftkk Nature in itfelf, lias this Virtue. 
 
 o A Huron
 
 ifjo An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 A Huron Woman, after a Dream, real or imaginary, was taken 
 Another remark- wIth \ f™«™» of the Head, and almoft a 
 able Story of a g eneral Contra&ion of the Sinews. As from 
 q l J J the Beginning of this Diftemper fhe never 
 
 flept without a great Number of Dreams, 
 which troubled her much, fhe gaeffed there was fome Myftery in 
 it, and took it into her Head that fhe mould be cured by Means 
 of a Feaft ; of which fhe regulated herfelf the Ceremonies, ac- 
 cording to what fhe remembered, as fhe faid, of what fhe had 
 feen pra&ifed before. She defired that they would carry her 
 directly to the Village where fhe was born ; and the Elders whom 
 Hie acquainted with herDefign, exhorted all the People toaccom- 
 pany her. In a Moment her Cabin was filled with People, who 
 came to offer their Services : She accepted them, and inftru&ed 
 them what they were to do ; and immediately the ftrongeft put 
 her into a Bafket, and carried her by Turns, finging with all their 
 Strength. 
 
 When it was known fhe was near the Village, they affembled a 
 great Council, and out of Refpeft they invited the Miffionaries 
 to it, who in vain did every Thing in their Power to diffuade 
 them from a Thing in which they had Reafon to fufpedl there 
 was as much Superftition as Folly. They liilened quietly to all 
 they could fay on this Subject ; but when they had done fpeak- 
 ing, one of the Chiefs of the Council undertook to refute their 
 Difcourfc : He could not effeft this ; but fetting afide the Mif- 
 fionaries, he exhorted all the People to acquit themfelves exactly 
 of all that fhould be ordered, and to maintain the antient Cuf- 
 toms. Whilft he was fpeaking, two MefTengers from the fick 
 Perfon entered the AiTembly, and brought News that fhe would 
 foon arrive ; and defired, at her Requeft, that they would fend to 
 meet her two Boys and two Girls, dreffed in Robes and Necklaces, 
 withfuchPrefents as fhe named ; adding, that fhe would declare her 
 Intentions to thefe four Perfons. All this was performed imme- 
 diately ; and a little Time after, the four young Perfons return'd 
 with their Hands empty, and almoft naked, the fick Woman 
 having obliged them to give her every Thing, even to their 
 Robes. In this Condition they entered into the Council, which 
 was flill affembled, and there explained the Demands of this Wo- 
 man : They contained twenty-two Articles ; amongft which was 
 a blue Coverlet, which was to be fupplied by the Miffionaries ; 
 and all thefe Things were to be delivered immediately : They 
 tried all Means to obtain the Coverlet, but were conftantly re- 
 fufed, and they were obliged to go without it. As foon as the 
 fick Woman had received the other Prefents, fhe entered the Vil- 
 lage, carried in the Manner as before. In the Evening a public 
 Cryer gave Notice, by her Order, to keep Fires lighted in all the 
 
 Cabins,
 
 Travels in North America. 15 r 
 
 Cabins, becaufe fhe was to vifit them all ; which fhe did as foon 
 as the Sun was fet, fupported by two Men, and followed by all 
 the Village. She patted through the Midft of all the Fires, her 
 Feet and her Legs being naked, and felt no Pain ; whilft her 
 two Supporters, though they kept as far from the Fires as they 
 poffibly could, fuffered much by them ; for they were to lead her 
 thus through more than three hundred Fires. As for the fick 
 Woman, they never heard her complain but of Cold ; and at 
 the End of this Courfe, fhe declared that fhe found herfelf eafed. 
 
 The next Day, at Sun-rife, they began, by her Order ftill, a 
 Sort of Bacchanal, which laited three Days : The firfl Day the 
 People ran through all the Cabins, breaking and overfetting 
 every Thing ; and by Degrees, as the Noife and Hurly-burly en- 
 creafed, the fick Woman affured them that her Pains diminifhed. 
 The two next Days were employed in going over all the 
 Hearths fhe had patted before ; and in propofmg her Defiles in 
 enigmatical Terms ; they were to find them out by Guefs, and 
 accomplifh them direftly. There were fome of them horribly 
 obfeene. The fourth Day the fick Woman made a fecond Vifit to 
 all the Cabins, but in a different Manner from the firft : She was 
 in the Midft of two Bands of Savages, who marched in a Row 
 with a fad and languishing Air, and kept a profound Silence: They 
 fuffered no Perfon to come in her Way ; and thofe who were at 
 the Head of her Efcort, took Care to drive all thofe away that 
 they met. As foon as the fick Woman was entered into a Cabin, 
 they made her fit down, and they placed themfelver round her : 
 She fighed, and gave an Account of her Sufferings in a very af- 
 fedling Tone, and made them to underftand that her perfect Cure 
 depended on the Accomplifhmentof her Defire, which fhe did not 
 explain, but they muft guefs : Every one did the beft they could ; 
 but this Defire was very complicated : It contained many 
 Things : As they named any one, they were obliged to give it 
 her, and in general fhe never went out of a Cabin till fhe had got 
 every Thing in it. When fhe faw that they could not guefs 
 right, fhe exprefl'ed herfelf more plainly ; and when they had 
 guefled all, fhe caufed every Thing to be reftored which fhe had 
 received. Then they no longer doubted but that fhe was cured. 
 They made a Feaft, which confifted in Cries, or rather frightful 
 Howlings, and in all Sorts of extravagant Aftions. Laftly, fhe 
 returned Thanks ; and the better to fhewher Acknowledgment, 
 fhe vifited a third Time all the Cabins, but without any Cere- 
 mony. 
 
 The Miffionary who was prefent at this ridiculous Scene fays, 
 that fhe was not entirely cured, but was much better than be- 
 fore : Neverthelefs, a ftrong and healthy Perfon would have 
 been killed by this Ceremony. This Father took Care to ob- 
 
 ferve
 
 152 An Hiftorical yournal of 
 
 Curve to them, that her pretended Genius had promifed her a 
 perfect Cure, and had not kept his Word. They replied, that 
 in fuch a great Number of Things commanded, it was very 
 difficult not to have omitted one. He expetted that they would 
 have infilled principally on the Refufal of the Coverlet ; and in 
 Facl they did juft mention it ; but they added, that after 
 this Refufal the Genius appeared to the fick Woman, and afuired 
 her that this Incident mould not do her any Prejudice, be- 
 caufe as the French were not the natural Inhabitants of the 
 Country, the Genii had no Power over them. But to re- 
 turn to my Journey. 
 
 When our Officers went away, I afcended thofe frightful 
 t\ r -J.*- r- Mountains I fpoke of, to po to the famous 
 
 ±1 v < 11 r tvt- -r ali °r hiazara, above which I was to em- 
 
 tbe t all of JNia- » , <-n,- a T ' -.it t.. 
 
 J bark. 1 his Journey is three Leagues: It 
 
 ® * was formerly five, becaufe they patted to the 
 
 other Side of the River ; that is to Jay, to the Weft, and they 
 did not re-embark but at two Leagues above the Fall : But they 
 have found on the Left, about half a Mile from this Cataraft, a 
 Bay where the Current is not perceiveable, and of Confequence 
 where one may embark without Danger. My firft Care, at my Ar- 
 rival, was to vifit the fined Cafcade perhaps in the World ; but I 
 direclly found the Baron de la Hunt an was miftaken, both as to its 
 Height and its Form, in fuch a Manner as to make me think he 
 had never feen it. It is certain that if we meafure its Height 
 by the three Mountains which we muft firft pafs over, there is 
 not much to bate of the fix hundred Feet which the Map of M. 
 Delijle gives it ; who, without Doubt, did not advance this Pa- 
 radox, but on the Credit of Baron de la Hontan and Father Hen- 
 nepin. But after, I arrived at the Top cf the third Mountain, I 
 obfervedthat in the Space of the three Leagues, which I travelled 
 afterwards to this Fall of Water, tho' we muft fometimes afcend, 
 we defcended ftill more ; and this is what thefe Travellers 
 do not feem to have well confidered. As we cannot approach 
 the Cafcade but by the Side, nor fee it but in Profile, it is not 
 cafy to meafure it with Inftruments : We tried to do it with a 
 long Cord faftened to a Pole ; and after we had often tried this 
 Way, we found the Depth but one hundred and fifteen, or one 
 hundred and twenty Feet: But we could not be fure that the Pole 
 was not flopped by fotne Rock which juts out ; for although 
 it was always drawn up wet, as alfo the End of the Cord to 
 which it was faftened, this proves nothing, becaufe the Water 
 which falls from the Mountain rebounds very high in a Foam. 
 As for mvfelf, after I had viewed it from all the Places where 
 one may examine it rnoft eafily, I judged one could not give it 
 lef, than one hundred and forty, or one hundred and fifty Feet. 
 
 /\S
 
 Travels in North America. 153 
 
 As to its Shape, it is in the Form of a Horfe-lhoe, and about 
 four hundred Paces in Circumference ; but exa&ly in the Mid- 
 dle it is divided into two by a very narrow Iflartd about half a. 
 Mile long, which comes to a Point here. But thefe two Parts 
 do foon unite again : That which was on my Side, and which is 
 only fcen in Profile, has feveral Points which jut out; but that 
 which I faw in Front, appeared to me very fmooth. The Baron. 
 de la Hontan adds to this a Torrerit which comes from the 
 Weft; but if this was not invented by the Author, we rauft 
 fay that in the Time of the Snow's melting, the Waters come 
 to difcharge themfelves here by fome Gutter. 
 
 You may very well fuppofe, Madam, that below this Fall the 
 River is for a long Way affefted by this rude Shock, and indeed 
 it is not navigable but at three Leagues Diftance, and exaftly at 
 the Place where M. de Joncaire is fituated. One would imagine 
 it fhould not be lefs navigable higher up, fince the River falls 
 here perpendicularly in its whole Breadth. But befides this Ifle, 
 which divides it in two, feveral Shelves fcattered here and there 
 at the Sides of, and above this Ifland, much abate the Rapidity 
 of the Current". It is nevertheless fo ftrong, notwithftanding all 
 this, that ten or twelve Outaouais endeavouring one Day to crof* 
 the Ifland, tofhun fome Iroquois whopurfued them, were carried 
 away with the Current down the Precipice, in Spite of what- 
 ever Struggles they could make to avoid it. 
 
 I have been told that the Fifli that are brought int6 
 
 ~, r this Current, are killed thereby, and that 
 
 Observations on ^ s < s fetded in thefe Pam make an 
 
 this Lajcade. Advantage of it ; but I faw no fuch Thing. 
 
 I have alfo been affured, that the Birds that attempted to flyover 
 it, were fometimes drawn into the Vortex which was formed 
 in the Air by the Violence of this Torrent ; but I obferved 
 quite the contrary. I faw fome little Birds flying about, direclly 
 over the Fall, which came away without any Difficulty. This 
 Sheet of Water is received upon a Rock ; and two Reafons 
 perfuade me that it has found here, or perhaps has made here by 
 Length of Time, a Cavern which has fome Depth. The firft is, 
 that the Noife it makes is very dead, and like Thunder at a Di- 
 ftance. It is fcarcely to be heard at M. de Jotucire's Cabin, 
 and perhaps alfo what one hears there, is only the dafhing of 
 the Water againft the Rocks, which fill the Bed of the River up 
 to this Place : And the rather, becaufe above the Cataraft the 
 Noife is not heard near fo far. The fecond Reafon is, that no- 
 thing has ever re-appearcd (as they fay) of all that has fallen 
 into it, not even the Wreck of the Canoe of the Outaouais I 
 mentioned juft now. However this may be, Ovid gives us a 
 Defcriptionof fuch a Cataract, which he fays is in the deligh - 
 
 X fa!
 
 i £4 An Historical Journal of 
 
 ful Valley of Tempe. The Country about Niagara is far from 
 being Co fine, but I think its Cataradtis much finer (a). 
 
 For the reft, I perceived no Mift over it, but from behind. At 
 a Diftance one would take it ,jr Smoke; and it would deceive 
 any Perfon that fheuld come in Sight of the Hand, without 
 knowing before-hand that there is fuch a furprifing Cataratt in 
 this Place. The Soil of the three Leagues which I travelled on 
 Foot to come here, and which they call the Portage of Niagara, 
 does not appear good : It is alfo badly wooded ; and one can- 
 not go ten Steps without walking upon an Ant-Hill, or without 
 
 meeting with Rattle-Snakes. 1 believe, Madam, that I 
 
 told you that the Savages eat as a Dainty the Flefh of thefe 
 Reptiles ; and, in general, Serpents do not caufe any Horror to 
 thefe People : There is no Animal, the Form of which is oftener 
 marked upon their Faces, and on other Parts of their Bodies, 
 and they never hunt them but to eat. The Bones and the Skins 
 of Serpents are alfo much ufed by the Jugglers and Sorcerers, 
 to perform their Delufions, and they make themfelves Fillets and 
 Girdles of their Skins. It is alfo true, that they have the Se- 
 cret of enchanting them, or, to fpeak more properly, of be- 
 numbing them ; fo that they take them alive, handle them, 
 and put them in their Bofoms, without receiving any Hurt ; 
 and this helps to confirm the high Opinion thefe People have of 
 them. 
 
 I was going to clofe this Letter, when I was informed that we 
 
 _. fhould not depart To-morrow, as I expected. 
 
 borne Urcum- j muft beaj . {t wkh Patience( and make go0( i 
 
 AT C "l °fJ, Ufe of the Time - l ^all therefore proceed on 
 
 March of the (he ^^ of thg WafS of thg SavageSj 
 
 Warriors, whkh wi]} not be foon fi n ifhed. — As foon as 
 
 all the Warriors are embarked, the Canoes at flrft go a little 
 Way, and range themfelves clofe together upon a Line : Then 
 the Chief rifes up, and holding a Cbicbicoue in his Hand, he 
 thunders out his Song of War, and his Soldiers anfwer him by a 
 treble He, drawn with all their Strength from the Bottom of 
 their Breafts. The Elders and the Chiefs of the Council who 
 remain upon the Shore, exhort the Warriors to behave well, 
 and efpecially not to fuffer themfelves to be furprifed. Of all 
 the Advice that can be given to a Savage, this is the moft ne- 
 ceffary, and that of which in general he makes the leaft Benefit. 
 
 (a) Eft nemus Haemonia? prsrupta quod undiq; claudit 
 Sylva, vocant Tempe, per quas Peneus ab into 
 Effufus Pindo fpumofis volvitur Undis. 
 DejefHfque gravi tenues agitantia Fumos 
 Nubila conducit, fummifque afperginefylvas 
 Jmpluit, & fonitu plufnuam vicina fatigat. 
 V e " This
 
 Travels in North America. 155' 
 
 This Exhortation does not interrupt the Chief, who continues 
 Tinging. Laftly, the Warriors conjure their Relations and Friends 
 not to forget them: Then fending forth all together hideous 
 Howlings, they fet off dire&ly and row with fuch Speed that 
 they are foon out of Sight. 
 
 The Hurous and the Iroquois do not ufe the Cbicbicoue, but 
 they give them to their Prifoners : So that thefe Initruments, 
 which amongft others is an Inftrument of War, feem amongll 
 them to be a Mark of Slavery. The Warriors feldom make any 
 fhort Marches, efpecially when the Troop is numerous. But on 
 the other Hand, they take Prefages from every Thing; and the 
 Jugglers, whofe Bufinefs it is to explain them, haften or retard 
 the Marches at their Pleafure. Whilft they are not in a fuf- 
 pecled Country, they take no Precaution, and frequently one 
 fhall fcarce find two cr three Warriors together, each taking 
 his own Way to hunt ; but how far foever they ftray from the 
 Route, they all return punctually to the Place, and at the Hour, 
 appointed for their Rendezvous. 
 
 They encamp a long Time before Sun-fet, and commonly they 
 
 Ofth '• * * eave De fore the Camp a large Space fur- 
 
 / amp- roun( j e( j with Palifades, or rather a Sort of 
 
 *" Lattice, on which they place their Matiitous, 
 
 turned towards the Place they are going to. They invoke them 
 for an Hour, and they do the fame every Morning before they 
 decamp. After this they think they have nothing to fear, they 
 fuppofe that the Spirits take upon them to be Centinels, and all 
 the Army fleeps quietly under their fuppofed Safeguard. Expe- 
 rience does not undeceive thefe Barbarians, nor bring them out 
 of their prefumptuous Confidence. It has its Source in an In- 
 dolence and Lazinefs which nothing can conquer. 
 
 Every one is an Enemy in the Way of the Warriors ; but ne- 
 
 nr ., verthelefs, if they meet any of their Allies, 
 
 Uf the meeting or ^^ ^^ { ^ Force of PeQ _ 
 
 of Afferent forties p i e with whom they have no Quarrel, they 
 "{ ar ' make Friendfhip with each other. If the Al- 
 
 lies they meet are at War with the fame Enemy, the Chief of 
 the ftrongefl Party, or of that which took up Arms firfr, gives 
 fome Scalps to the other, which they are always provided with 
 for thefe Occafions, and fays to him, " Ycu have done your L 
 ne/s; that is iO fay, you have fulfilled your Engagement, your 
 Honour is fafe, you may return Home." But this is to be un- 
 derftood when the Meeting is accidental, when they have not 
 appointed them, and when they have no Occafion for a Re- 
 inforcement. When they are juft entering upon an Ene- 
 my's Country, they flop for a Ceremony which is fome- 
 thing fingular. At Night they make a great Feait, after 
 which they lay down to fieep : As foon as they are awake, thofe 
 
 X 2 who
 
 i$6 An Historical Journal of 
 
 who have had any Dreams go from Fire to Fire, finging their 
 Song of Death, with which they intermix their Dreams in an 
 enigmatical Manner. Every one racks his Brain to guefs them, 
 and if nobody can do it, thofe who have dreamt are at Liberty 
 to return Home. This gives a fine Opportunity to Cowards. 
 Then they make new Invocations to the Spirits ; they animate 
 each other more than ever to do Wonders ; they fwear to aflift 
 each other, and then they renew their March : And if they 
 came thither by Water, they quit their Canoes, which they 
 hide very carefully. If every Thing was to be obferved that is 
 prefcribed on thefe Occafions, it would be difficult to furprife 
 a Party of War that is entered into an Enemy's Country. They 
 ought to make no more Fires, no more Cries, nor hunt no 
 more, nor even fpeak to each other but by Signs : But thefe 
 Laws are ill obferved. Every Savage is born prefumptuous, and 
 incapable of the leaft Reilraint. They feldom negledt, how- 
 ever, to fend out every Evening forne Rangers, who employ two 
 or three Hours in looking round the Country : If they have feen 
 nothing, they go to fleep quietly, and they leave the Guard 
 of the Camp again to the Manitous. 
 
 As foon as they have difcovered the Enemy, they fend out a 
 Oft'' ' Attb h P art y to reconnoitre them, and on their Re- 
 
 d Ut k P ort t " ie y k°^ a Council. The Attack is 
 
 generally made at Day-break. They fup- 
 pofe the Enemy is at this Time in their deeper! Sleep, and all 
 Night they lie on their Bellies, without Mining. The Ap- 
 proaches are made in the fame Pofcure, crawling on their Feet 
 and Hands till they come to the Place : Then all rife up, the 
 Chief gives the Signal by a little Cry, to which all the Troop 
 anfwers by real Howlings, and they make at the fame Time 
 their firit. Difcharge : Then without giving the Enemy any Time 
 to look about, they fall upon them with their Clubs. In latter 
 Times thefe People have fubftituted little Hatchets, in the Head 
 of thefe wooden Head- breakers , which they call by the fame Name; 
 fince which their Engagements are more bloody. When the 
 Battle is over they take the Scalps of the dead and the dying; 
 and they never think of making Prifoners till the Enemy makes 
 no more Refinance. 
 
 If they find the Enemy on their Guard, or too well intrenched, 
 they retire if they have Time for it ; if not, they take the Refo- 
 lution to fight ftoutly, and there is fometimes much Blood ftied 
 en both Sides. The 'Attack of a Camp is the Image of Fury 
 Itfelf; the barbarous Fiercenefs of the Conquerors, and the De- 
 fpair of the Vanquished, who know what they muft expect, if 
 they fall into the Hands of their Enemies, produce on either 
 Side fuch Efforts as pafs all Defcription. The Appearance of 
 the Combatants all befmcared with black and red, ftill en- 
 
 creafei
 
 Trends h North Am rica. i~- 
 
 creafes the Horror of the Fight ; and from this Pattern one 
 might make a true Pifture of Hell. When the Victory is no 
 longer doubtful, they directly difpatch all thofe whom it would 
 be too troublefome to carry away, and feek only to tire out the 
 reft they intend to make Prifoners. 
 
 The Savages are naturally intrepid, and notwithftanding their 
 brutal Fiercenefs, they yet preferve in the midft of Action much 
 CoolneA. Neverthelefs they never fight in the Field but when they 
 cannot avoid it. Their Reafon is, that a Victory marked 
 Blood of the Conquerors, is not properly a Victory, 
 the Glory of a Chief confifts principally in bringing back iil 
 his People fafe and found. I have been told, that when two 
 Enemies that are accunir.ted rneetin the Fight, 
 pafles between them Dialogues much like that of Homers H 
 roes. I do not think this happens in the Height of the En- 
 gagement ; but it may happe. , -, or per- 
 haps before pafEng a Brook, or forcing an Intrenchment, th_ 
 fay fomething by Way of Defiance, or to call to Mind fome f_ 
 former Rencounter. 
 
 War is commonly made by a Surprize, and It ger ;: V.c- 
 
 ct-l - t a- ■? . ceeds ; for as the Savages very freque 
 
 1 heir lnftiK. , ' . „ *_ * 
 
 , • _ neglect the Precautions neceinrv to lhun a 
 
 bum tie Mark or e ~_ - r r „.. 
 
 _l • r ■ c. « ourprne, lo are the . m 
 
 tbeir tr.crr.iubttps. r ■ .- r~* • ' i_ j v - r. 
 
 r lurpnhr.g. O: nana, thele I 
 
 pie have a wonderful Talent, I might 
 
 if any Perfon has pafled through any Place. On : 
 
 Grafs, on the hardeft Ground, even difcover 
 
 fome Traces, :he Wa jf" 
 
 their Feet, by the Manner they are : each or. 
 
 they diflinguifh, as they fa -3 of dir~ 
 
 and thofe of Men from thofe of Women. I thought a long 
 
 Time that there was fome Exaggeration in this Matter, I 
 
 Reports of thofe who have lived among the Sava 1 
 
 r.:mcus herein, that I fee no Room to doubt of their Sincer' 
 
 Till the Conquerors are in a Country of Safe: ch 
 
 D ,• . forward expedition D 
 Precautions to , ., , , \~~\ , . • ' , 
 
 *l ■ t> < . , ed ihou.„ retard tneirRetr- 
 
 jecure their Retreat , T . ■ , 
 
 ■ j . w .» ■ by turns on Litters, or draw tnem in bledg-es 
 
 ana to keep their . ■ , T .. , * 
 
 p ; r t r in Winter. \\ nen they re-enter :>teir Canoes, 
 
 ' they make their Prifoners ling, and they 
 
 ife the fame Thing every Time they meet any ; an 
 
 Honour which cofts them a Feaft who receive it, and the un- 
 fortunate Captives fomething more than the Trouble c: 
 ing : For they invite the Allies to carefs them, and to 1 
 Prifoner is to do him all thcMifchief they can devife, or to rr. 
 him in fuch a Manner that he is lamed for ever. But th . 1 
 
 nc
 
 X5.3 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 fome Chiefs who take fome Care of thefe Wretches, and do not 
 fuffer them to be too much abufed. But nothing is equal to the 
 Care they take to keep them, by Day they are tied by the Neck, 
 and by the Arms to one of the Bars of the Canoe. When they 
 go by Land there is always one chat holds them ; and at Night 
 they are ftretched upon the Earth quite naked ; fome Cords 
 fattened to Piquets, fixed in the Ground, keep their Legs, Arms, 
 and Necks fo confined that they cannot ftir, and fome long Cords 
 alfo confine their Hands and Feet, in fuch a Manner that they 
 cannot make the leaft Motion without waking the Savages, who 
 lye upon thefe Cords. 
 
 If among the Prifoners there are found any, who by their 
 Wounds are not in a Condition of being carried away, they 
 burn them directly ; and as this is done in the firft Heat, and 
 when they are often in Hafte to retreat, they are for the moft 
 Part quit at an eafier Rate than the others, who are referved for 
 a flower Punifhment. 
 
 The Cuftom among fome Nations is, that the Chief of the 
 
 Of h M h v ^ or i° us Party leaves on the Field of Battle 
 
 , A ' - j7 - his Fighting Club, on which he had taken 
 
 'rat™ Care ; *° tra ? e the Mark of hIs . Nation « that 
 
 of his Family, and his Portrait ; that is ta 
 fay, an Oval, with all the Figures he had in his Face. Others 
 paint all thefe Marks on the Trunk of a Tree, or on a Piece of 
 Bark, with Charcoal pounded and rubbed, mixed with fome 
 Colours. They add fome Hieroglyphic Characters, by Means 
 of which thofe who pafs by may know even the minuteft Cir- 
 cumitances, not only of the Action, but alfo of the whole Tranf- 
 a&ions of the Campaign. They know the Chief of the Party 
 by all the Marks I have mentioned : The Number of his Ex- 
 ploits by fo many Mats, that of his Soldiers by Lines ; that of 
 the Prifoners carried away by little Marmo/ets placed on a Stick, 
 or on a Cbichicoue ; that of the dead by human Figures without 
 Heads, with Differences to diftinguifh the Men, the Women, 
 and the Children. But thefe Marks are not always fet up near 
 the Place where the Action happened, for when a Party is pur- 
 fued, they place them out of their Route, on Purpofe to deceive 
 iheir Purfuers. 
 
 When the Warriors are arrived at a certain Diftance from the 
 if t j j. Village from whence they came, they halt, 
 j. enu , . ? y.\°~ and the Chief fends one to give Notice of 
 claim ttmr Victory his Approach# Amon g fome Nations, as foon 
 jh e i ag s. as t ^ e jy[ e ff en g er j s w ithin hearing, he makes 
 
 various Cries, which give a general Idea of the principal Ad- 
 ventures and Succefs of the Campaign : He marks the Number 
 af Men they have loft by fo many Cries of Death. Immediate- 
 ly
 
 frauds in North America. 150 
 
 lv the young People come out to hear the Particulars : Some^- 
 times the whole Village comes out, but one alone addrefles the 
 Meflenger, and learns from him the Detail of the News which 
 he brings : As the Meflenger relates a Fad the other repeats it 
 aloud, turning towards thole who accompanied him, and they 
 anfwer him by Acclamations or difmal Cries, according as the 
 News is mournful or pleafing. The Meflenger is then con- 
 dueled to a Cabin, where the Elders put to him the fame Quef- 
 tions as before ; after which a publick Crier invites all the 
 young People to go to meet the Warriors, and the Women to 
 
 carry them Refremments. In fome Places they only think 
 
 at firft. of mourning for thofe they have loft. The Meflenger 
 makes only Cries of Death. They do not go to meet him, 
 but at his entering the Village he finds all the People af- 
 fembled, he relates in a few Words all that has pafled, then re- 
 tires to his Cabin, where they carry him Food ; and for fome 
 Time they do nothing but mourn for the dead. 
 
 When this Time is expired, they make another Cry to pro- 
 claim the Victory. Then every one dries up his Tears, and 
 they think of nothing but rejoicing. Something like this is 
 prattifed at the Return of the Hunters : The Women who 
 Hayed in the Village go to meet them as foon as they are in- 
 formed of their Approach, and before they enquire of the Suc-r 
 cefs of their Hunting, they inform them by their Tears of the 
 Deaths that have happened fince their Departure. — To return to 
 the Warriors, the Moment when the Women join them, is pro- 
 perly fpeaking the Beginning of the Punifhment of the Prifon- 
 crs : And when fome of them are intended to be adopted, which 
 is not allowed to be done by all Nations ; their future Parents, 
 whom they take Care to inform of it, go and receive them at a 
 little Diftance, and conduft them to their Cabins by fome 
 round-about Ways. In general the Captives are a long Time 
 ignorant of their Fate, and there are few who efcape the firft 
 Fury of the Women. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 
 LET-
 
 i6o An Hijiorlcal Journal of 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 The frjl Reception of the Prifoners. The Triumph of the Warriors. 
 The D if rib id ion of the Captives : Ho-iv they decide their Fate, and 
 ixhat follows after. With ivhat Inhumanity they treat thofe *who 
 are condemned to die : The Courage they Jbeiv. The Negotiations of 
 the Savages. 
 
 o 
 
 Madam, At the Entrance of Lake Erie, May 2 7 . 
 
 I Departed this Morning from the Fall of Niagara, I had 
 about feven Leagues to go to the Lake Erie, and I did it 
 without any Trouble. We reckoned that we mould not lay here 
 this Night ; but whilft my People rowed with all their Strength 
 I have pretty well forwarded another Letter, and while they 
 take a little Reft I will finifh it to give it to fome Canadians 
 whom we met here, and who are going to Montreal. I take up 
 my Recital where I left offlaft. 
 
 All the Prifoners that are deftined to Death, and thofe whofe 
 
 Th fifi ~R t> ^" ate * s not y et decided^ are as I have already 
 
 „■ /J o ■?■' told You, Madam, abandoned to the Fury of 
 tion of the rnjo- , , t7 , . , T , . J 
 
 J the V/omen, who go to meet the Warriors ; 
 
 and it is furprifing that they refift all the 
 Evils they make them fuffer. If any one, efpecially, has loft ei- 
 ther her Son or her Hufband, or any other Perfon that was dear 
 to her, tho' this Lofs had happened thirty Years before, fhe is a 
 Fury. She attacks the firft »vho falls under her Hand ; and one 
 can fcarcely imagine how far fhe is tranfported with Rage : She has 
 no Regard either to Humanity or Decency, and every Wound file 
 gives him, one would expedl him to fall dead at her Feet, if we 
 did not know how ingenious thefe Barbarians are in prolonging 
 the moft unheard of Punifhment : All the "Night pafies in this 
 Manner in the Camp of the Warriors. 
 The next Day is the Day of the Triumph of the Warriors. The 
 0-., ~. . , . Iroquois, and fome others, affect a great Modef- 
 
 Warriors ° J ty and a fti11 gl " eater . Diun tereftedncfs on thefe 
 
 Occafions. The Chiefs enter alone into the 
 Village, without any Mark of Victory, keeping a profound Silence, 
 and retire to their Cabins, without mewing that they have the 
 Icaft Pretention to the Prifoners. Among other Nations the fame 
 Cuftom is not obferved : The Chief marches at the Head of 
 his Troop with the Air of a Conqueror : His Lieutenant comes 
 after him, and a Crier goes before, who is ordered to renew 
 
 the
 
 Travels in North America. 1 6 1 
 
 the Death Cries. The Warriors follow by two and two, the 
 
 Prifoncrs in the Midtt, crowned with Flowers, their Faces and 
 
 Hair painted, holding a Stick in one Hand, and a Cuichikoue in the 
 
 other, their Bodies almoft naked, their Arms tied above the Elbow 
 
 with a Cord, the End of which is held by the Warriors, and 
 
 they fing without ceafing their Death Song to the Sound of the 
 
 Chichi k. . 
 
 This Song has fomething mournful and haughty at the fame 
 
 ctl d n- „ *• Time ; and the Captive has nothin? of the 
 IheBoafiingsof ^ of . buffers, and ^-^ ^ 
 
 the rrijoners. -n j .-p,,- • „., OjTrir 
 
 quifhed. This is pretty near tqe Senfe of theie 
 Songs : "I am brave and intrepid ; I do not fear Death, nor any 
 " Kind of Tortures : Thofe -who fear them, are Co-wards; they are 
 " lefs than Women : Life is nothing to thofe that have Courage ; May 
 ' ' niy Enemies be confounded noith Defpair and Rage ; Oh ! that I 
 li could devour them, and drink their Blood to the I 'af Drop." From 
 Time to Time they flop them : The People gather round them 
 and dance, and make the Prifoners dance : They feem to do it 
 with a good Will ; they relate the fineft Actions of their Lives ; 
 they name all thofe they have killed or burnt ; and they make par- 
 ticular Mention of thofe for whom the People prefent are moft con- 
 cerned. One would fay that they only feek to animate more and more 
 againft them the Matters of their Fate. In Face, thefe Boattings 
 make thofe who hear them, quite furious, and they pay dear for 
 their Vanity : But by the Manner in which they receive the moil 
 cruel Treatment, one would fay that they take a Pleafare in bein» 
 tormented. 
 Sometimes they oblige the Prifoners to run through two Pranks of 
 rrr , , , Savages, armed with Stones and Sticks, who 
 
 hbattoey make faU th „ m ^ if thc y would knock them 
 
 them fprat their Qn ^ Head at the firft B]mf - . f ^^ 
 
 Entrance into the happens that they kill them ; fo mJch Care do 
 Village. t j iey . ta j. ej even ^hgjj j-hey f eem to fl^g at R an _ 
 
 dom, and that their Hand is guided by Fury alone, not to touch 
 any Part that would endanger Life. In this March every one has a 
 Right to torment them; they are indeed allow'd to defend themfehes ■ 
 but they would, if they were to attempt it, ibon be overpower'd. 
 As foon as they are arrived at the Village, they lead them from 
 Cabin to Cabin, and everywhere they make them pay their Wel- 
 come : In one Place they pull off one of their Nails, in another 
 they bite off one of their Fingers, or cut it off with a bad Knife, 
 which cuts like a Saw : An old Man tears their Fleih quite to the 
 Bone : A Child with an Awl wounds them where he can : A Wo- 
 man whips them without Mercy, till ihe is fo tired that (he cannot 
 lift up her Hands : But none of the Warriors lay th . I \ mds upon 
 them, although they are ttill their Matters ; and no one can mutilate 
 
 Y the
 
 i6i An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 the Prifoners without their Leave, which they feldom grant : Bu I 
 this excepted, they have an entire Liberty to make them fuffer ; 
 and if they lead them through feveral Villages, either of the fame 
 Nation, or their Neighbours r Allies who have defired it, they 
 are received every where in the fame Manner. 
 
 After thefe Preludes, they fet about the Diftribution of the Cap- 
 _..-., . tives, and their Fate depends on thofe to whom 
 
 The Diftribution they are de l£ V ered. At the Rifing of the Coun- 
 of the Captives. ^ where they haye confulted of the ir Fate, 
 
 a Crier invites all the People to come to an open Place, where the 
 Diftribution is made without any Noife or Difpute. The Wo- 
 men who have loft their Children or Hulbands in the War, general- 
 ly receive the firft Lot. In the next Place they fulfil the Promifes 
 made to thofe who have given Collars. If there are not Captives 
 enough for this Purpofe, they fupply the Want of them by Scalps ;. 
 with which thofe who receive them, adorn themfelves on rejoicing 
 Days ; and at other Times they hang them up at the Doors of their 
 Cabins. On the contrary, if the Number of Prifoners exceeds 
 that of the Claimants, they fend the Overplus to the Villages of 
 their Allies. A Chief is not replaced, but by a Chief, or by two 
 or three ordinary Perfons, who are always burnt, although thofe 
 whom they replace had died of Difeafes. The Iroquois never fail to 
 fet apart fome" of their Prifoners for the Publick, and thefe the 
 Council difpofe of as they think proper: But the Mothers of Fa- 
 milies may ftill fet afide their Sentence, and are the MiftrefTes of the 
 Life and Death even of thofe who have been condemned or abfolv- 
 ed by the Council. 
 
 In fome Nations the Warriors do not entirely deprive themfelves 
 . , of the Right of difpofing of their Captives ; 
 
 Hew they deade ^ they tQ whom the Council give them, am 
 their Fate. obliged to put them again into their Hands, if 
 
 they require it : But they do it very feldom ; and when they do it» 
 they are obliged to return the Pledges or Prefents received from thofe 
 Perfons. If, on their Arrival, they have declared their Intentions 
 on this Subjeft, it is feldom oppofed. In general, the greateft 
 Number of the Prifoners of War are condemned to Death, or 
 to very hard Slavery, in which their Lives are never fecure. Some are 
 adopted ; and from that Time their Condition differs in nothing 
 from that of the Children of the Nation : They enter into all the 
 Rights of thofe whofe Places they fupply ; and they often acquire 
 fo far the Spirit of the Nation of which they are become Members, 
 thattheymake noDifficulty of going toWaragainft their own Coun- 
 trymen. The Iroquois would have fcarcely fupported themfelves hi- 
 therto, but by this Policy. Having been at War many Years againft 
 all the other Nations, they would at prefent have been reduced al- 
 
 raoil
 
 Travels in North America, 163 
 
 moft to nothing, if they had not taken great Care to naturalize a 
 good Part of their Prifoners of War. 
 
 Itfometimes happens, that inftead of fending into the other Vil- 
 lages the Surplus of their Captives, they give them to private Per- 
 fons, who had not afked for any ; and, in this Cafe, either they are 
 not fo far Matters of them, as not to be obliged to confult the Chiefs 
 of the Council how they fhall difpofe of them ; or elfe they are 
 obliged to adopt them. In the firltCafe, he to whom they make a 
 Prefent of a Slave, fends for him by one of his Family ; then he 
 fattens him to the Door of his Cabin, and affembles the Chiefs of 
 the Council ; to whom he declares his Intentions, and afks their Ad- 
 vice. This Advice is generally agreeable to his Def.re. In the fe- 
 cond Cafe, the Council, in giving the Prifoner to the Perfon they 
 have determined on, fay to him, " It is a long Time we have been 
 " deprived of fuch a one, your Relation, or your Friend, who was j> 
 " Supportof our Village." Or elfe, " We regret the Spirit of fuch 
 •' a one whom you have loft ; and who, by his Wifdom, maintained 
 " the publick Tranquility : He muft appear again this Day; he 
 " was too dear to us, and too precious to defer his Revival any 
 " longer: We place him again on his Mat, in the Perfon of this 
 «« Prifoner." 
 
 There are, neverthelefs, forne private Perfons that are in all Ap- 
 pearance more confidered than others ; to whom they make a Pre- 
 fent of a Captive, without any Conditions, and with full Li- 
 berty to do what they pleafe with him : And then the Council 
 txprefs themfelves in thefe Terms, when they put him in their 
 Hands, " This is to repair the Lofs of fuch a one, and to cleanfe 
 " the Heart of his Father, of his Mother, of his Wife, and of his 
 " Children. If you are either willing to make them drink the 
 " Broth of this Flcih, or that you had rather replace the Deceafed 
 " on his Mat, in the Perfon of this Captive, you may difpofe of 
 " him as you pleafe." 
 
 When a Priibner is adopted, they lead him to the Cabin where 
 
 Of the Adoption he ™f. live ^f d * e firft Thin .§ *% *>' is W 
 
 r J r ■ r untie nim. Then they warm lome Water to 
 
 vj a ^apti-ve. wafli ^ . They dref3 hi$ founds, if he has 
 
 any ; and if they were even putrified, and full of Worms, he is foon 
 cured : They omit nothing to make him forget his Sufferings, 
 they make him eat, and clothe him decently. In a Word, they 
 would not do more for one of their own Children, nor for him 
 
 whom he raifes from the Dead, this is their Expreffion. Some 
 
 Days after, they make a Feaft ; during which they folemnly give 
 him the Name of the Perfon whom he replaces, and whofc Rights 
 he not only acquires from that Time, but he lays himfeli alfo under 
 the fame Obligations. 
 
 Y 2 An
 
 1 64 An FvJUrlcal Journal of 
 
 Amongfr. the Hurons, and the Iroquois, thofe Prifoaers they intend 
 
 Ofth f tl t0 b urn ' are f° met i mes as well treated at firft, 
 
 ,-' » ' <? J and even till the Moment of their Execution, 
 
 as thofe that have been adopted. It appears as 
 if they were Victims which thfty fattened for the Sacrifice, and 
 they are really a Sacrifice to the God of War. The only Differ- 
 ence they make between thefe and the other, is, that they blacken 
 their Faces ail over : After this, they entertain them in the befl 
 Manner they are able : They always {peak kindly to them ; they 
 give them the Nam^of Sexs* Brothers, or Nephews, according to the 
 Perfon whofe Manes they are to appeafe by their Death : They alio 
 fometimes give them young Women, to ferve them for Wives all the 
 Time they have to live. But when they are informed of their Fate, 
 they muft be well kept, to prevent their efcaping. Therefore often- 
 times this is concealed from them. 
 When they have been delivered to a Woman, the Moment they 
 
 „ . . inform her every Thing is ready for Execu- 
 
 Ho-w they receive ^ ^ . nQ {q Moth lhe is a Fury, 
 
 their Sentence of who ^^ from ^ tendeteft CareiTes t0 the 
 Londemnc.tion. grea tei1 Excefs of Rage : She begins by invok- 
 
 ing the Spirit of him ihe defires to revenge : " Approach, (fays 
 ihe) you are going to be appeafed ; I prepare a Feail for thee ; 
 " drink great Draughts of this Broth which is going to be poured 
 " out for thee; receive the Sacrifice I make to thee in facri - 
 f* ficing this Warrior ; he fliall be burnt, and put in the Ket- 
 " tie ; they fliall apply red-hot Hatchets to his Flefli ; they (hall 
 *' pull off his Scalp ; they fliall drink in his Skull: Make there joe 
 
 " no more Complaints; thou lhalt be fully fatisfied." This 
 
 Form of Speech, which is properly the Sentence of Death, varies 
 much as to the Terms ; but for the Meaning, it is always much 
 the fame. Then a Oyer makes the Captive come out of the Cabin, 
 and declares in a loud Voice the Intention of him or her to whom 
 he belongs, and finilhes by exhorting the young People to behave 
 well : Another fucceeds, who addreffes him that is to fuifer, and 
 fays, " Brother, take Courage ; thou art %oing to be burnt : " And 
 lie anfwers coolly, " That is *veB,I gii)e thee Thanks." Immedi- 
 ately there is a Cry mr.de through the whole Village, and the Pri- 
 foner is led to the Place of his Ponifliment. For the moil Part they 
 tie him to a Poll by the Hands and Feet; but in fuch a Manner, 
 that he can turn round it : But fometimes, when the Execution is 
 made in a Cabin from whence there is no Danger of his efcaping, 
 they let him run from one End to the other. Before they begin to 
 burn him, he lings for the lail Time his Death-Song : Then he 
 recites his Achievements, and almoil always in a Manner themeft 
 blinking to thofe he perceives around him. Then he exhorts them 
 not to fpare him, but to remember that he is a Man, and a Warrior- 
 
 Either
 
 Travels in North America. 165 
 
 Either I am much miftaken : Or, what ought molt to furprife 
 us in thefe tragical and barbarous Scenes, is not that the Suf- 
 ferer mould fmg aloud, that he lhould infult and defy his Execu- 
 tioners, as they all generally do to the lail Moment of their Breath; 
 tor there is in this an Haughtinels which elevates the Spirit, which 
 tranfports it, which takes it oft fomething from the Thought! of 
 its Sufferings, and which hinders it alfo from (hewing too much 
 
 Seniibiiity. - Moreover, the Motions they make, divert their 
 
 Thoughts, take off the Edge of the Pain, and produce the fame 
 Effect, and fomething more, than Cries and Tears, in lhort,> they 
 that there are no Hopes of Mercy, and Defpair gives Refolution, 
 and infpires Boldnefs. 
 
 But this Kind of Infenfibility is not fo general as many have 
 
 The Principle of & 011 ? 1 " : * » f" ""^ f° hear theie P° OT f 
 the Barbarir; rH * ^ches ' hCna pat are capable of 
 
 - ,::,; n; piercing the haraeil Heart; hut rave no 
 
 exera/eon tbejt Uc- Q ^ g^ ^ ft ^^ g^ ^^ 
 
 capons. £iK } t j, e rei ^ t ^ at afe pre f ent> .. ^ s t0 .].,,, <j au f es 
 
 that fhould produce in the Savages an Inhumanity, i ..e could 
 
 never have believed Men to have been guilty of, I believe they ac- 
 quired it by Degrees, and have been ufed to ic by Cuf- 
 
 ; that a Dehre of feeing their Enemy b lily, tne 
 
 Infults which the Sufferers ceafe to make to their Tor- 
 
 mentors, the Defire of Revenge h is the reigning Paflion of 
 
 this People, and which they do not think fi ed v.hiiii. 
 
 the Courage of thefe who are the Object of it is' not fubdued, 
 and laftly Superitition, nave a great Share in it : -For what J 
 
 i are not produced by a faife Zeal, guided by fo m , 
 ions. 
 I (hall not, Madam, relate the Particulars of all that pafL- 
 in thefe horrible Executions : It would carry me too far; be- 
 caufe in this there is no Uniformity, nor any Rules but Caprice and 
 Fury. Often there are as many A£bors as Spectators ; that is i, 
 all the Inhabitants trf" the Village, Men, Women, and Child: 
 and every one does the worft they can. There are only thofe of the 
 Cabin to which the Prifoner was delivered, that forbear to torment 
 him ; at leaft, this is the Practice of many Nations. Commonly 
 they begin by burning the Feet, then the Legs ; and thus go Upwards 
 to the Head : And feme times they make the Puniihment lall ;t 
 whole Week ; as it happened to a Gentleman of Canada amongfl: 
 the Iroquois. They are the ieaft fpared, who having already been 
 
 ten and adopted, or fet at Liberty, are taken a fecond 1 'i 
 They loo!: upon them as unnatural Children, or ungrateful Wn I ■ 
 es, who have made War with their Parents and Benefactors, and 
 
 no Mercy. It happens fometimes that the Sufii 
 even when he is not executed in a Cabin, is not tied, and is aii 
 
 t3
 
 l€6 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 to defend himfelf ; which he does, much lefs in Hopes of favin.o 
 his Life, than to revenge his Death before-hand, and to have the 
 Glory of dying bravely. We have feen, on thefe Occafions, how 
 much Strength and Courage thefe Paffions can infpire. Here fol- 
 lows an Inilance, which is war- mted by Eye-Witneffes, who are 
 worthy of Credit. 
 
 An Iroquois, Captain of the Canton of Otmeyouth, chofe rather to 
 
 Courage cf an ex ?ofe himfelf to every Thing, than to difgrace 
 O n n e y outh himielf by a Flight, which he judged of dange- 
 rs ' bu- t b rous Confequence to the young People that were 
 Jv* [ H ^ under his Command. He fought a long Time 
 like a Man who was refolved to die with his 
 Arms in his Hands ; but the Hurons, who oppofed him, were 
 refolved to have him alive, and he was taken. Happily for him, and 
 for thofe who were taken with him, they were carried to a Village, 
 where fome Miflionaries refided, who were allowed full Liberty of 
 difcourfmg with them. Thefe Fathers found them of a Docility 
 whicli they looked upon as the Beginning of the Grace of their Con- 
 verfion ; they inftrutted them, and baptized them : They were all 
 burnt a few Days after, and mewed even till Death a Refolution, 
 which the Savages are not yet acquainted with, and which even 
 the Infidels attributed to the Virtue of the Sacraments. 
 
 The Onneyouih Captain neverthelefs believed that he was ftill 
 wed to do his Enemies all the Mifchief he could, and to put off 
 his Death as much as poffible. They made him get upon a Sort of 
 Stage, where they began to burn him all over the Body without any 
 Mercy, and he appeared at firft as unconcerned as if he had felt no- 
 thing ; but as he thought one of his Companions that was tor- 
 mented near him, (hewed fome Marks of Weaknefs, he (hewed on 
 this Account a great Uneafinefs, and omitted nothing that might en- 
 courage him to mffer with Patience, by the Hope of the Happinefs 
 they were going to enjoy in Heaven ; and he had the Comfort to 
 fee him die like a brave Man, and a Chrifrian. 
 
 Then all thofe who had put the other to Death, fell again upon 
 him with fo much Fury> that one would have thought they were go- 
 ing to tear him in Pieces. He did not appear to be at all moved at 
 Itj and they knew not any longer in what Part they could make him 
 feel Pain ; when one of his Tormentors cut the Skin of his Head 
 all round, and pull'd it off with great Violence. The Pain made 
 him drop down fenfelefs : They thought him dead, and all the 
 People went away : A little Time after, he recovered from his 
 .Swoon ; and feeing no Perfon near him, but the dead Body of his 
 Companion, he takes a Fire-brand in both his Hands, though they 
 were all overhead and burnt, re-calls his Tormentors, and de- 
 fies them to approach him. They were affrighted at his Relo- 
 cation, they fent forth horrid Cries, and armed themfelves, fome 
 
 with
 
 Travels in North America. 167 
 
 with burning Fire-brands, others with red-hot Irons, and fell upon 
 him all together. He received them bravely, and made them re- 
 treat. The Fire with which he was furrounded ferved him for an 
 Intrenchment, and he made another with the Ladders that had 
 been ufed to get upon the Scaffold ; and being thus fortified in 
 his own Funeral Pile, now become the Theatre of his Valour, and 
 armed with the Inftruments of his Punifhment, He was for fon^ 
 Time the Terror of a whole Village, no Body d to approach 
 
 a Man that was more than half burnt, and whofe Blood flowed from 
 all Parts of his Body. 
 
 A falfc Step which he made in driving to ffrnn a Fire-brand thai 
 was thrown at him, left him once more to the Mercy of his Tormen- 
 tors : And I need not tell you that they made him pay dear for the 
 Fright he had juft before put them in. After they were tired with 
 tormenting him, they threw him into the Midft of a great Fire, and. 
 left him there, thinking it impoffible for him ever to rife up again. 
 They were deceived : When they leaft thought of it, they faw him, 
 arm'd with Fire-brands, run towards the Village, as if he 
 would fet it on Fire. All the People were flruck with Terror, and 
 no Perfon had the Courage to flop him : But as he came near the 
 firlf. Cabin, a Stick that was thrown between his Legs, threw him 
 down, and they fell upon him before he could rife : They directly 
 cut off his Hands and Feet, and then rolled him upon fome burning 
 Coals ; and laflly, they threw him under the Trunk of a Tree that 
 was burning. Then all the Village came round him, to enjoy the 
 Pleafure of feeing him burn. The Blood which flowed from him, 
 r.lmoii extinguished the Fire ; and they were no longer afraid of hi. 
 Efforts : But yet he made one more, which aftonilhed the boldeft : 
 He crawled out upon his Elbows and Knees with a threatening L 
 and a Stoutnefs which drove away the nearefr. ; more indeed from 
 Aftonifhment, than Fear ; for what Harm could he do them in 
 this maimed Condition ? Some Time after, a Huron took him at 
 an Advantage, and cut off his Head. 
 
 Neverthelefs, Madam, if thefe People make War like Barba- 
 
 cr" ca7/ / r r * ans > we mu ft allow that in their Treaties of 
 The bkill oftbeje p eace> „ nd erall in all their Negotiations 
 
 People in their Ne- they di f cov ? r a Dexterity, and a Noblenefs 
 goctatiom. of SentimentS) which would do Honour to 
 
 the moft polifhed Nations. They have no Notion of making 
 Conquefts and extending their Dominions. Many Nation? 
 have no Domain properly fo called, and thofe who have not 
 wandered from their Country, and look upon themfelves as Maf- 
 tcrs of their Lands, are not fo far jealous of them, as to be of- 
 fended with any one who fettles upon them, provided they give 
 the Nation no Difturbance. Therefore, in their Treaties, they 
 confider nothing but to make themfelves JUlies againft power.
 
 1 68 An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 ful Enemies, to put an End to a War that is troublcfcme to Lot** 
 Parties ; or rather, to fufpend Holtilities : For I have already 
 obferved, that the Wars are perpetual that are between Natio !1 
 and Nation ; fo that there is no depending upon a Treaty of 
 Peace, lb long as one of the tv> o Parties can give any jealoufy to 
 the other. All the Time they negociate, and before they enter 
 into a Negociation, their principal Care is not to appear to make 
 the firfl Steps, or at leaft to perfuade their Enemy that it is nei- 
 ther through Fear or Necefiity that they do it : And this is ma- 
 naged with the greateft Dexterity. A Plenipotentiary does 
 not abate any Thing of his StifFnefs, when the Affairs of his 
 Nation are in the worft Condition ; and he often fucceeds in 
 perfuading thofe he treats with, that it is their Interelt to put an 
 End to Hotlilities, though they are Conquerors : He is under 
 the greateft Obligations to employ all his Wit and Eloquence ; 
 for if his Propofals are not approved of, he mutt take great Care 
 to keep upon his Guard. It is not uncommon that the Stroke 
 of a Hatchet is the only Anfwer they make him : He is not 
 out of Danger, even when he has efcaped the firft Surprife : He 
 mult expeft to be purfued, and burnt, if he is taken. And that 
 fuch a Violence will be coloured with fome Pretence as Re- 
 prifals. This has happened to fome French among the Iroquois, 
 to whom they were fent by the Governor General : And during 
 many Years, the Jefuits, who lived among thefe Barbarians, tho' 
 they were under the public Protection, and were in fome Man- 
 ner the common Agents of the Colony, found thcmfelves every 
 Day in Danger of being facrificed to a Revenge, or to be the 
 Victims of an Intrigue of the Governors of Nezu York. Laltly, 
 it is furprifing that thefe People, who never make War through 
 Intereft, and who carry their Difintereitednefs to fuch a Degree, 
 that the Warriors do never burden themfelves with the Spoils of 
 the Conquered, and never touch the Garments of the Dead ; and 
 if they bring back any Booty, give it up to the firil that will 
 take it ; in a Word, who never take up Arms but for Glory, or 
 to be revenged of their Enemies : It is, I lay, furprifing to fee 
 them fo well verfed as they are in the Arts of the moft refined 
 Policy, and to maintain Penlioncrs among their Enemies. They 
 have alio, in Refpedl to thefe Sort of Minifters, a Cullom which 
 appears at firil View odd enough, which may neverthdefs be 
 looked upon as the Effect of a great Prudence : Which is, that 
 they never rely upon the Advices they have from their Pen- 
 iioners, if they do not accompany them with fome Prefents : 
 They conceive, without Doubt, that to make it prudent to rely 
 on fuch Advices, it is neceifary that not only he who gives them 
 fliould have nothing to hope for, but alfo that it mould coft him 
 
 b fomething
 
 Travels in North America. 169 
 
 omething to give them, that the fole Intereft of the Public 
 good might engage him to it, and that he mould not do it too 
 
 lightly. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 LETTER XVL 
 
 Defcription of Lake Erie. Voyage to Detroit (the Strait): 
 A Projeci of a Settlement in this Place : Hovj it failed. 'The Com- 
 mandant of the Fort de Pontchartrain holds a Council, and on 
 ivbat Occafon. The Games of the Savages. 
 
 Madam, Fort de Pontchartrain at Detroit, June 8. 
 
 I Departed the 27th from the Entrance of the Lake Erie, af- 
 ter I had clofed my laft Letter, and though it was very late 
 ] went three Leagues that Day by the Favour of a good Wind, 
 
 n r . . r and of the fineft Weather in the World: The 
 
 Uejcnption cj ^^ . ^ ^^ Qo ^ ^ . 
 
 Lake Erie. , , , T r r .,. , 
 
 is a hundred Leagues, rrom Niagara, tak- 
 ing to the South, it is much more pleafant, but longer by half. 
 Lake Erie is a hundred Leagues long from Eaft to Weft : Its 
 Breadth from North to South is thirty, or thereabouts. The 
 Name it bears is that of a Nation of the Huron Language fettled 
 on its Border, and which the Iroquois have entirely deftroyed. 
 Erie means Cat, and the Eries are named in fome Relations the 
 Nation of the Cat. This Name comes probably from the great 
 Number of thefe Animals that are found in this Country : They 
 are bigger than our's, and their Skins are much valued. Some 
 modern Maps have given Lake Erie the Name of Conti ; but this 
 Name is difufed, as well as thofe of Conde, Tracy, and Orleans, 
 formerly given to Lake Huron, the Upper Lake, and Lake Mi- 
 chigan. 
 
 The 28th I went nineteen Leagues, and found myfelf over 
 n , , againft the Great River, which comes from 
 
 U/ the northern thg £al ^ ^ forty . tw0 Degr ees fifteen Mi- 
 
 ^ nutes. Neverthelefs, the great Trees were 
 
 not yet green. This Country appeared to me very fine. We 
 made very little Way the 29th, and none at all the 30th. We 
 embarked the next Day about Sun-rife, and went forward apace. 
 The firft of June, being Whit-Sunday, after going up a pretty 
 River almoft an Hour, which comes a great Way, and runs be- 
 tween two fine Meadows, we made a Portage about fixty Paces, 
 to efcape going round a Point which advances fifteen Lea;.; 
 
 Z into
 
 170 An H:fi 'r/rical Journal of 
 
 into the: Lake ; they call it the Long Point : It is very fandy, 
 and produces naturally many Vines. The following Days I 
 law nothing remarkable ; but I coafled a charming Country, 
 that was hid from Time to Time by fome difagreeable Skreens, 
 but of little Depth. In every Place where I landed, I was in- 
 chanted with the Beauty and Variety of a Landfcape, bounded 
 by the fineft Forefts in the World : Befides this, Water-Fowl 
 fwarmed every where: I cannot fay there is fuch Plenty of Game 
 in the Woods ; but I know that on the South Side there are vail 
 Herds of wild Cattle. 
 
 If one always travelled, as I did then, with a clear Sky, and 
 -T-., n , r r a charming Climate, on a Water as bright as 
 1 r ^ J the nneft rountam, and were to meet every 
 
 ' J e J ' where with fafe and pleafant Encampinp-s, 
 
 where one might find all Manner of Game at little Coft, breath- 
 ing at one's Eafe a pure Air, and enjoying the Sight of the finer! 
 Countries, one would be tempted to travel all one's Life. It 
 putme in Mind of thofe antient Patriarchs whohad no fixed Abode, 
 dwelt under Tents, were in fome Manner Mailers of all the Coun- 
 tries they travelled over, and peaceably enjoyed all their Produc- 
 tions, "without having the Trouble which is unavoidable in the 
 PofTeffion of a real Domain. How many Oaks reprefented to 
 me that of Mamrif How many Fountains made me remember 
 that of Jacob ? Every Day a new Situation of my own chuiing ; 
 a neat and convenient Houfe fet up and furnifhed with Necef- 
 faries in a Quarter of an Hour, fpread with Flowers always 
 frem, on a fine green Carpet; and on every Side plain and natu- 
 ral Beauties, which Art had not altered, and which it cannot 
 imitate. If thefe Pleafures fufFer fome Interruption, either by 
 bad Weather, or fome unferefeen Accident, they are the more 
 relifhed when they re -appear. 
 
 If I had a Mind to moralize I fhould add, thefe Alternatives of 
 Pleafures and Difappointments, which I have fo often experienced 
 iince I have been travelling, are veryproperto makeusfenfiblethat 
 there is no Kind of Life more capable of reprefenting to us con- 
 tinually that we are only on the Earth like Pilgrims; and that 
 we can only ufe, as in palling, the Goods of this World ; that a 
 Man wants but few Things ; and that we ought to take with 
 Patience the Misfortunes that happen in our Journey, fince they 
 pafs away equally, and with the fame Celerity. In ihort, how 
 many Things in travelling make us fenfible of the Dependence 
 in which we live upon Divine Providence, which does not make 
 Ufe of, for this Mixture of good and evil, Mens Paffions, but the 
 Vicifiltude of the Seafons which we may forefee, and of the 
 Caprice of the Elements, which we may expeft of Courfe. Of 
 Conieqnence how eafy is it, and how many Opportunities have we 
 
 to
 
 Travels in North America. 171 
 
 tomeritbv our Dependence on, and Refignationto the Will of God? 
 They fav commonly that long Voyages do not make People re- 
 ligious ; but nothing one would think fliould be more capable of 
 making them fo, than the Scenes they go through. 
 The fourth we were flopped a good Part of the Day on a Point 
 _ , , . which runs three Leagues North and South, 
 y ,~ , * and which they call Pchite Pelec (Bald Point J : 
 ar.drcdLedcus. ]t ^ nPtw i t hflanding, pretty well wooded 
 on the Weft Side ; but on the Eaft it is only a fandy Soil, with 
 red Cedars, pretty final], and in no great Number. The 
 white Cediw is of more Ufe than the red, whafe Wocd is 
 brittle, and of which they can only make fmall Gcods. They 
 fay here that Women with Child fhould not v.{t it fcr Bufki. 
 The Leaves of this Cedar have no Smell, but the Wocd has : 
 This is quite the contrary of the white Cedar. There are- 
 many Bears in this Country, and laft Winter they killed on the 
 Point Pclee alone above four hundred. 
 
 The fifth, about four o'Clockin the Afternoon, we perceived 
 
 a ■ j t\ Land to the South, and two little Iflands 
 Arrival at De- whkh ^ near h . They ca]1 thcm ^ 
 
 tr01t ' des Serpens a Sonv.ettes (Rattle-Snake Iflands) ; 
 
 and it is faid they are fo full of them, that they infecl the Air. 
 
 We entered into the Strait an Hour before Sun fet, and we pafied 
 
 the Night under a very finelfland, called//.'* des Bins Blanc (of 
 
 White Wood). From the Long Point to the Strait, the Courfe is 
 
 near Weil ; from the Entrance of the Strait to the Efts St. Claire, 
 
 which is five or fix Leagues, and from thence to Lake Huron, it 
 
 is a little Eaft by South : So that all the Strait, which is thirty-two 
 
 Leagues long, is between forty-two Degrees twelve or fifteen 
 
 Minutes, and forty-three and half North Latitude. Above the 
 
 Ifle of St. Claire the Strait grows wider, and forms a Lake, which 
 
 has received its Name from the Ifland, or has given its own 
 
 to it. It is about fix Leagues long, and as many wide in fomc 
 
 Places. 
 
 They fay this is the fineft Part cf Canada, and indeed to- 
 
 a--, „ - judge of it bv Apoearances, Nature has- 
 
 The Nature of J , *? , . , •• V \ ^ 
 
 , f t J denied it nothing that can renc.er a Country 
 
 "'"-*' beautiful : Kills, Meadows, Fields, 
 
 Woods of Timber Trees, Brooks, Four. rod Rivers, and 
 
 all thefe of fuch a good Quality, and fo h; . that 
 
 one could fcarce defire any Thing more. The Lands are net 
 
 equally good for all Sorts of Grain ; but the greateft 1 
 
 furprifingfy fertile, and I have feen feme that have produced 
 
 Wheat eight Years together without being manured. H 
 
 ever, they are all good for fomething. The Iiles feem to 1 
 
 been placed on Purpofe to pleafe the Eye. The Rh 
 
 Z 2 the
 
 172 An Historical Journal of 
 
 the Lakes are full of Fifh ; the Air pure, and the Climate tem- 
 preate, and very healthy. 
 
 Before we arrive at the firft Fort, which is on the left Hand, 
 
 Of.] o a League below the [fie of St. Claire, there 
 
 r 11 ' aqja S es are on tne fame Side two pretty populous 
 
 Jettled near the ir ,| ju-u u 
 
 J p Villages, and which are very near each o- 
 
 ther. The firft is inhabited by fome Tion- 
 nontatez Hurons, the fame, who, after having a long Time wan- 
 dered from Place to Place, fixed themfelves firft at the Fall of 
 St. Mary, and afterwards at Michillimakinac. The fecond is in- 
 habited by fome Pouteouatamis. On the Right, a little higher, 
 there is a third Village of Outaouais, the infeparable Companions 
 of the Hurons, fince the Iroquois obliged them both to abandon 
 their Country. There are no Chrijlians among them, and if there 
 are any among the Pouteouatamis, they are few in Number. The 
 Hurons are all Chrijlians, but they have no Miffionaries -. They 
 fay that they chufe to have none ; but this is only the Choice of 
 fome of the Chiefs, who have not much Religion, and who 
 hinder the others from being heard, who have a long Time defired 
 to have one. (a) 
 
 It is a long Time fince the Situation, ftill more than the Beauty 
 of the Strait, has made us wifh for a confiderable Settlement 
 here : It was pretty well begun fifteen Years ago, but fome 
 Reafons, which are kept fecret, have reduced it very low. 
 Thofe who did not favour it faid, firft, that it brought the 
 Peltry of the North too near the Englijh, who felling their Mer- 
 chandizes to the Savages cheaper than our's, would draw all the 
 Trade to New York. Second, that the Lands of the Strait are not 
 good, that the Surface to the Depth of nine or ten Inches is 
 only Sand, and under this Sand there is a Clay fo ftifF, that Water 
 cannot penetrate it ; whence it happens that the Plains and the 
 inner Parts of the Woods, are always covered with Water, and 
 that you fee in them only little Oaks badly grown, and hard 
 Walnut-Trees ; and that the Trees Handing always in the Wa- 
 ter, their Fruit ripens very late. But to thefe Reafons they re- 
 ply, it is true, that in the Environs of Fort Pontchartrain the 
 Lands are mixed with Sand, and that in the neighbouring Forefts 
 there are fome Bottoms that are almoft always full of Water. 
 Neverthelefs, thefe very Lands have yielded Wheat eighteen 
 Years together without being manured, and one need not go 
 far to find fome that are excellent. As for the Woods, with- 
 out going far from the Fort, I have feen fome in my Walks, 
 which are no ways inferior to our fineft Forefts. 
 
 (j) Tliey have at length given them one for fome Years paft.
 
 Travels in North America. 173 
 
 As to what they fay, that in making a Settlement at the 
 Streight, we mould bring the Fur Trade of the. North nearer to 
 the Englijb ; there is no Peribn in Canada who does not own that 
 we mall never fucceed in hindering the Savages from carrying 
 their Merchandize to them, in whatfoever Place we make our Set- 
 tlements, and whatever Precautions we take, if they do not find 
 the fame Advantages with us as they find at NpwTork. — I could 
 fay many Things to you, Madam, on this Subject ; but thefe 
 Difcuffions would carry me too far. We will talk of this fome 
 Day at our Leifure. 
 
 The 7th of June, which was the Day after my Arrival at the 
 n ., . , Fort, M. de Tcnti, who is the Commandant, 
 
 Council of three afl - embled the Chiefs of the th ree Villages I 
 Savage Nations at hav£ before ment i one( l, to communicate to 
 the Fort of Detroit them thg Qrders he had j uft ieceived from the 
 (the Streight.) Marquis de Vaudreu.il. They heard him pa- 
 
 tiently, without interrupting him ; and when he had finifhed, 
 the Huron Orator told him in few Words, that they were going 
 to deliberate on what he had propofed to them, and they would 
 return him an Anfwer in a fhort Time. — It is the Cuftom of 
 thefe People, never to give an Anfwer directly, when it concerns 
 a Matter of fome Importance. Two Days after, they re-af- 
 fembled in a greater Number at the Commandant's, who denred 
 me to be prefent at this Council with the Officers of the Garri- 
 fon. Sajlcratft, who is called by our French People, the King of 
 the Hurons, and who is actually the hereditary Chief of the 77- 
 •nmntatez., who are the true Hnrons, was prefent that Day: But 
 as he is Hill under Age, he only came for Form : His Uncle, 
 who governs for him, and who is called the Regent, was Spokes- 
 man, as being the Orator of the Nation : And th<: Honour of 
 fpeaking for all, is commonly given by Preference to the Hurt 
 when there are any in a Council. At the firil Sight of thefe Af- 
 femblies, one is apt to form a mean Idea of them. — Imagine 
 that you fee, Madam, a Dozen of Savages almoll naked, their 
 Hair fet in as many different Forms, and all ridiculous ; fome 
 with lae'd Hats on, and every one a Pipe in his Mouth, and look- 
 ing like People that have no Thought at all. It is much if any 
 one drops a Word in a Quarter of an Hour, and if they anfwer 
 him by fo much as a Monofyllable : Neither is there any Marks of 
 Difiin&ion, nor Precedency in their Seats. But we are quite of 
 another Opinion, when we fee the P.efult of their Deliberations. 
 Two Points were confidered here, which the Governor had 
 much at Heart. The firit was, to make the three Villages be 
 contented without any more Brandy, the Sale of which had beeu 
 entirely prohibited by the Council of the Marine. The fecond 
 was, to engage all the Nations to unite with the F>\;u. 1 j to de- 
 ft soy
 
 1 7 4 -A* Uijlorkal Journal of 
 
 ilroy the Outagamh, commonly called les Rifnards, (the Foxes], 
 whom they had pardoned fome Years before, and who were be- 
 ginning to commit the fame Outrages as before. M. de Tonii at 
 Irft repeated in few Words, by his Interpreter, what he had 
 more fully explained in the firft Affembly ; and the Huron Orator 
 replied in the Name of the three Villages : He made no Intro- 
 duftion, but went direftly to the Bufmefs in Hand : He fpoke a 
 long Time, and leifurely, flopping at every Article, to give the 
 Interpreter Time to explain in French what he nad berore fpoken 
 in his own Language. His Air, the Sound of his Voice, ana 
 his Aftion, though he made no Geftures, appeared to me to have 
 fomething noble and engaging; and it is certain that what he 
 laid, muft have been very eloquent ; fince from the Mouth or 
 t*e Interpreter, who was an ordinary Pcrion, deprived of all the 
 Ornaments of the Language, we were all charmed with it. 
 rouft own alfo, that if he had fpoken two Hours, I inould not 
 have been tired a Moment. Another Proof that the Beauties 
 of his Difcourfe did not come from the Interpreter, is, that this 
 Man would never have dared to have faid of himieli all he 
 faid to us". I was even a little furprifed that he had Courage to 
 repeat fo faithfully, as he did, certain Matters which muft be 
 difpleafino- to the Commandant.— When the Huron had done 
 fpeakirg, Onanguice the Chief and Orator of the P out eouat amis, 
 exprefl'ed in few Words, and very ingenipufly, all that the firft 
 h?d explained more at Length, and ended in the fame Manner. 
 The 'Outaouais did not fpeak, and appeared to approve of what 
 the others had fpoken. 
 
 The Conclufion was, that the French, if they pleafed, might 
 refufe to fell any more Brandy to the Savages ; 
 ^ The Refult of that they wou id have done \ery well if they 
 the Counal. j^j never fold them any ; and nothing could 
 
 be imagined more forcible than what the Huron Orator faid in 
 expofino- theDiforders occafioned by this Liquor, and the Injury 
 it has done to all the Savage Nations. The moft zealous Mif- 
 fionary could not have faid more. But he added, that they were 
 now fo accuftomed to it, that they could not live without it ; 
 from whence it was eafy to judge, that if they could not have it 
 of the French, they would apply to the Englzjh. As to what 
 concerned the War of the Outagamis, he declared, that nothing- 
 could be refolved on but in a general Council of all the Nations 
 who acknowledge Ononthio (a) for their Father; that they 
 would, without Doubt, acknowledge the Neceffity of this War, 
 but they could hardly truft the French a fecond Time ; who 
 having re-united them, to help them to extirpate the common 
 
 fa) This is the Name the Savages gi"e the Governor-General. 
 
 1 8. Enemy.
 
 ^Travtis in North America. 17^ 
 
 Enemy, had granted him Peace without confulting their Allies, 
 
 who could never difcover the Reafons of fuch a Conduct. 
 
 The next Day I went to vifit the two Savage Villages which 
 
 , i , cr- aie r> ea r the Fort ; and I went firft to the 
 
 Jr. what Tern- „ T r ■, j. . .. . 
 
 , ,, , Hurons. 1 found all the Matrons, among- 
 
 far the Author , , r .-, , , c \ , 3 
 
 * , , n whom was the Great Grandmother of Salkratli. 
 
 found the Hurons u ai-n j r »k r -\ ri - 
 
 /"D t t (t\ mu< -'h afflicted to ice themfelves fo" long dc- 
 
 / • u f \ privedof Spiritual Helps. Many Things which 
 
 ° *' I heard at the fame Time, confirmed me in 
 
 the Opinion I had before entertained, that fome private lnterefts 
 were the only Obftacles to the Defines of thefe good Cbtijtiatrs. 
 It is to be hoped that the laft Orders of the Council of the Ma- 
 rine will remove thefe Oppofitions. M. <k Tout J a flu red me that 
 he was going to labour at it effectually (b). 
 
 Thofe who conducted me to this Village a/Tured me, that 
 without the Hurons, the other Savages would be lcarved. This 
 is certainly not the Fault of the Land they po fiefs : With very 
 little Cultivation it would yield them Neceflaries : Fifiiing 
 alone would fupply a good Part, and this requires little Labour. 
 But fince they have got a Relifii for Brandy, they think of no- 
 thing but heaping up Skins, that t'.c>. may have wherewithal 
 to get drunk. The Hurons, more laborious, of more Fore- 
 fight, and more ufed to cultivate the Earth, act with greater 
 Prudence, and by their Labour are in a Condition not only to 
 fubfifi without any Help, but alfo to feed others ; but this indeed 
 they will not do without fome Recomper.ee ; fcr amongfl their 
 good Qualities we muft not reckon Difintereftednefs. 
 
 I was Hill better received by the Infidel Pouteouatamis, than by 
 
 rr. D . . / the Chri/han Hurons. Thefe Savaees are the 
 tits Reception by c ,\ */ r r> j tl 
 
 , n r J finelt Men of Canada : 1 hey are moreover 
 
 rforouteouata- „ c .,, ^^ r - 3 , , 
 
 or a very mud Diipofition, and were always 
 
 our Friends. Their Chief, Onanguice, treated 
 
 me with aPolitenefs which gave me as good an Opinion of his 
 
 Underflanding, as the Speech which he made in the Council ; 
 
 He is really a Man of Merit, and entirely in our Interefl. 
 
 As I returned through a Quarter of the Huron Village, I faw 
 
 a Company of thefe Savages, who appeared very eager at Play. 
 
 I drew near, and faw they were playing at the Game of th: 
 
 Dijh. This is the Game of which thefe People are fondeft. At 
 
 this they fometimes lofe their Red, and in fome Meafure their 
 
 Reafon. At this Game they hazard all they pofiefs, and many 
 
 do not leave off till they are alrnoft ftripped ouito naked, and 
 
 till they have loft all they have in their Cabins. Some h? :e 
 
 (b) The Hwom of the Straight hive art Lit obtained a MirTicnary, who bat 
 revived amon^ them the it former Fervor. 
 
 been
 
 176 An Historical Journal of 
 
 been known to ftake their Liberty for a Time, which fully 
 
 proves their Paftion for this Game ; for there are no Men in the 
 
 World more jealous of their Liberty than the Savages. 
 
 The Game of the Dijh, which they alfo call the Game of the 
 
 rr L n c little Bones, is only play'd by two Perfons : 
 
 , %^L° Jne V Each has fix or eight little Bones, which at 
 
 1 r 1 £ °f && I took for Apricot Stones ; they are of 
 the little Hones. ^ shape and Bignefs . But upon viewing 
 
 them clofely, I perceived that they had fix unequal Surfaces, the 
 two principal of which are painted, one Black, and the other 
 White, inclining to Yellow. They make them jump up, by 
 finking the Ground, or the Table, with a round and hollow Difh, 
 which contains them, and which they twirl round firft. _ When 
 they have no Dim, they throw the Bones up in the Air with their 
 Hands : If in falling they come all of one Colour, he who plays 
 wins five : The Game is forty up, and they fubtraft the Num- 
 bers gained by the adverfe Party. Five Bones of the fame Co- 
 Jour win but one for the firft Time, but the fecond Time they 
 win the Game : A lefs Number wins nothing. 
 
 He that wins the Game, continues playing : The Lofer gives 
 his Place to another, who is named by the Markers of his Side ; 
 for they make Parties at firft, and often the whole Village is con- 
 cern'din the Game : Oftentimes alfo one Village plays againft 
 another. Each Party chufes a Marker; but he withdraws when he 
 pleafes, which never happens, but when his Party lofes. At 
 every Throw, efpecially if it happens to be decifive, they make 
 great Shouts. The Players appear like People pofTefied, and 
 the Spectators are not more calm. They all make a thoufand 
 Contortions, talk to the Bones, load the Spirits of the adverfe 
 Party with Imprecations, and the whole Village echoes with 
 Howlino-s. If all this does not recover their Luck, the 
 Lofers may put oft" the Party till next Day : It cofts them only 
 •a fmall Treat to the Company. 
 
 Then they prepare to return to the Engagement. Each in- 
 vokes his Genius, and throws fome Tobacco in the Fire to his 
 Honour. They afk him above all Things for lucky Dreams. 
 As foon as Day appears, they go again to Play ; but if the 
 Lofers fancy that the Goods in their Cabins made them un- 
 lucky, the firft Thing they do is to change them all. The great 
 Parties commonly laft five or fix Days, and often continue all 
 Night. In the mean Time, as all the Perfons prefent, at leaft 
 thole who are concerned in the Game, are in an Agitation that 
 deprives them of Reafon, as they quarrel and fight, which ne- 
 ver happens among the Savages but on thefe Occafions, and in 
 D-runkennefs, one may judge, if when they have done playing 
 they do not want Reft. 
 
 It
 
 c Ii\vi!s in North AUt&ricax tyj 
 
 It happens fometlmes that thefe Parties of Play are made by 
 
 ' a . . Tjr Order of the Phyfician, or at the Requeft of 
 SuperJhttousUfe thg skk The „ e needs nQ mQre for ^ 
 
 °f f »" .7'* ■; '■' Purpofe than a Dream of one or the other. 
 theLureofUijtcm- ^ Dream ^ j— taken for ^ Qrder of 
 
 f ers ' fome Spirit ; and then they prepare them- 
 
 felves for Play with a great deal of Care. They afTemble for feve- 
 ral Nights to try, and to fee who has the luckieft Hand. They 
 confalt their Genii, they faft, the married Perfons obferve Con- 
 tinence \ and all to obtain a favourable Dream. Every Morn- 
 ing they relate what Dreams they have had, and of all the 
 Things they have dreamt of, which they think lucky ; and they 
 make a Collection of all, and put them into little Bags which they 
 carry about with them ; and if any one has the Reputation of 
 being lucky, that is, in the Opinion of thefe People, of having a 
 familiar Spirit more powerful, or more inclined to do Good, 
 they never fail to make him keep near him who holds the Difh : 
 They even go a great Way fometimes to fetch him ; and if 
 through Age, or any Infirmity, he cannot walk, they will carry 
 him on their Shoulders. 
 
 They have often pre/Ted the Mifiionaries to be prefent at thefe 
 Games, as they believe their Guardian Genii are the moll 
 powerful. It happened one Day in a Huron Village, that a fick 
 Perfon having tent for a Juggler, this Quack prefcribed the 
 Game of the Dijh, and appointed a Village at fome Diftance 
 from the fick Peribn's, to play at. She immediatelyfent to afk 
 Leave of the Chief of the Village : It was granted : They 
 played ; and when they had done playing, the fick Perfon gave 
 a great many Thanks to the Players for having cured her, as fhe 
 {aid. But there was nothing of Truth in all this : On the con- 
 trary, fhe was worfe ; but one mull always appear fatisfied, 
 even when there is the leaft Caufe to be fo. 
 
 The ill Humour of this Woman and her Relations fell upon 
 the Miffionaries, who had refufed to affift at the Game, notwith- 
 flanding all the Importunities they ufed to engage them : And 
 in their Anger for the little Complaifance they fhewed on this 
 Occafion. they told them, by Way of Reproach, that fince their 
 Arrival in this Country, the Genii of the Savages had loft their 
 Power. • Thefe Fathers did not fail to take Advantage of this 
 Confeffion, to make thefe Infidels fenfible of the Weaknefs of 
 their Deities, and of the Superiority of the God of the Cbrif- 
 tians. But beiides that on thefe Occafions it is rare that they 
 are well enough difpofed to hear Reafon, thefe Barbarians re- 
 ply coldly, " You have your Gods, and we have our's : 'Tis a 
 " Misfortune for us that they are not fo powerful as your's." 
 
 A' a The
 
 178 An tiiftorical Journal of 
 
 The Strait is one of the Countries of Canada where a Bo- 
 tanift might make the moft Difcoveries. I have already ob- ' 
 ferved, that all Canada produces a great many Simples which 
 have great Virtues. There is no Doubt that the Snow contri- 
 butes greatly to it r But there is in this Place a Variety of Soil ; 
 which, joined to the Mildnefs of the Climate, and the Liberty 
 which the Sun has to warm the Earth more than in other Places, 
 becaufe the Country is more open, gives Room to believe that 
 the Plants have more Virtue here than in any other Place. 
 
 One of my Canoe Men lately proved the Force of a Plant, 
 Of /A Fl which we meet with every where, and the 
 
 ft1 S ' ' , . '*- Knowledge of which is very neceffary for 
 riant, ana its tf- m u .. c •* jA t^- r t 
 
 fa Travellers; not for its good Qualities, fori 
 
 •* ■ never yet heard it had any, but becaufe we 
 
 cannot take too much Care to fhun it. They call it the Flea- 
 Plant ; but this Name does not fufficiently exprefs the Effects it 
 produces. Its EfFecls are more or lefs fenfible, according to the 
 Conftitution of thofe who touch it. There are fome Perfons on 
 whom it has no Effect at all ; but others, only by looking on it, 
 are feized with a violent Fever, which lafts above fifteen Days, 
 and which is accompanied with a very troublefome Itch on the 
 Hands, and a great Itching all over the Body. It has an Effect 
 on others only when they touch it, and then the Party affected ap- 
 pears all over like a Leper. Some have been known to have 
 loft the Ufe of their Hands by it. We know no other Pvemedy 
 for it as yet but Patience. After fome Time all the Symptoms 
 difappear. 
 
 There grow alio in the Strait Lemon-Trees in the natural 
 n . , T Soil, the Fruit of which have the Shape and 
 
 Uf the Lemons Colour of thofe of Pcrtuga / } but they are 
 of we urea. { m?L \\ eYi an d of a flat Tafte. They are ex- 
 
 cellent in Conferve. The Root of this Tree is a deadly and 
 very fubtile Poifon, and at the fame Time a fovereign Antidote 
 againft the Eite of Serpents. It muft be pounded, and applied 
 directly to the Wound. This Remedy takes Effect inftantly, 
 and never fails. On both Sides the Strait the Country, as they 
 fay, preferves all its Beauty for about ten Leagues within Land ; 
 after which they find fewer Fruit-Trees, and not fo many Mea- 
 dows. But at the End of five or fix Leagues, inclining towards 
 the Lake Erie to the South Weft, one fees vaft Meadows which 
 extend above a hundred Leagues every Way, and which feed a 
 prodigious Number of thofe Cattle which I have already mention- 
 ed feveral Times. 
 
 / am, Sec, 
 
 LETTER
 
 Travels in North America, 179 
 
 LETTER XVII. 
 
 Various Remarks on the Charailer, Cujioms, and Government of th* 
 
 Savages. 
 
 Ma da m, At Detroit (the Strait), June 14. 
 
 AFTER I had clofed my laft Letter, and given it to a 
 Perfon who was going down to Quebec, I prepared myfelf 
 to continue my Journey, and in Fatt, I embarked the next Day, 
 but I did not go far, and by the Want of Precaution in my Con- 
 ductors, I am returned here to Fort Pontchartrain, where I fear I 
 lhall be obliged to flay yet feveral Days. Thefe are Difappoint- 
 ments which we mult expect with the Canadian Travellers, they 
 are never in Hafte, and are very negligent in taking their Mea- 
 fures. But as we mull make the beft of every Thing, I lhall 
 take Advantage of this Delay, to begin to entertain you with the 
 Government of the Savages, and of their Behaviour in public Af- 
 fairs. By this Knowledge you will be better able to judge of 
 what I {hall have Occafion to fay to you hereafter ; but I lhall 
 not fpeak very largely on this Subject : Firft, becaule the Whole 
 is not very interefting : Secondly, becaufe I will write nothing 
 to you but what is fupported by good Teftimony, and it is not 
 eafy to find Perfons whofe Sincerity is entirely unfufpected, at 
 leaft of Exaggeration ; or who may not be fufpefted of having 
 given Credit too lightly to all they heard ; or who have Difcern- 
 ment enough to take Things in a right View, which requires a 
 long Acquaintance with the Country, and the Inhabitants. I 
 lhall fay nothing of my own on this Article, and this will pre- 
 vent me from following a regular Series in what I lhall fay. But 
 it will not be difficult for you to collect and make a pretty re- 
 gular Whole of the Remarks which I lhall interfperle in my 
 Letters, according as I receive them. 
 
 It mull be acknowledged, Madam, that the nearer View we 
 — . c r take of our Savages, the more we difcover in 
 
 J be Savages 0/ them fome valuable Qj, a ij ties . The chief 
 Canada are more ^ q{ ^ p rinc! les b whkh th 
 ^ftly to be convert- kt£ ^^ Conduaj the general Maxims b 
 td than the more ci- whkh {hey n themfelvcs> and the Bot . 
 
 -viltzed ISattons. tQm of thdr charaaer) have not hing which 
 appears barbarous. Furthermore, the Ideas, though quite con- 
 futed, which they have retained of a firft Being ; the Traces, tho' 
 almoft effaced, of a religious Worlhip, which they appear to 
 
 A a 2 have
 
 180 An Hiflorical Journal of 
 
 have rendered formerly to this Supreme" Deity j and the faint 
 Marks, which we obferve, even in their moft indifferent Actions 
 of the antient Belief, and the primitive Religion, may bring 
 them more eafily than we think, into the Way of Truth, and 
 make their Converfiou to Chrifitiamty to be more eafily effected 
 than that of more civilized Nations. In Fa£t, we learn from 
 Experience, that Policy, Knowledge, and Maxims of State, create 
 in the laft an Attachment and a Prejudice for their falfe Belief, 
 which all the Skill, and all the Zeal of the Labourers of the 
 Gofpel have much Pains to overcome. So that there is Need 
 of Grace acting more powerfully on enlightened Infidels, who 
 are almoft always blinded by their Prefumption, than on thofe 
 who have nothing to oppofe to it but a very limited Know- 
 ledge. 
 
 The greateft Part of the People of this Continent have a Kind 
 
 a r> i tj °f Atiltocratic Government, which varies al- 
 
 A general Idea moft tQ Infinity# For ahho > each village has 
 
 of their Govern- -^ chief . ^ |s independent of a]1 the ,,_ 
 
 ment% thers of the fame Nation, and on whom his 
 
 Subjects depend in very few Things ; ne'verthelefs, no Affair of 
 any Importance is concluded without the Advice of the Elders. 
 Towards Acadia the Sachems were more abfolute, and it does not 
 appear that they were obliged as the Chiefs are in almoft all 
 other Places, to beftow Bounties on private Perfons. On the 
 contrary, they received a Kind of Tribute from their Subjects, 
 and by no Means thought it a Part of their Grandeur to referve 
 nothing for themfelves. But there is Reafon to think that 
 the Difperfion of thefe Savages of Acadia, and perhaps alfo their 
 Intercourfe with the French, have occafioned many Changes in 
 their old Form of Government, concerning which Lefcarbot and 
 Chatnplain are the only Authors who have given us any Parti- 
 culars. 
 
 Many Nations have each three Families, or principal Tribes, 
 ctl 7v •/• as ant i ent > i°- a H Probability, as their Ori- 
 -. \ be Ul ™J w ?" pin. Thev are neverthelefs 'derived from the 
 c f™ e * aUons f" fame Stock, and there is one, who is looked 
 to bribes. upon as the ^ ?} wn ; cn nas a Sort of Pre- 
 
 eminence over the two others, who ftile thofe of this Tribe Bro- 
 thers, whereas between themfelves they ftile each other Coufau. 
 Thefe Tribes are mixed, without being confounded, each has 
 its diftinct Chief in every Village; and in the Affairs which con- 
 cern the whole Nation, thefe Chiefs affemble to deliberate 
 thereon. Each Tribe bears the Name of fome Animal, and the 
 whole Nation has alfo one, whofe Name they take, and whofe 
 Figure is their Mark, or, as one may fay, their Coat of Arms. 
 They fign Treaties no otherwife thaa by tracing thefe Figures 
 
 on
 
 Travels in North America. ifti 
 
 on it, unlcfs fome particular Reafons make them fubftitutc 
 others. 
 
 Thus the Huron Nation is the Nation of the Porcupine. Its 
 firft Tribe bears the Name of the Bear, or of the Roe-Buck. Au- 
 thors differ about this. The two others have taken for their 
 Animals, the Wolf and the Tortoife. In fhort, each Village has 
 alfo its own Animal ; and probably it is this Variety which has 
 occafioned fo many Miftakes in the Authors of Relations. Fur- 
 thermore-, it is proper to obferve, that befides thefe Diftinclions 
 of Nations, Tribes, and Villages, by Animals, there are yet 
 others which are founded upon fome Cuftom, or on fome 
 particular Event. For Inftance, the Tionuontatez Hurons, who 
 are of the firft Tribe, commonly call themfelves the Nation of 
 Tobacco ; and we have a Treaty, in which th^fe Savages, who 
 were then at Micbillimakinacy have put for their Mark the Figure 
 of a Beaver. 
 
 The Iroquois Nation have the fame Animals as the Huron, of 
 „, , . which it appears to be a Colony; yet with 
 
 Obfervatton on ^ Differe r nce> that the Family f the Tor- 
 
 the Names of the toife is divided int0 tvv0 , which they call the 
 Lme f s - great and the little Tortoife. _ The Chief of 
 
 each Family bears the Name of it, and in public Tranfactions 
 they never give him any other. It is the fame in Refpeft to the 
 Chief of the Nation, and of each Village. But befides this 
 Name, which is, as I may fay, only a Reprefentation, they have 
 another which diftinguifhes them more particularly, and which 
 is, as it were, a Title of Honour. Thus one is caUed the moft 
 noble, another the moft anticnt, See. Laftly, they have a third 
 Name which is perfonal ; but I am apt to think that this is only 
 ufed among the Nations, where the Rank of Chief is hereditary. 
 
 The conferring or giving thefe Titles, is always performed 
 with great Ceremony. The new Chief, or if he is too young, 
 he who reprefents him, muft make a Feaft and give Prefents, 
 fpeak the Elogium cf his Predeceflbr, and fing his Song. But 
 there are fome perfonal Names fo famous, that no one dares to 
 aiTume them ; or which, at leaft, remain a long Time before 
 they are re-aflumed : When they do it, they call it, raifing from 
 the Dead the Perfon who formerly had that Name. 
 
 In the North, and in all Places where the Algonquin Language 
 
 ~. , r prevails, the Dignity of Chief is elective ; 
 
 Of the Succef. J u the Ceremony of the Election and In- 
 fion, and of the lta n a tion confifls in Feafts, accompanied with 
 Ehaion of the Vznzzs and Songs. The Chief eledted 
 
 Chiefs. never fails to make the Panegyrick of him 
 
 whofe Place he takes, and to invoke his Genius. Amongft the 
 Hurons, where this Dignity is hereditary, the Succeffion is con- 
 tinued
 
 iBz An Hijhrical Journal of 
 
 tlnued, ty the Woman's Side ; fo that at the Death of the 
 Chief, it is not his Son that fucceeds him, but his Sifter's Son ; 
 or, in Cafe of Failure of fuch, the neareft Relation by the Fe- 
 male Line. If a whole Branch happens to be extinft, the 
 nobleft Matron of a Tribe chufes the Perfon fhe likes beft, and 
 declares him Chief. 
 
 They muft be of an Age fit to govern ; and if the hereditary 
 
 Of their Power, ^^f/fef they chufe a Regent, 
 J who has all the Authority, but who exercifes 
 
 \t in the Name of the Minor. In general, thefe Chiefs do not 
 receive any great Marks of Refpett ; and if they are always 
 obeyed, it is becaufe they know how far their Commands will 
 have Force, ft is true alfo, that they entreat or propofe, rather 
 tjhan command, and that they never exceed the Bounds of the 
 tittle Authority they have. Thus it is Reafon that governs ; 
 and the Government is the more effectual, as the Obedience is 
 more voluntary, and that there is no Fear of its degenerating 
 ^nto Tyranny. 
 
 Befides this, every Family has a Right to chufe themfelves 
 
 Of t! e JlVf- a Counfellor, or an Afiiftant to the Chief, 
 
 * q -" who is to watch over their Interefts, and 
 
 ,-,, without whofe Advice the Chief can under- 
 
 * '*" take sothing. Thefe Counfellors are efpe- 
 
 ^ially obliged to take Care of the public Treafure, and it 
 
 belongs to them to direct how it is to be employed. The firft 
 
 Reception of them into this Office, is in a general Council ; but 
 
 ijjhey do not give Notice of this to their Allies, as they do in the 
 
 Election or Installation of a Chief. -<-In the Huron Nations, the 
 
 "Women name the Counfellors, and they often chufe Perfons of 
 ftheir own Sex. 
 
 This Body of Counfellors, or Afliftants, is the firft of all : 
 Of the B i f ^ e ^" ccon ^ * s t ' 1 " t °*" tne Elders ; that is to 
 rth Fll : f a y y °^ ^ W ^° ^ ave atta i ne d the Age of 
 
 Maturity. I could never learn exactly what 
 this Age is. The laft is that of the Warriors : It comprehends 
 ail that are able to bear Arms. This Body has often at its 
 Head the Chief of the Nation, or of the Village ; but he muft 
 have diftinguifhed himfelf firft by fome brave Action, otherwife 
 he is obliged to ferve as a Subaltern ; that is to fay, as a com- 
 mon Soldier, for there is no other Rank in the Armies of the 
 $avages. 
 
 A great Party may indeed have feveral Chiefs, becaufe they 
 
 Of th W &* ve f k* s Title to all thofe who have ever 
 
 ,->,•■%. c ar commanded; but they are not the lefs fub- 
 
 ject to the Commander of the Party, a Kind 
 
 <gf General without Character, without real Authority, who can 
 
 neither
 
 'Travels' in North AiiKrlca. 
 
 neither reward nor punifh, whofe Soldiers may U hth 
 
 they pleafe, without his having a Right to fay any Thin" 
 them on that Account, and who neverthelefs is fcarce ever con- 
 tradicted. So true is it, that amongft Men who gOverfi thfciff- 
 felves by Reafon, and are guided by Honour and a Zeal for 
 their Country, Independence does not deftroy Subordination* 
 and that a free and voluntary Obedience is generally the mofl: to 
 be depended en. For the reft, the Qualities required in a War 
 Chief, are to be fortunate, brave* and diiintereited. It is not 
 ftrange, that they mould obey without Difficulty a Man in whom 
 thefe three Characters are known to be united. 
 
 The Women have the principal Authority among all the Peo- 
 T/j' Pozver of P* e °* r ^° " Hron Language, if we except . 
 theWarunin/ome ^mV Czmon of Orimou^ t where it is zU 
 Nations ternate between the Sexes. But if this w 
 
 their Law, their Practice is feldom conform- 
 able to it. In Reality, the Men acquaint the Women only with 
 what they pleafe to let them know, and an important Affair is 
 feldom communicated to them, though all is tranfackd in their 
 Name, and the Chiefs are only their" Lieutenants. 
 
 What I told you, Madam, of the Great Grandmother of the 
 hereditary Chief of the Hurons of the Strait, who could ne- 
 ver obtain a MifKonary for her Village, is a good Proof that the 
 real Authority of the Women is confined to very narrow Li- 
 mits ; yet I have been affured, that they deliberate firft on 
 what is prcpofed in the Council, and afterwards they give the 
 Refult of their Deliberation to the Chiefs, who make a Report 
 of it to the general Council, compofed of the Elders : But it 
 feems very probable, that all this is done for Form, and with the 
 Reftridlions I have mentioned. The Warriors confult alfo 
 among themfelves on every Thing in their Department, but they 
 can conclude nothing of Importance, or that concerns the Na- 
 tion or the Village. Every Thing muft be examined and de- 
 termined in the Council of the Elders, who give the final De- 
 cree. 
 
 It mud be acknowledged that they proceed in thefe AfTemblieJ 
 TbeWifdem of witil ruch Prudence > Maturity, Ability, and 
 *h,r. r„„«,;/,' I will alfo fay, for the moft Part, fuch Pro-' 
 
 J bity, as would have done Honour to thd 
 
 Areopagus of Athens, and the Senate of Rome, in the moft flou- 
 Hfhing Times cf thefe Republics. The Reafon is, that they 
 conclude nothing haftily, and that the ftrong Paffions which have 
 made fuch Alterations in the Syltems of Policy, even amongft 
 Cbriftians, have not yet prevailed in thefe Savages over the Pub- 
 lic Good. The Parties concerned do not fail to employ fecre* 
 Springs, and fuch Intrigue to accomplish their Defigns, that 
 
 « en*
 
 1 84 -An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 one would fcarce believe could enter into the Thoughts of fiick 
 Barbarians. It is alfo true, that theypoffefs, in the higheft De- 
 gree, the great Art of concealing their Proceedings. For the 
 moft Part, the Glory of the Nation, and the Motives of Ho- 
 nour, are the chief Springs of all their Undertakings. What 
 we cannot excufe in them, is, that generally they place all their 
 Honour in revenging themfelves, and give no Bounds to their 
 Revenge : A Fault which CbrijHawty alone can throughly re- 
 form, and which all our Politenefs and our Religion does not 
 always correal. 
 
 Each Tribe has its Orator in every Village, and there are few 
 , -. but thefe Orators who have a Right to fpeak 
 
 Of the Orators. ^ the pubHc Councils, and in the general 
 
 AfTemblies. They always fpeak well, and to the Purpofe. Be- 
 fides that natural Eloquence, which none of thofe who have been 
 acquainted with them will difpute, they have a perfeft Know- 
 ledge of the Interefts of thofe who employ them, and a Dexte- 
 rity in placing their Rights in the faireft Light, that nothing 
 can exceed. On fome Occafions, the Women have an Orator, 
 who fpeaks in their Name, and as if he was folely their Interpre- 
 ter. 
 
 One would think that People, who we may fay have no Pof- 
 
 ns l t a f e fi" 10ns > either public or private, and who 
 
 Of the lnterejts have nQ Amblt i on t0 exte nd themfelves, 
 
 of thefe People. ^^ haye yery ftw Things t0 ad j uft with 
 
 each other. But the Spirit of Man, naturally reftlefs, cannot 
 remain without Aclion, and is ingenious in finding itfelf Em- 
 ployment. This is certain, that our Savages negotiate continu- 
 ally, and have always fome Affair on the Carpet. There are 
 fome Treaties to conclude, or to renew, Offers of Service, mu- 
 tual Civilities, Alliances they court, Invitations to join in 
 making War, Condolences on the Death of a Chief, or of 
 fome confiderable Perfon. All this is done with a Dignity, an 
 Attention, I will even venture to fay with an Ability, worthy 
 of the moft important Affairs : And they are fometimes more fo 
 than they feem to be ; for thofe they depute for thefe Purpofes, 
 have almoft always fome fecret Inftruclions, and the apparent 
 Motive of their Deputation is only a Vail that hides another of 
 more Confequence. 
 
 The Iroquois Nation has for the two laft Ages made the greateft 
 
 <77. p /• f Fig ure * n Canada. By their Succefles in 
 I be Policy of w ^ f they haye gaineci over the greateft p art 
 
 the Iroquois. of the other Nations a Superiority, which 
 
 none of them at prefent are in a Condition to difpute ; and 
 from a peaceable Nation, as they were formerly, they are be- 
 come very reftlefs and intriguing. But nothing has contributed 
 
 more
 
 Travels in North America. '185 
 
 Wore to render them formidable, than the Advantage of their 
 Situation ; which they foon difcovered, and knew very well 
 how to take Advantage of it. Placed between us and the Eng- 
 lijb, they foon conceived that both Nations would be obliged to 
 court them ; and it is certain that the principal Attention of 
 both Colonies, fince their Settlement, has been to gain them, or 
 at leaft to engage them to remain neuter : Being perfuaded on 
 their Part, that if one of thefe Nations mould prevail over the 
 other, they fhould foon be oppreffed, they have found the Se- 
 cret to balance their SucceiTes ; and if we confider that all their 
 I'orces joined together have never amounted to more than five 
 or fix thoufand fighting Men, and that long ago they were di- 
 minifhed above half, one muft acknowledge that they could not, 
 with fo fmall a Power, have fupported themfelves as they have 
 done, but by great Skill and Addrefs. 
 
 As to what relates to private Perfons, and the particular Con- 
 Of th Go r - cerr,s °f tne ViU a g es » thefe are reduced to a 
 
 / c it ts 1 ver Y fmall Compafs, and are foon decided. 
 ment of the Vil- rpi/ a u • c i_ m- r . 
 
 1 J 1 he Authority or the Chiefs uoes not ex- 
 
 * * tend, or very rarely extends, fo far ; and ge- 
 
 nerally thofe who have any Reputation, are employed only for 
 the Public. A fingle Affair, however trifling it may be, is a 
 long Time under Deliberation. Every Thing is treated of 
 with a great deal Circumfpection, and nothing is decided 
 till they have heard every one who defires it. If they have 
 made a Prefent under Hand to an Elder, to fecure his Vote, 
 they are fure to obtain it when the Prefent is accepted. It was 
 fcarce ever heard that a Savage foiled in an Engagement of this 
 Kind ; but he does not take it eafily, and he never receives with 
 both Hands. The young People enter early into the Know- 
 ledge of Bufmefs, which renders them ferious and mature in an 
 Age in which we are yet Children : This intereits them in the 
 Public Good from their early Youth, and infpires them with an 
 Emulation, which is cherifhed with great Care, and from which 
 there is Reafon to expeel the greateft Things. 
 
 The greateft Defect of this Government, is, that there is no 
 TheDfl F Punifhroent for Crimes among thefe People. 
 
 _,, fi * ■/ Indeed this Defett has not the fame Confe- 
 tbe (jonjenwient. , , . , . , , . . , 
 
 quences here, which it would r.ave with us : 
 
 The great Spring of our Paffions, and the principal Source of 
 
 the Diforders which moft difturb civil Society, that is to fay, 
 
 Self-Intereft, having fcarce any Power over People, who never 
 
 think of laying up Riches, and who take little Thought for the 
 
 Morrow. 
 
 They may alfo juftly be reproached with their Manner of 
 
 bringing up their Children. They know not what it is to chaf- 
 
 B b " tUe
 
 1 86 An Hijl cried Journal of 
 
 tife them : Whilft they are little, they fay they have no Reafon % 
 and the Savages are not of the Opinion, that Puniihment pro- 
 motes Understanding. When they are old enough to reafon, 
 they fay that they are Mailers of their own Actions, and that 
 they are accountable to no Perfon for them. They carry thefe 
 two Maxims fo far, as to fufFer themfelves to be ill ufed by 
 drunken People, without defending themfelves, for Fear of 
 hurting them. If you endeavour to Ihew them the Folly of this 
 Conduct, they fay, Why Jhould <we hurt them ? They know not 
 nvhat they do. 
 
 In a Word, thefe Americans are entirely convinced that Man is 
 born free, that no Power on Earth has any Right to make any 
 Attempts againft his Liberty, and that nothing can make him 
 Amends for its Lofs. We have even had much Pains to unde- 
 ceive thofe converted to Cbrijiianity on this Head, and to make 
 them underftand, that in Confequence of the Corruption of our 
 Nature, which is the Effect of Sin, an unreftrained Liberty of 
 doing Evil differs little from a Sort of Neceffity of committing 
 it, confidering the Strength of the Inclination, which carries us 
 to it ; and that the Law which reftrains us, brings us nearer to 
 our firft Liberty, in feeming to deprive us of it. Happily for 
 them, Experience does not make them fee! in many material 
 Articles all the Force of this Bias, which produces in other 
 Countries fo many Crimes. Their Knowledge being more con- 
 fined than oar's, their Deures are Mill more fo. Being ufed 
 only to the fimple NecefTaries of Life, which Providence has 
 fufficiently provided for them, they have fcarce any Idea of Su- 
 perfluity. 
 
 After all, this Toleration, and this Impunity, is a great Dif- 
 order. There is alfo another, in the Defect of Subordination, 
 which appears in the Public, and Hill more fo in Domeflic Con- 
 cerns, where every one does what he pleafes ; where the Father, 
 Mother, and Children, often live like People met together by 
 Chance, and who are bound by no Obligations to each other ; 
 where the young People treat of the Affairs of the Family with- 
 out communicating any Thing of it to their Parents, no more 
 than if they were Strangers ; where the Children are brought 
 up in an entire Independence, and where they accuftom them- 
 felves early not to hearken either to the Voice of Nature, or the 
 moil indifpenfable Duties of Society. 
 
 If in the Nations that are mofl prudently governed, and which 
 are reflrained by the Reins of a mod holy Religion, we Hill fee 
 fome of thofe Monfters which are a Difgrace to Human Nature, 
 they at lealt create Horror, and the Laws fupprefs them : But 
 what is only the Crime of a private Perfon, when it is attended 
 with PuniJhment, becomes the Crime of the Nation that leaves 
 
 S it
 
 Travels in Ncrth America. 187 
 
 it unpunished, as even Parricide itfelf is among the Savages. 
 Were it frill more uncommon than it is, this Impumty is a Blot 
 which nothing can efface, and which appears entirely barba- 
 rous. There are, however, in all this, fome Exceptions, which 
 I fhall mention prefently ; but, in general, fuch is the Spirit 
 that prevails among our Savages. 
 
 They are not only perfuaded that a Perfon who is not in his 
 _, , „ . . , right Senfes is not to be reprehended, or at 
 
 ,. li"w leaft not t0 be punifh ed ; but they imagine 
 m which the Go- alf that k ^ umvorthy D f a Man to defend 
 
 IvTT* u himfelf a s ainft a Woman or a Child i but k 
 
 blijhed. j s a j wa y S underftood, where there is no Dan- 
 
 ger of Life, or of being maimed ; yet in this Cafe, if it is 
 poffible, they get away. But if a Savage kills another belong- 
 ing to his Cabin, if he is drunk, (and they often counterfeit 
 Drunkennefs when they intend to commit fuch Actions) all the 
 Confequence is, that they pity and weep for the Dead. It is a 
 Misfortune, (they fay) the Murderer knew not what he did. 
 
 If he did it in cool Blood, they readily conclude that he had 
 good Reafons for coming to this Extremity : If it is plain he 
 had none, it belongs to thofe of his Cabin, as the only Perfons 
 concerned, to punifh him : They may put him to Death, but 
 they feldom do it ; and if they do, it is without any Form of 
 Juftice ; fo that his Death has lefs the Appearance of a lawful 
 Punifhment than the Revenge of a private Perfon. Sometimes 
 a Chief will be glad of the Opportunity to get rid of a bad 
 Subject.. In a Word, the Crime is not punifhed in a Manner 
 that fatisfies Juftice, and which eftablifhes the public Peace 
 and Safety. 
 
 An AfTaffination which affetts feveial Cabins, would ai- 
 always have bad Confequences. Oftentimes there needs no 
 more to fet a whole Village in a Flame, and even a whole Na- 
 tion : For which Reafon, on thefe Occasions, the Council of the 
 Elders neglect no Means to reconcile the Parties betimes ; and 
 if they fucceed, it is commonly the Public who make the Pre- 
 fents, and take all the Meafures to appeafe the Family offended. 
 The fpeedy Punifhment of the Guilty, would at once put an End 
 to the Affair ; and if the Relations of the Dead can get the 
 Murderer in their Power, they may punifh him as they pleafe ; 
 but the People of his Cabin think it is not for their Honour to 
 facrifke him ; and often the Village, or the Nation, does not 
 think it proper to conftrain them to do it. 
 
 I have read in a Letter of Father Brebevf, who lived amongft 
 
 tt , tt the Huron; , that they uled to punifh Murder 
 
 T,t, H , uron5 in this Manner. They laid the dead Body 
 funded Murder. upon p oleSj at the Top of a Cabin> and the 
 
 B b 2 Murderer
 
 j88 An Wjlorical Journal of 
 
 Murderer was obliged to remain feveral Days together, and to 
 receive all that dropt from the Carcafe, not only on himfelf, but 
 alfo on his Food, which they fet by him ; unlefs by a confider- 
 able Prefent to the Cabin of the Deceafed, he obtained the Fa- 
 vour of having his Food freed from this Poifon ; but the Mif- 
 fionary does not fay, whether this was done by public Authori- 
 ty, or whether it was only done by Way of Reprifal by the 
 Perfons concerned, when they could get the Murderer in their 
 Power. However this may be, the moft common Means ufed 
 by the Savages to make Amends to the Relations of a Perfon 
 murdered, is to fupply his Place by a Prifoner of War ; in this 
 Cafe the Captive is afmoft always adopted : He takes PofTeffion 
 of all the Rights of the Deceafed, and foon makes them forget 
 him whofe Place he fupplies. But there are fome odious Crimes 
 which are immediately punifhed with Death, at leaf! among 
 fome Nations, amongft which are Sorceries. 
 
 Whoever is fufpefted of Sorcery is fafe no where ; they even 
 
 p .* _ make them undergo a Sort of Torture, to 
 
 tunijbment of obn them fQ dll - cover their Accomplices, 
 
 Magicians. ^ whkh they are condemned t0 the p u _ 
 
 niihment of Prifoners of War; but the Confent of his Family 
 is firft afoed, which they dare not refufe. Thofe who are lean: 
 culpable are knocked on the Head before they are burnt. They 
 treat much in the fame Manner thofe that difnonour their 
 Families, and commonly it is the Family that executes the De- 
 linquent. 
 
 Among the Hurons, who were much inclined to Heal, and 
 r, j ■ ~ who did it fo dexteroufly, that our moft fkill- 
 
 Th^f found ful Pick -P ockets would think k an Honour 
 migsjo\ ^ them, it was allowed when they found 
 
 out the Thief, not only to take from him again what he had 
 ftolen, but alfc to carry away every Thing that was in his Cabin, 
 and to ilrip him, his Wife, and Children, quite naked, without 
 his having the Liberty to make the leail Refifcance. And to 
 prevent all she Difputes which might arife on this Subjedl, they 
 agreed on certain Points which they have always obferved. For 
 Inftance, every Thing found, tho' it had been loft but a Mo- 
 ment, belonged to the Perfon that found it, provided the Lofer 
 had not claimed it before. But if they difcovered the leaft un- 
 fair Dealing en the Part of the Finders, they were obliged to 
 reftore it, which fometimes cccafioned Difputes that were pretty 
 difficult to decide ; The following is a fingdar Inftance of this 
 Kind. 
 
 A good
 
 'Travels in North America. 189 
 
 A good old Woman, whofe whole Stock confifted in a Collar 
 
 j r I j of Porcelain, or Shells, which was worth about 
 
 jmgt r - jjf t c rowns carried it always with her in a 
 
 nance of a 1 bin? \-'\x> r\ t\ a. ' i • . 
 
 f j little Bag. One Day as fhe was working m 
 
 •* ' the Field, fhe hung her Bag upon a Tree ; 
 
 Another Woman who perceived it, and who longed very much 
 to fharp her out of her Collar, thought it a favourable Oppor- 
 tunity to get it without being accufed of Theft : She never loft 
 Sight of it, and in an Hour or two, the old Woman being gone 
 into the next Field, fhe ran to the Tree and began to cry out, 
 ihe had made a good Find. The old Woman at this Cry turned 
 her Head, and faid the Bag belonged to her ; that it was fhe who 
 had hung it to the Tree, that (he had neither lolt nor forgot it, and 
 that fhe intended to take it again when fhe had done her Work. 
 The other Party replied, that there was no judging of Inten- 
 tions, and that having quitted the Field without taking a- 
 gain her Bag, one might naturally conclude, fhe had for- 
 got it. 
 
 After many Difputes between thefe two Women, between 
 whom there pafTed neverthelefs not the leaft difobliging Word, 
 the Affair was carried before an Arbitrator, who was the Chief 
 of the Village, and this was his Decree: " To judge ftriCbly, 
 " fays he, the Bag belongs to her that found it; but the Cir- 
 '* cumftances are fuch, that if this Woman will not be taxed 
 tc with Avarice, fhe mutt reftore it to her that claims it, and 
 ** be contented with a fmall Prefent, which the other is indif- 
 " penfably obliged to make her : " The two Parties fubmitted 
 to this Decifion ; and it is proper to obferve, that the Fear of 
 being noted for Avarice has as much Influence on the Mind of 
 the Savages, as the Fear of Punifhment would have, and that in 
 general thefe People are governed more by Principles of Ho- 
 nour than by any other Motive. What I have further to add, 
 Madam, will give you another Proof of this : I have faid before 
 that to hinder the Confequences of a Murder, the Public takes 
 upon itfelf to make the Submiffions for the Guilty, and to make 
 Amends to the Parties concerned : Would you believe th3t even, 
 this has more Power to prevent thefe Diforders than the fevereft 
 Laws ? But this is certainly true : For as thefe Submiffions are 
 extremely mortifying to Men whofe Pride furpaffes all Defcrip- 
 tion, the Criminal is more affected by the Trouble which he 
 fees the Public fuffer on his Account, than he would be for 
 himfelf ; and a Zeal for the Honour of the Nation re/trains 
 thefe Barbarians much mere powerfully, than the Fear of Death 
 or Punifhments. 
 
 But it is very certain, that Impunity has not always prevailed 
 amongft them as it has done in thefe latter Times, anJ our 
 
 Miflionaries
 
 i oo An Historical Journal of 
 
 Miffionaries have ftill found fome Traces of the antient Rigour 
 with which they ufed to fupprefs Crimes. Theft in particular was 
 looked upon as a Blot which difhonoured a Family, and every 
 one had a Right to wafh away the Stain with the Blood of the 
 Delinquent. Father Brebeuf c le Day faw a young Huron who 
 was killing a Woman with a Club, he ran to him to prevent it, 
 and aflced him why he committed fuch Violence, " She is my 
 « Sifter, replied the Savage, (he is guilty of Theft, and I 
 «« will expiate by her Death, the Difgace fee has brought upon 
 » me and all my Family." My Letter is juft now called for, 
 and I conclude with my AfTurances of being, 
 
 Your'' s t &C. 
 
 LETTER XVIII. 
 
 Voyage from Detroit (the Strait) to Michillimakinac 
 Defcription of the Country. Of the Marriages of the Sa- 
 vages. 
 
 Madam, Michillimakinac, June 30. 
 
 IT was the 1 8th of this Month that I at length departed in 
 good Earneft from the Fort of Pontchartrain at Detroit, a lit- 
 tle before Sun-fet. I had fcarce gone a League, when a Storm, 
 
 accompanied with a Deluge of Rain, ob- 
 Departure from j iged me tQ gQ a{]l0re very wet> an d we 
 
 Detroit. pafTed the Night very unpleafantly. The 
 
 next Day all that I could do was to crofs the Lake of St. Claire, 
 though this Paflage is but four Leagues. The Country ap- 
 peared to me good on both Sides. At half Way we leaveupon 
 the Left Hand a River which is at leaft feventy Yards wide at 
 its Mouth. They call it the Huron's River, becaufe thefe Sa- 
 vages took Refuge here during the War with the Iroquois. On 
 the Right, and almoft oppoiite, there is another, the Entrance 
 of which is twice as wide, and which they go up eighty Leagues 
 without meeting any Fall, which is rare in the Rivers of this 
 Country. I could not learn its Name. 
 
 The Route to Fort Detroit, from the End of the Traverfe, is 
 Eaft North Eaft ; from thence we turn to the North by the Eaft, 
 even to the South for four Leagues, at the End of which on the 
 Right Hand we find a Village of Mijfifaguez, fituate on a fruitful 
 Soil-fct the Entrance of fome very fine Meadows, and in the mo# 
 
 agreeable
 
 Travels in North America, 191 
 
 agreeable Situation that can be feen. From thence to Like 
 Huron they reckon twelve Leagues, and the Country is all the 
 Way charming. It is a magnificent Canal as (trait as a Line, 
 bordered with lofty Woods, divided by fine Meadows, and 
 fprinkled with Iflands, fome of which are pretty large. We 
 fteer here North North Eaft, and at the Entrance of Lake Hu- 
 ron, the Courfe is North for twelve Leagues further. 
 
 In crofting Lake St. Claire, I had in my Canoe a young Savage 
 
 _., _ . . ftron? and vigorous, and on the Strength of 
 
 TbePatnstheyoung whof | Arms l ^^ depended> in grdnting . 
 
 lavages take to a- h[m thg ?&ffzge whkh he afkcd of me . bu£ 
 tiornthemj elves. he gaye me lktk Affiftance . Jn Recompence 
 
 he diverted me much, till a Storm which rofe over our Heads, 
 began to make me uneafy. This young Man had been at hia 
 Toilet before he embarked, and he did not give three Strokes 
 with his Oar, but he took his Looking Glafs to fee if the Mo- 
 tion of his Arms had not difordered the dreffing of his Hair; or 
 if the Sweat had not altered the Figures he had drawn on his 
 Face with Red, and other Colours, with which he had painted 
 himfelf. 
 
 I know not whether he did not hope to arrive at the Village of 
 the Mij/lfaguez. before Night, to be prefent at fome Feaft, but we 
 could not go {o far. The Storm began juft as we got to an liland 
 at the End of the Traverfe of the Lake, and we were forced to 
 ftay there. The young Savage however did not appear to be 
 much difconcerted at this Difappointment, for thefe People are 
 eafily reconciled to every Accident : Perhaps alfo he only intend- 
 ed to (hew himfelf to us in all his Finery ; but if this was his 
 Defign he loft his Labour, I had feen him a few Days before in 
 his natural Appearance, and liked him much better than with 
 this odd Mixture of Colours, which had coft him fo much Pains. . 
 We fee few Women paint their Faces here, but the Men, and 
 efpecially the young ones, are very curious in this Ornament : 
 There are fome who employ half aDay in painting themfelves in 
 this Manner only to go from Door to Door to be looked at, and 
 who return mightily fatisfied with themfelves, tho' Nobody has 
 faid a Word to them. 
 
 We entered Lake Huron the twentieth, about ten in the 
 Morning. And we prefently had the Diverfion of fifhing for 
 Sturgeon. The next Day, in Spite of the Thunder, which 
 grumbled all the Day, but which was fatisfied with threatening 
 us, I advanced near twenty-five Leagues on the Lake, but the 
 twenty-third a thick Fog, which hindered us from feeing four 
 Paces before our Canoe, obliged us to go more flowly, becaufe we 
 failed on a rocky Bottom, which in many Places is not covered 
 with half a Foot Water : It extends a great Way into the Lake, 
 
 And
 
 192 An Historical Journal of 
 
 and is ten Leagues long : Our Canadians call it les Pays Plats., 
 
 (the Flat Country.) 
 
 The next Day we gained the Bay of Saguinam, which is five or 
 _,. p . . fix Leagues wide at the Mouth, and thirty 
 
 il- jT aU \™ ° f <*«¥• The Outaouais have a Village in the 
 Micnillimaki- Bottom of th j s Bay, which they fay is a very 
 
 nac * fine Country. From thence to Michillimakinac 
 
 we fee nothing fine, no more Vines, bad Woods, and very little 
 Game. Ten Leagues above the Bay of Saguinam we fee two pret- 
 ty large Rivers a League diftant from each other, and four or 
 five Leagues farther the Bay of Tonnerre (Thunder Bay), which is 
 three Leagues wide at its Entrance, and has but little Depth. 
 
 Michillimakinac (a) is 43 30 Minutes North Latitude, and the 
 Courfe, which is a 100 Leagues from the Mouth of the Strait, 
 coafting the Weft Side of Lake Huron, is almoft North. I arrived 
 the twenty-eighth at this Poft,' which is much declined fince 
 M. de la Matte Cadillac drew to Detroit the greateft Part of the 
 Savages who were fettled here, and efpecially the Hurons. Seve- 
 ral Outaouais have followed them, others have difperfed them- 
 felves in the Lies of Cafior ; there is only here a middling Vil- 
 lage, where there is ftill a great Trade for Peltry, becaufe it 
 is the Paflage or the Rendezvous of many of the Savage Na- 
 tions. The Fort is preferved, and the Houfe of the Miflionaries, 
 who are not much employed at prefent, havingnever found much 
 Docility among the Outaouais ; but the Court thinks their Pre- 
 fence necelfary, in a Place where one muft often treat with our Al- 
 lies, to exercife their Miniftry among the French, who come hi- 
 ther in great Numbers. I have been allured, that fince the Set- 
 tlement of Detroit, and the Difperfion of the Savages occafion- 
 ed thereby, many Nations of the North who ufed to bring their 
 Peltries hither, have taken the Route of Hud/on's Bay, by the 
 River Bourbon, and go there to trade with the Englijh ; but M. 
 de la Motte could by no Means forefee this Inconvenience, fince 
 we were then in Poflefiion of Fludfon's Bay. 
 
 The Situation of Michillimakinac is very advantageous for 
 Trade. This Poft is between three great Lakes ; Lake Michi- 
 gan, which is three Hundred Leagues in Compafs, without 
 mentioning the great Bay that comes into it ; Lake Huron, which 
 is three Hundred and fifty Leagues in Circumference, and which 
 is triangular ; and the Upper Lake, which is five Hundred 
 Leagues. All three are navigable for the largeft Barks, and 
 the two firft are only feparated by a little Strait, which has alfo 
 
 (a) Some pronounce it Miflillitr.akinac, which deceived M. Ac la Martini:/.; 
 *Wio has made it two different Places, 
 
 Water
 
 Travels in North America. 1 93 
 
 Water enough for fome Barks which may flill fail without any 
 Obftacle through all the Lake Erie till they come to Niagara. It 
 is true there is no Communication between Lake Huron, and the 
 Upper Lake, but by a Canal of twenty-two Leagues, much en- 
 cumbered with Falls or Torrents ; but thefe Torrents do not hin- 
 der the Canoes from coming to unload at Michillimakmac , every 
 Thing that can be got from the Upper Lake. 
 
 This Lake is two Hundred Leagues long from Eaft to Weft, 
 Defcripticn of ^nd in many Places eighty wide from North 
 
 the Upoer Lake. '° South ' a11 ^ ? oaft 1S fand y» and pretty 
 r •■ ltrait ; it would be dangerous to be fur- 
 
 prifed here by a North Wind. The North Side is more conve- 
 nient for failing, becaufe it is all along lined with Rocks, which 
 form little Harbours, where it is very eafy to take Refuge ; and 
 nothing is more neceflary when we fail in a Canoe on this Lake, 
 in which Travellers have obferved a pretty fingular Phcenome- 
 non. They fay, that when there will be a Storm they have No- 
 tice of it two Days before. At firft, they perceive a little Trem- 
 bling on the Surface of the Water, and that lafts all the Day, 
 without any manifeft Increafe ; the next Day the Lake is cover- 
 ed with pretty large Waves, but they do not break all the Day, 
 fo that one may fail without Danger, and may alfo make a great 
 deal of Way if the Wind is fair ; but the third Day, when it is 
 lcaft expefted, the Lake is all on Fire ; the Ocean/in its greateft 
 Fury, is not more agitated, and one muft have inftantly fome 
 Afylum to fly to for Safety ; which we are fure to find on the 
 North Side, whereas on the South Coaft, one muft from the fe- 
 cond Day encamp at a good Diftance from Shore. 
 
 The Savages, by Way of Acknowledgement for the Quantity 
 
 r z; r-1 c of Fifh this Lake affords them, and through 
 
 table of the ba- , D ^ r a , . r . ' . . r *? 
 
 /.j aT T nn „ the Relpect they are infpired with from its 
 
 •vases of toe upper llt . ' t , J , . r T , . . rTN . 
 
 T ke vaitExtcnt, havemadeitaKmd of Deity,and 
 
 offer Sacrifices to it after their Manner. But 
 I think that it is not to the Lake itfelf, but to the Genius which 
 prefides over it, that they offer up their Prayers : If we believe 
 them, this Lake has a divine Origin : 'Twas Michabou, the God 
 of the Waters, who made it to take Beavers. In the Canal by 
 which it discharges itfelf into Lake Huron, there is a Torrent 
 caufed by fome great Rocks ; our Miffionaries who once had here 
 a very flouriftiing Church called it the Fall of St. Mary. Thefe 
 Rocks according to the Tradition of the Barbarians are the Re- 
 mains of aCaufeyor Bank, which the God built to flop theWaters 
 of the Rivers, and of the Lake Alimipegon, which have filled this 
 Great Lake. 
 
 Cc On
 
 194 ^ n Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 On its Borders, in fome Places, and about certain Iflands, tliey 
 r M . find great Pieces of Copper, which are alfo 
 
 hopper Mines. the q^q. q£ the fuperftitious Worfhip of the 
 
 Savages ; they look upon them with Veneration, as a Prefent of 
 
 the Gods who live under theWaters ; they gather the fmalleft Bits 
 
 of it, and preferve them with Care, but make no Ufe of them. 
 
 They fay, that formerly there was a great Rock that flood high 
 
 above the Water all of the fame Matter ; and as it does not appear 
 
 at prefent, they fay that the Gods have carried it to another Place ; 
 
 but it is very probable, that in Length of Time the Waves of the 
 
 Lake have covered it with Sand and Mud ; and it is certain, that 
 
 there has been difcovered in many Places, a pretty large Quantity 
 
 of this Metal, without being obliged to dig deep for it. At my 
 
 firft Journey into this Country, I knew one of our Brethren, who 
 
 was a Goldfmith by Trade, and who, whilfl he was in the Million 
 
 of St. Marys Fall, went thither to find Copper, and had made 
 
 Candlelticks, Crofles, and Cenfers of it ; for this Copper is often 
 
 almoll entirely pure. 
 
 The Savages add, that when Michabou made the Upper Lake, 
 
 c ; r.i cr he dwelt at Mi chilli makinac. where he was 
 
 SeqiieloftbeHra- , ,. . T . / , r .._. 
 
 j- J r *i c born ; this Name is properly that or a little 
 
 mtions of the oa- T/1 ,, n i r i r i • i r. 
 
 J Uland, almoll round, and very high, lituate at 
 
 •* ' the Extremity of Lake Huron, and by Cuf- 
 
 torn it has given its Name to all the neighbouring Country. The 
 Ifland may be about three or four Miles round, and one may fee it 
 at the Diflance of twelve Leagues. There are two Llands to the 
 South of it, the farthefl of which is five or fix Leagues long, the 
 other is very fmall, and quite round. They are both well wood- 
 ed, and the Lands are good ; whereas that of Michillimakinac is 
 only a barren Rock, and fcarcely covered with a little Mofs and 
 Herbs. It is neverthelefs one of the moll celebrated Places of 
 Canada, and was a long Time, according to the antient Tradi- 
 tion of the Savages, the chief Abode of a Nation of the fame 
 Name, and of which they reckoned thirty Villages in the En- 
 virons of the Ifland. They fay, that the Iroquois dellroyed them, 
 but they do not fay at what Time, nor on what Occafion. This 
 is certain, that there are no Marks of them remaining. I have 
 fomewhere read, that our old Mifiionaries have feen feme Remains 
 of thefe People (a). 
 The Michilli?nakir.acs lived almoll only by Fifhing, and there is 
 Plent f F'/J P erna P s no Place in the World where there is 
 in thefe Parts ^ UC ^ ^ ent y °*" Fifh. The moll common 
 
 Fifh ; n the three Lakes, and in the Rivers that 
 How into them, are the Herring, the Carp, the Gilt Fifh, the 
 
 (a) The Word MicbiHlmakinac fignifies a great Number of Tortoifes j 
 but 1 never heard they find more here at prefent than in other Places. 
 
 Pike,
 
 Travels in North America, 195 
 
 Pike, the Sturgeon, the AJiikamegv.e, or white Fifh, and above 
 all, the Trout. They take three Sorts of the laft, among which 
 fome are of a monflrous Size, and in fuch Numbers, that a Sa- 
 vage with his Spear will fometimes ftrike fifty in three Hours 
 Time. But the moft famous of all is the White Fifh : It is about 
 the Bignefs and Shape of a Mackerel ; I know of no Kind 
 of Fifh that is better eating. The Savages fay, that it was 
 Michabou who taught their Anceftors to fifh, that he invented 
 Nets, and that he took the Notion of them from the Spiders 
 Web. Thefe People, as you fee, Madam, do not give greater 
 Honour to their God than he deferves, fince they are not afraid 
 of fending him to School to a vile Infett. 
 
 Whatever Lands appear in Sight hereabout, do not give an 
 
 nr l rn c ^ a °^ a g°°d Country ; but there is no 
 
 r> / ,J Jl " 7 Need of going far to find Soils fit for every 
 
 j°i ^ ea y er )» Thing. We may fay the fame of the Ifles of 
 
 a ) fc a n Ca Pr* which we leave on the left Hand * 
 
 cj the L,altor. a g^ after we enter intQ the Lake Michigatu 
 
 The Outaouais, who are retired thither, fow here Maiz, and they 
 have learnt this good Cuftom from the Hurcns, with whom they 
 have lived a long Time in thefe Parts. The dmikoucs formerly 
 dwelt in thefe Iflands : This Nation is now reduced to a very 
 fmall Number of Families, which have pafTed over to the lfland 
 Mcuiitoualin, on the North Side of the Lake Huron. It is, 
 neverthelefs, one of the moft noble of Canada, according to the 
 Savages, who believe it to be defcended from the Great Caftor, 
 which is, after Rlichahcu or the Great Hare, their principal Deity, 
 and whofe Name it bears. 
 
 It was He, as they fay further, that formed the Lake NipiJJtng ; 
 and all the Falls we meet with in the Great Ri-ver of the Ou- 
 tacucis, which goes out of it, are the Remains of Banks he made to 
 compafs his D-fign. They add, that he died at the fame Place, and 
 that he is buried on a Mountain, which is feen on the North Side of 
 Lake Nipijfing. This Mountain reprefents naturally on one Side 
 the Shape of a Beaver; and this is, no Doubt, what has given Rife 
 to all thefe Stories : But the Savages maintain, that it was the 
 Great Caftor who gave this Shape to the Mountain, after he had 
 chofen it for his Burial-Place; and they never pafs by this Place 
 without paying their Homage to him, by offering him the Smoke 
 of their Tobacco. 
 
 This is, Madam, what I thought worthy of Note in this Poft, 
 
 which is fo famous in the Travels and Accounts of Canada. 1 
 
 return to the Manners and Cuftoms of the Savages; and after 
 having mentioned what concerned their Wars, I am going to 
 entertain you concerning their Marriages. 
 
 C c 2 A
 
 196 An WJiorkal Journal of 
 
 A Plurality of Wives is eftablifhed in many Nations of the 
 Of the Plurality A k™l™ L .f g u ^' and £» common enough 
 cfm<vesandHuf- l ° ma "7 ^1 the Sifters; this Cuftom is found- 
 l af j. ed on the Notion they have, that Sifters will 
 
 agree together better than Strangers. In this 
 Cafe all the Wives are upon an equal Footing ; but among the true 
 Algonquins they have two Sorts of Wives, and the fecond are 
 Slaves to the firft. Some Nations have Wives in all the Places 
 where they ftay any confiderable Time for hunting ; and I have 
 been allured that this Abufe has been introduced lately among 
 the People of the Huron Language, who in all former Times 
 were fatisfied with one Wife. But in the Iroquois Canton of 
 'Tfonnonthouan there prevails a much greater Diforder ftill, which 
 is a Plurality of Hufbands. 
 
 As to what concerns the Degrees of Kindred, with Refpeft to 
 Of th T) Marriage, the Hurons and the Iroquois are 
 
 f K' ir d very fcrupulous in this Matter : Among them 
 
 -' ' there rnuft be no Manner of Relation between 
 
 the Parties to be married, and even Adoption is comprehended 
 in this Law. But the Hulband, if his Wife dies firft, muft marry 
 jher Sifter, or in Default of fuch, the Woman which his Wife's 
 Family fhall chufe for him : The Woman, on her Side, is 
 obliged to the fame Thing with Refpeft to the Brothers, or the 
 Relations of her Hufband, if he dies without Children, and ihe 
 is ftill of an Age to have any. The Reafon they give for it, is 
 the fame that is mentioned in the 25th Chapter of Deuteronomy , 
 verfe 6. The Hulband who fhould refufe to marry the Sifter, 
 or the Relation of the deceafed Wife, would expofe himlelf to 
 the greateft Outrages that the Perfon rejected can poflibly do 
 him, and would be obliged to fuffer them without Complaint or 
 Refiitance. When for Want of any Relations, they permit a 
 Widow to provide herfelf another Way, they are obliged to 
 make her Prefents : This is as a Teftimony which they give of 
 her good Conduct, ar.d which fhe has a Right "to demand, 
 if fhe has really behaved well all the Time of her Marriage. 
 There are in all Nations fome confiderable Families, which 
 
 „ . 7 T cannot marry but among: themfelves, efpe- 
 
 Partuwar Lanvs ■ ,, „ ' ., A7 9 T 1 i_ 
 
 r- t/r • cially among- Xhcsifaonqums. In general, the 
 
 J *> Stability or Marriages is lacred in this Coun- 
 
 try, and for the moft Part they coniider as a great Diforder thofe 
 Agreements which fome Perfons make to live together as long 
 as they like, and to feparate when they are tired of each other. 
 A Hufbar.d who fhould forfake his Wife without a lawful Caufe, 
 muft expett many Infults from her Relations ; and a Woman 
 who fhould leave her Hufband without being forced to it by his 
 ill Conduct, would pafs her Time ftill worfe. 
 
 Among
 
 Travels in North, America. i«y 
 
 Among the Miamis, the Hufband has a Right to cut off his 
 Wife's Nofe if me runs away from him ; but among the Iroquois 
 and the Hurom they may part by Confent. This is done without 
 Noife, and the Parties thus feparated may marry again. Thefe 
 Savages cannot even conceive that there can be any Crime 
 in this. " My Wife and I cannot agree together," faid one of 
 them to a Miflionary, who endeavoured to make him compre- 
 hend the Indecency of fuch a Separation, " my Neighbour's 
 " Cafe was the fame, we changed Wives, and we are all four 
 11 happy: What could be more reafonable than to make us 
 " mutually happy, when it is fo cheaply done, without wrong- 
 " ing any Body." Neverthelefs, this Cuftom, as I have already 
 obferved, is looked upon as an Abufe, and is not antient, at 
 leaft among the Iroquois. 
 
 What moll commonly difiurbs domeftic Peace among the 
 Jealoufy of the V™p\ e of CamJa is Jealoufy which is equal 
 Savages. on Sides. The Iroqucis boaft that they 
 
 * are never troubled with it ; but thofe who 
 
 are molt acquainted with them, affirm, that they are jealous to 
 Excefs. When a Woman has discovered that her Hufband has 
 a Miftrefs, her Rival ought to be well on her Guard, inafmuch 
 as the unfaithful Hufband cannot defend her, nor in any Manner 
 take her Part. A Man who ihould ufe his Wife ill on this Ac- 
 count, would be difgraced. 
 
 Treaties of Marriage are entirely carried on by the Parents : 
 How they treat The Parties interefted do not 'appear at all", 
 of Marriages. ™ d S" r e themfelves up entirely to the Will 
 
 ■* of thole on whem they depend. But is it not 
 
 Matter of Surprife in the Whimficalnefs of thefe Savages, who 
 do not make themfelves dependent on their Parents but in that 
 Matter only, where there is the moll Reafon to ufe their own Choice. 
 However, the Parents do not conclude any Thing without their 
 Confent ; but this is only a Formality. The firft Advances muff 
 be made.by the Matrons, but there are feldom any made on the 
 Woman's Side : Not but if any Girl was to continue too long 
 without being fued for, her Family would a£l under-hand to find 
 her a Suitor ; but this is done with a great deal of Precaution. In 
 fome Places the Women are not in Hafte to be married, be- 
 caufe they are allowed to make what Trials of it they pleafe, 
 and the Ceremony of Marriage only changes their Condition for 
 the worfe. 
 
 In general, there is obferved a great deal of Modefly in the 
 Behaviour of the young People whilft they treat of their Mar- 
 riage ; and they fay that it was quite otherwife in the antient 
 Time. But what is almoft incredible, and which is neverthelefs 
 attefted by good Authors, is, that in many Places the new mar- 
 ried
 
 198 An liijlorical Journal of 
 
 ried Couple are together a whole Year, living in a perfect Con- 
 tinence : This is, they fay, to fhew that they married for Friend- 
 ship, and not to gratify a fenfual Paffion. A young Woman 
 would even be pointed at that fhould happen to be with Child 
 the firft Year of her Marriage. 
 
 After this it will be eafier to believe what is faid of the young 
 People's Behaviour, during their Courtfhip in the Places where 
 they are allowed to fee one another in private. For though 
 Cullom allows them to have very private Meetings, yet in the 
 greateir. Danger that Chaftity can be expofed to, and even un- 
 der the Vail of Night, they fay, that nothing paffes againit the 
 Rules of the ftricleft Decorum, and that not even a Word is 
 fpoken that can give the leaft Offence to Modefty. I make Ac- 
 count, Madam, that you will approve my not entering into a 
 Detail on this Subject, which fome Authors have dene ; it 
 would make the Thing appear fcill more improbable. 
 
 I find in all that has been written cf the Preliminaries and 
 
 ry c j n Ceremonies of the Marriages of thefe Peo- 
 
 Uf the Lersmo- , A ° ,- • 1 c 
 
 f M ' pie various Accounts, proceeding eit'.er from 
 
 •* J m & ' the different Cuftoms of divers Nations, or 
 from the little Care the Authors of Relations took to be 
 well informed : Furthermore, the whole appeared to me to be 
 fo little worthy your Curiofity, that I thought it not worth 
 my while to enquire a great deal about it. The Hufband that 
 is to be, mufc make Prefents, and in this, as in every Thing 
 elfe, nothing can exceed the Difcretion with which he behaves, 
 and the refpeftful Behaviour which he fhews to his future 
 Spoufe. In fome Places the young Man is contented to go and 
 £t by the Side of the young Woman in her Cabin, and if fhe 
 fuffers it, and continues in her Place, it is taken for her Con- 
 sent, and the Marriage is concluded. But in the mid it of all 
 this Deference and Refpect, he gives fome Tokens that he will 
 ibon be Mafter, In Fact, among the Prefents fhe receives, there 
 are fome which ought lefs to be regarded as Marks of Friend- 
 ship, than as Symbols and Notices of the Slavery to which fhe 
 is going to be reduced : Such are the Collar, (a) the Kettle, 
 and a Billet, which are carried to her Cabin. This is to let 
 her know, that fhe is toxarry the Burdens, drefs the Provifions, 
 2nd get Wood for Firing. The Cuftom is alfo in fome Places 
 for her to bring before- hand into the Cabin where fhe is to 
 dwell after Marriage, all the Wood that will be wanted for the 
 next Winter. And it is to be obferved, that in all I have juft 
 faid, there is no Difference between the Nations, v/here the 
 
 (a) This Collar is that which I have mentioned before ; that is to fay, 
 Jong and broad Band of Leather which ferves to draw Burdens, 
 
 Women
 
 Travels in North America. 199 
 
 Women have all the Authority, and thofe where they have no- 
 thing to do with the Affairs of Government. Thefe fame Wo- 
 men, who are in fome Degree the Miftrelfts of the State, at 
 leaft for Form, and who make the principal Body of it, when 
 they have attained a certain Age, and have Children in a Con- 
 dition to make them refpe£ted, are not at all refpected before 
 this, and are in their domeltic Affairs the Slaves of the Huf- 
 bands. 
 
 In general there are perhaps no People in the World who 
 j, p more defpife the Sex. To call a Savage a 
 
 7 *?**? a ^ 6S Woman, is the preateft Affront that can be 
 
 the Mothers over • ,- XT i t> -., /1 »■ .1 n , •,, 
 
 , p , given him. Nctwithftanding, the Cnildren 
 
 belong only to the Mother, and acknowledge 
 her alone. The Father is always as a Stranger with Refpedl to 
 them ; in fuch a Manner, however, that if he is not regarded 
 as a Father, he is always refpefted as the Mafler of the Cabin. 
 I know not, however, if all this is univerfal amongft all the 
 People of Canada that we are acquainted with ; no more than 
 what I have found in fome good Memoirs, that the young 
 Wives, befides what their Hufbands have a Right to require of 
 them for the Service of the Cabin, are obliged to fupply ail the 
 Wants of their own Parents ; which probably muft be under- 
 flood of thofe who have no longer any Pcrfon to render them 
 thefe Services, and who are not, by Reafbn of their Age or In- 
 firmities, in a Condition to help themfelves. 
 
 However this may be, the new married Man is not without 
 Employment. Befides Hunting and Fifhing, which he is ob- 
 liged to follow all his Life, he muft at firft make a Mat for his 
 Wife, build her a Cabin, or repair that they are to live in ; and 
 as long as he lives with his Wife's Parents, he muft carry to 
 their Cabin all that he gets by Hunting and Fifhing. Among 
 the Iroquois, the Woman never leaves her Cabin, becaufe fhe is 
 judged the Miftrefs, or at leaft the Heirefs of it. Among other 
 Nations, after a Year or two, fhe goes to live with her Mother- 
 in-law. 
 
 The Savage Women in general are brought to Bed without 
 Of th ' T" any Pain, and without any Afuftance ; but 
 
 r , . x ; •?" there are fome who are a Ion? Time in La- 
 ta, and its Lonje- , , r „. , iiri_ _i_« u 
 
 J bour, and fuffer much. \v hen this happens, 
 
 * * they give Notice of it to the young People, 
 
 who all on a fudden, and when the Patient leaft expe&s it, come 
 
 and make great Noifes at the Door of the Cabin, the Surprife 
 
 of which has fuch an Effect upon her, as inftantly to procure 
 
 her Delivery. The Women never lay-in in their own Cabins ; 
 
 many are taken fuddenly, and bring forth their Children as they 
 
 are at Wcrk, or on a Journey : For others, when they find 
 
 them-
 
 200 An WJlorlcal Journal of 
 
 themfelves near their Time, they make a little Hut without 
 the Village, and they remain there forty Days after they are 
 delivered. But I thiuk I have heard fay that this is only done 
 for the firft Child. 
 
 This Time being expired, they extinguifh all the Fires of the 
 Cabin to which fhe is to return ; they make all the Clothes, 
 and at her Return they light a new Fire : They obferve pretty 
 nearly the fame Formalities with Regard to all Perfons of the 
 Sex in the Time of their Terms, and not only whilft thefe laft, 
 but alfo whilft a Woman is with Child, or gives Suck, (and 
 they commonly fuckle their Children three Years) the Hufband 
 never approaches them. Nothing would be more Praife-worthy 
 than this Cuftom, if both Parties preferved the Fidelity they 
 owe to each other ; but there is often a Failure on one Side or 
 other. Such is the Corruption of the human Heart, that the 
 wifeit Regulations often produce the greateft Diforders. It is 
 even faid, that the Ufe of fome Simples, which have the Power 
 to prevent the Confequences of the Women's Infidelity, is pret- 
 ty common in this Country. 
 
 Nothing can exceed the Care which the Mothers take of their 
 
 _. r „ , ,» Children while they are in the Cradle ; but 
 Toe Care the Mo- ^ foon ^ they ^ Qut of ^ they kaye them 
 
 rZu entirely to themfelves ; not through Want of 
 
 Children. Affeftion or Indifference, for they never lofe 
 
 the Tendernefs they have for them, but with their Lives; but 
 
 becaufe they are perfuaded it is beft to leave Nature to herfelf, 
 
 without any Reftraint. The Aft which terminates the firft Stage 
 
 of Infancy, is giving a Name, which among thefe People is an 
 
 Affair of Importance. 
 
 This Ceremony is performed in a Feaft, where no Perfons are 
 
 . , . prefent but of the fame Sex with the Child 
 Of naming their ^^ ^ tQ be named# while they are eating 
 
 Children. th( , Child j g up(m thg Kn£es of the Father 
 
 or Mother, who continually recommend it to the Spirits, efpe- 
 cially to that which is to be its Guardian Genius ; for every 
 Perfon has their own, but not at their Birth. They never make 
 new Names, each Family has a certain Number, which they 
 take by Turns. Sometimes alfo they change their Names a> 
 they prow up, and there are fome Names which they cannot go 
 by after a certain Age ; but I do not think this is the Cuftom 
 every where : And as among fome People in taking a Name 
 they take the Place of the Perfon that bore it laft, it fometimes 
 happens that a Child is called Grandfather, and treated as fuch 
 by one who might really be fo to the Child. 
 
 They
 
 Travels in North America. 20 1 
 
 They never call a Man by his proper Name, when they talk 
 
 7, , . • to him in common Difcourfc, this would be 
 
 Remarks on their , • , , * . ■ .. ~ v 
 
 jr unpohte ; they always give him the Quality 
 
 he has with Refpect to the Perfon that fpeaks 
 to him ; but when there is between them no Relation or Affini- 
 ty, they ufe the Term of Brother, Uncle, Nephew, or Coufin, 
 according to each other's Age, or according to the Value they 
 have for the Perfon they addrefs. 
 
 Further, it is not fo much to render Names immortal, if I 
 may ufe the Expreflion, that they revive them, as to engage 
 thofe to whom they are given either to imitate the brave Ac- 
 tions of their Predeceflbrs, or to revenge them if they have been 
 killed or burnt, or laftly to comfort and help their Families. 
 Thus a Woman who has loft her Hufband, or her Son, and finds 
 herfelf without the Support of any Perfon, delays as little as 
 fhe can to transfer the Name of him (he mourns for to fome 
 Perfon capable of fupplying his Place. They change their 
 Names on many other Occafions, to give the Particulars of 
 which would take up too much Time: There needs no more 
 for this Purpofe than a Dream, or the Order of a Phyfician, 
 or fome fuch trifling Caufe. But I have faid enough on this 
 Head, and here is a Traveller waiting to know if I have any 
 Commiflion for him to Quebec. I fhall therefore clofe my Letter 
 and give it him. 
 
 / am, <xc. 
 
 LETTER XIX. 
 
 Voyage to the Bay. Defcription of toe Route, and cf thi Say. 
 Irruption cf the Spaniards againjl the M i s s o u R i s , and their 
 Defeat. T. he Da nces of the Savages. 
 
 Madam, Michillimaicinac, July il. 
 
 SINCE writing my laft Letter, I have made a Voyage 
 to the Bay eighty Leagues diilant from this Poft. I took 
 Advantage of the Opportunity of going with M. it Mch- 
 tigny, Captain of a Company of the Troops which the King 
 maintains in Canada, Knt. of St. Louis, and whofe Name is fa- 
 mous in the Annals of this Colony ; but he is at leaft as valu- 
 able for his Probitv and his Character full of Ecuitv and Sin- 
 cerity, as for his Courage and warlike Exploits. 
 
 D d W«
 
 2mi An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 We embarked the fecond of July in the Afternoon, #6 
 coafted for thirty Leagues a Cape which fepa- 
 Of the Bay of rates Lake Mkhigan from t h e Upper Lake; it is 
 *£<• Noquets. j n f ome pj aces on \y a f ew Leagues wide, and 
 
 it is fcarce pofiible to fee a worfe Country ; but it is terminated by 
 a pretty River called the Manijiie, full of Fifh, and efpecially of 
 Sturgeons. A little further, going to the South Weft, we enter 
 into a great Gulf, the Entrance of which is bordered with 
 Iflands ; they call it the Gulf, or the Bay of the Noquets. This is 
 a very fmall Nation which came from the Borders^ of the Upper 
 Lake, and of which there remains only a few Families difperfed 
 here and there, without any fixed Abode. 
 
 The Bay of the Noquets is feparated from the Great Bay only 
 
 crt. t/7 f L ky the Ifles of the Pouteouatamis, and I have 
 
 The JJles of the a ] rea( j obferved that they were the antient 
 
 Pouteouatamis. Abode of thefe Savages> The grea teft Part 
 
 of them are very well wooded ; but the only one which is ftill 
 peopled is not the largeft nor the beft, there remains in it now 
 only one indifferent Village, where we were obliged to pafs the 
 Night, though very much againft our Inclinations : We could 
 not refufe the preffing Intreaties of the Inhabitants ; and indeed 
 there is no Nation in Canada that hath always been more fin- 
 eerely attached to the French. 
 
 The 6th we were flopped almoft the whole Day by contrary- 
 Winds ; but it proving calm at Night, we embarked a little af- 
 ter Sun-fet by a fine Moon-light, and we kept going forwards 
 twenty-four Hours together, making only a very fhort Stop to 
 fay Mafs, and to dine. The Sun fhone fo hot, and the Water of 
 the Bay was fo warm, that the Gum of our Canoe melted in fe- 
 veral Places. To compleat our Misfortune, the Place where we 
 flopped to encamp, was fo full of Gnats and Mufketoes, that we 
 could not clofe our Eyes, though we had not flept for two Days 
 before ; and as the Weather was fine, and we had Moon-light, 
 we embarked again on our Route at Three o'Clock in the Morn- 
 ing. 
 
 After we had gone five or fix Leagues, we found ourfelves 
 
 . .. ., over-againft a little Ifle, which is not far 
 Of the Malno- from ^ Weft side of ±Q Bay> and whkh 
 
 mines or Nation hid frQm ^ the Entrance of a River, upon 
 ef wild Oats. whkh is the y ilkge of th g Malhomines, which 
 
 the French call folks Jvoines, (--wild Oats), probably becaufe tney 
 make their common Food of this Grain. The whole Nation 
 confifts of no more than this Village, which is not very popu- 
 lous. This is to be regretted, for they are very fine Men, and 
 the beft fhaped of all Canada : They are even taller than the 
 Pouteouatamis. I am affured that they have the fame Origin, and 
 
 nearly
 
 Travels in North jimerka, 203 
 
 nearly the fame Language, as the Noquets and the Saulteurs, 
 (Leapers) ; but they add, that they have alfo a particular Lan- 
 guage which they keep to themfelves. They have likewife told 
 me fome odd Stories of them, as of a Serpent which goes every 
 Year into the Village, and is received by them with great Cere- 
 monies, which makes me believe that they are inclined to Sor- 
 cery. 
 
 A little beyond the Ifland I jufl mentioned, the Country 
 nr > d 1 changes its Appearance all at once ; and 
 11 j p P from bein S vvild enough, as it is to this Place, 
 
 called mans, h becomes the moft c h ar ming in the World. 
 
 (Kinking). Jt has even fome^ing more failing than the 
 
 Strait ; but though it is every where covered with very fine 
 Trees, it is much'more fandy, and not fo fertile. The Otcha- 
 gras, who are commonly called the Puaks, dwelt formerly on the 
 Borders of the Bay, in a very delightful Situation. They were 
 attacked here by the Illinois, who killed a great Number of 
 them : The Remainder took Refuge in the River of the Outa- 
 gamis, which runs into the Bottom of the Bay. They feated 
 themfelves on the Borders of a Kind of Lake ; and I judge it 
 was there, that living on Filh which they got in the Lake in 
 great Plenty, they gave them the Name of Putins ; becaufe all 
 along the Shore where their Cabins were built, one faw nothing 
 but fUnking Filh, which infefted the Air. It appears at leail 
 that this is the Origin of the Name which the other Savages had 
 given them before us, and which has communicated itfelf to the 
 Bay, far from which they never removed. Some Time after 
 they had quitted their antient Poft, they endeavoured to revenge 
 the Blow they had received from the Illinois ; but this Enterprize 
 caufed them a new Lofs, which they never recovered. Six hun- 
 dred of their bell Men were embarked to go in Search of the 
 Enemy ; but as they were croffing Lake Michigan, they were fur- 
 prifed'by a violent Gull of Wind, which drowned them all. 
 We have in the Bay a Fort which Hands on the Well Side of 
 r . r . _ .the River of the Outagamis, half a League 
 
 c V L °r Ua l from its Mouth j and before we arrive at it, 
 of the Mtjjum of we ]eave on the Left Rand a village of 
 
 the Bay. ^^ The Oat^™ have lately come and 
 
 feated themfelves near us, and have built their Cabins about the 
 Fort. The Miffionary, who is lodged pretty near the Com- 
 mandant, hopes, when he has learnt their Language, to find 
 them more docible than the Sails, among whom he labours with 
 Aery little Succefs. Both of them appear to be a good Sort of 
 People, efpecially the fir ft ; whofe greateft Faultis, that they are 
 a little given to thieving. Their Language is very different 
 from all the others, which makes me believe that it is not derived 
 
 D d z from
 
 204 -An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 from any of Canada ; and indeed they have always had more 
 Intercourfe with the People of the Weit, than with thofe we are 
 acquainted with in this Country. 
 
 The Sakis, though they are but a fmall Number, are divided 
 
 Of the S Y * nt0 two i ac ^i° ns J one of which fide with 
 
 ■^ the Outagamis, and the other with the Poute- 
 
 ouafamis. Thofe who are fettled in this Poft, are for the moil 
 Part of the laft Party, and of Confequence in our Intereft. 
 They received the new Commandant with great Demonftrations 
 of Joy. As foon as they knew he was near arriving, they 
 ranged themfelves with their Arms on the Bank of the River ; 
 and the Moment they faw him appear, they faluted him with a 
 Difcharge of their Mufkets, which they accompanied with great 
 Shouts of Joy. Then four of the chief Men went into the Ri- 
 ver, where they were foon up to their Waiil ; but they waded 
 quite to his Canoe, and took him up in a great Robe made of' 
 many Roe-Buck Skins, well fewed together, of which each of 
 them held a Corner. They carried him thus to his Apartment, 
 where they complimented him, and faid many Things to him 
 which were extremely flattering. 
 
 The next Day the Chiefs of the two Nations paid me a Vifit, 
 and one of the Otchagras fhewed me a Catalan Piftol, a Pair cf 
 Spanijb Slices, and I know not what Drug, which feemed to be a 
 Sort of Ointment. He had received thefe Things from an 
 djouez, and they came into his Hands by the following Means. 
 
 About two Years ago, fome Spaniards, who came (as they fay) 
 
 o • j , from New Mexico, intending to get into the 
 
 opaniards de- ^ c , Tl , . 1-j-j.i.v r 
 
 j- j t i o Country or the Illinois, and drive the trench 
 
 feated by the oa- c i , ', r -j 
 
 "> ,/ -\ht from thence, whom they law witn extreme 
 
 nacres of the Mif- T , r u r .v i\/r-/r • 
 
 r ° ■ J JeaJouiy approach lo near the MiJ/ouri, came 
 
 down this River and attacked two Villages of 
 the Oflotatas, who are Allies of the Ajouez ; from whom it is 
 alfo faid they are derived. As thefe Savages had no Fire Arms, 
 and were furprifed, the Spaniards made an eafy Conqueft, and 
 killed a great many of them. A third Village, which was not 
 far off the other two, being informed of what had patted, and not 
 doubting but that thefe Conquerors would attack them, laid an 
 Ambufti, into which the Spaniards heedlefsly fell. Others fay, 
 that the Savages having heard that the Enemy were almoit 
 all drunk, and faft ailecp, fell upon them in the Night. How- 
 ever it was, it is certain that they killed the greateft Part of 
 them. 
 
 There was in this Party two Almoner's, one of whom was kill'd 
 directly, and the other got away to the Mijpntrites, who took him 
 Prifoner, but he efcaped from them very dexteroufly : He had a 
 -.cry fine Horfe, and the MiJJburites took'PIeafure to fee him ride
 
 Travels in North America. 20 ? 
 
 it, which he did very fkil fully. He took Advantage of their 
 Curiofity to get out of their Hands. One Day, as he was 
 prancing and exercifing his Horfe before them, he got a little 
 Diftance from them infenfibly ; then fuddenly clapping Spurs to 
 his Horfe, he was foon out of Sight. As they had taken no 
 other Prifoner, it was not certainly known from what Part of 
 New Mexico thefe Spaniards came, nor what was their Dcfign ■ 
 For what I have already laid of it, is only founded on the Re- 
 port of the Savages, who perhaps intended to make their Court 
 to us, in publifhing that by this Defeat they had done us a 
 great Service. 
 
 All that they brought rac, was of the Spoils of the Almoner 
 that was killed ; and they took from him alfo a Book of Prayers, 
 which I did not fee : It was probably his Breviary. I bought 
 the Piftol : The Shoes were worth nothing ; and the Savage 
 would not part with his Ointment, fancying that it was a Sove- 
 reign Remedy for all Difeafes. I had the Curiofity to aflc how 
 he intended to ufe it ; he replied, it was fufficient to fwallow a 
 little ; and with whatDifeafe foever one was attacked, it effected 
 an immediate Cure : But he did net tell me that he had as 
 yet made a Trial of it, and I advifed him to the contrary. 
 We begin here to find the Savages very ignorant ; they are far 
 from being fo ingenious, or at leaft fo apt to l-zin, as thofe who 
 are more converfant with us. 
 
 The next Day feveral Satis came to the Miflionary, with whom 
 
 m ^ ., . , I lodged, and invited me to cone to a Kind 
 
 A Louiicil of lt:e c /-> -i L • l j r-j i u r 
 
 c , • , J , or Council, wlrch they -propolec to hola. i 
 
 ,-> r coniented ; ana when every one had taken 
 
 J ' his Place, the Chief laid a Collar on the 
 
 Ground before me ; and the Orator beginning his Speech, prayed 
 
 me in the Name of all the reft to engage the King (a) to take 
 
 them under his Protection, and to purify the Air, which for 
 
 fome Time they faid had been infecled, which appeared by the 
 
 Number of lick Perfons then in their Villages, and to defend 
 
 them from their Enemies. I replied, that the King was very 
 
 powerful, and perhaps more fo than they imagined ; but that 
 
 his Power did not extend over the Elements ; and that when 
 
 Difeafes, and other like fatal Cafualties, afflicted his Provinces 
 
 he addrefTed himfelf, that an End might be put to them, to the 
 
 Great Spirit that created Heaven and Earth, and who is alone 
 
 the Sovereign Lord of Nature : That they mould do the fame, 
 
 and they would find the Benefit of it. But to prevail with him 
 
 to hear their Prayers, they muft firrt acknowledge him, and ren- 
 
 (a) Thcfe Savages alwnvs fpeak the Tk'.e cf the King (Le Roy) in 
 -• 
 
 der
 
 lo6 An Hifi erica! Journal cf 
 
 der him the Worfhip and Homage which he has a Right to ex- 
 pect from all reafonable Creatures : That they could do nothing 
 :er, nor more agreeable to the King, than to liden to the Fa- 
 ther fa J which his rvlajefcy had fir it them, and to be docible to his 
 Inflruflions : That he was a Man beloved by Heaven : That the 
 Manner in which he lived among them, could not fail of making 
 him verv much efreemed ; and that his Charity towards the Sick, 
 and all thofe who wanted his Affiffance, ought to have convinced 
 them of the tender and fmcere AfFeclion he had for them ; and 
 laftly, that I would not receive their Collar, till they had pro- 
 mifed me to behave with Regard to this Miffionary, in quite 
 another Manner than they had done hitherto, and to give him 
 no Caufe for the future to complain of their Untowardnefs. 
 
 " As to the Protection cf the King, which you afk, and the 
 " Reqoefi you make me to engage him to defend you againib 
 " vour Enemies; this great Prince has prevented your Wifhes, 
 ■' he has given good Orders on this Head to Ononthio (b), who 
 " is already inclined to execute them with the Zeal and AfFec- 
 4i tion of a Father (c). You can make no Doubt of this, if 
 " you confider the Commandant he fends you. You muft cer- 
 ■* tainly know, and you feem in Fact to have been well inform'd, 
 " that among the French Captains there are few that equal him 
 " in Valour, and you will fbon love him more than you elteern 
 - : him already." 
 
 They fecmed to be fatisned with this Anfwer, and they pro- 
 mifed me much more than they will perform, in ail Probability ; 
 However, I took their Collar, and the Miffionary flattered him- 
 felf that this Action would have a good Effect. 
 
 In the Afternoon of the fame Day, the two Nations gave us 
 •one after the other, the Diverfioa of the Dance of the Calumet 
 in a great Efplar.cde, which is before the Lodgings of the Com- 
 mandant. Thex-e was feme Difference in their Way of perform- 
 ing this Dance ; but it was r.ot considerable. However, I learnt 
 by it that thefe Feafts vary much ; fo that it is impcffible to give 
 a Defcription that agrees with them all. The Otchagras vz: 
 the Dance Something more than the other, and fhewed an extra* 
 nary Agility ; they are alfo better made, and more active 
 1 the iakis. 
 
 (m) Father Peter Chardzr., a;' 
 
 (b) This is the Name the Savages give the Governor-General. It means 
 ■ "' --air., and comes from the Chevalier de Montnuigr.y, who was the fe- 
 cond Governor of Canada. 
 
 (:) They always call the Governors, and the Commandants, their Fathers. 
 
 This 

 
 Travels v: North A. . a - 
 
 This Ceremony U pro] 
 _ . f arc 
 
 in War. I am no: 
 agree well with die 
 took its Origin from the C ■ sad M :n i;s 
 
 Inftitution it was eiieemed as . ol of Pee.e. ;e I 
 
 ce, fing, {hake the . :e Drtr., 
 
 voung People equipped, i 
 they had painted their Face 
 Heads were adorned with Fee 
 
 Hands like Fans. The C rued with Fea- 
 
 thers, and was let up in the ooft oonfpicu mis Place. Hie] 
 of Muiic, and the Dancer.- were round about i:. 
 
 :ied here and there in little Compaak , the Wooer. 
 parate from the I .d, and 
 
 in the: . 
 
 ''.'.: and - 
 Do: 1 
 
 I of even' Dan . ' 
 his Ha::>.er ; ai Silence, 2 
 
 is great 
 ther. 
 
 to his Place, and th; 
 for each of the 
 
 . I took no grea: I 
 
 rone, . : 
 
 . _ . . . :j 
 
 This I 
 
 they <3 ■ i ia 
 
 ::.: .... 
 Mat ; t 
 
 lead ; I c 
 metped .re no Men quire nal 
 
 painted all cre 
 and Bee_ . 
 
 I I 
 err.:: the 
 
 from Tims to Tin . t ap great 
 
 applaud the 
 
 v.
 
 2o 8 An Hijicrical Journal of 
 
 I mould probably have had more Pleafure in feeing the 
 ,_., ~ . Dance of the Difcevery : It has more Action, 
 
 l z! \ r Uance °J and expreffes better than the foregoing the 
 the Dijcovery. Subjed it reprefents. It is a natural Repre- 
 
 fentation of all thatpafles in an Expedition of War; and, as I 
 have before obferved, that the Savages for the greater! Part only- 
 endeavour to furprife their Enemies, this is no Doubt the 
 Reafon why they have given this Dance the Name of the Dif- 
 coi^ry. 
 
 However that may be, only one fingle Man performs this 
 Dance : At firft he advances flowly into the midft of the Place, 
 where he remains for fome Time motionlefs, after which he re- 
 prefents one after another, the Setting out of the Warriors, the 
 March, the Encamping; he goes upon the Difcovery, he makes 
 his Approach, he Hops as to take Breath, then all on a fudden 
 he grows furious, and one would imagine he was going to kill 
 every Body; then he appears more calm, and takes one of the 
 f Company as if he had made him a Prifoner of "War; he makes 
 f. Shew of knocking another's Brains out ; he levels his Gun at 
 another ; and laftly, he fets up a running with all his Might ; 
 then he flops and recovers himfelf : This is to reprefent a Re- 
 treat, at firft precipitate, and afterwards lefs fo. Then he 
 expreffes by different Cries the various Affections of his Mind 
 during his laft Campaign, and finifhes by reciting all the brave 
 Actions he has performed in the War. 
 
 When the Dance of the Calumet is intended, as it generally 
 
 *, f _. . is, to conclude a Peace, or a Treaty of Al- 
 
 Of the Treaties ,.' ■ a tj ! 
 
 , /, ,7 nance agamit a common Enemv, they grave 
 
 <wmcb arc made by c ° ., r^ i r ^u„ u- j c «. 
 
 ,, „ , ~ J a Serpent on the 1 ube or the Pipe, and fet 
 
 Means of the Dance e-j r'«. t> j u-u* 
 
 , X , on one Side or it a Board, on which is repre- 
 
 of the Calumet. fented twQ Men of thg twQ confederate Na _ 
 
 tions, with the Enemy under their Feet, diftinguifhed by the 
 Mark of his Nation. Sometimes inftead of a Calumet, they fet 
 up a Fighting-Club. But if it concerns only a fingle Alliance, 
 they reprefent two Men joining one Hand, and holding in the 
 other a Calumet of Peace, and having each at his Side the Mark 
 of his Nation. In all thefe Treaties they give mutual Pledges, 
 Necklaces, Calumets, Slaves ; fometimes Elks, and Deer Skins 
 well dreffed, and ornamented with Figures made with Porcupines 
 Hair; and then they reprefent on thefe Skins the Things I have 
 mentioned, either with Porcupines Hair, or plain Colours. 
 There are other Dances lefs compounded, the only Defign of 
 r, ? . i> which is to give the Warriors an Oppor- 
 
 tunity of relating all their brave Actions. 
 This is what the Savages are moll ready to do, and they are 
 never tired of it. He that gives the Feaft invites air the V-il- 
 
 8 lags 
 
 4
 
 Travels in North America. 209 
 
 lage by beating a Drum, and they meet in his Cabin, if it can 
 contain all the Guefls. The Warriors dance one after another, 
 then ftriking on a Poll:, Silence is made : They fay what 
 they pleafe, and they flop from Time to Time to receive 
 the Applaufes of the Auditors, who are not fparing of 
 them. But if any one boaits falfely, any Perfon is allowed to 
 take Dirt or Afhes and rub his Head with them, or play him any 
 other Trick he thinks proper. Commonly they black his Face, 
 faying, " What I do is to hide your Shame, for the firit Time 
 ** you fee the Enemy you will turn paie." He who has thus 
 punifhed the Bragadocio, takes his Place, and if he commits 
 the fame Fault, the other never fails to return the Compliment. 
 The greateft Chiefs have no Privilege in this Matter, and they 
 
 mud not be affronted at it. This Dance is always performed 
 
 in the Night. 
 
 In the weftern Parts there is another Dance ufed, which is 
 
 q^r p) p called the Dance of the Bull. The Dancers 
 
 / R II anU form feveral Circles or Rings, and the Mu- 
 
 fic, which is always the Drum and the Chi- 
 chicoue, is in the midil of the Place. They never feparate thofe 
 of the fame Family : They do not join Hands, and every one 
 carries in his Hand his Arms and his Buckler. All the Circles 
 do not turn the fame Way ; and tho' they caper much, and very 
 high, they always keep Time and Meafure. 
 
 From Time to Time a Chief of a Family prefents his Shield : 
 They all iirike upon it, and at every Stroke he repeats fome of 
 his Exploits. Then he goes and cuts a Piece of Tobacco at a 
 Poft, where they have fattened a certain Quantity, and gives it 
 to one of his Friends. If any one can prove that he has done 
 greater Exploits, or had a Share in thofe the other boafls of, he 
 has a Right to take the Piece of Tobacco that was prefented, 
 and give it to another. This Dance is followed by a Feait ; 
 but I do not well fee from whence it derives its Name, unlefs 
 it be from the Shields, on which they ftrike, which are covered 
 with Bull's Hides. 
 
 There are Dances prefcribed by their Phyficians for the Cure 
 
 r, , , of the Sick, but they are generally very 
 
 Dances ordered , r • • t-v. r ^i . *i \ 
 
 , 1 p< r laicivious. 1 here are lomc that are entirely 
 
 by the fby/tcuus. for Diverfl0n> that have no Relation to any 
 
 Thing. They are almoft always in Circles, to the Sound of 
 the Drum and the Cbicbiccue, the Men apart from the Wo- 
 men. The Men dance with their Arms in their Hands, and 
 tho' they never take hold of each other, they never break the 
 Circle. As to what I faid before, that they are always in Time, 
 it is no difficult Thing to believe, becaufe the Mufic of the Sa- 
 vages has but two or three Notes, which are repeated continually. 
 
 E e This
 
 2 i o An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 This makes their Feafts very tirefome to an European after he 
 has feen them once, becaufe they laft a long Time, and you hear 
 always the fame Thing. 
 
 As the Nations near theBayj if we except the Pouteoutamis, are 
 much more rude and ignorant than the others, they are alfo 
 more given to Supcrftition. The Sun and Thunder are 
 their principal Deities, and they feem to be more ftrongly per- 
 fuaded than thofe we are converfant with, that every Species 
 of Animals has a Guardian Genius, who watches for its 
 Prefervation. A Frenchman having one Day thrown away a 
 Moufe he had juft catched, a little Girl took it up to eat it: The 
 Father of the Child, who faw it, fnatchedit from her, and began 
 to make great Careffes to the dead Animal. The Frenchman 
 afked him the Reafon, he replied, " // is to appeafe the Genius 
 "of the Mice, that he may net torment my Daughter, after Jhe has 
 " eaten this." After which he returned the Animal to the Child, 
 who eat it. 
 
 They have above all much Veneration for Bears : As foon 
 as they have killed one, they have a Feaft, accompanied with 
 fome odd Ceremonies. The Head of the Bear, painted with 
 all Sorts of Colours, is placed during the Repaft on an elevated 
 Place, and there receives the Homage of all the Guefts, who 
 celebrate by Songs the Praifes of the Animal, while they cut his 
 Body in Pieces, and feaft upon it. Thefe Savages have not 
 only, like the reft, the Cuftom of preparing themfelves for their 
 great Hunting Matches by Failing, which the Outagamis extend 
 even to ten Days together, but alfo, while the Hunters are 
 in the Field, they often oblige their Children to faft. They 
 obferve their Dreams while they faft, and draw from thenee 
 good and ill Prefaces of the Succefs of the Chace. The In- 
 tention of thefe Fafts is to appeafe the Guardian Genii of the 
 Animals which they are to hunt; and they pretend that they in- 
 form them by Dreams, whether they will hinder or favour the 
 Hunters. 
 
 The Nation which for twenty Years laft has been the moft 
 talked of in thefe weftern Parts, is the Outagamis. The natu- 
 ral Fiercenefs of thefe Savages, four'd by the ill Treatment 
 they have feveral Times met with, fometimes without Caufe, 
 and their Alliance with the Iroquois, who are always difpofed to 
 create us new Enemies, have rendered them formidable. They 
 have fmce made a ftric~t Alliance with the Sioux, a numerous 
 Nation, which has inured itfelf to War by Degrees ; and this 
 Union has rendered all the Navigation of the upper Part Of the 
 Miffiffippi almoft impracticable to us. It is not quite fafe to na- 
 vigate the River of the Illinois, unlefs we are in a Condition to 
 
 prevent
 
 Travels in North America. 211 
 
 prevent a Surprife which is a great Injury to the Trade be- 
 tween the two Colonies. 
 
 I met in the Bay fome Sioux, of whom I made many Enqui- 
 
 T/ . . AT . ries about the Countries, which are to the 
 yanoiis Nations Weft d Nofth Weft Qf Canada and th , 
 
 to the North and T , A • ■ j , 
 
 W ft f C (\ know we mult not entirely depend on 
 
 what the Savages fay ; yet by comparing 
 what I have heard from them, with that which I have heard 
 from many others, I have great Reafon to believe that there 
 are on this Continent fome Spaniards or other European Colo- 
 nies, much more North than any we know of Ne*v Mexico and 
 California, and that in going up the Mijfouri as far as it is na- 
 vigable, we come to a great River that runs to the Weft, and 
 difcharges itfelf into the South Sea. Independent of fuch Dif- 
 covery, which I believe more eafy this Way than by the North, 
 1 can make no Doubt, on weighing the Information I have 
 had from many Places, and which agree pretty well together, 
 that by endeavouring to penetrate to the Source of the Mijfou- 
 ri, one mould find wherewithal to make one Amends for the 
 Charges and Fatigues of fuch an Enterprize. 
 
 / am, &c. 
 
 LETTER XX. 
 
 
 Departure from Mi chilli m akin ac. Remarks en the Currents of 
 the Lake. Portrait of the Savages of Canada. Their good 
 and bad Qualities. 
 
 Madam, Lake Michigan, July 31. 
 
 I Departed from Michillimakinac the Day before Ycfterday at 
 Noon, and I am detained here in a little Ifland that has 
 no Name ; a Canoe that came from the River St. Jofcph, whither 
 I am going, cannot go out, no more than our's, though they 
 have the Wind favourable for them ; but they fay it is too ftormy, 
 and the Lake too rough, which gives me a frefh Opportunity of 
 writing to you. 
 
 Though the Wind was againft me, when I embarked the 
 
 Remarks on the ■**• l went W* S° od , L . ea S u " that Day, 
 Currents of th whic " proves that I was driven by the Cur- 
 ^ y s J rents. I had already obferved the fame 
 
 Thing upon entering the Bay, and was fur- 
 prifed at it. It is certain that this Bay, having no other Outlet, 
 difcharges itfelf into Lake Michigan; and Lake Michigan, for 
 
 Ee 2 the
 
 212 An Hijiorical Journal cf 
 
 the fame Reafon, mud difcharge its Waters into Lake Huron-, 
 and the rather, becaufe both the Bay and Lake Michigan re- 
 ceive feveral Rivers ; Lake Michigan efpecially, which receives 
 a great Number, fome of which are little inferior to the Seine ; 
 thefe great Currents are not perceivable but in the midft of the 
 Channel, and produce Eddies or counter Currents, of which we 
 take Advantage when we go along Shore, as they are obliged to 
 do who go in Canoes of Bark. 
 
 I went at firft five Leagues to the Weft, to get into Lake Mi- 
 chigan, I then turned to the South, and this is the only Route we 
 have to take for a hundred Leagues to the River St. Jofeph. No- 
 thing is finer than the Country which feparates the Lakes Michigan 
 and Huron : Yefterday I went three Leagues further, and a high 
 Wind obliged me to flop at this Ifland. I (hall fhun the Irk- 
 fomenefs of waiting here, by employing myfelf in finishing 
 my Account of the natural Inhabitants of this vaft Country, 
 a great Part of which I have already travelled over. 
 
 The Savages of Canada are generally well made, and of a 
 . •" '._ , lofty Stature; but it is not unufual in fome 
 
 Portrait of the Nations t0 fee fome of only a middle Stature; 
 
 savages. b u t it is very uncommon to fee any that are 
 
 deformed, or that have any outward Blemifh. They are ro- 
 buft, and of a healthy Conftitution : They would be very long 
 lived, if they fpared themfelves a little more ; but the greateft 
 Part ruin their Conftitutions by forced Marches, by defperate 
 Fallings, and by great Excefles in eating : Befides that, during 
 their Childhood, "they have often their naked Feet in the Water, 
 on the Snow and Ice. The Brandy which the Europeans have 
 fupplied them with, and for which they have fuch a ftrong In- 
 clination that exceeds all that can be faid of it, and which they 
 always drink till they are drunk, has compleated their Ruin, 
 and has not a little contributed to the Deftru&ion of all thefe 
 Nations, which are at prefent reduced to lefs than the twentieth 
 Part of what they were a hundred and fifty Years ago. If this 
 continues they will become entirely extinct. 
 
 Their Bodies are not confined in their Infancy like our's, and 
 
 _,, . . nothing is more proper to make their Joints 
 
 Their Strength. ^ ^ ^ giye ^ that Supplenefs in a n 
 
 their Limbs, which we fo much admire in them, than this Li- 
 berty, and the Exercifes to which the Children there are ac- 
 cuftomed very early. The Mothers fuckle them a long Time, 
 and there are fome that at fix or feven years old ftill take the 
 Breaft. Neverthelefs, this does not hinder them from taking 
 all Kinds of Food the firft Year : In fhort, the open Air to 
 which they are expofed : the Fatigues they make them fufFer, 
 but by little and little, and in a Manner proportioned to their 
 
 Age,
 
 "Travels in North Amerrta. 212 
 
 Age, with plain and natural Food ; all this forms Bodies capable 
 of performing and of fuffering incredible Things ; theExceft of 
 which, as I have already obferved, deftroys many before they 
 arrive at an Age of Maturity. We have feen feme, after their 
 Stomachs were fwelled four Inches, (till continue eating as hear- 
 tily as if they had juft begun : When they rind themfelves over- 
 charged they fmoke, then they fleep, and when they wake the 
 Digeftion is generally perfected. Sometimes they take an Emetic, 
 after which they begin to eat again. 
 
 In the Southern Countries they have but little Reftraint in 
 _. . _. the Article of Women ; who, on their Side, 
 
 I heir rices. are ^ i a {- c i v i us. From hence arifes the 
 
 Corruption of Manners, which for fome Years paft has infeded 
 the Northern Nations. The Iroquois in particular were chafre 
 enough, till they were converfant with the Illinois, and other 
 neighbouring People of Louifzana : They have gained nothing 
 by their Acquaintance with them, but adopting their Vices. It 
 is certain that Effeminacy and Luil were carried in thefe Parts to 
 the greater! Excefs. There were amongft them fome Men who 
 were not afhamed to drefs themfelves like Women, and to fub- 
 mit to all the Employments that belonged to the Women ; from 
 whence there followed a Corruption that cannot be expreffed. 
 Some have pretended, that this Cuftom came from I know not 
 what Principle of Religion : But this Religion, like many 
 others, has taken its Rile from the Depravation of the Heart ; 
 or if this Cuftom took its Rife from the Spirit, it ended in the 
 Flefh. Thefe effeminate Perfons never marry, and abandon 
 themfelves to the moft infamous Pafrions ; they are alfo treated 
 with the greateft Contempt. 
 
 On the other Hand, though the Women are ftrong and lufty, 
 „.. . ^ they are unfruitful. Befides the Reafons I 
 
 Why the Country ^ ^ , mcntioned , that is to fay, the 
 is not better peopled. T£me they y take to fuckle their Children, 
 their Cuftom of Continence all this Time, and the exceflive La- 
 bours triey are obliged to undergo, in whatfoever Condition they 
 find themfelves, this Barrenncfs proceeds alfo from the Cuftom 
 eftablifhed in many Places, which permits young Women to pro - 
 ftitute themfelves before they are married ; add to this, the ex- 
 treme Neceriity to which thefe People are often reduced, and which 
 takes away their Defue of having Children. 
 
 For the reft, it is certain, that they have great Advantages over 
 
 rr,, ., us ; and I confider, as the chief of all, the 
 
 The Advantages p erfednefs oi thcir SenfeSj either internal or 
 
 theyha-veo-verus. externaL . In Splte of the Snow, which 
 
 dazzles thcir Eyes, and the Smoke, which almoft fmcthers them 
 
 for fix Months in the Year, thcir Sight never decays : Their 
 
 Hearing
 
 2t4 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 Hearing is extremely quick, and their Smelling fo exquifite, that 
 they fmell Fire a long Time before they can difcover it. On 
 Account of the Exquifitenefs of their Smell, they can't bear the 
 Scent of Mufk, nor any ftrong Smell. They fay alfo, that they 
 like no Odours, but thofe of Eatables. 
 
 Their Apprehenfion is very wonderful : It is enough for them 
 to have been but once in a Place, to have an exaft Idea of it, 
 which is never effaced. If a Foreft is ever fo large and path- 
 3efs, they crofs it without wandering, when they have well con- 
 sidered certain Marks, by which they guide themfelves. 
 
 The Inhabitants of Acadia, and of the Environs of the Gulf 
 of St. Laurence, in their Canoes of Bark (to pafs over to Terre de 
 Labrador (Newu Britain) to feek out the Ejkimaux, with whom 
 they were at War) would go thirty or forty Leagues on the 
 main Sea without Compafs, and make the Land exactly at the 
 Place they propofed. In the moft cloudy Weather they will 
 follow the Sun many Days, without making any Miftake : The 
 belt Clock cannot give us better Information of the Progrefs of 
 the Sun, than they can, only by viewing the Sky ; fo that do 
 what you can to put them out of their Way, 'tis very rare that 
 they lofe their Route. They are born with this Talent : It 
 is not the Fruit of their Obfervations, nor of long Cuftom : 
 Youth, who never before went out of their Village, travel as fe- 
 curely as thofe who have been molt ufed to range the Country. 
 The Beauty of their Imagination is equal to its Vivacity, and 
 ,._,.. „, this appears in all their Difcourfe. They are 
 
 Their Eloquence. quick r at Repartee , and their Speeches are 
 
 full of mining Paffages, that would have been applauded in the 
 public Aflemblies at Rome and Athens. Their Eloquence has 
 fomething in it fo ftrong, fo natural, fo pathetic, that Art cannot 
 attain, and which the Greeks admired in the Barbarians : And 
 though it does not appear to be fupported by Attion, though 
 they make no Geftures, and do not raife their Voice, we feel that 
 they are thoroughly affedled with what they fay, and their Elo- 
 quence is perfuafive. 
 
 It would be ftrange, that with fuch a fine Imagination, they 
 
 cr , . -- mould not have an excellent Memory. They 
 
 The:r Memory, ^ deftitute of all the Helps we have in- 
 
 their Penetration, yented tQ affift ^^ ^ tQ fupply ^ DefefL 
 
 their Judgment. Neverthelefs, it is fcarcely credible of how 
 
 many Matters, with what particular Circumftances, and with 
 how much Order, they treat in their Councils. On fomeOcca- 
 fions, however, they ufe little Sticks, to recoiled the Articles 
 they are to difcufs ; and by this they form a Sort of local Me- 
 mory fo certain, that they will fpeak four or five Hours toge- 
 ther, will difplay twenty Prefents, each of which requires an en- 
 tire
 
 'Travels in North America. 215 
 
 t"ft Difcourfe, without forgetting any Thing, or even without 
 Hefitation. Their Narration is clear and exa£t ; and though 
 they ufe many Allegories, and other Figures, it is animated, and 
 has all the pleafing Turns which their Language affords. 
 
 They have a true and folid Judgment, and go directly to the 
 Mark in View, without flopping, without wandering, and with- 
 out being put on a wrong Scent. They readily conceive all that, 
 is within the Compafs of their Knowledge ; but to put them in 
 a Way of fucceeding in the Arts, without which they have 
 lived hitherto, as they have not the leaft Idea of them, it would 
 require a great deal of Labour ; and the more fo, as they have 
 the higheft Contempt for every Thing which they do not find 
 neceffary, that is to fay, for what we value mofl. It would alfo 
 be no fmall Difficulty to make them capable of Reftraint and 
 Application in Things merely fpeculative, or which they fhould 
 look upon as ufelefs. As to what relates to their own Concerns, 
 they neglect nothing, nor do any Thing precipitately : And 
 though they are fo flow in taking their Refolutions, yet they are 
 as warm and active in putting them in Execution. This is ob- 
 ferved efpecially of the Huron: and the Iroquois. They are not 
 only ready at Repartee, but alfo witty. 
 
 An Outaouais, named John le Blanc, a bad Chrifiian, and a 
 great Drunkard, being afked by Ccmte de Froutcnac, what he 
 thought Brandy was made of, which he loved fo well, faid it was 
 an Extract of Tongues and Hearts ; for (added he) when I have 
 drank it, I fear nothing, and I talk to Admiration. 
 
 The greateft Part of them have truly a Noblcnefs and an 
 
 cr, . „ r Equality of Soul, to which we feldom ar- 
 
 v heir hreatne/s • 1 /, ,, , T t i u.. • r 
 
 . c , J rive, with all the Helps we can obtain from 
 
 °J i>oul - Philofophy and Religion. Always Matters 
 
 of themfelves, in the mofl fudden Misfortunes, we can't per- 
 ceive the leaft Alteration in their Countenances. A Prifoner, 
 who knows in what his Captivity will end, or, which is perhaps 
 more furprifing, who is flill uncertain of his Fate, does not lofe 
 on this Account a Quarter of an Hour's Sleep : Even the firlr 
 Emotions do not find them at a Fault. 
 
 A Huron Captain was one Day infulted and flruck by a young 
 Man. Thofe who were prefenr, would have punifhed this Au- 
 dacioufnefs on the Spot. " Let him alcne, (faid the Captain) 
 " Did not you feel the Earth tremble ? He is fujficiently informed of 
 " his Folly." 
 
 Their Conftancy in fuffering Pain, is beyond all Expreffion. 
 
 cr-i ■ r* n A youne Woman fhall be a whole Day in 
 
 V heir Lonftancy T ,' & . , , • ,> rr /u 
 
 • r /r ■ p ■ Labour, without making one Lry : If fhe 
 
 n j jj in. j] ievvec j tne l ea ft Weaknefs, they would eflceai 
 
 her unworthy to be a Mother ; becaufe, as they fay, fhe could 
 
 only'
 
 2i6 An Hij} or ical Journal of 
 
 ©nlv breed Cowards. Nothing is more common, than to fee 
 Per'fons of all Ages, and of both Sexes, fuffer for many Hours, 
 and fomedmes many Days together, the fharpeft Effefts of Fire, 
 and all that the moll induftrious Fury can invent to make it 
 moft painful, without letting a Sigh efcape. < They are em- 
 ployed for the molt Part, during their Sufferings, in encou- 
 raging their Tormenters by the moft infulting Reproaches. 
 
 AnOutagami, who was burnt by the Illinois with the utmoft 
 Cruelty, perceiving a Frenchman among the Spectators, begged 
 of him that he would help his Enemies to torment torn ; and 
 upon his afking why he made this Requeft, he replied, " Be- 
 « caufe I Jhould ha-oe the Comfort of dying by the Hands of *Ma*u 
 " My greateft Grief (adds he) is, that I never killed a Man. ^ 
 " But (faid an Illinois) you haw killed fuch and fitch a Perfon. 
 *< As for the Illinois, (replied the Prifoner) I haw killed enough 
 ** of them, but they are no Men ." 
 
 What I have obferved in another Place, Madam, to leffen the 
 Aftonifhment which fuch an Infenfibility fills one with, does not 
 hinder us from allowing that fuch a Behaviour mews a great 
 deal of Braverv. There muft always be, to elevate the Soul 
 above the Senfe of Pain to fuch a Degree, an Effort which com- 
 mon Souls are not capable of. The Savages exercife themfelves 
 in this all their Lives, and accuftom their Children to it from 
 their tendereit Years. We have feen little Boys and Girls tie 
 themfelves together by one Arm, and put a lighted Coal be- 
 tween them, to fee which would {hake it off firft. In lhort, we 
 muft alio allow, that according to Cicero's Remark, an Habit 
 of Labour makes us bear Pain more eafily (a). But there are 
 perhaps no Men in the World who fatigue themfelves more than 
 the Savages, either in their Huntings, or in their Journies. 
 Lailly, what proves that this Kind of Infenfibility is in thefe 
 Barbarians the Effed of a true Courage, is, that it is not found 
 in all of them. 
 
 It is not furprifing that with this Greatnefs of Soul, and tneie 
 elevated Sentiments, the Savages mould be intrepid in Danger, 
 and of a Courage, Proof againft every Thing. It is troe, that 
 in their Wars they expofe themfelves as little as may be, becaufe 
 thev make it their chief Glory never to buy the Vidtory at a 
 dear Rate; and becaufe of their Nations not being numerous, 
 they have made it a Maxim not to weaken them : But when 
 they muft fight, they do it like Lions, and the Sight of their 
 Blood does but encreafe their Strength and Courage. They 
 have been in many Adions with our brave Men, who have feen 
 them perform Things almoft incredible. 
 
 (a) Confuetudo enim laborum perpeffionem dolorum efficit faciliorem. 
 
 lit' 1 *' Q A Millenary
 
 Travels in North America. 217 
 
 A Miffionary having accompanied fome Abenakis in an Expe- 
 dition againlt Neiv England, and knowing that a great Party of 
 the Engtijh were purfuing them in their Retreat, endeavoured all 
 he could to make them make Halte forward, but without Effect. 
 All the Anfwer he received, was, that they were not afraid of 
 thofe People. At laft all the Englifh came in Sight, and they were 
 at leaft twenty to one. The Savages, without feeming at all fur- 
 prifed, firft conducted the Father to a Place of Safety, then 
 went and waited boldly for the Enemy in a Place where there 
 was only fome Stumps of Trees. The Engagement laited al- 
 moll the whole Day. The Abenakis did not lofe a Man, and 
 put the Englijh to Flight, after having covered the Field of 
 Battle with the Dead. 1 had this Account from the Mif- 
 fionary himfelf (a). 
 
 But what furprifes infinitely in Men whofe whole outward 
 
 <T7. • v j r Appearance proclaims nothing but Barbarity, 
 1 heir Kindnejs j g tQ fee them behave t0 each other with fuch 
 
 to eacb other. Kindnefs and Regard, that are not to be 
 
 found amongft the molt civilized Nations. Doubtlefs this pro- 
 ceeds in fome Meafure from the Words mine and thine being 
 as yet unknown to thefe Savages. Thofe cold Words, as 
 St. Cbrv/ojiom calls them, which extinguishing in our Hearts the 
 Fire of Charity, lights up that of Covetoufnefs. We are 
 equally charmed with that natural and unaffected Gravity which 
 reigns in all their Behaviour, in all their Actions, and in the 
 greateft Part of their Diverfions ; as likewife with the Civility 
 and Deference they fhew to their Equals, and the Refpect. of 
 young People to the Aged ; and lalMy, never to fee them quar- 
 rel among themfelves with thofe indecent Exprcflions, and the 
 Oaths and Curfes, fo common amongft us. All which are Proofs 
 of good Senfe, and a great Command of Temper. 
 
 I have already faid, that one of their Principles, and that of 
 which they are the molt jealous, is, that one Man owes nothing 
 to another : But from this bad Maxim they draw a good Infe- 
 rence, that is to fay, that we. muft never do an Injury to any 
 Perfon, from whom we have received no Wrong. There is no- 
 thing wanting to their Happinefs, but to behave between Na- 
 tion and Nation, as they do between private Perfons, and never 
 to attack any People of whom they have no Caufe to complain, 
 and not to carry their Revenge fo far. 
 
 On the other Hand, we mult allow that what we moft admire 
 
 Q-, . p . , , in the Savages, is not always pure Virtue ; 
 
 l bar r nde and that Conftitution an d Vanitv have a great 
 their other Failings. ^^ {n ^ and ^ ^ ^ q^,^ w 
 
 («) Father Vuuart Bigot,— — This feems to be Apocrypha. 
 
 F f tarn : f,
 
 2 1 8 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 tarnifhed by great Vices. Thefe Men, who at firft View ap- 
 pear to us fo contemptible, of all Mankind have the greateft 
 Contempt for all others, and the highelt Opinion of themfelves. 
 The proudeft of all were the Hurons, before SuccefTes had lifted 
 up the Hearts of the Iroquois, and grafted in them a Haughti- 
 nefs, which nothing can yet fupprefs, on a fierce Rudenefs, 
 which before was their diftinguifhing Character. 
 
 On the other Side, thefe People, fo proud and jealous of their 
 Liberty, are beyond all Imagination Slaves to Human Refpect : 
 They are accufed of being light and inconftant ; but they are 
 fo, rather through a Spirit of Independence, than by Character, 
 as I have obferved of the Canadians. They are diftruftful and 
 fufpicious, efpecially towards us ; treacherous, when their In- 
 terelt is concerned ; DifTemblers, and revengeful to Excefs. 
 Time does not abate in them their Defire of Revenge : It is the 
 moft precious Inheritance which they leave to their Children, 
 and which is tranfmittcd from Generation to Generation, till 
 they find an Opportunity to execute it. 
 
 As to what we call more particularly the Qualities of the 
 
 _, ,. . , Heart, the Savages do not value themfelves 
 
 Vuahties of the much Qn them . ^ tQ fpeak more p roperIy> 
 
 " eart ' they are not Virtues in them. Friendship, 
 
 Companion, Gratitude, Attachment, they have fomething of all 
 this, but it is not in the Heart ; and in them it is lefs the Effect 
 of a aood Difpofition, than of Reflexion, or Inflinct. The Care 
 they take of Orphans, Widows, and the Infirm, and the Hofpita- 
 lity they exercife in fuch an admirable Manner, are to them only 
 the Confequence of their Perfuafion, that all Things ought to 
 be in common among Men. Fathers and Mothers have a Fond- 
 nefs for their Children, which rifes even to Weaknefs ; but 
 which does not incline them to make them virtuous, and which 
 appears to be purely Animal. Children, on their Side, have no 
 natural Gratitude for their Parents, and they even treat them 
 fometimes with Indignity, efpecially their Fathers. I have 
 heard fome Examples of this Sort, that are horrible, and which 
 cannot be related : But here follows one Inftance that was pub- 
 lic. 
 
 An Iroquois, who ferved a long Time in our Troops againfthis 
 own Nation, and even as an Officer, met his 
 
 Example of the p at ] ler [ n an Engagement, and was going to 
 little Affection of kiJ1 j^ when he ^covered who he was, 
 Children for their he he]d his Hand> and f a id to him, " You 
 tarents. (e ^ a ~, e once gj.-ucn me Life, and now I give it to 
 
 " you. Let me meet nxith you no more; for I have paid the Debt I 
 " moVm«." Nothing can better prove the Neceffity of Edu- 
 cation, and that Nature alone does not fufficiently inftruft us in 
 
 our
 
 Travels in North America. 2 1 9 
 
 our moft eflential Duties. And what demonftrates more evi- 
 dently the Advantages of the Chriftian Religion, is, that it has 
 produced in the Hearts of thefe Barbarians, in all thefe Re- 
 fpe&s, a Change which appears wonderful. 
 But if the Savages know not how to tafte the Sweets of 
 
 r, ■ 1 -c ■ j Friendfhip, they have at leaft difcovered its 
 
 Particular rriend- TTrf , ,? c ' n.u -l 
 
 r . . c Ufefulnefs. Every one amonra them has a 
 
 mips among the oa- t- • j i t v. • a 
 
 * r & rnend nearly or his own Age, between 
 
 * * whom there is a mutual Engagement, which 
 
 is indiflbluble. Two Men thus united for their common In- 
 tereft, are obliged to do every Thing, and to run all Hazards to 
 affift and fuccour each other. Death itfelf, as they believe, fepa- 
 rates them only for a Time : They depend on meeting again in 
 the other World, never to part more, being perfuaded that they 
 fhall ftill want each other's Affiftance. 
 
 I have heard it reported, on this Occafion, that a Chriftian Sa- 
 vage, but one who did not purfue the Maxims of the Gofpel, 
 being threatened with Hell by a Jefuit, afked this Miflionary, if 
 he thought his Friend, who was lately dead, was gone to that 
 Place of Punifhment ? The Father replied, that he had Reafon 
 to judge that he had found Mercy with God. ** I won't go to 
 11 Hell neither" faid the Savage ; and this Motive engaged him 
 to do all we required, that is to Jay, that he was as willing to go 
 to Hell as to Heaven, to meet with his Companion : But God 
 makes Ufe of all Means to fave his Eled. They add, that 
 thefe Friends, when they are at a Diftance from each other, ufe 
 mutual Invocations in any Dangers they meet with ; which is to 
 be underftood, without Doubt, of their Guardian Deities. Thefe 
 AiTociaticns are bound by Prefents, and ftrengthened by Intereft 
 and Neceffity. This is a Support on which they can almoft al- 
 ways depend. Some report, that there is fomething unnatural 
 in thefe AfTociations ; but I have Reafon to believe at leaft it is 
 not general. 
 
 The Colour of the Savages does not prove a third Species be- 
 
 cr-i n 1 r- tween the White and the Black, as fome People 
 
 jf he Lcloicr of , . , „, • * . r , 
 
 the Sa- have imagined. They are very iwarthy, and 
 
 * of a dirty dark Red, which appears more in 
 
 Florida, of which Louijiana is a Part : But this is not their natu- 
 ral Complexion. The frequent Frictions they ufe, gives them 
 this Red ; and it is furprifing that they are not blacker, being 
 continually expofed to the Smoke in Winter, to the great Heats 
 of the Sun in Summer, and in all Seafons to all the Inclemen- 
 cies of the Air. 
 
 F f 2 It
 
 220 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 It is not fo eafy to give a Reafon why they have not a Hair 
 
 Why they have 0n 5 heir wh ° le ^^ exce P tin g the Hairs of 
 p e .j their Head, which they have all very black, 
 
 the Eye Lafhes, and Eyebrows, which fome 
 alfo pluck off ; and 'tis the fame Cafe with almoft all the Ame- 
 ricans. What makes itftill more furprifing, is, that their Chil- 
 dren are born with a thin Hair, and pretty long, all over their Bo- 
 dies, but which difappears after eight Days. The old Men have 
 alfo fome Hairs on the Chin, as we fee fome old Women have 
 with us. I have known fome who attribute this Singularity to 
 the conftant Cuftom the Americans have of fmoking, and which 
 is common to both Sexes. Others think it more natural to fay, 
 that this proceeds from the Quality of their Blood ; which be- 
 ing more pure, becaufe of the Plainnefs of their Aliments, pro- 
 duces lefs of thofe Superfluities, which our's, being more grofs, 
 fupplies fo plentifully ; or that having fewer Salts, it is lefs fit for 
 thefe Sort of Productions. There is no Doubt that it is at leaft 
 this Plainnefs of Food which renders the Savages fo fwift of 
 Foot. I have feen a Man who came from an Ifland not far from 
 Japan, who, before he had eat any Bread, affured me that he 
 could travel on Foot thirty Leagues a Day, commonly without 
 Fatigue ; but fince he had been ufed to Bread, he could not tra- 
 vel with the fame Eafe. 
 
 This is certain, that our Savages think it a very great Beauty 
 to have no Hair but on the Head ; that if they have any 
 grow on their Chin, they pluck it off diredlly ; that the Euro- 
 peans, the firft Time they faw them, appeared frightful to them 
 with their long Beards, as was then the Fafhion ; that they do 
 not think our white Colour handfome ; and that they found the 
 Flefh of the Englift and French, when they eat it, of a bad 
 Tafte, becaufe it was fait. 
 
 Thus, Madam, the Idea which we formerly had in Europe of 
 Savages, which were reprefented as hairy Men, is not only en- 
 tirely the Reverfe of the Americans, but it is exactly that which . 
 they at firft had of us, becaufe they thought all our Bodies were 
 like our Breafts and Chins. 
 
 / am, &c. 
 
 LETTER
 
 Travels in North Jmtrica. 221 
 
 LETTER XXI. 
 
 'Journey to the River St. Joseph. Remarks on the Riiters ivhich 
 run into Lake Michigan from the Eajl Of Father Mar- 
 quette's River, aud the Origin of its Name. Two Games 
 of the Savages. Some Remarks on the Character of thefe 
 People. 
 
 Madam, St. Joseph, Augujl 16. 
 
 IT is eight Days fince I arrived at this Poft, where we have 
 a Miflion, and where there is a Commandant with a fmall 
 Garrifon. The Houfe of the Commandant, which is a trilling 
 Thing, is called the Fort, becaufe it is furrounded with a poor 
 Palifade, and it is much the fame Thing in all other Places, 
 excepting the Forts of Chambly and Cataracoui, which are real 
 Fortrefles. There are however in all of them fome Pieces of 
 Cannon or Pattereroes, which, in Cafe of Need, are fufficient to 
 prevent a Coup de Main, and to keep the Savages in Awe. 
 
 We have here two Villages of Savages, one of Miamis and 
 n . , .. the other of Pcuteoaatamies, they are both for 
 
 Danger of theNa- the moft p art Qhrijhans, but they have been 
 
 wT" a lon s Time without Paflors ' and the Mii " 
 
 ic igan. fionary that was lately fent hither will have 
 
 no little Trouble to reftore the Exercife of Religion. The 
 River St. Jofepb comes from the South Eaft to difcharge itfelf 
 into the Bottom of Lake Michigan, the Eaft Coaft of which wc 
 mud range, which is a hundred Leagues long, before we enter 
 this River. Then we go up it two hundred Leagues to arrive 
 at the Fort: This Navigation requires much Care, becaufe 
 when the Wind comes from the open Lake, that is, the Weft, 
 the Waves are the whole length of the Lake ; and the "Weft 
 Winds are very common here. It is alfo very probable that 
 the Number of Rivers, which run into the Lake on the Weft Side, 
 contribute by the Shock of their Currents with the Waves, to 
 render the Navigation more dangerous : It is certain that there 
 
 are few Places in Canada where there are more Wrecks. But 
 
 I take up my Journal again where I left off. 
 
 The
 
 222 An Hijtorical Journal of 
 
 The firft of Augujl, after having failed crofs a Bay that is thirty 
 „ , , Leagues deep, I left on the Right the Ifles 
 
 Remarks on the of * whkh appeared to be very well 
 
 Rivers we meet wood ^ d . , m d fome Leagues further, on the 
 with in this Route. Lef ^ j perceived on an _ Em i_ n e n ce of Sand a 
 Kind of Bufh, which, when we are over againft it has the Shape 
 of an Animal lying down. The French call it Uours qui dort 
 (the Jleeping Bear), and the Savages the Bear lying down. I went 
 twenty Leagues that Day, and encamped in a little Ifland, 
 44° 30' North Latitude ; this is nearly the Latitude of Montreal. 
 From the Entrance of Lake Michigan to this Ifland, the Coaft 
 is very fandy, but if we go a little Way into the Country it ap- 
 pears to be very good, at leafl to judge of it by the fine Forefts 
 with which it is covered. On the other Hand, it is well watered, 
 for we went not a League without difcovering either fome large 
 Brook, or fome pretty River, and the farther we go South, the 
 Rivers grow larger, and have a longer Courfe, the Peninfula, 
 which feparates Lake Michigan from Lake Huron, growing wider 
 as it advances to the South. Neverthelefs, the greateft Part of 
 thefe Rivers are but narrow, and fhallow at their Mouths ; but 
 they have this Singularity, that they form Lakes near their En- 
 trance of two, three, or four Leagues round. This proceeds, 
 no Doubt, from the Quantity of Sand which they bring down : 
 Thefe Sands being driven back by the Waves of the Lake, 
 which almoft always come from the Weft, gather at the Mouths 
 of the Rivers, whole Waters being ftopt by thefe Banks, which 
 they pafs over with Difficulty, have made themfelves by Degrees 
 thefe Lakes, or Ponds, which prevent the Inundation of the 
 whole Country when the Snows melt. 
 
 On the third I entered Father Marquette's River to examine if 
 j, , ,. what I had heard of it was true. It is at 
 
 ette» V " firft only a Brook > but flftcen Paces hi £ her » 
 which is near two Leagues round, to make a 
 
 PafTage for it into the Michigan, one would think they had dug 
 
 away with Pickaxes, a great Hill, which we leave to the Left 
 
 at the Entrance, and on the Right the Coaft is very low for the 
 
 length of a good Mufket-Shot ; then all at once it rifes very 
 
 high. It had been thus represented to me; concerning which, 
 
 this is the conftant Tradition of all our Travellers, and 
 
 what I have heard from fome antient Miffionaries. 
 
 Father Jofepb Marquette, a Native of Laon in Picardy, where 
 
 his Family fiill holds a diftinguifhed Rank, was one of the molt 
 
 illuftrious Miffionaries of New France ; he travelled over almoft 
 
 all Parts of it, and made many Difcoveries j the laft of which 
 
 was the MijJiJJlppi, which he entered with the Sieur Joliet in 
 
 3673. Two Years after this Difcovery, of which he publilhed 
 
 an
 
 Travels in North America. 223 
 
 an Account, as he was going from Cbicagou, which is at the 
 Bottom of Lake Michigan, to Micbillimakinac , he entered the Ri- 
 ver I am fpeaking of; the Entrance of which was then at the 
 Extremity of the low Land, which I have faid we leave to 
 the Right at entering it. He fet up his Altar here, and faid 
 Mafs. After this, he went a little Diftance to return T hanks, 
 and prayed the two Men who managed his Canoe, to leave him 
 alone for half an Hour. This Time being expired, they went 
 to feek him, and were greatly furprifed to find him dead ; but 
 they recollected, that upon entering the River, he had faid that 
 he fhould finifh his Journey there. Neverthelefs, as it was too 
 far from thence to Micbillimakinac, to carry his Body thither, they 
 buried him pretty near the Side of the River ; which from that 
 Time has retired, as out of Refped, to the Cape, at the Foot of 
 which it now runs, and where it has made a new PaiTage. The 
 Year following, one of the two Men who had performed the 
 laft Duties to this Servant of God, returned to the Place where 
 he had buried him, took up his Remains, and carried them to 
 Micbillimakinac . I could not learn, or I have forgot, what Name 
 this River had before; but at prefent the Savages always call i: 
 the River of the Black Gown (a). The French have given it 
 the Name of Father Marquette ; and never fail to invoke him, 
 when they find themfelves in any Danger on the Lake Michigan* 
 Many have affirmed, that they believe it was owing to his Inter- 
 ceffion, that they have efcaped very great Dangers, 
 
 I went three Leagues further that Day, and encamped at the 
 , . Entrance of the River St. Nicolas, on the Side 
 
 Of the red and of tt Lake> that j 3 ]., e r, but not fo 
 
 the white Pines. ^ ag ^ g^^, j f(mnd ^ a ^^ 
 
 Number of red and white Pines, the laft have the hardeft Bark, 
 
 but thebeft Wood, and fhed a Gum which is pretty fine ; the 
 
 firft have the fofteft Bark, but the Wood is heavier. They draw 
 
 from thefe the Tar of which thebeft Pitch is made. I failed 
 
 thus pleafaritly to the River St. Jofepb, which I entered the 6th, 
 
 very late, or the 7th very early in the Morning, for it was 
 
 about Midnight when we arrived here, having relied ourfelves 
 
 two good Hours at the Side of the Lake of La Riviere Noire 
 
 (the Black River), which is eight Leagues diilant, and where 
 
 there is a great deal of Gin-feng. 
 
 The River St. Jofepb is above a hundred Leagues long, and 
 
 , . , /-its Source is not far from Lake Erie: It is 
 
 An Ad-venture of „ • , , ••l.-t i-»u. 
 
 , , , , / navigable eighty Leagues, and in the twentv- 
 
 tbe Author s in the r & T s 7 *. , * T 
 
 _ . j, t r 1 hve Leagues which 1 went up to arrive at 
 A,.,v/-St.Jofeph. theFort) ° Ifawm > ne but good Lands> co _ 
 
 vered with Trees of a prodigious Height, under which there 
 
 (a) Thus the Savage, call the Jefuits. They call the Priefts, the Wtite 
 Capet j and the Recollets, the Grey Gowns. 
 
 grows
 
 224 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 grows in fome Places very fine Capillaire, (Maiden Hair). I was 
 two Days making this Way, but the Night of the firft was very 
 near putting an End to my Journey. I was taken for a Beo.r, 
 and I was within a Hair's Breadth of being killed under this De- 
 nomination, by one of my Canoe Men in the following Manner. 
 After Supper and Prayer, as it was very hot, I went to take a 
 Walk, keeping always by the Side of the River. A Spaniel 
 that followed me every where, took a Fancy to jump intothe 
 River, to fetch I know not what, which I had thrown in with- 
 out Thought. My People, who thought I was gone to Reft, 
 efpecially as it was late, and the Night dark, hearing the Noife 
 this Creature made, thought it was a Roe-Buck that was crofting 
 the River ; and two of them immediately fet out with their 
 Guns charged. Luckily for me, one of the two, who was a 
 blundering Fellow, was called back by the reft, for Fear he 
 mould occafion the Lofs of their Game ; otherwife it might 
 have happened, that by his blundering I fhould have been (hot. 
 
 The other advancing flowly, perceived me about twenty 
 Paces from him, and made no Doubt that it was aBearftanding 
 upon his hind Feet, as thefe Animals always do when they hear 
 a Noife. At this Sight he cocks his Gun, which he had loaded 
 with three Balls ; and crouching down almoft to the Ground, 
 made his Approaches as filently as pofiible. He was going to 
 fire, when on my Side I thought I faw fomething, without be- 
 ino-able to diftinguifh what it was ; but as I could not doubt but 
 that it was one of my People, I thought proper to alk him if by 
 Chance he did not take me for a Bear : He made me no An- 
 fv/er, and when I came up to him, I found him like one Thun- 
 der-ftruck, and as it were feized with Horror at the Blow he 
 was juft going to give. It was his Comrades who told me what 
 had pafled. 
 
 The River St. Jofcph is Co convenient for the Trade of all 
 Parts of Canada, that it is no Wonder it has always been much 
 frequented by the Savages. Furthermore, it waters a very fertile 
 Country : But this is not what thefe People value moft . It 
 is even a great Lofs to give them good Lands : Either they 
 make no Ufe of them, or they foon make them poor by fowing 
 their Maiz. 
 
 The Mafccutins had, not long fince, a Settlement on this Ri- 
 ver ; but they are returned to their own Country, which is, as 
 they fay, ftill finer. The Pcutecuatamks have fuccefiively occu- 
 pied here feveral Pofts, and remain here ftill. Their Village is 
 on the fame Side as the Fort, a little lower, and on a very fine 
 Spot. The Village of the Mismm\& on the other Sidxj of the 
 River. 8 
 
 The
 
 Travels in North America. 225 
 
 Thefe Savages who have at all Times applied themfelves more 
 q/7/^Gin-feng than ^he others to Phyfic, fet a high Value 
 ef Canada ° n ' ~J en £> anc * are P er ' ua ded that this 
 
 Plant has the Virtue to render Women fruit- 
 ful. But I do not think that it was for this Reafon they called it 
 Abe/out chenza, which means a Child : It owes this Name to the 
 Shape of its Root, at leaft among the Iroquois. You have feen 
 without Doubt, Madam, what Father Laffitau, who brought it 
 firft to France, has wrote of it under the Name of Aurelia Cana- 
 denfis : It is at leaft for Shape abfolutely the fame as that which 
 comes to us from China, and which the Chinefe get from Corea 
 and Tartary. The Name they give it, which fignifies the 
 Likenefs of a Man ; the Virtues they attribute to it, and which 
 have been experienced in Canada by thofe who have ufed it, and 
 the Conformity of the Climate (a), are great Reafons to think, 
 that if we took it as coming from China, it would be as much 
 efteemed as that the Cbha/e fell us ; perhaps it is fo little ef- 
 teemed by us, becaufe it grows in a Country that belongs to 
 us, and that it has not the Recommendation of being entirely 
 Foreign. 
 In going up the River St. Jojepb, I obferved feveral Trees, 
 Of rh P which I had not feen in any other Place. 
 
 rr- , 1 a /• The moft remarkable, and which I took at 
 
 Tree, ana the Saf- • ., .- . ., ■ T 
 
 ,- r "fit for an Aih by its Leaves, grows very 
 
 ras. 
 
 arge, and bears Beans which appear very 
 good to the Eye ; but the more they are boiled the harder they 
 grow, fo that they could never be ufed. The Fields which fur- 
 round the Fort are fo full of Saflafras, that it perfumes the Air ; 
 but it is not a great Tree as in Carolina : They are little Shrubs 
 which grow near the Ground ; perhaps alfo they are but Shoots 
 of the Trees that were cut down to clear the Environs of the 
 Fort, and of the Savage Villages. 
 
 There are here many Simples, which they fay the Savages 
 <-, f th ma ' ce Ufe of a little at a Venture, without 
 
 c any other Principle than a flight Experiment 
 
 bavag-es concern- ',. , ~, r , ,. ,° r J , 
 
 „f . 0.7 made by Chance, and which lornetimes de- 
 
 inz their bimples, / r , r n , 
 
 j .7 w s ceives them; for tne lame Remedies do not 
 
 and the mines of ~ ,, ,. „ , c c ,. n , , 
 
 „, . r. J act equally on aU Sorts of Subjects, attacked 
 
 then Country. ■jT'.j r t\- a L-.-i.rii i 
 
 wrth tne fame Lhltempers ; but theie People 
 
 know not how to make all -thefe Diftinctions. One Thing which 
 
 much furprifes me, is the impenetrable Secrecy they keep con- 
 
 (a) The Bla k River (la Riviere Noire) is in 41 Dc?. <p Min. it is in 
 the fame Latitude they get the Gin-feng of Ccna for the Emp*rpr of China. 
 Some of our's has been carried to China, and being prepared by the Chinese, 
 they have fold it as coming from drea or Tartary. For the relt, this Prepa- 
 ration adds nothing to it. 
 
 G g cerning
 
 226 An Hijl tried Journal of 
 
 cerning their Similes, or the little Curiofity of the French to 
 get the Knowledge of them. If the laft are not in Fault, no- 
 thing makes it appear more, in my Opinion, that the Savages 
 are not pleafed to fee us in their Country : And we have other 
 Proofs, which are as clear as this. It is very likely alfo that 
 they are of the fame Opinion with Regard to their Simples, as 
 they are about their Mines ; that is to fay, that they would foon 
 die, if they difcovered any of them to Strangers. 
 
 The Savages of thefe Parts are naturally Thieves, and think 
 
 -. . , ,». . all good Prizes that they can catch. It is 
 OftheMzaims. ^* ^ {f ^ foon difcovei . that we have 
 
 loll any Thing, it is fufneient to inform the Chief of it, and 
 we are fure to recover it; but we muft give the Chief more than 
 the Value of the Thing, and he requires further fome Trifle for 
 the Perfon that found it, and who is probably the Thief him- 
 ftlf ; I happened to be in this Cafe the Day after my Arrival, 
 and they fhewed me no Favour. Thefe Barbarians would fooner 
 
 gage in a War than make the leaft Conceflions on this 
 Point. 
 
 Some Days after I paid a Vifit to the Chief of the Mia?nies, 
 who had got the Start of me : He is a tall Man, well fhaped, 
 but much disfigured, for he has no Nofe : I was told that this 
 Misfortune happened to him in a drunken-bout. When he 
 heard I was coming to fee him, he went and placed himfelf at 
 the Bottom of his Cabin, on a Sort of an Alcove, where 1 
 found him fitting with his Legs acrofs, after the Eaftern Man- 
 ner. He faid very little to me, and feemed to aflume a proud 
 Gravity, which he did not maintain well : This is the firft Sa- 
 vage Chief that Ifaw, who obferved this Ceremony ; but I was 
 told beforehand that he muft be treated in the fame Way, if you 
 would not be defpifed by him. % 
 
 That Day the Pouteoualamis were come to play at the Game of 
 
 -a, r. c Straws with the Miami s : They plaved in the 
 
 The Game of . ^ , . c ., ^, . r j r 
 
 J the Cabin of the Chief, and on an open 
 
 btraivs. p , aC g before the Cabin> Thefe g traws „ re 
 
 fmall Reeds about the Bignefs of a Wheat Straw, and about fix 
 Inches long. They take a Parcel, which are commonly two 
 hundred and one, and always an odd Number. After having 
 fhuffied them well together, making a thoufand Contorfions, 
 and invoking the Genii, they feparate them with a Kind of an 
 Awl, or a pointed Bone, into Parcels of ten each : Every one 
 takes his own at a Venture, and he that happens to get the Par- 
 cel with eleven, gains a certain Number of Points that are a- 
 greed on. The whole Game is fixty or eighty. 
 
 There are other Ways of playing this Game, and they would 
 have explained them to me, but I did not comprehend it, only 
 
 that
 
 Travels in North America. ii~] 
 
 that fometimes the Number Nine wins the Game. They added, 
 that there was as much Skill as Hazard in this Game, and that the 
 Savages are great Sharpers in this as well as in all other Games ; 
 and that they are fo eager at it, that they play whole Days and 
 Nights, and fometimes do not leave off playing till they are 
 quite naked, and have nothing more to lofe. They have another 
 Game, at which they do not play for any Thing, but merely for 
 Diveriion; but it has almolt always fome bad Confequence3 
 with Refpect to their Manners. 
 
 As foon as it is Night, they fet up in the Middle of a great 
 * , p Cabin feveral Polls in a Ring, in the Midi! 
 
 are their Inftruments of Mufic : They place 
 on each Port a Packet of Down, and which mult be each of a 
 different Colour. The young People of both Sexes, mingled 
 together, dance round about thefe Polls : The young Women 
 have alfo Down of the Colour they like. From Time to Time 
 a young Man fteps out of the Ring, and goes to take from a 
 Pod fome Down of the Colour which he knows his Miflrefs 
 likes, and putting it upon his Head, he dances round her, and 
 by a Sign appoints her a Place of Rendezvous. When the 
 Dance is over, the Feafl begins, and kits all Day : At Night 
 every one retires, and the young Women manage Matters fo 
 well, that in Spite of the Vigilance of their Mothers, they go to 
 the Place of Ailignation. 
 
 The Miamis have two Games more, the firft of which i§ 
 called the Game of the But. They play at it with a Ball, and 
 Sticks bent and ending in a Kind of Racket. They fet up 
 two Pofb, which ferve for Bounds, and which are dntrint from 
 each other according to the Number of Players. For Inilance, 
 if they are eighty, there is half a League Diftance between the 
 Polls. The Players are divided into two Bands, which have each, 
 their Poll: Their Bufincfs is to flrike the Ball to the Poll of 
 the adverfe Party without letting it fall to the Ground, and 
 without touching it with the Hand, for in either of thefe Cafes 
 liiey lofe the Game, unlefs he who makes the Fault repairs it 
 by linking the Ball at one Blow to the Poll, which is often \ta- 
 poffible. Thefe Savages are fo dexterous at catching the Ball 
 mith their Bats, that fometimes one Game will lad many Days 
 together. 
 
 The fecond Game is much like the former, but is not fo dan- 
 gerous. They mark cut two Bounds, as in the fuft, and the 
 Players occupy all the Space between. He that is to begin, 
 throws a Ball up in the Air as perpendicularly as polfible, that 
 he may catch it the better, and throw it towards the Bounds. 
 All the others have their Hands lifted up, and he that catches 
 the Ball repeats the fame, or throws the Ball to one of his Band 
 
 G g 2 th ut
 
 12 8 An Hiftoriccd Journal of 
 
 that he judges more nimble and dexterous than himfelf; for to 
 win the Game, the Ball mult never have been in the Hands or" 
 the adverfe Party before it comes to the Bound. The Women 
 J.'o play at this Game, butit is but feldom : Their Bands confift 
 of four or five, and the f. I that lets the Ball fall, lofes the 
 G:me. 
 
 :uatamis have here a Chief, and an Orator, who 
 
 ^ . , nl . c are Perions of Merit. The firit, named 
 
 J the Q at ■ " r " :i ''" r - C7 '-i u a Man upwards of nxty, very (c - 
 
 t PoateonafcE be - J £efe " ;ed ?^': 
 
 • c att, is younger : rle is a i . ana well 
 
 inftrocred, but he makes no Exerciie of his 
 Religion. One Day as I was making him lbrne Reproaches on 
 : Account, he left me fuddenly, went into the Chapel, and 
 faid his Prayers aloud, fo that we heard him at the Miffionar. ' : 
 Lodging. I: is difficult to find a Man that fpeaks better, a. 
 
 ha: mote Senfe. On the other Hand, he is of a very amiable 
 Character, and fincerdy attached to the French. Atom* is not 
 inferior in any Refpect, and I have heard them both in a Coun- 
 cil at the Commandant's, where they [poke with a great deal of 
 
 
 
 Many Savages of the twc Nations 7shich are fettled on this 
 r j r-r ' RiVer, are juft returned from the Enghjh Co- 
 LC J a loa r.ither they went to fell their Peltry, 
 
 and from whence they have brought back a. 
 '•"-■' great deal of Brandy. It has been divided 
 
 acccrdir.c to Cuftom ; that is Ufa;, every Day they diibribute to 
 a cert . \ imt .: of Per . as much as is necefiary for each to 
 get drunk, and the whole was drank in eight Days. They 
 began to drink in the two Villages as foon as the Sun was let, 
 and every Night the Country refounded with frightful C 
 Frlc - lis ---. )ne would have laid that a Flight of Dev 
 efcaped from Heft, or that the two Vi were cutting one 
 
 another*-: Throats. Two Men were lamed: I met one of them 
 broke his Arm with a . : I faid to him, that certainly 
 
 another Time he would be wifer : He replied, the 
 nothing, that he fnould focn be cured, and I 
 
 in as foon as he had got a freih Stock of 
 Brandy. 
 
 Jud:: Madam, • I at nan.' can do in the midiiof fuch 
 
 a Diforder, and hcv Heft an hor.eil Man, v. 
 
 ntted 1 v to gain Souls to God, to be obliged 
 
 to be a V.'itr ithontfa ver to rem-. 
 
 it. Thefe Barbarians are fenfible that I ruin; and 
 
 them ; but when cne ftrives to perfuade them that they 
 
 fboaM be the gift to z'l< that index them of a Liquor 
 
 that
 
 Travels in North America. :. .-• 
 
 that is attended with fuch fatal Confequences, they are fat! 
 with replying, " It is you that have accuilomed us to i:, we can 
 " no longer do without it, and if you refufe to fupply u=, we 
 M will get it of the Englijh. This Liquor ftrips us naked, aad 
 " kills us, it is true, but it is you who have done the Mifchief, 
 " and there is now no Remedy." Neverthe'.efs, they are in 
 the wrong to blame us alone ; had it not been for the E*g% 5 I 
 believe we could have put a Stop to this Trade in the Colony, or 
 reduced it within proper Bounds. — But we fh all perhaps be foon 
 obliged to give Permiffion to fupply them with it irom Frt 
 taking Meafures to prevent its Abufe, inafmuch as the 
 Brandy is more hurtful than oar's. 
 
 A Dilbrderthat corrupts the Manners of a People never comes 
 alone ; it is always the Principle, cr the Rife of many 
 others. The Savages, before they Jell into this I an :ing 
 
 of, excepting War, w, hich they always made in a barbarous and 
 inhuman Manner, had nothing to diilurb their Happinefs : 
 Drunkenneis hath rendered them interested, and has dilturbed 
 the Peace they enjoyed in their Families, and in the Commerce 
 of Life. Notwithstanding, as they are only ftruck with the pre- 
 sent Object, the Evils, which this PalTion has cani m, have 
 et become a Habit : They are Storms which pafs over, and 
 which thev almorl forget when they are pail, thro' the Goodr 
 of their Character, and the great Fund of Calmne's cf Soul, 
 which they have received from Nature. 
 
 We mult acknowledge that at firft Sight, the Life the 
 
 u • r. * l appears very hard; but befides that in tl 
 
 Happtnejs tf the Gibing gives U 
 
 V' and that C 
 
 berty thev enjov, furicier.tlv compc Lola of : 
 
 Conveniencies they are it we fa Day in 
 
 fome Beggars by Profe Eoi . and in feveral Perfor. 
 trv, gives us a fenuole Proof that we may be harpy in tl 
 of Indigence. But the Savages are frill more happy: Firft, be- 
 caufe they think themfelves lb : Secondly, becaufe they are ir. 
 peaceable Pofieilion of the moft precious of all the Gifts or Na- 
 ture : And laitly, becaufe they are entirely ignorant of, and have 
 not even a Defire to know thofe felfe A rich we 
 
 lb mucheiteem, and which we purchafe at the Expence of real 
 Good ; and of which we have fo litrie oent. 
 
 In Fact, what they are m lable for, and for which tin 
 
 ought to be looked upon as true P^. « the S: 
 
 of our Conveniencies, our Riches, oar Magnificence, ha 
 moved them, and that they are pleated with them 
 can do without them. Some In no went to Paris in i £ 
 
 and who were - ■'. Hoofes, I 
 
 of
 
 230 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 of that great City, admired nothing in it, and would have pre- 
 ferred, their Villages to the Capital of the mod flourifhing King- 
 dorm of Europe, if they had not feen the Street of la Huchette^ 
 where the Shops of the roafting Cooks, which they always found 
 furnilhed with all Kinds of Meat, charmed them greatly. 
 
 We cannot even fay that they are fo highly delighted with 
 „,, n their Way of living, Only becaufe they are 
 
 Ttie Contempt no{ ainted with the Sweetnefs of our's. 
 
 t **? ha ¥,f ? our A good Number of the French have lived 
 Way of living. y ^ ^^ and haye b ^ n fo wd j p j eafed 
 
 with it, that many Perfons could never prevail with them to re- 
 turn, though they might have been very much at their Eafe in 
 the Colony. On the contrary, it was never poffible for a fingle 
 Savage to conform to our Way of living. We have taken Chil- 
 dren from the Cradle, and brought them up with much Care, 
 and omitted nothing to hinder their knowing any Thing of 
 what parted amongft their Parents. All thefe Precautions were 
 nfelefs : The Force of Blood prevailed over Education. As 
 foon as they found themfelves at Liberty, they have torn their 
 Garments to Pieces, and went through the Woods to feek their 
 Countrymen, whofe Way of Life appeared to them more pleafing 
 than that they led with us. 
 
 An Iroquois, named la Plaque, lived many Years with the French', 
 the fame who, as I have told you, Madam, in faving his Father's 
 Life in an Engagement, thought he had fully fatisfied all the 
 Debt he owed him: He was alfo made a Lieutenant in -our 
 Troops to fix him, becaufe he was a very brave Man ; but he 
 could not continue in our Way of living : He returned to his 
 Nation, only carrying from us our Vices, without correcting any 
 cf thofe he brought with him. He loved Women to Exoefs : 
 He was well fhaped : His Valour and his brave Aftions gave 
 him a great Reputation : He had a great deal of Wit, and very 
 amiable Manners : He had many Intrigues with other Men's 
 Wives ; and his Diforders went fo far, that it was debated in the 
 Council of his Canton, whether they mould not take him off. It 
 was however concluded, by the Majority of Votes, to fpare his 
 Life ; becaufe, as he was extremely courageous, he would people 
 the Country with good Warriors. 
 
 The Care which the Mothers take of their Children, whilft 
 
 £77 r /,' / f ^ e y are y et * n *^ e Cradle, is beyond all Ex- 
 
 ^IbeLare n.vhicb preffionj and pr0 ves very clearly that we often 
 
 the Mothers take f . { ^ when wg exceed the Limits whJch 
 
 of their Children. Natur£ has taught ^ They ngver lcaye 
 
 them : They carry them every where with them ; and when they 
 feem ready to fink under the Burdens they load themfelves with, 
 the Cradle of their Child is reckoned as nothing. One would 
 
 o even
 
 Travels in North America, 231 
 
 even fay, that this additional Weight is an Eafement that renders 
 the reft lighter. 
 
 Nothing can be neater than thefe Cradles : The Child lies 
 very conveniently, and very eafy in them ; but it is bound only 
 as high as the Waift ; fo that when the Cradle is upright, thefe 
 little Creatures have their Heads and half their Bodies hanging 
 down. In Europe they would fancy that a Child that was left in 
 this Condition, would grow quite deformed ; but it happens di- 
 rectly contrary : This renders their Bodies fupple ; and they are 
 all, in Fad, of a Stature and Port, that the bell lhaped among 
 us would envy. What can we fay againft fuch a general Expe- 
 rience ? But what I am going to mention, cannot be foeafily 
 juftified. 
 
 There are on this Continent fome Nations which they call 
 
 cr . ... , fiat Heads, which have in Fact their Foreheads 
 
 I he ridiculous flatj and the T of thdr Heads fome _ 
 
 Shapes ™h«k fom ^ lengthened. This Shape is not the 
 gyve to their Chtl- Wo £ of fa Nature . it is the Mothers who 
 give it their Children as foon as they are 
 born. For this End, they apply to their Foreheads, and the 
 back Part of their Heads, two Maries of Clay, or cf fome other 
 heavy Matter, which they bind by little and little, till the Ski::! 
 has taken the Shape they deiire to give it. It appears that this 
 Operation is very painful to the Children, whole Noftrils ihed 
 a whitifh Matter, pretty thick. But neither this Circumtlance, 
 nor the Cries of thefe little Innocents, alarm their Mothers, jea- 
 lous of procuring them a handfome Appearance, without which 
 they can't conceive how others can be fatisfied. It is quite the 
 reverfe with certain Algonquins amongft us, named Round Hcuds, 
 or Bowl Heads, whom I have mentioned before ; for they make 
 their Beauty confift in having their Heads perfectly round, and 
 Mothers take Care alfo very early to give them this Shape. 
 
 I would willingly, Madam, take Advantage of the Leifure I 
 have in this Place, and which perhaps will be longer than I de- 
 fire, to iinifh what I have to fay to you on this Subject ; but 
 fome Troubles which have happened tome, and the approaching 
 Departure of a Traveller, who is returning to the Colony, oblige 
 me to interrupt this Recital, which I fhall refume the firll Oppor- 
 tunity. 
 
 I cm, &c. 
 
 
 LETTER
 
 222 
 
 An Hiflorical Journal of 
 
 LETTER XXtl. 
 
 Sequel of the Character of the Savages, and their Way of living. 
 
 Madam, St. Joseph's River, Augujl 8. 
 
 IRefume the Courfe of my Memoirs, where I broke it off. 
 You will think, perhaps, that I do not obferve a fufficient 
 Regularity : But weexcufe, at leaft in a Relation, what we ad- 
 mire in an Ode : What in a Lyrick Poet is an Effect of Art, is a 
 Matter of Neceffity in a Traveller, who cannot relate Things 
 but as he gets Information, and who is obliged to write what he 
 fees, for Fear of forgetting it. 
 
 The Children of the Savages, when they leave the Cradle, are 
 
 „., . . , not confined in any Manner ; and as foon as 
 
 IVbatittstbat th can crawJ their Hands and Feet, 
 
 ftrengtoens the Sa- th Jet them wbere th m ite nake d, 
 
 vaget, and makes intothe Water, into the Woods, into the Dirt, 
 thetnfo <weUJbap d and ^ the ^^ whkh make5 th€il . Bodies 
 
 ftrong, their Limbs very fupple, and hardens them againft the 
 Injuries of the Air ; but alfo, as I obferved before, it makes 
 them fubjedl to Diitempers of the Stomach and Lungs, which 
 deftroys them early. In Summer they run, as focn as they are 
 up, to the River, or into the Lakes, and continue there a Part of 
 the Day, playing like Fifn when it is fine Weather at the Sur- 
 face of the Water (a). It is certain that nothing is better than 
 this Exercife to make their Joints free, and to render them nim- 
 ble. 
 
 They put a Eow and Arrows into their Hands betimes, and to 
 
 _,,. n at: excite in them that Emulation, which is the 
 
 Ibarjipttxer- heft Teachcr of the Arts> there is no Nee d 
 
 a/es, andtbeirh- ^ ^ ^ Breakfaft on the Top of a Tree> 
 
 mutation, i j-jl^l t j • tl 
 
 as thev did by trie vour.g Lacade?nonians: 1 hey 
 
 are all born with that Paffion for Glory, that has no Need of 
 a Spur ; and indeed they moot with a furprizing Exa&nefs, and 
 with a little Practice, they acquire the fame Dexterity in the Uie 
 of our Fire Arms. They make them alfo wreftle, and they pur- 
 fue this Exercife fo eagerly, that they would often kill one ano- 
 ther, if they were not parted : Thofe who are worfted are fo en- 
 
 (a) It is very probable that this is the R~afon why the Small-Pox is fo fa- 
 tal among the Savages. Much Bathing hardens the Skin, and prevents the 
 Eruption of the Puftnles. 
 
 raged
 
 Travels in North America, 233 
 
 raged at ir, that they do not take the leaft Repofe, till they have 
 
 their Revenge. 
 
 In general one may fay, that the Fathers and Mothers negledl 
 
 T , , . nothing to infpire their Children with cer- 
 
 r , . ca tajn Principles of Honour, which they nre- 
 
 Educatwtt amftls. ^ a]1 ^ j^ ^ of ^^ ^ ^ 
 
 make a bad Application ; and in this their whole Education con- 
 filh. When they give them Instructions on this Head, it is al- 
 ways in an indirect Way ; the moft common is to relate to them 
 the brave Actions of their Ancestors, or of their Countrymen. 
 Thefe young People are fired at thefe Stories, and are never eafy 
 till they find zn Opportunity of imitating the Examples they 
 have made them admire. Sometimes, to correct them for their 
 Faults, they ufe Prayers and Tears, but never Menaces. They 
 would make no Impreflion on Spirits, prepoflened with an Opi- 
 nion that no Perfon has a Right to ufe Compulfion. 
 
 A Mother, who fees her Daughter behave ill, falls a crying : On 
 the Daughter's afking the Caufe, fhe is fatisfied with faying, You. 
 difgrac: me. It feldom happens that this Way of reproving is not 
 effectual : Neverthelefs, fincethey have converfed more with the 
 French, fome of them begin to chaftife their Children ; but this 
 is fcarcely amongft any but the Cbrijiians, or thofe that are fettled 
 in the Colony. Generally the greateft Punifhment they ufe to 
 correct their Children, is to throw a little Water in their Faces. 
 The Children are much affected by it, and by every Thing that 
 favours of Reproof; the Caufe of which is, that Refer, tment is 
 their llrongeil Pallion, even at that Age. 
 
 We have known fome Girls hang themfelves, for havino- o. 
 
 Of the P ffir received a flight Reprimand from their ftd - 
 f ti' S ' thers, or a few Drops of Water in their 
 
 •* * Faces ; and who have given Notice of it, by 
 faying, V I Ufe your Daughter. The greatefl Misfortune is, 
 
 that it is not to Virtue that they exhort thefe young People ; or, 
 which is the fame Thing, that they do no: always give d 
 true Notions of Virtue. In Reality, they recommend oothi 
 to them fo much as Revenge, and 'tis this of which thev ihew 
 them the moil frequent Examples. 
 
 One would expect, Madam, that a Childhood fo badly difci- 
 plined, ihouid be followed by a Youth of Turbulence and Cor- 
 ruption : But on one Hand, the Savages are naturally cairn, and 
 early Mafters of themfelves ; Reafon alio ruices them rather 
 more than other Men : And on the ether Hand, their Cenft:tu- 
 tion, efpecialiy in the Northern Countries, does net incline them 
 to Debauchery ; yet we find fome Cuilcms among them, in 
 which Chaftity is entirely difregarded ; but i: appears that t] i» 
 
 H h 
 
 proceed*
 
 234 dn Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 proceeds more from Superftition, than the Depravation of the 
 Heart. 
 
 The Huron: , when we firft began to converfe with them, were 
 more lafcivious, and very brutal in their Pleafures. The young 
 Perfons of both Sexes abandoned themfelves without Shame to 
 all Manner of Diffolutenefs ; and it was chiefly among them, 
 that it was not efteemed a Crime for a Girl to proftitute herfelf. 
 Their Parents were the firft to engage them in this Way, and 
 many did the fame by their Wives, for a bafe Intereft. Many 
 never married, but took young Women to ferve them, as they 
 faid, for Companions ; and all the Difference they made between 
 thefe Concubines and their lawful Wives, was, that with the firft 
 there was no Agreement made : For the reft, their Children were 
 on the fame Foot as the others ; which produced no Inconveni- 
 ence, in a Country where there are no Eftates to inherit. 
 
 One does not diftinguifh Nations here by their Drefs. The 
 Men, when it is hot, have often only fomething of an Apron to 
 cover their Nakednefs. In Winter they clothe themfelves more 
 or lefs, according to the Climate. They wear on their Feet a 
 Sort of Sandals, made of Roe-Buck Skins fmoked : Their 
 Stockings are alfo Skins, or Bits of Stuffs, which they wrap 
 round their Legs. A Waiftcoat, made of Skin, covers them to 
 the Waift, and they wear over that a Rug or Blanket, when they 
 can have it ; if not, they make themfelves a Robe with a Bear's 
 Skin, or of feveral Beaver or other like Skins, or Furs, with 
 the Hair inwards. The Women's Waiftccats reach juft below 
 their Knees ; and when it is very cold, or when they travel, 
 they cover their Heads with their Blanket, or their Robe. 
 I have feen feveral who had little Caps, like Skull Caps ; others 
 have a Sort of Capuchin, faftened to their Waiftcoats ; and they 
 have befides a Piece of Stuff which ferves them for a Petticoat, 
 which covers them from the Waift down to the Middle of the Leg. 
 
 They are all very defirous of having Shirts and Shifts ; but 
 they never put them under their Waiftcoats, till they are 
 dirty, and then they wear them till they drop to Pieces, for they 
 never take the Trouble to wafh them. Their Waiftcoats are 
 generally dreffed in the Smoke, like their Sandals; that is to fay, 
 after they have hung a proper Time in it, they rub them a lit- 
 tle, and then they may be wafhed like Linen : They prepare 
 them alfo by foaking them in Water, then rubbing them with 
 their Hands till they are dry and pliable ; but the Savages think 
 our Stuffs and Blankets are much more convenient. 
 
 Many make various Figures all over their Bodies by pricking 
 
 H -> th * ' Ir themfelves, others only in fome Parts. They 
 
 .) ri if don't do this merelv for Ornament: They 
 
 themjetves nil ever £ j ir • • r • 1 A j u 
 
 » d j, » n d alfo, as it is laid, great Advantages by 
 
 J! ' this Cnflom. It ferves greatly to defend 
 
 them
 
 Travels in North America, 235 
 
 them from the Cold, renders them lefsfenfible of the other In- 
 juries of the Air, and frees them from the Perfecution of the 
 Gnats. But it is only in the Countries poflefled by the Englijb, 
 efpecially in Virginia, that the Cuftom of pricking themfelves 
 all over the Body is very common. In New France thegreateft 
 Part are fatisfied with fome Figures of Birds, Serpents, or other 
 Animals, and even of Leaves, and fuch-likc Figures, without 
 Order or Symmetry, but according to everyone's Fancy, often 
 in the Face, and fometimes even on the Eye-lids. Many Wo- 
 men are marked in the Parts of the Face that anfwer to the Jaw 
 Bones, to prevent the Tooth-ach. 
 
 This Operation is not painful in itfelf. It is performed in 
 this Manner : They begin by tracing on the Skin, drawn very 
 tight, the Figure they intend to make ; then they prick little 
 Holes clofe together with the Fins of a Filh, or with Needles, 
 all over thefe Traces, fo as to draw Blood : Then they rub them 
 over with Charcoal Duft, and other Colours well ground and 
 powdered. Thefe Powders fink into the Skin, and the Colours 
 are never effaced : But foon after the Skin fvvells, and forms a 
 Kind of Scab, accompanied with Inflammation. It commonly 
 excites a Fever ; and if the Weather is too hot, or the Opera- 
 tion has been carried too far, there is Hazard of Life. 
 
 The Colours with which they paint their Faces, and the 
 
 „ , , Greafe they rub themfelves with all over 
 
 How, and why their Bodies> producc the f ame Advantages, 
 
 they paint their ^ ag thgfe ?QQ ^ e fanc ^ giye the fame 
 
 good Appearance, as pricking. The War- 
 riors paint themfelves, when they take the Field, to intimidate 
 their Enemies, perhaps alfo to hide their Fear ; for we muff not 
 think they are all exempt from it. The young People do it to 
 conceal an Air of Youth, which would make them lefs taken for 
 old Soldiers, or a Palenefs remaining after fome Diflemper, and 
 which they are apprehenfive might be taken for the Eifedl of 
 Want of Courage: They do it alfo to make them look handfome ; 
 but then the Colours are more lively, and more varied. They 
 paint the Prifoners that are going to die ; but I don't know 
 why : Perhaps it is to adorn the Victim, who is to be facrificed 
 to the God of War. Laftly, they paint the Dead, to expofe 
 them drefled in their fined Robes ; and this is, without Doubt, 
 to hide the Palenefs of Death, which disfigures them. 
 
 The Colours they ufe on thefe Occasions are the fame they em- 
 g-, n pl°y t0 dye Skins, and they make them from 
 
 f U M amntS certain Earths, and the Bark of fome Trees. 
 vf the Men. Thgy arg nQt v?fy y^^ but they do nQt 
 
 very eafily wear out. The Men add to this Ornament the Dow» 
 of Swans cr other Birds, which they ftrew upon their Hair after it 
 
 H h 2 has 

 
 236 An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 has been greafed, like Powder. They add to this Feathers of all 
 Colours, and Bunches of the Hair of divers Animals, all placed 
 in an odd Manner. The Placing of their Hair, forneumes iiand- 
 Ing up like Briftles on one Side, and flatted on the other, or 
 drefTed in a thoufand different Fafhions, Pendants in their Ears, 
 and fometimes in their Noftrils, a great Shell of Porcelain hang- 
 ing about their Neck, or on their Breaft, fome Crowns made of 
 the Plumage of fcarce Birds, the Claws, Feet, or Heads of 
 Birds of Prey, little Horns of Roe-Bucks, all thefe Things 
 make up their Finery. But whatever they have moft precious is 
 always employed to adorn the Captives when thefe Wretches 
 make their firft Entry into the Village of their Conquerors. 
 It is obfervable that the Men take very little Pains to adorn 
 o-, ~ any Part but their Heads. It is juft the Re- 
 
 Ihe Ornaments ve " fe whh the Women . The wear f car cely 
 of the If omen. ^ y Thing on ^ ^ ^ only fo ?d f the i r 
 
 Hair, and they would think themfelves difgraced if it was cut 
 off ; therefore, when at the Death of a Relation they cut off 
 Part of it, they pretend by this to fhew the greateft Grief for 
 their Lofs. To preferve their Hair they greafe it often, and 
 powder it with the Duft of Spruce Bark, and fometimes with 
 Vermilion, then they wrap it up in the Skin of an Eel or 
 a Serpent, in the Fafhion of Whifkers, which hang down to 
 their Waift. As to their Faces, they are fadsfied with tracing 
 fome Lines on them with Vermilion, or other Colours. 
 
 Their Noftrils are never bored, and it is only among feme Na- 
 tions that they bore their Ears ; then they wear in them Pendants, 
 as do alfo the Men, made of Beads of Porcelain. When they are 
 drefled in their greateft Finery, they have Robes painted with 
 all Sorts of Figures, with little Collars of Porcelain fet on them 
 without much Order or Symmetry, with a Kind of Border tole- 
 rably worked with Porcupine's Hair, which they paint alfo of 
 various Colours. They adorn in the fame Manner the Cradles 
 of their Children, and they load them with all Sorts of Trin- 
 kets. Thefe Cradles are made of light Wood, and have at the 
 upper End one or two Semicircles of Cedar, that they may co- 
 ver them without touching the Head of the Child. 
 
 Befides the Houfhold Work, and providing Wood for Fuel, 
 the Women have almoft always the fole Trouble of cultivating 
 the Lands : As foon as the Snow is melted, and the Waters 
 fufficiently drained, they begin to prepare the Earth, which 
 confifts in ftirring it lightly with a Piece of Wood bent, the 
 Handle of which is very long, having firft fet Fire to the dry 
 Stalks of the Maiz and other Herbs that remained after the laft 
 Harveft. Befides that the Grain thefe People make Ufe of is 
 
 Summer 

 
 Travels in North America. 237 
 
 Summer Grain, they pretend that the Nature of the Soil of this 
 Country will not allow of fowing any Thing before Winter. 
 But I believe the true Reafon why Seeds would not grow if 
 they were fowed in Autumn is, that they would be deftroyed by 
 the Winter, or rot at the melting of the Snow. It may alfo 
 be, and this is the Opinion of many Perfons, that the 
 Wheat they cultivate in Canada, though originally brought from 
 France, has in Procefs of Time contracted the Property of 
 Summer Seeds, which have not Strength enough to lhoot fe- 
 veral Times, as thofe do which we fow in September and Oc- 
 tober. 
 
 Beans, or rather Kidney-Beans, are fowed along with the 
 
 „ . , . c Maiz, the Stalks of which ferve to fupport 
 
 Of their Soxv- ^ m . j think j haye heard that the Sa _ 
 
 ing and Uar-oeft. s received this Seed f rom US) on w hkh 
 
 they fet a high Value, and it differs nothing from our's. 
 But I was furprifed that they make little or no Ufe of our Peas, 
 which have acquired in the Soil of Canada, a Degree of Good- 
 nefs much fuperior to what they have in Europe. Sun- 
 Flowers, Water-Melons, and Pomkins are fet by themfelves ; 
 and before they fow the Seed, they make it moot in Smoke, 
 in light and black Earth. 
 
 For the mod Part the Women help one another in the Work 
 of the Field, and when it is Time to gather the Harveft, they 
 have fometimes Recourfe to the Men, who do not difdain to 
 affift in it. It ends in a Feftival and Feaft, which is made in the 
 Night: Grain, and other Fruits of the Earth, are kept in Holes, 
 which they dig in the Earth, and which are lined with large 
 Pieces of Bark. Many leave the Maiz in the Ear as it grows, 
 made up in Ropes as we do Onions, and fpread them on great 
 Poles over the Entrance of the Cabins. Others get out the 
 Grain, and fill great Bafkets with it made of Bark, full of 
 Holes to hinder it from heating. But when they are obliged 
 to be abfent fome Time, or are afraid of fome Irruption of an 
 Enemy, they make great Holes in die Earth to hide it, where 
 this Grain keeps very well. 
 
 In the northern Parts they fow little, and in many Places 
 
 n - , M . rone at all ; but they purchafe the Maiz by 
 
 ujaewux. Exchange. This Grain is very wholefome, 
 
 it is nouriming, and light of I ion. The molt common 
 
 Way of preparing it among our Trench Travellers is by Lixi- 
 
 vating, that is to fay, by boiling it fome Time in a Sort of Lie. 
 
 r i his »/ay keeps it a long Time; Provifion of it for 
 
 arneys, and as they wani ' Ley boil if again in Water, 
 
 or in Broth, if they have any T ■ " I . .• it of, and they put 
 
 a little Salt to it. 
 
 It
 
 238 An Hijiorlcal Journal of 
 
 It is not an unpleafant Food, but many People are perfuaded 
 that too frequent Ufe of it is prejudicial to Health, becaufe the Lye 
 gives it a corrofive Quality, the Effecls of which are felt in 
 Time. When the Maiz is in the Ear, and ftill green, fome 
 broil it on the Coals, and it has a very good Tafte. Our Cana- 
 dians call it Bledgroule. There is a particular Sort that opens 
 -as foon as it is laid on the Fire, they call it Bledfleuri, and it 
 is very delicate. This is what they treat Strangers with. They 
 carry it in fome Places to Perfons of Diftin&ion, who arrive in a 
 Village, much in the fame Manner as they do in France the Pre- 
 fentof a Town. 
 
 Laltly, it is of this Grain they make the Sagamitty, which is 
 OftfcSirram't the moft common Food of the Savages. For 
 t ' •* ' * " this Purpofe they begin by broiling it, then 
 they pound it, and take off the Hulk, then 
 they make a Sort of Broth with it, which is infipid enough 
 when they have no Meat, or Prunes to give it a Relifh. They 
 fometimes reduce it to Flour, which they call here Farine froide 
 (cold Flour), and this is the bell Provifion that can be made for 
 Travellers. Thofe who travel on Foot cannot carry any other. 
 They alfo boil the Maiz in the Ear, while it is ftill 10 ft, then 
 they broil it a little, they get out the Grain, and dry it in the 
 Sun ; this they keep a long Time, and the Sagamitty they make 
 of it has a very good Tafte. 
 
 You will perceive, Madam, by the Detail of thefe Meftes, 
 that the Savages are not nice in their eating. We fhould think 
 that they have a very depraved Tafte, if it waspofiible to make 3. 
 fixed Rule for Tafte. They love Grcafe, and it predominates in 
 all their Difhes, if they can get it. A few Pounds of Candles 
 in a Kettle of Sagamitty makes them think it excellent. They 
 even fometimes put Things into it which cannot be mentioned, • 
 and they are furprifed to fee our Stomachs turn at them. 
 
 The Nations of the South had only Vefiels of baked Earth to 
 drefs their Meat. In the North they ufed Kettles of Wood, and 
 they made the Water boil by throwing in Flints made red hot. 
 They found our Iron and Tin Kettles much more convenient, 
 and this is the Merchandize which we are fure to find a Vent for 
 when we trade with them. In the Nations of the Weft, the 
 •wild Oats fupply the Want of Maiz : It is quite as wholefome, 
 and if it is not to nourifhing, the Flefti of the Buffalo, which 
 abounds in thefe Parts, makes Amends for it. 
 
 Among the wandering Savages, who never cultivate the 
 
 r\r l vi Earth, when the Chace and the Fifhery fail, 
 
 Of the Rock their on]v Re f 0urce is a Kind of Mofs, which 
 
 Trfe, and rotten grQws ^ certaJn Rocks> and whkh ouj . 
 
 Wheat. Frencfj j> eop ] e ca n q- ri p e f tht RocJlSm No, 
 
 thing is more infipid than this Mofs, which has but little Sub- 
 
 ftance;
 
 1 ravels in North America. 239 
 
 {lance: This is being reduced to what is jufl fufficient to keep 
 
 them from ftarving. I Hill find it harder to conceive, which yet 
 
 I have heard affirmed by Perfons of Credit, that fome Savages 
 
 eat by Way of Dainty a Sort of Maiz, which they leave to rot in 
 
 a (landing Water, as we do Hemp, and they take it out all black 
 
 and frinking. They add alfo, that thofe who have a Liking to 
 
 fuch a ilrange Mefs as this is, will not lofe any of the Water, or 
 
 rather Mud, that drops from it, the Smell of which alone would 
 
 make the Heart heave of any other People. It was probably 
 
 Neceflity that difcovered this Secret, and if this does not give 
 
 it all its Relifh, nothing proves more clearly that there is no 
 
 difputing about Taftes. 
 
 The Savage Women make Bread of Maiz, and tho' it is only 
 
 Df I R ■ J f a Mefs of Pafte ill wrought, without Leaven, 
 
 . /, .' na * and baked under the Allies, thefe People 
 
 find it very good, and treat their Friends 
 
 with it ; but it mud not be eaten hot : It will not keep when it 
 
 is cold. Sometimes they mix with it Beans, various Fruits, 
 
 Oil, and Greafc. They mull have good Stomachs that can 
 
 digeft fuch Hotch-potch. 
 
 The Sun-Flowers only ferve the Savages for an Oil, which 
 
 Tr . -n they rub themfclves with. They eet it more 
 
 Various Roots, _ ' , .. e , . ' B » , 
 
 < j u • T 7 r commonly from the Seed than from the 
 
 fcC. and their UJe. RoQt of ^ pj^ This RoQt differs but 
 
 little from a Sort of Potatoes, which we call in France Topi- 
 nambours. The Potatoes which are fo common in the Weft-Indian 
 Wands, and in the Continent of South America, have beta 
 planted with Succefs in Louif.ana. The continual Ufe which all 
 the Nations of Canada made of a Sort of Petun, or wild To- 
 bacco, which grows every where in this Country, have made 
 fome Travellers fay that they fwal lowed the Smoke, and that it 
 ferved them for Food ; but this is not found true, and was 
 founded only on obferving them often remain a long Time with- 
 out eating. Since they have tailed our Tobacco, they can 
 fcarcely bear their Petun, and it is very eafy to fatisfy them on 
 this Head, for Tobacco grows very well here ; and they fav 
 alfo, that by chufing proper Soils, we might have a moll excellent 
 Sort. 
 
 The little Works of the Women, and which are their common 
 W h f th Employment in the Cabins, are to make 
 jp. J Thread of the inner Membranes of the Bark 
 
 of a Tree, which they call the white Wood, 
 and they work it pretty nearly as we do Hemp. The Women 
 alfo dye every Thing : They make alfo feveral Works with 
 Bark, on which they work fmall Figures with Porcupines Hair : 
 They make little Cups, or other Utrnfils of Wood j they paint 
 
 anii
 
 240 An llijlorical Journal of 
 
 and embroider Roe-Buck Skins ; they knit Girdles and Garters 
 with the Wool of the Buffaloes. 
 
 As for the Men, they glory in their Idlenefs, and in Reality 
 
 W -k f tie tne ^ P a ^ s a ^ 0ve na ^ their Lives in doing no- 
 y, °* thing, in the Perfuafion that daily Labour 
 
 difgraces a Man, and is only the Duty of 
 the Women. Man, they fay, is only made for War, Hunting, 
 and Fifhing. Nevertheless, it belongs to them to make all Things 
 neceffary for thefe three Exercifes : Therefore, making Arms, 
 Nets, and all the Equipage of the Hunters and Fifhers, chiefly 
 belong to them, as well as the Canoes, and their Rigging, 
 the Raquets, or Snow Shoes, the building and repairing the 
 Cabins, but they often oblige the Women to affirt them. The 
 Chriftiam employ themfelves fomething more, but they only 
 do it by Way of Penance. 
 
 Thefe People, before we had furnifhed them with Hatchets, 
 o-, . cr i and other Tools, were greatly embarraffed 
 
 to cut down their Trees, and fit them for 
 Ufe. They burnt them at the Foot, and to fplit and cut them, 
 they ufed Hatchets made of Flints, which did not break, but 
 took up a great deal of Time to lharpen. To fix them in the 
 Handle, they cut oif the Head of a young Tree, and as if they 
 would have grafted it, they made a Notch in it, in which 
 they thruft the Head of the Hatchet. After fome Time, 
 the Tree, by growing together, kept the Hatchet fo fixed that it 
 could not come out; then they cut the Tree to fuch a Length as 
 they would have the Flandle. 
 
 Their Villages have generally no regular Form. The greateft 
 a--; p F i P art of our antient Relations reprefent them 
 
 Tr.7, je •* ' of a round Form, and perhaps their Authors 
 
 rtUages. had nQt feen but of ^ Sort> Fof the ^ 
 
 imagine you fee, Madam, a Heap of Cabins without Order, 
 or being fet on a Line : Some like Cart-Houfes, others like 
 Tunnels built of Bark, fupported by fome Ports, fometimes 
 plairtered on the Outfide with Mud, in a coarfe Manner : In a 
 Word, built with lefs Art, Neatnefs, and Solidity, than the 
 Cabins of the Beavers. Thefe Cabins are about fifteen or twenty 
 Feet in Breadth, and fometimes a hundred in Length : Then they 
 contain feveral Fires, for a Fire never takes up more than 30 Feet. 
 When the Floor is not fufiicient for all the Inhabitants to 
 fleep on, the young People lay on a wide Bench, or a Kind of 
 Stage, about five or fix Feet high, that runs the whole Length of 
 the Cabin. The Furniture and the Provifions are over this, 
 placed on Pieces of Wood put acrofs under the Roof. For the 
 mort Part, there is before the Door a Sort of Porch, where the 
 young People fleep in the Summer, and which ferves for a 
 Wood-IIcufe in the Winter. The Doors are nothing but 
 
 Bark,
 
 Travels in North America. 241 
 
 Bark, fixed up like the Umbrello of a Window, and they never 
 fhut clofe. Thefe Cabins have neither Chimnies nor Windows, 
 but they leave an Opening in the Middle of the Roof, bv which 
 Part of the Smoke goes out, which they are obliged to fhut when 
 it rains or fnows ; and then they mull put out the Fire, if they 
 will not be blinded with the Smoke. 
 
 The Savages fortify themfelves better than they lodge : We 
 The Manner of ^fome Villages pretty well palifladoed with 
 fortifying them- Re ^ oubts » where they always take Care to 
 '/-/„ make a good Provifion of Water and 
 
 Stones. The Palifladoes are even double, 
 and fomctimes treble, and have commonly Battlements at the 
 lair. Enclofure. The Polls they arecompofed of are interwoven 
 with Branches of Trees, that leave no Place open. This was 
 fufHcient to fupport a long Siege, before thefe People knew the 
 Ufe of Fire Arms. Every Village has a pretty large open Place, 
 but it is feldom of a regular Fieure. 
 
 Formerly the Iroquois built their Cabins much better than the 
 other Nations, and than they do themfelves at prefent : They 
 fometimes wrought Figures in Relievo on their Cabins, tho' the 
 Work was very rude ; but fince in fevcral Incurfions their Ene- 
 mies have burnt almolr. all their Villages, they have not taken the 
 Pains to re-eftablifh them in their firft State. But if thefe People take 
 fo little Pains to procure the Conveniencies of Life in the Places of 
 their _ ordinary Refidence, what can we think of their Encamp- 
 ings in their Travels, and their Winter Quarters. An antient 
 Mifiionary (a), who to lay himfelf under a Nccefnty of learn- 
 ing the Language of the Montagnais, would accompany them 
 in their Hunting during the Winter, has given us an Account 
 of it, which I fhall transcribe almoft Word for Word. 
 
 Thefe Savages inhabit a Country very wild and uncultivated, 
 Of their Winter b , ut . n « fo much as that which they chufe for 
 QoZfa, their hi unting. You mult march a long Time 
 
 before you come to it, and you muft carry on 
 your Back all you want for five or fix Months, through Ways 
 fometimes fo frightful, that one can't conceive how the wild 
 Creatures can come here. If they had not the Precaution to fur- 
 nifh themfelves with the Bark of Trees, they would have no- 
 thing to defend them from the Snow and Rain dining the Jour- 
 ney. As foon as they arrive at the Place propofed, they accom- 
 modate themfelves a little better ; but thisj confiils only in not 
 being expofed continually to all the Injuries of the Air. 
 
 Every Body is employed for this End ; and the Millenaries, 
 who at firft had no Body to ferve them, and for whom 
 
 (e) Father Pawl 1c Jair.c. 
 
 the
 
 242 An Hijicrlcal Jcurnal of 
 
 the Savages had no Regard, were not fpared any mott 
 than the reft ; they did not even allow them a feparate Cabin- 
 and they were obliged to lodge in the firft that would receive 
 them, Thefe Cabins, among the greateft Part of the Algonquin 
 Nations, are much in the Shape of our Ice-Houfes, round, and 
 ending in a Cone : They have no other Support but Pole;, 
 fixed in the Snow, tied together at the Ends, and covered with 
 Pieces of Bark ill joined together, and not well faftened to the 
 Poles ; fothat the Wind comes through on even- Side. 
 
 The fetting up thefe Cabins is but the Work of half an Hour 
 at molt. Some Branches of Pine ferve for Mats, and there are no 
 other Beds. Theonly Convenience attending this is, that'they may 
 be changed every Day. The Snow, which is heaped up round 
 about them, forms a Sort of a Parapet, which has its Ufe, for the 
 Winds do not pierce through it. By the Side, and under the 
 Shelter of this Parapet, they fieep as quietly on thefe Branches, 
 covered v^ith a poor Skin, as on the fofteil Bed. The Miffiona- 
 ries have fome Difficulty to accuitom themfelves to this Lodg- 
 ing, but Fatigue and Neceflity foon reconcile them to it. They 
 cannot fo well reconcile themfelves to the Smoke, which almoft 
 always fills the Top of the Cabin in fuch a Manner, that one 
 cannot Aand upright in them withouthavingone's Headin a Sortof 
 a Cloud. This is no Trouble to the Savages, accuftomed from their 
 Childhood to fit or lie on the Ground all the Time they are in 
 their Cabins : But it is a great Punifhment to the French, who 
 can't reconcile themfelves to this Inaction. 
 
 On the other Hand, the Wind, which enters as I before ob- 
 ferved, on all Sides, blows in a Cold that chills one Part, whilft 
 one is fmothered and broil'd on the other. Often one cannot dif- 
 tingaifh any Thing at two or three Feet Diftance ; and our 
 Eyes water fo, that we are blinded : Sometimes, to get a 
 little Breath, we are forced to lie on our Bellies, with our 
 Mouths almoft clofe to the Ground. The fhcrteft Way would 
 be to go out ; but the greateft Part of the Time this is not to 
 be done ; fometimes becaufe of a Snow fo thick, that it darkens 
 the Day, and fometimes becaufe there blows a dry Wind, that cuts 
 the Face, and even Ihivers the Trees in the Foreft:. Neverthe- 
 lefs, a Miilionary is obliged to fay his Office, to fing Mafs, and 
 to perform all the other Duties of his Miniftry. 
 
 To all thefe Inconveniencies we muft add another, which at 
 firft will feem a Trifle to you, but" which is really very confidera- 
 ble ; it is the Troublefomenefs of the Dogs. The Savages have 
 ai-vays a great Number that follow them every where, and 
 which are very much attached to them ; they are not fawning, 
 becaufe they are never fondled, but they are bold and fkilful 
 
 I r- •
 
 Travels in North America. : - J 
 
 I have already faid that the Savages break their Dog. very 
 early to that Sort of Hunting they are intended for ; I add, that 
 every Man matt have many, becaafe a great Number are de- 
 ttroyed by the Teeth or the Horns of the wild Creatures, which 
 they attack with a Courage that nothing can daunt. Their 
 Matters take irttie Care to feed them : They liv -.at they 
 
 can catch, and this is not much, fo they are always very lean : 
 On the other Hand, they have little Haw, which makes them 
 very fenfible of the Cold' To keep themfelves warm, if they 
 can't come to the Fi::-. here it would be difficult for diem all to 
 find Room, though there ihould be no Perfon in the C - : - . they 
 go and lie down on the firtt they meet with ; and often one wakes 
 in the Night in a Surprize, almoft ftifled by two or three 
 Dcgs. If they were a little more difcreet in placing themfelres, 
 their Company would not be very troublefome ; one could put up 
 with it well enough ; but thev lie where they can : D 
 them away as often as you pleafe, they ret_- : :: *Tis 
 
 much w one in the Day-time ; as foon as any I ■' — I appears, you 
 are incommoded with the Buttle they make In hare d 
 
 A poor MifEonary ia I j ir.g on the Ground leaning on hi El- 
 bow near the Fire, to lay his Breviary, or to read a Book, tmii : 
 as well as he can to er.is:: the : .r.d he m: 
 
 ? execution of a Dozen I - - : run 
 
 over him backwards and farm - 1 - ". - ' a Piece el 
 difcovered. If he has Need of a little f 
 co find i N;;i<. vkoc he maybe free r::~ this Vexat - 
 
 If d g him any Thing ::;::. the Dogs ;- their N 
 
 in his Diih before he "can have hb Hand in it ; and often v.; 
 he is employed in defending his Portion again t.-.c: 1 1 
 
 him in Front, there comes one behind that carries off" half of it, 
 or by running againit nim, beats the D. ... : -" of his Hand;, and 
 fpills the Sagamitty in the Aihes. 
 
 Oftentimes the Evils I have mentioned, are effaced by a 
 ter ; in Comparifcn of which the c. g, <wsg. 
 
 ^er. The Provifions they carry with them do no: 
 long: Thev depend on the Chace, andth aes. It 
 
 is true, that the Savages can bear Hunger with as much I 
 as they take little Precaution to pr. --- - fome- 
 
 .---■_. :ed to Inch Extremity, tha: -r it. 
 
 The Mink nary , from whom I took d 
 in hi. er encamping, to eat the E: - i 
 
 . which he had p^ 
 ?d to eat young Eri - 
 Nemtfcdds, he itocd this Trial, v> ;i;rg his Hea 
 
 -.: ||1 I have not his Strer: 
 
 I : 1 "
 
 244 -An Hijforical Journal of 
 
 The Naftinefs alone of the Cabins, and the Stench which na- 
 
 <tl \r a- r r turally arifes from it, is a real Punifhment to 
 Ike Naftinefs of any on£ w & gavage _ ^ { - eafy tQ judge 
 
 the Savages. how faf both muft gQ amQng Peop j e who 
 
 never change their Linen or Clothes but when they drop to 
 Pieces, and who take no Care to warn them. In Summer they 
 ' bathe every Day ; but they rub themfelves directly with Oil or 
 Greafe of a ftrong Scent. In Winter they continue in their 
 Filth, and in all Seafons one cannot enter into their Cabins with- 
 out being almoft poifoned. 
 
 All they eat is not only without any Seafoning, and commonly 
 very infipid, but there reigns in their Meals a Slovenlinefs which 
 exceeds all Defcription. What I have feen, and what I have 
 heard, would frighten you. There are few Animals who do not 
 feed cleaner. And after we have feen what paffes among thefe 
 People in this Article, one can no longer doubt that Fancy has 
 a great Share in our Antipathies ; and that many Meffes, which 
 really hurt our Health, do not produce this Effect but by the 
 Power of thefe Antipathies, and by the little Courage we have 
 to conquer them. 
 
 We muft neverthelefs acknowledge, that Things are a little 
 changed in all thefe Articles fince our Arrival in this Country. 
 I have feen fome who have endeavoured to procure themfelves 
 fome Conveniencies, which perhaps they will foon find it hard to 
 be deprived of. Some begin alfo to take a little more Precau- 
 tion not to find themfelves unprovided, when the Chace fails ; 
 and among thofe who dwell in the Colony, there is little to add 
 to make them arrive at the Point of having tolerable Neceffa- 
 ries : But it is to be feared, when they are got fo far, they will 
 fcon go further, and feek for Superfluities, which will make 
 them more unhappy flill, than they are at prefent in the midft 
 of the greatefc Indigence. 
 
 However, it will not be the Miffonaries who will expofe them 
 to this Danger. Being perfuaded that it is morally impoffible to 
 take the exact Medium, and keep within it, they much rather 
 chufe to partake with thefe People of what is moil troublefome 
 in their Way of living, than to open their Eyes on the Means 
 of finding out Conveniencies : And indeed thofe who are Wit- 
 nefles of their Sufferings, can hardly conceive how they can fup- 
 port them ; and the rather, becaufe they have no Relaxation, 
 and that all the Seafons have their particular Inconveniencies. 
 
 As their Villages are always" fituated near Woods, or on the 
 
 ^ . Side of fome Water, and often between both. 
 
 The Inccn.-vem- As foon as the Air beeins t0 grow warm , the 
 enacsof toe bum- MuflcetoeSj and an in fi nite Number of other 
 ?tier for the i>a- f mal i Flies, begin a Perfection more grievous 
 'vg."' than the Smoke, which we are often obliged 
 
 to 
 
 to 

 
 Travels in North America. 245 
 
 to call to our Affiftance ; for there is fcarce any other Remedy 
 againft the Stings of thefe little Infects, which fet all Parts of 
 the Body in a Flame, and do not fuft'er you to fleep in Quiet. 
 Add to this, the frequent forced Marches, and always very 
 fatiguing ones, which one mult make to follow thefe Barbarians; 
 fometimes in Water up to the Waift, and fometimes in Mud up to 
 the Knees ; in the Woods, thro' Brambles and Thorns, in Dan- 
 ger of being blinded ; in the open Country, where there is no 
 Shelter from the Heat of the Sun, which is as violent in Summer 
 as thg Wind is piercing in Winter. 
 
 If one travels in Canoes, the confined Poflure which one 
 mult keep, and the Apprehenfions we are under at firft from 
 the extreme Weaknefs of thefe Vehicles, the Ina&ion which 
 can't be avoided, the flow Progrefs they make, which is retarded 
 by the leait Rain, or a little too much Wind, the little Society 
 one can have with People who know nothing, and who never fpeak 
 when they are about any Thing, who offend you with their ill 
 Smell, and who fill you with Filth and Vermin; the Caprices and 
 rough Behaviour which mult be borne with from thefe People ; 
 the Affronts to which one is expofed from a Drunkard, or a 
 Man who is put out of Humour by an unforefeen Accident, a 
 Dream, or the Remembrance of fome Misfortune ; the Covet- 
 ing, which is eafily produced in the Hearts of thefe Barbarians, 
 at the Sight of an Object capable of tempting them, and which 
 lias coll the Lives of feveral Million aries ; and if War is de- 
 clared between the Nations where they happen to be, the conti- 
 nual Danger they run, of being fuddenly reduced either to the 
 hardeft Servitude, or to perifh in the molt horrible Torments : 
 This is, Madam, the Life which the Miiuonaries (efpecially the 
 firft) have led. If for fome Time paft it has been lefs fevere in 
 fomeRefpects, it has had for the Labourers of the Gofpel other 
 inward Troubles, and of Confequence more grievous ; which, 
 far from being leffened by Time, encreafe in the fame Meafure 
 as the Colony encreafes, and as the natural Inhabitants of the 
 Country have more Communication with all Sorts of People. 
 In fhort, to make a brief Portrait of thefe People : With a fa- 
 m n p vage Appearance, and Manners and Cuilom* 
 
 * l c " which are entirely barbarous, there is ob- 
 tratt of the ha- fcrvab]e amongft tne m a focial Kindnefs, 
 
 ^S^- free from almolt all the Imperfections 
 
 which fo often difturb the Peace of Society among us. They 
 appear to be without Pamon ; but they do that in cold Blood, 
 and fometimes through Principle, which the molt violent and 
 unbridled Paffion produces in thofe who give no Ear to Reafon. 
 They feem to lead the molt wretched Life in the World ; and 
 they were perhaps the only happy People on Earth, before the 
 
 Knowledge
 
 246 An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 Knowledge of the Objetts, which fo much work upon and feduce 
 us, had excited in them Defires which Ignorance kept in Supine- 
 nefs; and which have not as yet made any great Ravages among 
 them. Wedifcover in them a Mixture of the fiercefl and the molt 
 gentle Manners, the Imperfe&ior.s of wild Beads, and Virtues and 
 Qualities of the Heart and Mind, which do the greateft Honour 
 to Human Nature. One would think at firft that they have no 
 Form of Government, that they acknowledge neither Laws nor 
 Subordination ; and that living in an entire independence, they 
 fuffer themfelves to be folely guided by Chance, and the wildeft 
 Caprice : Neverthelefs, they enjoy almoft all the Advantages 
 that a well regulated Authority can procure for the belt go- 
 verned Nations. Born free and independent, they look with 
 Horror even on the Shadow of a defpotic Power ; but they fel- 
 dom depart from certain Principles and Cuftoms, founded on 
 good Senfe, which are to them inftead of Laws, and which in 
 fome Meafure fupply the Place of a lawful Authority. They 
 will not bear the leaft Reftraint ; but Reafon alone keeps them 
 jn a Kind of Subordination ; which, for being voluntary, is not 
 the lefs effedual to obtain the End intended. 
 
 A Man who mould be highly efteemed by them, would find 
 them docible enough, and would make them do almoft what he 
 pleafed ; but it is not eafy to obtain their Efteem to fuch a De- 
 gree : They never give it but to Merit, and to fuperior Merit ; 
 of which they are as good Judges as thofe amongft us, who 
 think they have the moft Difcernment. 
 
 They rely much on Phyfiognomy, and perhaps there are no Men 
 in the World who are better Judges of it. The Reafon is, that 
 they have none of that Refpeft for any Perfon whatfoever, which 
 feduces us : And ftudying only pure Nature, they have a perfect 
 Knowledge of it. As they are not Slaves to Ambition andlntereft, 
 and that there is fcarce any Thing but thefe two Paffions which 
 has weakened in us that Senfe of Humanity which the Author of 
 Nature had graved in our Hearts, the Inequality of Conditions 
 is no Way neceflary to them for the Support of Society. 
 
 Therefore, Madam, we do not fee here, at leaft we feldom meet 
 with thofe haughty Spirits, who, full of their own Grandeur, or 
 their Merit, almoft fancy they are a different Species, difdaining 
 the reft of Mankind, by whom of Confequence they are never 
 trufted nor beloved ; who think none like themfelves, becaufe 
 the Jealoufy which reigns among the Great, does not permit 
 them to fee each other near enough ; who do not know them- 
 felves, becaufe they never ftudy their own Hearts, but always 
 flatter themfelves ; who do not confider that to win the Hearts of 
 Men, we muft in fome Meafure make ourfelves their Equals : 
 So that with, this pretended Superiority of Knowledge, which 
 
 9 they
 
 Travels in North America. 247 
 
 they look upon as the effential Property of the eminent Rank 
 they poflefs, thegreateft Part of them live in a proud and incu- 
 rable Ignorance of what concerns them the moil to know, and 
 never enjoy the true Pleafures of Life. 
 
 In this Country all Men think themfelves equally Men ; and 
 in Man what they efteem moil, is the Man. Here is no Di- 
 stinction of Birth ; no Prerogative allowed to Rank, which hurts 
 the Rights of private Perfons ; no Preheminence given to Me- 
 rit, that infpires Pride, and which makes other People feel too 
 much their Inferiority. There is perhaps lefs Delicacy of Sen- 
 timents than among us, but more Juftnefs ; lefs of Ceremonies, 
 and of what may render them equivocal ; lefs of Consideration 
 to ourfelves. 
 
 Religion alone can bring to Perfection the good Qualities of 
 thefe People, and correct their evil ones ; this is common to 
 them with others, but what is peculiar in them is, that they ftart 
 fewer Obftacles when they begin to believe, which can only be 
 the Work of fpecial Grace. It is alfo true, that to eftablilh perfect- 
 ly the Empire of Religion over them, they ought to fee it praftifed 
 in all its Purity by thofe who profefs it ; they are very apt to be 
 fcandalized at the Behaviour of bad Chrijiians, as all thofe are, 
 who are inftru&ed for the firft Time in the Principles of the 
 Gofpel Morality. 
 
 You will afk me, Madam, if they have any Religion ? to 
 this I reply, that we cannot fay they have none, but that it is 
 pretty hard to define what they have. I will entertain you more 
 fully on this Article, at my firft Leifure ; for though I am not 
 much employed here, I am fo often interrupted, that I fcarce 
 get two Hours in the Day to myfelf. This Letter, as well as 
 moft of the preceeding, will inform you, that I do not wTite re- 
 gularly. I content myfelf at prefent with adding, to finiih the 
 Portrait of the Savages, that even in the moft indifferent Ac- 
 tions, we find forae Traces of the primitive Religion, but which 
 efcape the Obfervation of thofe, who do net coniider them with 
 Attention, becaufe they are ftill mere effaced through the Want 
 of Inftru&ion, than altered by the Mixture of a fuperftitious 
 Worfhip, or fabulous Traditions. 
 
 / avi, 8c: 
 
 
 LETT EH
 
 248 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 LETTER XXIII. 
 
 Of the Traditions, and of the Religion of the Savage «/ 
 
 Canada. 
 
 Madam, At the Fort of the Ri-ver St. Joseph, Sept. 8. 
 
 THIS Letter will be very long, if fome unforefeen Acci- 
 dent does not oblige me to put off to another Opportuni- 
 ty, what I have to entertain you with concerning the Belief, the 
 Traditions, and the Religion of our Savages. 
 
 Nothing is more certain, than that the Savages of this Conti- 
 
 . nent have an Idea of a firft Being, but at the 
 
 The Notion of fame Timg nothi is more bicure. They 
 
 the oavages of the ^ re ^ {n ralj in making him the firft Spi- 
 
 Qugin of Man. ^ the Lord and Creator oi the WorId . but 
 
 when we prefs them a little on this Article, to know what they 
 mean by the first Spitit, we find nothing but oddFancies. Fa- 
 bles fo ill conceived, Syftems fo little digefted, and fo little Uni- 
 formity, that one can fay nothing regular on this Subjecl. They 
 fay that the Sioux come much nearer than the reft to what we 
 ought to think of this firft Principle. But the little Intercourfe 
 we have had with them hitherto, has not afforded me an Oppor- 
 tunity of learning their Traditions, as far as I could have wifhed, 
 to fpeak of tjicm with any Certainty. 
 
 Almoft alfthe Algonquin Nations have given the Name of the 
 Great Hare to the firft Spirit ; fome call him Michabou, others 
 Atahocan. The greateft Part fay, that being fupported on the 
 Waters with all his Court, all compofed of four-footed Creatures 
 like himfelf, he formed the Earth out of a Grain of Sand, taken 
 from the Bottom of the Ocean ; and created Men of the dead 
 Bodies of Animals. There are fome alio that fpeak of a God cf 
 the Waters who oppofed the Defign of the Great Hare, or at 
 leaft refufed to favour it. This God is, according to fome, the 
 great Tiger, but it is to be obfcrved, that there are no true Tigers 
 in Canada; therefore this Tradition might probably be derived 
 from fome other Country. Laffly, they have a third God named 
 Matcomek, whom they invoke during the Winter, and of whom I 
 could learn nothing particular. 
 
 The Arejkoui of the Hurons, and the Agrejkoue of the Iroquois, 
 is in the Opinion of thefe People the Supreme Being, and the God 
 of War. Thefe People do not give the fame Origin to Men as the 
 AlgonquinS) and they do not go fo far back as the Creation of the 
 
 World.
 
 'travels in North Amerkd. '249 
 
 World. They fay there were fix Men in the World at firft ; and 
 when we afk them who placed them there, they anfwer, that 
 they know not. They add, that one of thefe Men went up into 
 Heaven, to feek a Woman there named Atahentfec, with whom he 
 Jived, and who foon appeared to be with Child ; that the Lord 
 of Heaven perceiving it, threw her down from the highcit Part 
 of Heaven, and fhe was received on the Back of a Tor- 
 toife. That fhe brought forth two Children, cne of which 
 killed the other. 
 
 They have no Tradition after this, either of the other five Men , 
 or even of the Huihand of Atahentjic, who according to fome 
 had but one Daughter, who was Mother of Tbaouitfaron, and of 
 Jcujkeka. The latter who was the Eldeft killed his Brother, and 
 foon after his Grandmother left the Care of governing the World 
 to him. They fay farther, that Atahentf.c is the Moon, and 
 Joujkeka is the Sun. There is, as you fee, Madam, nothing re- 
 gular in all this ; for the Sun is often taken for Anjkoui, as be- 
 ing a great Spirit : But is there lefs Contradiction in the Theo- 
 logy of the Egyptians and the Greeks, who are the firft Sages of 
 the Pagan Antiquity I It is the Nature of Falfehood to contradict 
 itfelf, and to have no Principle. 
 
 The Gods of the Savages have, according to their Notion^ 
 
 cr, . A - . _ Bodies, and live much in the fame Manner a9 
 7 oetr A otion of , * , . , c , T 
 
 0.- . J we do, but without any of the Inconvenien- 
 
 " cies which we arefubjecr. to. The Term Spi- 
 
 rit figniRes among them only a Being of a more excellent Nature 
 than the reft. They have no Terms to exprefs what exceeds the 
 Limits of their Underftanding, which is extremely confined in 
 every Thing that is not the Object of their Senfes, or in com- 
 mon Ufe : But they give neverthelefs to their pretended Spirits 
 a Kind of Immenfity, which renders them prefent in all Places ; 
 for wherever they happen to be, they invoke them, they fpeak to 
 them, and they fuppofe that the Spirits hear what they lay to 
 them, and that they act in Confequence thereof. To all the Qi;ei- 
 tions we afk thefe Barbarians, to knew more, they anfwer this is 
 all they have been taught ; and it is only fome eld Men who 
 have b^en initiated in their Mylteries who know fo much. 
 
 According to the Iroquois, the Pofterky of Jcufceka v eat no 
 farther than the third Generation ; there came then a Deluge, 
 from which no Perfon efcaped, and to re-people the Earth Beaits 
 were changed to Men. For the reft, Madam, the Notion 
 of a univerfal Deluge is generally received among the Ame- 
 ricans but one can fcarce doubt ; but that there has been or.e et a 
 much freiher Date, which was confined to America. I ibou'd ne- 
 ver make an End, was I to mention all the Stories the 
 tell about their principal Deities, and the Origin of the World : 
 
 K k Bat
 
 250 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 But befides the firft Being, or the Great Spirit, and the other 
 
 Gods which are confounded with him, they have an infinite 
 
 Number of Genii, or Subaltern Spirits, good and evil, which 
 
 have their particular Worfhi . 
 
 The Iroquois place Atahentfu at the Head of the evil Spirits, 
 
 r\r+i r> j j an d make "Joujkeka the Chief of the Good. 
 Of the Good and m L c 1 l- r ^ • 1 
 
 .»Y> 1 hey even confound him fometimes with 
 
 the God who expelled his Grandmother 
 from Heaven, for fuffering herfelf to be feduced by a Man. 
 They addrefs themfelves to the evil Genii, only to beg that they 
 would do them no Harm; but they fuppofe that the others watch- 
 over Men for their Good, and that every Man has his own Genius. 
 In the Huron Language they call them Okkis, and in the Algon- 
 quin, Manitous. They have Recourfe to them when they are 
 in any Danger, when they go on any Enterprize, and when they 
 would obtain fome extraordinary Favour. They think they may 
 afk any Thing of them, however unreafonable it may be, or 
 however contrary even to good Behaviour and Honefty. But 
 Children, they fuppofe are not born under their Protection. 
 They mult firft know how to handle a Bow and Arrows, to merit 
 this Favour. There mull alfo be fome Preparations to receive it. 
 This is the moft important Affair of Life. Thefe are its prin- 
 cipal Ceremonies : 
 
 They begin by blacking the Face of the Child ; then it mufl 
 q-j p . faft for eight Days, without having the 
 
 t> , „■ 7 l leaftNourifhment : and during this Time his 
 
 Preparations to ob- f . . ^ ,. A n° •• 
 
 ., r r> j- future Guardian Genius mull: appear to him 
 tain a Guardian , . -p. n-,, t> ■ c 
 
 ^ . in his Dreams. The empty Brain of a poor 
 
 Child, juft entering en the firft Stage of Youth, 
 can't fail of furnifhing him with Dreams ; and every Morning 
 they take great Care to make him relate them. However, the 
 Falling often ends before the Time appointed, as few Children 
 have Strength to bear it fo long ; but that creates no Difficulty. 
 They are acquainted here, as in other Places, with the conveni- 
 ent Ufeof Difpenfations. The Thing which the Child dreams 
 of moft frequently, is fuppofed to be his Genius ; but no doubt 
 this Thing was confidered at firft only as a Symbol, or Shape 
 under which the Spirit manifelts himfelf : But the fame has hap- 
 pened to thefe People, as to all thofe who have erred from the 
 primitive Religion : They have attached themfelves to the Re- 
 prefentation, and have loft Sight of the Reality. 
 
 Neverthelefs, thefe Symbols fignify nothing of themfelves : 
 Sometimes it is the Head of a Bird, fometimes the Foot of an 
 Animal, or a Piece of Wood : In a Word, the moft ordinary 
 Things, and the leaft valued. They preferve them, however, 
 -9,1th as much Care as the Antients did their Penates. There is 
 
 even
 
 Travels in North America, 251 
 
 even nothing in Nature that hath not its Spirit, if we believe the 
 Savages; but they are of all Degrees, and have not the fame 
 Power. When they do not comprehend a Thing, they aflign 
 to it a fuperior Genius, and their Way of Expreflion in this Cafe 
 is to fay, It is a Spirit. It is the fame for ftronger Reafons with 
 Refpeft to Men, thofe who have fingular Talents, or who do ex- 
 traordinary Things, they fay are Spirits; that is to fay, they 
 have a Guardian Genius of a more exalted Degree than Men 
 in general. 
 
 Some, efpecially the Jugglers, endeavour to perfuade the 
 Multitude that they are fometimes in a Trance. This Madnefs 
 has exifted at all Times, and among all Nations, and has given 
 Birth to all the falfe Religions. The Vanity, which is fo natural 
 to Mankind, has never imagined a more effe&ual Method to 
 rule over the Weak : The Multitude at laft draw after them 
 thofe who pride themfelves moil in their Wifdom. The Ameri- 
 can Impoftors are not behind-hand with any in this Point, and 
 they know how to obtain all the Advantages from it which they 
 propofe. The Jugglers never fail to publiih, that during their 
 pretended Extacies, their Genii give them great Informations of 
 Things done at the greateft Diltance, and of future Events ; and 
 as by Chance, if we will not allow the Devil any Share in it, 
 they fometimes happen to divine or guefs pretty right, they 
 acquire by this a great Reputation : They are reckoned Genii of 
 the fir ft Order. 
 
 As foon as they have declared to a Child what he muft for 
 , the Time to come look upon as his Guardian 
 
 Sometimes tbey G£ni th inftruft him care f u ll y f the 
 change thw Genu, obli tion £ e is under to honour him , to 
 and why. follo ^ the Council he lhaII reC eive from him 
 
 in his Sleep, to merit his Favours, to put all his Truft in him, 
 and to dread the Effe&s of his Anger if he neglefts his Duty 
 towards him. The Feftival terminates in a Fealt, and the Cuf- 
 tom is alfo to prick on the Body of the Child, the Figure of his 
 Okki, or his Manitou. One would imagine that fuch a folenm 
 Engagement, the Mark of which can never be effaced, mould 
 be inviolable ; neverthelefs, there needs only a Trifle to break 
 it. 
 
 The Savages do not eafily acknowledge themfelves in the 
 Wrong, even with their Gods, and make no Difficulty to juftify 
 themfelves at their Expence : Therefore, the firft Time they have 
 Occafion to condemn themfelves, or to lay the Blaine on their 
 Guardian Genius, the Fault always falls on the latter. They 
 feek another without any Ceremony, and this is done with the 
 fame Precautions as at hrft. The Women have alfo their Mani- 
 tms, or their OAkit, but they do not fo much regard them as the 
 
 Kk 2 Men;
 
 252 An Hijtorical Journal of 
 
 Men ; perhaps, becaufe they do not find them fo much Employ- 
 ment. 
 They make to all thefe Spirits different Sorts of Offerings, which 
 
 c .., _". you may call, if you pleafe, Sacrifices. They 
 Sacrifices of toe ^ rQw ^ ^ ^^ &nd ^ Lakes ftte| 
 
 a*w*£«. Tobacco, or Birds that have had their Throats 
 
 cut, to render the God of the Waters propitious to them. In 
 Honour of the Sun, andfometimesaifoof the inferior Spirits, they 
 throw into the Fire Part of every Thing they ufe, and which they 
 acknowledge to hold from them. It is fometimesout of Gratitude, 
 but oftener through Intereft : Their Acknowledgment alfo is in- 
 terefted ; for thefe People have no Sentiments of the Heart towards 
 their Deities. We haveobferved alfo on fome Occafions a Kind of 
 Libations, and all this is accompanied with Invocations in 
 rnyfterious Terms, which the Savages could never explain to 
 the Europeans, either that in Faft they have no Meaning, or that 
 the Senfe of them has ' not been traniinitted by Tradition 
 with the Words ; perhaps alfo they keep it as a Secret from 
 us. 
 
 We find alfo Collars of Porcelain, Tobacco, Ears of Maiz, 
 Skins, and whole Animals, efpecially Dogs, on the Sides of 
 difficult and dangerous Ways, on Rocks, or by the Side of the 
 Falls ; and thefe are fo many Offerings made to the Spirits which 
 preiide in thefe Places. I have already faid that a Dog is the 
 moft common Victim that they facrifice to them : Sometimes they 
 hang him up alive on a Tree by the hind Feet, and let him 
 die there raving mad. The War Feaft, which is always of 
 Dogs, may very well alfo pafs for a Sacrifice. In fhort, they 
 render much the fame Honours to the rnifchievous Spirits, as to 
 thofe that are beneficent, when they have any Thing to fear 
 from their Malice. 
 
 Thus, Madam, among thefe People, whom fome have repre- 
 
 Oftl F n fented as having no Idea of Religion, or a 
 
 J > V s ' Deity, almcfl every Thing appears to be the 
 
 Object of a Religious Worfhip, or at leafl to have fome Relation 
 
 to it. Some have fancied that their Falls were only intended to ac- 
 
 cuftom them to bear Hunger, and I agree that they may be partly 
 
 defignedfor this End ; but all the Circum fiances which accompany 
 
 them, leave no Room to doubt that Religion is the principal 
 
 Motive; was it only their Attention, which I have fpoken of, to 
 
 obferve their Dreams during that Time; for it is certain that thefe 
 
 Dreams are efteemed as real Oracles, and Notices from Heaven. 
 
 There is ftill lefs Room to doubt that Vows are among thefe 
 
 Q f y ^ People pure Acts of Religion, and the Curlom 
 
 / o-ivs. of themis abfolutely the fame as withus. For 
 
 Jnftance, when they are out of Provifions, as it often happens in 
 
 their
 
 Travels in North America, 253 
 
 their Journies and in their Huntings, they promife their Genii 
 to give in Honour of them, a Portion of the firil Bcr!l the) (hall 
 kill to one of their Chiefs, and not to eat till they have perform- 
 ed their Promife. If the Thing becomes impofhble, bee 
 Chief is at a great Diitance, they burn what was defig 
 him, and make a Sort of Sacrifice. 
 
 Formerly the Savages in the Neighbourhood of Ace... 
 had in their Country, on the Side of the Sea, a very old 
 Tree, of which they ufed to tell many wonderful Stories, and 
 which was always loaded with Offerings. The Sea having laid 
 all its Roots bare, it fupported itfelf ftill a long Time againit 
 the Violence of the Winds and Waves, which confirmed 
 the Savages in their Notion, that it was the Seat of fome great 
 Spirit: Its Fall was not even capable of undeceiving them, and 
 as long as there appeared fome Ends of the Branches out of the 
 Water, they paid it the fame Honours as the whole Tree had re- 
 ceived while it was (landing. 
 Thegreatefl Part of their Feafls, their Songs, and their Dances 
 
 cri A/r •< r appear to me to have had their Rife from 
 Y/v Affinity of y/V . . n .„ r r _, 
 
 „/ o •,/ Religion, and ftnl to prcferve icme Traces 
 
 the ba-vapes -ivi/h .- ■ ° , „ . r , ~ 
 
 the lews ' one m good Eyes, or ra- 
 
 •' ' ther a very lively Imagination, to perceive 
 
 in them all that fome Travellers have pretended to difcover. I 
 have met with fome who could not help thinking that our Sa- 
 vages were defcended from the Jews, and found in every Thing 
 fome Affinity between thefe Barbarians and the People of God. 
 There is indeed a Refemblance in fome Things, as not to ufe 
 Knives in certain Meals, & not to break the Bones of the Beaft they 
 eat at thofe Times, and the Separation of the Women during the 
 Time of their ufual Infirmities. Some Perfons, they fay. have 
 heard them, or thought they heard them, pronounce the Word 
 Hallelujah in their Songs : But who can believe, that when 
 they pierce their Ears and Nofes, they do it in Purfuance cf the 
 Law of Circumcifion ? On the other Hand, don't we know that 
 the Cuftom of Circumcifion is more antient than the Law that 
 -was given to Abraham and his Posterity ? The Feaft they make 
 at the Return of the Hunters, and of which they mule leave no- 
 thing, has alfo been taken for a Kind of Burnf-Offering, or for a 
 Remain of the Paffover of the Ifracliics ; and the rather, they 
 fay, becaufe when any one cannot compafs his Portion, he may 
 get the Affiflance of his Neighbours, as was praclifed by the 
 People of God, when a Family was not fufficient to eat the whole 
 Pafchal Lamb. 
 An antient Miifionary fa), who lived a long Time with the Ou- 
 Thn Pr' fl taouais, has written, that among thefe Savages 
 
 ^ ' an old Man performs the Office of a Prieft at 
 
 (a) Father Claude AUouez, a Jefuit. 
 
 the
 
 254 -An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 the Feafts, which I have juft mentioned ; that they begin by- 
 giving Thanks to the Spirits for the Succefs of the Chace ; af- 
 terwards another takes a Loaf of Petun, breaks it in two, and 
 throws it into the Fire. This is certain, that thofe who have men- 
 tioned them as a Proof of thePoffibility of Jtheifm, properly fo 
 called, are not acquainted with them. It's true that they never 
 difcourfe about Religion, and that their extreme Indolence on this 
 Point has always been the greateft Obftacle we have met with in 
 converting them to Chriftianity. But however little they dif- 
 courfe about it, we mould do wrong to conclude from theuce 
 that they have no Idea of God. 
 
 Indolence is their prevailing Charafter : It appears even in 
 the Affairs which concern them molt : But in Spite of this Fault, 
 in Spite even of that Spirit of Independence in which they are 
 bred', no People in the World have a greater Dependence on the 
 confufed Ideas they have preferved of the Deity ; even to that De- 
 gree, that they attribute nothing to Chance, and that they draw 
 Omens from every Thing ; which they believe, as I have faid 
 before, are Notices from Heaven. 
 
 I have read in fome Memoirs, that many Nations of this Con- 
 __ . tinent have formerly had young Maids, who 
 
 Veftals among neyer had any Conver f a tion with Man, and 
 the Savages. neyer marr i ed> I can neither warrant, nor 
 
 contradift this Fac~t. Virginity is of itfelf a State fo perfeft, 
 that it is no Wonder it has been refpefted in all the Countries 
 of the World : But our oldeft Miffionaries have faid nothing, 
 that I know of, of thefe Veftals ; though many agree concern- 
 ing the Efteem they had for Celibacy in fome Countries. I 
 find alfo, that among the Hurons and the Iroquois there were, 
 not long fince, a Kind of Hermits, who obferved Continence ; 
 and theyfhew us fome very falutary Plants, which the Savages 
 fay have no Virtue, if they are not adminiftered by Virgin Hands. 
 The Belief the beft eftablifhed amongft our Americans* is that 
 _., . -, , of the Immortality of the Soul. Neverthe- 
 Their Thoughts Irf th do noJ . belieye h purely fpintual, 
 
 of the Immortality nQ mQre thjm ^^ Genii . and t0 fpeak the 
 of the boul. Truth, they cannot well define either one 
 
 or the other. When we afk what they think of their Souls, 
 they anfwer, they are as it were the Shadows, and the animated 
 Images of the Body : And 'tis in Confequence of this Princi- 
 ple, that they believe every Thing is animated in the Univerfe. 
 Therefore it is entirely by Tradition that they hold that our 
 Souls do not die. In the different Expreffions they ufe to ex- 
 plain themfelves on this Subject, they often confound the Soul 
 with its Faculties, and the Faculties with their Operations, 
 
 though
 
 7 ravels in North America. 255 
 
 though they know very well how to make the Diftinction, when 
 
 they chufe to fpeak correctly. 
 
 They fay alfothat the Soul, feparated from the Body, has ftill 
 
 _., . Ar . _ the fame Inclinations it had before ; and thi-. 
 rbeir JNohon of ^ ^ Reafon , they fa wkh jhe Dead 
 
 nuhat becomes of ^^ Thi they ufed ^^ Iiying Th 
 
 the boul, whenjc- ^ alfo perfuaded) that the So „] rcma i ns near 
 parated from the the Corpfe ^ the Feft£va j &f thg Dead) 
 
 ^'* which I mall prefently mention ; that after- 
 
 wards it goes into the Country of Souls, where, according to 
 fome, it is transformed into a Dove. 
 
 Others think there are two Souls in every Man : They attri- 
 j.„ , tribute to one all I have juft mentioned : 
 
 p % t3t They fay that the other never leaves the Body ' 
 
 tovijions . j 3u{ . tQ g Q - nto anot h er . w hich neverthelefs 
 
 feldom happens, they fay, but to the Souls of 
 Children ; which having little enjoyed Life, are allowed to be- 
 gin a new one. For this Reafon, they bury Children by the 
 Sides of Highways, that the Women, as they pafs by, may ga- 
 ther their Souls. Now thefe Souls, which fo faithfully keep 
 Company with their Bodies, muft be fed ; and it is to fulfil this 
 Dutv, that they carry Provifions to the Tombs : But this does 
 not laft long, and thefe Souls muft accuftom themfelves in Time 
 to faft. It is hard enough fometimes to get a Sublicence for the 
 Living, without burthening themfelves farther with providing 
 Food for the Dead. 
 
 But one Thing which thefe People never fail to perform, in 
 
 f~, p r , whatfoever Extremity they find themfelves 
 
 e rtf s iey . ^^ as among us the Spoils of the Dead 
 
 make to the Dead. . , ., T • - ~ »i ..u „ «.. 
 
 enrich the Living, among them they not 
 
 only carry to the Grave all that the Deceafed pofTeffed, but 
 
 alfo Prefents from their Friends and Relations.' They 
 
 were highly provoked, when they faw fome French open the 
 Graves, to get the Gowns of Beaver Skins in which the Dead 
 were buried. The Graves are fo facrcd in this Country, that 
 to profane them is the greateft Hostility that can be committed 
 againfta Nation, and the greatelt Sign that they will come to no 
 Terms with them. 
 
 I have mentioned that the Souls, when the Time is come that they 
 Or l r> are to part for ever from their Bodies, go to a 
 
 f / ] JL . Region which is appointed to be their everlaft- 
 
 •^ °" ' ing Abode. This Country, fay the Savages, 
 
 is very far to the Weft, and the Souls are feveral Months travel- 
 ling thither. They have alfo great Difficulties to furmount, and 
 they run through great Dangers before they arrive there. They 
 fpeak especially of a River they have to pafs, where many have 
 
 9 been
 
 2 5 6 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 been wrecked ; of a Dog, from which they find it hard to de- 
 fend, themfelves ; of a Place of Torment, where they expiate 
 their Faults ; of another, where the Souls are tormented of the 
 Prifoners of War that have been burnt. 
 
 This Notion is the Reafon why, after the Death of thefe 
 Wretches, for Fear their Souls mould flay about the Cabins, to 
 revenge their Sufferings, they very carefully vifit all Places, 
 ftriking continually with a Stick, and fending forth hideous Cries, 
 to drive away thefe Souls. 
 
 The Iroquois fay, that Atahentsic makes her ordinary Re- 
 sidence in this Tartarus, and that fire is folely employed in de- 
 ceiving Souls, to deilroy them. But Jouskeka omits nothing 
 to defend them againft the evil Defigns of his Grandmother. 
 Amon? the fabulous Stories which they tell of what paffes in 
 this Flell, which fo much refembles thofe of Homer and Virgil, 
 there is one that feems to be copied from the Adventure of Or- 
 pheus and Eurydice. There is fcarce any Thing in it to change 
 but the Names. 
 
 For the reft, Madam, the Happinefs which the Savages hope 
 __ , to enjoy in their fancied Elifum, they do 
 
 Hovj they pre- nQj; d ; fcl as the Rewar d f Vir- 
 
 tend to merit eter- tue> To have been a good Hunter, a gal- 
 nal Happinefs. hnt Warrior> f ortunate i n all his Enter- 
 
 prizes, to have killed and burnt a great Number of Enemies ; 
 thefe are the only Titles which give them a Right to their Pa- 
 radife : All the Happinefs of which confifts in finding a hunt- 
 ing and fifhing Place that never fails, an eternal Spring, great 
 Plenty of all Things, without being obliged to labour, and all 
 the Pleafures of Senfe : And this is all they afk of their Gods 
 in their Life. Ail their Songs, which are originally their Prayers, 
 run only on the prefent Good. There is no Mention made, 
 no more than in their Vows, of a future Life. They think 
 themfelves fure of being happy in the other World, in Propor- 
 tion to what they have been in this. 
 
 The Souls of Beafts have alfo their Place in the Country of 
 _, . p , . Souls ; for, according to the Savages, they 
 Of the Souls of are no left immortal than our > s . Th e y a lfo 
 
 £ea P- allow them a Sort of Reafon ; and not only 
 
 each Species, but alio each Animal, if we may believe them, has 
 alfo.its Guardian Genius. In a Word, they make no Difference 
 between us and Brutes, but that our Souls are fomething of a 
 better Sort. Man, they fay, is the King of Animals, which 
 have all the fame Attributes ; but Man poffeiles them in a much 
 higher Degree. They believe alio that in the other World there 
 are Models of all Sorts of Souls; but they don't trouble them- 
 
 felves
 
 Travels in North America. 257 
 
 felves much to explain the Idea ; and in general they are little 
 
 concerned about thofe that are purely fpeculative. And have the 
 
 wifeftPhilofophers of" Pagan Antiquity, who have taken fuch im- 
 
 menfe Pains to explain them, have they made a much greater 
 
 Progrefs than the Savages ? We muft always lofe ourfelves in 
 
 thefe dark Ways, unlcfs we are guided by the Light of Faith. 
 
 There is nothing in which the Savages have ihewn more Su- 
 
 C7-, v r perftition and Extravagance, than in what 
 
 7 he J\ at ure cf r , . . ^ f ! _«._ , 
 
 r» ,. J regards their Dreams ; but they differ much 
 
 Dreams, according • .u t\t r i • • i. • <-ri_ i_ 
 
 , c * in the Manner or explaining their Thoughts 
 
 * on this Matter. Sometimes it is the realon- 
 
 able Soul that wanders out, while the feniitive Soul continues to 
 
 animate the Body. Sometimes it is the familiar Genius that 
 
 gives good Advice about future Events. Sometimes it is a Vifit 
 
 they receive from the Soul of the Object they dream of. But 
 
 in whatfoever Manner they conceive of a Dream, it is always 
 
 regarded as a facred Thing, and as the Means which the Gods 
 
 molt ufually employ to declare their Will to Men. 
 
 PrepofleiTed with this Idea, they can't conceive that we fhould 
 take no Notice of them. For the moft Part they look upon them 
 as Defires of the Soul, infpired by fome Spirit, or an Order from 
 it. And in Confequence of this Principle, they make it a Duty 
 
 of Religion to obey thefe Commands.— A Savage having 
 
 dreamt that his Finger was cut off, really had it cut oft' when he 
 awoke, after he had prepared himfelf for this important Action 
 by a Feaft. Another dreaming that he was a Prifoner in the 
 Hands of his Enemies, was greatly embarraiTed. He confulted 
 the Jugglers, and by their Advice he got himfelf tied to a Pole, 
 and burnt in feveral Parts of the Body. 
 
 There are fome Dreams lucky, and fome unfortunate : For 
 Tnftance, to dream they fee many Elks, is, they fay, a Sign of 
 Life: To dream of Bears, is a Sign they will die foon. I haveob- 
 ferved before, that we muff except thofe Times when they prepare 
 for hunting thofe Animals. But to let you fee, Madam, to what 
 an Extravagance thefe Savages carry this Matter of Dreams, I 
 will relate to you a Fadl attefted by two undeniable WitneiTes, 
 who faw the Thing with their own Eyes. 
 
 Two Miffionaries were travelling with fome Savages ; and 
 
 A St t/ ' one ^2 nt ' w hen all their Conductors were 
 
 l n faftafleep, one of them ftarted up in a Fright 
 
 •^ ' quite out of Breath, trembling, driving to 
 
 cry out, and beating himfelf as if he had been polfeiTed with a 
 Devil. At the Noife he made, every Body were foon up. At 
 firft they thought the Man was feized with a Fit of Madnefs : 
 They took hold of him, and did all rhey could to quiet him, 
 but to no Purpofe : His Fury full encreafed ; t and a:- they could 
 
 LI 

 
 258 An HIJlorlcal Journal of 
 
 not hold him any longer, they hid all the Arms for Fear of foffic 
 Accident. Some thought it proper to prepare a Draught for 
 him, made of certain Herbs of great Virtue ; but, when they 
 leaft expecled it, the pretended Madman jump'd into the River. 
 
 He was taken out immediately, and he complained of Cold ; 
 yet he would not come near a good Fire that was prefently made : 
 He fat down at the Foot of a Tree ; and as he feemed more 
 calm, they brought him the Drink they had prepared for him. 
 " You muft give it to this Child," (faid he) and what he called a 
 Child, was the Skin of a Bear fluffed with Straw : He was 
 obeyed, and they poured all the Drink into the Jaws of this Fi- 
 gure : Then they afk'd him, what it was that troubled him ? 
 " / have dreamt (replied he) that a Huart (a Kind of Cor- 
 " morant) is got into my Stomach.'" Then they all fell a laugh- 
 ing : But fomething was to be done to cure his Imagination j 
 and the Method they took for it, was as follows : 
 
 They all began to counterfeit themfelves mad, and to cry out 
 as loud as they could, that they had alfo an Animal in their 
 Stomachs; but they did not chufe to jump into the River to 
 drive them out, as it was very cold ; they had rather fweat 
 themfelves. The whimfical Perfon liked this Advice yery well. 
 They prefently made a Stove, and they entered into it, crying 
 out as loud as they could bawl : Then they all began to coun- 
 terfeit the Cry of the Animal, which they pretended was in their 
 Stomachs; one a Goofe, another a Duck, another a Buftard, 
 another a Frog : The Dreamer alfo counterfeited his Huart. But 
 the Joke was, that all the reft beat Time, by ftriking upon him 
 with all their Strength, with Defign to tire him and make him 
 fleep. For any but a Savage, there was Beating enough to hinder 
 him from clofmg his Eyes for many Days ; neverthelefs, they ob- 
 tained what they defired. The Patient flept a long Time, and, 
 when he awoke he was cured ; feeling no Effe&s of the Sweat- 
 ing, which was enough to have weakened him greatly, nor of 
 the Blows with which he was bruifed all over ; haying loft even 
 the Remembrance of a Dream, for which he had paid fo dear. 
 
 But it is not the Perfon alone, who has had a Dream, that 
 muft fatisfy the Obligations that he imagines 
 
 Hcnv they are ar£ impofe( j on ^im by it ; but it would alfo 
 atiified about a be a Cr i me j n any p er fon that he addreffes 
 Vream,<whcn it is himfel f t0j t0 re f u fe him any Thing he de- 
 too hard to accom- fiml j n drearn] - ng- And you muft perceive, 
 plijh its Jnfiruc- Madam> that t jji s m:iy have difagreeable Con. 
 ti0ns ' fequences. But as the Savages are not Self- 
 
 interefted, they abufe this Principle much lefs than they would 
 in other Places. If the Thing defired is of fuch a Nature that 
 itcannot be Ycrpplied by a private Perfon, the Public takes Care 
 
 of
 
 Travels in North America. 259 
 
 of the Matter ; and if it muft be fought for five hundred Leagues 
 off, it muft be found at any Rate ; and it is not to expretfed 
 with how much Care, they keep it when they have got it. If 
 it is an inanimate Thing, they are more eafy, but if it is an 
 Animal, its Death caufes furprizing Uneafinefs. 
 
 The Affair is more ferious ftill, if any one takes it into his 
 Head to dream that he knocks another's Brains out, for he does 
 it in Fa& if he can; but he muft expeft the fame if any o- 
 ther takes a Fancy in his Turn to dream that he revenges the 
 dead. On the other Hand, with a little Prefence of Mind, it is 
 eafy to get out of this Trouble : It is only knowing how to op- 
 pofe immediately fuch a Dream with another that contradifts 
 it. " Then fays the the firft Dreamer, I fee plainly that your 
 " Spirit is ftronger than mine, therefore let us talk no more 
 M about it." Neverthelefs, they are not all fo eafily quieted ; 
 but there are few that are not fatisfied, or whole Genius is not 
 appeafed by fome Prefent. 
 1 1 know not if Religion has ever had any Share in what they ge- 
 
 Of A F ffi I nerall y cal1 tlje Feftival of Dreams, and which. 
 
 Uf the tejti-oal ^ j uoi ^ an j fame others, have more pro- 
 of Dreams. perly calkd fhe turnblg f t fa Bra^. This is 
 a Kind of Bacchanal, which commonly'laits fifteen Days, and is 
 celebrated about the End of Winter. 
 
 They a& at this Time all Kinds of Fooleries, and every one 
 runs from Cabin to Cabin, difguifed in a thoufand ridiculous 
 Ways : They break and overfet every Thing, and no Body dares 
 to contradift it. Whoever chafes not to be prefent in fuch a 
 Confufion, nor to be expofed to all the Tricks they play, mufr 
 keep out of the Way. If they meet any one, they defire him to 
 guefs their Dream, and if they guefs, it is at their Expence, 
 he muft give the Thing they dreamt of. When it ends, 
 they return every Thing, they make a great Feaft, and they only 
 think how to repair the fad Effe&s of the Mafquerade, for molt 
 commonly it is no trifling Bufinefs : For this is alfo one of thole 
 Opportunities which they wait for, without faying any Thing, 
 to give thofe a good Drubbing who they think have done them 
 any Wrong. But when the Feftival is over, every Thing muft 
 be forgot. 
 
 I find the Defcription of one of thefe Feftivals in the Journal 
 . of a Miflionary (a), who was forced to be a 
 
 ADefmpttoHof s ftator of it ^h againft his Will, at On- 
 one of tkefe Fefii- ^^ It was thus bferved : It was 
 ^ proclaimed the 2 2d of February, and it was 
 
 done by the Elders, with as much Gravity as if it had been a 
 
 (a) Father Claude Dallon. 
 
 L 1 2 weighty
 
 260 An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 weighty Affair of State. They had no fooner re-entered their 
 Cabins, but inftantly there came forth Men, Women, and Chil- 
 dren, almoft quite naked, though the Weather was exceflive cold. 
 They entered dire&ly into all the Cabins, then they went rav- 
 ing about on every Side, without knowing whither they went, 
 or what they would have : One would have taken them for 
 People drunk, or Mark mad. 
 
 Many carried their mad Freaks no further and appeared no more : 
 Others were refolved to make Ufe of the Privilege of the Fefti- 
 val, during which they are reputed to be out of their Senles, 
 and of Consequence not refponfible for what they do, and fo 
 revenge their private Quarrels. They did fo to fome Purpofe : On 
 fome they threw whole Pails full of Water, and this Water, 
 which froze immediately, was enough to chill them with Cold 
 who were thus ufed. Others they covered with hot Ames, or all 
 Sorts of Filth : Others took lighted Coals, or Fire-brands, and 
 threw them at the Head of the firft they met : Others broke 
 every Thing in the Cabins, falling upon thofe they bore a Grudge 
 to, and beating them unmercifully. To be freed from this 
 Perfecution, one muftguefs Dreams, which often one can form 
 no Conception of. 
 
 The Miffionary and his Companion were often on the Point 
 of being more than Witneffes of thefe Extravagancies : One of 
 thefe Madmen went into a Cabin, where he had feen them 
 take Shelter at the firft. Happy for them, they were juft gone 
 out ; for there was great Reafon to think this furious Fellow in- 
 fended them fome Harm. Being difappointed by their Flight, 
 he cried out, that they muft guefs his Dream, and fatisfy it 
 immediately : As they were too long about it, he faid, / 
 muft kill a Frenchman : Immediately the Mafter of the Cabin 
 threw him a French Coat, to which this Madman gave feveral 
 Stabs. 
 
 Then he that had thrown the Coat, growing furious in his 
 Turn, faid he would revenge the Frenchman, and burn the whole 
 Village to the Ground. He began in Fact by fetting Fire to 
 his own Cabin, where the Scene was firft a£led; and when all 
 the reft were gone out, he fhut himfelf up in it. The Fire, 
 which he had lighted in feveral Places, did not yet appear on the 
 Outfide, when one of the Mifiionaries came to the Door : He was 
 told what had happened, and was afraid that his Hoft could not 
 get out, tho' he might be willing : He broke open the Door, 
 laid hold of the Savage, turned him out, put out the Fire, and 
 ihut himfelf up in the Cabin. His Hoft neverthelefs ran 
 through the Village, crying out that he would burn it : They 
 threw a Dog to him, in Hopes that he would glut his Fury 
 on that Animal ; he faid it was not enough to repair the 
 
 Aifront
 
 Travels in North America. 261 
 
 Affront he had received by the killing of a Frenchman in his 
 Cabin : They threw him a fecond Dog, he cut it in Pieces, and 
 inftantly all his Fury was over. 
 
 This Man had a Brother, who would alfo play his Part : He 
 dreffed himfelf up, nearly as Painters reprefent the Satyrs, cover- 
 ing himfelf from Head to Foot with the Leaves of Maiz : He 
 equipped two Women like real Megaras, their Faces blacked, 
 their Hair difhevelled, a Wolf Skin over their Bodies, and 
 a Club in their Hands. Thus attended, he goes into all the 
 Cabins, yelling and howling with all his Strength : He climbs 
 upon the Roof, and plays as many Tricks there as the moft 
 fkilful Rope-Dancer could perform ; then he made moft terrible 
 Outcries, as if he had got fome great Hurt ; then he came, 
 down, and marched on gravely, preceded by his two Bacchantes, 
 who growing furious in their Turn, overfet with their Clubs 
 every Thing they met in their Way. They were no fooner 
 out of this Frenzy, or tired with adling their Parts, than 
 another Woman took their Place, entered the Cabin, in which 
 were the two Jefuits, and armed with a Blunderbufs, which fhe 
 had juft before got by having her Dream guefl'ed, ihe fung the 
 War-Song, making a thoufand Imprecations on herfelf if (he 
 did not bring home fome Prifoners. 
 
 A Warrior followed clofe after this Jmazon, with a Bow and 
 Arrows in one Hand, and a Bayonet in the Qther. After he 
 had made himfelf hoarfe with bawling, he threw himfelf all at 
 once on a Woman, who was ftanding quietly by, not expecting 
 it, and lifting up his Bayonet to her Throat, took her by the 
 Hair, cut off a Handful, and went away. Then 2 Juggler ap- 
 peared, holding a Stick in his Hand adorned with Feathers, by 
 Means of which he boafted that he could reveal the moft fecret 
 Things. A Savage accompanied him, carrying a Veffcl full 
 of I know not what Liquor, which from Time to Time he gave 
 him to drink : The Juggler had no fooner taken it in his Mouth, 
 than he fpit it out again, blowing upon his Hands, and on 
 his Stick, and at every Time he explained all the Enigmas that 
 were propofed to him. 
 
 Two Women came afterwards, and gave to underftand that 
 they had fome Defires : One direftly fpread a Mat_ on the 
 Ground : They gueffed that fhe defired fome Fifh, which was 
 given her. The other had a Hoe in her Hand, and they judged 
 that fhe defired to have a Field to cultivate : They carried her 
 out of the Village, and fet her to Work. A Chief had dreamt, 
 as he faid, that he faw two human Hearts : They could not ex- 
 plain his Dream, and at this every Body was greatly concerned. 
 It made a great Noife, they even prolonged the Feftival for a 
 Day, but all was in vain, and he was " obliged to make 
 
 himfelf 
 
 -~_
 
 262 An Hijtor'ical Journal of 
 
 himfelf eafy without. Sometimes there were Troops of People that 
 made Sham-Fights ; fometimes Companies of Dancers, who 
 a&ed all Sorts of Farces. This Madnefs lafted four Days, and 
 it appeared that it was out of Refpeft to the two Jefuits that they 
 had thus fhortened the Time : But there were as many Diforders 
 committed in this Space of Time, as they ufed to do in fifteen 
 Days. Neverthelefs, they had this further Regard for the 
 MiiTionaries, that they did not difturb them in their Functions, 
 and did not hinder the Cbrifiians from acquitting themfelves of 
 their religious Duties. But I have faid enough on this Arti- 
 cle. I clofe my Letter to give it to a Traveller, who is return- 
 ing to the Colony, afTuring you that 
 
 / am, See. 
 
 LETTER XXIV. 
 
 Sequel of the 'Traditions of the Savages. 
 
 Madam, At the Fort of the River St. Joseph, Sept. 14. 
 
 '^pH REE Days ago I left this Place, to go to Chicagou, by 
 A coafting the South fhore of Lake Michigan ; but we found 
 the Lake fo rough, that we thought it betterto return hither ; and 
 take another Route to get to Lcuxfeana. Our Departure it fixed 
 for the 16th, and I fhall take Advantage of thefe two Days De- 
 lay, to proceed in my Account of the Cuftoms and Traditions of 
 our Americans. 
 
 The Savages, in what I faid to you in my former Letter, ac- 
 , .. knowledge only the Operations of the Good 
 
 r> S 1 Jl Genii - The Wizards alone, and thofe who 
 l^enu, and of the ufe Enchantments> are reputed to hold any 
 Wizards. Correfpondcnce with the Evil ; and 'tis Wo- 
 
 men moll commonly that follow this deteftable Trade. The 
 Juggler6 by Profeflion not only forbear it, at leaft openly, but 
 they make it a particular Study, to know how to difcover En- 
 chantments, and to hinder their pernicious EfFefts. At the Bot- 
 tom, in all the Stories I have heard on this Matter, there is fcarce 
 any Thing but juggling. They ufe on thefe Occafions either Ser- 
 pents, out of which they take the Venom ; or Herbs, gathered 
 at certain Seafons ; or pronounce certain Words ; or ufe Ani- 
 mals whofe Throats they have cut, and fome Parts of which are 
 thrown into the Fire. 
 
 Among
 
 Travels in North America. 263 
 
 Among the Illinois, and fome other Nations, they make little 
 Marmofetsto reprefent thofe whofe Days they would fhorten, and 
 which they ftab to the Heart. At other Times they take a Stone, 
 and by the Means of fome Invocations they pretend to form one 
 like it, in the Heart of their Enemy. I am perfuaded this fel- 
 dom happens, unlefs the Devil is concerned in it ; however, 
 they are fo afraid of Magicians, that the leaft Sufpicion is enough 
 to caufe whoever is the leaft fufpected of being fuch, to be cut to 
 Pieces. Yet though this Profeffion is fo dangerous, there are 
 People to be found every where, who have no other. It is alio 
 true that the moft fenfible, and the leaft credulous of thofe who 
 have been moft converfant with the Savages ; do allow that 
 there is fometimes fome Reality in their Magic. 
 
 Why fhould thefe Infidels, Madam, be the only People in 
 whom we fhould not difcover the Operation of the Devil? and. 
 what other Mafter but this mifchievous Spirit, nvho --was a Mur- 
 derer from the Beginning (a), could have taught fo many People, 
 who have had no Correfpondence with each other, an Art, which 
 we cannot look upon as abfolutely trifling, without contradicting 
 the facred Writings ? We mull therefore acknowledge, that the 
 Infernal Powers have fome Agents upon Earth, but that God has 
 confined their Malignity within very narrow Limits ; and per- 
 -rnits but feldom, that we mould feel the EfFedls of the Power he 
 has thought fit to leave to them only to make it fubferve, fome- 
 times to his Juftice, and fometimes to his Mercy. 
 
 We may fay much the fame of the Jugglers of Canada, who 
 
 Ofth 7 I make a Profeffion of correfpondmg only with 
 J e J u gg eru w hat they call the beneficial Genii, and who 
 boaft of knowing by their Means whatever pafies in the moftdif- 
 tant Countries, and whatever fhall come to pafs in the moft dif- 
 tant Ages ; and who pretend to difcover the Rife and Nature of 
 the moft hidden Difeafes, and to have the Secret of curing them; 
 to difcern in the moft intricate Affairs what Refolution it is beft 
 to take ; to explain the moft obfcure Dreams, to obtain Succefs to 
 the moft difficult Undertakings ; to render the Gods propitious 
 to Warriors and Hunters. Thefe pretended good Genii, are 
 like all the Pagan Deities, real Devils, who receive Homages 
 that are due only to the true God, and whofe Deceits are ftill 
 mere dangerous than thofe of the evil Genii, becaufe they con-, 
 tribute more to keep their Worfhippers in Biindnefs. 
 
 It is certain, that amongft their Agents the boldeft are the 
 moft refpedted ; and with a little Artifice, they eafijy peril 
 People who are brought up in Superftition. Tho' they have 
 
 (a) John v^ii. 44. 
 
 the 
 
 ~_ mm
 
 264 A* Hlft or icai Journal of 
 
 the Birth of thefe Importers, if they take a Fancy to give them- 
 felves a fupernatural Birth, they find People, who believe them 
 on their Word, as much as if they had feen them come down 
 from Heaven, and who take it for a Kind of Enchantment and 
 Ulufion, that they thought them born at firft like other Men : 
 Their Artifices are neverthelefs, in general, fo grofs, and fo com- 
 mon, that there are none but Fools, and Children, that are im- 
 pofed upen by them; unlefs it is when they act as Phyficians : For 
 every one knows, that in what concerns the Recovery of Health, 
 the greater! Credulity is to be found in all Countries, as well 
 among thofe who value themfelves moil on their Wifdom, as 
 among the Weaker Sort. 
 
 After all, Madam, I repeat it, it is difficult not to acknow- 
 ledge that among thefe Infidels there fometimes pafs Things 
 that are very capable of deceiving, at leaft the Multitude, not to 
 fay more. I have heard fome Perlons fay, whofe Truth and 
 Judgment I could no Way fufpecl, that when thefe Impoftors 
 fhut themfelves up in their Stoves to fweat, and this is one of 
 their moil: common Preparations to perform their Tricks, they 
 differ in nothing from the Pylkonifi'as, as the Poets have repre- 
 fented them on the Tripod : That they are feen to become con- 
 vulfed, and poffefTed with Enthufiafm, to acquire Tones of the 
 Voice, and to do Anions which appear to be beyond the Strength 
 of Nature, and which feize the moft unprejudiced Spectators 
 with a Horror, and a Diforder of Spirits, that they cannot over- 
 come. 
 
 It is alfo afTerted, that they fuffer much on thefe Occafions ; 
 and that there are fome who do not readily engage, even when 
 thev are well paid, to give themfelves up in this Manner to the 
 Spirit that agitates them. But we need not believe that there is 
 anv Thing "fupernatural in this, that after coming out of thefe 
 violent Sweats they go and throw themfelves into cold Water, 
 and fometimes when it is frozen, without receiving any Damage. 
 This is common to them with the other Savages, and even with 
 other People of the North (a). This is a Matter which Phyfic 
 cannot eafily account for, but in which 'tis certain the Devil 
 has no Share. 
 
 It is alfo true, that the Jugglers are too often right in their 
 Predictions, to make it believed that they always guefs by 
 Chance ; and that there paries on thefe Occalions Things that 
 it is fcaree poffible to attribute to any natural Secret. Some 
 Perfons have feen the Polls which enclofed thefe Stoves, bend 
 down quite to the Earth, whilft the Juggler was very tranquil.- 
 
 (a) The Pcet Hegnmrd allures us, in his Voyage to Lafhr.i, that he fav. 
 the fame Thing done in Borbr.ia. 
 
 o without
 
 
 Travels in North America* 265 
 
 without any Motion, and without touching them, finging 
 and foretelling Things that fhould come to pafs. The Let- 
 ters of the antient Miffionaries are full of Fac~ls, which leave no 
 Room to doubt that thefe Seducers have a real Correfpondence 
 with the Father of Deceit and Lies. Many of the French have 
 talked to me in the fame Manner. I will only relate to you one 
 Story which I have from its Source. 
 
 You have feen at Paris Madam de Mar/on, and {he is there Hill. 
 This is what the Marquis de Vaudreuil, her Son-in-Law, at pre- 
 fent our Governor-General, told me this Winter, and which he 
 learnt of this Lady, who is very far from being iufpecled of 
 Weaknefs and Credulity. She was one Day very uneafy about 
 her Hufband, M. de Marfan, who was Commandant of a Poft 
 which we have in Acadia : He was abfent, and the Time was 
 paft which he had fet for his Return. A Woman Savage, who 
 law Madam de Marfan was troubled, afked her the Caufe of it ; 
 and being told it, (he faid, after pauling a little on the Matter, 
 ' ' Don't trouble yourfelf any hnger ; your Hufband nxill came back on 
 " fucb a Day, and at fucb an Hour, (which fhe named) - Scaring a 
 " grey Hat." As fhe perceived that the Lady gave no Heed to 
 her Prediction, on the Dav and at the Hour fhe had foretold, ihe 
 came again to the Lady, and afked her if fhe would come and 
 fee her Hufband arrive, and preffed her in fuch a Manner to 
 follow her, that fhe drew her to the Side of the River. They 
 had hardly got thither, when M. de Marfan appeared in a Canoe, 
 wearing a grey Hat ; and being informed of what had paffed, 
 he declared that he could not conceive how the Srva^e could 
 have foreknown the Hour and the Day of his Arrival. 
 
 This Example, Madam,, and many others that I know, which 
 
 r\f p.. ..... are equally certain, prove that the Devil is 
 
 j y oinu.>^j. f ome times concerned in the Magic of the 
 Savages ; but it belongs only, they fay, to the Jugglers to raife 
 up Spirits, when public Affairs are concerned. It is faid that 
 all the Algonquins and Abenaquis formerly pra&ifed a Kind of 
 Pyromancy, of which this was the whole Myftery : They re- 
 duced to a very fine Powder fome Coals of Cedar Wood ; they 
 placed this Powder after a particular Manner, then they fet Fire 
 to it, and by the Turn the Fire took in running on this Powder, 
 they difcovered, as it is faid, what they fought for. They add, 
 that the Abenaquis, on their Ccnveriion to Chrifiar.it;, could 
 hardly be brought to forfake a Cuftom, which they looked upon 
 as a very innocent Means of knowing what palled at a Diftance 
 from them. 
 
 I never heard that private Perfcn-, who deGred to be ae- 
 
 T Rail ' f <l ua i nte ^ w ^ tn ^k Secrets, were obliged, 
 nj . ion of j Qr t ^ at p ur p f ej t0 g t h ro ' any Ceremony ; 
 
 " * J U £S trtm butthe Jugglers by Profeffion are never invefted 
 
 Mm fn\
 
 266 An Hifiorical Journal of 
 
 with this Character, which makes them contract a Kind of League 
 with the Genii, and which procures them Refpecl, till they 
 have prepared themfelves for it by Fallings, which they carry to 
 an uncommon Length ; and during which they do nothing but 
 beat a Drum, cry, howl, fing. and {moke. The Inftalment is af- 
 terwards made in a Kind of Bacchanal, with Ceremonies fo ex- 
 travagant, and accompanied with fo many furious Actions, that 
 one would fay that the Devil then takes PofTeffion of their Per- 
 fons. 
 
 But they are not, neverthelefs, theMiniilers of thefe pretended 
 n - , pa Deities, but only to declare their Will to 
 Uf the tnejts. Men> and tQ be their i nterpr eters ; for if we 
 
 may give the Name of Sacrifices to the Offerings which thefe 
 
 People make to their Deities, the Jugglers are never their 
 
 Priefls. In the public Ceremonies, they are the Chiefs ; and in 
 
 private Ceremonies it is generally the Father of the Family, or 
 
 the chief Perfon of the Cabin. The chief Employment of the 
 
 Jugglers, or at leaft that by which they get mofl, is Phyfick : They 
 
 practife this Art on Principles founded on the Knowledge of 
 
 Simples, on Experience, and on Circumftances, as they do in other 
 
 Places ; but they moft commonly alfo join with thefe Principles, 
 
 Superftition and Impolture, of which the Vulgar are always the 
 
 Dupes. 
 
 There are perhaps no Men in the World who are more the 
 
 J,.., n . Dupes of fuch Impoftors than the Savages, 
 
 1 he common Dt- ^, there ^ few who haye kfs Need of phy _ 
 
 /tempers of the Sa- fick They are not0 nly almoft all of a healthy 
 ' va i es ' 2.vA ftrong Conftitution, but they have never 
 
 known the greater! Part of the Diftempers which we are fubject 
 to, but fincethey converfed with us. They knew not what the 
 Small-Pox was, when they took it from us ; and we muft attri- 
 bute the great Ravages it has made amongft them to this Igno- 
 rance. The Gout, the Gravel, the Stone, the Apoplexy, and 
 many other Difeafes, fo common in Europe, have not yet reached 
 this Part of the New World, among the natural Inhabitants of 
 the Country. 
 
 'Tis true, that their ExcefTes in their Feafts, and their immo- 
 derate Falls, make them fubjeft to Pains and Weakneffes of the 
 Stomach and Breafl, which deflroy a great Number of them : 
 Alfo, many young Perfons die of the Phthifick ; and they fay that 
 this is the Effeft of the great Fatigues and violent Exercifes to 
 which they expofe themfelves from their Childhood, before they 
 areflrong enough to fupport them. 'Tis a Folly to believe, as 
 fome do, that their Blood is colder than our's, and to attri- 
 bute to this Caufe their Infenfibility in Torments ; but 
 their Blood is extremely balfamic ; and this arifes, without 
 
 Doubt,
 
 Travels in North America. 267 
 
 Doubt, from their ufing no Salt nor any of thofe Things we ufe, 
 to give a higher Relifh to our Meats. 
 
 They feldom look upon a Difeafe as merely natural, or 
 cf,, Jir , among the common Remedies they ufe, 
 The Ufe the ba- aHow tQ have in them f e lves the Virtue 
 
 vages make of their of healing- The great Ufe they make of 
 Simples. fheir Simp i eSj i s f or Wounds, Fradures, Dif- 
 
 locations, Luxations, and Ruptures. They blame the great In- 
 cifions which our Surgeons make to cleanfe Wounds : They 
 fqueezeout the Juice of many Plants, and with this Compofition they 
 draw out all the Corruption, and even the Splinters of broken Bones, 
 Stones, Iron, and in general all the foreign Matter that remains 
 in the wounded Part. Thefe fame Juices are all the Food of the 
 Patient, till the Wound is clofed. The Perfon that drefTes the 
 Wound, takes alfo fome of thefe Juices before he fucks it, if 
 he finds it neceffary to ufe that Method. But there is feldom a 
 Neceffity to do this ; moft commonly they find it fufficient to 
 fyringe the Wound with thefe Juices. 
 
 All this is according to Rule ; but as thefe People muft 
 have fomething fupernatural in all their Tranfadicns, the Juggler 
 often tears the Wound with his Teeth, and afterwards mewing 
 a Bit of Wood, or fome fuch Thing, that he had the Precaution 
 to put before-hand in his Mouth, he makes the Patient believe that 
 he drew it out of the Wound, and that this was the Charm which 
 caufed all the Danger of his Malady. This is certain, that 
 they have wonderful Secrets and Remedies. A broken Bone is 
 well united, and grows foiid in eight Days. A French Soldier, 
 who was in Garrifon in a Fort of Acadia, was trouoled with the 
 falling Sicknefs ; and his Fits were grown fo frequent, as to at- 
 tack him almoft every Day with great Violet! ce. A Woman 
 Savage, who happened to be prefent at one of his Fits, went 
 and made him two Boluffes of a powdered Root, the Name of 
 which fhe concealed, and defired that he would take one at the 
 End of his next Fit, giving Notice that he would fweat much, 
 and have great Evacuations both upwards and downwards ; and 
 added, that if the firft Bolus did not carry off all the Complaint, 
 the fecond would entirely cure it. The Thing happened as the 
 Woman had faid : The Patient had another Fit after the firft 
 Dofe, but it was the laft. He enjoyed afterwards a pc. 
 State of Health. 
 
 Thefe People have alfo quick and fovereign Remedies again!!: 
 
 . the Pally, the Dropfy, and the Venereal 
 
 Divers other &&&, The Shavings of Guiacum Wood, 
 
 Remedies. an£ j Q f Safl'afras, are their common Specifics 
 
 in the two laft Difeafes : They make a Drink of thefe Woods, 
 
 M m 2 which
 
 268 An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 which cures and prevents thefe Difeafes, if it is conftarrtly 
 ufed (a). 
 
 In acute Difeafes, as in the Pleurify, they work on the Side- 
 oppofite the Pain : They apply Cataplafms, which draw, and 
 prevent the Humours from fettling. In the Fever they ufe cold 
 Lotions, with a Decodtion of Herbs, and by this prevent In- 
 flammations and Delirium. They boaft efpecially of the Effedts 
 of Diet, but they make it confift only in abftaining from certain 
 Aliments, which they elteem hurtful. 
 
 Formerly, they had not the Ufe of Blood-letting, and inftead 
 of it, they ufed Scarifications in the Places where they felt Pain : 
 Then they applied a Sort of Cupping Veffel made of Gourds, 
 which they filled with combuftible Matter, which they 
 fet on Fire. They very commonly ufed feveral Kinds of real 
 Cauftics ; but as they were not acquainted with the Lapis Infer- 
 nalis (the Blue Stone), they ufed inftead of it rotten Wood. 
 At prefent Bleeding fupplies the Place of thefe Operations. In 
 the northern Parts, they frequently ufe Clyfters ; a Bladder 
 ferves them for a Syringe. They have a Remedy againft the 
 Dyfentery, which is almoft always effe&ual : This is a Juice 
 they fqueezeout of the Extremities of the Branches of the Ce- 
 dar-Tree, after they have been well boiled. 
 
 But their great Remedy, and their great Prefervative againft 
 
 q~ « . all Difeafes, is Sweating. I have before 
 
 *" told you, Madam, that at their coming out of 
 the Stove, and while the Sweat runs down from all Parts of then- 
 Bodies, they go and plunge into a River ; if there is not any near 
 enough, they get fome Body to throw the coldeft Water over them. 
 They frequently fweat only to recover the Fatigue of a Journey, 
 to calm their Spirits, and to enable them the better to difcourfe 
 on Affairs. As foon as a Stranger comes into a Cabin, they 
 make a Fire for him, they rub his Feet with Oil, and then they 
 conduct him to a Stove, where his Hoft keeps him Company. 
 They have alfo another Manner of promoting Sweats, which 
 they ufe in certain Diftempers : It confifts in laying the Patient 
 along upon a Kind of Couch, a little elevated, under which they 
 boil, in a Kettle, fome Wood of Epinettc, and Branches of Pine. 
 The Vapour which arifes from it, caufes a moft plentiful 
 Sweat (b) : They fay alfo that the Smell is very wholefome. The 
 Sweat of the Stoves, that is procured only by the Vapour of 
 Water poured upon hot Flints, has not this Advantage. 
 
 (a) They have fince talked of a Powder, compofed of three Simples, 
 which a Savage gave to one of our Miffionaries, and which radically cures 
 in a few Days, the moft inveterate French Difeafe. 
 
 (b) This fecms to deferve the Attention of the European Phyficians. 
 
 In
 
 Travels in North America. 26^ 
 
 In Acadia, a Diflemper was never confidered to be of much 
 
 (j., p . • ; Confequence, but when the Patient refufed 
 
 l- l l" 1 ! 1 all Kind of Nourifhment, and many Na- 
 tn which the whole tions are ftiU in the fame £rror: Let a p er . 
 
 rraaiceof Phyfic ^ ^^ Kind of Fever> if th can 
 
 is founded among ^ , ^ > f eyery Thing Uke Qther p eQ . 
 We savages. ^^ ^ ^ foon ag thg Difternper app ears_ 
 
 dangerous, that is to fay, when the Patient refufes all Kinds or 
 Food, they employ all their Attention. It is true that the 
 Principles on which all the Phyfic of the Savages is founded, 
 are very extraordinary : They refufe the Patient nothing that 
 he afks, becaufe, fay they, his Defires in this State are the Or- 
 ders of the Genius, that prefides over his Prefervation (a) : And 
 when they call in the Jugglers, 'tis lefs on Account of their 
 Skill, than becaufe they fuppofe they are better informed by 
 the Genii of the Caufe of the Diiremper, and of the Remedies 
 for the Cure. 
 
 Furthermore, they will have nothing to reproach themfelves 
 with: One would imagine that Death loies fomething of its Ter- 
 ror, when it follows after a Courfe of Phyfic, though this Phyiic 
 might be the Caufe of it. Our Savages are with Regard to this 
 Notion under the general Law, and the common Prejudice 
 of all Nations, and all Ages ; and they are the more excufable 
 for carrying their Credulity fo far, as they acknowledge fome- 
 thing fupernatural in all Diltempers ; and as they make Reli- 
 gion fhare in the Art of healing them, they think themfelves 
 the lefs obliged to be guided by Reafon, and make it a Duty to 
 fufrer themfelves to be led blindfold. 
 
 Oftentimes the Patient takes it into his Head that his Diftem- 
 
 rr-, . per is the Erledt of Witchcraft : Then all 
 
 1 heir exfrava- r , . ~, . .... . . . • - ..> 
 
 .- . - their Care is to difcover it, and this is tne 
 
 ga»t ISotion of Dutv of the Juggler. He begins by fweating 
 l),Jtempeis. himfelf, and when he has thoroughly tired 
 
 himfelf with bawling, beating himfelf, and invoking his Ge- 
 nius, the firft extraordinary Thing that comes into his Thought, 
 he aicribes as the Caufe of the Diftemper. Many, before they 
 enter into the Stove, take a compound Potion, very proper, 
 as they fay, to make them receive the heavenly Imprelhon ; 
 and they pretend that the Prefence of the Spirit is manifested 
 by a ftrong Wind that rifes on a fudden, or by a Bellowing 
 which they hear under Ground, or by the Agitation or making 
 of the Stove. Then full of his pretended Deity, and more like 
 one poiTeffed with the Devil, than a Man infpired by Heaven, 
 he pronounces his Decifion in a magifterial Tone on the State- 
 of the Patient, and fometimes hits pretty right. 
 
 (a) This feems to deferve to be attended to, as Experience lias often proved 
 tjiat the Indulgence of the Defirea of the Sick has been fa!u:ary. 
 
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 272 An HiJIorical Journal of 
 
 LETTER XXV. 
 
 Departure from the Fort of the River St. Jos£ph. The Sources of 
 the Theakiki. What paffes at the Death of the Savages : Of 
 their Funerals ; of their Tombs ~$ of their Mourning ; of Widow- 
 hood; of the Fejlival of the Dead. 
 
 Madam, From the Source of the Theakiki, Sept. 1 7 . 
 
 I Did not expert to take up my Pen to write to you Co foon ; 
 but my Conductors have juft now broke their Canoe, and 
 here I am detained the whole Day in a Place where I can find 
 nothing that can excite the Curiofity of a Traveller ; therefore 
 I can do nothing better than employ my Time in entertaining 
 you. 
 
 I think I informed you in my lair, that I had the Choice of 
 two Ways to go to the Illinois : The firft was to return to Lake 
 Michigan, to coaft all the South Shore, and to enter into the lit- 
 tle River Chicagou. After going up it five or fix Leagues, they 
 pafs into that of the Illinois, by the Means of two Portages, the 
 longeft of which is but a League and a Quarter. But as this 
 River is but a Brook in this Place, I was informed that at that 
 Time of the Year I fhould not find Water enough for my 
 Canoe ; therefore I took the other Route, which has alfo its In- 
 conveniencies, and is not near fo pleafant, but it is the fureft. 
 
 I departed Yefterday from the Fort of the River St. Jofeph, 
 
 _, . and I went up that River about fix Leagues. 
 
 Departure from j landed Qn ^ R - ]u> and r waIked a 
 
 Fort bt. Joiepn. League and a Quarter; at firil by the Bank of 
 the River, then crofs the Country in a vaft Meadow, interfperfed 
 all over with little Cluflers of Trees, that have a very fineEffecL 
 They call it the Meadow it la Tele de Bezuf, (the Buffalo's Head) 
 becaufe they found here a Buffalo's Head of a monitrous Size. 
 
 Why fhould' there not be Giants among thefe Animals ? 1 
 
 encamped in a very fine Place, which they call the Fort des Re- 
 nards, (of the Foxes), becaufe the Rcnards, that is to sav, ■ 
 the Outagamis, had here, and not long fince, a Village fortified 
 after their Manner. 
 
 This Morning I walked a League further in the Meadow, 
 having almoft all the Way my Feet in Water. Then I met with a 
 little Pool, which communicates with feveral others of different 
 Bignefs, the largefl of which is not one hundred Paces in Com- 
 pafs. Thefe are the Sources of a River called Theakiki, and 
 
 which
 
 Travels in North America. 27^ 
 
 which our Canadians by Corruption call Kiakiki. Theak fignifies 
 a Wolf, I forget in what Language ; but this River is fo call'd, 
 becaufe the Mahingans, which are alio called the Wolves, formerly 
 took Refuge here. 
 
 We put our Canoe, which was brought hither by two Men, into 
 the fecond of thefe Springs, or Pools, and we embarked ; but we 
 found fcarce Water enough to keep it afloat : Ten Men, in two 
 Days, might make a ftrait and navigable Canal, which would fave 
 much Trouble, and ten or twelve Leagues Way ; for the River, 
 at the firft coming out from its Spring, is fo narrow, and we are 
 continually obliged to turn fo fhort, that every Moment one is 
 in Danger of breaking the Canoe, as it has juft now happened to 
 
 us. But let us return to the Savages ; and after having 
 
 fecn in what Manner they are treated in their Difternpers, let us 
 fee them die, and what pafles afcer their Death. 
 
 In general, when they think themfelves paft Recovery, they 
 
 u „ _ meet their Fate with a Resolution truly Jloical, 
 
 hbat paffes at and . often fee their Days fhortencd by the 
 
 the Death of a Sa- p^^ ^ are moft ^ tQ ^^ with?ut 
 
 <va S e - fhewing the leaft Chagrin. The Declaration 
 
 of the Sentence of the Dcftor is fcarcely finilhcd to a dying 
 Man, before he makes an Effort to harangue thcfe that are about 
 him. If it is the Chief of a Family, he firft makes his Funeral 
 Oration, which he finifhes by giving very good Counfel to his 
 Children. After this, he takes Leave of every Body, gives 
 Orders for a Feaft, in which they mull ufe all the Provisions that 
 remain in the Cabin, and then he receives the Prefents of his 
 Family. 
 
 During this Time they cut the Throats of all the Dogs they 
 can catch, that the Souls of thefe Animals may go into the 
 other World, and give Notice that fuch a Perfon will arrive 
 there foon ; and all the Bodies are put into the Kettle, to en- 
 large the Feaft. After the Feaft is over, they begin to weep : 
 Their Tears are interrupted to bid the laft Farewel to the dying 
 Perfon, to wifh him a good Journey, to comfort him on his being 
 feparated from his Relations and Friends, and to allure him that 
 his Children will maintain all the Glory he has acquired. 
 
 We mull acknowledge, Madam, that the Calmneis with which 
 thefe People look Death in the Face, has Something in it very 
 admirable; and this is fo universal, that perhaps there never 
 was an Inftance of a Savage (hewing any Concern upon heai ii g 
 that he had but a few Hours to live. The fame Principle, ai d 
 the fame Spirit, prevails every where, though the Cufums \ajy 
 much in all that 1 have juft mentioned, according to the differei.t 
 Nations. In mod Places there are Dances, Songs, Invocations, 
 and Feafts ordered by the Debtors, which are almoft always Rc- 
 
 N n medies
 
 274 -An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 medies more fit, according to our Notions, to kill a Man that 
 
 was well, than to cure a fick Perfon. In fome Places they 
 
 ufe no Means at all : They are fatisfied with having Recourfe 
 
 to the Spirits ; and if the fick Perfon recovers his Health, they 
 
 have all the Honour : But the dying Perfon is always the leaft 
 
 concerned about his Fate. 
 
 It may further be added, that if thefe People fhew fo little 
 
 cr-t -^ r Judgment in their Manner of treating the 
 v heir Gfnerofi/y £• 1 n. i i j *.l ^u i l 
 
 t t L r\ j Sick, we mult acknowledge that they behave 
 
 towards the Dead with a Generofity and an- 
 AfFection that cannot be too much admired. Some Mothers have 
 been known to have kept the dead Bodies of their Children whole 
 Years, and could never go from them ; others draw Milk from 
 their Breafls, and pour it upon the Tombs of thefe little Crea- 
 tures. If a Village happens to take Fire, in which there are 
 any dead Bodies, this is the firft Thing they take Care topre^ 
 ferve : They ftrip themfelves of every Thing that is moft valu- 
 able, to adorn the Dead : From Time to Time they open their 
 Coffins to change their Drefs ; and they deprive themfelves 
 of Food to carry it to the Sepulchres, and to the Places where 
 they fancy their Souls walk. In a Word, they are at much 
 greater Expences for the Dead, than for the Living. 
 
 As foon as the fick Perfon expires, the Place is filled with 
 q _ , . p mournful Cries ; and this lafts as long as the 
 
 , J ' Family is able to defray the Expence, for 
 
 they mull keep open Table all this Time. 
 The dead Body, drefied in the fineft Robe, with the Face painted, 
 the Arms and all that belonged to the Deceafed by his Side, is 
 expofed at the Door of the Cabin in the Pofture it is to be laid 
 in the Tomb ; and this Pofture is the fame, in many Places, as 
 that of the Child in the Mother's Womb. The Cuftom of fome 
 Nations is for the Relations of the Deceafed to faft to the End of 
 the Funeral ; and all this Interval is paiied in Tears and Cries, 
 in treating their Vifitors, in praifing the Dead, and in mutual 
 Compliments. In other Places they hire Women to weep, who 
 perform their Duty punctually : They fing, they dance, they 
 weep without ceafing, always keeping Time : But thefe De- 
 monftrations of a borrowed Sorrow do not prevent what Nature 
 requires from the Relations of the Deceafed. 
 
 It appears to me, that they carry the Body without Ceremony 
 
 r\r *■> cr 7 t0 the Place of Interment ; at leaft I find no 
 Of Die Tombs. «> .. , . •„ . „ , .. -r, , 
 
 J Mention about it many Relation : But when 
 
 it is in the Grave, they take Care to cover it in fuch a Manner, 
 that the Earth does not touch it : It lies as in a little Cave lined 
 with Skin, much richer and better adorned than their Ca- 
 bins. Then they kt up a Poft on the Grave, and fix on it every 
 
 I Thing
 
 Travels in North America. 275 
 
 Thing that may fhew the Eiteem they had for the Deceafed. 
 They fometimes put on it his Portrait, and every Thing that 
 may ferve to fhew to Paffengers who he was, and the finelt Ac- 
 tions of his Life. They carry frefh Provifions to the Tomb 
 every Morning ; and as the Dogs and other Beads do not fail to 
 reap the Benefit of it, they are willing to perfuade themfelves 
 that thefe Things have been eaten by the Souls of the Dead. 
 It is not ftrange, after this, that the Savages believe in Appa- 
 Of dbb -V ritions : And in Faft they tell Stories of this 
 
 J ™ Sort all Manner of Ways. I knew a poor 
 
 Man, who, by continually hearing thefe Stories, fancied that he 
 had always a Troop of Ghofts at his Heels ; and as People took 
 a Pleafure to encreafe his Fears, it made him grow fooliln.— Ne- 
 verthelefs, at the End of a certain Number of Years, they take 
 as much Care to efface out of their Minds the Remembrance of 
 .thofe they have loll, as they did before to. preferve it ; and this 
 folely to put an End to the Grief they felt for their Lojfs. 
 
 Some Miffionaries one Day afking their new Converts, why 
 they deprived themfelves of their moll neceffary Things in Fa- 
 vour of the Dead ? they replied, " It is not only to mew the 
 " Love we bore to our Relations, but alfo that we may not 
 *' have before our Eyes, in the Things they ufed, Objedts which 
 " would continually renew our Grief." It is alio for this Rea- 
 fon that they forbear, for fome Time, to pronounce their Names; 
 and if any other of the Family bears the fame Name, he quits it 
 all the Time of Mourning. This is probably alio the Rcafon 
 why the greater! Outrage you can do to any Perfon, is to fay to 
 them, Tour Father is dead, or, Tour Mother is dead. 
 
 When any one dies in the Time of Hunting, thay expofe his 
 Various Prac- B ° d >' «^^ry high Scaffold and it remains 
 
 , _, there till the Departure of the I roop, who 
 
 tius about the ■ ■ , , r , ,..,, mi 
 
 tv, / carry it with them to the Village. There are 
 
 fome Nations whopraftife the fame with Re- 
 gard to all their Dead ; and I have feen it pra&ifed by the 
 Mijifaguez. of Detroit. The Bodies of thofe who die in War 
 are burnt, and their Alhes brought back to be laid in the Bury- 
 ing-Place of their Fathers. Thefe Burying-Places, among the 
 molt fettled Nations, are Places like our Church-yards, near the 
 Village. Others bury their Dead in the Woods, at the Foot of 
 a Tree ; or dry them, and keep them in Chelte till the Feftivai 
 of the Dead, which I (hall prefently defcribe : But in fome 
 Places they obferve an odd Ceremony for thole that are drowned, 
 or are frozen to Death. 
 
 Before 1 defcribe it, it is proper, Madam, to teJl you that the 
 Savages believe, when thefe Accidents happen,, thr.t the Spirits 
 are incenfed, and that their Anger is not appcafed till the Body 
 
 N n z is
 
 276 An Historical Journal of 
 
 is found. Then the Preliminaries of Tears, Dances, Songs, 
 and Feafts, being ended, they carry the Body to the ufual Bury- 
 ing-Place; or, if they are too far off, to the Place where it is tore- 
 main till the Feftival of the Dead. They dig there a very large 
 Pit, and they make a Fire in it : Then fame young Perfons 
 approach the Corpfe, cut out the Flefh in the Parts which had 
 been marked out by a Mailer of the Ceremonies, and throw them 
 into the Fire with the Bowels : Then they place the Corpfe, 
 thus mangled, in the Place deftined for it. During the whole 
 Operation, the Women, eipecially the Relations of the Deceafed, 
 go continually round thofe that are at it, exhorting them to ac- 
 quit themfelves well of their Employment, and put Beads of 
 Porcelain in their Mouths, as we would give Sugar-Plumbs to 
 Children to entice them to do what we defire. 
 
 The Interment is followed by Prefents, which they make to 
 
 7Tn , . /r r the airlifted Family ; and this is called cwerinp 
 t'Vbat pa es at- , „ , mi. r r> r .. j • , * 
 
 ,, r rM J the Bead. Theie Prefents are made in the 
 ter the Interment. ■»- r „, irn , r . . 
 
 iName of the Village, and lometimes m the 
 
 Name of the Nation. Allies alfo make fome Prefents at the 
 Death of confiderable Perfons : But firft the Family of the De- 
 ceafed makes a great Feaft in his Name, and this Feaft is ac- 
 companied with Games, for which they propofe Prizes, which 
 are performed in this Manner : A Chief throws on the Tomb 
 three Sticks about a Foot long : A young Man, a Woman, and 
 a Maiden, take each of them one ; and thofe of their Age, their 
 Sex, and their Condition, ftrive to wreft them out of their 
 Hands. Thofe with whom the Sticks remain, are Conquerors. 
 There are alfo Races, and they fcmetimes fhoot at a Mark. In 
 fhort, by a Cuftom which we find eftablifhed in all the Times of 
 Pagan Antiquity, a Ceremony entirely mournful is terminated 
 by Songs, and Shouts of Viflory. 
 
 It is true, that the Family of the Deceafed take no Part in 
 Of M ' thefe Rejoicings : They obferve even in his 
 
 '*" Cabin, after the Obfequies, a Mourning, the 
 Laws cf which are very fevere : They muib have their Hair cut 
 off, and their Faces blacked : They mull ftand with their Heads 
 wrapped in a Blanket : They muft not look at any Perfon, nor 
 make any Vifit, nor eat any Thing hot : They muft deprive 
 themfelves of all Pleafures, wear fcarce any Thing on their Bo- 
 dies, and never warm themfelves at the Fire, even in the Depth 
 of Winter. 
 
 After this deep Mourning, which lafls two Years, they begin 
 afeccnd more moderate, which lafts two or three Years longer, 
 and which may be foftened by little and little ; but they dif- 
 penfewith nothing that is prefcribed, without the Confent of the 
 
 Cabin
 
 Travels in North America. 277 
 
 Cabin to which the Widower or the Widow belongs. Thefe 
 Permiflions, as well as the End of the Mourning, always coft a 
 
 Feaft. 
 
 Widows cannot contract a fecond Marriage without the Confent 
 /"> 77- 7 j of thofe on whom thev depend, in Virtue 
 O/Hidowhood of the Laws of W i do whood. If thev can 
 and fecond Mar- find nQ Hnfband f or tns Widow, fhe finds 
 ria g €s - herfelf under no Difficulties : If lhe has any 
 
 Sons of an Age to fupport her, me may continue in a State of 
 Widowhood, without Danger of ever wanting any Thing : If 
 fhe is willing to marry again, lhe may chafe, and the Man lhe 
 marries becomes the Father of her Children : He enters into 
 all the Rights, and all the Obligations of the firft Hufband. 
 The Hulband does not weep for his Wife ; becaufe, accord- 
 ing to the Savages, Tears do not become Men ; but this is not 
 general among all Nations. The Women weep for their 
 Hufbands a Year : They call him without ceafing, and fill their 
 Village with Cries and Lamentations, efpecially at the riling 
 and fetting of the Sun, at Noon, and in fome Places when they 
 go out to "Work, and when they return. Mothers do much the 
 fame for their Children. The Chiefs mourn only fix Months, 
 and may afterwards marry again. 
 
 The firlt, and often the only Compliment they make to a 
 _~ -. . Friend, and even to a Stranger they receive 
 
 fhe Action cf in their Cabins, is to ween for thofe of his 
 the Savages about ^ Relations, whom he has loft fince they 
 tbcje-ivbo die vie- &w hjm Jaft Thcy put the : r Hands on h j s 
 lent Deaths. Rea ^ and they give h i m t0 onderftand who 
 
 it is thev weep for, without mentioning his Name. All this is 
 founded in Nature, and has nothing in it of Barbarity. But 
 what I am going to fpeak of, does not appear to be any Way 
 excufable ; that is, the Behaviour of thefe People towards thofe 
 who die by a violent Death, even though it is in War, and for 
 the Service of their Country. 
 
 They have got a Notion that their Souls, in the other World, 
 have no Communication with the others ; and on this Principle 
 they burn them, or bury them direclly, fomctimes even before 
 thev expire. They never lav them in the common Burying- 
 Place, and thev give them no Part in the great Ceremony, which 
 is renewed every eight Year:, among fome Nations, and every ten 
 Years among the Hurons and the Iroquois. 
 
 They call it the Fefv.-val of the Dead, or the Feafl cf Sou!: : 
 And here follows what I could collect that was moll uniform and 
 .remarkable concerning this Ceremony, which is the molt lingular 
 and the mo,t celebrated of the Religion cf the Savages. They 
 begin bv fixing a Place for the Aflembly W meet in : Then they 
 
 chufe
 
 278 An Eijtorkal Journal of 
 
 Chafe the King of the Feaft, whofe Duty it is to give Orders f'ov 
 every Thing, and to invite the neighbouring Villages. The 
 Day' appointed being come, all the Savages aflemble, and go in 
 Proceflion two and two to the Burying-Place. There every one 
 labours to uncover the Bodies ; then they continue fome Time 
 contemplating in Silence a SpcSacle fo capable of exciting the 
 moft ferious Reflexions. The Women firft interrupt this religi- 
 ous Silence, by fending forth mournful Cries, which encreafe 
 the Horror with which every one is filled. 
 
 This firft A& being ended, they take up the Carcafles, and pick 
 up the dry and feparated Bones, and put them in Parcels ; and 
 thofe who 'are ordered to carry them, take them on their Shoul- 
 ders. If there are any Bodies not entirely decayed, they warn 
 them; they clean away the corrupted Flefh, and all the Filth, and 
 wrap them in new Robes of Beaver Skins : Then they return in 
 the fame Order as they came ; and when the Proceflion is come 
 into the Village, every one lays in his Cabin the Burden he was 
 charged with. During the March, the Women continue their 
 Lamentations, and the Men Ihew the fame Signs of Grief as 
 they did on the Day of the Death of thofe whofe Remains they 
 have been taking up. And this fecond Ati is followed by a 
 Feaft in each Cabin, in Honour of the Dead of the Family. 
 
 The following Days they make public Feafts ; and they are 
 accompanied, as on the Day of the Funeral, with Dances, Games, 
 and Combats, for which there are alfo Prizes propofed. From 
 Time to Time they make certain Cries, which they call the 
 Cries cf the Souls. 'They make Prefents to Strangers, among 
 whom there are fometimes feme who come an hundred and fifty 
 Leagues, and they receive Prefents from them. They alfo take 
 Id age of thefe Opportunities to treat of common Affairs, 
 or for the Election of a Chief. Every Thing pafles with a 
 great deal of Order, Decency, and Modefty ; and every one 
 appears to entertain Sentiments fuitable to the principal Ac- 
 tion. Every Thing, even in the Dances and Songs, carries 
 an Air of Sadnefs and Mourning; and one can fee in all, Hearts 
 pierced with the fharpeft Sorrow. The moft Infenfible would 
 be afFe&ed at the Sight of this Spectacle. After fome Days are 
 paft, they go again in Proceflion to a great Council-Room built 
 for thePurpofe : They hang up againft the Walls the Bones and 
 the Carcafles in the fame Condition they took them from the 
 Burying-Place, and they lay forth the Prefents defigned for the 
 Dead. If among thefe fad Remains there happens to be thofe 
 of a Chief, his Succeflbr gives a great Feaft in his Name, and 
 fings his Song. In many Places the Bones are carried from Vil- 
 lage to Village, are received every where with great Demonftra- 
 tions of Grief and Tendernefs, and every where they make 
 
 them
 
 Travels in North America. 279 
 
 them Prefents : Laftly, they carry them to the Place where 
 they are to remain always. But I had forgot to tell you, that all 
 thefe Marches are made to the Sound of" their lnilrumcntj, ac- 
 companied with their belt Voices, and that everyone iu thefe 
 Marches keeps Time to the Millie. 
 
 This lait and common Burial-Place is a great Pit, which they line 
 with their finell Furs, and the belt Things they have. The Pre- 
 fents defigned for the Dead, are fet by themfeives. By Degrees, as 
 the Proceffion arrives, each Family range themfelves.on a Kind of 
 Scaffolds fet up round the Pit ; and the Moment the Bones are 
 laid in, the Women renew their weeping and wailing. Then 
 all prefent go down into the Pit, and every one takes a little 
 of the Earth, which they keep carefully. They fancy it pro- 
 cures Luck at Play. The Bodies and the Bones, ranged in Or- 
 der, are covered with entire new Furs, and over that with Bark, 
 on which they throw Stones, Wood, and Earth. Every one re- 
 turns to his own Cabin; but the Women come for feveral Days 
 after, and pour Sagamitty on the Place. 
 
 / am, &c. 
 
 LETTER XXVI. 
 
 Journey to P i m i t e o u y . Of the Ri-ver of the Illinois. R.ception 
 of the Prifoners among thefe People. " Their Manner of burning 
 them. Some Things peculiar in their Way of living. 
 
 Ma d a m, p lM iteouy, Qtfober r. 
 
 THE Night of the 17th of this Month, the Flbft, which for 
 eight Days paft was perceivable every Morning, encreafed 
 confiderably. This was early for this Climate, for we were in 41 
 A Defcrittiou of ** ' **' * ^ e following Days we went forward 
 the Theakiki from Moin '- Q g t0 Night, favoured by the Cur- 
 
 rent, which i/-- pretty llrong, and fometimes 
 by the Wind : In Fait, w= made a great deal 01 Way, but we ad- 
 vanced very little or, our Journey : After havino- gone 10 or 12 
 Leagues, we found oarielves fo near our lalt Encampment, that 
 Perfons in both Places might have feen each other, and even 
 have talked together, at leaft with a Speaking-Trumpet. But 
 it was fome Confolation to us, that the River and its Bo; 
 were covered with Wild-Fowl, fattened with wild Oats, v. ' 
 were then ripe. I alio gathered fome ripe Grapes, which \. 
 Crf" the Shape and Bignefs of a Mufket-3a!l, and loft enough. 
 
 of
 
 280 An Hift or leal Journal of 
 
 of a bad Tafte. This is probably the fame that they call in 
 Louisiana Raijin Prune (the Plumb Grape). The River by 
 Degrees grows lefs winding; but its Borders are not pleafant till 
 we are fifty Leagues from its oource. It is alfo for all this Space 
 very narrow, and as it is bordered with Trees, whofe Roots are 
 in the Water, when one falls it bars up the whole River, and 
 it takes a great deal of Time to clear a Paffage for a Ca- 
 noe. 
 
 Having got over thefe Difficulties, the River, about fifty 
 Leagues from its Source, forms a fmall Lake, and afterwards 
 grows connderably wider. The Country begins to be fine: The 
 Meadows here extend beyond the Sight, in which the Buffaloes 
 go in Herds of 2 or 3 hundred : But one muft keep a good Look- 
 out, not to be furprifed by the Parties of Sioux and Outagamis, 
 .which are drawn hither by the Neighbourhood of the Illinois, 
 their mortal Enemies, and who give no Quarter to the French 
 they meet on their Route. The Misfortune is, that the Tbeakiki 
 lofes its Depth as it grows wider, fo that we are often obliged 
 to unlade the Canoes and walk, which is always attended with 
 fome Danger, and I (hould have been greatly perplexed, if they 
 had not given me an Efcort at the River St. Jofeph. 
 
 What furprifed me at feeing fo little Water in the Tbeakiki was, 
 that from Time to Time it receives fome pretty Rivers. I faw 
 one among the reft, above fixty Yards wide as it's Mouth, which 
 they have named the Iroquois River, becaufe thefe gallant Men 
 fuffered themfelves to be furprifed here by the Illinois, who killed 
 a great Number of them. This Blow humbled them the more, 
 as they greatly defpifed the Illinois, who for the moil: Part can 
 never face them. 
 
 The 27 th of September we arrived la Fourcbe (at the Fork;) 
 
 , „ . this is the Name the Canadians give the Place 
 
 Of the River of ^^ ^ rheakiki and the River f the //. 
 
 /^Illinois. ; ^ ^ Thg laft> after a Courfe of fixty 
 
 Leagues, is ftill folhallow, that I faw a Buffalo crofs it, and the 
 Water did not come above the Middle of his Legs. On the con- 
 trary, the Tbeakiki, befides bringing it's Waters a hundred 
 Leagues, is a fine River. Nevertheless it lofes it's Name here, 
 without doubt becaufe the Illinois being fettled in many Places of 
 the other have given it their Name. Being enriched all at once 
 by this Junction, it yields to none that we have in France ; and 
 I dare affure you, Madam, that it is not pofiible to fee a better 
 nor a finer Country than that it waters ; atleaft up to this Place, 
 frcm whence I write. But it is fifteen Leagues below the 
 Fork before it acquires a Depth anfwerable to its Breadth, al- 
 though in this Interval it receives many other Rivers. 
 
 q The
 
 Travels in North America. 281 
 
 The largeft is called Pijlicoui, and comes from the fine Country 
 of the Mafcoutins. It has a Fall at its Mouth, which they call 
 la Charboniere (the Coal Fall) becaufe they find many Coals in 
 its Environs. In this Route we fee only vaft Meadows, with little 
 Clutters of Trees here and there, which feem to have been planted 
 by the Hand ; the Grafs grows fo high in them, that one might 
 lofe one's felf amongft it ; but every where we meet with Paths 
 that are as beaten as they can be in the moil populous Coun- 
 tries ; yet nothing pafTes through them but Buffaloes, and from 
 Time to Time fome Herds of Deer, and fome Roe-Bucks. 
 
 A League below the Coal-Fall we fee on the Right a Rock 
 quite round, and very high, the Top of which is like a Ter- 
 rafs ; they call it the Fort of the Miamis, becaufe thefe Savages 
 had formerly a Village here. A League farther on the left, we 
 fee another juft like it, which they call only Le Rocher (the Rock.) 
 It is the Point of a very high level Place, that runs for the Length 
 of two hundred Paces, always following the Side of the River, which 
 widens very much in this Place. It is perpendicular on every 
 Side, and at a Diitance one would take it for a Fortrefs. Here 
 are ftill fome Remains of Palifadoes, becaufe the Illinois former- 
 ly made an Intrenchment here, which they can eafily repair in 
 Cafe of any Irruption of their Enemies. 
 
 The Village is at the Foot of the Rock in an Ifland, which 
 with feveral others, all wonderfully fruitful, divide the River in 
 this Place into two pretty large Channels. I landed the 29th 
 about four in the Afternoon, and I found fome French here, who 
 were trading with the Savages. As foon almoit as I had fet my 
 Foot on Shore, I was vifited by the Chief of the Village. He 
 is a Man about forty, well Ihaped, mild, of a very pleafing 
 Countenance, and the French faid many Things in his Praife. 
 
 Then I went up the Rock by a tolerably eafy Way, but very 
 narrow. I found a very fmooth Terrafs, of a great Extent ; 
 and where all the Savages of Canada could not force two hun- 
 dred Men, who had Fire Arms, if they could have Water, which 
 they can get only from the River ; and to do this they muft 
 expofe themfelves. All the Recourfe of thofe who mould hap- 
 pen to be befieged here, would be the natural Impatience of 
 thefe Barbarians. In fmall Parties they v. ill wait without Un- 
 eafinefs eight or ten Days behind a Bulb, in Hopes that fome Bo- 
 dy will pafs by, whom they may kill or take Prifoner : Bu$ 
 when they are a numerous Body of Warriors, if they do not 
 prefently fucceed, they foon grow weary, and take the firft Ex- 
 cufe to retreat. This they never want j for there needs only for 
 this Purpofe a Dream, real or feigned. 
 
 O o The
 
 232 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 The Rain, and ftill more a Spectacle, which filled me with 
 , Horror, hindered me from making the Tour 
 Reception of the of thefe Roc k Sy f rom whence I hoped to dif- 
 Prifoners among coyer a ^^ Country . I perceived at the 
 the Illinois. End, and juft above the Village, the Bodies of 
 
 two Savages that had been burnt a few Days before, and which 
 were abandoned according to Cuflom, to the Birds of Prey, in 
 the fame Pofture, in which they were executed. The Way of 
 burning the Prisoners among thefe fouthern Nations, is fome- 
 thing Angular ; and they have alfo fome Cuftoms different from 
 the others in their Manner of behaving towards thefe unhap- 
 py Wretches. 
 
 When they have made a military Expedition, which has fuc- 
 ceeded, the Warriors order their March fo, that they never arrive 
 at the Village till Night. As foon as they are near it, they 
 halt ; and when it is Night, they depute two or three young 
 People to the Chief, to acquaint him with the principal Adven- 
 tures of the Campaign. Next Day, at the Appearance of the 
 Dawn they drefs their Prifoners in new Robes, adorn their Hair 
 with Down, paint their Faces with various Colours, and put a 
 white Stick in their Hands, which is fet round with the Tails of 
 Roe-Bucks. At the fame Time the War-Chief makes a Cry, 
 and all the Village aflembles at the Water-fide, if they are near 
 a River. 
 
 , As foon as the Warriors appear, four young Men in their fineft 
 Drefs embark in zPettiaugre(a), the two firft carry a Calumet, and 
 go finging all the Way, to fetch the Prifoners, which they bring as 
 in Triumph to the Cabin, where they are to be fentenced. The 
 Mailer of the Cabin, to whom it belongs to decide their Fate, firft 
 gives them fomething to eat, and during this Mealhe holds a Coun- 
 cil. If they give his Life to any one, two young Men go and untie 
 him, take him each by one Hand and make him run full Speed 
 to the River, where they throw him in Headforemoft. They 
 throw themfelves in after him, wafh him well, and lead him to 
 the Perfon whofe Slave he is to be. 
 
 As to thofe who are condemned to die, as foon as the Sentence 
 
 m • -a* f is pronounced, the Cry is made to afiemble 
 
 Their Manner of the r yill and the Execution is deferred, 
 
 burning them. Qnly j uft Time enQugh tQ make the Prepara . 
 
 tions for it. They begin by ftripping the Sufferer quite naked : 
 They fix in the Earth two Polls, to which they fallen two crofs 
 Pieces, one about two Feet from the Ground, and the other fix or 
 feven Feet higher, and this is what they call a Frame. They 
 
 (a) This is a long Boat, made of the fingle Trunk of a Tree. They ufe 
 but few Canoes of Bark in thefe Faits. 
 
 make
 
 
 gravels in North Americal 283 
 
 make the Sufferer get upon the firft crofs Piece, to which they 
 faften his Feet, at a little Diftance from each other : Then they 
 tie his Hands to the upper Angles of the Frame ; and in this 
 Pofture they burn him in all Parts of the Body. 
 
 All the Village, Men, Women, and Children, gather round 
 him ; and every one has a Right to torture him as they pleafe. 
 If no one prefent has any particular Reafon to prolong his Suf- 
 ferings, his Punifhment his foon over ; and commonly they dif- 
 patch him with their Arrows, or elfe they cover him with the 
 Bark of Trees, which they fet on Fire. Then they leave him in 
 his Frame, and towards Night they run through all the Cabins, 
 ftriking with little Sticks on the Furniture, on the Walls, and on 
 the Roofs, to hinder his Soul from flaying there to revenge the 
 Injuries they have done to his Body. The reft of the Night is 
 pafTed in Rejoicings. 
 
 If the Party has met no Enemy, or if it has been 
 
 z> ■ / obliged to fly, it enters the Village by Day, 
 Some Particula- , & . J, c , c ., „ , ^-r 7 - ■>/ * 
 
 . . . keeping a profound Silence ; but if it has 
 
 rates concerning been beaten, it enters by Night, after having 
 W- ^ S iven Notice of their Return by a Cry of 
 
 Death, and named all thofe they have loft, 
 either by Diftempers, or by the Sword of the Enemy. Sometimes 
 the Prifoners are condemned and executed before they arrive at 
 the Village ; efpecially when they have any Room to fear they 
 will be refcued. Some Time fince a Frenchman being taken by 
 the Outagamis, thefe Barbarians held a Council on their Route, 
 to know how they fhould difpofe of him. The Refult of the 
 Deliberation was to throw a Stick up in the Tree, and if it 
 lodged there, to burn their Prifoner ; but to throw it only a cer- 
 tain Number of Times. By good Fortune for the Prifoner, 
 though the Tree was very thick of Branches, the Stick always 
 fell to the Ground. 
 
 1 flayed twenty-four Hours at the Rock, and to pleafe the Sa- 
 
 cr., , , c ;o vages, and to fhew my entire Confidence in 
 
 The dolefulSongs ^ though ftU my Conduftors were en _ 
 
 0/ toe Illinois. campe d on t " he othe r Side of the River, I lay 
 in a Cabin in the midfl of the Village. I paft the Night quiet 
 enough ; but I was waked very early by a Woman, who lived in 
 the next Cabin; when fhe awoke, the Remembrance of her Son, 
 whom fhe had loft fome Years before, came into her Mind, and 
 immediately fhe began to weep, and to fing in a very doleful 
 Tone. 
 
 The Illinois have the Character of being cunning Thieves, 
 for this Reafon I caufed all my Baggage to be carried over to the 
 other Side ; but in fpite of this Precaution, and the Vigilance 
 of my People, at our Departure we miffed a Gun, and fome 
 
 Oo 2 Trifles,
 
 284 An Hiftorical Journal cf 
 
 Trifles, which we could never recover. The fame Evening we 
 pafled the laft Place of the River, where one is obliged to drag 
 the Canoe ; afterwards the River has every where a Breadth and 
 Depth, that makes it equal to molt of the largeft Rivers of Eu- 
 rope. 
 
 1 faw alfo this Day, foi the firft Time, fome Parrots : There 
 
 Cif h P are f Qxne on tne Sides of the Theakiki, but 
 
 f / r r ° in Summer only. Thefe were fome Stagglers 
 
 of l^ouinana. that were going tQ the MiJJiffipi, where there 
 
 are fome in all Seafons : They are but little bigger than a Black- 
 bird, their Head is yellow, with a red Spot in the Middle, Green 
 prevails in all the reft of their Plumage. The two following 
 Days we traverfed a charming Country, and the third of Qtlo- 
 ber about Noon we found ourfelves at the Entrance of the Lake 
 Pimiteouy ; it is the River which grows wider here, and which 
 for three Leagues is one League in Breadth. At the End of 
 thefe three Leagues, we find on the Right a fecond Village of 
 Illinois, diftant about fifteen Leagues from that of the Rock. 
 Nothing can be more pleafant than the Situation j it has over 
 
 n/- t T/--U againftit, as in Perfpe&ive, a very fineForeft, 
 Vf the Village whkh was then of a y ColourS) and behind 
 c/Fimiteouy. j { a pla j n of an [ mmen{e Extent, bordered 
 
 with Woods. The Lake and the River fwarm with Fifh, and their 
 Sides with Wild-Fowl. I met alfo in this Village four French Ca- 
 nadians, who informed me that I was between four Parties of 
 Enemies, and that it was not fafe for me either to go forward, 
 or to return ; they told me further, that on the Route which I 
 had travelled, there were thirty Outagamis in Ambufti; that the 
 like Number of the fame Savages were ranging round the Vil- 
 lage of Pimiteouy, and others to the Number of eighty kept 
 at the Bottom of the River, divided into two Bands. 
 
 This Account made me recoiled what had happened to us the 
 Evening before ; we had ftopt at the End of the Ifiand, to look 
 for fome Buftards, at which feme of my People had fired ; and 
 we heard fomebedy cutting of Wood in the Middle of the Ifiand. 
 The Nearnefs of the Village of Pimiteouy, made us judge that it 
 was fome Illinois, and we held in that Opinion ; but it is very 
 iikely that they were Outagamis, who having difcovered us, and 
 not daring to attack us, becaufe I had twelve Men well armed, 
 thought to draw fome of us into the Woods, judging that they 
 ihould have an eafy Conqueft of the reft ; but our little Curi- 
 ofity kept us from this Misfortune, which I fhould certainly not 
 have efcaped, if I had not had an Efcort commanded by a Man, 
 who was not of a Humour to flop where there was no real Oc- 
 cafion. 
 
 What
 
 Travels in North America. 285 
 
 What further confirmed the Account of the four Frenchmen 
 was, that thirty Warriors of Pimiteouy, commanded by the 
 Chief of the Village, were in the Field, to endeavour to get 
 more certain News of the Enemy ; and that a few Days before 
 their Departure, there had been an Action in the Neighbour- 
 hood, in which the two Parties had each made one Prifoner: 
 The Outagami had been burnt about a Mufket-Shot from the 
 Village, and he was ftill in his Frame. The Canadians, who 
 affifted in his Punifhment, told me that it lafted five Hours, and 
 that this unfortunate Wretch had maintained till his Death that 
 he was an Jl/inois, and that he had been taken in his Childhood 
 by the Outagamis, who had adopted him. 
 
 However, he had fought very well, and had it not "been for 
 a Wound received in the Leg, he had not been taken. 
 But as he could give no Proofs of what he had alledged, and 
 had been very near making his Efcape, they would not believe 
 him on his Word. Pie made it appear in the midft of his Tor- 
 ments, that Bravery, and Courage in bearing Pain, are very dif- 
 ferent Virtues, and that they do not always go together, for 
 he made moll lamentable Cries, which only ferved to animate 
 his Executioners. It is true that an old Woman, whofe Sou 
 had been formerly killed by the Outagamis, made him fuffor 
 all the Pains that Fury infpired by Revenge could invent. 
 However, at laft they took Pity on his Cries, they covered 
 him with Straw, which they fet on Fire ; and as he had ftill 
 fome Life in him after it was burnt out, the Children killed 
 him with their Arrows. Generally, when a Sufferer does not die 
 bravely, it is a Woman, or Children, that give him his Death's 
 Wound : He does not deierve, they fay, to die by the Hand of 
 a Man. 
 
 I found myfelf, Madam, greatly embarraffed. On one Side, 
 my Conductors did not think it prudent to go forward ; on the 
 other, it was very inconvenient for my Affairs to winter at Pi- 
 miteouy : I fhould then have even been obliged to follow the 
 Savages in their Winter-Quarters, and this would have made 
 me lofe a whole Year. At lalt the two Canadians, of the four 
 which I found at Pimiteouy, offered to encrea.e my Efcort, and 
 they all took Heart. I would have departed the next Day, 
 the fourth of Qclcber, but the Rain, and fome other Difficulties 
 which we met with, itopt me the whole Day. 
 
 The Warriors, who had been out on the Difcovery, came 
 
 crt r>jr ;.- back in the Afternoon, without making any 
 
 The Difficulties r , , r , , \ r , . v„, * 
 
 i- 1 1 r j ^ r Y> becauie thev had leen nothing. Thev 
 
 in nvhuh 1 found ,, v, , n- , f ' -.1 1 r- -v 
 
 f,- J all hied oft before me with a proud Sort 0/ 
 
 — ' * " an Air : They were only armed with Ar- 
 
 rows, and a round Shield of Buffalo's Hides, and they did not 
 
 {tern
 
 2$ 6 An Hijlorical 'Journal of 
 
 ieem to take any Notice of me. It is the Cuftom of the War- 
 riors to falute no Perfon when they are in a Body for War : But 
 almoll as foon as they had got into their Cabins, the Chief having 
 dreffed himfelf, came and paid me a Vifit of Ceremony. He is 
 about forty Years old, pretty tall, and fomething lean, of a 
 mild Character, and very rational. He is alfo the braveft Sol- 
 dier of his Nation, and there is no Illinois that deferves better 
 than he the Sirname (a) that Homer gives by Way of Preference 
 to the Hero of his Iliad. This is faying a great deal, for the 
 Illinois are perhaps the fwiftefl Runners in the World : The 
 MiJJburites are the only People that can difpute this Glory with 
 them. 
 As I perceived a Crofs of Copper, and a little Figure of the 
 . * , , Virgin hanging about the Neck of this Sa- 
 
 * en f ar J* e vaee, I thought he had been a Chriftian, 
 btory of the Chief ^ ^ affured mg ^ hg had ^ 
 
 ef ttmiteouy. himfelf in this Equipage out of Refpeft to 
 
 me. They told me farther what I am going to relate, without 
 requiring you to believe mere of it, than the Credit of my Au- 
 thors deferve : They are Canadian Travellers, who certainly 
 did not invent what they told me, but who heard it reported as 
 a certain Fa£L This is the Story. 
 
 The Image of the Virgin, which the Chief wore, having 
 fallen into his Hands, I know not how, he was curious to know 
 who it reprefented : They told him it was the Mother of God, 
 and that the Child which fhe held in her Arms, was God him- 
 felf, who made himfelf Man for the Salvation of Mankind. 
 They explained to him in few Words the Myftery of this 
 ineffable Incarnation; and farther told him, that the Cbrijlians 
 always addreffed themfelves to this divine Mother when they 
 were in any Danger, and that they feldom did it in vain. The 
 Savage liftened to this Difcourfe with much Attention ; and 
 fome Time after, as he was hunting alone in the Woods, an 
 Qutagami, who had laid in Ambufh, fhe wed himfelf the Moment 
 after he had difcharged his Gun at fome Game, and took Aim at 
 him. Then he remembered what had been told him of the Mother 
 of God : He invoked her, and the Qutagami attempting to fhoot, 
 his Gun miffed Fire : He cocked it again, and the fame Thing hap- 
 pened five Times together. During this Time, the Illinois charged 
 his own, and in his Turn took Aim at his Enemy, who chofe ra- 
 ther to furrender than be (hot. Since this Adventure, the Chief 
 never goes out of the Village without carrying his Safeguard with 
 him, with which he thinks himfelf invulnerable. If the Story is 
 true, it is very probable that it was the Fault of the Miffionary 
 
 (a) Swift-footed. 
 
 alone
 
 travels in North America. 287 
 
 alone that has hindered him from becoming a Chri/iian, and 
 
 that the Mother of God, after having preferred him from a 
 
 temporal Death, will obtain for him the Grace of a fincere Con- 
 
 verfion (a). 
 
 As foon as the Chief had left me, I went out to vifit the 
 
 _., ,, m Environs of the Village, and 1 perceived 
 
 The Manner of c , _. 9 r> 1 • f r> u* 
 
 ** ■ r l tw0 Savages, who went rrom Cabin to Labin, 
 
 Mourning Jor the waiU much ln the fame Tone as the Wo- 
 
 Dead among the man of ^ M> j mentioned before> Qne 
 
 Illinois. had loA his Friend in the laft Batde> the 
 
 other was the Father of him that had been flain. They walked 
 a great Pace, and put their Hands on the Heads of all they met; 
 probably to invite them to fhare in their Grief. Thofe who 
 have fought Reffemblances between the Hebrews and the Ame- 
 ricans, would not have failed to have taken particular Notice of 
 this Manner of Mourning, which fome Expreffions of Scripture 
 might give Room to thefe Conje&urers to judge might have 
 been in Ufe among the People of God. 
 
 About Evening, the Chief defired me to come to a Houfe 
 
 TU C"' ft, where one of our Miffionaries had lodged 
 
 „,. _ J c % - fome Years before, and where probably they 
 
 Chief Jor my baje- ufed tQ ho]d ^ Coundl . j went frfa^ 
 
 J' and found him there with two or three El- 
 
 ders. Pie began by faying that he was defirous of informing 
 me of the great Danger to which I was going to expofe myfelf, 
 by continuing my Route : That upon thoroughly confidering all 
 Circumftances, he advifed me to put off my Departure till the Sea- 
 fon was a little more advanced ; that he hoped then the Enemy's 
 Parties would be retired, and leave me a free Paffage. As he 
 might have his Views in detaining me at Pimiteouy, I let him 
 know that I was not much affected with his Reafons, and added, 
 that I had fome more prevailing ones to haften my Departure. 
 He feemed to be concerned at my Anfwer, and I foon found 
 that it proceeded from his Affection for me, and his Zeal for our 
 Nation. 
 
 " Since your Refolution is taken, faid he, I am of Opinion, 
 " that all the French who are here, Ihould join themfelves to 
 " you to ftrengthen your Efcort : I have alfo already declared 
 " my Thoughts to them on this Matter, and have ftrongly re- 
 V prefented to them, that they would be forever loll to all Ho- 
 " nour, if they Ihould leave their Father in Danger, without 
 " lharing it with him. I mould be very glad to accompany 
 ** you myfelf at the Head of all my Soldiers, but you know 
 " my Village is in Danger of being attacked every Day, and 
 
 (a) He it in Faft converted fir.ce. 
 
 " it
 
 288 An Hijhrkal Journal of 
 
 11 it is not proper for me to be abfent, and to leave it tm- 
 " guarded in fuch Circumftances. As for the French, nothing 
 ** can detain them here, but an Intereft which they ought to 
 •' facrifice to your Prefervation. This is what I have given 
 " them to underftand, and have farther told them, that if any one 
 " of them fell into the Hands of the Enemy, it would only be 
 •• the Lofs of a Man, whereas a Father was alone to be efteem- 
 «« ed as many, and that they ought to run all Hazards, to pre- 
 " vent fo great a Misfortune." 
 
 I was charmed, Madam, with the Wifdom of this Man, and 
 more Hill with his Geneiofity, which inclined him, out of his 
 Regard for me, to deprive himfelf of four Men, whofe Affiftance 
 was a Matter of Coniequence, in his prefent Situation. I made no 
 Doubt before, that in his Willingnefs to detain me, he had a View 
 of making Ufe of my Efcort in Cafe of Need. I gave him 
 many Thanks for his Good-will and his Care, and I affured 
 him that I was very well fatisfied with the French, that I would 
 divide them with him, and leave him two for his Defence, in 
 Cafe he fhould be attacked ; that the other two mould accom- 
 pany me till I was in a Place of Safety, and with this Rein- 
 forcement I fhould think myfelf in a Condition to go any 
 where without Fear. He prelied me no further to Hay, and I 
 retired. 
 
 This Morning he came to pay me a fecond Vifit, accompanied 
 
 u , ,. with his Mother-in-Law, who carried a young 
 He caujes his ChiW ^ hef Armg . „ Yqu ^ faid ^ ad _ 
 
 Daughter to be „ dreffing himfel f to mCj a Father i n great 
 baptized. tt Affliaion> fids is my Daughter, who is 
 
 " dying, her Mother died in bringing her into the World, and 
 ** no Woman could fuccceed in nurfing her. She brings up all 
 ** (he takes, and has perhaps but a few Hours to live : You 
 *« will do me a Pleafure to baptize her, that fhe may go to fee 
 " God after her Death." The Child was really very ill, and 
 paft all Hopes of Recovery, fo I made no Scruple to bap- 
 tize it. 
 
 Should my Travels have been ufelefs in all other Refpefb, I 
 acknowledge to you, Madam, I fhould not regret all the Fa- 
 tigues and Dangers of them, fince, in ail Probability, if I had 
 not come to Pimiteouy, this Child had never gone to Heaven, 
 where I make no Doubt fhe will foon arrive. I hope alfo, that 
 this little Angel will obtain for her Father the fame Grace he 
 has procured for her. 1 depart an Hour hence, and I truft this 
 Letter with the two Frenchmen I leave here, and who intend to 
 take the firft Opportunity to return to Canada. 
 
 J am, &c. 
 
 S LETTER
 
 Travels in North America. 289 
 
 LETTER XXVII. 
 
 Journey from Pimiteouy to the Kaskasquias. Of the Coitrft 
 of the River of the Illinois. Of the Copper Mines. Of the 
 Missouri. Of the Mines of the River Mar a meg. Dr/c/ip- 
 tion of Fort de Chartres, and of the Mijjfok of the Kaskas- 
 quias. Of the Fruit-Trees ^/"Louisiana. Defcription of the 
 Mississippi above the Illinois. Different Tribes oj that Na- 
 tion. Some Traditions of the Savages. Their Notions of the Stars 
 and Planets, Eclipfes, and Thunder ; Their Manner of computing 
 Time. 
 
 I 
 
 Madam, Kaskasquias, Odober 20; 
 
 Confefs very fincerely, that I was not fo eafy at leaving 
 Pimileouy, as I feigned myfelf to be, as well for my own 
 Credit, as not entirely to difcourage thofe who accompanied me, 
 fome of whom concealed their Fear but very indifferently. The 
 Alarms in which I had found the Illinois, their doleful Songs, 
 the Sight of the CarcafTes expofed in their Frames, horrible 
 Obje&s, which continually reprefented to me what I was to ex- 
 pert, if I mould have the Misfortune to fall into the Hands of 
 thefe Barbarians : All this made an ImprefTion upon me which 
 I could not overcome, and for feven or eight Days I could not 
 fleep very found. 
 
 I was not apprehenfive indeed that the Enemy would attack 
 us openly, becaufe I had fourteen Men well armed, and well 
 commanded (a)', but we had every Thing to fear from Sur- 
 prifes, as the Savages ufe all Manner of Artifices to draw their 
 Enemies into the Snares they lay for them. One of the molt 
 common is to counterfeit the Cry of fome Animal, or the Note 
 of a Bird, which they imitate fo perfedly, that every Day fome 
 are brought into an Ambufh by it. One happens to be encamped 
 at the Entrance of a Wood, we think we hear a Buffalo, a Deer, 
 or a Duck, two or three Men run that Way in Hopes of get- 
 ting fomething, and frequently they never return. 
 
 M. it St. Ange, who has fince very much diftinruifhed himfdf again ft the 
 Rtnardif commanded my Efccrt. 
 
 P p The-.-
 
 290 An Hijlcrical Journal of 
 
 They reckon 70 Leagues from Pimiteouy to the MiJJiJJippi: I have 
 
 ctl r> r r already faid that it was 15 from the Rock to 
 
 1 ke Lourje oj pimgteouv . the firft of thefe tw0 Villages is in 
 
 the Riyer of the ^ ^^ f ^ ^ Entrance of the River 
 
 Illinois. of the 1Uimis is in ^ Q jj egrees . f t h at f rom 
 
 the Rock this River runs Weft, inclining a little to the South, 
 but it makes many Windings. From Time to Time we meet with 
 Iflands, iome of which are pretty large : Its Banks are but low 
 in many Places : In the Spring it overflows the greateft Part of 
 the Meadows, which are on the Right and Left, and which 
 are afterwards covered with Grafs and Herbs, that grow very 
 his;h. They fay it abounds with Fifti every where, but we had 
 no""Time to filh, nor any Nets that were fit for its Depth. Our 
 Bufinefs was fooner done by killing a Buffalo, or a Roe-Buck, 
 and of thefe we had the Choice. 
 
 The 6th we law a great Number of Buffaloes croffing the 
 River in a great Hurry, and we fcarce doubted but that they were 
 hunted by one of the Parties of the Enemy, which they had 
 fpoken of: This obliged us to fail all Night, to get out of fuch 
 a dangerous Neighbourhood, The next Day before it was light 
 we parted the Saguimont, a great River that comes from the 
 South : Five or fix Leagues lower we left on the fame Hand 
 another fmaller, called the River of the Maapir.es : Thefe are 
 great Roots, which eaten raw, are Poifon, but being roafted by a 
 fmall Fire for five or fix Days or more, have no longer any hurt- 
 ful Quality. Between thefe two Rivers, at an equal Diftance 
 from both we find a Marfh called Machoutin, which is exacViy 
 half-way from Pimitecuy to the MiJJiJJippi. 
 
 Soon after we had paffed the River of the Macopines, we per- 
 ceived the Banks of the MiJJiJJippi, which are very high. We 
 rcwed however above twenty-four Hours longer, and often with 
 our Sail up, before we entered it; becaufe the River of the Il- 
 linois changes its Courfe in this Place from the Weft to the 
 South and by Eaft. One might fay, that out of Refentment at 
 being obliged to pay the Homage of its Waters to another Ri- 
 ver, it fought to return back to its Spring. 
 
 Its Entrance into the MiJJiJJippi is Eaft South Eaft. It was the 
 r 10th, about half paft Two in the Morning, 
 
 Copper. ^^ we f oun( j our f e l ves i n this River, which 
 
 at that Time made fo much Noife in France, leaving on the 
 Right Hand a great Meadow, out of which there rifes a little 
 River, in which there is a great deal of Copper. Nothing can 
 "be more charming than all this Side ; but it is not quite the fame 
 on the Left Hand. We fee there only very high Mountains 
 interfperfed with Rock?, between which there grows fome Ce- 
 dar a;
 
 Travels in North America. 291 
 
 dars ; but this is only a Skreen that has little Depth, and which 
 hides fome very fine Meadows. 
 
 The 10th, about Nine in the Morning, after we had gone five 
 cru r c Leagues on the MrffiJ-ppi, we arrived at the 
 
 , { b '^p tM . a " Mouth of the Mi/Tcun, which is North North 
 c f ':'%%■ Weft, and South South Eaft. I believe this 
 
 /& Miffiflippi. h the fineft Confluence in the World. The 
 
 two Rivers are much of the fame Breadth, each about half a 
 League ;' but the Miffemri is by far the mod rapid, and feem: to 
 enter the MifliJJippi like a Conqueror, through which it carrie- 
 its white Waters to the oppofite Shore, without mixing them ; 
 afterwards it gives its Colour to the Mijpjp.pp:, v. hich it never 
 lofes again, but carries it quite down to the Sea. 
 
 The fame Day we went to lay in a Village of the Caoquias, 
 and the TV:-. : Thefe are two Nations of IBtrntis, which are 
 
 united, and who do not together make a very numerous Village. It 
 is fituated on a little River, which comes from the Eaft, and which 
 has no Water but in the Spring Seafon ; fo that we were forced 
 to walk a good half League to the Cabins. I was furprifed that 
 they had chofen fuch an inconvenient Situation, as they might 
 have found a much better; but they told me that the M 
 wafhed the Foot of the Village when it was built, and that in 
 three Years it had loft half a League of Ground, and that they 
 were thinking of looking out for another Settlement. 
 
 I palled the Night in the Houfe of the Millenaries, which 
 are two Ecclefiailics of the Seminary of Qw ei et, formerly mv 
 Difciples, but who might be now my Mailers. The oldeft of 
 the two (a) was abfent ; I found the youngeft (b) fuch as he 
 had been reported to me, fevere to himfelf, full of Charity for 
 others, and making Virtue amiable in his own Pcribn. But he 
 has fo little Health, that I think he cannot long fupport the 
 Way of Life, which they are obliged to lead in thefe Mil- 
 lions. 
 
 The eleventh, after having gone five Leagues, we left en cur 
 
 r* . , . r . . Right the River of Maramt?, where fome 
 
 l d ■ 1V/T Perions are actually emploved in feeding Sil- 
 
 tbe Krver Mara- yer Mines> p erh ' aps you ^u be plea. 
 
 me *' Madam, to knew what Succefs there is to be 
 
 expected from thefe Searches. This is what i have heard con- 
 cerning them, from an intelligent Perion, who has been here 
 many Years. In 17 19 the Sieur e'e Lc: ! \n, fent by the Weftern 
 Company in the Capacity of a Founder, having dug in a Place 
 that was fhewed him, took up a pretty large Quantity of I B 
 Mineral, a Pound of which, that took up four Days to melt, 
 
 OJ M. . (b) Iff. Lt M:r;lcr. 
 
 ? P Z MO-
 
 292 An Hiftorieal Journal of 
 
 produced, as they fay, two Drachms of Silver; but fome Perfon* 
 fufpeft he put in the Silver. Some Months after he returned 
 again, and without thinking any more of Silver, from two or 
 three thoufand Weight of the Mineral he extracted fourteen 
 Pounds of very bad Lead, which coft him 1400 Livres : Being 
 diiheartened with this bad Succefs, he returned to France. 
 
 Tl:e Company, being perfuaded of the Certainty of the Signs 
 which had been reported to them, thought the Unfkilfulnefs of 
 the Founder was the only Caufe of this ill Succefs, and fent in 
 his Stead a Spaniard, named Anthony, taken at the Siege of Pen- 
 faccln, and who had been a Slave in the Gallies, but who boafl- 
 ed of having worked at a Mine in Mexico. He was allowed a 
 considerable Salary, but he fucceeded little better than the Sieur 
 de Lnckcn. He was not difheartened however, and People were 
 willi ig to believe he failed only through Want of Skill to build 
 Furnaces. He gave up the Lead, and undertook to get Silver, 
 he found Means to open the Rock, which was eight cr ten Feet 
 thick, and he blew up feveral Pieces of it, which he put into 
 melting Pots ; 'twas reported, that he got two or three Drachms 
 of Silver, but many Perfons ftill doubt of it. 
 
 During thefe Tran factions, there arrived a Company of the 
 King's Miners, the Chief which was one R^naudicre, who de- 
 termining to begin with the Lead Mine, did nothing at all, be- 
 caufe neither he nor any of his Compary underftuod the Con- 
 ftruclion of Furnaces. 'Twas very furpnfing, to fee the Eafi, 
 nefs of the Company in advancing large Sums, and the little 
 Precaution they took to be allured of the Capacity of thofe they 
 employed. La Ramudiere and his Miners not being able to ac- 
 complilh the making of Lead, a particular Company undertook 
 the Mines of Mara?r.eg, and the Sieur Renaud, one of the Di- 
 rectors, furveyed them very carefully. He found here in the 
 Month of 'June laft a Bed of Lead at only the Depth of two 
 Feet through the whole Length of a Mountain, which extends 
 a great Way, and he is actually at Work upon it. He flatters 
 himfelf alfo that there is Silver under the Lead ; but every 
 Body is not of his Opinion : Time will difcover what there is 
 in it. 
 
 I arrived the next Day at the Kaftafquias at Nine in the- 
 . Morning. The Jeftiits had here a very flou- 
 
 vZ ip r :o " ° f rifhin S Miffion > which has ,atel X been di - 
 
 the Kaikalquias. v [^ e ^ - into tw0> becaufe it was thought pro- 
 per to form two Villages of Savages inftead of one. The moft 
 populous is on the Side of the MiJJijJippi ; two Jefuits (a) have 
 the Government of it in Spiritual Affairs. HaJLf a League 
 
 (a J Father Le Boulanger, and Father dt Ktrcbtn, 
 
 lower
 
 Travels in North America, 293 
 
 lower is the Fort de Chartres, about a Mu fleet Shot from the 
 River. M. Dugue de Boiforilland, a Canadian Gentleman, com- 
 mands here for the Company, to which this Place belongs ; and 
 all the Space between thefe two Places begins to be peopled with 
 French. Four Leagues farther, and a League from the River, 
 there is a large Village of French, almoft all Canadians, who 
 have a Jefuit for their Prieft (b). The fecond Village of the ////- 
 nois is two Leagues diltant from it, and farther up in the Coun- 
 try. A fourth Jefuit has the Care of it (c). 
 
 The French are here pretty much at their Eafe. A Fleming, a 
 Servant of the Jcfuits, has taught them how to fow Wheat, and it 
 thrives very well. They have fome Horned Cattle and Fowls. 
 The Illinois, on their Side, cultivate the Lands after their Man- 
 ner, and are very laborious. They alfo breed Fowls, which 
 they fell to the French. Their Wives are fufficiently dexterous : 
 They fpin the Buffalo's Wool, and make it as fine as that of the 
 Fnghjh Sheep. Sometimes one would even take it for Silk. 
 They make Stuffs of it, which they dye black, yellow, and a 
 dark red. They make Gowns of it, which they few with the 
 Thread made of the Sinews of Roe-Bucks. Their Method of 
 making this Thread is very eafy. When the Sinew is well 
 cleaned from the Flefh, they expofe it in the Sun two Days : 
 When it is dry, they beat it, and get out of it, without any 
 Trouble, a Thread as white and as fine as that of Malines, and 
 much ftronger. 
 
 The French Village is bounded on the North by a River ; the 
 Banks of which are fo high, that although the Wrters fome- 
 times rife twenty-five Feet, it feldom runs out of its Bed. All 
 this Country is open : It confiits of vail Meadows, which extend 
 for twenty-five Leagues, and which are feparated only by little 
 Groves, which are all of good Wood. There are efpecially 
 fome white Mulberry-Trees ; but I was furprized that they fuf- 
 fer the Inhabitants to cut them down to build their Houfes ; 
 and the rather, becaufe they do not want other Trees fit for that 
 Ufe. 
 
 Among the Fruit-Trees, which are peculiar to this Country* 
 P . „-> r- the moft remarkable are thofe which bear the 
 
 T t ~ Fruits called the Pacane, the Acimine, and the 
 
 Louiiiana. _. ,. . _, „ ' . XT ' r . 
 
 1 Vtakimine. 1 he racane is a i\ ut or the 
 
 Length and Shape of a large Acorn. There are fome which 
 
 have a very thin Shell, fome have a harder and thicker one, and 
 
 this is fo much taken from the Fruit : They are alfo fomething 
 
 fmaller. They are all of a very fine and delicate Tafte. The 
 
 Tree that bears them grows very high : Its Wood and Bark, iu 
 
 ft) Father Dchuulti'. (i) Father. Guymorneau. 
 
 9 Smell.
 
 294 dn tlijl or ical Journal of 
 
 Smell, and the Shape of its Leaves, appeared to me to be much 
 like the Walnut-Trees of Europe. 
 
 The Acimine is a Fruit of the Length of three or four Inches, 
 and an Inch Diameter : Its Pulp is tender, fomething fweetifh, 
 and full of a Seed like that o r the Water Melon. The Acimine 
 Tree does not grow large, nor very high. All thofe I have 
 feen, are little more than Shrubs of a brittle Wood. Its Bark is 
 thin : The Leaves are as long and large as thofe of the Chef- 
 nut-Tree, but of a darker Green. 
 
 The Piakimine is of the Shape, and a little bigger than a 
 Damfon : Its Skin is tender, its Subftance watery, its Colour 
 red ; and it has a very delicate Tafte. It has Seeds which dif- 
 fer in nothing from thofe of the Acimine, but in being fmaller. 
 The Savages make a Pafte of this Fruit, and form little Loaves 
 of it about an Inch thick, and of the Confiftence of a dry'd Pear. 
 The Tafte at firft feems a little infipid, but one grows eafily 
 us'd to it. They are very nourifhing, and a fovereign Remedy, 
 it is faid, againfl a Loofenefs and the Bloody-Flux. The Pia- 
 kimine Tree is a fine Tree, as high as our common Plumb- 
 Trees : Its Leaves have five Points : Its Wood is tolerably 
 hard, and its Bark very rough. 
 
 The O/ages, a pretty numerous Nation, fettled on the Side of 
 
 i r . t, ,i a River that bears their Name, and which 
 
 rartcus reople ■-• j-* „,.-. . , c T 
 
 , . , f i j runs into the MifTouri, about forty Leagues 
 
 ivbieb are Jetiled c T o.- -li .u \*-trtr+*.' r j 
 
 i »/f-/r from its lunchon with the Mifhmppi, lend 
 
 en the Miflouri, •" . ,, . r i ^ i 
 
 , . -r . once or twice a Year to line the Calumet 
 
 and its hnvtrons. ., . ts n r ■ i n. u 
 amougft the Kajkafquias, and are actually 
 
 there atprefent. I have alfo juft now feen a Mijfourite Woman, 
 who told me that her Nation is the firft we meet with going up 
 the MiJJpuri, from which fhe has the Name we have given her, 
 for Want of knowing her true Name. It is fituated 8o Leagues 
 from the Confluence of that P.iver with the Miffiffipfi. 
 
 Higher up we find the Canfe-z ; then the Oclotatas, which 
 fome call Maclotatas ; then the Ajouez, and then the Panis, a 
 very populous Nation, divided into feveral Cantons, which have 
 Names very, different from each other. This Woman has con- 
 firmed to me what I had heard from the Sioux, that the MiJJouri 
 rifes out of fome naked Mountains, very high, behind which 
 there is a great River, which probably rifes from them alfo, and 
 which runs to the Weft. This Teftimony carries fome Weight, 
 becaufeof all the Savages which we know, none travel farther 
 than the MiJ/burites. 
 
 All the People I have mentioned, inhabit the Weft Side of 
 n r ." . . the MifTouri. except the Ajouez, which are on 
 
 UeJcriptlCn of , t- a o'J -kt • i_l_ J r t c\- 
 
 .r T\/r/r/r ■ the Ealt Side, Neighbours of the Sioux, and 
 
 the MiiiilTippi, . . A1] . ' *> , „. , . ' 
 
 , i V,,- their Allies. Among the Rivers which run 
 
 above toe liu- intQ theM ij/^pi, above the River of the Il- 
 linois, one of the moft confiderable is the Ri- 
 vet
 
 'Travels in North America. 29^ 
 
 ver of Bulls, which is twenty Leagues diftant from the River of 
 the Illinois, and which comes from the Weft. They have disco- 
 vered in its Neighbourhood a very fine Salt-Pit. They have 
 alfo found feveral fuch on the Sides of the Mara?neg, about 
 twenty Leagues from hence. About forty Leagues further, wf 
 leave the Affenefipi, or the River of the Rock ; fo called, becaufe 
 it is over-againft a Mountain which is in the Bed of the Mifff- 
 Jippi, and where fome Travellers have affirmed there was Rock 
 Chryftal. 
 
 Twenty-five Leagues higher, we find the River Guifconfng, on 
 the Right Hand, by which Father Marquette, and the Sieur 'feint, 
 entered the Mifpffippi, when they firft difcovered it. The yljcucz, 
 who are in this Latitude, that is to fay, in about 45 . 3c. who 
 travel much, and who go, we are alfured, from twenty-five to 
 thirty Leagues a Day, when they have not their Families with 
 them, fay that fetting out from their Habitations, they come in 
 three Days to a People called Omans ; who are of a fair Com- 
 plexion, with light Hair, efpecially the Women. They add, 
 that this Nation is continually at War with the Panis, and other 
 Savages further to the Weft ; and that they have heard thera 
 fpeakof a great Lake, very diftant from them, in the Environs 
 of which there are People like the French, who have buttons to 
 their Clothes, who build Towns, who ufe Horfes for hunting 
 the Buffaloes, which they cover with Buffaloes Skins ; but who 
 have no Arms but Bows and Arrows. 
 
 On the Left, about fixty Leagues above the River of Bulls, 
 we fee the Moi>tgo7ia come out of the Midft of an immenfe and 
 magnificent Meadow, which is quite covered with Buffaloes and 
 other wild Creatures. At its Entrance into the Mijpjfippi, it has 
 little Water, and it is alfo but narrow : It has neverthele/s a 
 Courfe, as they fay, of two hundred and fifty Leagues, winding 
 from the North to the Welt. They add, that its Source is in 2 
 Lake, and that it forms a fecond fifty Leagues from the firft. 
 
 From this fecond Lake it inclines to the Left, and enters the 
 Blue Ri-ver ; thus named, becaufe of its Bottom, which is an 
 Earth of this Colour. It difcharges itfelf into the River St. 
 Peter. In going up the Moingona, they find a great deal of Coal ; 
 and when they have gone up it one hundred and fifty Leagues, 
 they perceive a gr« e, which makes the River wind ; the 
 
 Water of winch, in this Part, is red and ftinking. It is affured, 
 that many Mineral Stones have been gathered on this Cape, and 
 that Antimony has been brought hither from thence. 
 
 A League above the Mouth of the Moingona, there are two 
 Falls in the Miffifjippi* which are pretty loi,g, where they are 
 obliged to unload and tow the Pettiaugre : And above the fe- 
 cond Fall, that is to fay, twenty -one Leagues from the Moingona, 
 
 they
 
 296 An Hiflorical ^Journal of 
 
 they find on both Sides the River Lead Mines, difcovered for- 
 merly by a famous Traveller of Canada, named Nicolas Perrotp 
 and which bear his Name. Ten Leagues above the Ouifconjing, 
 on the fame Side, begins a Meadow fixty Leagues long, bordered 
 by Mountains, which make a charming Profpeft. There is 
 another Meadow on the Weft Side, but not fo long. Twenty 
 X/eagues higher than the Extremity of the firft, the River grows 
 wider, and they have named the Place the Lake de bon Secours, 
 (of good Succour). It is a League wide, and feven Leagues in 
 Compafs, and it is alfo environed with Meadows. Nicolas Per- 
 rot built a Fort on the Right. 
 
 At coming out of the Lake, we meet with Vljle Pelee, (the 
 laid If and) ; fo called, becaufe there is not one Tree in it ; but 
 it is a very fine Meadow. The French of Canada have often 
 made it the Centre of their Trade in thefe Weftern Parts ; and 
 many have wintered here, becaufe all the Country is very fit for 
 Hunting. Three Leagues below L'lfe Pelee, we leave on the 
 Right Hand the River of St. Croix, (the Holy Cro/sJ, which 
 comes from the Environs of the Upper Lake. They fay that 
 Copper ha? been found pretty near its Mouth. Some Leagues 
 further, we leave on the Left Hand the River of St. Pierre, (St. 
 Peter), the Sides of which are peopled with Sioux, and the 
 Mouth of which is not far from the Fall of St. Anthony. The 
 MiJJiJJippi is little known above this great Cafcade. 
 
 To return to the Illinois.— -If it is true which I have been af- 
 fured of in many Places, and which the Miffouritc Woman I men- 
 tioned before confirmed to me, that they and the Miami* come 
 from the Borders cf a Sea very diftant to the Weft (a), it ap- 
 pears that their firft Station, when they came down into this 
 Country, was the Moingona : At' leaft it is certain that one of 
 their Tribes bears that Name. The others are known by the 
 Names of the Peorias, the Tamarouas, the Caoquias, and the Kaf- 
 kafquias : But thefe Tribes are 'now much intermixed, and re- 
 duced to be very inconfiderable. There remains at prefent but 
 very few of the Ka/kafquias ; and the two Villages that bear 
 their Name, are almolt wholly compofed of Tamarouas, and of 
 Metcl igamias, a ftrange Nation, who came from the Borders of 
 a little River, which we fhall meet with going down the MiJJif- 
 Jrppi, and whom the Kajkafquias have adopted. 
 
 This is, Madam, all that I can at prefent inform you of, con- 
 cerning Louifana, into which I am but newly come. But be- 
 fore I finifh this Letter, I muft communicate to you fomc Ac- 
 
 (a) A Woman of the Mietnts, Prifoner of the Sioux, affured Father 
 St. Pe, at prefent Superior of the Miffions of Nc-.v France, that fhe was car- 
 ried by the Simx to a Village of her own Nation, that was very near the 
 Sea. 
 
 counts
 
 Travels in Ncrth America. 297 
 
 counts, which will ferve as a Supplement to what I have already 
 faid of the Savages in general, and which I learnt on my Route 
 from the River 67. Jofepb to this Place. 
 
 You may have obferved in the Fable of Atahcntf.c driven from 
 cr- ,. . c , Heaven, fome Traces of the Story of the 
 Traditions of the firft Woman> baniflie d from the terreltrial 
 &n of the firft Wo- p aradifej in p un ifh m ent of her Difobedi- 
 man, and of the ence . and the Tradition of the Deluge, as 
 Delu S e - well as of the Ark, in which Noah faved 
 
 himfelf with his Family. This Circumftance does not hinder 
 me from adhering to the Opinion of F. de Acofta, who thinks 
 that this Tradition does not relate to the univcrial Deluge, but 
 a particular Deluge in America. In Fact, the Algonquins, and 
 almoft all the People who fpeak their Language, taking for 
 granted the Creation of the firft Man, fay that his Pollerity be- 
 ing almoft all entirely deftroyed by a general Inundation, one 
 named Meffou, others call him Saketchak, who faw all the Earth 
 deeply covered with Waters by the overflowing of a Lake, fent 
 a Raven to the Bottom of this Abyfs, to fetch him fome Earth : 
 That this Raven not having well executed his Commiffion, he 
 fent a Mull: P^at on the fame Errand, who fucceeded better : 
 That out of this little Earth, which the Animal brought him, he 
 reftored the World to its firft State : That he fhqt Arrows into 
 the Trunks of the Trees which ftill appeared, and that thefe 
 Arrows turned into Branches : That he wrought many other 
 Miracles ; and that, in Acknowledgment of the Service which 
 the Mufk Rat had done him, he married a Female of that Spe- 
 cies, by which he had Children, which re-peopled the World : 
 That he communicated his Immortality to a certain Savage, and 
 gave it him in a little Pacquet, with Orders not to open it, on 
 the Penalty of lofing fuch a precious Gift. 
 
 The Hurcns and the Iroquois fay that Taronhiacuagon, the King 
 of Heaven, gave his Wife a Kick, fo violent, that it threw her 
 from Heaven to the E;-th : That this Woman fell upon the 
 Back of a Tortoife ; which beating off the Waters of the De- 
 luge with his Feet, he at laft discovered the Earth, and car- 
 ried the Woman to the Foot of a Tree, where fhe lay-in of 
 Twins ; and that the Elder killed the Younger. 
 
 It is not furprizing that thefe People, who are fo indifferent 
 
 _.,..,,.. _ about Things paft, and who are very little 
 
 Their Notions of , °, r t —,. . '„ ,, 
 
 , „ . n/ concerned about .things to come, mould 
 
 the otars ana rla- , v , , ? ■, tj j 
 
 have no Knowledge of the Heavens, and 
 
 fhould make no Difference between the Pla- 
 nets and fixed Stars ; unlefs it be that they divide fhe laft, as we 
 do, into Conftellations. They call the Pleiades, the Male and 
 Female Dancers. They give the Name of the B?ar to the four 
 
 Q_q urii
 
 298 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 firft of thofe we call the Great Bear ; the three others, which 
 make its Tail, are, according to them, three Hunters, who pur- 
 fue the Bear ; and the littler~Star that accompanies the middle 
 one, is the Kettle, which the fecond carries with him. The Sa- 
 vages of dcadiaca.il this Confutation and the following, fimply 
 the Great and the Little Bear : But may we not judge, that when 
 they talked in this Manner to the Sieur Le/carbot, they only re- 
 peated what they had heard from feveral of the French ? 
 
 The greateft Part of the Savages call the Pole Star, the Star 
 
 tj t L l that never moves. It is this that guides 
 
 , "^ .J n £ to them in their Travels by Night, as the Sun 
 
 *u si"*- /'"'j ' ferves them for a Compafs in the Day. They 
 Ibe My is cloudy. h ^ £ ^ 0±eT Marks tQ difting ' uifh the 
 
 North. They pretend to have obierved that the Tops of the 
 Trees always lean a little that Way, and that the inward Skin 
 of their Bark is always thicker on that Side : But they do not 
 truft fo entirely to thefe Obfervations, as not to take other Pre- 
 cautions not to go wrong, and to find their Way back when they 
 return. 
 
 As to what regards the Courfe of the Stars and Planets, the 
 Caufes of the Celeltial Phcenomenons, the Nature of Meteors, 
 and fuch-like Things, they are in all thefe Refpecls, as in 
 every Thing elfe that does not afFedl them fenlibly, in a moil 
 profound Ignorance, and a perfect Indifference. If an Eclipfe 
 happens, they imagine there is fome great Combat in the Heavens ; 
 and they fhoot many Arrows into the Air, to drive away the pre- 
 tended Enemies of the Sun and Moon. The Hurons, when the 
 Moon is eclipfed, fancy that fhe is fick ; and to recover her from 
 this Sicknefs, they make a great Noife, and accompany this 
 Noife with many Ceremonies and Prayers ; and they never fail 
 to fall upon the Dogs with Sticks and Stones, to fet them a 
 yelping, becaufe they believe the Moon loves thefe Animals. 
 
 Thefe Savages, and many others, could never be brought to 
 believe that an Eclipfe is an indifferent Thing, and purely natu- 
 ral. They expect Good or Evil from it, according to the Place 
 of the Heavens where the Planet is darkened. Nothing fur- 
 prized them more, than to fee how exaftly the Miffionaries fore- 
 told thefe Phcenomenons ; and they concluded that they mufl 
 alfo forefee their Confequences. 
 
 Thefe People are not better acquainted with the Nature of 
 Thunder: Some take it for a Voice of a particular Species of 
 Men, who fly in the Air. Others fay, the Noife comes from 
 certain Birds, that are unknown to them. According to the 
 Montagnaii, it is the Effort which a Genius makes to bring up a 
 Snake which he ha?h (wallowed, and they found this Notion on 
 
 2 obferving,
 
 Travels in North America, 299 
 
 obferving, that when the Thunder falls upon a Tree, it leaves a 
 iMark fomething like the Shape of a Snake. 
 They all reckon the Months by the Moons; the greateftNum- 
 
 <ru ■ -m r k er reckon but twelve in the Year, and fome 
 
 ,. ™r Manner of thirteen. The Inconveniencies, which may 
 binding rims. ^ frQm ^ D i ver fity, are not of any great 
 
 Confequence among People, who have no Annals, and whofe 
 Affairs do not depend on Annual Epochas. There is alfo among 
 them a great Variety in the Names of the Seafons and of the 
 Moons, becaufe in all the diiferent Nations, thefe are dif- 
 tinguifhed or marked out by their Hunting and Fifhing, their 
 Sowing and Harveft, the firft Appearance and the Fall of the 
 Leaves, the PafTage of certain Beafts and Birds, the Time when 
 the Roe-Bucks fhed their Hair, and the Rutting Time of va- 
 rious Animals ; and thefe Things vary much according to the 
 different Cantons. 
 
 There are fome Nations, where they reckon the Years by the 
 twelve Signs, unlefswhen theyfpeak of their Age, and on fome 
 other Occafions, in Regard to which they ufe the Lunar Years. 
 They have not among any of them any Diftindtion of Weeks, 
 and the Days have no particular Names in any of their Lan- 
 guages. They have four fixed Points in the Day, viz. the rifing 
 and fetting of the Sun, Noon and Midnight, and whatever 
 Weather they happen to have, they are never miftaken in thefe. 
 For the reft, that ailronomical Exa&nefs in adjufting the Lunar 
 with the Solar Years, Baron la Honian does them the Honour of 
 attributing to them, is a meer Invention of this Writer. 
 
 They have no chronological Computation, and if they preferve 
 the Epochas of certain remarkable Events, they do not compre- 
 hend exattly the Time that is pall fince : They are fatisfied with 
 remembering the Fa&s, and they have invented feveral Ways of 
 preferving the Remembrance of them. For Inftance, the Hurons 
 and the Ircquois have in their public Treafuries Belts of Proce- 
 lain, in which are wrought Figures, that revive the Memory of 
 Tranfa&ions. Others make ufe of Knots of a particular Form, 
 and if in thefe Things their Imagination labours, yet it always 
 leads them to the Point propofed. Laftly, they all reckon from 
 one to ten, the tens by ten to a hundred, the hundreds by ten to 
 a thoufand, and they go no farther in their Calculations. 
 
 lam, 8cc. 
 
 Qji 2 LETTER
 
 3 do An Uijlorical Journal of 
 
 LETTER XXVIII. 
 
 Of the Colony of the Illinois. Journey to the Akansas. Defcrip- 
 
 lion of the Country. 
 
 Madam, Kaskasquias, Nov. 8. 
 
 MY laft Letter is gone for Canada, from whence I am affured 
 that it will go fooner to France by Vljle Royal. And in- 
 deed, if it fhould happen to mifcarry by the Way, the Lofs would 
 not be great. I begin this again at the Kajka/quias, but, accord- 
 ing to all Appearances, I fhall not finjfh it here. I have been 
 here above a Month, and I am haftening my Departure as much 
 as pofiible. 
 
 As I have as yet feenin Louijiana only this Poft, the firft of 
 
 The Vfefulnefs of ? n , by Right ° f Anti( l uit y> l cannot J ud £ e of 
 i r> n r i t\ it by Comparifon with others. But it ap- 
 the Poft of the II- - J : - r ,. J~ _ • , . a j 
 
 y - J J pears certam to me, that it has two Advan- 
 
 tages, one of which can never be difputed, 
 and the other renders it at prefent neceflary to the whole Province. 
 The firft arifes from its Situation, which is near Canada, with 
 which it will always have a Communication equally ufeful to the 
 two Colonies. The fecond is, that it may be made the Granary 
 of Louijiana, which it can fupply with Plenty of Wheat, though 
 it mould be quite peopled down to the Sea. 
 
 The Land is not only fit to bear Wheat, but has hitherto refu- 
 fed nothing that is necefiary for the Food of Man. The Climate 
 is very mild, in thirty-eight Degrees, thirty-nine Minutes North 
 Latitude : It would be very eafy to encreafe Flocks here. They 
 might alfo tame the wild Buffaloes, from which they would ob- 
 tain a great Benefit in the Trade of their Wool and Hides, and 
 for the Snftenance of the Inhabitants. 
 
 The Air is good here, and if we fee fome Diftempers, we may 
 attribute them only to Poverty and Diffblutenefs, and perhaps 
 in fome fmall Degree to the Lands newly turned up ; but this 
 laft Inconvenience will not continue always, and the Climate 
 will not at "all affect thofe who hereafter 'fhall be born here. 
 Laftly we are affured of the Illinois, more than of any Nation of 
 Savages in Canada, if we except the Abenaquis. They are almoft 
 all Chrifiians, of a mild Difpofition, and at all Times very af- 
 fectionate to the French, 
 
 I am
 
 Travels in North America. 301 
 
 1 am here, Madam, one hundred and fifty Leagues from the 
 
 r r u Place where I began this Letter : I am going 
 
 Extreme Lota. fQ fini(h ^ herCj and truft k ^ & Traveller> 
 
 who reckons to be at Neva Orleans much fooner than I, becaufe 
 he will flop no where, and I muft make fome Stay at the 
 Natchez. I had depended on two Things on leaving the Illinois ; 
 the firft, that as I was going down a very rapid River, and on 
 which I was in no Danger of being itopt by thofe Falls and 
 Torrents fo frequent in the Rivers of Canada, I fliould not be 
 long in my Journey, though I had near four hundred Leagues to 
 go, becaufe of the Windings which the River makes. The fe- 
 cond was, that my Route being all the Way to the South, it 
 would be quite unnecefTary to take any Precautions againft the 
 Cold ; but I was miftaken in both. I found myfelf obliged to 
 fail ltill flower than I had done on the Lakes, which I was 
 obliged to crofs, and I fuffer'd a Cold as piercing as any I had 
 ever felt at Quebec. 
 
 It is true, that it was (till quite another Thing at the Kajkafquz- 
 as, which I had left a few Days before; for the River, as I heard 
 on my Route, was foon frozen in fuch a Manner that they went 
 upon it in Carriages. It is notwithstanding a good half League 
 wide at that Place, and more rapid than the Rhone. This is the 
 more furprizing, as generally excepting fome flight F rolls, caufed 
 by the North and North Weil: Winds, the Winter in this Coun- 
 try is fcarcely perceivable. The River was not frozen where I 
 was, but I was all Day in an open Pettiaugre, and by Confe- 
 quence expofed to all the Injuries of the Air, and as I had taken 
 no Precaution againft the Cold which Idid not expect, I found 
 it very fevere (a). 
 
 If I could have made more Way, I fhould have found every 
 
 a-i 71 j r Day a feniible Decreafe of the Cold ; but we 
 
 l l be Manner of '„ , j,,.^,^ . . , „ ' , 
 
 . . . J muft navigate the MiiJimppi with Prudence. 
 naviffatrnv the , XT , ° j-i u j r\ 
 
 M"<f{T We do not readily hazard ourielves upon it 
 
 'PP 1, j n Canoes of Bark, becaufe the River al- 
 
 ways bringing down a great Number of Trees, which fall from 
 it's Sides, or which are broughtintoit by the Rivers it receives; 
 many of thefe Trees are flopt in pafiing by a Point, or on a 
 Shoal ; fo that every Moment one is expofed to run upon a 
 Branch or againft a Root hidden under the Water, and there 
 needs no more to fpilt thefe brittle Carriages; efpecially when 
 to fhun an Enemy's Party, or for any other Reafon, we proceed 
 in the Night, or fet out before Day. 
 
 Therefore one is obliged to ufe Pettiaugres infeead of Canoes 
 of Bark, that is to fay. Trunks of Trees made hollow, which are 
 
 (a) This Lifted two Months. 
 
 not
 
 3° 2 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 rot fubjecttothefame Inconveniences, but which are very clum- 
 
 fv, and are not managed as we pleafe. I am in one which is made 
 
 of a Walnut-Tree, fo narrow that it will not bear a Sail ; and 
 
 my Conductors accuftomed, to the little Paddles, which they ufe 
 
 in the Canoes, find it difficult to manage the Oars. Add to this, 
 
 if the Wind is a litae frefh, the Water comes into the Pettiaugre, 
 
 and this frequently happens at this Seafon of the Year. 
 
 It was the tenth of November, at Sun-fet, that I embarked on 
 
 yrr! , T the little River of Kalkafquias : I had but two 
 
 Why the Leaves T , ,,. rrr r /* ' u , .- r 
 
 ■Pill f J t, -L^gues to the Mij/tffippi, neverthelefs I was 
 
 ja jojGcn, a p- \y\[„ e ^ to encarnp at about half Wav, and the 
 
 pear Jo late on the °-p. T ,5 , , r T - 
 
 •C- f \ -r next ■L' a y I could make but fix Leagues on 
 
 rees °J ' the River. The Leaves fall fooner in this 
 
 Country than in France, and new ones do not 
 
 appear till the End of May ; and yet it very feldom fnows here, 
 
 and I have already obferved that the Winters here are generally 
 
 very mild. What then can be the Reafon of this Backwardnefs ? 
 
 I can fee no other than the Thicknefs of the Foreits, which hia- 
 
 ders the Earth from being fo foon warmed, to make the Sap 
 
 xife. 
 
 The 1 2th, after having gone two Leagues, I left Cape St. Antho- 
 
 f)f IP// "J on the left Hand. It is here that we begin 
 
 to fee Canes or Reeds : They are much like 
 thofe which grow in many Places of Europe, but they are higher 
 and ftronger. It is faid that they are never feen but in a good 
 Soil; but the Lands where they grow mull be moift, and of Con- 
 sequence fitter for Rice than Wheat. They do not take the Pains 
 to puil them up, when they would clear the Land where they 
 grow ; and indeed it would not be very eafy to do it, their knotty 
 Roots being very long, and joined together by a great Number of 
 Filaments, which extend a great Way. Thefe Roots have natu- 
 rally a pretty fine Polifh, and come near to thofe of the Bamboos 
 of Japan; of which they make the fine Canes which the Dutch 
 fell by the Name of Rottangs. 
 
 They content themfelves therefore when they would cultivate 
 a Field covered with thefe Reeds, to cut them 
 
 Hhyfr heat has dmvn at the Foot . and then leave them to 
 not Jucceeded in ^ and afterwards burn them . The Afhes 
 Loumana. ferye them fo? Manure> and the Fire opens 
 
 the Pores of the Earth, which they ftir lightly, and then fow what 
 they pleafe ; Rice, Maiz, Water Melons, in a Word all Sorts of 
 Grain and Pulfe, except Wheat, which in thefe rich Soils moots 
 into Straw and produces no Ears. This Defect might be remedied 
 by throwing Sand on this SoiL and by fowing Maiz on it for 
 fome Years, 
 
 Ai
 
 Travels in North America. 303 
 
 As for the high Grounds, and others, which are not expofed to 
 the Inundations of the River, they are very fit at prefent to 
 bear Wheat, and if the Trials which they have made in fome 
 Places have not fucceeded, becaufe the Grain grew fmutty, it 
 was becaufe the Country not being open enough, the Air is too 
 much confined to difperfe the Mifts that breed the Smut. The 
 Proof of this is, that among the Illinois, where there are mere 
 Meadows than Woods, Wheat grows up and ripens as well 
 as in Frame. 
 
 The 13th, after a very hot Night, we went about three 
 Leagues in Spite of a South Wind, which was continually blow- 
 ing ftronger and ftronger, and which became at laft fo violent, 
 that it obliged us to flop. A great Rain made it fall in the 
 Evening, and about Midnight there arofe a North Weft Wind, 
 which began the extreme Cold I have mentioned. To com- 
 pleat our ill Luck, an Accident ftopt us all the next Pay, tho' 
 it was not fafe for us to remain where we were. It is' not long 
 fince that the Cberokees killed forty Frenchmen here, at whole 
 Head was a Son of M. de Ramezai, Governor of Montreal, and 
 one of the Baron de Longueuil's, the King's Lieutenant for the 
 fame Town. Bcfides thefe Savages, who are not yet reconciled 
 to ns, the Outagatr.is, the Sioux, and the Cbicachas, kept us in 
 great Uneafinefs, and I had with me only three Men. 
 
 The 15th, the Wind changed to the North, and the Cold en- 
 
 p. n V* creafed. We went four Leagues to the 
 
 , /w u v. ^ South, then we found that the River turned 
 
 che (Wabachej. four Leagues to the Northi Immediately 
 
 after this Reach, we palled on the Left by the fine River Oual . 
 (Wabache), by which one may go quite up to the Iroquois, 
 when the Waters are high. Its Entrance into the MijfiJJippi is 
 little lefs than a Quarter of a League wide. There is no Place 
 in Louifiana more fit, in my Opinion, for a Settlement than this, 
 nor where it is of more Confequence to have one. All the 
 Country that is watered by the Ouabacbe, and by the Ohio that 
 runs into it, is very fruitful : It confiib of vaft Meadows, well 
 watered, where the wild Buffaloes feed by Thoufands. Fur- 
 thermore, the Communication with Canada is as eafy as by 
 the River of the Illinois, and the Way much fhorter. A Fort, 
 with a good Garrifon, would keep the Savages in Awe, espe- 
 cially the Cberokees, who are at prefent the moll numerous Na- 
 tion of this Continent. 
 
 Six Leagues below the Mouth of the Ouabacbe, we find on 
 
 r ,.. the fame Side a very high Coait,, on which 
 
 Iron Mines. thgy fay there ^ Iron M ; nes . We went a 
 
 great Way this Day, which was the 1 6th ; but we faflered 
 
 much
 
 304 Ail Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 much by the Cold : It ftill encreafed the following Days, tho* 
 the Wind was changed to South South Weft. We were alfo 
 obliged to break the Ice, tho' it was indeed but thin, to get 
 forward. The 19th, we went four Leagues, after which a South 
 Wind ftopt us fhort. I never felt a North Eaft Wind lharper 
 than this from the South. It is very probable, that is was ftill 
 the North Eaft Wind that blew, but which the Land reflected 
 fometimes one Way, and fometimes another, as we turned with 
 the River. 
 
 We meet on this Route with a Kind of wild Cats, called 
 . . Pijenx, which are verv much like our's, but 
 
 tVtMLats.Wal- ^ j obferved Yome that had fhorter 
 
 nut Trees, and their ^^ Md othe „ that had much longer> and 
 rroperties. bigger : They alfo look very wild, and they 
 
 aftured me, that they are very carnivorous and good Hunters. 
 The Foreih are full of Walnut- Trees, like thofe of Canada, and 
 their Roots have feveral Properties, which I have not heard re- 
 marked of the others. They are very foft, and their Bark dyes 
 a black Colour ; but their principal Ufe is for Phytic. They 
 flop the Flux of the Belly, and are an excellent Emetic. 
 
 The twentieth it fnowed all Day, and we never ftirred : The 
 Weather grew milder, but the next Night the South Weft Wind 
 cleared the Sky, and the Cold began again with the greateft Se- 
 verity. The next Morning fome Brandy, which we had left 
 all Night in the Pettiaugre was found thick like frozen Oil ; and 
 fome Spanifh Wine which I had for the Mafs was frozen. The 
 farther we went down it, the more we found that the River wind- 
 ed; the Wind followed all thefe Turnings, and which Way fo- 
 ever it came, theCold was ftill exceflive. They had never known 
 any Thing like it in this Country in the Memory of Man. 
 
 The fame Day we perceived on the right Side of the River 
 - , , , a Poll fet up : We went near it, and we 
 
 w ■ V found ^ was a Monument fet up by the ////- 
 
 nois, for an Expedition they had lately made 
 againft the Chicachas. There were two Figures of Men without 
 Heads, and fome entire. The firft denoted the Dead, and the 
 fecond the Prifoners. One of my Conductors told me on this 
 Occafion, that when there are any French among either, they {et 
 their Arms a-kimbc, or their Hands upon their Hips, to diftin- 
 guifh them from the Savages, whom they reprefent with their 
 Arms hanging down. This Diftin&ion is not purely arbitrary; 
 it proceeds trom thefe People having obferved that the French 
 often put themfelves in this Pofture, which is not ufed among 
 them. 
 
 Qarcilaffh
 
 Travels in North America. 305 
 
 Garcilajfo de la Vega fpeaks of the Chicacbas in his Hiftory of 
 
 nr U ru- tne Conqueft of Florida, and places them 
 
 kjj the l,btca- ne „ rIy in the fame piace where they are at 
 
 c prefent. He reckons them among the People 
 
 of Florida who fubmitted to the Spaniards: But this pretended 
 Submiflion lafted no longer than the Spaniards continued in their 
 Neighbourhood ; and it is certain that the Spaniards bought the 
 Vittorv dear which they gained over them. They are fill the 
 braveit Soldiers of Lomjiana. They were much more numerous 
 in the Time of Ferdinand de Soto than they are at prefent; but for 
 the Riches, which this Hiilorian gives them, I do not eafiiy con- 
 ceive neither from where they could get them, nor what could dry 
 up the Source from whence they derived them; for they are now 
 neither more wealthy, nor lefs favage, than their Neighbour 
 Nations. 
 
 It was our Alliance with the Illinois, which fet us at War with 
 the Chicacbas, and the Er.glijh of Carolina blow up the Fire. Our 
 Settlement in Louifiana makes them very uneafy : It is a Barrier, 
 which we fet between their powerful Colonies of North America, 
 and Mexico, and we mult expect they will employ all Sorts of 
 Means to break it. The Spaniards, who are (o jealous of feeing 
 us fortify ourfelves in this Country, are not yet fenfible of the 
 
 Importance of the Service we do them. A few Days after I 
 
 had pafi'ed by the Place where we faw the Poft of the Illinois, the 
 Chicacbas had their Revenge on two Frenchmen, who followed me 
 in a Peitiaugre. Thefe Savages lay in Ambufh in the Reeds, by 
 the Side of the River, and when they faw the Frenchmen over- 
 againft them, they moved the Reeds, withour difcovering them- 
 felves ; the Frenchmen thought that it was a Bear, or fqme other 
 Bead, and they approached, thinking to kill it; but the Mo- 
 ment they prepared to land, the Chicacbas fired upon them, and 
 laid them dead in their Pettiaugre. I was very fortunate in not 
 being feen by them, for my People would lofe no Opportunity 
 of going after Game. 
 
 The 23d, after a very cold Night, we had a very fine Day ; 
 
 for though the Earth was covered with 
 
 n ,.7 °J •. Snow, the Cold was to be borne. The next 
 
 Ulucacftas. ^^ we ^^ he c ore the Mouth of the 
 
 River of the Chicacbas, which is but narrow, but it comes 
 a great Way. Its Mouth is North and South. They reckon 
 from thence to the Kajka/quias eighty fix Leagues ; but the 
 Way would not be half fo much by Land. Nothing would 
 be more pleafant than this Navigation, if the Sealbn was mil- 
 der : The Country is charming, and in the Forefts there ar; a 
 Number of Trees always green ; the few Meadow* we meet 
 with, alio preferve their Verdure, and a confiderable Number of 
 
 . R r Wi
 
 306 An Hijfcrical Journal of 
 
 Hands well wooded, fomc of which are pretty large, form very 
 agreeable Canals, where the largeft Ships may pafs : For they 
 fay, that at above a hundred and fifty Leagues from the Sea, they 
 find in this River even to fixty Fathom Water. 
 
 As to what concerns the Forefts, which cover almoft all this 
 _.. _ „ - great Country, there are perhaps none in the 
 3 he Forefs of WoHd that ^ comparable to them, if we 
 
 Louihana. confider either the Bignefs and Height of 
 
 the Trees, or the Variety, and the Ufes" that maybe made of 
 them ; for excepting Woods for dying, which require a warmer 
 Sun, and which are found only between the Tropicks, we can- 
 not fay that there is any Kind of Wood wanting here. There 
 are Woods of Cyprefs that extend eight or ten Leagues. All the 
 Cyprefs Trees here are of a Bignefs proportionable to their Height, 
 which exceeds that of the higheft Trees in France. We begin to 
 be acquainted in Europe with that Species of Ever-Green 
 Laurel, which we call the Tulip Tree, from the Shape of its 
 Flowers. It grows higher than our Horfe-Chefnut Trees, and 
 has a finer Leaf. The CopcJmc is ftill bigger and higher, and 
 there diflills from it a Balfam, which perhaps is not much in- 
 ferior to that of Peru. All the known Species of Walnuts are 
 here very numerous, and alfo ail the Woods that are fit for 
 Building, and the Carpenters Ufe, that can be defsred : But in 
 ufing them, Care muft be taken not to fix upon thofe which grow 
 on the Side of the River, nor where the Inundation of the River 
 reaches, becaufe having their Roots continually in the Water, 
 they will be too heavy, and will foon rot. 
 
 At length, I arrived Yefterday, December the 2d, at the firil 
 Village of the Akanfai, or Akanfeas, about ten in the Morning. 
 This Village is built in a little Meadow, on the Weft Side of 
 the Mijfjfppi. There are three others in the Space of eight 
 Leagues, a'nd each makes a Nation, or particular Tribe : There 
 is alfo one of the four which unites two Tribes ; but they are 
 all comprifed under the Name of Akanfas. They call the Sa- 
 vages which inhabit the Village from whence I write, Ouyapes. 
 The Weftern Company have a Magazine here which expe&s 
 fome Merchandizes, and a Clerk, who fares but poorly in the 
 mean Time, and who is heartily weary of living here. 
 
 The River of the Akanfas, which they fay comes a great Way, 
 
 r> r ■, • r,i runs into the MiJJiffippi by two Channels, four 
 
 Defcrtpnanoftbe ^ diftant ^m each other. The firft 
 
 RwftbeAkm- . S h , from hence> This River 
 
 comes, as they fay, from the Country of cer- 
 tain Savages, whom they call the Black Pams, and I think they 
 are the fame which are more commonly known by the Name of 
 Panis Ricaras. I have with me a Slave of this Nation. One 
 
 goes
 
 Travels in North America. 307 
 
 goes up the River of the Man/as with Difficulty, becaufe there 
 
 are many Falls or Torrents in it, and in many Places the 
 
 Waters are often fo low, that there is a Neceflity to tow the 
 
 Petiaugres. 
 
 The Separation of its two Branches is made at feven Leagues 
 
 n ^ ., above the fecond, and the fmalleft of its two 
 
 ,?^T r Mouths, but only at two Leagues above 
 
 of the Akanfas. ^ ^ Jt recc : ves a fine River that cornes 
 
 from the Country of the Ofagcs, and which they call La Riviere 
 blanche (the White River): Two Leagues higher are the Tori- 
 mas, and the Topingas, who make but one Village. Two 
 Leagues higher are the Sothcuis. The Kappas are a little farther. 
 This Nation was very numerous in the Time of Ferdinand de 
 Soto, and even when M. de la Sale finifhed the Difcovery of the 
 Mijfijjippi. Over againft their Village, we fee the fad Ruins 
 of Mr. Law's Grant, of which the Company remains the Pro- 
 prietors. 
 
 It was here that the nine Thoufand Germans were to be fent, 
 j.. - , which were raifed in the Palatinate, and 
 i\j. r. Law s ^ g rcat pj tv t j ie y. never came h ere> There 
 
 is not perhaps in all Louijiana a Country more 
 
 fit, after that of the Illinois, to produce all Sorts of Grain, and 
 
 to feed Cattle. But Mr. Law was ill ufed, as well as the greateft 
 
 Part of the other Grantees. It is very probable, that in a long 
 
 Time they will not again make the like Levies of Men ; they 
 
 have Need of them in the Kingdom, and indeed it is pretty 
 
 common among us to fquare our Meafures according to the Suc- 
 
 cefsoffuchEnterprizes, inltead of obierving what their Mif- 
 
 carriage was owing to, in order to correct what was before done 
 
 amifs. 
 
 I found the Village of the Ouyapes in the greateft Defolation. 
 
 , . .. Not long fince, a Frenchman paffing this Way 
 
 Mortally among ^ ^^ ^ ^ Small .p ox . The DiJ i 
 
 as " temper was communicated prefently to fome 
 
 Savages, and foon after to the whole Village. The Burying- 
 Place appears like a Foreft of Poles and Polls newly fet up, and 
 on which there hangs all Manner of Things : There is every 
 Thing which the Savages ufe. 
 
 I had fet up my Tent pretty near the Village, and all the 
 Night I heard weeping ; the Men do this as well as the Wo- 
 men : They repeated without ceafing hihahani, as the Illinois 
 do, and in the fame Tone. I alfo faw in the Evening a Wo- 
 man, who wept over the Grave of her Son, and who poured 
 upon it a great Quantity of Sagamitty. Another had made a Fire 
 by a neighbouring Tomb, in all Appearence to warm the Dead. 
 The Akanfas are reckoned to be the taileft and bell ihaped of 
 
 R r 2 all
 
 S-3 An 7 of 
 
 igesof ti C • and they are called by Way 
 
 of E rbs Jhie Mek. It is though: perhaps tor this 
 
 Reafon, that thev liave the fame Origin as the Can/tx of the 
 
 ALj . . and the of Connie. But rr.y Pettiaugre is 
 
 e only Ti. K to cloie rny Letter, after having 
 
 I bat 
 
 LETTER XXIX. 
 
 : r Akansas /o fAc Natchez. Dtfcriptio* ■• " .- ' 
 Canity: Of the River of the Y a sous : Of tie M ., CV/^- 
 
 . _ . . z z . 
 
 '.:, .->j Natchez, ZXv. rr. 
 
 IDera. : 3d of Decemier fometh e from the Vilb 
 
 . the Ouyafes ; r.everthelefs I went ::> er.camp 
 low the oath of the River of the Alt* r.ich appear- 
 
 ed to me to be red Pace ide. The 
 
 I paffed by the fecc: ich is very narrow, and the 5:. 
 
 we poihed or. 6c La I Point cut vff A . This v. 
 
 :y high Point, which :ed into the River on the Weil 
 
 cot it off, and made it an II 
 ... table, but in I ifi Time cf the Fk i 
 
 They reckon fi ;etothe -"the Rive, 
 
 of the A U but it : perhaps tea 
 
 in a : . : or the inds nnch in the I . 
 
 .: of the Ourzpes to the Rii 
 the Y hi entered the 9th ir. 
 
 It has not I here, as in the Country of the Win a 3 
 
 at t bnt there has fallen a hoar Froft, which 
 
 has :h the low Points and 
 
 .ould think that fome one had 
 br: : 1 Stick. 
 
 Tht . f the i :::, ar. rl 
 
 Sr mdred Perches 
 
 ereddifh, a 
 " "" -.lux to the:" rink 
 
 : And betides 1 cnwholfome. I 
 
 obliged tog: .:: it 3 1 te get tx the F r:, rich I found 
 
 . zart, who commanded 
 _.._-■.■ - .
 
 Travels in North America. .09 
 
 I had heard very high Elogiums of this Officer, who was born 
 in Canada: His Father was a Si: Us, and a Major at Montreal. 
 At the Tafcus they told me extraordinary Things cf his Reli- 
 gion, his Piety, and his Zeal, of which he was the Victim. 
 Every Body regretted him as their Father, and every one a- 
 grees, that this Colony in lofing him has had an irreparable 
 Lofs. 
 
 He had chofen a bad Situation for his Fort, and he was 
 
 r^r l r ? preparing, when he died, to remove it a 
 
 f, i f League higher in a ve: . . where 
 
 1 aious. t j ie j^ r - is more Wealthy, ^.d where there is 
 
 a Village of Yafous, mixed with Corneas and Ofbgoulas, which 
 
 all together may have at mofh two hundred Men fit to bear 
 
 Arms. We live pretty well with them, but do not put too 
 
 much Confidence in them, on Account of the Connections 
 
 which the Tafcus have always had with the £ 
 
 There are many Caimans in this River, and If. which 
 
 . n . were at leait from twelve to fifteen Feet long. 
 
 Of the Caimans v> - £ hear &em {diom but ^ the N£ght> and 
 
 cr Lroco. ^^ Cfy fo much refemb i es the Be] ; , 
 
 of Bulls, '.: deceives one. Our Fremcb People neverthelefs 
 
 it as freely as tl aid in the St Ai I declared my 
 
 Surprife at it, they replied, that there was no Caufe to fear; that 
 
 .hen the Water, they fa-. almoft 
 
 .vs furrounded with Caimans, bat they never came near 
 
 them, that they feemed only to watch to feize upon them at the 
 
 nent of their coming out of the River; .at then to 
 
 . e them away, /red the Water with a Stick, which 
 
 they always had the Precaution to carry with them, and tJ 
 
 made thefe Animals run away far enough to give them Time 
 
 to get out of D: 
 
 The Company has in this Pcft a Magazine ct Expe&at 
 . „ , ,, as at the Jianfas ; but the d the L 
 
 . A Gnv;i ba *9 belongs to a Society compofed of AI. ht. 
 ::d ' Secretary cf State,' of M. k Co??::: de 1 
 
 .uis d\ .: ::. ' BL . Brigadier En- 
 
 gineer. The Iafi is in the Colony with the Title of Director 
 General cf the Company. I can fee no Rsafon why they chefe 
 the River of the ." the Place of their Grant. There 
 
 was certainlv Choice of better Land?, and a better Situation. It 
 is true, that it is of Irr fecure this River, the Source 
 
 of which is not far from Carolina ; bat a Fort 3ar- 
 
 rifon to keep under the Yafo-us, who are Allies to the CbicacBas, 
 would be fufficient for that Purpofe. It is not the Way to fettle 
 a Colony on a folid Foundation, to be obliged : : d be on 
 
 their Guard againft the Savages who are Neighbours of the I 
 lilb. 
 
 Ide-
 
 ji o An Hiji or ical Journal of 
 
 I departed from the Tafous the ioth ; and the 13th, had it 
 
 #-> is j a not b een f° r a Natche Savage, who had afkqd 
 
 iaulf and ^uar- his p aflage of me t0 return hbme , j y 
 
 been loft in a Gulf, which none of my Con- 
 ductors knew, and which one does not difcover till one is fo 
 far engaged in it, that it is impoffible to get out. It is on the 
 Left Hand, at the Foot of a great Cape, where they affirm 
 there is a Quarry of very good Stone : This is what they are 
 moft afraid of wanting in this Colony ; but in Recompence, 
 they may make as many Brick as they pleafe. 
 
 The 15th we arrived at the Natchez,. This Canton, the fined, 
 
 ^ r . . r the moft fertile, and the mofl populous of 
 
 Oejmptton of aU Louifi is forty Leagues diftant from 
 
 the Country of the ^ y^ and Qn the fame Rand> The 
 
 JNatchez. Landing-Place is over-againft a pretty high 
 
 Hill, and very fteep ; at the Foot of which runs a little Brook, 
 jhat can receive only Boats and Pettiaugres. From this firft Hill 
 we afcend a fecond fmaller one, and not fo fteep, at the Top 
 of which they have built a Kind of Redoubt, inclofed with a 
 Single Palifade. They have given this Intrenchment the Name 
 of a Fort. 
 
 Several little Hills rife above this Hill, and when we have 
 paffed them, we fee on every Side great Meadows, divided by 
 little Clumps of Trees, which have a very fine Effedr.. The 
 Trees moft common in thefe Woods are the Walnut and the 
 Oak ; and all about the Lands are excellent. The late M. 
 d' Iberville, who was the firft that entered the Mijfijpppi by its 
 Mouth, being come as high as the Natchez, found this Country 
 fo charming, and fo advantageoufiy fituated, that he thought he 
 could find no better Situation for the Metropolis of the new Co- 
 lony. He traced out the Plan of it, and intended to call it Ro- 
 jalle, which was the Name of Madam, the Chancellor's Lady of 
 Font char train. But this Project is not likely to be foon exe- 
 cuted, though our Geographers have always roundly fet down 
 5n their Maps, the Town of Rofalie at the Natchez. 
 
 It is certain that we muft begin by a Settlement nearer the 
 Sea : But if Lauijiana ever becomes a flourifhing Colony, as 
 may very well happen, I am of Opinion that they cannot find a 
 better Situation for the Capital than in this Place. It is not 
 fubjeft to the Inundation of the River, the Air is pure, and 
 the Country very extenfive, the Soil is fit for every Thing, 
 and well watered, it is not too far from the Sea, and nothing 
 Jhinders Ships from coming hither. Laftly, it is near all the 
 Places where, according as appears, there is any Defign to make 
 Settlements. The Company have a Ware-houfe, and keep a 
 Clerk here, who has not as yet much Employment. 
 
 Among
 
 'Travels in North America. 3 1 1 
 
 Among a great Number of particular .Grants, which are al- 
 ready in a Condition of producing fomething, there are two of 
 the firft Magnitude ; that is to fay, four Leagues fquare : One 
 belongs to a Society of St.Malo, who bought it of M. Hubert* 
 governing Commifi'ary, and Prefident of the Council of Lcuiji- 
 tma : The other belongs to the Company, who have fent hither 
 fome Workmen from Clcrac to make Tobacco here. Thefe two 
 Grants are fo fituated, that they make an exact Triangle with 
 the Fort, and the Diftance of one Angle from the other is a 
 League. Half Way between the two Grants, is the great Vil- 
 lage of the Natchez. I have carefully vifited all thefe Places : 
 And here follows an Account of what I found moft remarkable. 
 
 The Grant of iheMaloins is well fituated ; it wants nothing to 
 make an Improvement of the Land but Negroes, or hired Servants. 
 I mould prefer the laft : When the Time of their Service is ex- 
 pired, they become Inhabitants, and encreafe the Number of the 
 King's natural Subjefts ; whereas the firft are always Strangers: 
 And who can be allured, that by continually encreafing in our 
 Colonies, they will not one Day become formidable Enemies ! 
 Can we depend upon Slaves, who are only attached to us by 
 Fear, and for whom the very Land where they are born has not 
 the dear Name of Mother Country f 
 
 The firft Night I lay in this Habitation, there was a great 
 Alarm about Nine at Night. I enquired the Caufe of it, and 
 rheytold me that there was in the Neighbourhood a Beaft of an 
 unknown Species, of a monftrous Size, and the Cry of which 
 refembled no Animal that we knew. However, no Perfon af- 
 firmed that he had feen it, and they only guefied at its Size by 
 its Strength. It had already carried off fome Sheep and Calves, 
 and killed fome Cows. I faid to thofe who told me this Story, 
 that a mad Wolf might have done all this ; and as to the Cry, 
 People were miftaken every Day. I could bring no Body to be 
 of my Opinion ; they would have it, that it was a monftrous 
 Beaft : They had juft then heard it, and they ran out armed with 
 rhe firft Thing they could find, but all to no Purpofe. 
 
 The Grant of the Company is ftill more advantageoufly fitu- 
 r ^ ated than that of the Maloins. The fame 
 buccejs of Ri ver waters both, and afterwards difcharges 
 bacco in this Lan- itfdf intQ the Mi jji^ pp ^ tw0 Leagues from 
 the Grant of the Maloins, to which a mag- 
 nificent Cyprefs Wood, of fix Leagues Extent, makes a Screen, 
 that covers all the back Parts. Tobacco has fucceeded very well 
 here, but the Workmen of Ckrac are almoft all returned to 
 France. 
 
 I favr 
 
 - M . •»•*_*»>
 
 32 2 An Hijorical Journal of 
 
 I faw in the Garden of the Sieur le Noir, chief Clerk, very 
 
 C tt Ind' ^ ne Cotton on tne Tree, and a little lower 
 
 on, n igo. we ^ e gj n to fe e f orne vv jj(j l nc llg 0; They 
 
 have not yet made a Trial of it ; but Jt is very likely that it 
 will turn out as well as that they found in the Ifland of St. Do- 
 mingo, which is as much efteemed there as that which is brought 
 from other Places. And furthermore, Experience teaches us 
 that the Soil which naturally produces Indigo, is very lit to 
 bear any foreign Sort that one chufes to fow in it. 
 
 The great Village of the Natchez, is at prefent reduced to a 
 
 r% r "**i f ver y ^ eu Cabins. The Reafon which I 
 
 j of v-fLg heard for it is, that the Savages, from whom 
 
 ..je g }ea *,& e - the Great Chief has a Right to take all they 
 
 and the temple of , r f „ , . ° . * 
 
 flk Natchez ve ' g as • as . ey can ' and 
 
 therefore many Villages of this Nation have 
 
 been formed at fome Diftance from this. The Tioux, their Al- 
 lies and our's, have alfo fettled a Village in their Neighbour- 
 hood. 
 
 The Cabins of the great Village of the Natchez, the only 
 one I faw, are in the Shape of a fquare Paviilion, very low, 
 and without Windows ; the Top is rounded much like an 
 Oven : The greateft Part are covered with the Leaves and Stalks 
 of Maiz ; fome are built of Clay mixed with cut Straw, which 
 feemed to me to be tolerably ftrong, and which were covered 
 within and without with very thin Mats. That of the Great 
 Chief is very neatly plaiftered in the Infide : It is alfo larger 
 and higher than the reft, placed on a Spot fomething elevated, 
 and Hands alone, no other Building adjoining to it on any Side. It 
 fronts the North, with a large open Place before it, which is not 
 of the moft regular Figure. All the Furniture I found in it was a 
 narrow Couch of Boards, raifed about two or three Feet from the 
 Ground. Probably when the Great Chief wants to lie down, 
 he fpreads a Mat upon it, or fome Skin. 
 
 There was not a Soul in the Village : All the People were 
 gone to a neighbouring Village, where there was a Feaft, and 
 all the Doors were open ; but there was nothing to fear from 
 Thieves, for there was nothing to be feen any where but the bare 
 Walls. Thefe Cabins have no Vent for the Smoke, neverthe- 
 lefs, all thofe which I entered, were white enough. The Tem- 
 ple is very near the Great Chief's Cabin, turned towards * 
 the Eaft, and at the End of the open Place. It is compofed of 
 the fame Materials as the Cabins, but its Shape is different; it 
 is a long Square, about forty Feet by twenty wide, with a com- 
 mon Roof, in Shape like our's. At the two Ends there Is to Ap- 
 pearance like two Weather-cocks of Wood, which reprefent very 
 indifferently twoEagk 
 
 The
 
 Travels in North America. 3 1 3 
 
 The Door is in the midft of the Length of the Building, 
 which has no other Opening : On each Side there are Benches of 
 Stones. The Infide anfwers perfectly this ruftick Outfide. 
 Three Pieces of Wood, which touch at the Ends, and which 
 are placed in a Triangle, or rather equally diilant from each 
 other, take up almoft all the Midft of the Temple. Thefe 
 Pieces are on Fire, and burn flowly. A Savage, whom they 
 call the Keeper of the Temple, is obliged to tend the Fire, 
 and prevent its going out. U it is cold, he may have his Fire 
 apart, but he is not allowed to warm himfelf at that which burns 
 in Honour of the Sun. This Keeper was alfo at the Feaft, 
 at leaft I faw him not ; and his Brands made fuch a Smoke that it 
 blinded us. 
 
 As to Ornaments, I faw none, nor abfolutely any Thing that 
 could make me know that I was in a Temple. I faw only three 
 or four Chefts placed irregularly, in which there was lome 
 dry Bones, and upon the Ground fome wooden Heads, a little 
 better wrought than the two Eagles on the Roof. In fhort, if I 
 had not found a Fire here, I mould have thought that this Tem- 
 ple had been a long Time abandoned, or that it had been plun- 
 dered. Thofe Cones wrapped up in Skins, which fome Rela^ 
 tions fpeak of ; thofe Bodies of the Chiefs ranged in a Circle 
 in a round Temple, terminating in a Kind of Dome ; that Al- 
 tar, CSV. I faw nothing of all this. If Things were thus in 
 Times paft, they are very much changed fince. 
 
 Perhaps alfo, for we ought to condemn no Body, but when 
 there is no Way to excufe them ; perhaps, I fay, that the Neigh- 
 bourhood of the French made the Natchez fear that the Bodies of 
 their Chiefs, and every Thing that was moft precious in their 
 Temple, were in fome Danger, if they did not convey them to 
 another Place ; and that the little Attention they have at pre- 
 fent to guard this Temple, proceeds from its being deprived of 
 what it contained moft facred in the Opinion of thefe People. 
 It is true, notwithftanding, that againft the Wall, over-againft 
 the Door, there was a Table, the Dimenfions of which I did not 
 take the Pains to meafure, becaufe I did not fufpeft it to be an 
 Altar. I have been aftured fince, that it is three Feet high, five 
 long, and four wide. 
 
 I have been further informed that they make a little Fire on it 
 with the Bark of Oak, and that it never goes out ; which is 
 falfe, for there was then no Fire on it, nor any Appearance of 
 there ever having been any made. They fay alfo, that foar old 
 Men lay by Turns in the Temple, to keep in this Fire ; that he 
 who is on Duty, muft not go out for the eight Days of his 
 Watch ; that they carefully take the burning Afhe; of the Pieces 
 that burn in the midft of the Temple, to put upon the Altar ; 
 
 S f that
 
 3 14 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 that twelveMen are kept to furnifh the Bark ; that there are Marmo- 
 {cts of Wood, and a Figure of a Rattle-Snake likewife of Wood, 
 which they fet upon the Altar, and to which they pay great 
 Honours. That when the Chief dies, they bury him direftly ; 
 that when they judge his Flefh is confumed, the Keeper of the 
 Temple takes the Bones up, wafhes them clean, wraps them in 
 whatever they have moft valuable, and puts them in great Baf- 
 kets made of Canes, which (hut very clofe ; that he covers thefe 
 Bafkets with Skins of Roe-Bucks very neatly, and places them 
 before the Altar, where they remain till the Death of the reigning 
 Chief ; that then he enclofes thefe Bones in the Altar itfelf, to 
 make Room for the laft dead. 
 
 I can fay nothing on this laft Article, only that I faw fome 
 Bones in one or two Chefts, but they made not half a Human 
 Body ; that they appeared to be very old, and that they were 
 not on the Table which they fay is the Altar. As to the other 
 Articles, ift. As I was in the Temple only by Day, I know not 
 what partes in it at Night. 2d. There was no Keeper in the 
 Temple when I vifited it. I very well faw, as I faid before, 
 that there were fome Marmofets, or grotefque Figures ; but I ob- 
 ferved no Figure of a Serpent. 
 
 As to what I have feen in fome Relations, that this Temple 
 is hung with Tapeftry, and the Floor covered with Cane Mats ; 
 that they put in it whatever they have that is handfomeft, and 
 that they bring every Year hither the firft Fruits of their Harveft, 
 we muft certainly abate a great deal of all this. I never faw 
 any Thing more flovenly and dirty, nor more in Diforder. The 
 Billets burnt upon the bare Ground ; and I faw no Mats on it, 
 no more than on the Walls. M. le Noir, who was with me, 
 only told me that every Day they put a new Billet on the Fire, 
 and that at the Beginning of every Moon they made a Provifion 
 for the whole Month. But he knew this only by Report ; for 
 it was the firft Time he had feen this Temple, as well as myfelf. 
 
 As to what regards the Nation of the Natchez in general, here 
 
 Of th N ' follows what I could learn of it. We fee 
 f h N at h° Wtt notnm g in their outward Appearance that 
 diftinguifhes them from the other Savages of 
 Canada and Lotdjiana. They feldom make War, not placing 
 their Glory in deftroying Men. What diftinguifhes them more 
 particularly, is the Form of their Government, entirely defpo- 
 tic ; a great Dependence, which extends even to a Kind of 
 Slavery, in the Subjects ; more Pride and Grandeur in the Chiefs, 
 and their pacific Spirit, which, however, they have not en- 
 tirely preferved for fome Years paft. 
 
 The Hurons believe, as well as they, that their hereditary 
 Chiefs are defcended from the Sun ; but there is not one that 
 
 8 would
 
 Travels in North America. 315 
 
 would be his Servant, nor follow him into the other World for the 
 Honour of ferving him there, as it often happens among the Nat* 
 chez. 
 
 Garcilajfo de la Vega fpeaks of this Nation as of a powerful 
 People, and about fix Years ago they reckoned among them four 
 thoufand Warriors. It appears that they were more numerous 
 in the Time of M. de la Sale, and even when M. d* Iberville dif- 
 covered the Mouth of the Mijjijjippi. At prefent the Natchesc 
 cannot raife two thoufand fighting Men. They attribute this 
 Decreafe to fome contagious Difeafes, which in thefe laft Years 
 have made a great Ravage among them. 
 
 The Great Chief of the Natchez bears the Name of the Sun ; 
 
 Of tl C ■ an( * lt * s a ^ wa y s ' as an *ong the Hurons, the 
 
 r>i- f > '1 Son of the Woman who is neareft related to 
 
 '/» * n him, that fucceeds him. They give this 
 
 1 j. Woman the Title of Woman Chief ; and 
 
 though in general fhe does not meddle with the Government, 
 they pay her great Honours. She has alfo, as well as the Great 
 Chief, the Power of Life and Death. As foon as any one has 
 had the Misfortune to difpleafe either of them, they order their 
 Guards, whom they call Allouez, to kill him. " Go and rid me 
 " of that Dog," fay they ; and they are immediately obeyed. 
 Their Subjects, and even the Chiefs of the Villages, never ap- 
 proach them, but they fal«te them three Times, fetting up a Cry, 
 which is a Kind of Howling. They do the fame when they 
 retire, and they retire walking backwards. When they meet 
 them, they muft flop, and range themfelves on both Sides 
 of the Way, and make the fame Cries till they are gone 
 part. Their Subjects are alfo obliged to carry them the belt of 
 their Harveft, and of their Hunting and Fifhing. Laftly, no 
 Perfon, not even their neareft Relations, and thofe who are of 
 noble Families, when they have the Honour to eat with them, 
 have a Right to put their Hand to the fame Difh, or to drink 
 out of the fame Veffel. 
 
 Every Morning, as foon as the Sun appears, the Great Chief 
 comes to the Door of his Cabin, turns himfelf to the Eaft, and 
 howls three Times, bowing down to the Earth. Then they 
 bring him a Calumet, which ferves only for this Purpofe, he 
 fmokes, and blows the Smoke of his Tobacco towards the Sun ; 
 then he does the fame Thing towards the other three Parts of 
 the World. He acknowledges no Superior but the Sun, from 
 which he pretends to derive his Origin. He exercifes an unli- 
 mited Power over his Subjects, can difpofe of their Goods and 
 Lives, and for whatever Labours he requires of them, they can- 
 not demand any Recompence. 
 
 S f 2 When
 
 3*6 An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 When this Great Chief, or the Woman Chief dies, all their 
 7 tt, . Allouez, or Guards, are obliged to follow 
 
 the I)Jt! Tt tliem int ° the ° ther W ° rld : ^ Ut they arC 
 
 J 5f, J . °* '/ not the only Perfons who have this Honour j 
 
 Great Chief ,<* tbe for fo £t ■ reckoned among them and is 
 
 Woman-Chief. ^^ ^^ aftef> ^ Death of a 
 
 Chief fometimes coils the Lives of more than a hundred 
 Perfons ; and I have been affured that very few principal Per- 
 fons oftheiVa/^« die, without being efcorted to the Country of 
 Souls by fome of their Relations, their Friends, or their Ser- 
 vants. It appears by the various Relations which I have feen 
 'of thefe horrible Ceremonies, that they differ greatly.— I mall 
 here defcribe the Obfequies of a Woman-Chief, as I had it from 
 a Traveller, who was a Witnefs of them, and on whofe Sincerity 
 I hnve good Reafon to depend. 
 
 The Hufband of this Woman not being noble, that is to fay t 
 of the Family of the Great Chief, his eldeft Son ftrangled him, 
 according to Cuibm : Then they cleared the Cabin of all it 
 contained, and they erefted in it a Kind of Triumphal Car, in 
 which the Body of the deceafed Woman, and that of her Huf- 
 band, were placed. A Moment after they ranged round thefe 
 Carcaffes twelve little Children, which their Parentis had 
 ftrangled by Order of the eldell Daughter of the Woman- 
 Chief, and who fucceeded to the Dignity of her Mother. This 
 being done, they erected in the public Place fourteen Scaffolds, 
 adorned with Branches of Trees, and Cloths on which they had 
 painted various Figures. Thefe Scaffolds were defigned for as 
 many Perfons, who were to accompany the Woman-Chief into 
 the other World. Their Relations were all round them, and 
 efteemed as a great Honour for their Families the Permiffion that 
 they had obtained to facfifice themfelves in this Manner. They 
 apply fometimes ten Years before-hand to obtain this Favour ; 
 and the Perfons that have obtained it, muft themfelves make the 
 Cord with which they are to be ftrangled. 
 
 They appear on their Scaffolds dreffed in their richer! Ha- 
 bits, holding in their Right Hand a great Shell. Their neareft 
 Relation is on their Right Hand, having under their Left Arm 
 the Cord which is to ferve for the Execution, and in their Right 
 Hand a fighting Club. From Time to Time their neareft Re- 
 lation makes the Cry of Death ; and at this Cry the fourteen 
 Victims defcend from their Scaffolds, and go and dance all toge- 
 ther in the Middle of the open Place that is before the Temple, 
 and before the Cabin of the Woman-Chief. 
 
 That Day and the following ones they fhew them great Re- 
 fpedY: They have each five Servants, and their Faces are painted 
 red. Some add, that during the eight Days that precede their Death, 
 
 they
 
 Travels in North America. , 317 
 
 they wear a red Ribbon round one of their Legs ; and that da- 
 ring this Time, every Body ftrives who fliall be the firft to feaft 
 them. However that may be, on the Occafion I am fpeakl/.g 
 of, the Fathers and Mothers who had ftranglcd their «. 
 took them up in their Hands and ranged themfelves on both 
 Sides the Cabin : The fourteen Perfons, who . ned 
 
 to die, placed themfelves in the feme Manner, and w J 
 
 by the Relations and Friends of the Deceafed, all in Mourn- 
 ing ; that is to fay, their Hair cut off : They all made the ir 
 refound with i'uch frightful Cries, that one would have I 
 that all the Devils in Hell were come to howl in the Place. 
 This was followed by the Dances of thofe who were to die, and 
 by the Songs of the Relations of the Woman-Chief. 
 
 At laft they began the Proceffion. The Fathers and Mothers, 
 who carried the dead Children, appeared the firil, marching 
 two and two, and came immediately before the Bier on which 
 Was the Bodv of the Woman-Chief, which four Men carried on 
 their Shoulders. All the others came after in the fame Order as 
 the frit. At every ten Paces, the Fathers and Mothers let their 
 Children fall upon the Ground : Thofe who carried the Bier, 
 walked upon them, then turned quite round them ; fo that when 
 the Proceffion arrived at the Temple, the/e little Bodies were all 
 in Pieces. 
 
 While they buried the Body of the Woman-Chief in the 
 Temple, they undreffed the fourteen Perfons who were to c 
 Thev made them fit on the Gr i - Tore the Door : each having 
 two Savages by him ; one of whom fat on his Knees, and the 
 other held his Arms behind. Then they put a Cord about his 
 Neck, and covered his Head with a Roe-Buck's Skin : r i hey 
 made him fwallow three Pills of Tobacco, and drink a Glafs of 
 Water ; and the Relations of the Woman-Chief drew the two 
 Ends of the Cord, finging, till he was Wrangled. After which, 
 they threw all the Carcaffes into the fame Pit, which they covered 
 with Earth. 
 
 When the Great Chief dies, if his Nurfe is living, fne mull 
 
 die alfo. The French not being able to hinder this Barbarity, 
 
 have often obtained Leave to baptize the young Children that 
 were to be ftrangled ; and who of Confequence did not accom- 
 pany thofe, in whofe Honour they were facrificed, in their pre- 
 tended Paradife. 
 
 We know no Nation on this Continent, where the Female Sex 
 
 „ , . are more irregular, than in this. Thev are 
 
 Manners of the even forced fa * the Great Chief and hJs Suba ,_ 
 
 terns to proft'itute themfelves to all Comers : 
 And a Woman, for being common, is not the lefs efteemed. Al- 
 though Polygamy is permitted, and the Number of Women 
 
 they
 
 3i 8 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 they may have is unlimited, commonly each has only one, but he 
 may put her away when he pleafes ; a Licence which few but 
 the Chiefs make Ufe of.-— The Women are pretty well fhaped 
 for Savages, and neat enough in their Drefs, and in every Thing 
 they do. The Daughters of the Noble Families can marry 
 none but obfcure Perfons ; but they have a Right to turn away 
 their Hufbands when they pleafe, and to take another, provided 
 there is no Relationfhip between them. 
 
 If their Hufbands are unfaithful to them, they can order them 
 to be knocked on :he Head, but they are not fubject to the 
 fame Law themfelves. They may alfo have as many Gallants 
 as they think fit, and the Hufbandis not to take it amifs. This 
 is a Privilege belonging to the Blood of the Great Chief. The 
 Hufband of any one of thefe muft ftand in the Prefence of his 
 Wife in a refpectful Pofture ; he does not eat with her j he fa- 
 lutes her in the fame Tone as her Domefticks. The only Pri- 
 vilege which fuch a burthenfome Alliance procures him, is to be 
 exempt from Labour, and to have Authority over thofe who 
 ferve his Wife. 
 
 The Natchez have two War Chiefs, two Matters of the Cere- 
 
 Tr . n n monies for the Temple, two Officers to re- 
 
 / ■ anous L,ujtoms , . , _ . , • n^ .• c n 
 
 f J N 1 gulate what is done in Treaties of Peace or 
 
 C J ' War, one that has the Inflection of Works, 
 
 and four others who are employed to order every Thing in the pub- 
 lic Feafts. It is the Great Chief who appoints Perfons to thefe 
 Offices, and thofe who hold them are refpected and obeyed as he 
 would be himfelf.---The Harveft among the Natchez, is in com- 
 mon. The Great Chief fets the Day for it, and calls the Vil- 
 lage together. Towards the End of July he appoints another 
 Day for theBeginningof a Feflival, which lafts three Days, which 
 are fpent in Sports and Feafting. 
 
 Each private Perfon contributes fomething of his Hunting, 
 p. f . . , his Fifhing, and his other Provifions, which 
 V 04 I ' confift in Maiz, Beans, and Melons. The 
 
 Great Chief and the Woman- Chief prefide 
 at the Feafl, fitting in a Cabin raifed above the Ground, and co- 
 vered with Boughs : They are carried to it in a Litter, and the 
 Great Chief holds in his Hand a Kind of Sceptre, adorned with 
 Feathers of various Colours. All the Nobles are round him in a 
 refpeclful Pofture. The laft Day the Great Chief makes a 
 Speech to the Affembly : He exhorts every Body to be exact in 
 the Performance of their Duties, efpecially to have a great Ve- 
 neration for the Spirits which refide in the Temple, and to be 
 careful in inftructing their Children. If any one has diflin- 
 guifhed himfelf by fome Action of Note, he makes his Elogium. 
 Twenty Years ago, the Temple was reduced to AJhes by Light- 
 ning,
 
 Travels in North America. 319 
 
 ning. Seven or eight Women threw their Children into the 
 midft of the Flames to appeafe the Genii. The Great Chief 
 immediately fent for thefe Heroines, gave them publicly great 
 Praifes, and finifhed his Difcourfe by exhorting the other Wo- 
 men to follow their great Example on a like Occafion. 
 
 The Fathers of Families never fail to bring to the Temple 
 
 ctl r a r • tne ^ rl * F ru i ts °f every Thing they gather ; 
 J be Jirjt trmts and . do thg fame by „ u thg Prefents that 
 
 offered m the Tern- ^ ^^ tQ thg ^ t[o ^ They expofe 
 
 ? them at the Door of the Temple, the Keeper 
 
 of which, after having prefented them to the Spirits, carries 
 them to the Great Chief, who diftributes them to whom he 
 pleafes. The Seeds are in like Manner offered before the 
 Temple with great Ceremony : But the Offerings which are made 
 there of Bread and Flour every new Moon, are for the Ufe of 
 the Keepers of the Temple. 
 
 The Marriages of* the Natchez, are very little different from 
 _ . . ,, thofe of the Savages of Canada: The prin- 
 
 Of their Mar- cipal D iff erence we fi n( j i n tnern confifts in that 
 nages. j iere ^ f uture Spoufe begins by making, to 
 
 the Relations of the Woman, fuch Prefents as have been agreed 
 upon ; and that the Wedding is followed by a great Feaft. The 
 Reafon why there are few but the Chiefs who have feveral Wives, 
 is, that as they can get their Fields cultivated by the People 
 without any Charge, their Wives are no Burthen to them. The 
 Chiefs marry with lefs Ceremony ftill than the others. It is 
 enough for them to give Notice to the Relations of the Woman 
 on whom they have caft their Eyes, that they place her in the 
 Number of their Wives. But they keep but one or two in their 
 Cabins; the others remain with their Relations, where their 
 Hufbands vifit them when they pleafe. No Jealoufy reigns in 
 thefe Marriages : The Natchez lend one another their Wl 
 without any Difficulty ; and 'tis probably from hence that 
 proceeds the Readinefs with which they part with them co take 
 others. 
 
 When a War Chief wants to levy a Party of Soldiers, he 
 0r , r, , plants, in a Place marked out for that Pur- 
 
 Of levying M- pofe> twQ Trees adcrned with Feathers, Ar- 
 
 ters ' ' rows, and Fighting-Clubs, all painted red, 
 
 as well as the Trees, which are alfo pricked on that Side which 
 is towards the Place whither they intend to carry the War. 
 Thofe who would enlift, prefent themfelves to the Chief, well 
 dreffed, their Faces fmeared with various Colours, and declare 
 to him the Defire they have to learn the Art of War under his 
 Orders ; that they are difpofed to endure all the Fatigues of 
 War, and ready to die, if needful, for their Country. 
 
 When
 
 3 2 o An Hijlcrical Journal of 
 
 When the Chief has got the Number of Soldiers that the 
 
 n , p Expedition requires, which he intends to 
 
 ,. * - e TTr f make, he caufes a Drink to be prepared at 
 
 fionsforWar. ^ Q ^^ ^^ u ^^ ^ Medicine cf 
 
 War. This is a Vomit made v. ith a Root boiled in Water : They 
 give to each Man two Pots of it, which they muft drink all at 
 once, and which they throw up again almoft as foon as they 
 have drank it, with moft violent Reachings. Afterwards they 
 labour in making the neceflary Preparations ; and till the Day 
 fettled for their Departure, the Warriors meet every Evening and 
 Morning in an open Place, where after much dancing, and 
 telling their grea* Feats of War, every one fings his Song of 
 
 Death. Thefe People are not lefs fuperftitious about their 
 
 Dreams, than the Savages of Canada: There needs only a 
 bad Omen to caufe them to return when they are on a March. 
 The Warriors march with a great deal of Order, and take 
 
 <rv> i • xx 7 great Precautions to encamp, and to rally. 
 
 Of their March- They often fend out Scouts, but they never 
 es and Encamp- fe£ £ entinels at Night . They put out a „ 
 
 ments ' the Fires, they recommend themfelves to the 
 
 Spirits, and they fleep in Security, after the Chief has exhort- 
 ed every one not to fnore too loud, and to keep always their 
 Arms near them in good Condition. Their Idols are expofed 
 on a Pole leaning towards the Enemy, and all the Warriors, 
 before they lay down, pafs one after another, with their 
 Fighting-Clubs in their Hands, before thefe pretended Dei- 
 ties : Then they turn towards the Enemy's Country, and 
 make great Threatnings, which the Wind often carries another 
 Way. 
 
 It does not appear that the Natchez exercife on their Prifoners, 
 ,-' ', v . r during the March, the Cruelties which are 
 
 OftheFnJoners. ufed J^ Canada% When thefe Wretches are 
 
 arrived at the Great Village, they make them fing and dance 
 feveral Days together before the Temple. After which, they 
 are delivered to the Relations of thofe who have been killed du- 
 ring the Campaign. They, on receiving them, burft into 
 Tears, then after having wiped their Eyes with the Scalps which 
 the Warriors have brought home, they join together to reward 
 thofe who have made them the Prefent of their Captives, whofe 
 Fate is always to be burnt. 
 
 The Warriors change their Names as often as they perform 
 ,, , new Exploits : They receive them from the 
 
 w ^ amcs V the antient War Chief, and thefe Names have 
 Warriors. always fome Relation to the Action by which 
 
 they have merited this Diftinction. Thofe who for the firft 
 Time have made a Prifoner, or taken off a Scalp, muft, for a 
 
 Month,
 
 Travels in North America. 321 
 
 Month, abftain from feeing their Wives, and from eating Fle/h . 
 They imagine, that if they fliould fail in this, that the Souls of 
 thofe whom they have killed or burnt, would effect: their Death, 
 or that the firft Wound they fhould receive would be mortal; 
 or at leaft, that they Ibould never after gain any Advantage over 
 their Enemies. If the Great Chief, called the Sun, commands 
 his Subjects in Perfon, they take great Care that he mould not 
 expofe himfelf too much ; lefs perhaps through Zeal for his Pre- 
 fervation, than becaufe the other War Chiefs, and the Heads of 
 the Party, would be put to Death for their Want of Care in 
 guarding him. 
 
 The Jugglers, or Doctors of the Natchez, pretty much refem- 
 Cifth ¥ I - k" e thofe of Canada, and treat their Patients 
 J''c>£> ■ much after the fame Manner. They are well 
 paid when the Patient recovers ; but if he happens to die, it often 
 cofts them their Lives. There is in this Nation another Set of 
 Jugglers, who run no lefs Rifque than thefe Doctors. They are 
 certain lazy old Fellows, who, to maintain their Families with- 
 out being obliged to work, undertake to procure Rain, or fine 
 Weather, according as they are wanted. About the Spring 
 Time they make a Collection to buy of thefe pretended Magi- 
 cians a favourable Scufon for the Fruits of the Earth. If it is 
 Rain they require, they fill their Mouths with Water, and with 
 a Reed, the End of which is pierced with feveral Holes, like a 
 Funnel, they blow into the Air, towards the Side where they 
 perceive fome Clouds, whilft holding their Cbicbicoue in one 
 Hand, and their Manitou in the other, they play upon one, 
 and hold the other up in the Air, inviting, by frightful Cries, 
 the Clouds to water the Fields of thofe who have fet them to 
 Work. 
 
 If the Bufinefs is to obtain fine Weather, they mount on the 
 Roof of their Cabins, make Signs to the Clouds to pafs away; 
 and if the Clouds pafs away, and are difperfed, they dance and 
 fing round about their Idols ; then they fwallow the Smoke of 
 Tobacco, and prefent their Calumets to the Sky. All the Time 
 thefe Operations laft, they obferve a ftrict Fait., and do nothing 
 but dance and fing. If they obtain what they have promifed, 
 they are well rewarded ; if they do not fucceed, they are put to 
 Death without Mercy. But they are not the fame who under- 
 take to procure Rain and fine Weather: The Genius of one Per- 
 fon cannot, as they fay, give both. 
 Mourning among thefe Savages confifts in cutting off their 
 Of M ■ •' "■ Hair, and in not painting their Faces, and in 
 ■'.' ** abfenting themfelves from public AfTemblies : 
 
 But I know not how long it lafts. I know not neither, whither 
 they celebrate the grand Feftival of the Dead, which I have be- 
 fore defcribed. It appears as if in this Nation, where every 
 
 T t Body
 
 322 An Historical Journal of 
 
 Body is in fome Sort the Slave of thofe who command, all the 
 Honours of the Dead are for thofe who do fo, efpecially for 
 the Great Chief, and the Woman Chief. 
 
 Treaties of Peace and Alliances are made with great Pomp, 
 OfT t' and the Great Chief on thefe Occafions al- 
 
 / rea tes. wa ys fupports his Dignity like a true So- 
 
 vereign. As foon as he is informed of the Day'of the Arrival 
 of the Ambafiadors, he gives his Orders to the Matters of the 
 Ceremonies, for the Preparations for their Reception, and names 
 thofe who are by Turns to maintain thefe Envoys ; for it is at 
 the Colt of his Subjetts, that he defrays the Expences of the 
 Embafiage. The Day of the Entry of the Ambafiadors, every one 
 has his Place affigned him according to his Rank ; and when the 
 Ambafiadors are come within five hundred Paces of the Great 
 Chief, they ftop, and fing the Song of Peace. 
 
 Commonly the EmbafTy is compofed of thirty Men and fix 
 Women. Six of the belt Voices march at the Head of this 
 Train and fing aloud, the reft follow, and the Ckichicouefervzs to 
 regulate the Time. When the Great Chief makes Signs to the 
 Ambafiadors to approach, they renew their March : Thofe who 
 carry the Calumet, dance as they fing, and turn themfelves on 
 every Side, with many Motions, and make a great many Gri- 
 maces and Contorfions. They renew the fame Tricks round 
 about the Great Chief when they are come near him ; then they 
 rub him with their Calumet from Head to Foot, and afterwards 
 go and rejoin their Company. 
 
 Then they fill a Calumet with Tobacco, and holding Fire in 
 H- th C t one Hand, they advance all together towards 
 
 nL ■ r ■ * j. the Great Chief, and prefent him the Calu- 
 
 Lbief gives Audi- ,. , , rL, f , • , , . , 
 
 * j l rr m et lighted. They imoke with him, and 
 
 ence to Ambaffa- ,-, b , , D { j c ,,„.„. .' , . 
 
 , . M blow towards the bky the firft Whiff or their 
 
 Tobacco, the fecond towards the Earth, and 
 the third round about the Horizon. When they have done this, 
 they prefent their Calumets to -the Relations of the Great Chief, 
 and the Subaltern Chiefs. Then they go and rub with their 
 Hands the Stomach of the Great Chief, after which they rub 
 themfelves all over the Body ; and laftly, they lay their Calu- 
 mets on Forks over-againft the Great Chief, and the Orator 
 of the EmbafTy begins his Speech, which lafts an Hour. 
 
 When he has finifhed, they make Signs to the Ambafiadors, 
 who till now were Handing, to fit down on Benches placed for 
 them near the Great Chief, who anfwers their Difcourfe, and 
 (peaks alfo a whole Hour. Then a Mafter of the Ceremonies 
 lights a great Calumet of Peace, and makes the Ambafiadors 
 fmoke in it, who fwallow the firft Mouthful. Then the Great 
 Chief enquires after their Health, and all thofe who are prefent 
 
 at 

 
 Travels in North America. 323 
 
 at the Audience make them the fame Compliment ; then they 
 conduct them to the Cabin that is appointed for them, and 
 where they give him a great Feait. The Evening of the fame 
 Day the Great Chief makes them a Vifit ; but when they know 
 he is ready to do them this Honour, they go to feek him, and 
 carry him on their Shoulders to their Lodging, and make him 
 fit on a great Skin. One of them places himfelf behind him, 
 leans his Hands on his Shoulders, and makes him a pretty 
 long Time, whilft the reft, fitting round on the Earth, fing 
 their great Actions in the Wars. 
 
 Thefe Vifits are renewed every Morning and Evening ; but 
 in the laft the Ceremonial varies. The Ambafladors fet up a 
 Poft in the midil of their Cabin, and fit all round it: The 
 Warriors who accompany the Great Chief, or as they call him, 
 the Sun, dreffed in their fineft Robes, dance, and one by one 
 ftrike the Poll:, and relate their braveil Feats of Arms ; after 
 which they make Prefents to the Ambafladors. The next Day 
 they are permitted for the firft Time to walk about the Vil- 
 lage, and every Night they make them Entertainments, which 
 confift only in Dances. When they are on their Departure, the 
 Mailer of the Ceremonies fupplies them with all the Proviii- 
 ons they may want for their Journey, and this is always at 
 the Expence of private Perfons. 
 
 The greateft Part of the Nations of Louifiana had formerly 
 t> ,■ . r p. their Temples, as well as the Natchez, and in 
 Xe"g'o» "J Ftre &u thefe Temples there vvas a perpetual Fire. 
 in Florida. ft feemg alfo probab]ej t h at the MaubtUcn; 
 
 had over all the People of this Part of Florida, a Kind of Pri- 
 macy of Religion ; for it was at their Fire they were obliged to 
 kindle that, which by Negligence or Accident had been fuffer- 
 ed to go out. But at prefent the Temple of the Natchez is the 
 only one that fubfifts, and it is held in great Veneration among 
 all the Savages which inhabit this vaft Continent, the Decreafe 
 of which Nation is as confiderable, and has been ftill more fud- 
 den, than that of the Savages of Canada, without its being 
 poflible to difcover the true Caufe of it. Whole Nations have 
 entirely difappeared within forty Years at moft. Thofe which 
 are ftill fubfifting, are but the Shadow of what they were when 
 M. de la Sale difcovered this Country. I take my Leave of you, 
 Madam, for Reafons which I fhall have the Honour to explain 
 to you foon. 
 
 / am, Sec. 
 
 T t 2 LETTER
 
 324 An Hijioriaal Journal of 
 
 LETTER XXX. 
 
 Journey from the Natchez to New Orleans. Defer iption of 
 the Country, and of federal Villages of the Savages, and of the 
 Capital of Louisiana. 
 
 Madam, New Orleans, January 10. 1721. 
 
 I Am at length arrived in this famous City, which they have 
 called la nounjclle Orleans. Thofe who have given it this 
 Name, thought that Orleans was of the feminine Gender : But 
 what fignifies that ? Cuftom has eftablifhed it, and that is above 
 the Rules of Grammar. 
 
 This City is the firfl:, which one of the greateft Rivers in the 
 World has feen raifed on its Banks. If the eight Hundred fine 
 Houfes, and the five Parifhes, which the News-Papers gave it 
 fome two Years ago, are reduced at prefent to a hundred Bar- 
 racks, placed in no very great Order ; to a great Store-Houfe, 
 built of Wood ; *o two or three Houfes, which would be no 
 Ornament to a Village of France ; and to the half of a forry . 
 Store-Houfe, which they agreed to lend to the Lord of the 
 Place, and which he had no fooner taken PofTeffion of, but they 
 turned him out to dwell under a Tent ; "what Pleafure, on the 
 other Side, to fee infenfibly encreafing this future Capital of a 
 fine and vaft Country, and to be able to fay, not with a Sigh, 
 like the Hero of Virgil, fpeaking of his dear native Place con- 
 fumed by the Flames, and the Fields where Troy Town had been 
 (a), but full of a well grounded Hope, this wild and defart 
 Place, which the Reeds and Trees do yet almoft wholly cover, will 
 be one Day, and perhaps that Day is not far ofF, an opulent 
 City, and the Metropolis of a great and rich Colony. 
 
 You will a(k me, Madam, on what I found this Hope ? I found 
 it on the Situation of this City, at thirty-three Leagues from 
 the Sea, and on the Side of a navigable River, that one may 
 come up to this Place in twenty-four Hours : On the Fruitfulnefs 
 of the Soil; on the Mildnefs and Goodnefs of its Climate, in 
 30 North Latitude; on the Induilry of its Inhabitants ; on the 
 Neighbourhood of Mexico, to which we may go in fifteen Days 
 by Sea; on that of the Havannah, which is ftill nearer; and of 
 
 (a) Et Campos, ubi Trqja fuit, 
 
 the
 
 Travels in North America. 325 
 
 the fineft Iflands of America, and of the Englijh Colonies. Need 
 there any Thing more to render a City Hourilhing ? Rome and 
 Paris had not fuch confiderabie Beginnings, were not built under 
 fuch happy Aufpices, and their Founders did not find on the 
 Siene and the Tyber the Advantages wc have found on the MiJJif- 
 Jippi, in Comparifon of which, thofe two Rivers are but little 
 Brooks. 1 But before I undertake to mention what there 
 
 is here worthy your Curiofity, that I may proceed according 
 to Order, I fha!l take up my Journal again where I broke it 
 off. 
 I ftayed at the Natchez much longer than Iexpefted, and it was 
 nr/r ■ c tne abandoned Condition in which I found 
 MiJJwnanes of £he p & hh Ref ft t0 f p ; r itual Aids, 
 
 the Natchez <witb- iU ■ ., r _-ii c/ ni a 
 
 „ , that kept me there till after Lhrijlmas. 
 
 out i>uccejs. The Dew of Heaven hath not yet fa]Jen 0ft 
 
 this fine Country, which above all others may boaft of its Por- 
 tion of the Fatnefs of the Earth. The late M . d y Iberville h?.d 
 deftined a Jrfuit (a) for this Purpofe, who accompanied him in 
 the fecond Voyage he made to Lout/tana, with a Defign to efta- 
 blilh Chrijiianity in a Nation, whofe Converfion, he made no 
 Doubt, would be followed by that of ail the reft. But this MiC- 
 fionary paffing by the Village of the Bayagoulas, thought he 
 found there more favourable Difpofitions for Religion, and 
 while he was thinking to fix his Abode amongft them, he waj 
 called to France by fuperior Orders. 
 
 After this, an EcclefialHc of Canada (b) was fent to the 
 Natchez, and remained there a pretty long Time, but he made 
 no Profelytes, tho' he had gained the good Graces of the Wo- 
 man Chief, who out of RefpeiSl to him, gave his Name to one 
 of her Sons. This Mifiionary having been obliged to make a 
 Journey to Maubile, was killed on the Way by Savages, who 
 probably only wanted his Baggage, as it had happened before 
 to another Prieft (c) on the Side of the Akanfas. Since that 
 Time all Louifiana, above the Illinois, has remained without any 
 Prieft, except the Tonicas, who have had for feveral Years an 
 Ecclefiaftic (d), whom they loved and efteemed, and whom they 
 would have made their Chief, and who, notwithftanding, could 
 never perfuade one of them to embrace Chrijiianity. 
 
 But it is fomething prepofterous to think of taking Meafures 
 
 TA- F h // ^ or c ' ie Converfion of Infidels, whilit the 
 
 ■ j f U' 1 "1 Houfiiold even of the Faith are almoft all 
 
 J"d °JJf ulua without Paftors. I have already had the 
 
 Honour of telling you, Madam, that the 
 
 (a) Father Paul Du Ru. (b) M. dc 5. Cojme. (c) M. Foutauh. (d) M. 
 Qevitn, 
 
 Cantor.
 
 326 An Hijiorical journal of 
 
 Canton of the Natchez is the moft populous of the Colony ; ne- 
 verthelefs, it is five Years fince any Frenchman has heard Mafs 
 here, or even feen a Prieft. I foon faw that the Privation of 
 the Sacraments had produced in the greateft Part of them that 
 Indifference for the Exercifes of Religion, which is the com- 
 mon Effect of fuch Privation : Yet many fhewed a great Defire to 
 take Advantage of my Prefence, for regulating the Affairs of 
 their Confciences ; and I thought it was my Duty to help 
 them to this Comfort without much Sollicitation. 
 
 The firfl Propofal that they made to me was, that I would 
 agree to marry, in the Prefence of the Church, fome Inhabi- 
 tants, who by Virtue of a civil Contraft, drawn up in the Pre- 
 fence of the Commandant and the principal Clerk, lived toge- 
 ther without any Scruple, alledging, as well as they who had 
 authorized this Concubinage, the Neceffity of peopling the 
 Country, and the Impoffibility of having a Prieft. I reprefented 
 to them, that there was one at the Yafous, and at New Orleans, 
 and that the Matter was worth the Pains of taking the Journey : 
 They replied, that the contracting Parties were not in a Con- 
 dition to take long Journies, nor to be at the Expence of bring- 
 ing a Prieft hither. In fhort, the Evil was done, and there 
 remained nothing but to remedy it, which I did. Then I 
 confeued all who prefented themfelves, but the Number of thefe 
 was not fo great as I had hoped. 
 
 Nothing more detaining me at the Natchez, I departed from 
 
 n , , - thence the 26th of December, pretty late, ac- 
 
 Depariure from ■ , , ., , n r , T /. , T , 
 
 ,Li/,. f i,„ ccmpanied by M. de P auger, the king's En- 
 
 gineer, who was vinting the Lolony, to ex- 
 amine the Places where it was fit to build Forts. We went four 
 Leagues, and encamped at the Side of a little River, which 
 we found on the Left. We re-embarked the next Day two 
 Hours before it was light, with the Wind pretty high, and 
 againft us. The River in this Place makes a Circuit of four- 
 teen Leagues ; and as we turned, the Wind turned with us, 
 being beaten back by the Land, and by the Iflands, which we found 
 in great Numbers, fo that it was always in our Faces. Not- 
 withftanding which, we went ten Leagues farther, and en- 
 tered into another little River on the Left Hand. All Night we 
 heard a great Noife, and I thought it was the Effeft of the 
 Wind, that was grown ftronger, but they affured me that the 
 River had been very quiet, and that the Noife which had waked 
 me, was made by the Fifh, that dafhed about the Water with 
 their Tails. 
 
 The
 
 Travels in North America. %2-j 
 
 The 28th, after having gone two Leagues, we arrived at the 
 j\ r.-. ■ c River of the Tonicas, which appeared to me 
 th V'U '"ft! at ^ t0 k e k ut a Brook J Dut at a Mufket- 
 T !cm ^' 10t Diftance from its Mouth, it forms a 
 
 very pretty Lake. If the Mtffijffippi conti- 
 nues to throw itfelf as it does on the other Side, all this Place 
 will become inacceffible. The River of the Tonicas has its 
 Source in the Country of the Tchaclas, and its Courfe is very 
 much obftru&ed with Falls. The Village is beyond the Lake, 
 on a pretty high Ground ; yet they fay that the Air here is bad, 
 which they attribute to the Quality of the Waters of the River; 
 but I fhould rather judge that it proceeds from the Stagnation of 
 the Waters in the Lake.— This Village is built in a Circle, 
 round a very large open Space, without any Inclofure, and mo- 
 derately peopled. 
 
 The Cabin of the Chief is very much adorned on the Outride 
 
 Of ih Chi f f ^ or ^ e Cabin of a Savage. We fee on it 
 
 , J f ie J °J fome Figures in Relievo, which are not fo ill 
 
 the Tonicas. , to o r , , rr» T 
 
 done as one expects to find them. The In- 
 
 fule is dark, andlobferved nothing in it but fome Boxes, which 
 they afiured me were full of Clothes and Money. The Chief 
 received us very politely ; he was dreffed in the French Fafhion, 
 and feemed to be not at all uneafy in that Habit. Of all the 
 Savages of Canada, there is none fo much depended on by our 
 Commandants as this Chief. He loves our Nation, and has no 
 Caufe to repent of the Services he has rendered it. He trades 
 with the French, whom he fupplies with Horfes and Fowls, and 
 he underftands his Trade very well. He has learnt of us to 
 hoard up Money, and he is reckoned very rich. He has along 
 Time left off the Drefs of a Savage, and he takes a Pride in 
 appearing always well dreffed, according to our Mode. 
 
 The other Cabins of the Village are partly fquare, as that 
 
 Th St t f °^ ^ e ^-^ e ^' aRC * P art ty round, like thofe of 
 
 ,. j. . °J the Natchez. The Place round which they 
 
 a ion. all ftand, is about a hundred Paces Diameter; 
 
 and notwithstanding the Heat of the Weather was that Day fuf • 
 
 focating, the young People were diverting themfelves at a Kind 
 
 of Truck, much like oar's. 
 
 There are two other Villages of this Nation at a little 
 Diftance from this ; and this is all that remains of aPeople for- 
 merly very numerous.— I fuid before, that they had a Miffionary 
 whom they greatly loved : I have learnt that they drove 
 him away not long fince, becaufe he had burnt their Temple ; 
 which neverthelefs they have not rebuilt, nor lighted their Fire 
 again ; a certain Proof of their little Attachment to ti 
 falfe Religion L They even foon recalled the Miflionary ; but 
 
 they 
 
 _ ... . _ .
 
 ::8 An Hificriau Jaunw r 
 
 the rdaU he could iay ID them with an IndHl \ich 
 
 he could never conquer, zzz be haS rorfaken them inhisTurn. 
 
 cm the Bottom ::" the Lake, or the Bay of the Tomer, if 
 
 j, jy f . . , we ufed Canoes of Bark, i re might make a 
 
 .' t> /xtr Portage of r.vo Leagues, which would : 
 
 -\ec River. ° , %* sr/rlZr^ l • 
 
 ten on the MiJfiJJrpfi ; hot this is not prach- 
 
 i? with Pettiaugres. Two Leagues lower than the Riv e r 
 the Tadcas, we leave on the Right Hand the Rid Rivrr, or Rio 
 Cshrado ; at the Entrance of which, the famous Ferdixaxdde 
 :. the Ccnqseror of Florida, ended his Day; ar.d hii Exploits, 
 Si rather his Rambles. This River runs Eaft and Weft fome 
 1 . ~.e, then turns to the South. It is fcarcely _ble for I 
 
 •: " -: '"' ■ mere titan : . ■ . . : ; after v. hi :'-.. 
 
 :th unpaffable Marl: . I iouth appeared to me to 
 
 be aboct two hundred Fathom wide. ] L. agues highc 
 receives en the Right Hand the BL. i -, otherwife called 
 :" the Oaatchitas ; which comes from the North, and 
 '• T ."ater only for feven Months in th . Yc ar. 
 N everthelefs, there are ieveral Grants fituated here, which i ■ 
 -«/ -U fri ^ Appearance will not grow very rich. The 
 Motive of this Settlement is the Neighbour- 
 ::i ::::.: .::.--...-.:.-. v. it: tit a: a!. Tim-"-; 
 has been a fatal Endcemect to this Colony. In Hopes of 
 trading with them, they leave the heft Lands in the World un- 
 cultivated. The Natcbitaches are fettled on the Red River, and v : 
 have judged it convenient to build a Fort among them, to hinder 
 the S/crJards frcm fettling nearer us. T * T ."e encamped the [went] - 
 nth, a little below the Mouth of the Rt* F:~.-.~, in a very £ne 
 
 The 30th, after having gcr.e fire Leagues, we pafted a fecond 
 i~, p. Point cut off. The K:J_~:y. Place, 
 
 make a g peat -"g- Seme Cajuuf:^-. , 
 
 by Dint of hollowing a little _::ck, which 
 iad the Point, brought the of the River into it ; 
 
 which spreading themfelves impetnoufly in this new Channel, 
 com plea: off the Point, and hath faved Travellers fourteen 
 
 . 7:.: z'.i Eri ■:: .::::_:.. 
 
 ~ T ::er init but in the Season :: the Pieces \ an 
 Ft' :~ that tit e .V : h: ::.".i:~ here : vara; :he I : ': : ar i 
 
 this deferves to be confxdered with the greateft Attention, in 
 making Settlement-: ::- of the River. . . E 
 
 this nev, el has been lately founded, at : :: : have let out 
 
 • Lice in it of 1 ._:...- long, widtpul . : ..^.::g any Bot- 
 
 tom. 
 
 • -8 

 
 It: in Ntrtik :a. 
 
 I below, and on the fame Hand, we faw the weak 
 
 3. Gr:-r. 
 = GraMt ,f -. Jfc»r,aad--. ich 
 
 : 
 
 axm^*" ated on a rery fertile SoU, and there is not! 
 
 N ; taing can be done, efpeciallr when : 
 want Men for Labour, and Men an Inclinariou for La- 
 
 bour ; and this feemed to us to be the - 
 
 vent a League further th: I I i came to the Grant 
 
 "topped us all the next 
 Div. Some H- d with the Leaves of the L *t*emrr 
 
 andagr: \-nt form all this Grant. They 
 
 :.-tm the Black Jtroer, where the Ma- 
 gazines are, and 1 ~-ey are not willing to leave. I am 
 
 both will fail. 
 
 The Soil on which they hare begun th rood; but 
 
 the build a Quarter of a League from the Rirer, behind a 
 
 xxl, which . -round, an_ ch they 
 
 might make - and making Gardens. 
 
 Lcagac fai - Wood, there 15 2 Lake two Leagues 
 
 ire covered with wild Fowl, and 
 -ich perhars mi fapply them when they hare c 1 - 
 
 ftr e Cozmmxs, which fwarm : . -" - " - 
 
 Place lb dm on fhall hare, Mi ~& 
 
 : Dft me ; fc: R me to mi I of them. 
 
 be Male . - " - : ^ 
 
 muft be - g t or :hey find it a fovejeiga 
 
 Balm from the Ctpmlmr, 
 
 has, among I rf iniing the Dim - ^e 
 
 Root of t „'.:-. Place, 
 
 1- :-f ?.: 
 
 Lake Oc<r ■ Remeiy against all 
 
 Hurts of the Skin. V: im e of the Bark, boil 
 
 t in - - • 
 
 O ree League 
 
 n . Madam dt Msdirts, in a G 
 
 - - " 
 ar id inured - ere cap 1 
 
 (m) He died lately the E ■ ; I T jrwrnf * : 
 
 U a i :
 
 330 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 large Iron Bar. If the Fatt is true, for I fhould be willing to 
 fee it before I believe it, the Saliva of thefe Animals muft 
 be a very powerful Difiblvent. As for the Leg of a Man, 
 I would not truft it in their Jaws. This is certain, that the 
 Meat of that which I faw, wa» enough to fatisfy ten Perfons who 
 had good Stomachs. We ftaid all the Day in this Grant, which 
 is not much forwarder than the reft, and which they call le Baton 
 rouge, (the red Stick). 
 
 The next Day we made eleven Leagues, and we encamped a 
 rj r . . ~ little below the Bayagoulas, which we had 
 
 th Ba oul ^ e ^ on t ^ ie ^i£ nt Hand, after having viiited 
 
 ^ ° ' here the Ruins of the antient Village I men- 
 tioned before. It was very populous about twenty Years fince. 
 The Small-Pox has deftroyed a Part of its Inhabitants, the 
 reft are gone away and difperfed : They have not fo much as 
 even heard any News of them forfeveral Years, and 'tis a Doubt 
 whether there is a fingle Family remaining. The Land they 
 pofleffed is very rich. Meffrs. Paris have a Grant here, where 
 they have planted in Rows a great Number of white Mulberry- 
 Trees, and they make very fine Silk here already. They alfo be- 
 gin to cultivate here, with much Succefs, Indigo and Tobacco. 
 If they laboured the fame in all other Places, the Proprietors of 
 Grants would foon be indemnified for all their Expences. 
 
 The 3d of January we arrived about Ten o'Clock in the 
 
 . . a Moraine at the little Village of the Oumas, 
 
 An Account of , . , P . T c . ,° , j. 
 
 *h O m // whKh is on the Left, and where there are 
 
 J ou • f w fome/Vfwr^Houfes. A Quarter of a League 
 
 the Cnetimachas. , • , • ^ r^ . • j_ ^ \/-i 
 
 higher up in the Country, is the great Vil- 
 lage. This Nation is very well afFefted to us. The MiJJljffippi 
 begins to fork, or to divide into two Branches, two Leagues 
 higher. It has hollowed itfelf on the Right, to which it always 
 inclines, a Channel, which they call the Fork of the Chetimachas, 
 or Sitimachas ; and which, before it carries its Waters to the 
 Sea, forms a pretty large Lake. The Nation of the Cbetimachas, 
 is almoft entirely deftroyed ; the few that remain are Slaves in 
 the Colony. 
 
 We went that Day fix Leagues beyond the Oumas, and we 
 patted the Night on the fine Spot where they had fettled the 
 Grant of M. le Marquis D'Ancenis, at prefent Duke de Bethune ; 
 which, by a Fire happening in the great Magazine, and by feve- 
 ral other Accidents one after another, is reduced to nothing, 
 The Colapijfas had here formed a little Village, which did not 
 fubfift long. 
 
 The 4th we arrived before Noon at the great Village of the 
 Colapiffas. It is the fineft Village of Louijiana, yet they reckon 
 in it but two hundred Warriors, who have the Character of being 
 
 8 very
 
 Travels in North America, 331 
 
 very brave. Their Cabins are in the Shape of a Pavilion, like 
 thofe of the Sioux, and they feldom make any Fire in them. 
 They have a double Roof; that in the Infide is made of the 
 Leaves of the Lattanier, interwoven together, that in the Out- 
 fide is made of Mats. 
 
 The Cabin of the Chief is thirty-fix Feet Diameter : I had 
 not before feen one fo large ; for that of the Great Chief of 
 the Natchez is but thirty Feet. As foon as we appeared in Sight 
 of this Village, they beat a Drum ; and we were fcarcely 
 landed, before the Chief fent his Compliments to me. I was 
 furprifed, in advancing towards the Village, to fee the Drummer 
 dreffed in a long Gown, half white and half red, with white 
 Sleeves on the red Side, and red Sleeves on the white. I en- 
 quired into the Origin of this Cuftom, and they told me it was 
 not antient ; that a Governor of Louifiana had made a Prefent 
 of a Drum to thefe Savages, who have always been our faithful 
 Allies, and that this Kind of Beadle's Habit was their own In- 
 vention. The Women are better fhaped here than in Ca- 
 nada, and their Way of dreffing themfelves is alfo fomething more 
 becoming. 
 
 After Dinner, we went five Leagues further, and we flopped 
 _., ' at Cannes brulees, (the burnt Reeds), where the 
 
 Ihe irrant of Gnmt of M> Jg Cgmtg D >j rtagnan nas an Ha- 
 
 M. le Lomte D i tat i on on ' ltf which is alfo to ferve him for a 
 D Artagnan. Store-Houfe, if it has not the Fate of almoft 
 
 all the refl. This Houf'e is on the Left ; and the firft Objed 
 that prefented itfelf to my Sight, was a great Crofs fet up on the 
 Bank of the River, about which they actually fing \efpers. 
 This is the firft Place of the Colony, from the Illinois, where I 
 found this Mark of our Religion. Two Moufquetaires, M. 
 D' Artiguiere, and de Benac fa), are the Directors of tiiis Grant j 
 and it was M. de Benac who had the Direction of the Houfe of 
 Cannes brulees, together with M. Chevalier, Nephew to the Mafter 
 of the Mathematics to the King's Pages. They have no Prieft, 
 but it is not their Fault : They had one whom they were 
 obliged to get rid of, becaufe he was a Drunkard ; and they 
 judged rightly, that a bad Prieft is likely to do more Harm in a 
 new Settlement, where he has no Superior that watches over his 
 Condudt, than his Services are worth. 
 
 Between the Colapijas and the Cannes brulees, we leave on the 
 
 r . . Right Hand th« Spot which was formerly 
 
 Description of pofl - e(red by the ^aen/as ; who, in the Time 
 
 the I aenias. Q { M. de la Sale, made a great Figure in this 
 
 (m) The lad is now Captain in the Troops of Lav'-.Jiana, 
 
 U u a- Country, 
 
 . . — ~,
 
 332 An Hiji 'or -leal Journal of 
 
 Country, but who have entirely difappeared for fome Years. 
 
 This is the fineft Place, and the beft Soil of Louifiana. M. de 
 
 Meufe, to whom ic was granted, has done nothing here yet : Ne- 
 
 verthelefs he keeps here a Diredlor, who has neither Men nor 
 
 Merchandize. 
 
 The 5th we flopped to dine at a Place which they call the 
 
 n /• „. ~ Chapitoulas, and which is but three Leagues 
 
 ,1 r>u~ - tn ,1 aiftant from Neiu Orleans, where we arrived 
 
 the v^napitoulas. r - -it- • rm. s>, ■ > 
 
 r at five in the Evening. 1 he Lhapitoulas, 
 
 and fome neighbouring Habitations, are in very good Condition. 
 The Soil is fruitful, and it is fallen into the Hands of People 
 that are fkilful and laborious. They are the Sieur du Breuil and 
 three Canadian Brothers, named Chauvins. The laft have con- 
 tributed nothing but their Induftry, which was perfected by the 
 Neceffity of labouring for a Subfiftence. They have loft no 
 Time, they have fpared no Pains, and their Example is a LefTon 
 for thofe lazy People, whofe Poverty very unjuftly difparages a 
 Country which will render a hundred-fold of whatever is fowed 
 in it. 
 
 / am, &c. 
 
 LETTER XXXI. 
 
 Journey from New Orleans to the Mouth of the Mississippi : 
 Defcription of this River quite to the Sea. Reflexions on the 
 Grants. 
 
 Toulouse Island, or La Balise (the Buoy, or Sea 
 Mark) January 26. 
 Mad a m, 
 
 THE Environs of New Orleans have nothing very remarka- 
 ble. I did not find this City fo well fituated as I had been 
 told. Others are not of the fame Opinion. Thefe are the Rea- 
 fons on which their Opinion is founded : I will afterwards ex- 
 plain mine. The firft is, that about a League from hence, in- 
 clining to the North Eaft, they have found a little River, which 
 they have called the Bayouc of St. John (a), which at the End 
 of two Leagues difcharges itfelf into the Lake Pontchartrain, 
 which communicates with the Sea : By this Means, they fay, it 
 
 (a) Bayouc in the Savage Language fignifies a Rivulet. 
 
 is
 
 Travels in North America. 333 
 
 is cafy to keep up a certain Commerce between the Capital and 
 la Maubile, Biloxi, and all the other Polls which we poflefs near 
 the Sea. Thefecond is, that below this City, the River makes 
 a great Turn, which they have called le Detour aux Anglois, (the 
 Englijh Reach), which may caufe a Retardment, which they 
 judge very advantageous to prevent a Surprife. Thefe Rea- 
 fons are fpecious, but they don't appear to me to be folid ; for 
 in the firll Place, thofe who have rcaibned in this Manner, have 
 fuppofed that the Entrance of the River could receive none but 
 fmall VefTels ; therefore in this Cafe, what is there to be feared 
 from a Surprife, if the Town is ever fo little fortified, as I 
 fuppofe in my Turn it will be foon ? Will they come to attack 
 it with Boats, or with VefTels which cannot carry Guns ? On the 
 other Hand, in whatever Place the City is fituated, mult not 
 the Mouth of the River be defended by good Batteries, and by a 
 Fort, which will at leall give Time to receive Intelligence, and 
 to keep themfelves ready to receive the Enemy ? In the fecond 
 Place, what Neceflity is there for this Communication, which 
 cannot be carried on but by Boats, and with Polls, which they 
 cannot fuccour if they were attacked ; and from which con- 
 fequently they can receive but weak Succours, which for the 
 moll Part are good for nothing : I add, that when a Veflel 
 mull go up the Englijh Reach, they mull change their Wind every 
 Moment, which may detain them whole Weeks to make feven 
 or eight Leagues. 
 
 A little below New Orleans, the Land begins to have but little 
 T ■ 1 ry 1 f Depth on both Sides of the MiJJiJJlppi, and this 
 Little Depth of s Qn 4^,^^ q U i te to the Sea. It is a 
 
 the Country bclo™ £ oint of Land> which does not appear very 
 Mew Orleans. ant ; ent . f or if we dig ever fo little in it, we 
 
 find Water; and the Number of Shoals and little Iilands, 
 which we have feen formed within twenty years pall in all the 
 Mouths of the River, leave no Room to doubt that this Slip of 
 Land was formed in the fame Manner. It appears certain, that 
 when M. de la Sale came down the MiJJijfippi quite to the 
 Sea, the Mouth of this River was not the fame as it is at pre- 
 fent. 
 
 The more we approach the Sea, the more what I fay appears 
 
 . , evident: The Bar has fcarce any Water in 
 
 Changes that lhg eft p art of thofe Httle Outlets, 
 
 have happened in whkh the Riv£r has opened foj . itfelf - and 
 
 #t of which are fo much encreafed onl y b y the 
 
 R lcuer ' Means of the Trees, which are brought down 
 
 with the Current, one of which being llopt by its Branches, or 
 by its Roots, in a Place where there is little Depth, Hops a 
 thoufand others. I have feen Heaps of thefe 200 Leagues 
 
 from 

 
 334 -An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 from hence, one of which alone would have filled all the 
 Wood-Yards of Paris. Nothing is capable of removing them, 
 the Mud which the River brings down ferves them for a Ce- 
 ment, and covers them by Degrees ; every Inundation leaves a 
 new Layer, and in ten Years at moll the Reeds and Shrubs be- 
 gin to grow upon them. Thus have been formed the greateft Part 
 of the Points and Iilands, which make the River fo often change 
 its Courfe. 
 
 I have nothing to add to what I faid in the Beginning of the 
 
 r, . r former Letter concerning: the prefent State of 
 
 Departure from %T ~ , „, ,1 tj l 
 
 NV\ i J\e<w Orleans. I he trueit Idea that you can 
 
 ew Orleans. c e . » ■ £ „. ' /, f , 
 
 form or it, is to reprelent to yourlelr two 
 
 Iicndred Perfons that are fent to build a City, and who are en- 
 camped on the Side of a great River, where they have thought 
 of nothing but to fhelter themfelves from the Injuries of the 
 Air, whilit they wait for a Plan, and have built themfelves 
 Koufes. M. de Pauger, whom I have Hill the Honour to ac- 
 company, has juft now fhewed me one of his drawing. It is 
 very fine and very regular ; but it will not be fo eafy to exe- 
 cute it, as it was to trace it on Paper. We fet out the 2 2d of 
 "July for Biloxi, which is the Head-Quarters. Between New Or- 
 leans and the Sea there are no Grants ; they would have too lit- 
 tle Depth ; there are only fome fmall private Habitations, and 
 fome Magazines for the great Grants. 
 
 Behind one of thefe Habitations, which is on the Right, 
 Of h C\ immediately below the Englijh Reach, there 
 
 , J was not long fince a Village of the Cbaou 
 
 achas. 
 
 achas, the Ruins of which I vifited. I found 
 
 nothing entire but the Cabin of the Chief, which was pretty 
 much like the Houfe of one of our Peafants in France, only 
 with this Difference, that it had no Windows. It was built of 
 Branches of Trees, the Vacancies between which were filled 
 «?p with the Leaves of Lattanier ; the Roof was of the fame 
 Structure. This Chief is very abfolute, as are all thofe of Flo- 
 rida ; he never hunts or fhoots but for his Diverfion, for his 
 Subjects are obliged to give him Part of their Game. His Vil- 
 lage is at prefent on the other Side of the River, half a League 
 lower, and the Savages have tranfported thither even to the 
 Bones of their Dead. 
 
 A little below their new Habitation the Coaft is much higher 
 than any where hereabout, and it appears to me that they 
 fhould have placed the City there. It would be but twenty 
 Leagues from the Sea, and with a South Wind, or a moderate 
 South Ealt, a Ship would get up in fifteen Hours. The Night 
 ©f the 23d we quitted the Boat which had brought us hither, 
 and embarked in a Brigantine, in which we fell down with the 
 
 Stream
 
 Travels in North America. 335 
 
 Stream all Night. The next Morning by Day-Break we had 
 pafled a new Circuit, which the River makes, and which they 
 call the Reach of the Piaki mines. 
 
 We found ourfelves foon after in the midd of the PafTes of 
 
 nr l P /r. f ^ e MiJJiffippi, where it requires the greateft 
 
 h M ffiflf Attention to work the Ship, that it may not 
 
 e i 1 lppi. be drawn into fome one of them, from whence 
 
 it would be impoffible to recover it. The greatelt Part are only 
 
 little Rivulets, and fome are even only feparated by Sand-Banks, 
 
 which are almod level with the Water. It is the Bar of the 
 
 Miffiffippi which has fo greatly multiplied thefe Pades ; for it is 
 
 eafy to conceive by the Manner in which I have faid there are 
 
 formed every Day new Lands, how the River, endeavouring to 
 
 efcape by where it finds the lead Refidance, makes itfelf a Paf- 
 
 fage, fometimes one Way and fometimes another ; from whence 
 
 it might happen, if Care was not taken, that none of thefe 
 
 Paffages would be practicable for VefTels. The Night of the 
 
 24th we anchored beyond the Bar, over-againd la Bali/e. 
 
 The contrary Wind keeping us ftill here, we were willing to 
 Of h 111/1 ma ke fome Advantage of this Delay. Yeiler- 
 / e j an ^ ^ 2 .^ being Sunday, I began by 
 louiouie, or Ja fmging a great Mafs in the jfland, which 
 ** a le * they call la Bali/e, on Account of a Sea- 
 
 Mark which they have fet up for the Direction of Ships. — - 
 I afterwards bleifed it, we named it Touloufe Ijland, and we 
 fang the Te Dcu?n. This Ifland is fcarce more than half a 
 League in Compafs, taking in alfo another Ifland which is fe- 
 parated from it by a Gutter, where there is always Water. Orj 
 the other Hand it is very low, excepting only one Place, where 
 the Floods never come, and where there is Room enough to 
 build a Fort and fome Magazines. They might unload Veffels 
 here, which could not eafily pafs the Bar with their whole- 
 Lading. 
 
 M. de Paugtr founded this Place with the Lead, and found 
 c/c.- the Bottom pretty hard, and of Clay, tho' 
 
 * * * there come out of it five or fix little Spring?, 
 
 but which yield little Water; this Water leaves on the Sand 
 a very fine Salt. When the River is lowed, that is to fay, durirg- 
 the three hotted Months of the Year, the Water is fait round 
 this Ifland : In the Time of the Floods, it is quite frefh, and 
 the River preferves its Frefhnefs a good League in the Sea. At 
 all other Times it is a little faltifh beyond the Bar. Therefore 
 it is entirely a Fable, which has been reported, that for twenty 
 Leagues the MiJ/rJ/ijji does not mix its Waters with thofe of the 
 Sea. 
 
 M. Pa~* 
 
 . _
 
 33^ <dn Hificrical Journal of 
 
 M. Pauger and I pafTed the reft of the Day with the Pilot 
 Of the principal ? erI f°> who commanded the Brigantine in 
 Mouth of the Mif- S Un p mg "£ ^ lfc0Venn S * e on ly Mouth of 
 fiffippi River which is navigable ; and thefe are 
 
 "" ' exattly oui Obfervations on the State in which 
 
 we found it, for I do not anfwer for the Changes which may 
 happen in it. It runs North Weft and South Eaft the Space of 
 three hundred Fathom, in going up from the open Sea quite to 
 the Ifland of Touloufe, over-againft which there are three little 
 Iflands, which have yet nothing growing on them, though they 
 are pretty high. In all this Interval, its Breadth is two hun- 
 dred and fifty Fathom, its Depth is eighteen Feet in the Mid- 
 dle, the Bottom foft Oofe : But we muft navigate here with the 
 Sounding-Line in Hand, when we are not ufed to the Channel. 
 
 From hence going upwards, we make ftill the North Weft for 
 four hundred Fathom, at the End of which there is ftill fifteen 
 Feet Water, the fame Bottom ; and it is to be obferved that 
 every where the Anchorage is fafe, and that we are fheltered 
 from all the Winds but the South and the South Eaft, which 
 may, when they are violent, make the Ships drive with their 
 Anchors, but without Danger, becaufe they would run on the 
 Bar, which is a foft Oofe : Then we make the North Weft 
 by North Eaft for five hundred Fathom. This is properly the 
 Bar, twelve Feet Water, mean Depth ; we muft alfo work here 
 with great Attention, for we meet with many Banks : This Bar 
 is two hundred and fifty Fathom wide between low Lands that 
 are covered with Reeds. 
 
 In the Pafs of the Eaft, which is immediately above, we 
 
 ^ , p p make full Weft for a League : It is two hun- 
 
 t er qj/es. ^^ ^^ g^ p atnom w ide, and from four to 
 
 fifteen Feet in Depth. Then all at once we find no Bottom. In 
 taking again the great Pafs at coming off the Bar, we make 
 again the North Weft the Space of three hundred Fathom, and 
 we have always here 45 Feet Water. We leave on the Right 
 the Pafs of Sawvole, by which Boats may go to Bilcxi, making 
 the North : This Place took its Name from an Officer, whom 
 M. a" Iberville made Commandant in the Colony upon his Re- 
 turn to France. 
 
 Then we muft return to the Weft and by North Weft for fifty 
 Fathom, and in a Kind of Bay, which we leave on the Left ; at 
 the End of this Space there are three Pafles, one to the South 
 South Eaft, another to the South, and a third to the Weft 
 South Weft. This Bay is notwithftanding only ten Fathom deep, 
 and twenty wide; but thefe PaiTes have little Water. We con- 
 tinue to follow the fame Rhumb of the Wind, and at fifty Fa- 
 thom farther there is on the fame Hand a fecond Bay, which is 
 twenty Fathom wide, and fifty deep. It contains two little Pafles, 
 
 which
 
 1 ravels in North America. 337 
 
 which Canoes of Bark would be troubled to get thro', and therefore 
 they feldom reckon them among the Pafles. From hence we take 
 to the Well for the Space of five hundred Fathom, and we come 
 over.-againft the Pafs a la Loutre (of the Otter). It is five hun- 
 dred Fathom wide, but is paflable only for Pettiaugres. Then 
 we turn to the South Well for twenty Fathom ; we return to the 
 Well for three hundred, then to the Well by North, the Space 
 of one hundred ; to the Well North Well as many, to the North, 
 Well eight hundred ; then we find on the Left the Pafs of the 
 South, which is two hundred and fifty Fathom wide, nine Fa- 
 thom Water at its Entrance on the Side towards the River, and 
 two Feet only where it goes out to the Sea. Two hundred and 
 fifty Fathom farther is the Paf; of the South Weil, nearly the 
 fame Breadth ; never lefs than feven or eight Feet Water. - 
 Hereabout the Country begins to be not fo marlhy, but it is 
 overflowed during four Months of the Year. It is bounded on 
 the Left by a Succeflion of little Lakes, which are at the End of 
 that of the Cbetimacbas ; and on the Right by the Iflands de la 
 Chandehur (Candlemas) : It is thought that between thefe Iflands 
 there is a Paflage for the largell Veffels, and that it would be 
 eafy to make a good Port here. Great Barks may go up from 
 the Sea to the Lake of the Cbetimachas, and nothing hinders 
 from going thither to cut down the fined Oaks in the World, 
 with which all this Coall is covered. 
 
 I think it would be bell to flop all the Pafles but the principal 
 tit f one, and nothing would be eafier ; to effedl 
 
 ,, ' / ■ v ', this we need only guide the floating Trees 
 nip the principal • . . • , J & , , n . . 5 , * 
 
 d /■ i nto them, with which the River is almoft 
 
 always covered. From hence it would fol- 
 low in the firft Place, that nothing would enter the River, not 
 even Barks and Canoes, but by one Paflage, which would de- 
 fend the Colony from Surprifes : in the fecond Place, that all 
 the Force of the Current of the River being united, its fole 
 Mouth would deepen itfelf as well as the Bar. I found this 
 Conje&ure on what happened at the two Points cut off", which 
 I mentioned before. Then there would be nothing more to do 
 than to preferve the Channel, and to hinder the floating Trees 
 from caufing any Obltru&ion in it, which does not appear to me 
 be very difficult. 
 
 As to what concerns the Breadth of the River between the 
 Breadth of the J aff «» '^/ » " M f ° r the four Leagues 
 
 JW bet^eii the f ™\ ^ I fland . Toulou f e t0 the u Paf ^ of l he 
 p a /r South Well, it is never more than fifty Fa- 
 
 ^ ' thorn : But immediately above this Pafs, the 
 
 MiJfiJJippi infenfibly recovers its ufual Breadth, which is never 
 
 lefs than a Mile, and feldom more than two Miles. Its Depth 
 
 X x alfo
 
 338 An Hlfiorical Journal cf 
 
 encreafes fiom the Bar upwards, which is the Reverfe cf 
 all ether Rivers which are commonly the deeper the nearer 
 they come to the Sea. 
 
 It would be here a prope - Place, Madam, to entertain you 
 with the Caufes of the Failure of thofe numerous Grants, which 
 have made fo much Xoife in France, and on which fo many Per- 
 fons had built fuch mighty Hopes ; but I had rather refer this 
 to our hrft Interview, and confine myflf a: prefent to communi- 
 cate to vcu my Thoughts of the Method that Perfons 
 fhould purfue in fettling in this Country, if the bad Succefs of fo 
 many Eiforts, and of fuch large Sums advanced to no Purpofe, 
 does not entirely difguf: : Nation. 
 
 It appears to me that the Habitations ought not to be placed 
 
 ,,-, , TT on the Side of the River ; but I would have 
 
 // cere the tia- „• j i_- • „« r> .. i 
 
 7. , taem removed higner up the Countrv. at lee: 
 
 citations cupot to r» " x. i, ' V 
 
 l j j a Quarter e: a league, or even halt a Lea-.:;. 
 
 ' J " cUr ' I am not ignorant that it is pclEble to be 
 
 freed from the Inconveniencies of the common Floods, by mak- 
 ing good Ditches ; but I think it is a great Inconvenience to 
 build upon a Soil, where if you dig ever io little, you immedi- 
 ately rind Water; and of Confequence one can have no Cellar:. 
 I am alio of Opinion, that they would be great by Gainers leav- 
 ing the Lards all rpen to the annual Inundation of the River. 
 The Mud that fettles on them, when the Waters are gone off, 
 renews and enriches them : One might employ a Part of them in 
 Pafturage, the other might be fown with Rice, Pulfe, and in ge- 
 neral with ever. Thing '. : requires rich and wet Lands. In 
 Time we fhould fee on both Sides the/.: nothing but Gar- 
 
 dens, O.xhard; and V lows, :h would be fufneient to feed 
 
 the People, and would (apply ." latter for an ufeful Commerce with 
 cur Iilanus, E ether neighbouring C [antes. In fhort, I 
 
 think I could anfwer for it, having landed twice or thrice every 
 Day as I came down the River, that alrr.oft ex^ry where, at a 
 little Distance from the Sides, we may find high Ground:-, where 
 we might build on a fclii Foundation, and where WheaJ 
 '•;---- wry well, when chey have given Air to the Country 
 binning the Wcc ' -. 
 As to what concerns the N; >n of the River, it will 
 
 tv- • J. alwai : difncalt when we are to go up it, 
 
 -, J - n . becaufe of the Strength cf the Current, 
 <vtzstiKP toe Ri~ i • = i i- • • j 
 
 * whicn obliges us even in go:ng down to 
 
 be very cautious, often bears upon Points 
 
 -at run out, and upon Shoals ; fo that to navigate it fafely, 
 
 unA have VeiTels that have both Sail; and Oare. More- 
 
 :.-. a: ve cannot go forward at Night when it is cloudy, 
 
 e \ oyages will be always yejy tediau: and expensive, at leait. 
 
 till
 
 Travels in North America. ,39 
 
 till the Borders of the River have Set: 
 
 on the whole Extent of the C . that is between the IlUntit 
 
 and the Sea. 
 
 Such, Madam, is this Country which they have (b much 
 
 talked of in France for fome Years, ar.d of 
 Fran mbemu wh;ch fcw p eople have a : . avc 
 
 .at the wrw nQt fce , Hars to _ c , . . _ 
 
 ,.W r%v th eGoodnefsof it, and ro neglect it. I 
 n r ranee cf dinard de Si}D run c , - three whole Vc 
 
 his Hirtorian (a) could not forgive 
 him for not having made a folid Settlement here. " Where could 
 " he go, fays he, to do better ;" 
 
 Indeed I never heard I n of, but by three 
 
 Sorts of Peop'e that hi up the Country, and whofe Tef- 
 
 timony is certainly to be rejected. The tin\ are the Manners, 
 who from the Road of J, or \ -'-nn, could fee 
 
 nothing but that Ifland quite covered with a barren Sand, and the 
 ftiil more Tandy Coart of BAxi, and who fofered themfelves to 
 be perfuaded that the Entrance cr" tl fable 
 
 for Ships of a rertain Eu'lk, or that it was neceiTary to go fifty 
 Leagues up this River to find a Place that ible. 
 
 They would have been quite of another Opinion, if they could 
 have miitrufled thofe who talked to them in this Manner, and 
 \e difcovered the Motives which induced them fo to do. 
 The 2d Sort are poor Wretches, u ho being driven out of France 
 for theirCrimes, or bad Conduft, true or falfe, or who, whether 
 to fhun the Purfuitof their Creditors, have engaged themfelves 
 in the Trocps and in the G-ants. Both thefe looking upon 
 ; Country as a Place of Banifnment, are difgufted at every 
 Thing. They do not interefl themfelves in theSuccefs of a Colo- 
 of which they are Members againrt rheirlnclination, and they 
 j ; .n'.V.ves verv little about the Advantages which :: B 
 
 care for the State : The greateft Part of them are not even 
 :ble of perceiving thefe Advanta: 
 The third Sort are thofe, who having feen nothing but Pover- 
 a Country on which exceflive Expences have been beitowed, 
 ibate to it without Refle<ftion what we ought entirely to caft 
 on the Incapacity, or on the Negligence, of thofe who had the 
 Care of fettling it. You alfo know very well the Reafons they 
 had, to publifh that Lsuijtana contained ereat Treafures, and 
 it. brought us near the famous Alines of St. Bartr, and other fLiil 
 richer, from which they B atter ed themfelves they fhould eafiJy 
 drive aviav the PciTbiTors ; and becaufe thefe idle Stories had 
 gained Credit with fome filly People, initead of imputing to 
 
 "_ . -. d : U Fig* f tha CtaoqpeSoE Firing. 
 
 Xxi themfelves
 
 34° Sin Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 themfelves the Error, in which they were engaged by their foo- 
 lifh Credulity, they have difcharged their Spleen on the Coun- 
 try, where they have found nothing of what had been promifeu 
 them. I am, Sec. 
 
 LETTER XXXII. 
 
 Defcription of the Biloxi .• Of the Cassine, or Apalachinf : 
 Of the Myrtle. Wax ;. Of M a u b I L E : Of the Tchad as : Of the Bay 
 of St. Bernard. Voyage from Biloxi to New Orleans hy 
 the Lakeof Pontchartrain. 
 
 Madam, On Board the A d o u r , April 5 . 
 
 THE 26th, after having clofed my Letter, I embarked, and 
 we prepared to fail ; but after we had made one Tack to 
 the South, the Wind coming againft us obliged us to return to 
 
 ^..,.;„.„/ ~* tj; °ur Anchorage, and to remain there the two 
 Arwval at £>i- r ., . _ ° _. . . , , . 
 
 j • following Days. The 29th we weighed An- 
 
 chor early in the Morning, but the Wind 
 was fo weak, and the Sea ran fo high, that in twenty-four 
 Hours we made but fourteen Leagues, which was but half the 
 Way we had to go. The 50th we had neither the Wind more 
 favourable, nor the Sea more calm till towards four in the Af- 
 ternoon, when a Shower of Rain cleared up the Weather, which 
 was very thick, and calmed the Sea : But after an Hour or two 
 the Mift returned, and became fo thick, that not being able to fee 
 how to fleer our VefTel, we came to an Anchor. The next Day 
 as the Fog did not difperfe, M. de Pauger and I went into the 
 Boat, to gain the Road of L'ljle aux Vaijfcaux (Ship If and) ; we 
 vifited there fome Ships of France, and we got back to Biloxi 
 about five in the Afternoon. 
 
 All this Coait is extremely flat ; Merchant Ships cannot come 
 jy r . bt - f t t nearer it than four Leagues, & the fmalleftBri- 
 
 >- a j /,; ean tine than two: And even thefe are obliged 
 t^oajr and of the ° r , „. , , „ r . , . XT , 6 
 p £, J to go further oft when the Wind is North or 
 
 North-Weft, or elfe they find themfelves on 
 Ground ; as it happened the Night before I debarked. The 
 Road is the whole Length of Ship If and, which extends a fmall 
 League from Eaft to Weft, but has very little Breadth. To the 
 Eaft of this Ifiand i? Dauphin If and, formerly catted Mafacre If and, 
 where there was a tolerable Port, which a Guft of Wind fhut up 
 in two Hours, a little more than a Year ago, by filling the En- 
 trance
 
 Travels in North America. 341 
 
 France of it with Sand. To the Weft of Ship IJland He one be- 
 hind the other, the Ifland des Chats or de Bienville, the Ifland x 
 'Corne, and the Ifles de la Chandekur. 
 
 What they call the Biloxi is the Coaft of the Main Land, which 
 * . i s to the North of the Road. This is the Name 
 
 Defcrtptionofthe qC a Nation f Savages which were fettled 
 Blloxi# there formerly, but who are now retired to- 
 
 wards the North Weft, on the Borders of a little River, called 
 the River of Pearls, becaufe they have found in it a pom vSort of 
 Pearls. They could not have chofen a worfe Situation for the 
 General Quarters of the Colony ; for it can neither receive any 
 Sucours from the Ships, nor give them any for the Reafons I have 
 mentioned. Befides this, the Road has two great Faults ; the An- 
 chorage is not good, and it is full of Worms, which damage all 
 the Ships : The only Service it is of, is to fhelter the Ships from 
 a fudden Guftof Wind, when they come to difcover the Mouth of 
 the Mijftjjlppi, which having only low Lands, it would be dan- 
 gerous to approach in bad Weather, without having firft dif- 
 covered it. 
 
 The Biloxi is not more valuable for its Land, than for its Sea. 
 
 _„ , _ ~ It is nothing but Sand, and there grows there 
 
 O; the Canine. ]ktle befides pines and Cedars . The Ca ^„ e> . 
 
 therwife called Apalacbine, alfo grows there every where in Plenty. 
 It is a very foiall Shrub, the Leaves of which, infufed like thofe 
 of Tea, pafs for a good Diffolvent, and an excellent Sudorific ; 
 but its principal Quality is diuretic. The Spaniards ufe it 
 in all Florida ; it is even their common Drink. It began to be 
 ufed in Paris when I left it ; but we were then in a bad Time 
 for new Trials ; they cropt as fuddenly as they were taken up. 
 Xeverthelefs, I know that feveral Perfons who have ufed Apala- 
 chine, praife it greatly. 
 
 There are two Kinds, which differ only in the Size of the 
 Leaves. Thofe of the large Sort are above an Inch long, the 
 others are little more than half that Length. In Shape and Sub- 
 ftance they are much like the Leaves of Box, except that they are 
 rounder at the Ends, and of a brighter Green. The Name of 
 Apalacbine, which we have given to this Shrub, comes from the 
 Apalacbes, a People of Florida, from whom the Spaniards learnt its 
 Ufe, and this is their Manner of preparing it. 
 
 They fet on the Fire in an earthen Pot a certain Quantity of 
 Leaves, and they let them parch in it till their Colour becomes 
 reddifti, then they pour boiling Water on them gently, till the 
 Pot is full. This Water takes the Colour of the Leaves, and 
 ft froths when it is poured out like Beer. They drink it as hot as 
 poffible, and the Savages would fooner go without eating, than 
 mifs drinking it Night and Morning; they think they Ihould be 
 
 fick
 
 ^4 2 An hijlorical Journal of 
 
 £ck if they went without it, and it is faid the Spaniards have 
 she fame Notion. 
 
 Half an Hour after they have taken it, it begins to pafs off, 
 and this lafts an Hour. It is hard to conceive how a Drink,, 
 which pafles fo foon through the Body, can be fo nourishing as 
 ihey fay it is : It is eafier to comprehend that it may cleanfe 
 away whatever hinders the Paffage of the Urine, and caufes 
 Difeafesof the Reins. When the Savages would purge them- 
 felves, they mix Sea Water with it, and this produces great Eva- 
 cuations ; but if the Dofe cf Sea Water is too ftrong, it may kill 
 ahem ; and this is not without Example. I have feen it taken in 
 ■France without fo much ado in preparing it, and in the Man- 
 ner one makes Tea, but or.ly doubling the Quantity, and mak- 
 ing it boil near half an Quarter of an Hour; and I make no 
 Uoubt but that it has then a great Effect. 
 
 They find here alio a Kind of Myrtle with large Leaves, 
 
 r>r / AT J which I knew already was very common on 
 Vf the MyrUe ^ Qq ^ q£ j^-^ am j of the E „ g %fi Colo- 
 nics on this Continent. Some give it the 
 Name of Laurel, but they are miitaken : Its Leaves have the 
 'mell of Myrtle, and the Englijh always call it the Candle Myrtle. 
 This Shrub bears a little Grain, which being thrown into boil- 
 ing Water, fwims upon it, and becomes a green Wax, lefs fat 
 asxd more brittle than that of Bees, but as good to burn. The on- 
 ly Inconvenience they have found in it is, that it breaks too eafily, 
 inn they might mix itwith another Wax extremely liquid, which 
 ihey get in the Woods of the Ifiands of America ; which 
 ii&wever is not neceffary, unlefs they want to make large Ta- 
 kers. I have feen Candles made of it, which gave as good a 
 JLight, and which lafted as long as our's. Our Miffionaries of the 
 Neighbourhood of Acadia mix Suet with it, which makes them 
 apt to run, becaufe the Suet does not mix well with this Wax. 
 
 The Sieur Alexandre, who is here in the Service of the Compa- 
 ny in the Quality DJf Surgeon and Botaniil, mixes nothing with 
 it^and his Candles have not this Fault ; their Light is foft and 
 very clear, and the Smoke they make when they are blown out, 
 ias a Smell of Myrtle very agreeable. He is in Hopes of finding- 
 a Way to blanch them, and he fhevved me a Mafs of it, which 
 was above half blanched fa). He fays, that if they would al- 
 low him five or fix of thofe Slaves, who are leaf! fit for the com- 
 Kion Labours, to gather the Grain in the Seafon ; he could make 
 Wax enough to load a Ship every Year.. 
 
 (a) This has not been followed, as is faid, becaufe this Wax is confids- 
 tii.ij altered in blanching. 
 
 At
 
 Travels in North America. 343 
 
 At thirteen or fourteen Leagues from the Biloxi, inclining to the 
 
 n , w , ., Eaft, we find the River of the Maubile, which 
 up /^Maumie. runs frQm [he N(mh tQ the South> & the Mouth 
 
 of which is over-againft Dauphin IJland. It rifes in the Country 
 of the Cb'uachas, and its Courfe is about a hundred and thirty- 
 Leagues. Its Bed is very narrow, and it winds much, which 
 does not hinder its being very rapid. But there are fcarce any 
 but the little Pcttiaugres that can go up it when the Waters are 
 low. We have on this River * Fort, which has been a long 
 Time the principal Poll of the Colony ; yet the Lands are not 
 good, but its Situation near the Spaniards made it convenient 
 for trading with them, and this was all they fought for at that 
 1 lme. 
 
 It is reported, that at fome Leagues beyond the Fort, 
 they have difcovered a Quarry ; if this is true, and the Quarry 
 abounds with Stone, it may prevent the entire Defertion of this 
 Poit, which many Inhabitants begin to forfake, being un- 
 willing to cultivate any longer a Soil which does not anfwer 
 the Pains they take to improve it. Neverthelefs, I do not be- 
 lieve that they will eafily reiblve to evacuate the Fort of Mau- 
 bilc, though it fhould ferve only to keep in our Alliance the 
 Tcl\iSlas, a numerous People, who make us a necefiary Barrier 
 againft: the Chicacbas, and againft the Savages bordering on 
 Carolina. QaralaJJb de la Vega, in his Hiftory of Florida, fpeaks 
 cf a Village called i\J<i«-villa, which no doubt gave its Name to 
 the River, and to the Nation that was fettled on its Borders. 
 Thefe Mawvilians were then very powerful ; at prefent there are 
 hardly any Traces left of them. 
 
 They are at prefent engaged in feeking to the Weft of 
 
 r. . , D . the Mijjil/ippi, a Place fit to make a Settle- 
 kjF the iia-; at. . ■%*•*. i i ■ ** ■ 
 
 Po J , ment, which may bring us nearer to Mexico ; 
 
 and they think they have found it at a hun- 
 dred Leagues from the Mouth of the River, in a Bay which 
 bears the Name fometimes of St. Magdalen, and fometimes of St. 
 Lcuis, but oftener that of 5/. Bernard. It receives many Rivers, 
 fome of which are pretty large, and it was there that M. de Li 
 Sale landed, when he miffed the Mouth of the Mijfijpppi. A 
 Brigantine has been fent lately thither to reconnoitre it, but they 
 four.d there fome Savages, who appear little difpofed to re- 
 ceive us, and whom they did not treat in fuch a Manner as 
 to gain them to us. I alfo hear that the Spaniards have 
 very lately prevented this Defign, by fettling there before 
 us. 
 
 There is in Truth fomething more preffmg, aud better to be 
 done, than this Enterprize. I know that Commerce is the Soul 
 of Colonies, and that they are of no Lfe to fuch a Kingdom as 
 
 our's
 
 344 -A 11 Hiflorical Journal of 
 
 our's but for this End, and to hinder our Neighbours from grow- 
 ing too powerful; but if they do not begin by cultivating the 
 Lands, Commerce, after having enriched fome private Perfons, 
 will foon drop, and the Color - will not be eftablifhed. The. 
 Neighbourhood of the Spaniards may have its Ufe, but let us 
 leave it to them to approach us as much as they will, we are 
 not in a Condition, and we have no Need, to extend ourfelves 
 farther. They are peaceable enough in this Country, and they 
 will never be llrong enough to give us any Uneafinefs. It is 
 not even their Intereft to drive us out of this Country ; and if 
 they do not comprehend it yet, they will without Doubt foon 
 be fenfible that they cannot have a better Barrier againft the 
 Englijb than Louijlana. 
 The Heat was already very troublefome at the Biloxi in the 
 cru CV f Middle of March, and I judge that when the 
 
 J J:f. . •» Sun has once heated the Sand on which we 
 
 the Biloxi. wa j k here> the Heat muft he exceffive> They . 
 
 fay indeed that without the Breeze, which rifes pretty regularly 
 every Day between nine and ten in the Morning, and continues 
 till Sun-fet, it would be impoflible to live here. The Mouth of 
 the Mijffijjippi is in 29 Latitude, and the Coaftof the Biloxi is in 
 thirty. We had here in the Month of February fome cold Wea- 
 ther, when the Wind blew from the North and North Well, 
 but it did not laft long ; and it was even followed by great 
 Heats, with Thunder and Lightening, and Storms ; fo that in the 
 Morning we were in Winter, and in the Afternoon in Summer, 
 with fome fm all Intervals of Spring and Autumn between both. 
 The Breeze comes generally from the Eaft : When it corner 
 from the South, it is only a reflected Wind, which is much lefs 
 refrefhing ; but it is Hill a Wind, and when it fails entirely 
 there is no breathing. 
 The 24th of March I departed from the Biloxi, where I had been 
 ^ '" ftopt by a Jaundice, which held me above 
 
 Departure from a Monthj and j retU rned to Ne-zv Orleans, 
 the .biloxi. where I was to embark in a Pink belonging 
 
 to the Companv, named the Adour. I made this Voyage in a 
 Pettiaugre, and I never yet made one more difagreeable. Five 
 Leagues from the Biloxi, the Weft Wind, which in three Hours 
 brought me there, gave Place to a South Wind fo violent, that 
 I was obliged to flop. I had fcarce Time to fet up my Tent, 
 before we were overflowed with a Deluge of Rain, accompanied 
 with Thunder. 
 
 Two little Veflels that fet out with me, were willing to take 
 
 Advantage of the Wind, which carried them a great Way in a 
 
 few Hours, and I was very forry that I could not do the fame, 
 
 but I foon heard that their Fate deferved rather Pity than 
 
 q Envy :
 
 1 ravels in North America. 345 
 
 Envy: The firft was in continual Danger of being loft, and her 
 Paflengers arrived at New Orleans rather dead than alive. The 
 other was run a- ground about half Way, and five Perfons were 
 drowned in a Meadow, of which the Storm had made a Lake. 
 The Wind continued all Night with the fame Violence, and 
 the Pvuin did not ceafe till the next Day at Noon. It began 
 again at Night, and continued till Day, with Thunder. 
 
 When we fail in Sight of this Coaft, it appears very plea- 
 Obfewation on ? nt ' but when we come nearer it is not the 
 this Coajl. { l me ™ing. It is all along a Sand, as at 
 
 J the Biloxi, and we find on it only poor 
 
 Woods. I obferved here a Kind of Sorrel, which has the fame 
 Tafte as our's, but the Leaves of which are narrower; and which 
 caufes, as they fay, the Bloody-Flux. There is alfo in thefc 
 Parts a Kind of Afh, which they call Bois £ Amourette (Lovers 
 Wood), the Bark of which is full of Prickles, and palfes for 
 a fovereign Remedy, and very fpeedy againft the Tooth-Ach. 
 
 The 26th it rained all the Day, and tho' the Sea was calm, 
 we made little Way. We got a little farther the 27th, but the 
 following Night we went out of our Courfe above the Ifland of 
 Pearls. The next Day we went and encamped at the Entrance 
 of Lake Pontchartrain, having left a little before on the Right 
 the River of Pearls, which has three Mouths. The Separation of 
 thefe three Branches is at four Leagues from the Sea, and the 
 Biloxies are a little above it. 
 In the Afternoon we croffed the Lake of Pontchartrain : This 
 Of th J * f Traverfe is feven or eight Leagues, and at 
 
 t, -/ , J '.^ ■> Midnight we entered the Bayouc of St. John. 
 
 Pontchartrain. n -, r a , c n • . £■ T 1 £ j 
 
 1 hole who nrlt navigated this Lake, round 
 
 it, as they fay, fo full of Caimans, that they could fcarce give a 
 Stroke of -the Oar without hitting one. They are at prefent very 
 fcarce in it, and we only faw fome Traces of them at our en- 
 camping ; for thefe Animals lay their Eggs on the Land. ---Af- 
 ter I had relied myfe'f a little at coming out of the Lake, I 
 purfuedmy Way by Land, and I arrived at New Orleans before 
 Day. 
 
 The Adour was gone from thence, but not far, and I came up 
 
 na It f th with her the next Day, the firft of .^r//. The 
 
 tjpcu y J ■ Inundation was at its Heijjht, and of Confe- 
 
 Navipation down »u r> • u ~--i.i r 
 
 , jA quence the River much more rapid than I 
 
 the Kiver. tound . ( twQ Mopths before. Moreover, a 
 
 Ship, efpecially a Pink, is not fo eafily worked as a Sloop ; and 
 as our Sailors were not ufed to this Navigation, we h&d a great 
 deal of Trouble to get out of the River. The Ship, criven 
 femetimes to one Shore, and fometimes io the other, often t; ngled 
 its Yards and Tackling in the Trees, and they w»-re obliged 
 
 Y y more
 
 34& An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 more than once to cut away fome of the Tackling, to free us 
 from this Embarraflment. It was worfe ftill when we came to 
 the Paffes, for the Currents always drew us into the neareft with 
 great Violence. We got even into one of the fmalleft, and I 
 could never yet conceive how we could get out again. We 
 came off however with the Lofs of an Anchor, which we left 
 there : We had already loft one two Days before, fo that we had 
 only two remaining. Such a bad Beginning, made us a little 
 thoughtful, but the Youth and little Skill of thofe with whom 
 they had trufted us, gave us ftill more Uneafinefs. 
 
 The Adour is a very pretty Veflel, of three hundred Tons 
 
 Th Wh 'II Burthen. It failed from France with a very 
 
 j j " good Crew, under the Conduct of a Captain 
 
 who underftood his Bulinefs, and a Lieu- 
 tenant who had a very good Character. The latter was left fick 
 at St. Domingo : The Captain, foon after his Arrival at the 
 Biloxi, quarrelled with one of the Directors of the Company, 
 who difplaced him. To fupply the Places of thefe two Officers, 
 they have chofen a young Man of St. Malo, who came three 
 Years ago to Louijiana, in the Station of Pilot's Mate, or Ap- 
 prentice, and who fmce that Time got the Command of a 
 Sloop in the Road of the Biloxi, to go fometimes to la Maubile, 
 and fometimes to Ne-w Orleans, with Provifions. He appears to 
 have every Thing that is requifite to become a fkilful Mariner ; 
 he loves his Bufinefs, and applies himfelf to it ; but we fhould 
 be very willing to fee nothing of his little Experience, efpe- 
 cially in a Navigation which is attended with great Diffi- 
 culties. 
 
 He has for his fecond, an Officer who came from France in 
 the Quality of Enfign ; he alfo is a young Man, very fit to 
 be a Subaltern under Principals of Experience, who would leave 
 nothing to him but the Care of executing their Orders. It 
 would be hard to find a Seaman of more Courage in a Storm, 
 which he has been ufed to from his Childhood, in the painful 
 Fifheries of Newfoundland '; and two or three Shipwrecks, from 
 which he has happily efcaped, has given him a Confidence, 
 which I fhall be much furprifed, if he does not come into a bad 
 Plight by. 
 
 Our firft Pilot appears a little more experienced than thefe 
 two Officers, and they depend much on the Knowledge he has 
 of the Channel of Bahama, which he has paffed once already. 
 But this is but little to be acquainted with this Paflage the moft 
 dangerous that there is in the American Seas, and where they 
 reckon Shipwrecks by thoufands. Moreover, I am greatly ap- 
 prehenfive that a certain felf-fufficient Air which I obferve in 
 him, will produce fome fatal Effect. He has two Subalterns, 
 8 who
 
 Travels in North America. 347 
 
 who are very good natured Fellows ; we have fifty Sailors of 
 Bretagne, a little mutinous, but lbrong and vigorous ; almoft all 
 have been at the Cod-Fifhery, and that is a good School. The 
 Seamen appear to be Men of Judgment and Experience. 
 
 In Spite of all thefe Hindrances which I have mentioned, we 
 anchored on the Outfide the Bar the 2d at Night; we pafTed it 
 the 3d, and for Want of Wind we could go no farther. Yef- 
 terday we were again ftopt all the Day, and this Night we have 
 had a Storm from the South, which made us give Thanks to 
 the Lord that we were not at Sea fo near the Coaft. I hope 
 Madam, to write to you in a fhort Time from St. Domingo, whi- 
 ther our Pink is bound to take in a Cargo of Sugar, which lays 
 there ready for us. I take the Advantage of a Sloop which is 
 going up to New Orleans, to fend this Letter to you by a VeiTel 
 that is bound diredly for France. 
 
 1 am, Sec. 
 
 L E,T T E R XXXIII. 
 
 I'cyage to the Channel cf Bahama. Shipwreck of the A dour : 
 Return to Louisiana along the Coaft of Florida : Defcription 
 of that Ccaji. 
 
 Madam, At the Biloxi, "June 5. 
 
 IPromifed to write to you immediately from St. Domingo* 
 But beheld after two Months I am here, as far off as I was 
 then : The Recital of the fad Event that has brought me back 
 to this Colony, and which has but too well juftified my Appre- 
 henlions, with fome Obfervations on a Country which I did 
 not expect to fee, will make the Subject of this Letter. I 
 am not, however, fo much to be pitied as you may think. I 
 am very well recovered of my Fatigues. I have gone through 
 great Dangers, but ha\ e happily efcaped from them : The Evil 
 that is palt is but a Dream, and often a pleafant one. 
 
 It was but half an Hour at moil, after I had clofed my Let- 
 _-. . , , ter, when the Wind coming to the North 
 The Adour Jets Weft we prepared t0 f^il. I thought that the 
 
 Sad ' Refped due to the facred Day of Eafter 
 
 would have engaged the Captain to have waited till the next 
 Dav, especially as it was paft Noon; but he had few Provifi- 
 ons', and one Day's Delay might have bad Conferences. Our 
 
 Y y 2 Haftc
 
 348 
 
 An Hijlorical Journal of 
 
 Hade was attended with Hill worfe. We foon loft Sight of 
 Land, and at the End of an Hour's Sail, after having had the 
 Pleafure of feeing the Waters of the River and thofe of the Sea 
 mix together without being blended, we no longer perceived 
 any Difference, finding only Salt Water. 
 
 It may be faid, perhaps, that we had quitted the right Chan- 
 nel, and I allow that it may be true; but that Struggle which 
 we obferved fo near the Mouth, does not (hew a River victori- 
 ous, that opens itfelf a free PafTage, and for twenty Leagues 
 gives Laws to the Ocean. Befides, if this Fatt was true, at 
 leaft in the Time of the Inundation, in which Time we were, 
 how came we to have fo much Trouble to find the Mouth of 
 the River ? The Difference alone of the Colour of the Waters 
 Would have difcovered it to any the leaft attentive. 
 
 In Regard to this Colour, I have faid that the MiJJiJJippi, af- 
 
 . . ter its Junction with the Miffouri, took the 
 
 Qbjenvatton on CoIour of the Waters of ^ River> which 
 
 ir-a-f er - ° f are white : But would y° u believe k > Ma " 
 
 Miffiluppi. dani) that of aI1 the W aters, that we can take 
 
 for a Ship's Provifion, there are none which keep fweet fo long 
 as thefe ? Befides this, they are excellent to drink when they 
 have been left to fettle in Jars, at the Bottom of which they 
 leave a Kind of white Tartar, which, in all Likelihood, ferves 
 equally to give them the Colour they have, to purify them, 
 and to preferve them. 
 
 The 1 2th at Noon, after having fufrered exceffive Heats for 
 feveral Days, and more intolerable ftill in the 
 Night than in the Day, we difcovered Cape 
 Serf, which is on the North Coaft of the Ifle 
 of Cuba, and very high. At Sun-fetwe were 
 over-againft it, we then (leered to the Eait, and failed in Sight 
 of the Shore ; the next Morning, at Day-break, we were over- 
 a^ainft the Havannah : This City is about eighteen Leagues 
 from Cape Sed, and about half-way we difcover a very high 
 Mountain, the Top of which is a Kind of Platform. They call 
 it the Table ef Marianne. 
 
 Two Leagues beyond the Havannah, there is a little Fort on 
 the Coaft, which is called la Hougue, from whence we begin to 
 difcover the Pain de Mat ance (the Bread of Mat ance). This is a 
 Mountain, the Tcp of which refembles an Oven, or if you pleafe, 
 a Loaf. It ferves to reconnoitre the Bay of Matance, which 
 is fourteen Leagues Diftance from the Havannah. The Heat con- 
 tinued increafmg, and indeed we were on the Confines of the 
 Torrid Zone : And withal, we had fcarce any Wind, and got 
 forward only by Favour of the Current, which runs to the 
 
 Eaft. 
 
 The 
 
 Defcription of 
 the North Coaji 
 of Cuba.
 
 Travels in North America. 349 
 
 The 14th, about fix in the Evening, we difcovered from the 
 Top of the main Maft the Coaft of Florida. There is no pru- 
 dent Mariner, who on difcovering this Coaft, if he has not at 
 leaft fix or feven Hours Day-Light to run, does not tack about 
 and keep off the Land till the next Day, there being no Coaft 
 in the World where it is of more Importance to fee every 
 Thing clearly, becaufe of theDiverfity of the Currents, which 
 we muft never flatter ourfelves that we certainly know. We 
 had an Inftance of no long Date in the Spanifi Galleons, which 
 were loft here fome Years ago, for Want of the Precaution 
 which I have juft mentioned. The Chevalier d y Here, Captain 
 of a Ship, who accompanied them, did all in his Power to en- 
 gage the General of the Flota to wait till D..y-Light to enter 
 into the Channel, but he could not fucceed with him, and he 
 did not think proper to throw himfelf away along with him. 
 Our Captain, who had received good Inftruclions on this Head, 
 had refolved to make Ufe of them ; but too great Readinefs 
 to hearken to others had the fame Effect with Regard to him, 
 as Prefumption had on the Spaxijb General. His firft Pilot, 
 who thought himfelf the mo ft feilful Tvlan in the World, and 
 his Lieutenant, who knew not how to doubt of any Thing, 
 were of Opinion to continue the Route, and he had not the 
 Refolution to oppofe them. He propofed ft leaft to make the 
 North Eaft, and the Confequences proved, that if his Opinion 
 had prevailed, we had efcaped Shipwreck. But he could pre- 
 vail only for making the North North Eaft, the Pilot pofitive? 
 ly aftirming that the Currents bore violently to the Eaft. He 
 faid the Truth, but it is only when we are near the Land on 
 that Side, as they bear to the Weft on the other Side, or. 
 which we then were. 
 
 At feven o'Clock the Land appeared fall at a ccnfiderable 
 
 „,. , r Diftance, and they could not fee it but from 
 
 Zb:p-<;re:k cf the Round . Top but half an Hour after, the 
 
 the Adour. lr . , • i j e -i ur j 
 
 Weather crrowme cloudy, a Sailer observed 
 
 by the Help of fome Flafhes of Lightening, that the Water hag 
 changed Colour. He gave Notice of it, but his Information 
 was received with Laughter, they told him it was the .Lighten? 
 ing that had made the Water appear white. He ftill maintain- 
 ed his Opinion, many of his Companions were focn brought t© 
 agree with him : The Officers would have made a Jeft of ft 
 ftill, but they cried fo loud, and were (o many in the fame 
 Opinion, that the Captain ordered the Lead to be thrown out. 
 They found but fix Fathom Water ; the only fure Step they 
 could have taken was to caft Anchor that foment, but there wa$ 
 no Anchor ready. They thought to tack about, ar.J perhaps -k 
 had been Tjme enough, if they had u;"c J Dilpatch ; but they 
 
 amufed
 
 350 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 amufed themfelves with founding again, and they found only 
 five Fathom Water. Prefently after they founded again and 
 found only three. Reprefent to yourfelf, Madam, a Parcel of 
 Children, who feeing themfelves drawn towards the Brink of a 
 Precipice, are only attentive to know the Depth of it, without 
 taking any Meafures to avoid it. 
 
 Now there arofe a confufed Noife, every Man cried out as 
 loud as he could bawl, the Officers could not make themfelves 
 Ileard, and two or three Minutes after the Ship ran aground : 
 There rofe at this Inftant a Kind of Storm, and the Rain which 
 followed foon after made the Wind fall; but it foon rofe again, 
 fettled in the South, and grew Wronger than before. The Ship 
 began immediately to lay hard upon her Helm, and they were 
 afraid that the Main-Malt, which at every Shock rofe pretty 
 jrigh, would jump out of its Step and fplit the Ship's Bottom. 
 It was tried in the ufual Way, condemned, and cut down im- 
 mediately, after the Captain had given it the firft Stroke with 
 a Hatchet, according to Cuftom. 
 
 Then the Lieutenant went into the Boat, to try to difcover in 
 what Place we were, and in what Condition the Ship was. He 
 obferved that in the fore Part we had but four Feet Water, that 
 the Bank on which we were wrecked was fo fmalt, that it was 
 fcut juft large enough to receive the Ship, and that all round 
 it (he would have floated. But if we had efcaped this Bank, 
 we could not have fhunned another, for we were furrounded 
 with them, and it is certain we lhould not have met with one fo 
 commodious. 
 
 The Wind continued to blow violently ; our Ship continued 
 to bear hard upon her Helm, and at every Shock we expe&ed 
 it to fplit. All the Effects of Fear were painted on our Faces, 
 and after the nrlt Tumult formed by the Cries of the Sailors 
 who worked the Ship, and by the Groans of the Paflengers, who 
 expe&ed Death every Moment, a deep and mournful Silence 
 prevailed through all the Company. We heard afterwards that 
 fome Perfons took their Meafures fecretly not to be nonplulhed, 
 in Cafe the VefTel mould go to Pieces : Not only the Boat, but 
 the Canoe alfo were in the Water, with every Thing in Readi- 
 siefs, and fome trufty Sailors were ordered privately to be ready 
 at the firft Signal. They aflured me afterwards, that they had 
 agreed not to leave me in the Danger. 
 
 This is certain,, that I patted the Night without clofing my 
 Eyes, and in the Situation of a Man who does not expect to 
 fee the Day again. It appeared however, and difcovered to us 
 the Land at more than two Leagues from us. It was not that, 
 which we difcovered at firft, and which we faw ftill at a great 
 Diltance, but a low Land, and which appeared to us very uniit 
 
 to
 
 Travels in North America. 3 5 l 
 
 io be inhabited. Neverthelefs, this Sight was a Pleafure to us, 
 
 and gave us a little Courage. 
 
 Then they conlidered if there was no Likelihood of getting 
 
 ,» , ... the Adcur afloat again, and becaufe it was 
 
 , J , eood to have ieveral Serines to our Bow. 
 
 they take to Ja-ve JL »u u- a r .-r- c , * 
 
 i J .i they thought at the lame lime of the 
 
 tbemjelves. Means of getting out of fuch a bad Situa- 
 
 tion, fuppofing it impoflible to recover the Ship. Then they 
 recollected that they (hipped a flat-bottcm'd Boat, with De- 
 fign to ufe it at St. Domingo, to load the Sugars they were to 
 take in there. This was a very prudent Precaution of the Cap- 
 tain, who had been told that in that Country the Loading often 
 detains bhips in the Road much longer than is convenient for 
 the Intereft of the Owners, and the Health of the Ship's Com- 
 pany : But Providence had another View without Doubt in in- 
 spiring him with this Thought. This Boat faved us. 
 
 I do not well know what parted the fame Day between the 
 Officers and the Pilot, but there was no more Talk of recover- 
 ing the Veffel. Many have faid, that all their Efforts for this 
 Purpofe would have been ufelefs ; but the Captain complained 
 to me more than once, that they would not fuffer him to make 
 this Attempt in the Way he chofe. They refolved therefore 
 the fame Day to carry all the People to Land, and they labour- 
 ed all the Morning to make a Raft, that they might not be 
 obliged to make ieveral Trips. 
 
 However, they did not think proper yet to forfake the Ship, 
 and there were none but the PafTengers that were embarked in 
 the Long-Boat, and on the B.aft. At a Gun-Shot from the Ship 
 we found the Sea very high, and the Bifket which we were car- 
 rying to Land was wetted : A little Pettiaugre that followed 
 the Boat could with Diiticulty keep above Water, and the 
 Raft, which carried twenty-two Men, was carried fo far by the 
 Current, that we thought it loft. 
 
 The Boat, in which I was, made Hafte to Land, that 
 
 o , , it might pro to affift the others ; but as we 
 
 ba-vaves of the i ^ n. 
 
 7/1 A ftJ M were ready to go afhore, we perceived a prer- 
 
 J ty large Company of Savages armed with 
 
 * •" Bows end Arrows, which approached us, 
 
 This Sight made us reflect, that we were without Arms, and 
 we ftopt fome Time without daring to advance. We even 
 thought, all Things well confidered, that it would be impru- 
 dent to go any farther. The Savages perceived our Diftrefs, 
 and eafily conceived the Caufe of it. They came near us, and 
 cried out to us in Spanish, that they were Friends. When tbev 
 faw this did not encourage us, thev quitced their Arms, and 
 came to us, being up to the Waift in Water. 
 
 We
 
 352 An Hijlorkal Journal of 
 
 We were foon furrounded by them, and it is certain, that 
 
 frsi rr j L embarrafled as we were with Things in a 
 W bat fajjecl be- B wheR , w(j cQuld nQt ^ it was v 
 
 i-weentbemandus. eafy for them w deftroy ^ They afked 
 
 ils at firft if we were Englijh ; we anfwered them, we were not, 
 but Allies and good Friends of the Spaniards: They feemed 
 much rejoiced at this, inviting us to land on their Ifland, and 
 afluring us we fhould be as fafe there as in our Ship. Miftruil 
 on fome Occafions only ferves to difcover Weaknefs, and gives 
 Rife to dangerous Surmifes. Therefore, we thought it beft to 
 accept the Invitation of thefe Barbarians, and followed them to 
 their Ifland, which we found to be one of the Iflands called the 
 Martyrs. 
 
 But what feems moft remarkable is, that we determined 
 to take this Step upon the coming up of the Pettiaugre, in 
 which there were but five or fix Men, whilft we were talking 
 With the Savages; we certainly ran a great Rifque in trufting 
 ourfelves without Arms into the Hands of thefe Floridiam, and 
 We were well convinced of it in the Sequel : Four or five Men 
 more were not capable of making them change their Defign, fup- 
 pofing thefe Barbarians had any ill Intentions againft us ; and I 
 never think of the Boldnefs which this light Reinforcement infpi- 
 fed us with, but I reprefent to myfelf thofe Perfons,who cannot go 
 alone in the dark, and whom the Prefence of a Child immedi- 
 ately emboldens, by employing their Imagination, which alone 
 xaufes all their Fear. 
 
 However, we were no fooner landed on the Ifland, than we 
 
 ^. p r began to diftruit the Officers, having likewife 
 
 l jaf? but littIe Ground to depend on the Savages. 
 
 tf" Cor- an The Ca P tain of the Adour had brou g ht us *»- 
 
 he took Leave of us, faying, he was obliged to return on 
 Board, where he had many Things to do, and he would fend us 
 directly whatever we wanted, efpecially Arms. There was no- 
 thing in this but what was reafonable, and wc eafily conceived 
 that his Prefence was necefiary in his Ship : But we reflected 
 that he had brought away only the PafTengers, and that all the 
 Ship's Company would be compleat, upon the Return of the 
 Captain. 
 
 This made us fufpedl that the Boat, which they fpoke of to 
 "us, was only a Lure to amufe us, and they had only landed us as 
 -People that were a Burthen to them, that they might take Ad- 
 vantage of the Boat and the Canoe, to go to the Hwvannab, or 
 to St. jiugujiin in Florida. We were all more confirmed in th efe 
 Sufpicions, when we found that we ail had the fame Thought; 
 
 this
 
 Travels in North America. 353 
 
 his Agreement made us judge that it was not without Founda- 
 tion :-Upon which it was refolved among us, that I fhould re- 
 turn with the Captain to the Ship, in order to prevent unjuit. R.c- 
 folutions, if they were tempted to take any. 
 
 I therefore declared to the Captain, that fince his Chaplain 
 refolved to Hay in the Ifland, it was not proper that I fhould re- 
 main there alfo ; that it was better to feparate us, and that I was 
 refolved not to lay from on board the Ship, whilft any Perfon re- 
 mained onboard. He feemed a little furprifed at my Difcourfe, 
 but he made no Objection, and we fet off. I found on my Ar- 
 rival at the Ship, that they had fpread the Sails, to fee, as they 
 faid, if it was poffible to difengage it. But there were many 
 other Manoeuvres to make for this End, and they did not think 
 fit to try them. 
 
 In half an Hour the Wind turned to the Eaft, and grew very 
 <> / p /r ftrong, which obliged us to furl the Sails : 
 
 tnf ihT Eut this Storm pr0ved the MeanS ° f faving 
 
 S o Vt -j ^ a thofe who were upon the Float, and who 
 
 good Providence. had been ^^ & grea( . Way Qut tQ Sea . 
 
 The Billows drove them back again towards us, and as foon as 
 we perceived them, the Captain fent them his Long-Boat, which 
 took them in Tow, and brought them again to the Ship. Thefe 
 unfortunate People, who were for the moll Part poor PafTengers, 
 expe&ed nothing but Death, and on our Side, we began to de- 
 fpair offaving them, when Providence raifedthis little Storm to 
 lave them from perifhing at Sea. 
 
 My Prefence was more neceffary in the Ship than I had ima- 
 gined. The Sailors, during the Captain's Abfence, were refolved 
 to drown in Wine their Sorrow and Cares. In Spite of the Lieu- 
 tenant, whom they did not much refpecr., and whom many did 
 not love, they had broke open the Locker that fecured the Stores, 
 and we found them almoft all dead drunk. And I faw fome 
 Symptoms amongft them of Mutiny and Defertion, from which 
 I judged there was every Thing to fear, if it was not remedied 
 betimes ; and the more, as the Captain, tho' liked well enough 
 by the Sailors, knew not how to make himfelf obeyed by the 
 inferior Officers, the greateit Part of whom were much inclined 
 to mutiny, and who could not bear his Lieutenant. 
 
 To encreafe our Uneafinefs, a Company of Savages. followed 
 Trouble from the Us C * of< :' and we conceived, that if we had 
 Savap's no V 1Q l e nce to fear from them, it would not 
 
 be eafy to fhun their Importunities, and par- 
 ticularly, that we ought to guard well what we were not willing 
 to lofe. The mofl diinnguiihed called himfelf Don - 
 and fpoke Speodjb pretty well. He had learnt fill 1 better the 
 S/eviJb Gravity and Manners. If he faw any one well drefled, 
 
 Z z he
 
 354 -An Hijtorical Journal of 
 
 he afked him if he was a Cavallero, and he had begun with tell- 
 ing us that he was one, and the moft diftinguifhed of his Na- 
 tion. However, he had not very noble Inclinations; he longed 
 for every Thing he faw, and if they had not been denied, he 
 and his Company had left us nothing but what they could not 
 carry away. He afked me for my Girdle ; I told him I could 
 not fpare it ; he conceived that it was only neceffary for my 
 Caffock, and afked it of me with great Importunities. 
 
 We learnt of him that almoft all the Savages of his Village 
 
 zrsL l r c had heen baptized at the Havannah, whither 
 Who theje ba- they ma(k & y oyage once a Yea r. They are 
 
 vages were. forty-five Leagues diflant from it, and they 
 
 make this PafTage in little Pettiaugres very flat, in which Peo- 
 ple would not venture to crofs the Seine at Paris. Don Antonio 
 farther informed us that he had a King, who was called Don 
 Diego, and that we fhould fee him next Day. He then afked us 
 what Refolution we intended to take, and offered to conduct us 
 to St. Augufiin. We let him know that we took his Offer in 
 good Part, we treated him and all his Company well, and they 
 •returned well fatisfied to all Appearance. 
 
 The Bodies of thefe Savages are redder than any I have vet 
 feen : We could never learn the Name of their Nation : But 
 although they did not appear to have the beft Difpofition, they 
 did not feem to us fo mifchievous, as to be of thofe Calos or Car- 
 los, fo much decried for their Cruelties, and whofe Country is 
 not far from the Martyrs. I do not believe that thefe are Men- 
 Eaters ; but perhaps they behaved fo well to us only becaufe 
 we were the ftrongeft. I know not what Quarrel they have had 
 with the Englijh, but we had great Reafon to beliei^e that they 
 did not love them. The Vifit of Don Antonio might very well 
 proceed from no other Motive than to enquire if we were not of 
 that Nation, or if it would not be too great a Rifque for them to 
 attack us. 
 
 The 1 6th I thought myfelf obliged to go to encourage thofe 
 _ - j, . who remained in the Ifland, and to whom 
 
 Disturbance m the Savages kept the p rom if e they had made 
 the Ship. them the E ven i n g before. I paffed almoft the 
 
 whole Day with them ; and in the Evening, at my Return, I 
 found all the Ship in an Uproar. The Authors of the Diftur- 
 bance were inferior Officers, and all the beft Sailors were of 
 their Side. They wanted to be revenged of the Lieutenant ; 
 who till then, as they faid, had treated them with great Haughti- 
 nefs and Severity, The Wine, which they had at Difcretion, 
 heated their Heads more and more, and it was fcarce any longer 
 poffible Co make them hear Reafon. 
 
 The
 
 Travels in North America. 35$ 
 
 The Captain fhewed on this Occafion a Prudence, a Steadi" 
 ._.. ,. r nefs, and a Moderation, which one would not 
 Tbeutcadmejs have edled from his Age , his Want of 
 
 tf the Oficrrs. Exper l e nce, and his paft Conduft : He knew 
 
 how to makehimfelf beloved and feared by People, who fcarce 
 anv longer hearkened to any Thing but their Fury and Caprice. 
 The Lieutenant, on his Part, confounded the molt mutinous 
 by his Intrepidity ; and having found Means to feparate and 
 employ them, he carried his Point, and reduced them to Obedi- 
 ence. They had at laft got from the Bottom of the Hold, the 
 Boat fo much promifed, and they had carried it to the Ifland. It 
 was neceffary to fit it up, and to lodge themfelves till it was 
 ready, and to get out of the Ship Provifions and Ammunition, 
 to fortify themfelves againft any Surprize of the Savages. The 
 Captain employed in thefe Works all thofe whom he moil 
 diftruftcd ; and entreated of me to flay on board, to aflift the 
 Lieutenant in keeping the reft to their Duty. 
 
 The 17 th, at Day-break, there appeared a Sail two Leagues 
 a -c 1-t.ol- from us. We made Signals of Diftrefs with 
 JnhnghihSkp ourFla?r ^ anc ] fome Time after we ob- 
 tadewaurstnviUB ferved that he Jay bv to wait for us. Imme- 
 Urclteat them. lately the Lieutenant took the Canoe, and 
 
 went aboard to afk the Captain if he would take us all in. But 
 it was only a Brigantine of one hundred Tons, which had been 
 plundered by Pirates, and which for three Days had made many 
 Efforts to get out of this Bay ; where the Currents, the Captain 
 faid, being ftronger this Year than had ever been known, had 
 drawn his Brigantine againft all his Endeavours to ;he contrary, 
 though he made the Eall-North-Eaft. It is true, that we had 
 this only from our Lieutenant, whom fome fufpe&ed of invent- 
 ing this Story, that he might attribute to the Strength and Irre- 
 gularity of the Currents, the Misfortune in which his Obftinacy 
 had engaged us. 
 
 However that might be, the Englijh Captain confented to take 
 in twenty Perfons, if we would fupply him with Provifions and 
 Water, of which they were in great Want. The Condition 
 was accepted, and the Captain approached us in Fad, with Inten- 
 tion to drop an Anchor as near us as pofiible; but a ftrong 
 Wind from the South rifing on a fudden, he was obliged to 
 purfue his Route, that he might not expofe himfelf to the Dan- 
 ger of being loft, in endeavouring to fuccour us. The 19th we 
 again faw three Ships under Sail. They went to make them the 
 fame Propofals as to the firft, but they could not perfuade them to 
 
 (a) This is done by 1-oifting the Flag to the Top of the Suf, and t 
 it about it fa that it can't fly abroad. 
 
 Z z z
 
 3 A icl cf 
 
 ept them. The ..'..': Z-.gUjb t who complained of be- 
 
 ing plundered by I 
 
 . be fame Day, as there _ ; nothing left in the Adaur that we 
 _ _.. . ; : :!:..": Leave of her, with fo much 
 
 ::.-/. - : : : -;;:. ;.- :/._: ;" : e :": e: - y- ••■ ':.::'.-. :/.:- !::.£ '::-::. 
 :ad no: : :en _ Drop of T ater ; and we entail 
 Sun-let. We found here fome Ter.: ; . eich they 
 - fet up with the Sails of the Ship ; a Gnara-K 
 Day an £ N i ; > : - b : y kept a ftr: . " " :h j and force Pi o s , 
 
 .'. fecuredina Warehou slfo kept a Guard. 
 
 The Iiland in which e, rai^ht be about four Leasees 
 
 jyr . . in C ere fome to the Right 
 
 -. and Left of different Extents ; and that 
 where the i had their C 
 
 leaftof a] The - there' entirely by 
 
 i -hing ; and all this _ abounds w ith Fiih, in Proportion as 
 the Earth le of fupr 
 
 As U their Drefi, frees, or a Piece or" 
 
 furSce ; they have nothing covered but wha: Decency 
 
 teaches all Men to hide. 
 
 The Soil of thefeLOands is aver; land, or rather a K 
 
 of Lime every where intermixed with a white Coral, 
 
 which is eafily reduced to Powder. There are alio only Bafh i 
 and Shru': hout a fingle Tree. The Shores of the . : 
 
 are covered with tolerably fine She!., and they find me 
 
 Sponges, ."eem to be thrown up by the Waves 
 
 in nonr. Weather. They fay, that what keeps the E 
 he ipwrech . ... are common enough in the 
 
 Channel of Bahama, and of whicl (ways make id- 
 
 en a fin: ft in all the:". I £ : ; 
 
 : ■ . ■ " . '. : •■'. ' :- r 
 
 aid be Inh here ".aund fome Mea 
 
 :.'e Misfortunes, and 
 often top ut zr-z :e to them. 
 
 H i a young Man, cf 
 j. ture on e.nd of an 
 
 ..:: ugh. He \ 
 
 bed; his . and the :V.v Clcthei he 
 
 a were net worth f i king cr? z Dung- 
 . He I a 1 about ] Kind of Fillet, of I know not 
 
 : ; Travellers would certainly have 
 
 called 2.Diadem. Ke had no ts, do Mark or" L 
 
 . ia a W to I he i . A ■■■ 
 
 ell fhaped, and decently c -: ezcompa? 
 
 him, a od :hey told us it % ^ueen his Spoa 
 
 Q
 
 Tr. Ajzericz. 
 
 :*£** Majrtirt with Same Statelin; 
 
 however, v . 
 
 I -. r : 
 He of tt.ie whose Power and Riches axe 
 
 (o highly e orian of Fltrid*. We iaid a few 
 
 ad he gave as Room to hope, 
 ' - - - 
 
 tr ':'-Z e • ""in* a Present of 
 
 fThank- 
 
 : came again the next Dav, wearing - - ■ ■_- - '. 
 
 C -— " " raw that he was not p ;he 
 
 _ 
 - 
 
 came to see 
 
 ^ ■ - 
 
 oecaoie he hac . itw, where, . 
 
 - - ; . 1 . _ - - 
 
 have or ihew tiwa^ 
 
 :i- 
 
 i . . 
 - - - ■ . " 
 
 2)« Diego **- ""I*** 
 
 ■ 
 
 - 
 
 iwtmde UwrmAlr (*). 
 
 - - - 
 
 C : We I 
 
 before, be c md ~«V 
 
 ■ 
 t after having - ■• 
 
 couL: 3oq Jmskxs, nor ai 
 
 r. . 
 
 cocdsft
 
 J§8 An hlijiorical Journal of 
 
 conduct us to St. Augufiin., becaufe on the Route which we were 
 obliged to take there were fome numerous Nations, with whom 
 he was at War. I know not whether they did not then repent of 
 Raving fo inconsiderately forfaken the Adour, for after Don Diego 
 left us, they fent the Canoe to her ; but thofe who went in 
 it to her, told us at their Return, that the Savages had broke 
 her to Pieces, and that fhe was filling with Water. 
 
 The 23d, the Boat was finifhed, and they thought in earner! 
 
 <77. // 111 '' t0 re ^ ve v/nat Courfe to take. They had 
 h C f U ^ e Choice of two, and they were divid- 
 £ e< ^ ' Some vvere f° r hazarding the Paffage 
 
 to the Hauannak, the others were for follow • 
 ing the Coafr to St. Augufiin. The latter Courfe feemed the 
 fafeft, the former was the ihorteft. But if this was a prudent 
 Courfe, we ought to have done it the Day after the Ship- 
 wreck, or rather have fent the Long-Boat to the Ha-vannah, 
 to have informed the Governor of our Situation, and to have 
 afked him to fend us a Brigantine. The Rigging alone of the 
 Adour, would have been more than fufficient to have repaid 
 the Expences he might have been at. 
 
 However that might be, the greater): Part of the Ship's Com- 
 
 cr*i v ■ 1 j pany were of the laft Opinion ; it was im- 
 
 H hey are divided. r J, , , . , „ r ', „,, 
 
 J . poffible to bring them to any other. They 
 
 were forty ; and they demanded the Boat and the Canoe, and we 
 were obliged to yield to their Requeft. The Chaplain of the 
 Adour was of this Number : If it had not been fo, I lhould have 
 thought myfelf obliged to accompany them ; but it wasnecefiary 
 to divide the fpiritual Aids, as we did the Provisions. The next 
 Morning, after Mafs, the Chaplain, who was a Dominican Fa- 
 ther, defired- that I would blefs the three Vehicles : I obeyed, 
 and I baptized the Boat, and called it the St. Saviour. In the 
 Evening after Prayers, I made a laft Effort to bring all our 
 People to be of one Opinion : I eafily obtained, that the Day 
 following they mould depart together, that they lhould go to 
 encamp in the Wand that was farther!: from the Land, and that 
 they mould determine there according to the Wind. 
 
 We departed in Facl the 25 th about Noon, and we failed to- 
 
 § ether for feveral Leagues ; but towards Sun-fet, we faw the 
 oat lake the Channel, that they muft crofs to go to the Ha- 
 <vannab, without concerning themfelves about the Canoe, whofe 
 Provifions they carried ; and which not being able to follow 
 them, was obliged to join us. We received them kindly, tho' 
 amongft thofe who were in it, there vvere fome whom we had Rea- 
 fon not to be pleafed with. We landed in the Ifland, where we 
 had agreed all to unite, and where a Company of Savages were 
 come already, I know not with what Defign. We were upon our 
 
 Guard
 
 Travels in North America. 359 
 
 Guard all Night, and we departed very early in the Morn- 
 ing. 
 
 The "Weather was charming, and the Sea fine, and our Com- 
 
 The Boat takes P an >' be S an . t0 env >' thofe that we* in the 
 
 -z. n «r-i t>- Boat, as having taken the better Courfe. Some 
 the Route of the m- , to • ^, . r i , 
 
 ■, • J began to murmur at it, & cur Chiefs thought 
 
 it belt to feem willing to fatisfy them : Go 
 they took the Route of the Channel. After two Hours, the 
 Wind grew ftronger, and they fancied they faw the Appearances 
 of a Storm ; then they all agreed that it was Kafhnefs to en- 
 gage ourfelves in fuch a long Traverfe, in fuch Boats as our's ; 
 for nothing could be weaker than our Boats, which took Water 
 every where : But as to go to 5/. Augujiin, we muft have gone 
 all the Way back which we had made hitherto, we unanimously 
 agreed to go towards the Biloxi. 
 
 So we made the Weft, but we did not advance much that 
 
 ^ ,-, _, Day, and we were cblia-ed to pafs the Night 
 
 Lire at Currents • A v> i • i. re ~ u n 
 
 i „ .; tv/t m the Boat, winch was far from having; Room 
 
 between the Mar- , c « _ i j m, *V, 
 
 , , rr enoup-h tor us all to lay down. 1 he 27th, we 
 
 tyrs ar.d the Tur- s , . mi u c j 
 
 i jn i encamped in an liland, where we found 
 
 fome Cabins forfaken, fome Paths a great 
 
 deal trodden, and the Footfteps of Spanifi/ Shoes. This is the firft 
 
 of the Turtle IJlands. The Soil is the fame as at the Martyrs. I can't 
 
 conceive what Men can do in fuch a bad Country, and fodillant 
 
 from any human Habitation. We ftill fleered Weft, and we 
 
 failed with fuch a Rapidity, that could only proceed from the 
 
 Currents. 
 
 We went a great Way again the 25th, till Noon. Though 
 
 we had little Wind, the Iflands feemed to run Fcft-hafte 
 
 by the Side of us. At Neon we took the Elevation, which 
 
 we found twenty-four Degrees fifteen Minutes. If our Sea 
 
 Charts were exaft, we were at the Weft End of the Turtle 
 
 1 lands. It was hazardous to engage ourfelves in the open Sea, 
 
 and if I could have governed, we fhould have left all thefe 
 
 Iflands on the Left Hand ; but our Officers were afraid they 
 
 fhould not find a PaiTage between them and the Continent. 
 
 They had great Reafon to repent it, for we were afterwards 
 
 tv/o Days without feeing Land, tho' we fleered continually 
 
 North and North Eaft. 
 
 Then our Sailors began to defpair, and in Reality there needed 
 
 ctl o •; j on ' v a Gull of Wind, feveral of which we 
 
 fair ' S had ' ° ften m6t vAth ' t0 dr ° Wn US * EvC ' n thC 
 
 ■*' ' calm Weather had its Inconveniencies ; they 
 
 were obliged to row all Day, and the Heat was exceiilve. The 
 
 Sailors had Reafon enough to be diflatisned : The Obftirwey of 
 
 two or three People had expofed us to the Danger in which we 
 
 found
 
 36c An Hijlcrical Journal of 
 
 found ourfelves ; but the Mifchief was done, and required an- 
 other Remedy, than Murmuring. Since our Departure from 
 Louijiana. I could not prevail with the greateft Part to come to 
 the Sacraments, very few had even performed the Duties of Eajler. 
 I took Advantage of this Occafion to engage every Body to pro- 
 mife to cor.fefs themfelves, and to communicate as foon as we 
 fliould come again to Land : The Promife was fcarcely made, 
 when the Land appeared. 
 
 We fleered direclly for it, and we arrived there before Noon. 
 
 „-., j . The Ath at Noon we were in 26 Degrees c6 
 
 The Inccnveni- ■*„■ \ T . XXT , , , f2 ■>. 
 
 ,■ 1 ■ n a Minutes Latitude. We had always the main 
 
 metes of thsCoaft, Land - n g.^ ^^ be . Qg ^ {q ^ 
 
 proach it, becaufe it was bordered with Iflands and Peninfula's, 
 the greateft Part of which are low and barren, and between 
 which there is fcarce a PafTao-e for a Canoe of Bark. What we 
 fufFered the moil from was, that we found no Water in them. 
 The next Day we were often fiopt by contrary Winds, but we 
 found Shelter every where, and we got a fmall Matter by moot- 
 ing and liming. We wanted nothing but Water : I took the Ad- 
 vantage of this Delay to make every Body keep the Promife 
 they had made of coming to the Sacrament. 
 
 It appears that there are few Savages in all this Country. 
 
 ~ t, . r We faw only four one Day, who came to- 
 Uur rro-vihcns j ■■' t, • \hj ■..■ j r 
 
 i J wnrri? 11 s in a Hetfianm-p • wp wpifpH fnt 
 
 fail. 
 
 wards us in a Pettiaugre : We waited for 
 them ; but when they had reconnoitred us, 
 they did not dare to approach, and made all the Hafte they 
 could back to Shore. The 10th, we were obliged to retrench 
 the Allowance of Brandy, which we had hitherto diftributed 
 every Day to each Man, as there was but little left, which we 
 judged neceiiary to preferve for more prefling Occafions. We 
 began alio to be fparing of our Provifions, efpecially the Bif- 
 ket, Part of which had been fpoiled : So that we were reduced 
 to great Extremities, having often at a Meal only a Hand- 
 ful of Rice, which we were obliged to boil in brackifh Wa- 
 ter. 
 
 But this Coaft is the Kingdom of Oyfters, as the great Bank 
 of Newfoundland, and the Gulf and the River St. Laurence 
 are that of the Cod-Fifh. All thefe low Lands, which we 
 coaited as near as poffible, are bordered with Trees, to which 
 there are faftened a prodigious Quantity of little Oyfters, of 
 an exquifite Tafte : Others, much larger and le'fs dainty, are 
 found in the Sea in fuch Numbers, that they form Banks in it, 
 which we take at firft for Rocks on a Level with the Surface of 
 the Water. As we did not dare to leave the Shore, we often 
 entered into pretty deep Eays, which we were obliged to go 
 
 round, 

 
 Travels in North America. 361 
 
 round, which greatly lengthened our Way ; but as foon as 
 the main Land difappeared, our Men thought themfelves loft. 
 The 15th, in the Morning, we met a Spanijh Long-Boat, in 
 yp. . , which were about fifteen Perlons : They were 
 
 ^ e mee ^ • Vz.vt of the Crew of a Ship which had been 
 jome pani r s, wrec i cec j a bout the River 5/. Martin. It v/as 
 , , twenty-five Days Jince this Misfortune had 
 
 happened, and for forty-two Perfons they 
 had only a little Boat, which they made Ufe of by Turns, 
 and which obliged them to make very fhort Journies. This 
 Meeting was a good Providence in our Favour, for without 
 the Inftruftion which the Spanijh Captain gave us, we could 
 never have found the Route which we were to keep ; and 
 the Uncertainty of what might become of us, might have in- 
 clined our Mutineers to fome Violence, or to fome defperate 
 Refolution. 
 
 The next Night we were in very great Danger. We all lay 
 ~ -, . in a little Ifland, except three or four Men, 
 
 d ffZf Wh ° g jarded the Boat - 0ne of them ' after 
 
 e J ro y l ' having lighted his Pipe, imprudently fet his 
 
 Match on the Side of the Boat, exactly in the Place v/here the 
 Arms, the Powder, and the Provifions were kept in a Cheft co- 
 vered with a Tarpaulin : He fell afleep after this, and while he 
 flept, the Tarpaulin took Fire. The Flame waked him as well 
 as his Companions, but in one Minute more the Boat had been 
 blown up or funk ; and I leave you to judge what would have 
 become of us, having only a Canoe, which could hold but the 
 fixth Part of our Company, without Provifions, Ammunition, 
 or Arms, and on an liland of Sand, in which there grew only 
 fome wild Herbs. 
 
 The next Day, the 16th, the Canoe left us to go to join the 
 Spaniards. We had the Wind againft us, and we were obliged 
 to go with the Sounding-Line in Hand, becaufe the Coaft was 
 fo Sat, and fo paved with (harp Flints, that at fix Leagues from 
 the Shore our Boat, which drew but two Feet Water, was^ every 
 Moment in Danger of linking and bulging. We were in the 
 fame Diftrefs the two following Days, and the 20th we en- 
 camped in an Ifland which makes the Eafl Point of the Bay of 
 the Apalaches. All Night we faw Fires on the main Land, 
 which we were near , and we had obferved the fame for fome 
 Days. 
 
 The 2 1 ft we fet cfF with a very thick Fcg, which being foon 
 j.j c uifperfed, we faw fome Buoys, which the 
 
 ■Arrival at bt. Spaniards had told us to follow . We follow- 
 Mark d Apalache. ^ them making ^ e North? and W<J r, und 
 
 that without this Help it was impoffible to ihun the Sand- 
 
 A a a Banks,
 
 362 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 Banks, of which this Coaft is full, and which for the mod Part 
 are covered with Oyfters. About ten o'Clock we perceived a 
 fquare Fort of Stone, with pretty regular Baftions ; we imme- 
 diately hoifted the white Flag, and a Moment after they called 
 out to us in French not to come any nearer. 
 
 We ftopt, and in a Moment we faw a Pettiaugre coming to- 
 wards us, with three Men in it. One of the three was a Bif- 
 cayneer ; He had been a Gunner in Louijiana, and he was in the 
 fame Employment at St. Mark. After the common Queftions, 
 the Bifcayneer was of Opinion, that only the Captain of the 
 Adour and I fhould go to fpeak with the Commandant, which 
 we accordingly did. This Commandant was only a Deputy, 
 and a Man of Senfe : He made no Difficulty to let our Boat 
 come up to the Fort, and he invited our Officers and the prin^ 
 cipal PafTengers to Dinner ; but it was after our Boat had 
 been vifited, and all the Arms and Ammunition taken out, 
 and carried to his own Magazine, with a Promife to reftore 
 them when we mould depart. 
 
 This Poll, which M. Delille has fet down in his Chart under 
 n r . . _ , the Name of St. Marie d"" Apalache, was always 
 
 Counll Called St - Mark - The S P aniards had for " 
 
 2 -^* merly a confiderable Settlement here, but 
 
 which was reduced to be of little Confequence, when in 1704. 
 it was entirely deftroyed by the Englijh of Carolina, accompa- 
 nied by a great Number'of the Savages called Alibamons. The 
 Spani/h Garrifon, which confiiled of thirty-two Men, was made 
 Prifoners of War; but the Savages burnt 17 of them, among 
 whom were three Francifcan Friars ; and of feven Thoufand 
 Apalaches, who were in this Canton, and who had almoft all em- 
 braced Chrijlianity, there remained at St. Mark but four hundred, 
 who withdrew towards the Maubile, where the greateft Part of 
 them are at prefent. 
 
 The Forefts and Meadows near the Fort are full of wild Cattle 
 and Horfes, which the Spaniards let run here, and as they want 
 them, they fend fome Savages, who take them with Snares. 
 Thefe Savages are alfo Apalaches, who probably went away 
 when the Englijh took this Place, and who returned after they 
 were retired. For the reft, this Bay is exactly what Garcilajjo 
 de la Vega, in his Hiftory of Florida, calls the Port of Ante. The 
 Fort is built on a little Eminence, furrounded by Marlhes, and 
 a little below the Confluence of two Rivers, one of which comes 
 from the North Eaft, and the other from the North Weft. They 
 are but fmall, and full of Caimans, and notwithftanding pretty 
 well ftored with Fifh. 
 
 Two
 
 Travels in North America* 363 
 
 Two Leagues higher, on the River of the North Weft, there 
 
 Of th Anal * s a Village of Apalaches\ and in the Lands 
 _L e to the Weft, at a League and half from the 
 
 Fort, there is a fecond. This Nation for- 
 merly very numerous, and which, divided into feveral Cantons, 
 poffefled a very large Country, is at prefent reduced to be very 
 inconfiderable. It embraced Ckrifiianity long ago, yet the 
 Spaniards do not truft them, and they do right : For befides 
 that thefe Chrijiians, being deftitute of all fpiritual Aids for a 
 great Number of Years, are no longer fuch but in Name, their 
 Conquerors treated them at firft with fo much Severity, that they 
 ought always to look upon them as Enemies not well recon- 
 ciled. It is difficult to make good Chrijiians of People, to 
 whom their firft Treatment rendered Chriftianity odious. 
 
 They told us at St. Mark, that a Relblution was taken to 
 re-eftablim this Poll in its firft State, and that they expected here 
 five thoufand Families : This is much more than the Spaniards 
 
 of Florida can raife. The Country is fine, well wooded, well 
 
 watered, and they fay that the farther you advance into the 
 Country* the more fruitful it grows. They confirmed to us at 
 this Fort, what the Spaniards whom we met had told us al- 
 ready, that the Savages of the Martyrs, and their King Don Diego* 
 were a bad Sort of People, and that if we had not kept a good 
 Guard, they would have done us fome Injury. They told 
 us farther, that a Spanifh Brigantine being lately wrecked 
 near the Place were we met four Savages in a Pettiaugre, 
 all the Crew had been empaled, and eaten by the r e Barba- 
 rians. 
 
 St. Mark is dependent on St Augujiin for Military and Civil 
 Affairs, and on the Ha-vannah in Spirituals. Notwithftanding, 
 it is the Convent of the Cordeliers of St. Augi<Jlin that fends a 
 Chaplain hither: I found one here, who was a very amiable Per- 
 fon, and who did us a very great Service. He informed us, that 
 the Commandant of St. Mark wanted to detain us till he had 
 given Advice of our Arrival to the Governor of St. Augujiin* 
 and had received his Orders. I defired him to afk this Officer 
 if he was in a Condition to fupport us all the Time that we 
 fhould be here, fince what Provilions we had left, were fcarce 
 fufficient to carry us to Louifiana. 
 
 He acquitted himfelf very well of his Commiffion, and hi» 
 Difcourfe, accompanied with fome Prefents, which he hinted 
 to us that we ought to make the Governor, had all the Ef- 
 fect which we expecled from it. This Officer granted us, 
 with a very good Grace, fome Guides, which we defired 
 «f him for St. Jojeph, which is thirty Leagues from St. 
 
 A a a 2 Mark ;
 
 z c ~ An K ' v ■-- nal :/ 
 
 Mori; and the Way, as v. e . med, not eafy to 
 
 r.r-. 
 
 This ob'.iged us to :tay the next Day, and I was not forry for 
 it, for befides being pretty well lodged in tie Fort with the 
 CmrdJu a E is paid to me, and I owed 
 
 to my Habit) I was ghi to take a fliort Survey of the Environs 
 of the For:. They go by Land from . -V tt St. .iugufiin j 
 the T : urney b eighty I very bad. 
 
 We departed the zad in the Morning, and the 25th, about 
 p . ten o'CIock, our Guides made us undertake 
 
 q. Vf-rk"*"^ 1 " a T Ct " three Lea S ae; ' t0 eGter into 
 
 ... Mark. a Rind ct Channel, formed on one Sice by 
 
 the Continent, and on the other by a String of 1 1 ious 
 
 mu Gn mould : ;i to en- 
 
 gage ourfelvr ;:g therr. efhoulc itneBayof 
 
 Sr. Jc/ipb. We we. . Lta - . and the 
 
 Dirhculty of finding Wa:er en 
 
 that we fa ^ log at ten Pa :e Sea, on a pretty high 
 
 Grcund, and got none bu: "ater. which was impcffible 
 
 to drink, I though: 01 ma k - hallow Hole clofe to the Sea 
 5 hie, and in the Sand: It liate] lied with Water that 
 
 was tolerably fre:h, and as cl<= if it had been take- from 
 
 the inefi Spring j bat after I had filled a Veflei, it flowed no 
 . e, which made me judge that is wa s Rain Water, gathe.-ed 
 in this Place, meeting with a hard Bottom, and I judge that 
 this may often hap] - 
 
 As foor. as we had got a-head of the Idands, we failed till 
 cr-- : p r t:n o'Ciock a: Then the Wind fell, 
 
 ■1 :&: a: I eni&- ^ ^ -j^ e . --^ began to ebb, fnpplied 
 
 COie ' the Wai : of it, and \ ; . ewent forward all 
 
 Night This is the fin: Time that I obferved any regular 
 Tides in the Golf of AfVxua, and the two Spaniard; told us, that 
 from this Place :: PasfimL : ;. . I ehre Hoars, and the 
 
 Reflux as much. Next Day, the 26th, a contrary Wind kept 
 us till Night ':.. an [Hand pretty well wooded, which is ten or 
 twelve Leases leng, and where we killed as many Larks and 
 Woodcocks as [ fed. We (aw alio here a great Number 
 of Rattle-Snakes. Our Glides called it the If.e da Cbiau (zf 
 Dog:), and f, ~ the Beginning of it, they reckoned ten Leagues 
 to St. Mark, and fifteen to St. Jc/efb; but they were certainly 
 taken in the lait Article, for it is at leait twenty Leagues, and 
 very long cr..:. 
 
 The 27th, at eleven o'CIock at Night, we ran upon a Bank 
 of Ov iters as large as the Crown of my Hat, and we were 
 above an Hour in getting cr again. We went from thence to 
 pafi the Nigh; in a Country Houfe, belonging to a Captain of 
 
 the
 
 Travels in North America. 365 
 
 the Garrifon of St. Jo/epb, named Dioniz, and at our Arrival 
 
 they told us very itrange News. 
 
 They aflured us that all Louijiana was evacuated by the 
 
 t, lr ji French ; that a large French Ship came to 
 
 talje Alarm. ^ ^^ &nd ^ embarked there the 
 
 Commandant, the Director, and all the Offic- rs ; that after their 
 Departure, the Savages had killed all the Inhabitants and Sol- 
 diers that were left, except a fmall Number who had faved tnem- 
 felves in two Sloops ; that being in Want cf Provifions, : 
 were gone to the Bay of St. Jo/epb ; that thofe who arrived firft 
 were well received, but that they would not permit the others 
 to land, for Fear left fomany Fn?uh being together, they mould 
 be tempted to make themfclves Makers ot this I hich we 
 
 formerly pofTeiTed. 
 
 All this Story had fo little Probability, that I could not pof- 
 iibly believe it ; but it was told with fo many Circumftances, and 
 coming from People who had fo lit:. /ltei to hr.pcfe upon us, 
 and who being but at feven Leagues from St. Jo/epb t mi: 
 News from thence every Day, that it feemt . . 
 
 fhould be without any Foundation. The greatelt Part of 
 People were ftruck with it ; and I found in myfelf that t j 
 general Coniternations are comma, 
 our Underftandin^, and that it is as impoflible not I 
 Fear in the midii of People who are feized \. . as e 
 
 amicled with thefe that weep. I d:j. aot in : 
 
 what t ;• had jail told us, and yet I c 
 
 In the mean Time our Compa-iv, in Spit- - I air, 
 
 finding Plenty of Provifi as, and the Servant oieur 
 
 Dioniz very obliging, I all the reft of the ] In the 
 
 Morning our Guides took Leave of us, ac^ .crs. 
 
 We had no further Need of rhem ; for belidc . at ire could not 
 mifs our Way to St. Jo/epb, we met with at I [oufe ci~ i-i. 
 Dioniz a. Frenchman, a Soldier in his Com; .; old Defer- 
 
 ter from Mauhilc, v. ho was heartily iired of t eivice, 
 
 among whom he was often almoit ftarved, as !." faid, though they 
 paid him well: So we eafily engaged him tu go with us to 
 St. Jojipb, and from thence to Louijiana, fuppoiing he could get 
 his DTcharge. 
 
 We arrived about Five in the Afternoon at St. Jo/epb, where 
 
 . . , c we were perfecT.v well received by the Go- 
 Am<val at St. vrr i- j a.- «. » ~ .. r» 
 
 . f , vernor. v\ e found there two great Boats 
 
 J * ' of the Biloxi, with four French Officers, who 
 
 were come to reclaim lome Deftrter?, but they did not find 
 them here. We had feen them the 24th, being // 1 . \iy, in a 
 
 Bark that was under Sail, and which palled pretty near us. It 
 is very probable that they had touched at St. Jo/epb ; and to 
 
 give
 
 g66 An Hijicrical Journal of 
 
 give a Colour to their Defertion, they had given out what the 
 
 Night before had fo greatly alarmed us. Two Cordeliers, who 
 
 ferved the Chapel of the Fort, having heard of my Arrival, 
 
 Came to offer me a Bed in their Houfe, which I accepted very 
 
 thankfully. 
 
 For the reft, I do not think cnere is a Place in the World 
 
 Df ~bt' f wnere one might lefs expect to meet with 
 
 r, y /■ Zj/ Y L J Men, and efpecially Europeans, than at St* 
 bit oieph. <v /• ; -d l o- • 'j. f. * 
 
 J r Jojepb- By the Situation of this Bay, its 
 
 Shores, its Soil, and all that Environs it, nothing can make one 
 Conceive the Reafons of fuch a Choice. A flat Coaft, open to 
 the Wind, a barren Sand, a poor Country : and which can have 
 lio Manner of Commerce, nor even ferve for Magazines : To 
 fuch a Pitch have the Spaniards carried their Jealoufy of our 
 Settlements in Louijiana. We had been guilty of the Folly be- 
 fore them, but it was only for a fhort Time. There is Reafon to 
 think that they alfo will correct it foon ; and that when we have 
 f'eftored Pcnfaccle to them, they will tranfport thither every Thing 
 they have at St. Jofeph. 
 
 The Fort is not fituated in the Bay, but on the Turn of a 
 bending Point, and which enclofes an Ifland. This Fort is only 
 built of Earth, but well enclofed with Palifadoes, and well de- 
 fended by Guns. It has a pretty numerous Garrifon, an Etat 
 Major compleat, and almoft all the Officers have their Families 
 with them. Their Houfes are neat and convenient, and tole- 
 rably furniflied, but every wherein the Streets we fink up to the 
 Ancles in Sand. The Ladies never go out but to Church, and 
 always with a Pomp and Gravity, which is to be feen no where 
 but among the Spaniards. 
 
 The Day after our Arrival, which was the 29th, there was a 
 great Dinner at the Serjeant Major's. This Officer had been in 
 Louijiana, and been highly treated there. He was overjoyed to find 
 this Occafionto make us a Return. He had efpecially made a par- 
 ticular Friendihip in his Journey to Louijiana with M. Hubert, who 
 was then the principal Commiffary there, and who was amongft 
 ms. He heard that a Daughter of his Friend, three Years old, 
 who was going to France with her Father, had only been fprink- 
 led : He defired they would complete the Ceremonies of her 
 Baptifm at St. Jofeph, and he would be her Godfather. This 
 Was performed with great Pomp, and firing of the Guns. The 
 Godmother was a Niece of the Governor's, who at Night gave 
 fx magnificent Supper ; and by an Excefs of Politenefs, feldom 
 found among the Spaniards, he would have the Company of the 
 Ladies. He compleated all thefe Civilities, by furniftiing us 
 with Plenty of Provifions to continue our Route, though he had 
 not yet received the Convoy that was to bring him Provifions 
 
 from
 
 Travels in NGrth America. 367 
 
 from the Havannah, and for t-.is Reafon he had refufed fome to 
 the Officers of Biloxi ; but our Neceffity had touched him ex- 
 tremely. 
 
 We departed the 30th with the two Boats, and the Fort faluted 
 
 n .us with five Guns. We made (e\en Leagues 
 
 Departure from that Dav> and we anchored at the Entrance 
 
 • Jo e P". Q £ a Ri vefj w hich comes out of a Bay open 
 
 to the South Eaft. At Elevenat Night, the Windcoming fair, we 
 
 took Advantage of it, and we iteercd Weft North Weft. All the 
 
 Coaft was upon the fame Pointof the Compafs for twenty Leagues, 
 
 quite tothe Ifland of 0/. Rofe ; and we do not find a fingle Place 
 
 to get Shelter from a Guft of Wind that ftiould come from the 
 
 open Sea. 
 
 The 31ft, at Fotrr in the Afternoon, we had made twenty 
 Leagues, and we anchored behind an Ifland which fhuts up the 
 great Bay of St. Rofe, the Entrance of which is dangerous when 
 the Sea runs high. Had we been a Moment later, we Ihould 
 have been greatly embarraiied, for the Wind turned all at once 
 from the North Eaft to the South Weft ; and the Waves ran fo 
 high the fame Inftant, that it would have been impofiible for us 
 to have pafled. 
 
 The iftof June, about Two or Three in the Morning, the 
 Chattel and ™t be .g innin S t0 r fi ™> we re-embarked ; 
 Ijand of St.Rok. and *™K S° ne , a J m „ a11 League we entered 
 J J into the CnanncI of St. Rofe, which is four- 
 
 teen Leagues long. It is formed by the Ifland of St. Rcfe, 
 which has this Length, but is very narrow ; which appears all 
 covered with Sand, and which neverthelefs is not ill wooded. 
 The Continent is very high, and bears Trees of all Kinds. 
 The Soil is almoftas fandy as at St. Mark ; but if they dig ever 
 
 fo little, they find Water. The Wood here is very 
 
 hard, but fubject to rot foon. All this Coaft fwarms with wild 
 Fowl, and the Sea with Fifh. This Channel is narrow at its 
 Entrance; afterwards it widens, and continues the Breadth of 
 half a League to the Bay of Penfacole. The Current is ftrong 
 here, and was in our Favour. 
 
 About Eleven o'Clock we doubled the Point aux Chevreuils, 
 (of Roe-Bucks) ; at the Turn of which the Bay begins. We 
 turn to the North, then to the North Eaft. The Fort is a fmall 
 League farther, and we difecverit from the Point au.r Cbevreutk. 
 We arrived there at Noon, and were fuprifed to fee it in fuch a 
 bad State. It appears plain that they do not expect to continuein 
 it. The Sieur Carpeau de Jl , who commands here, was gone 
 
 to Biloxi, and ue found here only fome Soldiers. The Spa 
 nift> Fort, which was taken two Years' ago by the Count de Champ 
 melin, was behind, and there remains nothing in it but a very fin 
 Ciftera ; the building of which ccft, as they fay, fourteen thou 
 
 9 fand 
 
 ne 

 
 368 An llijiorical Journal of 
 
 fond Pieces of Eight. They have been both built in an Ifland 
 
 which joins almoft to the main Land, which is not thirty Yards 
 
 long, and the Soil of which doe ; not appear to be extraordinary. 
 
 The Bay of Penfacole would be a pretty good Port, if the 
 
 . . ■,. Worms did not deftroy the Ships, and if its 
 
 Description of EntranCe had a little more Water ; but the 
 
 the Bay. Hercules, which carried M. Champmelin, ran 
 
 a-ground here. This Entrance is dire&ly between the Weft End 
 
 of the Ifland 67. Rofe, where the Spaniards had alfo built a little 
 
 Fort, and a Bank of Sand. It is fo narrow, that only one Ship 
 
 can pafs at a Time : Its Opening is North and South. On the 
 
 other Side of the Sand Bank there is another Pafs, where there 
 
 is Water only for Barks, and which is open to the South Weft. 
 
 It is alfo very narrow. The Moorings for Ships, in the Bay of 
 
 Penfacole, is along the Iiland St. Rofe, where the Anchorage is 
 
 fafe. 
 
 We departed from Penfacole at Midnight, and about Four in 
 
 , . , t,. the Morning we left Rio de los Perdidos on the 
 Arrival at hi- Right> This Riyer was fo calied5 becaufe a 
 
 Spanijh Ship was wrecked here, and all the 
 
 Crew loft. Dauphin If and is five Leagues farther on the 
 
 Left, and is five Leagues long, but very narrow. There is at 
 leaft one half of this Ifland without a Tree upon it, and the reft 
 is not much better. The Fort, and the only Habitation that re- 
 mains here, are in the Weft Part. Between this Iiland and the 
 Ifle a Come, which is a League diftant, there is little Water. At 
 the End of this, there is another very fmail Ifland, which they 
 call the Round If and, on Account of its Shape. We pafTed the 
 Night here. 
 
 Over-againft the Bay of the Pafcagoulas, where Madam de Chau- 
 mont has a Grant, which is not likely to pay her Expences foon, 
 a River of the fame Name, and which comes from the North, 
 runs into this Bay. The next Day, about Ten o'Clock, one of 
 cur Seamen died of a Quinfey. This is the only Man we loft 
 in our painful and dangerous Expedition. An Hour after, we 
 anchored at Biloxi, where they were ftrangely furprifed to fee 
 us. I went immediately to fay Mafs, to return Thanks to God for 
 having fupported us in the midft of fo many Fatigues, and for 
 delivering us from fo many Dangers. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 LETTER
 
 Travels in North America. %6j 
 
 LETTER XXXIV. 
 
 Voyage from the Biloxi to Cape Francois in St. Domingo. 
 
 Madam, Cape Francois, September 6./ 
 
 IDurft not venture to tell you in my Lift, as I had done in the 
 preceding Letter, that I lhould not write any more to you but 
 from Cape Francois, for Fear I mould be obliged to contradict 
 myfelf again, and the Event was very near juftifying my Ap- 
 prehenfions. I am here at laft, in this long wifhed for Port, af- 
 ter a Voyage of fixty-four Days, and we entered it at the Time 
 when we had almoft loft all Hopes of attaining it. But before 
 I fhall enter upon the Recital of the Adventures of this Voyage, 
 I muft proceed with my Journal. 
 
 1 he iirft News we heard on our Arrival at the Biloxi, was that of 
 Penfacole re- t ' ie P eaccconc l u ded with Spain, and the dou- 
 fiored to the Soa- "^ e -Alliance between thefe two Crowns. One 
 niards °^ ^ ae -Articles of Peace was the Reftoration 
 
 of Penfacole, and this Article was carried to 
 Louijiana by Don Alexander Walcop, an Irijhman, and Captain of a 
 Ship in New Spain. He embarked at Vera Cruz, in a Brigantine 
 of forty Guns and one hundred and fifty Men, and commanded 
 by Don Augujiin Spinola. They fay that the Defign of the Spa- 
 niards is to make a great Settlement at Penfacole, and to tranfport 
 thither the Garrifon of St. Jofph, and all the Inhabitants. 
 They add, that Don Alexander Walcop is intended for the Gover- 
 nor : He is a Man of a very good Prefence, very fober, and reli- 
 
 gious 
 
 Don Auguftin Spinola is a young Man, full of Fire, and of a 
 AnEng\i(h Inter- ver y am iable Character ; wljofe Sentiments 
 Uper at the Biloxi. decIare his ]li g n Birth » and are worthy of 
 the Name he bears : He is Lieutenant of a 
 Man of War, and has engaged to ferve three Years in Mexico, 
 after which he reckons to return to Spain, and to make his For- 
 tune there. He was greatly mortified to hear that an Englijh In- 
 terloper, named Marjhal, did not quit the Road of the Biloxi, where 
 he had traded confiderably with the French, till he entered it 
 himfelf. This armed Ship did not even care to fail away, faying, 
 he did not fear the Spaniards ; but M. de Bienville obliged him to 
 it, being unwilling to be a Speaator of a Combat, the Succefs 
 fir which our Officers pretended would not have been favourable 
 
 B b b f
 
 37° An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 to the AggrefTors, though fuperior in Force. We fliall foon fee 
 they were miftaken in the high Opinion they entertained of Mar- 
 Jbal. 
 
 Notwithftanding, that fine; the Departure of the Adour, 
 
 ~ n f fome of the Company's Ships had brought 
 
 . tre i uent y e J er - fome Proviiions to Lcuiftana, they were (till in 
 
 */«»*/» L,ouinana. greaj . Neceffity> and D ifcontent e ncreafed 
 
 every Day. In Spite of the Care which M. de Bienville took to 
 comfort the Inhabitants, we heard Talk of nothing but Schemes 
 for deferting. Beiides the Boat which we met on the Route from 
 St. Mark to St. Jofeph, all theSwj/J that were s.t the Bilsxi, with the 
 Captain and the Officers at their Head, having received Orders 
 to go to Ne-ru Orleans in a Sloop, armed on Purpofe for them, 
 and which had been well provided with Provifions, inftead of 
 taking the Route of the MiJ/iJJippi, had turned, with Colours fly- 
 ing, to the Eaft, and 'twas not doubted but they had taken the 
 Route to Carolina ; becaufe, being Proiejlants, there was no. 
 Likelihood they mould go to the Spaniards (a). 
 
 The 8th of June I difcovered a Confpiracy formed to carry off 
 . p , ,., the SpanJJh Brigantine. It was Seven o'Clock 
 
 d > JC °~ at Night whenl was privately informed of 
 
 it, and I was aiTured that before Nine the 
 Scheme would be put in Execution, the Commandant of the 
 Brigantine not being ufed to come on board till that Hour. 
 The Confpirators were one hundred and fifty in Number ; and 
 their Intention was, if their Enterprize fucceeded, to turn Pi- 
 rates. I fent immediately to inform M. de Bienville, who was 
 at Table with Don Augufiin Spinola, who rofe immediately and 
 went on board, and the Major of the Biloxi had Orders to begin 
 his Round direftly. 
 
 Thefe Motions made the Confpirators apprehend that their 
 Defign was difcovered ; and the Major faw only four or five 
 Men met together, who difappeared as foon as they faw him, and 
 he could not take any of them, fo that they thought I had 
 given a falfe Alarm. But befides that, for feveral Days follow- 
 ing, we heard of nothing but of Soldiers and Inhabitants who 
 had difappeared : Some of thefe Deferters being retaken, con- 
 ferred the Plot, of which I had given Information. 
 
 The 1 2th, a Chief of the Tchaclas came to tell M. de Bienville 
 
 _., -p yn. that the Englijh made them great Promifes, to 
 
 I he £ngliln<?«- bj . them oyer tQ their i nt€Te Q. f anc j t0 en _ 
 
 deavour to bring ^^ tQ haye nQ morfi Commerce with 
 
 ever our Allies to thejw ^ The Commandant, on this Occa- 
 tbar Party. fion> gaye & grea( . p roof of {he Talent he 
 
 (a) We have fince heard that they went to Carolina. 
 
 o has
 
 Travels in North America. 3 7 1 
 
 has of governing at his Pleafure the MinJs of the Savages. He 
 knew fe weil how to flatter this Chief, that with ibme Prefents 
 of little Confequence, he fent him away very well difpofed to 
 continue firm in our Alliance. This Nation would give us a 
 great deal of Trouble if they fliould declare againft us ; the 
 Cbicachas, the Natchez, and the To/bus, would foon join with 
 them, and there would be no longer any Safety in navigating 
 the MiJJiJJippi ; even if thefe four Nations mould not draw 
 in all the relt, which very probably would be the Cafe. 
 
 About the End of the Month, an Inhabitant of the Illinois, 
 who had been to trade on the Mijjburi, arrived at the Biloxi, and 
 reported that he, and one or two more French, having travelled 
 as far as the Oclotatas, who in 17 19 defeated the Spaniards, I 
 mentioned before, they were well received by them, and that 
 for the Goods they carried them, they have received feven or 
 eight hundred Livres in Silver, partly in Coin and partly in 
 Bars ; that fome of thefe Savages had accompanied them to the 
 Illinois, and affured M. de Boijb riant that the Spaniards, from 
 whom they took this Silver, got it from a Mine a little Diftance 
 from the Place where they met them, and that they have offered 
 to carry the French thither, which Offer this Commandant had 
 accepted. Time will lhew if thefe Savages have fpoken with 
 more Sincerity than fo many others, who for a long Time have 
 fought to draw the French to them by the Allurement of Mine?, 
 none of which have been yet found real (a). 
 
 The 2zd I embarked in the Bcllona, which failed the 30th. 
 
 Deiart -e f- m ^ ie 2C ^ °^ 7 u b we reckoned that we bore 
 the Biloxi North and South of Penfacole, from whence 
 
 we chofe to take our Longitude, becaufe 
 that of the Mouth of the MiJJiJJippi is not yet afcertained. 
 From that Time to the 20th nothing remarkable happened. 
 We had then the Sun exactly over our Heads, and in our Voyage 
 from the Martyrs to the Biloxi, we had bcrne the greater!. Heats 
 of the Soiftice, without being able to defend ourfelves from 
 them in any Manner, no more than from the Dews, which fell 
 plentifully every Night. Yet, would your believe it, Madam, 
 we fuffered lefs from the Heat at that Seafon, than in the Month 
 of April before our Shipwreck ? 
 
 Yet nothing is more certain, and I remembered then that I 
 
 /-,;/- . had been feveral Times much furprifed to 
 
 UbJer<vations on <■ n 1 1 1 j {_ • 1 
 
 tie He / People, who were born under the torrid 
 
 Zone, complain of the great Heats of France. 
 
 We were in the fame Cafe in the Month of April, we had the 
 
 (0) We have heard no more of this Mine fince that Time. 
 
 B b b z fame
 
 372 An Hijlorlcal Journal of 
 
 fame Heats that we feel in France, and even in Italy in thd 
 Month of July. In the Month of July, during the Dog Days* 
 we were under the Zone, and the Heat was much greater, but- 
 it was more fupportable. This Difference did not proceed from 
 the Winds ; we had the fame, and we had always ibme in both 
 Seafons. Neither was it only from our being more ufed to 
 them, for we were not fubjecT; to thofe continual Sweats, which 
 had fo much troubled us in the Month of April. 
 
 We muft therefore feek for another Reafon, and this is what 
 occurs to my Mind. In the Spring, the Air is ftill full of Va- 
 pours, which the Winter raifes. Thefe Vapours, when the 
 Sun approaches them, are diredtly inflamed, and this is what 
 caufed thofe heavy Heats, and thofe plentiful Sweats, which 
 overpowered us in the Month of April: We were almoft always in 
 Baheo Maria-. In the Month of July, thefe Vapours were dif- 
 perfed, and tho' the Sun was much nearer us, the leaft Wind 
 fufficed to refrefh us, by blunting the Power of its Rays al- 
 moft perpendicular over our Heads. Now in France the Sun 
 never thoroughly difperfes the Vapours, as it does between the 
 Tropics ; at leaft they are here much lefs grofs ; and this is 
 what produces, not the Difference of the Heat, but the different 
 Senfation of the Heat. 
 
 The 20th, we difcovered the Land of Cuba, which three 
 
 w ,-r Months before we had made in feveh 
 
 *, ) -' a fo r ^ & y s - Two Things occafioned this Delay. 
 the Land of t.u- The firft .^ ^ we cannot depend on our 
 
 Observations when the Sun is fo near, be- 
 caufe its Rays fcrm no fenfible Angle (a). For this Caufe, 
 when we have the leaft Sufpicion of the Land's being near, we 
 dare make no Sail in the Night. The fecond is, that the Cap- 
 tain of the Bellona wanted to go to the Havannah, and as he 
 judged that the Currents bore to the Eaft, he made the Weft 
 as much as he thought neceffary, not to mifs his Mark. 
 
 However, he was very nigh pafling before the Havannah with- 
 out knowing it. They came and told me very early in the 
 Morning that they faw Land ; I afked how it appeared, and on 
 the Anfvver they made, I affured them it was Cape Sed. They 
 laughed at me, and the two Officers of the Adour, Who were 
 with us, were the firft to maintain that I was miilaken. I went 
 upon Deck, and perfifted jn my Opinion, contrary to that of 
 the whole Ship : Our Pilots affirming that we were fixty Leagues 
 more to the Weft. At Sun-fet I difcovered the Table of Marianne, 
 but I was ftill alone in my Opinion: However, we had the Wind 
 
 (fij This Defeft of JjevW* Quadrant is remedied by HtdUf%. 
 
 [ again ft
 
 Travels in North America. 373 
 
 againrt us, and all Night we only made Tacks to and from the 
 Land. 
 
 The next Day at Noon we were ftill in Sight of the two 
 Lands, which were the Subject of our Difpute, when upon 
 coming nearer the Shore, we perceived the Havannah before 
 us, which greatly pleafed the Captain, who had a large Parcel 
 of Goods that he expe&ed to difpofe of to the Spaniards for % 
 great Profit. I was little concerned for his Intereft ; but if we 
 had been further out at Sea, and the Wind had not been againft 
 us all Night, the Error and Obftinacy of our Pilots and our 
 Officers would have coft us dear. The Wind was fair to en- 
 ter the Havannab, and at five in the Afternoon we were but a. 
 League off; then we fired two Guns, one to fhew our Flag, 
 the other, after we had twilled the Flag round the Staff, as a 
 Signal of Diftrefs, to require a Pilot from the Port. 
 
 Nothing appeared, and it was refolved to fend the Ca- 
 noe to afk Leave to come in ; but as it was already late, it 
 was put off till next Day, and ail the Night we paffed in 
 making Tacks. The 23d an Officer of the Bellona embarked 
 to go to aflc the Governor's Confent for us to water in his Port, 
 and to buy Provifions, becaufe they could not give us a fuf- 
 ficient Supply at the Biloxi. This was but a Pretence, but I did 
 not know it, and the Captain having defired me to accompany 
 his Officer, I thought it not proper to refufe him. 
 
 The Entrance of the Port of the Havannah looks towards the 
 
 n - . . North Well and by Weft : On the Left, at 
 
 Uejcnption of the Entrancej we fee a Fort built upon a 
 
 H h Rock > at the Foot of which we muft P a *s • 
 
 rtavannan. They ^ . ( the MgrQ Fo ^ ft [s foJid]y . 
 
 built, and has three good Batteries of Brafs Cannon, one above 
 the other. On the Right there is a Range of Baftions, which 
 appeared to be newly finifhed, or lately repaired. The En- 
 trance in this Place is but five or fix hundred Paces wide, and 
 they fhut it up by an Iron Chain, which may flop a Ship long 
 enough to be beat to Pieces by the Guns, before it can break 
 the Chain. 
 
 The Paffage widens a little afterwards up to the Town, that 
 is to fay, for three or four hundred Paces. The Channel turns 
 from thence to the Left a good Way beyond the City, which 
 is on the Right. ■ This is all I can fay of it, having 
 
 never been any farther. I only know that the City occupies 
 the Head of a Peninfula, and that the Side of the Land, 
 which is its whole Length, is enclofed by a good Wall, with 
 Baftions. It's Afpeft is very agreeable and open, as foon as 
 we have paffed the More Caftle. The Streets are well laid out, 
 the Quay large and well kept, the Houfes well built for the 
 
 moft
 
 374 A 71 H/Jlorical Journal of 
 
 moft Part: There are a good Number of Churches, and which 
 appear tolerably fine ; but I never went into any of them : In a 
 Word, a City which contains twenty thoufand Souls does not 
 make a greater Appearance ; but the Hauannah, as I have been 
 told, has not near fo many. 
 
 Upon my landing I met feveral of the Sailors of the Aden;-, 
 <Th F fth as we ^ or " ine Long-Boat as of the Canoe. 
 
 r ft a ^/t The firft told me, that from the Place where 
 
 Interloper Mar- , , ' , c t\ 
 
 n i we were wrecked, they were five Days get- 
 
 ting to this Port, and almoft always in the 
 greateft Danger of being loft. I had no Time to enquire by 
 what Means the fecond came here. But the Serjeant, who en- 
 tered our Canoe at the Foot of the Moro, to conduct us, took 
 Care to fhew us the Brigantine of the Interloper Marjhal, whom 
 I mentioned at the Beginning of my Letter. It was moored 
 near a Boat fo fmall, that it could with Difficulty carry fif- 
 teen or twenty Men, which notwithftanding had taken this Bri- 
 gantine by boarding her. We muft allow that the Privateers of 
 Cuba, and the neighbouring Iflands are brave : Our Flibujlicrs 
 (a) have learnt them to fight; but confidering the Difpropor- 
 tion of the Force, and the Valour and the Guns of the Euglijb, 
 they muft have been taken by Surprife. 
 
 The Governor of the Havannab received us coldly, and after 
 
 m ~ _ having; heard us, he told us he fhould have 
 
 7 be(jO<v£r?ior of , ° i j •<•• i u i j 
 
 , tr , J been very Mad if he could have granted our 
 
 the Havannan re- „ a C * .t v l- m a. L j . j 
 
 j. r r , Requett; but the Kinsr his Mafter had tied 
 
 fujes Leave to en- i • u j *.i_- a *.• 1 j ^-l . i. 
 
 f }■ p f U P his Hands on this Article, and that he 
 
 was above all exprefly forbid to receive any 
 VefTel coming from Louifiana. He added that there were fe- 
 veral Places on the fame Coaft where we might ftop without 
 any Danger, and where they would fupply us with all the Re- 
 frefhments we wanted. We were forced to be contented with 
 this Anfwer, and after having paid my Compliments to the 
 Rector of the College which we have in this City, I re-em- 
 barked. 
 
 The next Day, the twenty-fourth, at fix in the Morning, 
 we were North and South of the Loaf of Matanxa, and at 
 half an Hour after eleven off Rio de Ciroca, where there is a 
 Spanijh Habitation. But as the Captain was refolved to try if 
 he could not fucceed better at Matanza than he had at the Ha- 
 <vannah, and that he had ftill feven Leagues thither, he took 
 the Refolution to ply off and on all Night ; and the 25th at 
 Day-break we found ourfelves at the Entrance of the Bay, which 
 is two Leagues wide. 
 
 (a) Free Negroes and Mulattos of the French Iflands. 
 
 To
 
 •7 <* 
 
 5 
 
 Travels in North America. 37; 
 
 To enter it we niuil at firft double a Point, which does not 
 j) r ■ ■ - advance far into the Sea, then make the 
 Dejcripuonoj Weft for a Lcague . then we difcover on the 
 the j,ay oj Ma- R . ght Hand another p ointj behind which i 3 
 the Fort, and a large Quarter of a League 
 farther the Town of Mata/iza, between two Rivers, which wafli 
 its Walls on bnh Sides. About ten in the Morning, they fent 
 a Canoe thither with an Officer, who did not find the Com- 
 mandant of" the Fort there. He declared our pretended Ne- 
 ceffity to the Deputy, but this Officer told him he could not 
 take upon himfelf to grant the Permiffion we required ; that all 
 he could do for our Service was to fend a Courier to the Ha^an- 
 nak, to know the Intentions of the Governor of that City, who 
 was his General ; that if this would content us, we might in 
 the mean Time anchor on the other Side of the Point, where 
 wc mould be fafer. 
 
 This Anfwer, and the Declaration, which our Pilots then 
 thought fit to make, that they would not anfwer for bringing 
 the Ship into the Bay of Maianza, becaufe they were not Juffi- 
 ciently acquainted with it, determined the Captain at lalt to 
 continue his Route with his whole Packet of Merchandize, for 
 the Sake of which he had made us lofe at leall fifteen Days of 
 precious Time. The next Day, at fix in the Morning, we had 
 lull behind us in Sight the Loaf of Maianza, from which we 
 reckoned ourfelves diftant between twelve and fifteen Leagues; 
 and the 27th at five in the Morning we difcovertd from the 
 Malt-Head the Land of Florida. 
 
 At this Sight we fleered North North Eaft ; two Hours after 
 
 D r- .7 / we changed our Courfe, to take a little more 
 fa [faze tkr ohq-& . £ „ • . . 
 
 the Channel of 1- <° the ha ? ; at f" ne , wc f- / a S ain * to the 
 Route, and we found ourielves in the true 
 
 Current, which goes to the Channel of Ba- 
 hama, for we went as fwift as an Arrow. We faw at this In- 
 ftant the ddcur, which fhewed ftill an End of a Malt out of 
 Water, but the Hulk was almoit covered, and wc found that 
 fhe was far from being wrecked over-againft the molt northern 
 of the Martyr Iflands, as fome Perfons believed; for fhe was 
 over-againft us at half part ten, and at half an Hour part one 
 the laft of thefe Iflands was rtill to the North. 
 
 About three o'Clock we difcovered a Breaker from the Round- 
 Top, clofe by which we were going to pafs, and farther on a 
 Shoal, which ran out a great Way. This Shoal was probably 
 the End of the Martyrs, and to fhun it, we fteered all the reft 
 of the Day towards the South and the Eaft, the Current carry- 
 ing us always to the North, and towards Night we made the 
 
 North
 
 3 7 ^ An Hijtorkal Journal of 
 
 North Eaft. The 28th at Noon, the Pilot judged that we were 
 at the Entrance of the Channel, in twenty-five Degrees thirty 
 Minutes, at half paft {even o'Clock at Night he was afraid of 
 being too near the Land, and fleered South South Eaft till Mid- 
 night with a good Wind. At Liidnight he took again his Route, 
 and the 29th we faw no more Land. At Evening we thought 
 ourfelves out of the Channel, but for greater Security we conti- 
 nued to make the North North Eaft till ten o'clock. 
 
 In all the reft of our Voyage to Cape St. Francois, we had al- 
 
 cr'r „ p t moft always little Wind, and fometimes 
 
 1 be Koute ive •-> , -A ™- V.- ,1 r 
 
 fit het f v-alms. rrom lime to lime there arofe 
 
 .; \r>u 1 rv- m Storms: The Sky and the Sea were all on 
 
 the Lhannel of Ea- ,-.. , , L« 1 o- 1 
 
 i,-,™., * q/ r\ Fire; and the Ship leanmq- to one Side, 
 iiama to bt. Do- ' ,., , „,. K „ <? • , ' , ' 
 
 • went like the Wind : But this never lafted 
 
 ° ' l° n g> a ^d a Quarter of an Hour's Rain 
 
 cleared the Sky, and fmoothed the Waves of the Sea, which re- 
 fembled thofe Perfons of a gentle and calm Difpofition, who 
 have fometimes pretty warm Fits of Paffion, but who are foon 
 pacified. I believe that what contributes to calm the Sea fo 
 foon, after thefe violent Agitations, are the Currents. They are 
 an Reality very perceiveable in thefe Parts : On the other Hand, 
 they vary continually, which difconcerts all the Skill of the Pi- 
 lots. 
 
 When we are out of the Channel of Bahama, the direct Route 
 to go to St. Domingo would be the South Eaft. But the Winds 
 which blow almoft always from the Eaft ward do not permit us 
 •to take it, and we muft go by a Parabolic Line to the Height of 
 .Bermudas, which it would be proper to difcover if poilible; to 
 be affured of the Longitude. For Want of this Knowledge, we 
 are fometimes obliged to go to the Great Bank of Newfound- 
 land, before we can be fure of being enough to the Eaft of all 
 thofe Shoals, which lie to the North and to the Eaft of St. Do- 
 mingo. 
 
 Yet they have not always gone fo far about to go from the 
 Old CI 4 f Gulf °f Mexico to this Ifland. In the firft 
 2 / J Times of the Difcovery of the new World, 
 
 after having followed the North Coaft of 
 Cuba, up to the Point of Ithaca, which is the Eaft End of it, 
 fourteen Leagues from Matanza, they turned to the Right, and 
 leaving on the Left all the Lucaye Iflands, amongft which is 
 Bahama. This is what they call the Old Channel of Bahama. 
 It has Water enough for the largeft Ships, but there are fo many' 
 Sands in it, that at prefent none but fmall Velfels dare venture 
 into it. 
 
 After
 
 Travels in North America. 377 
 
 After we were come to the Height of thirty Degrees, thirty- 
 Mifiake of the one Minutcs » " r Pilots judged themftlves 
 Pilot sin their Red- cnou .g h to the E *&> to be in no Danger on 
 cuing. making the South, of running on any of the 
 
 Shoals I mentioned. So they~confide'ntly run 
 Southward, and in a few Days we made a great deal of Way, 
 idling on a Sea always tine, and carried bv the Trade Winds. 
 The 27th of Auguft, at eight in the Morning, the Sailor, who 
 was upon the Watch on the Round-Top, cried out Land, which 
 caufed a great deal of Joy, but it was of mart Continuance; 
 for the bailor coming down, they afked him if the Land was 
 high, and he replied that it was very low, fo of Confequence it 
 could only be one of the Caiquis, or the Turk Ijlands. 
 
 We were alfo very fortunate in having difcovered them bv 
 Day, for we had infallibly been wrecked if we had come upon 
 them in the Night, and no Perfon had efcaped, becaufe thefe 
 Iflands have no Strands, and the greateft Part of them are bor- 
 dered with Shoals, which advance far into the Sea, and which 
 are divided by little Channels ; where there is not Water enough 
 for Boats. On the other Hand they are very low, and we cannot 
 perceive them at Night, till we are upon them. 
 
 But wc were not fafe becaufe we had difcovered the Danger : 
 Difficulties nve The Land J before us appeared to be a pretty 
 
 were under on dif- ™& Illa " d > and P rett .>' f el1 wooded in fome 
 
 «,*,;»* T /»W riaces ; this made us judge, that it was the 
 
 leiinp Liana. j s. ■ r /~> r . 
 
 •=> grand Laique, or Confequence, that we were 
 
 forty or fifty Leagues too much to the Weft. To gain our pro- 
 per Longitude, we muft have gone up again to the* North above 
 two or three hundred Leagues, which would certainly have taken 
 up five or fix Weeks Navigation, and we had fcarce Water and 
 Provifions enough to ferve us for fifteen Days, with great Oeco- 
 nomy. The Captain was greatly embarraffed ; he faw the Faults 
 of his Pilots, and might blame himfelf for having depended too 
 much upon them, for not having taken Obfervations himfelf above 
 two or three Times, and for having always preferred the Reckon- 
 ing of the fecond Pilot, a very prefumptuous and blundering 
 young Fellow, to that of the firft, who was more experienced ana 
 fkilful, and who had never approved their Manoeuvre. 
 
 Nevertheless they were obliged to take fome Refolution im- 
 The Refolution ™ ediatel y : A Guft of Wind from the North, 
 thntak J tbat * nou * d nave furprized us, and thrown 
 
 us on thefe low Coafus, would infallibly have 
 deflroyed us. But as they could take no Refolution which had 
 not its Inconveniency, the Captain would have the Advice 
 of every Body. Some were for making the beft Way to Carolina, 
 where we might arrive in ten or twelve Days, and buy Provi- 
 
 C c c iions.
 
 378 An Hiftorical Journal of 
 
 fions. This Advice was rejected, and they followed another, 
 which was extremely hazardous, and which appeared to me to 
 proceed only from Defpair, this was to coaft the grand Caique 
 as near as we could till we came to the Opening ; that is to fay, 
 to the Separation of all thefe Skoals from the Lucaye IJlands. 
 
 All the Veffels pafs this Way, which come from St. Dotn'mgo, 
 to return to France, and then there is nothing to fear, becaufe 
 they can take their Time to get out, and this Paffage being open 
 to the North Weft, we are almoft fure of having favourable 
 Weather to come out. But to enter it on the Side where we were, 
 we muft depend on the North Eaft, and 'tis a great Hazard to 
 find this Wind the Moment it is wanted. Therefore no Body 
 that we know, has ever yet attempted this PafTage. In fhort they 
 refolved to run all Hazards, and they approached the Grand 
 Caique. 
 
 At two in the Afternoon we were but a good Cannon-Shot from 
 jy r . . f it, and we are perhaps the firft, who without 
 jcnp 0^ «j an indifpenfabie Neceffity, ventured to vifit 
 the prtfwrfLaique. „ * r - cu . rn. r> a c- 
 
 & x it io near in a Ship. I he Coait or it is ne- 
 
 verthelefs very fafe, elevated, as it appeared to me, about 
 feven or eight Feet, fometimes a little more, but it is perpendi- 
 cular, and without any Strand. Its Soil has not at all the Ap- 
 pearance of being barren. Geographers place it directly under 
 the Tropic, which we could not verify, becaufe the Weather 
 •was cloudy ; but I think it a little more to the South, for there 
 is not certainly three Degrees Difference between this Ifland and 
 Cape Francois . 
 
 We coafted the grand Caique till four in the Afternoon, having 
 77 q j the Wind and the Currents for us. Then 
 
 r r C j. t U '~ they made a Sailor go to the Maft Head, to 
 •'J * ' obferve what we had before us, and he foon 
 
 came down and told us that he had feen the End of the Ifland ; 
 but that beyond it he faw ftill low Lands, divided by Channels 
 in which the Waters appeared all white. Upon this Informa- 
 tion, we judged proper to change our Courfe, and we fleered 
 North North Eaft. At Midnight we made the South South 
 Eaft, and it looked as if the Wind turned as we would have it ; 
 but it was very weak, and the Currents carried us with fo much 
 Violence to the Weft, that at Day-break the low Lands and the 
 Sands, which the Evening before were fo far a Head of us, were 
 almoft as much behind ; and the PafTage which we fought began 
 to open itfelf. 
 
 This was the decifive Moment of our Fate, and what gave us 
 good Hopes, was that the Wind inclined by Degrees to the North- 
 Eaft. At eleven o'Clock we maae the South Eaft and by South, 
 foon after the South Eaft : But the Currents carried us'fo much 
 
 out
 
 Travels in North America. 379 
 
 out, that our true Courfe was fcarcely South. At Noon we could 
 make no Obfervation, and the Well: Point of Caique bore North 
 & by North Eaft of us. In fhort, in an Hour's Time we had cleared 
 the Paflage, and I cannot better exprefs to you what appeared on 
 all our Countenances, as we advanced by Degrees into the Open- 
 ing, than by comparing it to what happens to thofe Animals 
 that have been put in the Receiver of the Air Pump, which ap- 
 pear dead when they have pumped out almoft. all the Air, and to 
 which they reftore Life by little and little, by letting the Air in 
 again flowly. 
 
 We did not dare yet to flatter ourfelves that we fhould be 
 able to gain Cape Francois, which was to Windward of us, but 
 we had Port de Paix, or at leaft Leogane, which we could not 
 mifs ; and after the extreme Danger we had lately palled, any 
 was good, fo we could find a Port. At Midnight we had a vio- 
 lent Guft of Wind, but of little Duration, and the next Day, 
 at nine in the Morning, we difcovered the Land of St. Domingo, 
 but without diftinguiihing what Part all the Day, becaufe it 
 was foggy. A Ship, which by its Way of working we judged 
 to be a Pirate, employed us a good Part of the Afternoon : We 
 prepared in Earneft to engage her, or rather to defend ourfelves, 
 if they fhould attack us, for we would not have changed a Sail 
 to follow her. 
 
 At laft we difcovered that it was only a fmall Veflel of one. 
 a ■ 1 p hundred and fifty Tons at moft, and which 
 
 1 va a p probably had been more frighted than we. 
 * * We judged by her Manoeuvre that flie came 
 
 out of Cape Francois, and fhe appeared deep loaded. All Night 
 we made Tacks to the North Eaft, varying a little, which 
 brought us higher up in our Latitude ; and when it was Day, 
 we difcovered with a great deal of Joy that we were to Windt 
 ward of Cape Francois. We faw it plain, were almoft at it, 
 but had fo little Wind, that we could not enter it till the firft 
 of September, at four in the Afternoon. Since that Time I have 
 not had a Moment to myfelf to entertain you about this Coun- 
 try, and my Letter is called for to carry it to a Ship which is 
 ready to fail for Nantz. I propofe to depart myfelf in fifteen 
 Days for Havre de Grace, from whence I fhall have the Honour 
 to write to you once again, 
 
 / am, &c. 
 
 LETTER
 
 3 8o 
 
 An Hijiorical Journal of 
 
 LETTER XXXV. 
 
 Defer iptlon of Cape Fran 501s in St. Domingo. Return to 
 France, landing in England. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 Rouen, January 5 . J ?&§ 
 
 I Was but one Day at Havre, becaufe I would not mifs the 
 Coach for Rouen, and I came here to reft myfelf at my Eafe, 
 after the longePc and moft fatiguing Voyage I ever made. But 
 it is now over, and I am going to rake Advantage for the little 
 Leifure I have left, while I wait for the Coach for Paris, to 
 finifh the Account of my Adventures for thefe two Years and 
 half that I have been wandering through the World. 
 
 Cape Francois cf St. Domingo, from whence my laft Letter was 
 
 ,-. , . . dated, is one of the Ports of all America, 
 
 ejerif ion^ oj w here the French have the greateft Com- 
 
 P * ' merce. It is, properly fpeakir.g, but a Bay, 
 
 which is not quite a League deep, and the Opening of it is ve- 
 ry wide : But this Opening is full of Sand Banks, between 
 which we cannot fail with too much Caution. To enter it we 
 muft take to the Right along a Point, where there is a Redoubt 
 -and feme Guns ; but it is the Cuftorn before we engage our- 
 felves in thefe narrow Pafles, where two Ships cannot go a- 
 breaft, to call a Pilot from the Fort; and leaf! the Befire of 
 faving a Piftole, which we muft give him, fhould endanger the 
 Lives of the whole Ship's Company, it has been wifely order- 
 ed, that, even though, we fhould enter without his Affiftance, 
 we fhould neverthelefs pay the Pilot. 
 
 The Town is at the Bottom of the Bay on the Right. It is 
 not ccnfiderable, becaufe almcft all that are not Artizans, Shop- 
 keepers, Soldiers, or Publicans, live in the Plain, as much at 
 leaft as the Service permits it to the Officers, Execution of Juf- 
 t'ce to the Magistrates, and the Bufmefs of Commerce to thofe 
 who are concerned in it ; that is to fay, almoft all the People of a 
 better Rank who are in this Place : So that to fee the Beau Monde, 
 we muft go into the Country. And indeed nothing is more charm- 
 ing than the Plain and the Vallies which are between the Moun- 
 tains. The Houfes are not ftately, but they are neat and conveni- 
 ent. The Highways are laid out by a Line, of a handfome Breadth, 
 bordered with Hedges of Lemon Trees, and fometimes planted 
 
 with
 
 Travels in North America* 381 
 
 v/.th large Trees, and from Space to Space cut by Brooks of 
 clear Water, cool, and very wholefome. All the Habitations 
 appear well cultivated, and they are really very beautiful Country 
 Houfes. We fee every where an Air of Plenty, which is very 
 pleafing. 
 
 This Plain is at the North Weil End of the famous Vega- 
 
 (lf th PI ' f R ir ^ which ' s f° nuich fpoken of in the Spa- 
 , •£, H ' nijir Hiftories of St. Domingo, which they af- 
 
 3 P e * firm to be 80 Leagues long ; and which, as 
 
 the famous Bifnop dc Chir.pp?, Bartholomew de las Co/as, pretends, 
 is watered by twenty-five thoufand Rivers. G; mes coft 
 
 ag ; thefe pretended Rivers are for the moil 
 Part only little Brocks, the Number ct which are really incre- 
 dible, and which would make of this Royal Plain for.;ething 
 more charming and more delightful than the Valley of fempe, fo 
 boated of by the Greeks, if it was not under the torrid Zone. 
 There are alfo fome Parts of it where the Air is very wholefome, 
 and the Heat fupportable : Such is that where the Town of 
 St. Jago de Ics Cavalier os is built ; and we may fay the fame 
 Thing of the Yallies which are between the Mountains, with 
 which the Plain of the Cape is bordered on the South. They 
 begin to be peopled, and they will foon be more fo than the 
 Plain itfelf, becanfe they fee few People fick here ; and thofe 
 who come hither from other Parts, recover in a lhort Time of 
 Diftempers, when all . :r of Remedies have proved inef- 
 
 fectual. 
 
 I vifited all the Habitations that are neareft the Town, 
 
 ~., r . but I had not Leifure to make many Obfer- 
 
 ubjervattons. . •»» . • « V\ 1. 
 
 J rations. Moreover, during the Day, the 
 
 Heat was extreme ; and in the Evening, as foon as the Sun 
 
 was fet, the Muiketoes, and other Flies of that Kind, did not 
 
 permit me to walk about long. Thefe little Infects particu- 
 
 y attack new Comers, whofe Skin is tendereft, and thei- 
 
 Blood freiheft. They afiured me, that in the Spanijh Part of the 
 
 I/land they are free from this .Inconvenience ; but to make 
 
 Amends, we have no venomous Serpents, and they have many. 
 
 They alfo cbferved to me, that excepting Lettice, all Sorts of 
 
 Garden Herbs and Roots mull: be renewed every Year in this 
 
 Iiland with Seeds from Europe. 
 
 What I found here molt curious, were the Sugar Mills. I 
 
 fhall fay nothing of them, becaufe Father Labat has defcrihed 
 
 them much better than I can. After Sugar, the greater} Riches 
 
 of this Colony is Indigo, of which the fame Author has alfo 
 
 treated very particularly. This Plant has an irreconcileable : . 
 
 my, and which is much more detrimental to it than Darnel to 
 
 Wheat. This is an Kerb which they call Mal~n$mmee % 
 
 and
 
 3 3 2 vf/z Hijioricdl Journal of 
 
 and which, as it grows out of the Ground, bears a Seed, which 
 it fcatters every where. It grows in a Tuft ; and by its Bulk, 
 and its prodigious Fruitfulnefs, it fo choaks the Indigo, that it 
 kills it ; fo that when it has made the leaft Progrefs in a Field, 
 it is entirely loft, and they muft r'ant another. 
 
 The Coafts of St. Domingo have not Plenty of Fifh ; but if 
 , they go a little out to Sea, they find all Sorts. 
 Remark on the We catched? e fp e cial]y coming from Louift- 
 ijoraaoes. gj ^ manv Doradoes, on which our Sailors 
 
 pretend to have made a pretty fingular Remark, which is, that 
 when they take this Fifh in the Increafe of the Moon, the Flefh 
 of it is firm, and of an exquifite Tafle j whereas, if they take it 
 in the Decreafe of the Moon, it is infipid, its Flefh has no 
 Confluence, and is like Meat that is boiled to Rags. It is cer- 
 tain, that we experienced both in the different Times before- 
 mentioned ; but that this happens always, and that the Moon is 
 the Caufe of it, is what I will by no Means affirm. 
 
 We departed from Cape Francois the 25th of September in a 
 _. . Merchant Ship of Havre, named Louis de 
 
 Departure from Bmrbofh comman ded by one of the molt fkil- 
 Cape Francois. M Navigators that X have known : But we 
 had fcarce got to Sea, when we difcovered two Leaks in her ; fo 
 that during all the Paffage, which was ninety-two Days, they 
 were obliged to pump Night and Morning ; which, added to 
 the Want of Provifions, though they had taken in Plenty, but 
 which they never hufbanded for the firft Month, was the Caufe 
 that our Captain was feveral Times on the Point of flopping at 
 the Azores. We had been ftill more embarrafTed, if we had 
 gone into the Snare that was laid for us by a Captain of an 
 EngliftShip, whom we met half Way in our Paffage. 
 
 He came out of Jamaica with a Fleet, of which he was at 
 . , firil, as he faid, the beft Sailor ; but as in 
 
 W ' ™ e . e i ™. loading his Ship, he was fo imprudent 
 an Engliin bkip. as to leave all his p rov ifi ons i n one 
 
 Place, it happened that by Degrees as they were confumed, the 
 VefTel lofmg its Equilibrium, loft by little and little the Ad- 
 vantage that it had over the reft, and at laft remained a great 
 Way behind the Fleet. We fell in with him in Reality alone, 
 and making fo little Way, that in Comparifon of him our Ship, 
 which was far from being an extraordinary Sailor, went like a 
 Bird ; and he was afraid that his Provifions would entirely fail 
 before he could arrive in England. He told us the Trouble he 
 was in, and to explain it the better to us, he invited himfelf to 
 dine on board us. They replied that he fhould be welcome, 
 and our Captain ordered forne of our Sails to be furled to wait 
 
 for him. 
 
 While
 
 Travels in North America. 383 
 
 While we were at Dinner, he turned the Diicourfe on our 
 Route, and afked us whereabouts we thought ourfelves. The 
 Captain fhcwed his Account of the Day before, and he appear- 
 ed furprifed at it. He aiTured us that we were two hundred 
 Leagues forwarder than we reckoned, which he endeavoured to 
 prove by the laft Land he had feen. This gave great Plcafure 
 to the greateft Part of our People, who were already very much 
 tirdd of fo long a Voyage, being continually obliged to contend 
 with violent Winds, and a ftormy Sea, in a very crazy Ship. 
 But I had fome Sufpicion that the Enghjh Captain faid he was 
 fo far advanced, only that he might engage us to let him ha\e 
 fome of our Proviftons. Our Captain, to whom I communi- 
 cated my Sufpicion, told me he had the fame Thought, and 
 contented himfelf with well treating his Gueft, and eluded 
 his Demand. He continued to fail by his own Reckoning, 
 which he found fo exaft, that he entered into the Channel the 
 Day, and almoft the Hour, that a little before he faid he fhould 
 enter it. 
 
 The 2d of December we entered the Port of Plymouth, with- 
 
 . . , p , out any apparent Neceffity; but our Captain 
 Arrival at Yly- without Doubt had fome Bufinefs here# 
 
 moalh - We found here the King's Frigate, the 
 
 Thetis, which a Storm had driven in here in a mattered Con- 
 dition, tho' it was the firft Time of her coming out of Havre, 
 where me was built. She was commanded by the Chevalier 
 dc Fcntenay, whofe Orders were to go to the American lflands, ia 
 Purfuit of the Pirates, who had lately taken fe/eral Ships. 
 As foon as he knew I was in the Port, he did me the Honour 
 of a Vifit, before I could have the Convenience of going to 
 pay my Refpecls to him, and he carried me on board his Ship, 
 where I palled all the Time very agreeably that I continued 
 in this Port. 
 
 Plymouth is one of the five great Ports of England, and one of 
 
 T) f -ht : f tne ^ ne ^ * n Eui-ope. It is double, and be- 
 
 pi , t u f° re we enter it, we muft pafs under the 
 
 ' ' Guns of the Citadel. From thence we turn 
 
 to the Right, to enter into the Port of the Town, which is 
 the fmalleft, and from whence one muft come out of the Channel, 
 £nd 'twas here the Thetis w r as moored. They turn to the Left 
 to enter into the other Port, where the King of England's Ships 
 are laid up, over-againft a magnificent Arfenal. This Port ex- 
 tends a great Way, and we anchored at the Entrance, becaufe the 
 Winds which blow here are good to go farther up the Channel. 
 
 The Town of Plymouth is not large, but its Environs, where 
 I ufed to walk often, are very pleafant. I never faw a better 
 Country : The Weather was very mild, and the Fields as grerm 
 as in the Spring. 
 
 On
 
 3H4 An Hiftorical Journal, &c. 
 
 On the Night of Chriftmas - Day, after I had celebrated 
 
 . the three Mattes, we fet fail, and all the 
 
 The Ingenuity' next Day we ha d a fair wind. Two Fri- 
 
 V tbe En Sj llh t0 gates of fifty Guns had weighed Anchor two 
 
 catch Pirates. Hours before us, and we foon overtook them. 
 
 This furprifed me, becaufe we failed but poorly ourfelves ; but 
 
 what furprifed me ftill more was, that to fee thefe two Ships 
 
 under Sail, if I had not feen them prepare for failing, I could 
 
 never have believed they were the fame that appeared fo large 
 
 to me in the Port ; en which they told me, that this proceeded 
 
 from a particular Conftruftion and letting of the Sails, which 
 
 was done on Purpofe to"draw Pirates into a Snare, which in the 
 
 Sea Dialed makes them call thefe Ships Lubber Trap. In Fatt, 
 
 as they fay, the Pirates on feeing them, judging of them by their 
 
 Appearance, take them for Merchant Ships, and purfue them 
 
 as a certain Prey. But when they are fo near as not to be able 
 
 to efcape, they find fomebody to talk to, and are caught in the 
 
 Snare, without being able to make any Reiiftance : Therefore 
 
 the Englifb, above all Nations, are moil feared by Pirates, and 
 
 are the worit ufed by them when they fall into their Hands. 
 
 The Night following we went through one of the moll terri- 
 
 .•■■„ ble Storms that had been feen for a long 
 Arrival at Ha- Time . ft the channeL The next DaVj tho > 
 
 vre ae Urace. thg wind wag almoft quke fa j len> the Sea 
 
 was in an Agitation enough to terrify the boldefc ; we (hipped 
 fome Seas which put us in great Dinger : One efpecially over- 
 flowed the great Cabin as"" I was beginning to fay Mafs, and 
 hindered me'from proceeding ; fo that when we entered Havre 
 de Grace about Noon, every Body afked us how we could hold 
 out in a Storm that was felt even in the Port. 
 
 • But they would have been more furprifed at our Efcape, when 
 two Davs after, our Ship being drawn aihore, they might have 
 feen it drop to Pieces with Rotteimefs. This was the firft News 
 that I heard on my Arrival here. Judge, Madam, how greatly 
 our Lives were expofed in fuch a Ship in a Voyage of eighteen 
 hundred Leagues, and in a Seafon when the Sea is always in a 
 Fury ; and what Thanks we ought to return to GOD, not only 
 for having delivered us from fuch an imminent Danger, but 
 alfo for having concealed from us the Knowledge of it, which 
 alone was fufficient to have killed us a thoufand Times over 
 
 with Fear. 
 
 I art:, &c, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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