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Jl.a/fwi€L' J^/^nx:
■r
OtJTAClTE,
chief of tbe CHEROKEE S.
s.
VOYAGE
T O ■
NORTH-AMERICA;
Undertaken by Commakd of the prefent
K IN G of FRANCE,
CONTAINING
The Geographical Defcripiion and Natural Hiftory
OF
CANADA and LOUISIANA-
WITH
»
The Customs, Manners, Trade and Religion
of the Inhabitants ; a Defcriptionof the Lakes and
Rivers, with their Navigation and Manner of pading
the Great Cataracts.
By Fatkeh CHARLEVOIX,
ALSO,
A 1 ^efcription and Natural Hiftory of the Iflands in tht
West Indies belonging to ihe different Powers bf
EUROPE. Illullrated with a Number of curious Printi
and Maps not in any other Edition.
IN TWO VOLUMES..
DUBLIN; 5^
AT. \
Printed for John Exshaw, and James Potts, in
Oimf'Street.
MUCCLXVi.
Is
THE
CONTENTS
O F TH E
FIRST VOLUME.
pRELlMJNART Difcourfe on tbeOrigmof the
•* Americans.
,»
^■~'
L E T T E R I.
Hiprical Journal of Travels in North-America. Page I
L E T T E R II.
J Voyage from Rochelle to Quebec. Some Remarks up-
on the Voyage, Ue Greaf Bank of ^Qwhundhnd, and
the River St. Laurejpce. e
LETTER III.
A Defcripthn of Quebec, CharaSier of the Inhabitant s^
and the Manner of Living in the French Colonj, a?
LETTER IV.
0//*^ Huron Village: What has hindered the Progrefs
of the French Colony of Canada : Of the Money cur-
rent there,
Vgx.. i:
39
LET-
i I
> ;
CONTENTS.
L E T T E R V.
Of the Beavers of Canada, bow tbey differ from the Bea-
vers of Europe : 0/ tbeir Manner of Building : The
Manner of Hunting tbe Beavers: 0/tbe Advantage /a
be made of tbem. Of tbe Mulk Rat. 53
LETTER VI.
/ Journey from Quebec to Trois Rivieres (tbe Tbree /?/-
vers :) How tbey go Poft upon tbe Snow, Of tbe Lord"
Jbips or Manors «/* New France. A Defcription of
Beckancourt. Tbe Tradition in regard to tbe Name of
tbe River Puante (tbe Stinking River.) A Defcription
•f Trois Rivieres. A Continuation of tbefeveral Hunt^
ings of tbe Savages, ^
LETTER VII.
J)^fcription of tbe Country, and tbe IJli of Richlieu
«n£/ St. Fran9ois. 0/ /i6^ Abenaqui ^ age. Of tbe
Aantient Fort oy Richlieu, and of tboje tbat bave been
built in eaeb FariJb.'.A brave A^lion of two Canadian
Ladies, ^: 81
LET T'^ R Vin.
A Defcription of tbe Country between Lake St. Pierre, and
Montreal : In wbat it differs from Quebec. A De^
fcription of tbe IJland and Town 0/ Montreal, and its
Environs. Of tbe Fijbery for Seals, tbe Sea Cow, Por^
poife, and Whale, 99
L E T E R IX.
Of the Port of Chambly : Of tbe Fijb ; of tbe Birds :
And of fame Animals, peculiar to Canada. Of tbe
Trees wbicb are tbe fame with tbofe of France ; and
of tbofe*wbicb are peculiar to tbii Country, 115
LET-
CONTE NTS.
L E T T E R X.
Of the Caufet •/ the Cold of Canada. Of the Refourcet
tbey have for Subfiflence, Of the CbaraSler of tbt
French Canadians. 131
L E T T E R XI.
Oftbe Iroquois Villdge. Oftbe Fall of St. I^uis ; and
of tbe different People wbo inbabit Canada. 143
LETTER XII.
Voyagt to Catarocoui. A Decription of tbe Country, and
of the Falls oftbe River St. Laurence. Defcription and
Situation of tbe Port Catarocoui. Of tie Languages
of Canada, and of tbe People wbo fpeak tbem. Tbe
Occafan of tbe IVar between tbe Iroquois and the AI-
gonquins. 157
LETTER, XIII.
/
Ji Defcription oftbe Country vfr'to tbe River oftbe On-
nontagues : Of tbe Flux and Reflux in tbe great Lake/
of Canada. Tbe Manner bow tbe Savages fing tbeir
War-Song. Oftbe God of War amongji tbefe People.
Of tbe Declaration of War. bf tbe Necklaces of
shells : Of tbe Calumet^ and of tbeir Cujloms of Peace
and War,
«73
LETTER XIV,
4 Defcription of tbe Country from Famine . Bay, to tbe
River of Sables. Motives oftbe Wars of tbe Savages,
Departure of tbe Warriors, and wbat precedes tbeir
Departure, Tbeir Farewell. Tbeir Arms Offenfive
and D^ffnfive. Tbe Care tbey take to carry with tbem
tbeir Tutelar Deities. Particulars of tbe Country up to
Niagara. 185
LET-
CONTENTS.
LETTER XV.
Whaipaffed between tbt Tronnonthouani and the EnglifTi,
on the Occajion «/" our Settlement at Niagara. The
Fire-Dance : A Story on this Occajton, A Defcrlption
of the Fall of Niagara. I
eeption of the Frifoners among tbeje People, Their
Manner of burning them. Some Things peculiar im
their Way of living, 1 49
LETTER XXVin.
Jovmey from Pimiteouy to the Kafkafquias. Of the
Courfe of the River of the Illinois. Of the Copper*
Mines, Of the Miflburi. Of the Miner of the River
Marameg. Defcription of Fort de Chartres, and of tbe
Mijpon of the Kafkafquias. Of the Fruii-Treej of Lou*
ifiana Defcription of /i^^Miilifippi above the Illinois.
Different Tribes of that Nation* Sotne Traditions of
the Savages, Their Notions of the Stars and Planets^
Eelipfes, and Thunder: Their Manner of computing
Time. 161
LETTER XXIX.
Of the Colony of the Illinois. Journey to tbe Akanfas. De*
fcription of thf Country, l^$
LET-
CONTENTS.
LETTER XXX.
Journey from the Akanfas to the Natchez. Defcrtfiim§f
the Country: 0/ the River of the Yafous ; OftbtMrnnm
ners, Cujiomt, and Religion oj tbt Natchez. 187
LETTER XXXI.
Journey from the Nalchc^. /• New Orleans. Defcripthm
of the Country y and of the feveral yillager'tf tbg Svn^
get, and oJ tbt Capital of Louifiana. a07
LETTER* XXXII.
Journey from New Orleans to the Moutb of, the Miflifip-
pi : Defcription of tbis River quiti to tbe Sea, Rg-m
flexions on tbe Grantt, 219
LETTER XXXIII.
Defcription of Biloxi : Of the Cafllne, or Apaachine !
Of tbe Myrtle Wax: 0/Maubi!e: Of tbe Tibaffat:
Of tbe Bay of St. Bernard. Foy age from BUoxi /•
>few Orleans by tbe Lake of Pontchar train. aay
LETTER XXXIV.
Foyage to the Channel 9/ Bahama. Shipwreck §f th$
Adour : Return to Louidana along tbe Coajl of Flondsii
Defcription of that Coaft, 239
LETTER XXXV.
Voyage from Biloxi to Cape Francois in Saint Domln.
gO' a67
LETTER XXXVi.
Defcription of Cape Fran9ois in St. Domingo. Return /•
France, landing in England. 281
A P P E N-
11
> I,
r
•t
) ■
I
i. 't
X.
289
A P P E N D I
SECT. I.
Climafi of the Weft-Indies.
s E c T. ir.
S|>ani{h SettUmtntt, IJlands of Cuba, Hifpaniola an4
Porto Rico. 292
S E C T. III.
Hfe French SttiUments, Hifpaniola. 29^3
S E C T. IV.
Martinico, Gufuieloupe, and other French IJlandi, 299 '
SECT. V.
Dutch and Danifh Settteuients, 300
S ^ C T. VI.
Britilh Settlements. Jamaica. 304
SEC T. VII.
Barbadoes. ^ tis
SECT. VIII.
St. Chriftopher'/. Antigua, Nevis, Montferrat ; their
pre[ent condition and force, 3^9
SECT. IX.
0/ Granada, the Granadillocs, St. Vincent, Dominica
SECT. X.
and Tobago.
321
I'he Trade «/* Mexico. Some account of that city. The
affairs e/ Apaculco, and La Vera Cruz, The flat a, re*
gifier Jbips and Galteons. ^4*
SECT. XI.
Of the nature of Sugar, and tht^antter of mar.ufa^uring
it ; Planters in the WeftalnJies ; their way of life and
management of their Affairs. The Negroes. 329
S EC T. XLl.
Ohfervations on the Jettlement of the Weft-Indies, if A
vantages there for tempers prejudicial at home. BaK
itmpers n9t always noxious in every fenfe, 333
asc
Preliminary Difcourfe
ON THE
ORIGIN
O F T H E
AMERICANS.
AFTER reading almoft every Thing that has been
writ on the Manner in which America might have
been peopled, we feem to be juft where we were
before this great and interefting Queftion began to be agi-
tated ; notwithftanding, it would require a moderate Vo-
lume to relate only the various Opinions of the learned on
this Subjedt. For mod Part of them have given fo much
into the marvellous, almoft all of them have built their
Conjedures on Foundations fo ruinous, or have had re-
courfe to certam Refemblances of Names, Manners, Cuf-
toms. Religion and Languages, fo ver}' frivolous, which it
would, in my Opinion, be as ufelefs to refute, as it is im-»
pofTible to reconcile with each other.
It is not, perhaps, to be wondered at, that thofe who
have firft treated this matter ihould wander in a Way
which had not as yet been marked out, and in which they
muft travel without a Guide. But what I am furprifed at
is, that thofe who have gone deeped into this Af{»ir, and
Vol. I.
B
who
\
i fl. 1
I ■■ ,'l
I !i
; *
( 2 )
who liave had the Advantage of Helps beyond aii thofe
who have gone before them, (hould have been guilty of
flill greater Miftakes, which at the fame Time they niight
eafily have avoided, had they kept toa fmall Number of
certain Principles, which fome have eftablillied with fuf-
ficient Judgment. The fimple and natural Confequence?
they ought to have drawn from them,* would Have beer,
in my Opinion, fufScient to fatisfy and determine the
Curiofity of the Fublick, which this unfeafonable and
erroneous Difplay of Erudition throws back into its ori-
ginal Uncertainty. This is what I flatter myfelf I fhall
be able to make appear, by that fmall Portion of thefc
Conjeftures which 1 am now going to relate.
Thofe of our Hcmifphere were, no Doubt, much fur-
prized, when they were told of the Difcoyery of a new
World in the other, where they imagined nothing was
to be feen, but an immenfe and dangerous Ocean. Not-
withftanding, fcarce had»^ Cbrijiopber Columbus found out
fome Iflaiids, and among others that of Hifpaniola, in
which he difcovered Gold Mines, but he was prefently
of Opinion, fometimes that this was the Opbir of Solo'
motif and at others the ^ipangri, or the CIpango of Mark
Pol the Venetian. Vatablus and Robe ft Stephens were like-
wife perfuaded, that it was to America that Solomon fent
Fleets in queft of Gold, and Columbus thought he faw
the Remains of his Furnaces in the Mines of Cibas, by
much the fineft and richeft of the Ifland of Hifpaniola^
and perhaps of all the new World.
' ' ' *■ .
Arius Montanus not only places Opbir and Parvaim ' in
the new World, but likewife makes Jo^an, the Son of
Heber, the founder of Ju^an, sl chimerical City in Peru ;
and alfo pretends, that the Empire of Peru and that of
Mexico, which he will have to be the fame with Opbir,
were founded by a Son of Jo^an of that name. He adds,
that another Son of the famexPatriarch, calle(^in the Scrip-
ture Jobabi was the Father of the Nations on the Coaft
of Paria, and that the Eaftern Mountain Sepbar, to
which Mofes fays the Children of Jovian penetrated after
departing from Mejfa, is the famous Chain of the Ardes,
extending from North to Sou^h quite through Peru and
. Chili,
( 3 )
Cbili. The Authority of this learned Interpreter of the
Scriptures has drawn Ay?^/, Becan, Pajfevirif Genebrard,
and many others, into the fame Opinion. Laftly, the
Spaniards have aflerted, that in the Time when the
Moors invaded their Country, Part of the Inhabitants
took Refuge in America. They even pretendtd in the
fifteenth Century, that they difcovcred certain Provinces,
of ilieir Empire, which the Misfortunes of thofe Times
had robbed them of, and to which, if you believe them,
liiey had an incontcftable Right. Oviedo, one of their
mort celebrated Authors, was not afraid to affirm, that
the Antilles are the famous Hefperidesy fo much vaunted
oF by the Poets ; and that God, by caufing them to fall
under the Dominion of the Kings of Spain, has only re-
flored what belonged to them three thoufand one hun-
dred and fifty Years ago in the Time of King Hefperus,
from whom they had this name ; and that St. James and
St< Paul preached the Gofpel there, which he fupports
by the Authority of St. Gregory in his Morals. If we
add to this what.P/dr/o has advanced, that beyond his own
liland oi Atalantis, there were a great Number of Iflands,
and behind them a vafl Continent, and behind this Con-
tinent the true Ocean, we (hall find that the new World
was very far from being new to the Ancients. What
then 'mufl become of the Opinion of Paracelfus, who
maintains, that each Hemifphere hsd its own Adam ?
Pojlely whom I have already cited, and who has made
himfelf famous by his adventurous Conje£fures, believed
that all North America was peopled by the Atlantides, In-
habitants of Mauritania ; and he is the firft who has made
fuch a Difference between the two Americas, by Means
of the Ifthmus of Panama ; that according to him, and
thofe who have adopted his Opinions, the Inhabiian": of
thofe two Continents have nothing common in their Ori-
ginal. But in this Cafe, I fliould rather be tor placing
with Budbecks the Atalantis in the North, as well c>s the
Pillars ol Hercules^ and maintaining, that North Ameri-
ca has been peopled from Scandinavia, than by fend.ng
thither the Moors from the Coafl of Africa. On the
other Hand, Gomara and John de Lery make the Ante: i-
ci^u come from the Canaanites, driven out of the pro-
B 2 mifcd
ii. f
( 4 )
tnifed Land by Jajbua : Some, on the contrary, make
thofe Ifraelites, whom Salmanazus led captive into Mf--
dia, pafs into America by the North of JJia. But Tbevet,
who believed, hke them, that the Ifraelites peopled the
new World^ concludes, that they muft haVe fpread them-
felves over the whole World, from the Circumftance of
the finding a Tomb With Hebrew Characters on it in one
of the Azores or Weftern Iflands. This Author was
mirinformed as to the Fa£l. It was not a Tomb that
was difcovered in Corvo, the mod northerly of thofe
Iflands, but an equeftrian Statue, ere6ted upon a Pedef-
tal, on which were certain Chara£ters, which could not
be deciphefed.
Augtijiine Torniel is of Opinion, that the Defccndants
of Sbem and Japbet have pafled to America, and from
thence to the Countries lying to the Southward of the
Streights of Magellan, by the Way of Japan, and the
Continent, to the Northward of the Archipel, or Clufter
of Iflands. A Sicilian, whofe Name is Marinocut, makes
no Doubt of the Romans having fent a Colony into this
Country, for which he has no other Reafon than a Re-
port current in his Time, that a Medal of Augujius was
found in one of the Mines of Peru ; as if it had not been
more natural to fuppofe, that fome Spaniard had acci-
dentally dropt this Medal, when vifiting thefe Mine$.
Paulus Jovius has dreamt that the Mexicans haVe been
among the Gauls, which ridiculous Opinion he founds
upon the human Sacrifices whxh thofe two Nations of-
fered to their falfe Divinities. But if this pretended Re-
femblance proves any Thing, it would much rather prove
that the Gauls had been in IvfexicO, sl People whom we
know to have been always of a wandering Difpofition,
and to have peopled many Provinces by the Colonies they
fent out.
'The Ffiezelattdershsivt like wife had their Partifans with
Refpeft to the Origin of the Americans. Juffridius iV-
tri and Hamconius aflert, that the Inhabitants of Peru and
Cbili came from Friezeland. 'James Cbarrsn and William
Pojiel do the fame Honour to the Gauh. Abrabam Mili-
us to th« antient Cf//ir/Wt'/ of the Ancients were the fame wit 1)
the Iflands o.' ti.c Antilles \ and he explain- the Fable of
the Dragon, wnieh k- ording to the Poets guarded the
golden Apples, to hi il different Streights winding in
a Ser'pcnt-iike Mai-icr round tf>ofe Iflands, and which
the frequency of the bi p^vivA.k'* -liight have caufed to be
looked upon as urn:
i il
-!!
C 18 )
tueatan. He maintains, that it is contrary to all Proba-
bility to look out for a Country furrounded by Norvjegi^
an Colonies for a Settlement to his Africans^ who muft
have been much more naturally fuppofed to have landed
in Brafil, or at leaft to have flopped at the Antilksy which
Iflands they muft have met with in their Pafl'agc, fup*
pofiiig them to have crofled the Line. He confefles that
Don Peter Martyr de Anglerie, when fpeaking of the
People of Tucatan, affirms that many of them were cir-
cumtiftd -, but he alledges, that this Italian Author has
been mi fin formed, fince neither Antonio de Herera, Fa-
ther de Acojla^ nor Oviedo, Writers of much belter Cre-
dit than lie, have ever mentioned the Circumcifion,
Baptifm, or Crofles upon the Tombs of this People but
as meer Fables. Laflly, before the Abyfjinians could have
pafled to America, they muft have taken their Departure
from the V/eftern Coaft of Africk ; and Laet is confident,
that the Dominions of the King of Ethiopia do not extend
To far that Way. In the mean Time, it is certain, from
the Accounts of the Portuguefe, that the King of Benin
had his Crown of the Emperor of Abyffinia^ .
Laet fays but little of the Manner in which Grotius
imagines South-America has been peopled by the Inhabi-
tants of thofe Countries, which lie to the Southward of
the Streights of Magellan \ he is fatisded with obferving
that they are only Iflands, beyond which, as far as Ter-
ra Aujlralisy there is nothing but an immenfe Extent of
Ocean : That we are not as yet acquainted well with what
lies between that Country and New-Guinea, and that all
the Southern American Nations, not excepting thofe un-
der the Dominion of the Incas oi Peru, fpoke an infinite
Variety of different Languages. The Reafows on which
Grotius eftablifhes the Chinefe Original of tHe Peruvians,
appear no lefs frivolous tc this Critick.
In the nrft Place, fays he, the Chara£ler of the two
"Nations and their Tafte for the Arts are extremely dif-
ferent. In tl'C fecond Place no one has ever faid that
the Chinefe pay any religious Adoration to the Sun ; and
were this even granted, that Worlhip is common to
fo many Nations, that no Arguments could be drawn
Iron*
■4
m
to all Proba-
by Norvjegi-
nSf who muft
have landed
intilks, which
Paflagc, fup-
1 confefles that
caking of the
Kern were cir-
in Author has
e Her era, Fa-
ich belter Crc-
Circumcifion,
this People but
'ans could have
heir Departure
ut is confident,
\a do not extend
is certain, from
King of Benin
lia*
which Grott'us
by the Inhabi-
e Southward of
with obferving
J as far as Ter-
lenfe Extent of
1 well with what
ea, and that all
spting thofe un-
loke an infinite
afoiis on which
the Peruvians,
i£ler of the two
extremely dif-
ever faid that
o the Sun ; and
is common to
;ourd be drawn
trom
- ( «9 )
from hence of any Weight in the prefent Queftion. It
is true, that the Incas of Peru as well as the Cbinefe
Emperors, called themfelves the Defcendants of the Sui, ;
but how many other Princes have either ufurped them-
felves, or received that Title from their Subje Probabihty,
within Sight
I'alued them-
not fay, that
feveral Nati-
lea, and Part
E fays of their
eat many Cir-
in the Indians
dds Laety that
£t ; and thofe
jur.try^ alrea-
t by the fame
lat remained.
imeriean Na-
at River Oby,
to us ; and it
•nies of thefe
the icy Sea on
to travel all
lem. Bcfides
ance to thefe,
ades, -
rtca.
and ex-
reteived Part
Dccan. The
^red Leagues
them to be fe-
he Kxtent of
: de 4io/lahe-
lievea
I
( 25 )
licvcs It to be not vcrydiflant from Nrru Guinea, which
he imagines is a Continent. But Sir Richard Flawkin/,
an En/lijhman, pretends to have certainly difcovcrcd it
to bean Ifland. We muft therefore, continues the learn-
ed Flifftiing, f'»y lb it South America I as been peopled by
Way of this great Continent of Terra Au/irulis and the
Coafl: of which, Don Pedro Hi'rnando Giros^ a Portu-
guefe, and Don Hernando de ^iros, a Spaniard ^ ranged
along for the Space of eight hundred Leagues in the
Years idogand 1610. The latter, who has }(;iven his
Name to Part of this Continent, obfetves in his Letter
to his Catholick Majefly, that thib Countiy, in feveral
Places where he landed, was extremely well peopled, and
that too with Men of all Complexions. But is it not
flrangc, that Lact fhould rather chufe to people South"
America from a Countr^, feparated from it by a much
greater Extent of Ocean than the reft of the World, than
from North-America, which, on the fuppofition that it
was firft peopled, ought naturally to have fupplicd all '
the New World with Inhabitants. .>
In order to fupport his AfTertion, that America could
not have been peopled by Means of the Pacifuk Otean,
he obferves, that Eafterly Winds, which conftuntly
•prevail there, prevent all Navigation from the IVeJi to
the Eajl ; then he examines feveral American Langua-
ges, in order to compare them with one another, which
is not the beft Part of his Work, at leaft, if we may
form a Judgment from the Extra£t he has given us of a
Vocabulary of the Haron Language, in order to com-
pare it with that of Mexico ; for he has taken it from
Brother Gabriel Sagbart, a Recollet, who undeillood very
little of that Tongue.
He does not appear to be better acquainted with the
Religion of the Indians of Canada, in which he endea-
vours to difcover Traces which might have led him to
their firft Original ; and indeed, all this difplay of Learn-
ing does not much conduce to the End he has in View:
Befides, although no one of his Age has made a better
coivneded Work, or treated of the Wejl- Indies with fo
: J much
i ., .•
( 26 )
much Accuracy, yet wc now meet with fcvrral Things
in hib Ptrtormance, which lland in nccilof CorretVion.
He concludes, uith a (liort Explication of the Opinion
o^ Emanuel de Moraiz^ a Porti/rrurJ'c^ fxtra^^ed from the
Twentieth Book of his Hiftory of Brazil \ a Work,
V'hich has not as yet been pubhlhed. According to this
Author, America has been wholly peopled by the G/r-
tbaginians and Ifraelites. With regard to the firll, his
Proof is, that they had made Difcovcrics at a e;rcat Di-
ftance from Africa^ the Progrefs of which being put a
flop to by the Senate of Carthage ^ hence it came to pafs,
that thcfe who ii?ppencd to be then in the neuly difco-
vcred Countries, being cut off from all Corr^merte with
their Countrymen, and dcrtitute of many Neccfiaries of
Life, fell foon into a (late of Barbarity. As to the If-
raelites, Moraez pretendf, that nothing bui Circumcifi-
on is wanting, in order to conditute a perfect Refem-
blance between them and tl)e Brazilians. Even this
would be o^ great Importance, were we to confidcr the
invincible Attachment of the former to that Ceremoiiy.
But there are many other Points equally eflential, where-
in the two Nations differ. I can fafely affirm, that this
pretended Refemblance, which appears fo ftriking to the
Portuguefe Hidurian, is at bcfl a falle Show, which feizes
one at the firft Glance, but difappears when looked into
more narrowly and without Prejudice.
John de Laet having in a fa t is fad '-y Manner, refuted
what Opinions had been advanced before his Time, but
not having been equally fuccefsful in eilablidiing his own,
George de Hornn, a learned Dutchman, entered the Lifts,
which he did with the greater Confidence, as he be-
lieved he (hould draw great Advantages from the New
Difcoveries hfs Countrymen and the Englijb had lately
made in the northern Parts of AJia, Europe and Ame-
rica, ' "
After relating every Thing that has been imagined on
the Subje6t he undertakes to handle, that is to fay, all
that is found in Father Garcia and SolarzanOf he fets in
the ftrongeft Light the Difficulty of determining this
. Q^eftion ',
( 27 )
Qncftion ; a Difficulty occ.ifioncd by the impcrfcA
Knowlctlge wc liave of ihc Extremities of the Globe to-
wards the North and South, and the I Lvock which the
SpatiiarJt, the firll Dilcovcrers of the New World,
made amongft its moft ancient Monuments ; as witnefs
the great double Road between ^^ito and Cuzeo; fuch
an Undei taking, as the Rvmans have executed nothing
that can he compared to it. However, he is not afraid to
promifc himfelt a happy ConcluHon to his Enquiries, and
condemns Father A^/a for too haftily determining, that no
one can engage to lucceed in fuch an Enterprize, with-
out great Rafhnefs. Let us now fee whether he himfelf
is not an Example of what he finds fault with in the
Spanijh flillorian. . - t ^
He fctsout with declaring, that he does not believe it
pofTible America could have been peopled before the
Flood, confidcring the fliort fpace of Time which
clapfed between the Creation of the World m\S that me-
morable Event. Very able Men have, notwithfiincling,
believed that there were more Men on the Face of the
Earth at that early Period, than there are at this prclent ;
the Thing is at leart pofHble, and this is fufficltni to pre-
vent the dcftroying the abfohiti, C rtainty of the Opinion.
Nevcrihclefs it murt be owned, ihat de Hornn is not fin-
gle in this Opinion ; but what he adds, gi\-5 us no great
Notion either of his Accuracy or of hisPiobiry. Ac-
cording to him, L'fcarbot p| ices Noab\ birth in the
New World ; whereas this French Hillorian ha«; laid no-
thing that bears the fmalleft Relemblance to fuch a Pa-
radox.
' In the next place, he lays It down for a Principle,
that after the Deluge, Men and other terreftui Animals
have penetrated into America both by Land and by Wa-
ter, and both too out of a formed Defign, and by Acci-
dent ; and that Birds have got thithe^ by Flight, which
does not appear to be improbable, feeing that they have
been obferved to follow Veflels without (lopping, for the
Space of three Hundred Leagues together, and fmcc
there are Rocks pnd Illands, where they might reft them-
fclves, frirrered -bout every where in the Ocean. Thus,
according
' ( 28 )
according to him, yohn de Laet had Reafon to fay, that
the Article of Birds occafioned no manner of Difficulty.
All the World, however, will not be of their Opinion ;
for do not we know many of the feathered Species, which
are neither able to fly nor to fw^im fo far ? Father
A'ojla has likewife very well obferved, in the Opinion of
this learned Dutchman, that wild Beafts might have
found a free PaiTage by Land, and that if we do not meet
in the New World with Horfes or Cattle, to which he
might have added. Elephants, Camels, Rhinoceros's,
and many others ; it ib becaufe tiioie Nations who pafTcd
thither, either were not acquainted with their Ufe,or had
no Convenic ncc to tranfport them : Yet there are Cattle in
America^ but of a Species very different from any of thofe
known in our Hemifphere.
As to what relates to the human Species, de Hornn
excludes from America, i. Th^ Ethiopians, and all the
Blacks, both of Africa and Afta ; the lew Negroes found
in the Province of Caret a, having without Doubt, been
brought there by Accident, a ftiort Time before. 2. The
Nor'u.iegians, Danes, Sxuedes, Celtes, and in a Word, all
the nortiiern and middle Countries of Europe and AJia,
Mean while it maybe obferved, the Q//^/ and anc lent
Britons were much addided to Navigation, tind as likely
as any other People to tranfport themfelves xo America, 3.
The Samoeides and Laplanders. His Reafon for exclud-
ing all thefe Nations is this, that there are no A-nericans
"who have white curled Hair and Beards, excepting the
Miges, in the Province of Zapoteca, the Scberies, on
the River o^ Plate, and the Ma I opaques m Brazil. The
EJj^uimaux have likewife white Hair ; which Exceptions
€mbarrafs the Queftion not a little.
All the Indians of AJia, continues de Hornn, believe
the Metempfychofis : Therefore that People could np(
.haLve/pzffed Into America, where this Dodrine is not fo
much as known. Yet good Authors, and particular)/
- the learned Aro^iM//
i
J I
11
i
f I
I \i
'liil
l»d
( 38 )
was that of the imperial Family of Peruy has, according'
to him, too great a Refemblance with the fame Name of
Cathay f to fufFer any Doubt that thefe Sovereigns derive
their Original from this great Country. In a Word, to
feck for the Catbayans in America^ is, according to him,
the fame with ftarching for the Grerks in Italy^ and the
Pbeniciant in Africk. The Coreant called their Country
Caoli ; therefore, California has been peopled by a Corc^
an Colony. Cbiapa, a Province oi MexicOy whence can
it come but from Giaparty a Name which fome give to
the \([ax\A o{ J apan ? Montezumay F.mpcror o\' MexicOy
had a Beard after the Cbinefe Faftiion ; he wants 1.0 more
to make him come originally from Cbina. It is not, how-
ever without fome Scruple, that our Author quits his
Etymologies for the Figure of the Beard ; but this Beard
is very fingular in a Mexican. He, moreover, finds tiiat
the Name of Monarch has a great Affinity with that of
Mofuzaiuma, which he pre'^ends on I know not what
Authority, to be a Title of Honour in fapan: Thus this
Prince might very well derive his Original from thefe
JHands.
However, it is neither the Catbayatify nor the Japonefe
who have founded the Mexican yion^vchy : De Hornn
afcribes that Honour to FacfuVy King of Cbinoy who be-
ing dethroned by Cublayy great Cham of Tartaryy fled
with a hundred thoufand Chinefey in a thoufand Veflels
into Americay and there became the Founder of a new
Empire. Mancoy another Cbinefe Prince, originally of
Cathay^ had two Ages before founded that of Peru. Here
are many Names, of which the Fathers Couplet, Le
CompiCy and Di. Halde were entirely ignorant. Mama
had carried the Arts to a very great Perfection, and it
was he who reared thofe magnificent Edifices which {o
much aftoniflied the Spaniards. He brought no Horfes
into America, becaufe, in his Time, fays Mark Pol
the Venetian, there were none in China. But it may
be aiked, why the Cbinefe of Peru have not preferved
their Characters ? It i?, anfwcfs Hornn y becaufe they
were too difficult to write ; they found that it was a
fhorter and eafier Way to fupply the Ufe of them by
fymbolical Figures. ' - .' . . v ,
'^ ■ , ■■■ .-'-■ ..- > ■ :■ P ::' This
( 39 )
This is a Part of what has been written on the prefent
Qucftion; and I am much miftaken if the bare fetting
down of fo many different Opinions is not fufficient to
furnifh the attentive Reader with all the Lights ncccfla-
ry to lead him to the Choice of the proper Side in thin
p;rcat Controverfy, which, by endeavouring to explain,
tliey have hitherto rendered only more obft ure. It may
be reduced, as appears to me, to the two following Ar-
ticles. I. How the New World might have been peo-
pled ? 2. By whom and by what Means it has been peo-
pled.
Nothing it would feem may he more eafily anfwered
than the firft. America might have been peopled, as the
three other Quarters of the World have been. Many
Difficulties have been formed upon this Subjefl which
have been deemed infolvablc, but are far from being fo.
The Inhabitants of both Hemifpheres are certainly the
Defccndants of the fame Father. This common Father
of Mankind received an exprefs Order from Heaven to
people the whole World, and accordingly it has been
peopled. To bring this about, it was necefTary to over-
come all Difficulties in the Way, and they have alfo been
got over. Were thofe Difficulties greater with refpeft
to peopling the Extremities of Afia^ Africa, and Europe^
and the tranfporting Men into the Iflands, which lie at
a confiderable Diflancc from thofe Continents, than to
pafs over into America ? Certainly not. Navigation
which has arrived at fo great Perfection within thefe three
or four Centuries, might pofTibly have been flill more
perfect in thofe firfl Times than at this Day. At leaft,
we cannot doubt, but it was then arrived at fuch a De-
gree of Perfection as was necefTary for the Defign which
God had formed of peopling the whole Earth.
Whilfl thofe Authors whom I have cited, have kept
to this Poffibility which cannot be denied, they haverea-
foned very juftly ; for if it has not been demonflrated,
that there is a PafTage into America over Land, either
by the North of Afia and Europe, or by the South, the
contrary has not been made appear ; befides, from the
^oafl of Africa to Brazil', from the Canaries to the
D 4 . Wcftern
( 40 )
Weftcrn Iflands, from the Wcftern Iflands to the Anti!^
Us ; from tlie Britannic Ifles, and the Coatl of France to
Newfoundlundf the Paflage is neither long nor difficult :
I might fay as much of that from China to Japan, and
from Japan and the Pbilippinet to the IJles Mariannes,
and from thence to Mexico. There are Iflands at a con-
fiderable Diftance from the Continent of Afta, where
we have not been furprized to find Inhabitants. Why
then fhould we wonder to find People in America ^ And
it cannot be imagined, that the Grandfons of Noah, when
they were obliged to feparate and to fpread themfelvcs in
Conformity to the Defigns of God over the whole Earth,
(hould be in an abfolute Impoffibility of peopling almod
one Half of the Globe }
They ought therefore to have kept to this ; but the
Queftion was too fimple and too eafy to be anfwercd.
The Learned muft make Difquifitions, and they imagin-
ed they were able to decide how and by whom America
has been peopled ; and as Hiftory furnilhed no Materials
for this Purpofe, rather than flop fhort they have realiz,-
cd the mofl frivolous Conjectures. The fimple Refem-
blance of Names, and fome flight Appearances, feemed,
in their Eyes, fo many Proofs, and on fuch ruinous Foun-
dations they have erefted Syflems of which they have
become enamoured, the Weaknefs of which the mofl Ig-
norant are able to perceive, and which are often over-
turned by one fingle Fa6l which is inconteflable. Hence
it happens, that the Manner in which the New World
has received iis firfl Inhabitants remaining in very great
Uncertainty, they have imagined DifHculties where none
really were, and they have carried this Extravagance to
fuch a Height, as to believe, that the Americans were
not the Defcendants of our firfl Parents ; as if the Igno-
rance of the Manner in which a Thing hath happened,
ought to make us look upon it as impofTible, or at leafl
as extremely difficult. ' , ^ - '•
But what is mofl fingular in this, is, that they fhould
have negle6ted the only Means that remained to come
at the Truth of what they were in Search of ; I mean,
the comparing the Languages. In eflFeQ;, in the Re-
fearch in Queftion, it appears to me,, that the Know-
ledge
( 4« )
!■ (!ge of the principal Languages of Americ/i^ and the
comparing them with thole of our Hcmifphcre, that are
looked upon as primitive, might nolTibly fet us upon fome
happy Difcovery ; and that Way of afccnding to the
Original of Nations, which is the leaft equivocal, is far
from being fo difficult as might be imagined. We have
had, and ftill have Travellers and Miflionaries, who h..ve
worked on the Languages that are fpoken in all the Pro-
vinces of the New VVcrld. It would only be netcfliiry
to make a Colle6lion of their Grammars and Vocabularies,
and to collate them with the dead and living I inguac'-"= of
the Old World that pafs for Originals. I.ven the iXi^Q"
rent Diale6ls, in Spite of the Alterations they have un-
dergone, ftill retain enough of the Mother-Tongue to
furnifh confiderable Lights.
Inftead of this Method, which has been nrgtc^ed,
they have made Enquiries into the Mmncrs, Culloms,
Religion, and Traditions of the Americans^ in order to
difcover their Original. NotvcithlUnding, I am pcrfuad-'
ed, that this Difquifition is only c .pable of producing a
falfe Light, more likely to dazz-k, and to m^kc us wan-
der from the right Path, than to load us with Certainty
to the Point propofed. Ancient Tr iditio.is are etfaced
from the Minds of fuch as have not, or, who, during
feveral Ages, have been, without any Helps to f refcrve
them ; and half the World is exa6\ly in this Situation.
New Events, and a new Arrangement or Things give
Rife to new Traditions, which efface the forwier, and
are themfelves effaced in their Turn. Aft^r one or two
Centuries have palled, there no longer remain any M;irk8
capable of leading us to find the Traces of the firft Tra*
ditions.
The Manners very foon degenerate by Means of
Commerce with Foreigners, and by the Mixture of feve-
ral Nations uniting in one Body, and by a Ciiange of
Empire always accompanied with a new Form of Govern-
ment. How much more Reafoa is there to believe fuch
a fenfible Alteration of Genius aud Manners amonj ft
wandering Nations become favage, living without Prin-
ciples, Laws, Education, or civil Government, ^v.ich
mi^ht
might fcrve to bring them back to the anticnt Manners.
Cuftoms are ftll moi eaii'y deftroyed. Anew Way of
living introduces new Cuftcms, and thofe which have
been forfaken are very lix^n Forgotten. What (hall
I Ciy of the ablglute Wanr o luch Things as are
mod neceflary to Life? An' oi uhich, the NeceiTity of
doing without, caufts their Namcb and Ufe to perifh to-
gether.
Laftly, nothing has undergone more fudden, frequent,
or more furprizing Revolutions than Reliu,ion. When
once Men have abandoned the only true one, they foon
lofe it out of iheir Sight, and find themfelves entangled
and bewildered in fuch a Labyrinth of incoherent Errors,
Inconfiftency and Contradi(EHon being the natural Inheri-
tance of FalfhooJ, that there remains not the fmalleft
Thread to lead uf; back to the Truib. We have fecn a
very fenfible Example of this in the Lfl: Age. The Buc-
canerrs of St. Domiugo, who were Chnllians, but who
h^d no Commerce except amongrt themlelvcs, in lefs
than thirty Years, and through the fole Want of religi-
ous VVurlhip, InIlru£tion, and an Authcinty capable of
retaining them in their Duty, had come to fuch a Pafs,
as to have loft all Marks of Chriltianiiy, except Baptifm
alone. Had thefe fubfiftcd only to the third Generation,
their Grandchildren woi Id have been as void of Chriftia-
nity as the Inhabitants of Terra Aujlralis^ or Neiu-Gui-
nea. They might poiTibly have preferved fome Ceremo-
nies, the Re.tfon of which they could not have account-
ed tor, and is it not precifely in the fame Manner, that
fo many infidel Nations are found to have in their idola-
trous Worihip Ceremonies which appear to have been
copied after ours.
* The Cafe is not the fame with Refpe6t to Languages.
I allow that a living Language is fubje£t to continual
Changes, and as all I ianguages have been fo, we may
fay with Truth, that none of them have preferved their
original Purity. But it is no lefs true, that in Spite of
the Changes, introduced by Cuftom, they have not loft
every Thing by which they are diftinguifhed from others,
which is fufficient for our prefent Purpofe j and that
' " " from
-I'
( 43 )
from the Rivulets, arifing from the principal Springs, 1
mean the Dialeds, we may afcend to the Mother-
Tongues ihemfelves ; and that by attending to the Ob-
fervation of a learned Academician*, that Mother-
Tongues are diftinguiihed by being more nervous than
thofe derived from them, becaufe they are formed from
Nature ; that they contain a greater Number of Words
imitating the Things whereof they are the Signs ; that
they are lefs indebted to Chance or Hazard, and that that
Mixture which forms the Dialeds, always deprives
them of fome of that Energy, which the natural Con-
nexion of their Sound with the Things they reprcitnt
always give them.
Hence, I conclude, that if thofe chara£teriftical Marks
are found in the American Languages, we cannot reafona-
bly doubt of their being truly original ; and, confequcnt-
ly, that the People who fpeak them have pafled over in-
to that Hemifphere, a (hort Time after the firft Difperfi-
on of Mankind ; efpecially, if they are entirely unknown
in our Continent. I have already obferved, that it is an
arbitrary Suppofition that the great Grandchildren of
Noab were not able to penetrate into the New World, or
that they never thought of it. In efFed, I fee noVfiLea-
fon that can juftify fuch a Notion. Who can ferioufly
believe that Noab and his immediate Defcendants knew
lefs than we do; that the Builder and Pilot of the greateft
Ship that ever was, a Ship which was formed to traverfc
an unbounded Ocean, and had fo many Shoals and Quick-
fands to guard againft, (hould be ignorant of, or Ihould
not have communicated to thofe of his Defcendants who
furvived him, and by whofe Means he was to execute the
Order of the great Creator, to people the Univerfe, I
fay, who can believe he Ihould not have communicated
to them the Art of failing upon an Ocean, which was
not only more calm and pacific k, but at the fame Time
confined within its ancient Limits ?
It is even determined on fufficient Grounds, that Ame^
rica had not Inhabitants before the Deluge ? Is it prcba-
■ ble,
• M. r Abbe du Bos, his Hijlory of Painting and Poelrj.
( 44 ) ^^ ;;
ble, that Noab and his Sons (houIH have been acquainted
with only one H::lf of the World, iind docs not Mofcs
inform us, that all, even the remoicli Continents nnd
Iflands were once peopled ? How (hall we reconcile ihis
with the Suppofition of thofe who maintain, that the firfl:
Men were ignorant of the Aft of Navigation ; and can it
ferioufly be faid, contrary to the Authority of fo refpefla-
ble a Teftimony, as John de Laet has done, that Naviga-
tion is an EfFeQ: of the Temerity of Mankind ; that it
does not enter into the immediate Views of tlie Creator,
and that God has left the Land to the human Species,
and the Ocean to Fifhes ; Bcfides, are* not the Iflands a
Part of the Earth, and are there not many Places on the
Continent, to v/hich it is much more natural to go by
Sea, than by long Circuits frequently impradicable, or
at leafl; fo very difficult, as to induce Men to undertake
almoil any Thing in order to avoid them.
It is certain that the Art of Navigation has ihared the
fame Fate with many others, of which we have no proof
that our early Anceftors were-entirely Ignorant, fome of
which are now loll, and others again preferved only a-
mong a few Nations ; but what does this prove ? We
muft always return to this Principle, that the Arts necef-*
fary to the Defigns of God have never been unknown to
thofe whofe Bufmefs it was to put them in Execution.
Induftry, has, perhaps, invented fome which were Ufe-r
ful only, and Luxury difcovered others which ferved
only to gratify the Paflions. We may alfo believe, that
what has caufed many to fall into Oblivion, is their hav-
ing become no longer Neceflary, and that fuch has been
the making long Voyages as foon as all the Parts of the
World were fupplied with Inhabitants, It was fufficient
for the Purpofes of Commerce to range along the Coafls,
and to pafs over to the nearefl Iflands. Need we then be
furprifed, if Men for want of Practice, loft the Secret of
making long Voyages on an Element fo Inconftant^ an(i
fo frequently Tempeftuous.
Who can ever affirm that it was loft fo foon ? Strabo
fays in feveral Places, that the Inhabitants of Cadiz, and
all the Spaniards, had large VelTels^ and excelled in the
Art
( 45 ) ;
Art of Navlgatiofl. P//«j' complains, that in his Time,
Navigation was not fo pert'ed as it had been for fevcral
^ Ages before ; the Carthaginians nnd Pbenicians were long
poflefled of the F^eputation of being hardy and expert
Mariners. Father Jcojia allows, that Vafco de Gama
found, that the Ufe ot the Conipafs was- known among
the Inhabitants oi Mozambique. The Iflanders ofMa-
dagafcar have a Tradition importing, that the Chine fr
had fent a Cofony into their Country. And is it not a
meer begging of the Queftion, to rcjeft that Tradition
on Account of the ImpolTibility to fail fo far without th;
Help of the Compafs. For if the Compafs is neceffary
for failing from China to Madagafcary I have as much
Right to fay, on the Faith of a Tradition, uni'erfal in
that great Ifland, that the Chinefe have failed to Mada-*
gafcar, therefore they had the Ufe of the Ccinpafs ; as
any other Perfon has to reafon in this Manner, the Chi-
nefe were unacquainted with the Compafs, therefore they
n?ver were at Madagafcar. However, I do not under-
take to fupport this as Matter of Fa«5t, which I might
fafely do with very good Authors; I only fay I am as well
grounded in advancing, as they are in rejecting it.
The Chinefe whofe Original reaches up as high as the
Grandfons oi Noah, have anciently had Fleets; this is a
Fa£t fufficicntly eftablifhed in Hiftory : What could have
hindered them from palTing to Mexico by the Way of the
Philippines.? The Spaniards perform this Voyage every
Year ; from thence by coarting along Shore, they might
have peopled all America on the Side of the South-Sea.
The JJles Mariannes, and many others, of which Difco-
veries are every Day made in that Extent of Ocean>
which leparates China and Japan from America, might
have received their Inhabitants in the fame Manner, feme
fooner and fome later. The Inhabitants of the Iflands of
Solomon, tho(e of New-Guinea, New-Holland, and Ter-
ra Aufiralis, bear too little Refemblance to the Ameri-
cans, to leave room to imagine they could have fprung
from the fame Original, unlefs we trace it up to the re-
mott {I Ages. Such is their Ignorance that we can never
know frr-n whence they really draw their Defcent; but
in fine^ all thci«; Countries are peopled ; and it is proba-
ble.
/
( 46 )
ble, fome have been fo by Accident. Now if it could
have happened in that Manner, why might it not have
been done at the fame Time, and by the fame Means
with the other Parts of the Globe ?
It cannot be denied, that the Original of the ancient
Celtcs and Gauls, fo renowned for their Expertnefs in Na-
vigation, and who have fent fo many Colonies to the
Extremities of J/ia and Europe, afcends as high as the
Children of yapbet ; and might not they have penetrated
into America by Wiiy of the Azores ? Should it be ob-
jected that thefe Iflands were uninhabited in the fifteenth
Century ; I anfwer that their firft Difcoverers, had, un-
doubtedly, negle£ted them in Order to fettle themfelves
in larger and more fertile Countries, in an immenfe Con-
tinent, from which they were at no great Diftanco. The
EJkimaux, and fome other Nations of North-America,
bear fo ftrong a Refemblance to thofe of the North of
Europe and Afta, and fo little to the reft of the Inhabi-
tants of the New World, that it is eafy to perceive they
muft: have defcended from the former, and that their
modern Original has nothing in common with the latter ;
I fay, modern Original, for there is not the leaft Appear-
ance of its being Ancient ; and it is reafonable to fuppofe,
that Countries fo very far from being tempting, have been
inhiabited much later than others. .
The fame does not hold good with refpe6l to the reft of
America, and I can never think that fo confiderable a
Po'"tion of the Globe was unknown to, or negle£ted by
the hrft Founders of Nations ; and the Argument drawn
from the Charaders of the Americans, and the frightful
Pidure which was at firft given of them, proves nothing
againft their Antiquity, It is three Thoufand Years at
moft fince Europf was full of People as favage and as lit-
tle civilized, as the greateft Part of the Americans ; and
of thefe there are ftill fome remains. Does not AJia, the
firft Seat of Religion, Policy, Arts, and Sciences, and
the Centre of the pureft and moft ancient Traditions, ftill
behold her moft flourifliing Empires environed by the
grofteft Barbarity ? Egypt which has boafted of having
been
( 47 ) '
been the fource of the fined Improvements, and which has
relapfed into the profoundeft Ignorance ; the Empire of
the Abyjpnians fo ancient, and heretofrre fo flourWhing ;
Lybia^ which has produced fo many great Men; Maurita^
nia which has fent forth fo many Men learned in allScien-
ces : Have not thefe always had in their neighbourhood
People who feemed to poflefs nothing human but the
Figure ? Why then ihould we be fiirpri/ed that the
Americans, fo long unknown to the reft of the World,
fhould have become Barbarians and Savages, and that
their moft flourifliing Empires fhoi :!.! be found deftitute
©f fo many Articles which we reckon indifpenfably necef-
fary in our Hemifphere. -
Let us enquire what has re idercci rne Mountaineers of
the Pyrenees fo fierce as mar.y of tiiem are at this Day ;
what is the Oripfinal of the Laplanders andSamoeidfs, the
Cafresy and Hottentots ; why under the fame Parallels of
Latitude there are Blacks in Africa, and not elfewhere ;
and we (hall then find an Anfvver to the fame Queftions,
refpe£ting the EJkimaux ?ix\d Algonquins, the Hurons znd
SioHXy the Guayranis and Patagontans. If it be aflced,
why the Americans have no BcMrds, nor Hair on their
Bodies, and why the greateft Part of them are of a red-
difh Colour, I Ihall afk in my turn, why the Africans are
moftly black? This QMeftion is of no Confequencc in
the Difpute on the Original ot the Americans,
• Primitive Nations have been mixed and divided by va-
rious Caufes, foreign and domelVtck Wars as ancient as
the Luft of dominion, or the Pallion for domineering, the
Neceifity of feparating md removing to greater Di{lan->
ces, either becaufe the Country was no longer able to
contain its Inhabitants multiplied to an infinite Degree,
or becaufe the weaker were obliged to fly before the
ftronger ; that Rertlefsnefs and Curiofity, fo natural to
Mankind, a Thoufand other Reafons eafily to be imagin-
ed, and which all enter into the Defigns of Providence ;
the Manner in which thofe Migrations have been made;
tlie difficulty of preferring Arts and Traditions amongft
Fugitives tranfpianted into uncultivated Countries, and
out of the Way of carrying on any Correfpcndence with
civilized
( 48 )
dvllized Nations i All this I fay is eafy to conceive. Un*
forefeen Accidents, Tempefts, and Shipwrecks, have
certainly contributed to people ail the habitable Part of
the World ; and ought we to wonder after this, at per-
ceiving certain Refemblances between the remoteft Na-
tlonsi and at finding fucha Difference between Nations
bordering upon one another.
We may likewife further underfland, that fome Part
ofthefe Wanderers, cither forced by Necefllty to unite
for mutual Defence, or to withdraw from the Domina-
tion of fome powerful People, or induced by the Elo-
quence and Abilities of a Legiflator, muft have formed
monarchial Governments, fubmitted to Laws, and join-
ed together in regular and national Societivis. Such have
been the Beginnings of the mofl ancient Empires in the
Old World ; and fuch might have been the Rife of thofe
of Peru and Mexico in the New ; but we are deflitute of
hiflorical Monuments to carry us any farther, and there
i& nothing, I repeat it, but the Knowledge of the pri-
mitive Languages which is capable of throwing any Light
upon thefe Clouds of impenetrable Darknefs. It is not a
little furprizing that a Method fo natural and practicable
has been hitherto negleded of making Difcoveries as in-
terefling atleafl, as the greatefl Part of thafe which for
thefe two Ages pafl have employed the Attention of ^he
Learned. We fhould, at leafl; be fatisfied amongft that
prodigious Number of various Nations inhabiting Ameri'
ca, and differing fo much in Language from one another ;
>vhich are thofe who fpeak Languages totally and entirety
diflFerent from thofe of the Old World, and who, confe-
quently, muft be reckoned to have paffed over to America
in the earlieft Ages; and th6fe, who from the Analogy of
their Language, with thefe ufed in the three other Parts
of the Globe, leave room to judge that their Migration
has been more recent, and ought to be attributed to Ship-
wrecks, or to fome Accident fimilar to thofe of which I
havefpoken in the Courfe of this Differtation.
HISTORICAL
A N
ame Part
to unite
Domina-
the Elo- ,
ve formed
and join-
;uch have
aires in the
ife of thofe
deftitute of
, and there
of the pri-
r any Light
It is not a
practicable
eries as in-
which for
[ntion of ihe
jongft that
.ting Ameri-
ine another ;
and entirely
[who, confe-
to America
Analogy of
other Parts
r Migration
ted to Ship-
of which 1
HISTORICAL JOURNAL
■ *o F :' ■ : ./ / ■'':- j^
Travels in North America :
Undertaken
By Order of the King of Fr ance.
» I li ■■ I » II I I ■■ i i m
LETTER 1^ I R S T.
Madam, kocbefortt June ^otb, 1720.
YCLU were pleafed to exprefs a Defire I fhould write
to you regularly by every Opportunity I could find,
and I have accordingly given you my Promife, be-
caufe I am not capable of refufing you any Thing ; but
I am greatly afraid you will foon grow weary of receiv-
ing my Letters : for I can hardly perfuade myfelf you
will find them near fo interefting as you iliay imagine
they ought to be. In a ^^/ord, you have laid your Ac-
count with a continued Journal j but in the firft Place I
forefee that the Mefiengers, by whofe Hands I muft
tranfmit my Letters to you, will never be over and above
cxafi in conveying them, and may pofllbly fometimes
fail in delivering them altogether; in which Cafe, you
can only have a mutilated and miperfe^it Journal : Befidet,
I im as yet at a hok where 1 am to find Materials to
fill it. For you muft certainly know, that I am fent into a
Vol. L E . Country,
a HISTORY OP
Country, where I fliall olicn he obliged to travel a hundred
LeapjUts ixnd upwards, without fo nnich as meeting v/iih
one human Creature, or imlccd any Thing elfe but one
, continued Profpei"^^ or Rivcr-i, Lakes, Woods, and Moun-
tains. And bcfidc- , wh;U Sort of Men lliall I meet with ?
Wit!) Sav.igcs, whofe I^an^^uiige I do not underftand,
. and who aie equally unacquainted with mine. Befuics,
"what cnn Men, who live in the molt barbarous Ignorance,
fay to me, that can afFe6t mc ; or what can I find to fay
to tiiem, who are lull as inditTcrent anil uncoricerned aa
to what palTes in F.ur-ipe^ and as little afrecled with it, as
you and I, Madam, are, with what relates to their pri-
vate Concerns. /■ ' , ,
^1
s*
In the fecond Place, fliould I make \}^q of the Privi-
lege (^f a Traveller, I know you too well ^o venture up-
on taking that Liberty with you, or to flatter myfelf I
foould find any Credit with you, lliould I attempt it.
You may therefore lay afule all fuch Apprehenfions in
myfelf, for I feel no Manner of Inclination to forge Ad-
ventures: I have already had an experimental Proof of
the Truth of what is faid by an ancient Author, that
Men carry their own pccuHar Genius and Manners about
with them crofs all Seas, and through all Changes of
Climate, let them go where they will ; and I, for my
Part, hone to preferve that Sincerity, for which you know
me, crofj the vail: Regions of Americdy and through thoft
Seas, wh.ich fcnarate that New World from ours. You
are plcafcd to cxpref:. fo;ne Concern for my Health,
wiiich you do not tiiink fulFtciently confirmed to under-
ti.ke 'io long and fatiguing a Voyage;, but thank God, I
rather Strength duly, and I wiOi T could promife myfelf
with tl'.c fame Certainty, or at leail Probability, every
ether Qualification neccilary to acquit myfelf, as I ought
of the Commifiion, with wj-.ich I have been entcuited.
But would yon believe it. Madam, I thought I fl^ould
have loli my Life about half Way between Paris and
Rocbcfari.- Perliaps you lliU remember what you have
oflen heaid tnc fay, tint our Rivers m France \vc:jq no
mere I ii;in Rivulets, compared with thofe oi America :
I can aiTure you, the Loire was very near taking a fevere
Revenge
I hundred
■
ling Nviil^
; but one
ui
nd Moun-
1
leet wiih?
nderftand,
Befidcs,
■>
jcrnorance,
find to fay
:*•
ncerned a3
with it, as
their pri-
N O R T H . A M E R I C A. 1
Revenge on me for this Outrage and AlTront.dQnc to llic
Dignity of that River.
I had taken Dont at Orlcr.ns with four or five OiTiccrs
bclonrcina; to Conii's RcLnmcnt of Infantry. On the fix-
tcenth, being over-againfl: Lancets, and hemp; iinal>le to /
advance any fartlicr, on account of a llronc; Wii.d Idov/-
in!!; directly in our Teeth, \vc wanted to p;,'.in tliat "N'il-
lagc, to :n:il:e fi'.rcof goovi Lodgings, in Cafe c.\' hcinc;;
obliged to pafs i!ie Nigiu there. For thi;- l\:rpol";.: it v.aa
necefTary to crofs the River, which we accordin<.'Iy pro-
pofcd to our Boatmen, ui,o fliewed great Rchict ince to "
undertake it; !)ut bcifig young I^ecple, '\ni\ \\ki infilling
on it, they durfl: not contradict us. Wc had hardly got
to the Middle of tiie Channel, wlu:n we could Ivivc wi!h-
ed to have been back again ; but it was now too late, and
what troubled me mofl of all, it was I who propof<:d the
Advice we fo heartily repented of. V\ e were r^jally i'l
great Danger, wliich. '.vab evident from the Countenan-
ces of our ConduQ.ors ; however, they vv'ere not dif-
couraged, and managed fo well, that they extricated us
out of this Difficulty.
The Danger being over,- one of the Company who
had frequently been on tl.--. Point of Gripping, in order
to betake himfeif to fwimming, took upon him to cry out
with all hi- Force, but with a Tone which fliowed there
was ftill a Palp'tation at his Heart, that I had been in A
great Fright. Perhaps he fpckc truer than he thought of;
all this was, however, nothing but Guefs-work ; and ef-
pecially to ward ofF the Reproaches they were Beginning to
make me, and in order to perfuade others that there was
no Danger, I had always prcferved a tolerable gr^cd Coun-
tenance. Wc frequently meet v.'iih thofe falTc Braver,
who,^. to conceal their own Apprehenfions, endeavour to
makt^aDivcrrion by rallying thofe who have much great-
er Courage than themfe'ves. In the n'.ean Time, Ma-
dam, were I to believe in Omens, here was fuiticient to
form a bad Augury of a Voyage I was going to undertake
for above three thoufand Leagues by 'Sea, and to fail ia
a Canoe of Bark on two of the grcatefl: Rivers in the
World, and on Lakes almofc as large, and at lend full
as tempeftuousas the Pcntus EuK.'nu.r, or the C^/pi-i > Sea.
E 2 TI:?
\£
V^
4 HISTORY or
l*he Loire continued to be full as untra£iable a\\ the
reft of the Day, fo we flept at targets i, our Officers,
who had their Lieutenant de Roy at their Head, were
civil Men enough, and extremely agreeable Company.
They were, moreover, very religious, and they gave one
Proof of it, which was far from being doubtful. There
was a Kind of Adventurer that had joined them at Paris,
who was half Wit, half petit Maitre: as far as Orleans
he had kept tolerably within Bounds, but the Moment
we were embarked, he began tp break out a little, and
by Degrees came to talk on religious Matters in a very
libertine Manner. T had the Satisfa£tion to fee that aft
our Officers were {o much offended at it, that at Largets
none of them would lodge in the fame Houfe with him.
A young Lieutenant took it upon him to tell him of it,
and obliged him to feek a Lodging elfewhere.
I arrived here the 19th; I was expefled as I was
charged wiih Packets from the Court; but they looked
for fomewhat befides, that is to fay, fome Money, which
arrived not till To-day. To-morrow I embark on board
the Camel, a large and fine Frigate belonging to the King,
now in the Road below the Ifle o{ Aix, where I fhall find
myfclf in the Midrt of my Acquaintances. I have a1rea<>
Ay been at Sea with M. de Voutron, who is Captain of
her, and with Chaviteau the firft Pilot ; and I have lived
with feveral of the Officers and Paffengers in C/inarfj.
Wft are told that we are extremely well-manned, and
there is not a Sea-Officer who is better acquainted with
the Voyage we are going to make than our Captain.
Thus I have nothing to defsre, whether with regard to
the Safety or AgreeaGlenefs of the Paflage.
I am, &c.
LETTER
NORTH- AMERICA.
LETTER ir.
./
A Voyage from RocHELLE to QuEBEC. Some Remarkt
upon tie Voyage ^ the Great Bank tf/ Newfound-
land, flni /-6f /2/Wr St. Laurence. ? •
Madam,
Quebec, Sept. 24.
1^%^
I Arrived in this City after a tedious and troublefomc
Paflage of 83 Days: We had however but 1000
Leagues to make, fo that you fee we don't always goPoft
at Sea, as M. the Abbot de Cboify ufed to fay. 1 made
no Journal of this Voyage, becaufe I fufFered greatly by
the Sea Sicknefs above a Month. I flattered myfelf that
I Ihould have been free from it, becaufe I had fufFered it
twice before ; but there are fome Conditutions which
cannot fympathize with this Element, and fuch is mine.
And in the Condition we find ourfelves under thi^ Sick-
nefs, it is not poffible to attend to what pafles in the
Ship : On the other Hand, nothing is more barren than
a Voyage like this ; for the chief Obferval ion to be made,
is, whence the Wind blows, how much the Ship gets
forward, and if it keeps in the right Courfc ; for during
two thirds of the Way there is nothing to be feen but Sky
and Water. However, I fhall proceed to inform you of
what I c5n remember, that is moft likely to give you
fome Minutes Amufementj to keep, as weil as I can,
the Promife I made you.
We (laid in the Road of Aix the 1 ft of Julyt and the
2d we got under Sail by P\;vonr of a fmall Breeze from
h 3 the
i
ill
t. .
,
" 'I
I
6 HISTORY OP
the Nortli-Faft. TIic three fiill IJays wc had fcnrcc any
Wind, but yet it was in our Favour, and uc couiforttd
curlclvcs, becaule lliis made the Scm very |>ica(ant. It
looked as il it wanted to Hatter us, Ij^lure it ihevvcd itlclf
in it's wojit Huiv.our. 'Ihc 4th or the 5th the Wind
chaiii^ed, ar.d eame dircelly agaiiifl: us, tlic Sea ran liigh»
ui:d lor near fix Weeks we were toUld in a very extraor-
dinary ^Janner ; the Winds chanj^ed co.itmually, but
tliey wereoltner againft tlian tor us, and we were alinoll
always ouhL!,ed to lad as near the \Vind as polliblc.
Tltc oth oji An i^^uJI our Pilots thought themfelves upon
the Great Hank of Newfounillandy and they were not
much miftaken. But Irom the 9th to the i6th we made
fcarce any Way. What ihey call the (J rent Batik of New-
JQuniUancI^ is properly a Pvlountam hid under Water,
about 60 Lea[;;n(.s from /'Vv/«(L to the Well. The Sieur
Dcnys, who has given us a very good Work of North-
America^ and a very inftrudive Treatifc on the Cod
Fifliery, makes this iVIountain extend 150 Leagues from
North to South ; but according to the moil e\^6i Sea
Charts, it begins on the South Side, in 41 Degrees North
Latitude J and it's Northern Fnd is in 49 Degrees 25 Mi-
nutes. The Truth is, it's two extremities grow fo nar-
row, that it is difficult to mark it's Bounds. It's greateft
Width from Eaft to Weft, is about ^o French and Eng-
Irfh Sea Leagues ; between 40 and 49 Degrees of Lon-
gitude. I liave heard fome Seamen fay, that they have
cafl: Anchor in five Fathom Water, which is againfl the
JSieur Denys, who fays, that he never found, lels than 25
on the Bank ; it is certain thai in many Places there arc
above 60. About the Middle of it's Length'ton the Side
oi Europe, it forms a kind of Bay, which they call the
Pit ; and tjiis is the Reafon, that of two Ships which are
upon the fair.e Line, and in Sight of each other, one fliall
iind Ground, and the other none.
Before we arrive at the Great Bank vi^e meet with a
fmaller one, which is called the Jacquet Bank : Some
fay that there is another be/ore this, which is of a conical
Figure ; but I have feen fome Pilots v.'ho of^the three
luake but one, and they anfwer the Obje61ions'which are
V made
M O R r H- A M ERICA. 7
iT>.»dc to this, |jy fayinp, that there nrc Ifollcnvs in the
Great Uanky \\\c Depth of vvliich lias diccivcd ihofe who
make three of it, bccaufc they did not let out Line fiiffi-
tiw-nt. Whatever m:»y he the Fijiiire and I. xtcnt of thii
Mountain, wliich it is impolVd)lc to know cxa^llv, tluy
find here a prodigious Qj_inntity of SIkIIs, and many
kindsof Filhof ail Sizes ; the greatcd Parr of wliiih
fervc the Cod for Foo* ; tlic NiimlK-r of which fccm to
equal the Grains of Sand that cover the l^ank. For ahixo
two Centuries they have loaded two or three humlrvd
Ship^j every Year, and tlic Number fcarce nppears to hcr ;
that from the midft of ihofe Breakers, upon which wc
had run a Rifk of being loft, there ilVueda River, at the
Kntrancc of which there was an EngHjh Village, whither
this little Vcflel 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 Danger as that which 1 have juft now mentioned.
It was in Augujl, and we had till then felt the Weather
very hot: One Morning when we rofc, we were fo
pierced with the Cold, that every Body put on their
Winter Garments. Wc could not conceive from whence
it could proceed, the W^eathcr being fine, and no North
Wind. In fhort, the third Day at four o'Clock in the
Morning, a Sailor cried as loud as he could, Luff-^ that is
to fay, turn the Helm to the Windward; he was obeyed,
and the Moment after, they perceived a vaft floating
Piece of Ice, which ran clofe to the Ship's Side, ami
againft which we fhould have been wrecked, if the Sailor
had not had good Eyes, and if the Stcerfman had not di.-
recily turned the Helm.
I did not fee this Ice, for I was not yet up ; but all
who were then upon Deck affured us, that it feemed as
high as the Towers oi Notre Dame TiXPn.rif^ and was for
Certainty much higher than the Marts of the Ship. I have
often heard it affirmed that fuch a Thing was impolFible,
bccaufe it muft have been prodigioufly deep to rife fo high
above the Sea; and that it was not poiTihlc that a Piece
of Ice fhould acquire that Height : To this I anfwer in
the firfl; Place, that to deny the Fa£l we muft give the
Lie to many People, for it is not the firil: Time th;it fucli
floating Rocks have been feen in the Sea. The Ship call-
ed the Mother of the Incarnatioriy 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 fliun it, was feen by the whole Ship's
Company,
'in
A
It
VWi
li:
f
\ I
15
HISTORY or
Company, and judged to be much greater (lill, than that
which we met. They add that the general Abfolution
was given, as in Cafes of the greate(l Danger.
It is certain in the fecond Place, that in Hudfon^s Bgy
there are fome of thele Rocks of Ice formed by the Fall
of Toi rents, which come from the Tops of the Mpun«
tains, and which break away with a vail Noife during th«
Summer, and are afterwards driven about by the Cur-
rents. The Sieur Jeremy who lived many Years- in this
Bay, fays he had th Curiofity to found at the Foot of
one of thefe i- "V . t Ice which was aground, and that
they let out ar- vur.< ; i Fathoms of Line without feach-
ing the Bottom. ;jut f -eturn to our Voyage.
Cape Race, Madam, is the South Eaft Point of the
Ifland of Nee Middle of the River St. Laurence,
but has little Breadth. It was granted to the Sieur Joliet,
upon his Return from the Difcovery of the Mifft/pppi,
but they made him no great Prefent. It is absolutely
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 Mine of Silver difcovered in this Ifland ; and for
Want of Miners, they fent from ^ebec (where I was at
that Time} a Goldfmith to make the Proof of it; but he
did not go far. He foon perceived by the Difcourfe of
of the Perfon who raifed the Report, that the Mine ex-
ifted only in his own whimfical Brain.
The
NORTH-AMERICA.
at
Ifleof
ight us
r, that
[land is
i Wind
we had
a little,
le Ship,
; Wind,
he Cur-
g Wc
aufe we
turning
r hazard-
be done ;
lave no-
iopes of
by Ex-
thofe that
\anged to
)ut feven
(le, which
Eaft, and
Laurencff
eur Joliet,
abfolutely
is barren,
may be in
that there
d ; and for
re I was at
it ; but he
ifcourfe of
J Mine ex-
Thc
The Coafts of this Ifland are pretty well ftored with
Fifli ; neverthelefs I am perfuaded, that the Heirs of the
Sieur Joliet would willingly change their vail Lordfhip,
for the fmalleft Fief of France.
When we have pafled this Ifland, we have the Plea-
fure to fee Land on both Sides, and to be affured of the
Way we make ; but we muft fail with a great deal of
Caution up the River. Tuefday the 3d, we left on the
left Hand the Mountains of Notre Dame, and Mount Louis ;
it is a Chain of very high Mountains, between which
there are fome Vallies, which were formerly inhabited
by Sav3ges. The Country round about Mount LouU
has fome very good Land, and fome French Habitations,
They might make here a very good Settlement for the
Fifliery efpecially for Whales ; and it would be conve-
nient for Ships which come from France, to find AiTif-
tance here, which they fometimes extremely want. The
next Night the Wind encreafed, and was very near play-
ing us an ugly Trick. We were not far from Trinity
Point, which we were to leave upon our right ; and the
Steerfman thought us wide enough from it to be out of
Danger ; but M. de Voutron darted up in a Fright, cry-
ing out to the Steerfman to keep off the Shore. If this
Order had been deferred a Quarter of an Hour, the
Ship had run upon the Point, which appeared fome Mo-
ments after. The 4th at Night, we anchored for the
firft Time, a little below what they call the Paps of Ma^
tane. They are two Heads of the fame Mountain, which
is about 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 Plen-
ty 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 Mountains of
Labrador, makes a pretty large Lake, which bears the
fame Name, but more commonly that of St, Barnabas^
F 3 4^4
HI 'I
.«.!?•
12 HISTORY OF
and difcharges itftlfjnto the River 5"/. Laurftice ncrefs
the Sand : Some ot cut Maps call it la Riyiere NAre (the
Tli'2 Sth we fet Sail, hut it was not worth our while
for the Way we niade ; but Variety of Amufemcnt ^nd
Exercife is good (or Sailors. In tlie Night of tiic loth
we made 15 League^ : and in half a League more we
had cleared the moft diflricult Paflage of the River. We *'
alfo Ihould 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 Wefi^, and
obliged us to feek for Shelter, which w^ found under Ifle
Verte or Green IJland^ where we remained ftve Days.
We wanted nothing here, but at the End of this Time,
we lefolved to try if we could not find on the North Side,
as we we were made to hope, fome Land \Vinds, whitl^
would carry us into the great Tid^s. • ' -
We went therefore, and anchored at Moulin Baude
(Baude Mill) the Traverfe is five Leagues over. Upon
arriving here, I afked to fee the Mill, and they (hewed
me fome Rocks, from whence iflued a Stream 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 |iabitable than this. The
Sagnenay Is a little higher; it is a River whi'^h the largeft
Velfels may go up 25 Leagues ; at the T'nriar.ce we leave
the Port of Tadoiijfac to the Right. Tl-.r .:^reateft Part
of our Geographers have here placed a Town, but where
there never vv^as but ono. 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 Sa-
van;e Nations of the North and Eaft, and th-At the French
rvft-rted hither as foon as the Navigation vC-as free, both
ftom France and Canada ; the Miflionaries alfo made
Ufe o; the Opportunity, and came to trade here for
Hfuven r And when the Trade was over, the Merchants
reiurncil to their Homes, the Savages took the Way to
their. 'T' t i o. ''orcds, and the Gofpel Labourers fol-
Jovvi^d thtf iafl, (o comp'.cat their Inftrudions. Yet fome
Accounts
Tofs
(the
vhile
t a,nA
loth
re we
We •
this
lores :
\y and
er Ifle
Days.
Time,
1 Side,
which
Baude
Upon
(hewed
of clear
jut it is
rhaps a
.The
I largcft
»ve leave
teft Part
It where
Huts of
ade, and
ley went
true that
II the Sa-
le French
ree, both
Ifo made
here for
k/Ierchants
e Way to
mrers fol-
Yet fome
Accounts
N O R T H - A M E R T C A. »3
Accounts i.ri Toiue Travellers, have fpoken much of Tia-
4iouJfac ; and the Geographers hav<." fiippofed it wa» a
,. Town ; and fome Authors have given it t< Jurifdiftion.
'Tadoujfac in other Refpecls, is a good Port, and they
aOiired me tiis^t 2$ Men of War might lie here fheltered
from all Winds; that tlie Anchorage is fafe, and En-
trance cafy. Its Shape is almofl: round, fome flcep Rocks
/of a prodigious Height furround it on ail Sides, and a
fmall Stream runs from them, which may fupply the
Ships with V.^iter. All the Country is full of Marble ;
but its greateO: Riches would be the Whale Fifhery. In
1705, being ai Anchor wilh the f/froi? in thi^ Place, I
faw four of thefc Fifh, wliicli were between Head
and T^il, almofl: as long as our Ship. The Bifca^
niers have followed this Fifliery formerly with Succefs,
and there is flill upon a little Ifland of their Name, and
which is little lower than Ifle Ferte (Green Ifland) fome
Remain" of the Furnaces, and the Ribs of the Whales.
What a Difference is there betwixt a fixl Filhcry, which
they might follow quietly in a River, and that which they
go to Greenland for with fo mucli Danger and Expence.
The two following Days thefe was no Land Wind, and
we greatly rejected our firft Anchorage, near which
there were fome French Habitations, whereas here we
faw neiiher Man nor Beafl: : In fliort, the 3d. Day at
Noon we weighed Anchor, and we cleared the Paffage cf
JJIjle Rouge (Red I/land J which is difficult. You mufl:"
firll bear upon the Ifland as if you would Land on it, this
is to fliun the Pornte aux AUouetts (Lark Paint) which is
gt the Entrance of Saguenay upon the Left, and which
advances greatly into t}ie River ; having done this, wc
change our Courfe. The Paffage on the South of Uljle
, Rouge is much fafer, but to do t^his we mufl: have ^one
, hack, and the Wind might have failed us. L'JJle Rouge
18 only a Rock a Uttle above Water, which appears red,
and upon which more than one Ship has been lofl:.
The next Day with little Wind and Tide, we came tc»
an Anchor above the Ifland Coudres, which is 15 Leagues
jFrom ^ebec and Tadouffcic ; and this Pafliige is dange-
rous, when the Wind is not '■o our Defire ; it is rapiti,
ftraight, and a Mile long. Formerly it \vas muc}i fafcr,
^ F 4 but
«4
HISTORY OF
but in 1603 an Earthquake rooted up a Mountain, and
thrc:" it upon the Ifle of Coudres, which was made one
half larger than before, and in the Place of the Moun-
tain there appeared a Gulph, which it is not fafe to ap-
proach. We might have pafTed on the South of the
idand Coudres, and this PafTage would have been fafe and
cafy ; it bears the Name of M. D* Iberville, who tryed it
vrith Succefs, but it is the Cuflom to pafs by the North,
and Cuflom is an abfolute Law for the GeneraUty of
Mankind.
Above the Gulph I have juft mentioned is the Bay of
St. Paul, where the Habitations begin on the North Side ;
and there are fome Woods of Pine-Trces, which arc
much valued : Here are alfo fome red Pines of great
Beauty. Meffrs. of the Seminary of^ei>ec are Lords of
this ^ Bay. Six Leagues higher, there is a very high
Promontory, which terminates a Chain of Mountains,
which extend above 400 Leagues to the Weft 2 It is call-
ed Cape Torment, probably becaufe he that gave it this
Name, fufFered here by a Guft of Wind. The Ancho-
rage is good, and we are furrounded by Iflands of all
Sizes, which afford a very good Shelter. The moft
confiderable is the Jile of Orleans, the Fields of which
being all cultivated, appear like an Amphitheatre, and
terminate the Profpe^l very pleafingly. This liland is
about 14 Leagues in Compafs ; and in 1676 it was made
a Title of Honour, and firft gave Title of Count to Fran-
cis Berthelot, Secretary General of the Ordnance, by the
Stile of Count iS"/. Laurence ; who purchafed it oi Francis
de Laval, firft Biftiop oi ^ebec. It contained then four
V.IK^ges, but it has row fix Parift^es pretty well peopled.
Of the two Channels made by this Ifland, that of the
South only '':> lavigable for Ships : Even Boats cannot
pafs that of ^^i; Novu* hjt at high Water : So that from
Cape Torment we niuil raverfe the River to go to ^^-
bec, and this Traverft, ha.> its Difficulties ; we meet with
feme moving Sands, on which there is not always Wa-
ter enough for large Veflels, fo that this is never at-
tempted bu* whilft he Tide flows. But this Difficulty
might be Tiiunned by taking the Paflage of M. D' Iberville,
Cape To mffnt, from which we pafs to make the Tra-
verfc,
) A ver^ good Lesid Mine has been found here lately.
, and
* one
[oun-
ap-
)fthe
Fe and
^ed it
Jorth, ^
ity of
Bay of
1 Side ;
:h arc
' great
ords of
\f high
intains,
is call-
it this
Ancho-
of all
[e moft
which
re, and
fland is
made
o Fran-
J, by the
Francis
len four
peopled,
of the
cannot
lat from
to Hue^
ieet with
ys Wa-
levcr at-
)ifficulty
Iberville,
the Tra-
verfc,
tely.
N O R T H-A M E R I C A. 25
verfe, is no Leagues from the Sea, and yet the Water
is a little brackifh : It is not fit to drink, but at the En-
trance of the two Canals, which form the Ifle of Orleans.
This is aPhaenomenon pretty hard to explain, efpecially
if we confider the great Rapidity of the River, nolwith-
ftanding its Breadth. The Tide flows here regularly
five Hours, and ebbs feven. At Tadoujfac it ebbs and
flows fix Hours ; and the higher we go up the River, the
more the Flood diminilhes, and the Ebb increafes. At
twenty Leagues above ^ebec it flows three Hours, and
ebbs nine. Higher up the Tide is not perceivable. When
it is h;ilf Flood in the Port of '^fadouffaCf and at the En-
trance of Sagtienay, 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 Saguenay, greater than that of St,
Laurence, running againft the Tide, makes an Equilibri-
um for fome Time between Cbecoutimi, and the En-
trance of the Saguenay into the Great River. This Ra-
pidity was not fo great but fince the Earthquake of 1663.
This Earthquake overthrew a Mountain in the River,
which ftraitened 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 Rapidi-
ty : So that it would not be fafe to anchor in it, if they
could not make faft their Vcflels to the Trees that cover
the Banks of this River.
It is alfo found that in the Gulph of St. Laurence, at
eight or ten Leagues from the Land, the Tides are dif-
ferent, according to the various Situations of the Land,
or the DiflFerence of the Seafons ; that in fome Places
they follow the Winds, and in others 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
fay, 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
w
26 HISTORYoF
\im\cT Water, which produce thefe Irregularities, or
that there are fome Currents uliich come ami go from
the Surlacc to tlie Bottom, and iVom tlic iiottoin to ijjc:
Suriace, in the Manner of Pumps. Anofiar Obfervation
10 be made here is, that the Variation of the Compafs
(which in fome Ports of France^ is but twoorthrct De-
grees North Weft) continues always tletreafing ii!l wc
come to the Azoresy where there i^ no longer any Vari-
ation ; but from thence it incrcafes in iuch a Manner^
that upon the Great Bank of NeivfotuuHantl it is iwenty-
two Degrees an which
towards
nrance,
Maga-
. Prilon
i by the
d which
fagreea-
nc Fire,
lace, for
od upon
iwn this
ire come
nt (lands
Canada,
France.
H. de St,
he City,
in Build-
'he only
Mar(hi
Marfh;
lis Place,
and
and the Waters do not eafily run off, and this can never
be well mended.
The Preiiite, 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 ihe Benefit of the Poor. He did not difdain to ferve
as Chaplain to the Hofpital, as well as to the Nuns, and
he performed the Duty of this Office with a Zeal and Af-
fiduity, which would be admired in a common Fried,
who was to live by this Employment. Artidsor others,
whom great Age or Infirmities have deprived of getting
their Living, are received into this Hofpital, to a certain
Number of Beds that are appropriated for this Purpofe,
and thirty Nuns, are employed to attend them. It is a
Copy of the Hoi'el Dieu of ^ebec, but to diftinguifh the
Nuns, the Bifhop has given them fome particular Regu-
lations, and makes them wear a Silver Crofs upon their
Breads. The greatefl Part of them are of good Families,
and as they are not of the richefl of the Country, the Bi*
ihop has given Portions to many.
^ebec is not regularly fortified, but they have been
long employed in making it a defenfible Place : This Ci-
ty is not c^fy to be taken in its prefent Condition. The
Port is flanked by two Baflions, which at the high Tides,
arc almod level with the Water, that is to fay, about
twenty-five Feet high, for the Equinoctial Tides rife fo
high. A little above the Baflion on the Right, they have
made an half Baflion 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 a little fquare
Fort called the Citadel Hill above this ; and the Ways to
go from one Fortification to another are very fleep. To
the Left of the Port, all along the Road up to the River
St. Charles, there are good Batteries of Cannon, and fome
Mortars.
From the Angle of the Citadel, which looks towards
the City, they have made an Oreille of a Baflion, from
whence they have made a Curtain at right Angles, which
> runs to join a very high Cavalier, upon which there is a
G 2 Mill
^6 H I S T O R Y OF
Mill fortified. Defcending from this Cavalier, vre meet,
at about the Diftance of Muflcet Shot, a firft Tower
with Badions, and at the fame Diftance from this a fe-
cond. The Defign was to cover all this with a Stone
Facing, which was to have the fame Angles as the Bafli-
oni , 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 1711, when the £/i^///!& fitted
out a great Fleet for the Conqueft of Canada, which
failed of Succefs through the Rainnefs of the Commander,
who, contrary to the Advice of his Pilot, came too near
the feven Ides, and loft all his largeft Ships, and three
thoufand Men of his beil Troops.
After having mentioned what is mofl material in our
Capital, I mud fay a Word or two of its Inhabitants ;
this is its Beauty. And if upon confidering only its Houfes^
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.
I have already faid that that they reckon fcarcely at
^ebec feven thoufand Souls ; but we find here a little
chofen World, which wants nothing to make an agreea-
ble Society. A Governor General * with his Attendants,
Nobility, Officers of the Army, and Troops : An In-
tendant f with an upper Council, and the inferior Jurif-
didions : A CommifTary of the Marine % : A Grand Pro-
voft § : A Grand Surveyor of Highways, and a Grand
Mafter of the Waters and Forefts || whofe Jurifdidion is
certainly the mofl extenfive in the World: P.ich Mer-
chants, or who live as it they were fuch : A Bifhop and
a numerous Seminary: Recollets zndyefuits : Three So-
cieties 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
* The Marquiis Je Vaudnuil f M. Begin. % ^- Cle-
ramhaut d' Aigremtnt, § M. Denjs d* St. Simtn. \\ M. le
.Baron dt Bekancwrt,
M.lc
N O R T H-A M E R IC A. 37
Sorts of People to pafs their Time 'ery agreeably. And
To 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 Winter, in Sledges on the Snow, or (kating on the
Ice. Shobtine is much followed; Gentlemen find this
their only Reiource to live plentifully. The News cur-
rent is but little, becaufe the Country furnlHies fcarce any,
and the News from Europe comes all together ; but this
aflbrds Converfation for great Part of the Year : They
make political Remarks on Things pad, and raife Con-
jedures 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 ,
breathe 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 »hey 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 drefs handfomely ; if not, they retrench the
Expence of their Table to beflow it on Drefs ; and in-
deed we muft allow that our Creoles become their Drefs.
They are all of good Stature, and have the bed Complexi-
on.in the World in both Sexes. A pleafant Humour, and
agreeable and polite Manners are common to all ; and
Clownifhnefs, either in Language or Behaviour, is not
known among them.
It is not fo, as they fay, with the Englijb our Neigh-
bours, and they who know the two Colonies only by the
Manner of living, acting and fpeaking of the Inhabitants,
would certainly judge ours to be the mofl flourilhing. In
New England^ and the other Provinces of the Continent of
America, fubject to the Britijb Empire, there prevails an
Opulence, of which they feem not to know how to take
the benefit ; and in Neiu France, a Poverty difguifed by
an Air of Eafe, which does not feem condrained. Com-
merce, and the Culture of Plantations, drengthen the for-
mer; the Indudry of the Inhabitants fupports the latter,
and the Tdfte of the Nation difFufes an unbounded Agree-
G 3 ablencfs.
/
38 HISTORYor
ablenefs. The Englijb Colonid gathers Wealth, and ne-
ver runs into]any fupcrfluous Ex pence ; The French enjoys
Avhat he has, and often makes a Shew of what he has not.
One labours for his Heirs; the other leaves them in the
Necefllty in which he found himfelf, to ihift as well as they
can. The Englijb Americans are entirely averfe to War,
becaufe they have much to lofe ; they do not regard the
Savages, becaufe they think they have no Occadon for
them. The Youth of the French ^ for the contrary Rca«
Tons, hate Peace, and live well with the Savages, whole
Efteem they gain during a War, and have their Friend*
(hip at all Times. I could carry the Parralel further, but
I mud finilh : The King's Ship is ready to fail, and the
Merchant Ships are preparing to follow it ; and perhaps
in three Days there will not be a fingle Ship in our Road.
I antf Sec,
L E T T F R
NORTH- AMERICA.
3
99
LETTER JV.
Of the HuuoN Village : What bat hindered the Pro-
grefs •/ the French Colony oy Canada: Of
the Money current there.
if.w
At a da m^
QuEBlc, Feb. 15.
I Am returned from a little Journey of Devotion, of
which I fli.Ul give you an Account ; but I muft firft
acquaint you, that I was midaken at the End of my lad
Letter, when I faid the Road of ^ebec would be empty
in three Days. A Ship from Marfeillet lies here ftiM,
and has found Means to be under Shelter of the Ice, with
which this River is covered. This is a Secret whi^h
may be of fome Ufe. It is good to have fome Refourcp
againd any Accident that may happen. The Captain of
this Ship weighed Anchor the 2 2d in the Evening) and
after he 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 failipg as foon as the Tide (hould 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 no Purpofe : The
Water increafed continually, indead of diminidiing. In
ihort, every one began to think of faving himfelf, and it
was Time. The lad were not yet adiore when the Ship
difappeared. A Bark loaded with Merchandize frorq
Montreal met with the fame Fate at the Lake St. Pierre,
(St. Peter,) but they hope to get them both up ag^in,
when the fine Weather returns ; and they flatter them-
felves that the grea|ed Part of the Loading of thefe two
G 4 Veflfcls
4© HISTORYor
Vcffels will not be loft. The Affair of the Ship of
Marfeilles may have fome Confequences ; for the Cap-
tain fufpeds 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
Cbriftian Huron/,, whofe Chapel is built after the Model,
and with all the Dimenfions of the Santa 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 thisMiffion: Neverthelefs, the Con-
courfe here is very great ; and whether it be fancy. De-
votion, or Prejudice, or what you pleafe, many Perfons
have aflured me that they were feized upon their Arrival
here with a fecret and holy Horror, which they could
not refill : But what makes a ftill {greater Imprelllon, is
the folid Piety of the Inhabitants of this Defart.
They are Savages, but they retain nothing of their
Birth and Original but what is valuable; that is to fay ^
the Simphcityand Freedom of thefirft Age of the World,
with the Addition of Grace ; the Faith of the Patriarchs,
a fincere Piety, that Re^itude and Docility of Heart,
which is the Chara£ter of Saints, an incrediblclnnocence
of Manners, a pure Chriftianity, on which the World
has never breathed the contagious Air that corrupts it,
and often A£tions of the moft heroic Virtue. Nothing i^
more affecting than to hear them Hng in two Choirs, the
Men on one Side, and the Women on the other, the
Prayers of the Church, and Hymns in their own Lan-
guage. Nothing is comparable to the Fervour and Mo-
defty which they make appear in all their Ezercifes of
Religion. I never faw any Perfon who was not touche(|
with it to the Bottom of his Soul.
This Village was formerly more populous ; but Difea-
fes, and fomething, I know not what, that reduces in-
fenfibly tc nothing all the Nations of this Continent, have
greatly diminifhed the Number of Inhabitants. The
Age and Infirmities cf fome of their antient Paftors had
alfo made fome Breaches in their firft Fervour \ but it
vras
bip of
Cap-
from
ige of
/lodel,
aiy, or
IT ncAT
1 is in
chofen
Con-
h
De-
Pcrfons
Arrival
r could
[Tion, is
r
>f their
t to fay.
World,
triarchs.
Heart,
nocence
World
rqpts it,
3thing is
airs, the
er, the
n Lan-
nd Mo-
cifes of
touche4
^t Difea-
ices in-
Int, have
The
lors had
but it
vras
N O R T H-A M E R I C A. 41
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 theif tailing off
again. Strong Liquors, the moft common, and almod
the only Stumbling-Block, which makes the Savages fall,
are forbid by a folemn Vow, the TranfgreflTion of which
is punifhed with publick Penance, as well as every other
Fault which caufes Scandal ; and the fecond Oifence ge-
nerally fuffices to bani(h the Guilty, without Hope of
Return, from a Place which ought to be the impenetra-
ble Afylum of Piety and Innocence. Peace and Subordi-
nation reign here intirely; and the whole Villige fcems
to make but one P'amily, regulated upon the purefl iVf ax-
ims of the Gofpel. This always furprizes every one who
knows how far thefe People (and the Hurons efpecially)
do naturally carry Pride and the Spirit of Independence.
The greateft, and perhaps the only Trouble of a Mif-
fionary here, is to find Provifion for his Flock. The
Diflrid: they poflefs, cannot fufficiently fupply them ;
and there are good Reafons why they do not permit them
to abandon it — Monfieur and Madam Begon were of our
Pilgrimage, and were received by thefe good People with
a Refped due to Perfons of their Rank, and who never
let them want NecefTaries. 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 gene«-
ral Feaft, at the Expence of Madam Begon, who receiv-
ed all the Honours of it. The Men, according to Cuf-
tom, 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 Wo-
men on thefe Occafions ufed only to fliew their Grati-
tude by their Silence and Modefty *, but becaufe it was a
Lady of the firfl: Rank that was then in the Colony, who
treated the whole Village, they granted the Huron Wo-
men an Orator, by whom they difplayed to their illuftri-
ous Benefadrefs all the Sentiments ol their Hearts. As
for the Men, after the Chief had made a Spev ch to the
Intendant^ they danced and fung as long as we pleafed.
Nothing,
42 HISTORY OF
Nothing, Madam, is lefs diverting, than thefe Songs
•nd Dances: Firft, all are fcated upon the Earth like
Apes, without any Order. From Time to Time a Man
tifes up and comes forward flowly into the Midft cif the
Place, always keeping Time, as they fay, he turns his
Head from Side to Side, fings an Air, which is far from
being melodious to any one but a Savage horn, and pro-
nounces fome Words, which have no great Meaning.
Sometimes it is a Song of War, fomerimcs a Song of
Death, fometimes an Attack or a Surprize ; for as thefe
People drink nothing but Water, they have no drinking
Songs, and they have not yet thought of finging their
Amours. Whilft they fing, all the Company never cf^kfe
to beat Time by drawing from the Bottom of their Brcaft
an He, which never varies. The Connoifleurs fay they
always keep Time cxadly. I refer it to them. When
one has ended, another takes his Place: And this con-
tinues till the Affembly returns them Thanks ; which
would foon happen, without a little Complaifance, which
it is good to have for this People. It is inFadbavery
tirefome and difagreeable Mufick, at lead 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 iurpfizing Sweetnefs ; they have alfp a good deal of
Talleand Inclination for Mufick.
Upon thefe Occafions, the Speech is the beft Thine.
They explain in a few Words, and generally very inge-
nioufly, the Occafion of the Feaft ; to which they never
fail to give fome high Motives. The Praifes of the Foun-
der are never forgotten; and they take the Opportunity
of the Prefencc of fome Perfons (efpecially when they,
fpeak before the Governor-General or the Intendant)* to
alk fome Favour, or to nnake fome Reprefentation.
The Orator of the Huront, on that Day, faid fuch
witty Things, that we fufpefled that the Interpreter (who
was the MiflTionary himfelf) had lent him his Wit andPo-
litenefs with his Voice ; but he protefted that he had
added nothing of his own i and we believe him, becaufe
he
ones
\ like
Man
)f the
IS his
from
I pro-
ming.
ng of
thefe
inking
r their
r ceafe
Brcaft
y they
When
19 con-
whlch
which
t a very
dge by
[in one
rce, or
in they
have
eal of
Thin^.
inge-
r never
e Foun-
)rtunity
en they
anty to
lid fuch
er (who
andPo-
he had
becaufe
he
N O R T H - A M E R I C A. 43
he is known to be one of the moll oticn and fincerc Men
in the World. § '
Before I had taken this little Journey, I had made fc-
veral Excurfions about this City ; butas the Enrth was eve-
ry where covered 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 af-
fure you that it is very rare to fee Lands more fruitful, or
of a better Quality. I applied myfcif very diligently this
Winter, to inform myfelf of the Advantages which might
be made of this Colony, and I will communicate to you
the Fruit of my Labours. Canada does not enrich
Prance i this is a Complaint as old as the Country, and it
is not without Foundation. It has nu rich Inhabitmts:
This is alfo true. Is this the Fault of the Country, or is
it not owing alfo to the firft Settlers ? I (hall endeavour
to make you able to decide this Point. - "
The firft Source of the ill Fortune of this Country,
which is honoured with the Name of New France, was
the Report which was at firft fpread through the King-
dom, that it had no Mines ; and they did not enough
confider that the greateft Adva^itagcs that can be drawn
from a Colony, is the Increafe of Trade : And to accom-
plifh this, it requires People ; and thefe Peoplings muft
be made by Degrees, fo that it will not appear in fuch a
Kingdom as France : And that the two only ObjeS? which
prefentcd themfelves firft in Canada and Acadia, (I mean
the Furrs and the Fiftiery,) required that thefe Countries
ihould 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 ; efpccial-
ly if they had added Ship-building : But the Luftre of
the Gold and Silver which came from Mexico and Peru fo
dazzled 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 Subjeda fenfible
Author, who had been in thefe Places.
The
V ■
€(
§ Father Peter-Dan Richer.
44
HISTORY or
They not only gave New France a very bad Name
without knowing it ; but thofe who thought to get fome
Profit by it, took no Meafures for this Purpofc. Firft,
they were a long Time before they fettled upon a Place:
They cleared the Land without having firft well examin-
ed 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 hindering us froni
making any Thing of it, whilft we were In Poffeilion of
that fine Country. The Author I have already cited,
ind who was a Witnefs of our Want of Refplution, was
not afraid to blame thofe who were moi^ guilty in this
Affair. " It is thus (fays he) that at alt Times we make
^ much ado about nothing, that we purfue new Enter-
prizes with great Heat, and that we proje6^ fine Be-
ginnings, and then quit every Thing. In Reality, for
fuch Undertakings there muft be a Subfiftence and Sup-
port ; but we muft alfo have Men of Refolution, who
*' will not foon be diftieartened, and have this Point of
" Honour in View, Vi^ory or Death, that Death being
** great and glorious which happens in executing a great
** Defign ; fuck as laying the Foundation of a New
** Kingdom^
€t
tt
tt
Lef
And
the
e are
iftry,
know
ig of
id we
>m all
J be*
I, their
making
1, and
Hay,
n the
e good
Name
:t fome
Firft,
Place:
xamin-
t; and
>ned it»
as the
s froni
ifllon of
cited,
•n, was
in this
make
Enter-
ine Be-
ty
for
d Sup-
I, who
lint of
|h being
a great
la New
Bgdom,
NORTH-AMERICA. 45
" Kingdom, and eftablifhing the Cbrijlian Faith among
" People where GOD is not known."
I come now to Trade.— The Trade of Canada hat
been a long Time folely in the Fiihery and Skins. The
Cod Fiihery was carried on upon the Great Bank, and
upon the Coafts of Hfewfoundland, a long Time before
they difcovcred the River of St. Laurence: They be-
thought themfelves too late, of making a Settlement up-
on the Ifland ; and we had fuffered the Englijb to be be-
fore-hand with us. At length we took Pofleflion of the
Port and Bay of Placentia. The Militia of Canada have
performed here many warlike Exploits, equal to thofe of
the boldeft Buccaneers of St. Domingo. They have often
deftroyed the Inhabitants, and ruined the Tr<»Je of the
Englijb in this Ifland : But they who fuffered their flrongeft
Places to be eafily taken from them, knew their Enemy too
well to be difli^^artened. Accuflomed to fee the Canadian
Fire break out amidft the Northern Ice, and die away of
itfelf in the Midft of what ought to have given it more
Power, ^they behaved themfelves at the Approach of our
Heroes like a (kilful Pilot upon the Approach of a Storm.
They prudently yielded to the Tempeft, and afterwards
repaired without any Hindrance the Damage which had
been done to their Pods ; and by this Condu6l, though
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 remained the fole Mailers and quiet Pof-
feflbrs of this Ifland. We have behaved ftill worfe in
Acadia. This great and rich Province has been a long
Time divided amongfl divers private Perfons, none of
which are grown rich, whilfl the Englijb have made an
immenfe Profit of the Fifliery upon the Coalls.
The Settlements which thefe Proprietors made here
not being upon a folid Foundation, and wanting them-
felves 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
4<5
HISTORY OP
The Trade to which they confined themfelves folely
for A long T'lmt in Canada, was that of Skins or Furrs,
It isimpoflible to relate the Faults which have oeen here
committed. The Genius of our Nation never, perhaps,'
was fliewn more than on this Occafion. When we dif-
covered thisvaft Continent, it was full of Deer and other
Beads of the Chace : But a Handful of Frenchmen have
within a (ingle Age found Means to make them almofl:
entirely difappear, and there are fome Species of them en-
tirely deftroyed. They killed the Orignals, or Elks, for
the fole Pleafure of killing them, and to (hew they were
good Markfmen. No Body thought of interpofmg the
King's Authority to put a Stop to fuch an extravagant
Diforder : But thegreateft Evil proceeded from the infa-
tiabte Coretoufnefs ' of private Perfons, who applied
themfelves folely to this Trade. They came for the moft
Part from France, like Simonides ; that is to fay, pof-
fefltng only what they had upon their Backs ; and they
were impatient to appear in a belter Condition. At firft,
this was eafy : The Savages did not know the Treafure
their Woods contained, but by the Eagernefs the French
ihewed 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 Mer-
chandize 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 feed fome Fortunes, as immenfe as fudden, raifed
and difappear almofl at the fame Time ; like thofe mov-
ing Mountains of Sand which fome Travellers fpeak of,
and which a Whirlwind raifes and levels again in the
Plains of Africa. Nothing is more common in tjiis Coun-
try, than to fee People fuffer a languiihing 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
mifled making Fortunes which they d! J not defer ve> would
have
NORTH-AMERICA.
47
folely-
"iirrs.
here
rhaps,
•e dif-
other >
t have
almoft
em cn-
iks, for
V were
ng the
ivagant
lie infa-
applied
he moft
jy, pof-
nd they
Atfirft,
Preafure
; French
hey got
Things
en fince
lis Mer-
for it, it
t a fniall
ght have
tion. It
imily, at
e. We
n, raifed
)fe mov-
peak of,
in the
is Coun-
ge under
ir Power
7t$,
ho have
would
have
ve
have heen unworthy of the Public Concern, if the Ef-
fe£ls of it did not tall 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 iu
many Riches might flow into its Bofom.
Its Ruin began by its Plenty. By Means of heaping
up Beaver Skins, which were always the principal Objc, who taking a Liking to Indepen-
dency, and a wandering Life, remained among the Sava-
ges ; from whom they could not be diftinguiflied, but
by theii Vices. Recourfe was had feveral Times to the
publifhing of Pardon to al! that would return ; which ai
firft had little EfFeft ; but at length this Met^ cd, ma-
naged with Prudence, anfwejcci the expelled End.
They made Ufe of another Method, which was ftill
more efl^e^ual. This was, to allow a Number of Per-
fons, whom they thought they could confide in, to go
and trade in the Countries of the Savages, and prohibit
all other Perfons to go out of the Colony. The Num-
ber of t hefe I licences was limited, and they were diftri-
buted to poor Widows and Orphans, whc' could fell them
to the Traders for more or lefs, accorc'ing 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
Igoingallone Way.
Befides thefe Licences, (the Number of which was
fettled by the Court, and the Diftribufion of which
belongs to the Governor-General) there are fome for the
Commanders
48 HISTORY OF
Commanders of Pods, and for extraordinary Occafi-
ons ; and the Governor gives fome alfo by Name oijtm^
fie Permijftoni : So that a Part of the youpg Men are
continual. y roving the Woods ; and though they do not
commit any longer, or at leaft (o openly, the Diforders
which have fo much difgraced this ProfeiFion, yet they
ftill contra6l a loofe vagrant Habit, of which they are ne-
ver entirely cured : They lofe at lead an Inclination for
Labour ; they wafte their Strength, and become incapa-
ble of the leaft Reftraint; and when they arc no longer
able to bear the Fatigues of thefe Journies (which foon
happens, becaufe thefe Fatigues are very great) they re-
main without any Refource, and are no longer fit for any
Thing. From whence it proceeds, that Arts have been
a long Time negleded, that much good Land lies ftill
uncultivated, and that the Country is not peopled. It
has been often propofed to abolifh thefe pernicious Licen-
ces, and to make fome French Settlements in fome chofen
Places, and where it would be eafy to aflemble the Sava-
ges, at leaft at certain Seafons of the Year. By this
Means the Trade would be rendered more flouriming ;
thefe 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 frenchify thefe
Savages. I believe I may at leaft aflert, that if this Pro-
je£^ had been followed, Canada would have been at this
Time much more populous than it is ; that the Savages,
attraded and retained bv 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 furprizingly diminiihed) and they would
l^ave been attached to us in fuch a Manner, that we
might have made the like Ufe of them by this Time, as
of the Subje£ks of the Crown ; and the more fo, as the
MiiTionaries wduld have found much lefs Difficulty in
their Converfion. : — What we now fee at Loretto^
and in fome Meafure amongft the Iroquois, the Algon-
quins f and the Abenaauis, who live in the Colony, leaves
no Room to doubt of^the Truth of what I advance ; and
there is no Peifon amongft thofe who have been moft con-
• verlknt with the Savages, who does not agree that we can
never,
> /
t9^
.'i/WMt,
Ti A 1 H
A H T OP
fSfT t->J(k. ITH EN C
J('^tl>ltrirnii|
' O,;irof/t/i ttl
('•jn-B-jir
iPCVutn
Tiu*^
KAtaT.
"*
r
'iOii«'«^
J'J»m
utfh li.iMtf
ISMIM^
'HMtrHr
:r*
>/-gr*y/!r
t'
Tf,,
n'Att/-/orm* r/y fffon^tt//t> fA r
frtiteA n'Attje Jirtj ofr marA /
WitA f/ouM* tixtj, tAf XrMiuA
Great
Tifl>iiiyH/ink|
ra
^^
A JtAJ* of
British
o:Mi:NrioN ^
y. jTh'.fo* ,r,it-
my
the
the
the
Amet
NORTH- AMERICA.
49
never depend on thcfe People till they are CbriJIiant. I
will cite no other Example than xht Ab€naquit\ who,
though few in Number, were during the two lafl Wars
the Principal Bulwark of New France againd Ni'W
England.
This Project, which I have laid before you, Madam,
is as old as the Colony, it was that of M. de Cbamplain
its Founder, and it was the Defire of almoft all the Mif-
fionaries 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 ii the Miflions which are
at any Didance. It would be in TzQl very late to
take up this Defign now with Refpeft to the Savages,
who difappear in lucha Manner, as is fcarce conceivable.
But what (hould hinder us from following it, with Re-
fpe£l to \\\t French, and to continue the Colony from one
Neighbourhood to another, till it can reach out a Hand
to that of Loutjiana, to (Irengthen each other. By this
Means the Englijb in lefs than an Age and a half have peo-
pled above five hundred Leagues of Country, and have
formed a Power on this Continent, which we cannot help
beholding without Fear when we take a nearer View of
it. — Canada may and does fometimes carry on a pretty
confidcrable Trade with the Iflcs of yfwfr/ftf, in Flour,
Planks, and other Wood (it for Buildings ; as there is not
perhaps a Country in the World that has inore Variety
of Wood, nor a better Sort : Judge what Riches this
may one Day produce. It appears that few People un-
derhand this Article; I do not underfland it enough my-
felf to enter into a more particular Account : I have
fomething more Knowledge in the Article of Oils, of
which I (hall foon take Notice. Being in Hade to finiHi
my Letter, . I have only Time to compleat what concerns
the Trade in general. •
Nothing has more contributed to diftrefs the Trade,
than the frequent Changes which have been made in the
Money ; this is the Hiftory of it in^few 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
Vol. I. > H * thoufand
50
HISTORY OF
I'
thoufand Livres • in fmall Money, marked with a parti-
cular Legend, that was p^;opc^ to it. The King's Kdidl
is dated in February^ by which this Species was to be
current on!y in the Iflands. But upon fome Difficulties
which arofe, the Council made an Order No'oember i8,
1672, that the faid Money, and all other Species that
were current in Frame, fhould pafs alfo, not only in the
French Iflands, but alfo on the Continent of America fub-
je£l to the Crown, with an Augmentation of one fourth
Part ; that is to fay ^ the Pieces of fifteen Scls for twenty,
and the reft in Proportion. The fame Order decreed
that all Contrads, Notes, Accounts, Sales, and Pay-
ments, fhould be made according to the Rate of the Mo-
ney, without making Ufe of Exchanges, or account-
ing in Sugar or other Merchandize, on the Penalty of
making all fuch Ads void. And for all paft it was order-
ed, that all Contracts, Notes, Debts, Dues, Rents in
Sugar, or other Merchandize, fliould be paid in Money,
according to the Cuirency of the faid Species. In the
FxecutionoF this Order, Money encreafed one fourth
in New France f which foon occafioned many Difficul-
ties. In Fa£t, M. de Cbampigny Noroy, who was made
Intendant of ^ebcc \u 1684, and who is now Intcn-
dant at Havre-de-Graf e, found himfdf fbon embarafl*ed,
boih 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 came too late j and by the firft oi January
the Officers and Soldiers were to be paid, 'and other Pay-
ments to be made, which were equally ImTifpenfable. To
fatisfy the moft prelling Demands, M. de Cbampigny
made Notes to fupply the Place of Money, obferving al-
ways the Augmentation. And by Order of the Governor
and the Intendant, they fet on every Piece of this Mo-
ney (which was a Card) the Trealurer's Sign Manual,
the Anns of France, »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 cur-
rent Money of the Kingdom, and it was ordered that they
ihould
* A Livre is 10 d. halfpenny of our Money.
arti-
•:dia
o be
jUics
r 18,
that
in ibc
a fub-
fourth
wenty,
jcreed
Pay-
le Mo-
:count-
ialty of
i oriitT-
ents in
Money,
In the
. fourth
bifficul-
as made
/ Intcn-
baraffed,
Lxpences
Francff
January
Ither Pay-
fable. To
]bampigny
[erving al-
Governor
this Mo-
Manual,
ernor and
printed in
isthe cur-
that they
ihould
N O R T H-A M E R I C A. 51
Oiould be prefented every Year before the Arrival of the
Ships from France, to add a Mark, to prevent Counter-
feits.
This Pafteboard Money did not laft long, and they
made Ufe again of Cards, on which they graved new De*
vices. The Intendant figned all that were of four Li-
vres Value and above, and only made a Flourifti upon
the others. In latter 'I imes the Governor General fign-
ed all that were of fix Livres or more. In the Begin-
ning of the Autumn, all the Cards were carried to the
Treafurer, who gave for their Value Bills of Exchange
upon the Treafurer General of the Marines, ©r his Clerk
at Rochfortf on the Account of the Expences for the next
Year. Thofe which were damaged or defaced were
burnt, after they had taken a proper Account of them.
So long as thefe Bills of Exchange 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 1 702, M. de Cbampigny gave
himfelf a great deal of Pains to no Purpofe, to call in thofe
he had made. His Succeflbrs were obliged to make new
ones every Year to pay Officers, which multiplied them
to fuch a Degree, that they fell to no Pricfe, and nobody
would receive them any longer. Trade was hereby en-
tirely ruined, and the Diforder wentfo far, that in 1713,
the Inhabitants propofed to lofe half, on Condition that
the King would take them again and pay the other half :
This Propofal was accepted the Year following, but the
Orders given in Confequence, were not entirely executed
till 171 7. An Order was then made to abolim the Mo-
ney of Cards, and they began to pay in Silver the Offi-
cers of the Colony. The Augmentation of one fourth
was alfo abolifhed at the fame Time : Experience having
made it appear that the Augmentation of the Species in a
Colony, is not the Way to keep it in it, which was the
Thing propofed ; and that Money can never circulate
greatly in a Colony, but when they pay in Merchandize,
for all they have from the Mother Country. In Faft, in
this Cafe, the Colony keeps the Species, indead of whichjr-
if it has not Merchandize fufficient to anfwer the whole
H 2 Denunds
5*
HISTORY
o p
Demands upon it, It is obliged to pay the Surplus in Mo-
ney, and how will It come back again ?
In ITiort, Madam, you will be furprlzed to hear, that
in 1 706, the Trade of the oldeft of our Colonies was
carried on with a Fund of only fix hundred and fifty thou-
fand 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 oi France. So
the greateft Part of them go naked, efpecially thofe who
are in the diilant Settlements. They do not even fell the
Surplus of their Merchandize to the Inhabitants of the
Towns, becaufe the latter are obliged for a Subfiftence
to have Lands in the Country, and to improve them
themfelves.
"When the King took Canada out of the Hands of the
Companies, 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 Li-
vres in Beaver Skins every Year, though it was lefs peo- .
pled than it is now : But it has always had more from
France \\\zn it could pay, and has a£tedlike a private Per-
fon, who has thirty thoufand Livres a Year Eflate, and
ivho fpends forty thoufand or more. By this Means its
Credit is fallen, and in falling, has brought on the Ruin
of its Trade ; v.-hich, fince the Year 1 706, has confided
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,
4 ii.i-
tVvl = .-
I antf SiC*
:",.' i
: :i
i, t -:■
; ^
L E T-
if
[o-
NORTH-AMERICA.
S3
hat
was
lOU-
that
fand
lord
So
who
I the
f the
fcence
them
of the
Years
g this
of Li-
fs peo- .
[ from
tePcr-
;e, and
ans its
; Riiin
anfifted
Dealers
they
ley fold
&c.
E T-
L E T T E R V.
Of the Beavers of Canada, bow they differ from
the Beavers o/Europe : Of their Manner of Build-
ing: The Manner of Hunting the Be A VERS : Of the
Advantage to be made of them. Of the Musk Rat.
/ 7 ^-f
Madam,
Quebec, March i.
I Was to go from hence a Day or two after I had clofed
my laft Letter, but I muft (till flop for Want of Car-
riage. The bed I can do in the mean Time, is to enter-
tain you with the Curiofities of this Country ; and I be-
gin with what is mod fingular, that is, the Beaver. The
Spoils of this Animal have hitherto furnilhed New France
with the principal Objed of its Trade. It is of itfelf one
of the Wonders of Nature, and it may be to Man a great
Example of Forefight, of Induftry, Skill, and Conftan-
cy in Labour. . _ .j , : „, ^
The Beaver was not unknown in /^r^wcff before the Dil-
covery of America ^ and we find in fome ancient Writings
of the Hatters of Paris, fome Regulations for making
Beaver Hals : The Beaver or Caftor is entirely the fame
Creature ; but either that the European Beaver is become
extreamly fcarce, or its Fur was not lo good as that of the
American Caftor, we hear little mention now but of
the laft, unlefsit be with Refpeft to Cfl/?orf mot, of which
I fhall fay a few Words at the End of this LeUer. I do
not know that any Author has fpoken of this Animal as
bein^ any Thing curious ; perhaps it was for Want of ob-
ferving it attentively ; perhaps alfo that the Caftors or
Beavers of Europe are like the Land Caftors, the Diffe-
rence of which from the others I (haH prefently make you
underftand.
H 3 However
54
HISTORY OF
However that maybe, Madam, the Beaver o( Canada
is an amphibious Quadrupede, which cannot however re-
main a long Time in the Water, and can do without be-
ing in it, provided it has the Opportunity of walhing it-
felf fomctimes : The largeft Beavers arc fomething under
four Feet long, about fifteen Inches from one Hip to the
other, and weigli about fixty Pounds. The Colour of
this Animal is different, according to the different Cli-
mates where it is found. In the mofl diftant Parts of the
North they are generally quite black, though fometimes
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 n^ore and
more light. Amongft the llinois, they are almoft of a
fallow Colour, and fome have been found of a draw Co-
lour. It is further obferved, that the lefs black they are,
the lefs they are furniihed wiih Fur, and of Confequence
their Skins are lefs valuable. This is an Fffeft of Provi-
dence, which defends them from the Cold, as they are
the more cxpofed to it. Their Fur is of two Sorts all
over the Body, except the Feet, where there is but one
Sort very Short. The longed Sort is about eight or ten
Lines, or Parts of an Inch long, fuppofe ^n Inch to be
divided into twelve Parts. It is even two Inches long on
the Back, but diminifhes by Degrees towa;'ds the Head
and Tail. This Fur is flifF atld gloffy, and is what gi' es
the Colour to the Creature. Upon viewing it with a Mi-
crofcope, the middle Part of it is found to be the cleared,
which proves that it is hollow ; ihis Fur is of no Ufe.
The other Fur is a very fine Down, very thick, and at
mod not above an Inch long, and thi» is what is made
Ufe of. It was formerly called in Europe, Mu/covy
Wool. This is properly the Cloathing of the Beaver,
the fird fcrves him only for Ornament, and perhaps helps
him in fwimming.
They fay that the Beaver lives from fifteen to twenty
Years ; that the Female goes four Months with Young,
and lias commonly four Yoilng ones ; fome Travellers
make the Number amount to eight, but I believe this
fcldom happens : She has four Dugs, two on the great
Pe£toral Mul'cle, between the fecond and third Ribs, and
two
NORTH-AMERICA.
55
38
two about four Inches higher. The Mufcles of this Ani-
mal are very ftrong, and bigger thin feems necelTary to
its Size. Its Inteftines on the contrary are very tender;
its Bones are very hard, its two Jaws, which arc almoft
even, have a very great Strength ; each Jaw is furniflicd
with ten Teeth, two cutting ones and eight Grin:;ers.
The upper cutting Teeth are two Inches and a halt long,
the lower are above three Inches, and follow the Bend of
the Jaw, which gives tiiem a Strength v/hich is admira-
ble in fuch little Animals. It is ohferved alfo, that the
two Jaws do not meet exactly, but that the upper reach
over the lower, fo that they crofs like the Edges ot a Fair
of ScifTiirs; and laflly, that the Length of all tlieir Teeth
is exadtly the third Part of the Roots of I hem. 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, covered 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 ike thofe
of a Badger; its Nails are as it were cut Hoping, and are
hollow like a Quill. The hind Legs are quite different,
they are flat, and furniflied with a Membrane; 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
the College of Phyficians at Parts, and in Confequence of
this Declaration, the Doctors cf Divinity have agreed,
that the Fleih might be eaten on Faft Days. M. Lemery
•was miftaken, when he faid that this Decifion was only
confined to the Tail of the Beaver. It is true that we
can make bet little Advantage of this Condefcenfion :
The Beavers are fo fur 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 drycd
in the Smoak, and I afture you, Mad»m, that I know of
nothing more ordinary. We mud alfo, when the Beaver
is frefli, put it in fome Broth to make it lofe a wild and
naufeous Tafte; but with this Precaution there is no
Meat lighter, more dainty, or wholefomc: They fay that
it it is as nouriftiing as Veal; Boiled it wants fomething
to give it a R^liHi, but roalled it wants nothing.
H 4 What
56
HISTORY OF
i
n I
What is Hill moft remarkable in the Shape of this Ani-
mal, is the Tail. It is near four Inches broad 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 Subflance is a hard Fat, or a tender Sinew, which
pretty much refembles the Flefli of a Porpoife, but which
grows harder upon being kept a long Time. It is cover-
ed with a fcaly Skin, the Scales of which are hexagonal,
half a Line thick, and three or four Lines long, which
lie one upon another like thofe of a Fifh; they lie upon
a very tender Skin, and are fixt in fuch a Manner, that
that they may be eafily feparated after the Dcafh of the
Animal. This is. Madam, in few Words, the Defcrip-
tion of this curious amphibious Creature.
The true Teftfcles of this Animal were not known to
the Ancients, probably, becaufe they are very fmall, and
hid under the Groin. They had given this Name to the
Purfes or Bags of the Cajlorcuniy which are very different,
and four in Number, in the lower Belly of the Beaver.
The two firfl, 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 a refmous,
foft, glewy Matter, mixt with fmall Fibres, of a greyifh
Colour without, and a yellowilli within ; of a flrong
Smeii, dilagreeable and penetrating, and which is eafily
inflammable. This is the true Cafloreum: It grows hard
in the Air in a Month's Time, and becomes brown, brit-
tle, and friable. If we are in a Hurry to hiirden it, it
need only be hung in the Chimney. - '
■ They fay that the Cajioreum which comes froni Dant-
zic, is better than that of Canada, I refer to the Drug-
gifts ; it is certain that the Bags of the latter are fmaller,
and that here alfo the largeft are efteemed. Befides their
Bignefs, they Ihould be heavy, of a brown Colour, of a
penetrating and ftrong Smell, full of a hard, brittle and
friable Matter, of the fame Colour, or yellow, inter-
weaved with a thin Membrane, and of a Iharp Tafte.
The Properties of Cajioreumy are to attenuate vifcous
Matter,
N O R T H-A M E R I C A.
57
Ani-
^oot,
ways
long.
vhich
over-
^onal,
jvhich
; upon
, that
dF the
■fcrip-
iwn to
ill, and
to the
Ferent,
ieaver.
"e ihey
r, and
s of a
lower,
finous,
greyiih
ftrong
IS eafily
tfvs hard
n, brit-
;n it, it
1 Dant'
i Drug-
fmaller,
es their
ur, of a
ttle and
> inter-
Tafte.
vifcous
Matter,
Matter, to ftrengthen the Briin, to remove Vapours, to
provoke the Menfes, to hindc Corruption, and to eva-
porate bad Humours by Tranlpiration ; it is ufed alfo
with Ruccefs againft the Epileply, the Paify, the Apo-
plexy, and Deafnefs.
The lower Bags contain an unfluous fat Liquor like
Honey. Its Colour is a pale yellow, its Odour fetid, lit-
tle differing from that o( Ca/ioreum^ but fomething weaker
and fainter. It thickens with keeping, and takes the Con-
fiftencc of Tallow. This Liquor is refolving,and ftrength-
ens the Nerves ; for this Purpofe, it need only be applied
to the Part affe<5led. It is a Miftake to lay, as fome Au-
thors doftill, upon the Credit of the ancient Naturalids,
that when the Beaver is purfued, it bites off thcfe pre-
tended Tefticles, and leaves them to the Hunters to favc
his Life. It is of his Fur which 1»« ought rather to de-
prive himfelf, for in Comparifon of his Fleece, the reft
is hardly of any Value. But however, it is this Fable,
which has given it the Name of Caftor. The Skin of
this Animal, deprived of its Fur, is not to be negle£led ;
they make Gloves and Stockings of it ; but as it is diffi-
cult to get off all the Fur without cutting the Skin, they
feldom 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 Bea-
ver that has never been ufed ; the fat Skin is what has
been worn by the Savages, which, after they have been
well fcraped within, and rubbed with the Marrow of cer-
tain Animals which I do not know, to make it more plia-
ble, they few feveral together, and make a Kind of Man-
tle, which they call a Robe, with which they wrap
themfelves up with the Fur inwards. They wear it con-
tinually in Winter, Day and Night ; the long Hair foon
falls off, and the Down remains and grows greafy : In
this Condition it is much fitter for the Ufe of the Hatters ;
they cannot even ufe the dry Sort, without mixing fome
of the other with it. They fay that it muft be worn
fifteen or fixteen Months to be in Perfeflion. I leave
you to judge, if at firft they were weak enough to let the
Savages know, that their old Clothes were fuch a preci-
ous Merchandize. But a Secret of this Nature could not
be
59 H I S T O R Y OP
be long hie! from tlicm ; it was trufted to Covctoufnefs,
which is nevv-r long without betraying itfclF.
About three Years ago one Cuignct, who had t]|e
Tarm of the I3eaver Skins, finding hmifi-lf burdened with
a prodigious Quantity of thcfe Skins, thought toencrcafe
the Confumpti n, l)y having the Fur fpun and carded
wilh Wool ; uHw with this Compofition he made Cloth*
and Flannels, .tnd wove Stockings, and futh-like Works,
but witli little Succcfs.
It is evident by this Tryal, that the Beaver Fur is
g:H;d for nothing but to make Hats. It is too fhort to he
l|iin alone, it muft be mixed with above half Wool ; fo
tiiat thrio i.s hut little Profit to be made of thelie Works.
Tiieie IS, however, flill one of thefe Manufa£lures in
Holland^ where they make Cloths and Druggets ; but
thefe Stuffs are dear, and do not wear well. The Bea-
ver Fur feparates foon, and forms a Kind of Down upon
tlie Surface, which takes off all their Beauty. The
Stockings which were made of it m France ^ had the fame
Fault.
This is, Madam, all the Advantage this Colony can
receive from the Beavers, with Refped to its Trade.
The Induftry of the Beavers, their Forefight, the Unity
and Subordination fo much admired in them, their Atten-
tion to procure themfelves Conveniencies, the Comforts
of which, we thought formerly Brutes wore not fenfible
of, furnifh to Man more Inftrudion than the Ant, to
which the Holy Scriptures fend the Idle. They are at
Icaft among Quadrupedes, what the Bees are amongfl
flying Infeds. I never heard that they had a King
or a Queen, and it is not true that when they are at
Work together in Companies, that they have a Chief
who commands and puni(hcs the Idle : But by Virtue of
that Inftin£t given to Animals, by him whofe Providence
governs them, every one knows what he has to do, and
every Thing is done without Confufion, and with fo much
Order as can never be fufficiently admired. Perhaps, af-
ter all, we are fo much aftonifhed but for Want of looking
up to that Supreme Intelligence, who (nakes Ufe of thefe
Beings,
hcfs.
with
:rcarc
ardcd
:iotht
Fur is
t to be
)ol ; fo
lYorks.
Lires in
$; but
»e Bea-
n upon
. The
le fame
ony can
Trade.
Unity
Atten-
omforts
fenfible
Ant, to
are at
amongft
King
are at
Chief
Virtue of
ovidence
do, and
fo much
haps, af-
f looking
of iheie
Beings,
N O R T H - A M E R I C A. $g
Beings, who want Reafon, the better to difplay his Wif-
dom and Power, and to make us know that our Reafon
itfclf is frequently, by our Prel'umption, the Caufe of our
going allray.
The firft Thing that is done by thefe Creatures, when
they want to make a Habitation, is, to affemble thcm-
fclves : 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 call-
ed a little Frn/V^*. At firft they chufe a Place where
they may find Plenty of Provifions, ind Materials for
their building : Above all they muft have \A'ater. If
there is no Lake or Pond near, they fupply the Defeft,
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 Wa-
ter, and guide them to the Place where they are to be fixed.
Thefe Pieces are thicker or thinner, longer jr fhorter, as the
Nature and Situation of the Place req»:Ire; for one would
fay that thefe Architefls 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 every where the hollow Spaces are filled up with Clay
fo well applied, that not a Drop of Water can pafs r^^o^
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 firft make Ufe of their
Paws, then their Tail. The Foundation of the Dams
arc
• The City of Venice is built in the midft of Waters.
6o
HISTORY OF
arc generally ten or twelve Feet thick; but they dccrcafe
in Thickncfs upwards : So tliat a Dam which is twelve
Feet thick at the Bottom, is not above two at the Top,
AH this is done in exa£t Proportion, and, as one may fay,
according to the Rules of Art ; for it is obfcrved, that
the Side towards the Current of the Water is always flop-
jng, in order to break the PrelTurc of the Water, and
the other Side perfectly perpendicular. In a Word, it
would be difficult for our bcft Workmen to make any
Thing more folid and regular. The Conllruflion 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 Kxtnmiity of a Point that advances into the Wa-
ter. Their Sliape is round or oval ; and the Roof is arch-
ed. The Wails are two Feet thick, built with the fame
Materials as the Caufey, but lefs, and every where fo
well plaidered with Clay on the 'Infide, that the lead
Breath of Air cannot enter. Two Thirds of the Build-
ing is out of the Water, and in this Part every Beaver
has a feparate Place, which he takes Care to drew 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 an ther Outlet by which thefe Creatures
pafs to bathe themfelves, there are feveral Openings by
which they can dung into the Water. The common
Cabins 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 Works I mention, are Hnilhed by the End of Septem-
ber, and then every one provides his Store for the Win-
ter. 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-fifh and other
Fifli : Then they have Variety of Food. But when they
are to provide themfelves for the whole Seafon, that the
Earth being covered with Snow fupplies them with no-
thing, they content themfelves with foft Woods, fuch as
the Poplar and the Afpen, and fuch-like. They pile it
up in fuch a Manner, that they can always take thofe
Piectil
NORTH-AMERICA.
tfi
or
Pieces which are foaked in the Water. It is always ob-
fcTved, that the.fe Piles are larger or fmaller, as the Win-
ter will pr®ve longer or fhorler; and this is an Almanack
for the Savages, which never deceives them in Reg.ird
to the Cold. The Beavers before they eal the Wood,
cut it in very fmall Pieces, and carry it into theii feparate
Lodges ; for every Cabin has but one Magazine for all
the Family. When the melting of the Snow is at its
Height, as it never fails to caufe great Floods, the Bea-
vers leave their Cabins, which are no longer habitable,
and every one takes which Way he likes beft. The Fe-
males return as foon as the Waters are run off, and then
bring forth their Young : The Males keep the Country
till towards the Month of ^w/y, when they re-afl"emblc to
repair the Breaches which the Floods have made in their
Cabins or Dykes. If they have been deftroyed by the
Hunters, or if they are not worth the Trouble of repair-
ing, they make others : But many Reafons oblige them
to change their Abode frequently, the moft common is
the Want of Provifion ; they are alfo obliged to do it by
the Hunters, or Beads of Prey, againft which they have
no other Defence than Flight. We might think it
(Irange, that the Author of Nature has given lefs Power
of Defence to the greateft Part of ufeful Animals, than
to thofe which are not ufeful ; if this Circuaiftance did
not the more difplay his Wifdom and Power, in that the
former, notwithftanding their Weaknefs, muitipiy much
more than the latter.
all
There are fome Places which the Beavers feem to have
taken fuch an AfFeftion to, that they cannot leave them,
though they are continually difquicted. In the Way Irom
Montreal to LakeHuro«, by the great River, tliey never fail
to find every Ye:r in the fame Place, a Lodgment which
thefe Animals build or repair every Summer. For the firft
Thing Paflcngers do who pais this Way, is to break down
the Cabin, and the Caufey which furnillies it with Water.
If this Caufey had not kept up fhe Waur, they would not
have enough to continue their Way, and they would be o-
bliged to make a Portage; fo tiiatit looks as if thefe officious
Beavers ported themfelves here folely for the Conveni-
ence of PaHengers. 'J he fame Thing, as they fay, is
to
€%
HISTORY OF
to be Teen near ^eifc, where the Beavers lal)ouring for
themfelves, fupply Water to a Mill tor fawing Flanks.
The Savages were formerly pcrfuaded, if we believe
fome Relations, that the Beavers were a rcafonablc Kind
of Creatures, which had their Laws, their Government,
and their particular Language : that this amphibious
People chofc their Commanders, who in common La-
bours appointed to every one his Talk, placed Ccntineis
to give Notice of the Approach of an Kncmy, and pu-
nilhed or ban i (bed the Idle. Thefc pretended Exiles are
probably thofc which they call the Laud Beavers, which
in Fact live apart from the others, do not labour, and
live under Ground, where their whole Care is to make
themfelves a covered Way to go to the Water. They
arc known by the little Fur they have upon their Backs,
which proceeds no doubt from their rubbing it conftantly
againd the Earth; and withal they are lean, the Etfc^
of their Sloth : More of thefe are found in the South than
in the North. I have already obferved, that our Beavers
o^i Europe are more like thefe, than the others. In Fa6V,
M. Lemery fays, they live in Holes gnd Cavities on the
Banks of Rivers, efpecially in Poland. There arc fome
alfo in Germany upon the Elbe, and in France upon the
Rhone, the Ifere, and the Oife, * It is certain, that we
do no', find in the European Beavers thofe extraordinary
Qualities which fo much diftinguilh thofe of Canada.
'Tis a great Pity, Madam, that none of thefe wonderful
Creatures were found in the Tyber, or in t)ie Territories
of Parnajfus ; what fine Things would the Greek and Ro-
man Poets have faid on this Subje£t !
It appears that the Savages of Canada did not difturb
tlienpi greiitly till our Arrival in their Country. The Skins
of the Beavers were not the mod ufed by thefe People
for Garments, and the Flefli of Bears, Elks, and other
wild Creatures was more approved by them. They
hunted them, neverthelefs, and this Chace had its Sea-
fon,'and its peculiar Ceremonies ; but when they hunted
only for what was meerly neceflary for a prefent Supply,
they madd no great Ravages ; and indeed when we came
to
ifturb
Skins ■
eople
other
They
Sea-
lunted
upply,
J came
to
N O R T H - A M E R I C A. 65
to Canada, wc found a prodigious Number of ihefc am-
phibious Creatures in the Country.
There is no Difficulty in hunting ihc Beaver, for ihii
Animal has not in any Degree the Sfronp;th to dtfemi
himfcU, nor the Skill to (bun the Attacks oi his Kncmy,
which it difcovers in providing for iiltit Lodging ami
Provifions. It is during Winter they make V/ar ngainll
him in Form ; that it to fay, from the l)t'^^inniii<'; of
November tilt yipril. Then it has, like all other Animals,
more Fur, and the Skin is thinner; this hunting is pcr-
• formed four different Ways, with Nets, wicli the Gun,
the Trench, and the Trap; the firll is generally joined
to the third, and they feldom make Ufc of tiio fecond,
becmfe the Eyes of this little Animal are fo pier, in*^,
and his Ears arc fo quick, that it is ditllcult to ;i; proa J\
near enough to fhoot him, before he gets into the W.v.rr,
which he never goes far from during this Scafoii, ami in-
to which he immediately plunges. They wouki lole him
alfo if he were wounded before he gets into the Water,
becaufe he never comes up again if he dies of liis Wound ;
it is therefore the Trench or the TVap that are general-
ly ufed.
Though the Beavers have made their Provifion for
the Winter, they ftill continue to make fome F.xcurdons
into the Woods to find fome freflier and tenderer Food,
and this Daintinefs cofts many their Lives. The Sa-
vages fet up Traps in their Way, made almoft like a
Figure of 4, and for a Bait they put little Pieces of foil
Food newly cut ; as foon as the Beaver touches it, a great
Log falls upon him and breaks his Back, and the Hunter
coming up makes an End of him 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 tor them, and
perceive them coming at a good Diftance, becaufe in
blowing they give a confiderabic 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
■fi
64 HISTORY OP
upon the Hole which they make in the Ice feme broken
Reeds or Stalks of Indian "Wheat, and when they find
that the Animal is within Reach, they ieize him by one
of his Paws, and throw him upon the Ice, where they
linobk 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 mufl: not be left there
long, for they would foon make their Way out by gnaw-
ing 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 better
Air: Then the Hunters <^ivide themfelves 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) fly for Refuge to the other ; but they find
nothing there but Dufl, which has been thrown in on
Purpofe, and which blinds them fo that they are eafily
taken. Laflly, in fome Places, they make a Breach in
the Caufey ; by thii Means the Beavers foon find them-
felves aground, and without Defence, or elfe they imme-
diately 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 lead fome of
them are taken.
There are fome other Particularities of the Beavers
which I find in fome Memoirs, the Truth of which I can-
not warrant. They pretend, that when thefe Animals have
discovered any Hunters, or any of thofe Beafls that prey
upon them, they dive, flriking the Water with their
1 mI, with fuch a great Noife, that they may be heard
haii a League off: This is probab^ to give Notice to the
Reft to be upon their Guard. They fay alfo that they
have the Senfe of Smelling 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
broken
ey find
by one
;rc they
i of his
:en with
ct down
)in. The
Rivulet,
left there
)y gnaW-
he Lakes
Shore, a
e a better
3 Parties,
the other
which are
/hen they
they find
own in on
are eafily
Breach in
ind them-
ley imme-
not know
to receive
ft fome of
kc Beavers
lich I can-
limals have
IS that prey
with their
be heard
otice to the
that they
leing in the
But they
and that
through
NORTH-AMERICA. 65
through this Defe6fc they often fall into the Hands of the
Hunter whom they feek to ftiun. And laftly they affirm,
that when a Beaver has loft his Mate, they never couple
again with another, as is reported of the l^urtle Dove.
The Savages take great Care to hinder their Dogs from
touching the Bones of the Beaver, becaufc they are fo
hard they would fpoil their Teeth ; they (ay the fame
Thing of the Bones of the Porcupine. The Generality
of the Savages give another Reafon for this ; it is, they
fay, not to enrage the Spirits of thefe Animals, which
would hinder at another Time the Chafe from being fuc-
cefsful. For the reft, Madam, I wonder they have not
tried to tranfport fome of thefe 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 as the Beaver, which in many Refpefls feems to
be a fmaller Species, anu is called tht Mujk Rat. It has,
in Fa£l, 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 Mufk Rat for a little
Beiver, if his Tail was cut off, which is almoft like that
of our Rats ; and if its Tefticles were taken away, which
contain a moft exquifite Mufk. This Animal, which
weighs about four Pounds, is much like that which Mr.
Ray defcribes under the Name of Mus Alpinus. It takes
the Field in the Month of March , and its Food is then
fome Bits of Wood, which it peels before eating them.
After the Snows are melted, it lives upon the Roots of
Nettles, then on the Stalks and Leaves of this Plant. In
Summer it feeds moflly on Rafberries and Strawberries,
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 Hollow of a Tree, with-
out any rrovifions ; and the Savages affirm that as long
as the Cold lafts they eat nothing.
They build alfo Cabins, fomething like ihofe of the
Beavers, but very far from being fo well built. As to
Vol. I. I their
66
HISTORY OF
their Situation, it is always by the Water Side, (of they
have no Occafion to make any Dams^ They fay that
the Fur of the Muilc Rat may be mixt with that of the
Beaver in making Hats, without any Prejudice to the
Work. Its Flelh is not bad but in rutting Time ; then
it is not poiTible 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 Chafes of the Savages, and of the Animals that are
peculiar to this Country, but I mud defer it to another
Opportunity. I am juft now informed that my Carriage
is ready^ and I am going to fet out.
I untf &c.
LETTER
NOR T H.AMERICA.
67
LETTER VI.
A Journey from Quebec to Trios Rivieres (the Three
Rivers :) How they go Poft up$n the Snow. Of the
Lordjhips or Manors o/"New France. A Defcrip^
tion o/Beckancourt. The Tradition in regard to
the Name of the River Puante (the Stinking River.)
ADefcription 0/ Trois Rivieres. A Continuatim
of the fever al Huntings of the Savages,
"? S. /
Madam,
Trois Rivieres, March 6.
I Arrived Yefterday in this Town, after two Days
Journey, and though it is twenty-five Leagues di-
ftant from ^ebec, I could have performed the Journey
in twelve Hours, becaufe I came in a Sledge, which the
Snow and Ice make 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 al-
ways goes a Gallop. One finds at different Places frefh
Horfcs at a cheap Rate. In Cafe of Need one might tra-
vel this Way threefcore Leagues in twenty-four Hours,
much more conveniently than in thebefl Pofl-Chaifes.
I lay the firfl Night at Pointe aux Trembles, (Afpen Tree
Point) feven Leagues from the Capital, which I left but
one Hour before Night. This is one of the good Parifhes
of this Country. The Church is large and well built, and
the Inhabitants in good Circumflances. In genera!, the
old Inhabitants are richer here than the Lords of the Ma-
nors, and this is the Reafon : Canada was but a great
I 3 Forcft
68
HISTORY OF
Foreft when the Fr^«fi& firft judge by Appearances:
Every one bed knows his own Waiits.
There is no Need of running nvich to catch the Bear:
It is only neceflary to know the Places where the grcatell
Number is hid. As foon as the Hunters think they h.ive
found fuch a Place, they form a Circle of a Quarter of a
League in Circumference, or more or lefs, according to
the Number of the Hunters : Then they advance, com-
ing 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 arc excellent Ferrets. The next Day the fame
Manoeuvre begins again at fome Diftance from thence,
and all the Time of the Chafe is employed in this Manner.
When a Bear is killed, the Hunter puts the End of
his lighted Pipe between his Teeth, blows into the Bowl ;
and thus filling the Mouth and Throat ot the Beaft with
Smoak, he conjures its Spirit to bear no Malice for what
he has juft done to the Body, and not to oppofe him irt
his future Huntings : But as the Spirit does not unfwcr,
the Hunter (to know if his Prayer is granted) cuts the
String under the Bear's Tongue, and keeps it till he re-
turns to the Village: Then they all throw, with great
Ceremony, and after many Invocations, thefe Strings in-
to the Fire : If they crackle, and fhrink up, as feldom
fails to happen, this is taken for a certain Sign tliat the
Spirit of the Bear is appeafed ; if not, they believe they
are enraged, and that the Chafe of next Year will not
be fuccefsful, unlefs they can find a Way t» reconcile
them ; for, in (hort, there is a Remedy for every Thing.
The Hunters make good Cheer, as long as the Ciiafc
lafts; and even if they have but little Succefs, they carry
off with them enough to treat their Friends, and feed
their Families for a long Time. This Flefli is in Reality
no great Ragout, but every Thing is good to the Savages.
To fee how they are received, tlic Praifes they give them,
the
78
HISTORY OP
the pleafcd and fetf-fufficient Airs they take upon them-
fclves, one wouid fay they were returning from fome
grand Expedition, loaded with the Spoils of a whole Na-
tion deftroyed. The People of the Village fay, // muft
be a Man (and the Hunters fay fo themfelves) tojigbt with
and conquer Bears in this Manner. Another Thing
for which they receive no lefs Praife, and upon whicn
they as much pride themfelves, is to'leave nothing of the
great Feaft which is given them at their Return from the
Chafe by the chief Hunter. The firft Service that is
prefented, is the largeft Bear they have taken ; and they
ferve it up whole, with all its Entrails : It is not even
(kinned; they only finge the Skin as one does that of a
Hog for Bacon. This Feaft is performed to a certain Spi-
rit, whofe Anger 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 boiV;di, which is fcarce any Thing
but Fat melted and reduced 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 ; how-
ever, People are on their Guard when 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, and his Flefti is fo infipid
and ill tafted, that even the Savages who often eat thofe
Things, the Sight of which would turn our Stomachs,
can hardly touch it. Who would believe that this Paffion
ftiould wafte an Animal of this Kind and Shape more in
one Month, than a total Abftinence 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 theEfFeflof his Jealoufy.
This Seafon being over, the Bear grows fat again, and
nothing 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 Forefts are full
of Vines, which grow to the Tops of the higheft Trees,
he
NORTH- AMERICA.
79
he makes no Difficulty to climb up them : But if a Hun-
ter finds him there, his Daintinefs cofts him his Life.
When he has thus well fed upon Fruits, his Flefti has a
very good Tafte, and keeps it till Spring: It has, never-
thele^, 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 great Number of Dogs with them when they
hunt ; they arc the only domeilic Creatures which they
bring up, and they bring them up only for Hunting:
They all feem to be of the fame Species : Their Ears
(land upright ; their Nofe is long, like that of a Wolf;
but they are very faithful and attached to their Mailers ;
who, neverthelefs feed them but poorly, and never fon-
dle them : they break them betimes to that Kind of
Chafe they are intended for, and they are excellent Hun-
ters. I have not Time to add any Thing more^ for they
call me to depart.
J am^ Sec.
LET-
A.
I
Ipe
flill
arrii
nooi
now
A
Nun
ofR
^ei
Bay,
Heac
The
bear
aboui
eft Pi
form(
was a
now '
W-
and al
Vo
NORTH-AMERICA.
8i
LETTER VII.
A Defcriptton of the Country, and the IJlands o/'Richlieu
and St. Fran9ois. Of the Abenaqui Village. Of the
antient Fort of Richlieu, and of tb§fe that have been
built in each Parijb, /l brave A^ion of two Cdn^dhn
Ladies,
Madam, St. FRAN901S, March ir.
I Departed on the 9th from Trois Rivieres, and crofled
the Lake of St. Peter, inclining a little to the South.
I performed this Journey in a Sledge, becaufe the Ice was
dill ftrong enough to bear all Sorts of Carriages ; and I
arrived at Noon at St, Franfois. I employed the After-
noon, and all Yefterday, 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 Iflands of all Sizes, which they call the IJlands
of Richlieu ; and turning to the Left, when we come from
^ebec, we find fix others, which boider a pretty deep
Bay, into which a River difchargcs itfelf, the Spring
Head of which is in the Neighbourhood of New Tork.
The Iflands, the River, and all the Country it waters,
bear the Name of St. Franpis. Each of thefe Iflands is
about a Mile long ; their Breadth is unequal; The great-
eft 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 Beafts have difappeared.
We get alfo excellent Fifli in ihe River of St. Francis,
and at its Mouth. In Winter they make Holes in the
Vol. L K Ice,
82
HISTORY OF
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 Fifh, Acbigans, and
particularly the MafquinongeZy 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, Francis, if we may judge by the Trees that
grow here, and by that which is already cultivated, are
very good. The Inhabitants are, notwithftanding, poor
enough ; and many would be reduced to the greateft In-
digence, if the Trade with the Savages their Neighbours,
did not help them a little. But is it not this Trade that
hinders them from mending their Circumftances, by mak-
ing them lazy ?
The Savages I fpeak of, are the Abenaquisy amongrt
which there are fome Algonquins, and alfo Sokokis and
MahinganSy better known by the Name of the IVolves.
Tins Nation was formerly fettled upon the River oi Mart'
battcy in New Tork, and it appears that they wereantieat
Inhabitants of that Country. The Abenaquis came to
St. Francois from the Southern Parts of New France,
which are neareft Nevj England. Their firft Station, up-
on leaving their Country to come to live amongft us,
was a little River that discharges itfelf into the River St,
Laurence, almoft over-againft Syllery; that is to fay,
about a League and a half above ^lebec, on the South
Side. They feated themfelves in the Neighbourhood of
a Fall, wh'ch was called the Fall de la Cbaudiere, (the
Kettle) They are now fituated on the Pink of the River
St. Franfois, two Leagues from its Mouth, in the Lake
St, Pierre. The Place is very pleafant ; but the Misfor-
tune 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 inhabited only by Cbrijlians. This
Nation is docible, and were at alf Times well afFe£led to
the French ; ^ but the MiiTionary has no lefs Trouble on
their Account, than his Brother oi BecFancourt, and for
the fame Reafons.
I was
• Fatk:T Jofeph Auberj.
long,
vhich
p, and
Pike;
nder a
The
es that
id, are
r, poor
teft In-
hbours,
ide that
by mak-
amongft
okis and
Wolves,
of Man"
le antient
came to
m f ranee f
Ltion, up-
longft us.
River 5/.
u to fay,
the South
lurhood of
diere, (the
f the River
[n the Lake
|be Misfor-
lafuresof a
efpecia\ly
he Village
tans. This
affefted to
[Trouble on
rt, and for
I was
NORTH-AMERICA. 83
I was treated here with Maple Juice : This is the Sea-
fon in which it is drawn. It is delicious, of wonderful
Coolnefs, and very wholefome. The Minn'-r of draw-
ing 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 Veffel, which they fet under it. To make it run plen-p
tifully, there muft be much Snow upon the Ground,
the Night muft 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 feme Time it ftopf- .sntirely. It is
«iafy to judge, that after fuch a Bleeding, the 1 ree is not
the more healthy: They affirm, ho\^tver, that it can
bear this many Years together. They would do better
perhaps, to let it reft a Year or two, that it might reco-
ver its Strength. But at laft, when it is worn out, it
ferves to cut down, and its Wood, Roots, and Knots,
are fit for many Things. This Tree muft be very Plen-
ty here, for they burn much of it.
The Water of the Maple is pretty clear, though a little
whitifti ; it is very cooling, and leaves in the Mouth a
Tafte like that of Sugar, very agreeable. It is a very
good perioral ; and in what Quantity foever it is drank,
though you are never fo much heated, it never does Harm ;
for it has not that Rawnefs which caufes the Pleurify ;
but on the contrary, a balfamick Virtu**, which fwectens
the Blood, and a certain Salt, which keeps up the Heat
of it. They add that it never congeals ; but if they keep
it a certain Time, it becomes an excellent Vinegar. I
do not warrant this for Fa6l^, and I know that a Traveller
ought not to take every Thinig for Truth which he hears.
It is very probable that 'the Savages, who are well ac-
quainted with the Virtues of all their Plants, have at all
Times made the fame Ufe of this Water, which they do
at this Day; but it is certain that they did not know
how to make a Sugar of it., which we have fince taught
them. . They were conte nted to let it boil a little, to
thicken it lomething, and f.-nake a Sort of Syrup, which
K. a • -is
8a
HISTORY o 1^
is pretiy enough. What is further required to rtiake Su-
gar of it, is to let it boil till it takes a proper Confiftence>
and it purifies itfelf without any foreign Mixture. There
needs only care not to boil ii: too much, and to fcurn 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 Tiiftc of Honey, whicli renders it lefs palatable^ unlefi
it is refined.
Tliis Sugar made with Care, and it requires much lefs
than ours, is natural, peQoral, and does not burn the
Stomach. Befides, the making of it is very cheap. It
is commonly tiiought that it is impoiTibie 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 Iflands, which has undergone no
more Management. I gave fome to a Sugar Baker of
Orleans, who found no other Defed in it, than that
•which I have already mentioned, and which he attributed
folely to its not being fu{ficiently purified. He thought it
alfo of a better Kind than the other, and made fome Lo-
zenges of it, which I had the Honour to prefent to you,
Madim, and which you found fo excellent. It will be
objected, that if it was of fuch a good Quality, it would
havcbecome an Object of Trade, but there is not enough
made for this Prrpofe; but perhaps they are in the wrong
in not trying what may be done. There are many other
Things bcfidcs this, that are neglected in this Country.
— The Plane- Tree, the fmall Cherry, the Alli, and the
Walnut-Trees of different Sorts, give a'fo a Water that
makes Sugar, but in lefs Quantity, and the Sugar is not
fo good. Yet fome People give the Preference to that
which is drawn from the Afh, but there is very little
made. Could you have believed. Madam, that we fhould
find in Canada, what Virgtl fays in foretelling the Re-
newal of the golden Age, that Honey fliould flow from
the Trees *.
All this Country has been a long Time the Theatre of
many bloody Scenes, becaufe during the War with the
Iro^uoiSf
* Et dura ^tercus fudahunt rojcida Mella.
e SU"
rhere
:um it
harden
o keep
unlefb
uch lefj
irn the
;ap. It
eftne it|
t fee :be
s out of
h better
rgone no
Baker of
than that
attributed
[bought it
i'ome Lo-
in t to you,
t will be
, It would
lot enough
the wrong
Jiany other
Country.
|li, and the
,Vater that
lugar is not
ice to that
very little
. we ihould
|g the Re-
flow from
Theatre of
far with the
Iroquoif)
\l!a.
N O R T H-A M E R I C A. 85
froquois, it was the mod expofed to the l^xcurfions ot
thofe Barbarians. They came down upon the Colony,
by a River that difcharges itfeU into the Hvcr St. Lau-
rence , a little above Lake St. Pierre, on the lame Side as
that of Si. Frajifois-y and to which, for this Rcafon, they
at firft gave their Name. It has been fince for fome
Time called Ricblieu, and is now called the River dc So-
vel. The Iflands of Ricblieu, which they came to ntll,
ferved them equally for their Ambuflies, and lor a Re-
treat ; but when we had fhut up this Paflage by a i-'ort,
built at the Kntrance of the River, they took their Way
bv the Lands above and below, and threw themfclves ef-
pecially on the Side of St. Frfxnfoif, where they found the
fame Advantages to exercife their Robberies, and where
they have committed Cruelties which are horrible to
relate.
They fpread themfelves afterwards through the Vfhole
Colony, and they were obliged in order to defend them-
felves 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 Port one or two Centinels,
who did Duty Night and Day, and they had all fome
Field-Pieces, or at lead fome Patterarocs, as well to dif-
perfe the Enemy, as to give Notice to the Inhabitants to
be upon their Guard, and to inform when they wanted
Succours. Thefe Forts are only Inclofures defended with
Pdlifadoes, with fome Redoubts : The Church and the
Manor- Houfe are always in this Inclofure ; and there is
ftill Room enough left, in cafe of need, to give Refuge
to the Women and Children, and the Cattle. This has
been found fufficient to preferve th^m from any Infull ;
for I never heard the Iroquois took; any of thefe Forts.
They very feldom block them up, and fca,rce ever at-,
tack them to take them by Affault. One is too dangerous
for Savages, who have no deienfive Arms, and do not
love a Vi6tory ftained with their Blood : The other W^y
does not agree with their Manner of making War. Two
Attacks of the Fort de Vercberss, are neverthelefs famous
in the Anm.ls oi Canada j and it looks as if the Iroquois
K 3 had
86
HISTORY Of
had attempted it twice, contrary to their Cuftom, only to
difpiay the Valour and Intrepidity of two Amazons.
In 1690, thefe Savages being informed that Madam ^^
Venbercs was almod alone in her Fort, approachtd it
without being feen, and attempted to fcale the Pallifa-
does : Some Muflcet Shot that were fired to good Pur-
pofe, upon the firft Noife they made, difperfed them ;
but they loon returned, and they were again repulfed ;
and what furprifed them more was, that they faw only a
Woman, and her they faw every where. This was Ma-
dam de VercbereSf who kept up as good a Countenance as if
fhe had had a numerous Garrifon. The Hope which the
Befiegers had conceived at firft, to take a Place eafily,
which thev knew was without Men, made them return
feverai Times to the Cliarge ; but the Lady with the
Help of the Women with her, always beat them off.
She fought in this Manner two Days, with fuch Bravery
and Prefence of Mind, as would have done Honour to an
old Warrior ; and at laft (he obliged the Enemy to retire,
for Fear of having their Retreat cut off, greatly alhamed
of being forced to fly before a Woman.
Two Years after 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 greateft Part employed in the Fields. The /ro-
quois finding them thus difperfed^ without any Sufpicion
of an Enemy, feized them all one after another, then
marched towards the Fort. The Daughter of the Lord,
who was at moil but fourteen Years old, was about two
hundred Paces off the Fort. At the firft Cry (he heard,
(he ran to get in : The Savages purfued her, and one of
them came up with her juft as (he got to the Door; but
having feized her by a Handkerchief that was about her
Neck, (he let it (lip from her, and fo got in, and (hut
to the Gate.
There was nobody in the Fort but a young Soldier
and a Company of Women ; who, at the Sight of their
Hulbands whom the Savages were binding and carrying
away Prifoners, fent forth moft lamentable Cries. The
young
NO R T H-A M E R I C A.
«V
young Lady loft neither her Judgment nor Courage. She
began by pulling oflF her Cap, fhe tied up her Hair, put
on a Hat and a Ja;.kct, and locked up all the Women,
whofe Cries and Tears could but encourage the Enemy.
Then (he fired a Cannon and fome Mu(ket Shot, and
(hewing herfeif with her Soldier fometinies in one Re-
doubt, and fometimes in another, changing frequently
their Drefs, and firing to good Purpofe whenever flie faw
the Iroquois approach the Pallifade, the Savages fancied
there were many People in the Fort, and when the Che-?
valier de Crifay, upon hearing the firing, came to fuccour
the Place, the Enemy was already marched off.
Let us now return to the Chafe. — That of the Orig-
nal would not have been lefs profitable to us at prefent,
than that of the Beaver, if our Predeceflbrs in this Coun-
try had given more Attention to the Profits which might
have been made pf it, and had not almoft entirely de-
ftroyed the Species, at leail in thofe Places which are
within our Reach.
What they call here the Orignal, is what in Germany ,
Poland, and Mufcovy, they call the Elk or Great Beaft.
This Animal here, is as big as a Horfe, or a Mule of Au^
vergne. The hind Quarters are large, the Tail but onX'f
an Inch long, the Hams very high, the Legs and Feet
like thofe of a Hart ; a long Hair covers the Withers,
the Neck, and the upper Part of the Hams : The Head
is above two Feet long, and he carries it out, which gives
him an ill Look: His Muzzle is large, and lefTens in the
upper Part like that of a Camel, and his Noftrils are fo
large one may eafily thruft in half one's Arm. His Horns
are not lefs long than thofe of a Hart, and much wider :
They are flat and forked like thofe of a 'Deer, and are re-
newed every Year ; but I know not if upon the new
Growth, they make an Increafe which denotes the Age
of the Animal.
They fay that the Orignal is fubject to the Epilepfy,
and when the Fits feize him, he gets over them by
fcratching his Ear with his left hind Foot till he draws
Blood, which has made the Hoof of this Foot be eileem-
K 4 cd
88
HISTORY Of
ed a Specific againft the Fallinu; Sicknefs. It is applied to
the Heart of the Patient, and they do the fame to cure
tho Palpitation of the Heart : They put it alfo into the
le^ Hand of the Perfon who is difordered, and rub his
Ear with it : But why Ihould they not draw Blood from
him alfo, a? the Orignal does ? This Hoof is alfo reckon-
ed very good againft the Plcurify, Cholick Pains, the
Flux, the Vertigo, and the Purples, by reducing it to
Powder, and giving it in Water. 1 have been told that
the Ahovqu'tniy who formerly made the Flefh of this
Anima! their common Food, were very rnuch fuhje£l to
the Epilepfy, and never ufed this Remedy : Perhaps they
had better. The Hair of the Oiignal is a Mixture of
light grey and dark red. It grows hollow as the Bead
grows f^ id, and never lofes its elaftic Power : Beat it ever,
ib long ir fprings up again. Mattrefles are made of it,
and Sadiilcs, The Flefti is well tafled, light, and nourifh-
ing; it wci.ld be a Pity that it lliould caufe the Epilepfy;
but our Hunrers, who have lived upon it \Yhole Winters,
never found that it had any bad Quality. The Skin is
.^rong, foft, and fubflantial ; it is made into Shamois,
and excellent BufF, which is very light. The Savages
look upon the Orignal as a Creature of good Omen, and
believe that thofe who dream frequently of it, may flat-
ter themfelves with long Life : But they think quite the
Contrary with Regard to dreaming of the Bear, except in
the Time when they are difpofed to hunt thofe Creatures.
Tliere is alfo current among thefe Barbarians a comical Tra-
dition of a great Orignal, near which all the refl appear but
as Ants : They fay his Legs are fo long, that eight Feet
Depth of Snow is no Hindrance to him ; that his Skin is
Proof againft all Sorts of Arms, and that he has a Kind
of Arm which grows out of his Shoulder, which he
make? Ufc of as we do of our's ; that he never fails to
have after him a great Number of Orignals, who form his
Court, and who render him all the Services he requires of
them. Thus the Antients had their Phoenix, and their
Pegafus ; and the Chine fe and the Jopanefe had their Ki-
rin, thc^ir Foe, their Water Dragon, and their Bird of
Paradife. — --Every Country has its ridiculous Notions.
The
N O R T H-A M E R I C A.
89
The Orignal loves cold Countries; he feeds on Grafs
in Summer, and in Winter he gnaus the Trees. When
the Snows are high, thcTe Animals troop together into
fome Pine-Grove, tofhelter themfclves under the Ver-
dure from the bad Weatlicr, and they continue there as
long as they find Food. Then it is eafy to hunt them ;
but eafier dill, when the Sun begins to have Streni^th
enough to melt the Snow ; for the frofty Nights making
a Sort of Cruft upon the Snow melted in tlie D:iy, the
Orignal (which is an heavy Creature) breaks it with his
cloven Foot, flays his Legs, and has fome Trouble to
get out of the Holes he makes. Without this, and efpe-
cially when there is but little Snow, they cannot approach
him without Trouble, nor without Danger ; becaufe,
when he is wounded, he grows furious, turns fuddenly
upon the Hunter, and tramples him under his Feet. The
Way to efcape this, is for the Hunter to throw him his
Coat, upon which he difcharges all his Fury ; whilft the
Hunter, hid behind a Tree, can take his Meafures to kill
him. The Orignal always goes 3. great Trot, which is
near equal to the Speed of the Buffaloe, and he holds it
a long Time : But yet the Savages can out-run him.
They fay that he kneels down to drink, to eat, and to reft
himfelf, and that there is in his Heart a little Bone, which
being reduced to Powder, and taken in broth, appeafes
the Pains of Child-birth^ and facilitates Delivery.
The moft Northern Nations of Canada have a Way of
performing this Hunt which is very eafy, and without
Danger. The Hunters divide themfelves into two Com-
panies : One embarks in Canoes; and thefe Canoes keep-
ing at fome Diftance from each other, form a large Se-
micircle, 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 Orig-
nals that are in that Space ; and driving them forward,
oblige them to run into the River, or the Lake. They
are no fooncr in the Water, than they fire upon them
from all the Canoes: Every Shot takes Place, and very
feldom even a fingle Orignal efcapes.
Cbamplain
ijo II I S T O R Y o p
Cbamplaitt fpcaks of another Manner of hunting not
only the Orignals, but alfo Harts and Caribous, which is
fomcthing like this Way. They inclofe (fays lie) a Part
of a Forcft with Stakes, interwoven witli Branches of
Trees, and leave but one narrow Opening where they
lay Snares made of raw Skins. This Space is triangular,
and from the i\ ngle of the Entrance they draw another
Triangle, much larger : So thefe two Inclofures commu-
nicate together by the two Angles: The 'wo Sides of
the fecond Triangle are alio (hut up with Stakes, and the
Hunters range upon a Line from the Bale. Then they
advance, without breaking the Line ; and drawing nearer
and nearer to each other, they make a great Shouting,
and ftrike upon fomethiiig that makes a great Noife. The
Beads being driven forward, and not able to efcape either
to Right or Left, and being affrighted with tite Noife,
know not where to fly, but into the other Iiiclofure ; and
many, as they enter it, are caught by the Horns or the
Neck. They ftruggle greatly to get loofe, and fome-
times they carry with them or break the Snares : Some-
times alfo they (Irangle themfelves, or at lead 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 Arrows which the Hunters let
fly at them from all Sides.
'J'he Orignal has other Enemies than the Savages, and
which make a no lefs rough War againft him. The mod
terrible of all is the Carcajou, or Quincajou, a Sort of
wild Cat ; whofe Tail is fo long, that it can twift it feve-
ral Times round its Body : Its Hair is a reddilh brown. As
foon as this Hunter can come up with an Orignal, he
leaps upon him; and fixing upon his Neck, twifls 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 cannot bear
the Water, lets go his hold immediately. But if the
Water is too far off, it has Time to kill the Orignal be-
fore he can get into it. Commonly this Hunter, whofe
Smell is not the befl, brings three Foxes to the Chafe,
^nd fends them out upon the Difcovery. As foon as they
have
NORTH- AMERICA. 91
have fmclt out an Orignal, two place themfelves at his
Sides, and the third behind him, and they all three make
fuch a fine Manauvre, harafllng the Bead, that they
oblige him to go where they have left the Carcajou, with
which they agree afterwards about dividing the Game—
Another Stratagem of the Carcajou, is to climb up a
Tree : There lying 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 Rela-
tions of Canada give the Savages more Wit and Senfc,
than they have. They arc, neverthelefs, Men : And
under what Climate fhall we find Brutes that have an
In(lin£t more ingenious than the Beaver, the Carcajou,
and the Fox ?
The Hart of Canada is abfolutely the iame as in Franc c*^
perhaps commonly a little larger. It does not appear
that the Savages difturb him much ; at lead, I do not
find that they make War againft him in Form, and with
any Preparations. It is not the fame with Regard to the
Caribou f. This is an Animal not fo high as tlie Orig-
nal, which has more of the Als than the Mule in its
Shape, and which equals the Hart in Swiftnefs. Some
Years ago, one appeared upon Cape Diamond, above
^ebec : 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 Alpt could not have done
more : Then he fwam very fwiftly acrofs the River ;
but it was all to no Purpofe ; Some Canadians, wiio were
going to make War, and who were encamped near the Point
of L^w, having difcovered him, waited for his landing,and
killed him. They greatly efteem the Tongue of this Animal,
which herds moft about Hudfon^s Bay. The Sieur Je-
remy, who has pafTed many Years in thefe Northern
Parts, fays, that between the Danes River and Port Nel-
fon, during the whole Summer, they fee prodigious
Numbers
t It differs not from the Rain-Deer but in its Colour 1
which is brown, or a little reddifli.
92
HISTORY
O F
Numbers of them ; which being driven from the Woods
by the Fhes and Gnats, come to refrefli themfelves by
the Sea Side ; and that for the Space of forty or fifty
Leagues they meet almofl continually with Herds of ten
thoufand at lead.
It appears that the Caribou has never been in any great
Numbers in the moft frequented Places of Canada ; but
the Orignals abounded every where when we firft dlfco-
vered the Country; and it might have made an Article
of Trade, and a great Convenience of Life, if rlicy had
been careful to preferve the Breed : But this they have
not done; and, either becaufe they have thinned the
Species, by killing great Numbers, or that by frightening
them they have been driven to fome other Cou^itry, no-
thing is more fcarce at prefent.
In the Southern and Weftern Parts of New France, on
both Sides the Mijpjftppiy the moft famous Hunt is that
of the Buffaloe, which is performed in this Manner:
The Hunters range themfelves in four Lines, which
form a great Square, and begin by fetting Fire to the
Grafs and Herbs, which are dry and very high: 1 .len
as the Fire gets forwards they advance, clofing their
Lines : The Buffaloes, which are extremely afraid of
Fire, keep flying from it, and at lad find themfelves fo
crowded top:pther, that they are generally every one
killcu. Iney fay that a Party feldom returns from
Hunting without killing Fifteen Hundred or Two Thou-
fand. But left the different Companies fhould hinder
€ach other, they all agree before they fet out about the
Place where they intend to hunt. There are alfo fome
Penalties appointed againft thofe who tranfgrefs this Rule,
as well as againft thofe who, quitting their Pofts, give
way to the Beafts to efcape. Thefe Penalties confift 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 Savage ; and to
pulldown their Cabins. The Chiefs ^re fubjed to this
Penalty as well ?.d the others, and if any were to endea-
vour
NORTtt-AMERlCA.
93
vour to exempt them from this Law, it would raife a Ci-
vil War amongfl: them, which would not end foon.
The Bull, or Buffaloe, of Canada is bigger than ours ;
his Horns are low, black, and fliort ; he has a great
Beard of Hair under his Muzzle, and a great Tuft of
Hair upon his Head, which falls down upon his Eyes,
and gives him a hideous Look. He has a great Bump
upon his Back, which begins at his Hips, and goes in-
creafing up to his Shoulders ; and this Bump is covered
with Hair, fomething reddifh, and very long ; the reft
of the Body is covered with black Wool, which is much
valued. They fay that the Skin of a BufFaloe has eight
Pounds of Wool on it. This Animal has a large Cheft,
the hind Parts fmall, the Tail very fhort, and one can
fcarce fee any Neck it has, but its Head is biggerthan
that of the £«r(3/>i?<7« Bulls. Pie runs away generally at
the Sight of any Perfon, and one Dog is enough to make
a whole Herd take to full Gallop. The BufHUoe has a
good* Smell, and to approach him without being perceiv-
ed near enough to flioot him, you mufl go againft the
Wind. When he is wounded he is furious, and turns
upon the Hunters. He is as furious when ihe Cows have
newly calved. His Flefliis good, but they feldom eat
any but that of the Cows, becaufe the Buffaloes are too
tough. As for his Skin, there are none better ; it is ea-
fiiy drcfTed, and tho' very ftrong, it becomes fupple, like
the bed Shamois. The Savages make Shields of it, which
are very light, and which a Mulket Ball will not eafily
pierce.
They find about HuilforCs Bay another Bull, whofe
Skin and Wool are the fame with thofe I have already de-
fcribed. This is what M. y^r^w/y fays of it : ** Fifteen
Leagues from the Danes River, is the River of ly^j/x,
fo called becaufe there are many in this P.lacc. Be-
** twcen thefe two Rivers there is a Kind of Bulls which
we call the Mujk Bulls ; becaufe they have fo ftrong a
Smell of Mulk, that at fome certain Times there is
no fuch Thing as eating their Flelh. Thefe Animals
have a very fine Wool, and it is longer than that of
the Barbary Sheep.. I brought fomc to France in
" 1708,
w to the South. It
feems therefore, when wea^ ;aiI ap JJlands of Ricblieu,
as if we were tranfported allal once r; > 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 otiiers, in their natural State, offer to
th*; Sight the fineft Landfcapesin the World. In a Word,
it is Touraine and la Limagne oi Auvergne compared with
Maine and Normandy,
The Ifle of Afow/i-^/?/, which is as it were the Centre of
this fine Country, is ten Leagues long from Eaft to
Weft, and near four Leagues over in its greatefl 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 Fille-Marie, by its Founders ; but
this Name hath never been brouirju 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 onl) of the Town, but alfo of the
whole Ifland, are Mifiionaries of the Seminary of St.
Sulpice : And as all the Lands here are very good, and
well cultivated ; and as the Town is as well peopled as
^ichecy we may affirm that this Lordfhip is worth half a
Dozen of the beft in Canada. This is the Fruit of the
Labour and good Condud of the Lords of this Ifland;
nad cerliiinly twenty private Perfons, amongft whom this
might
mi
th<
o
vul
th(
H(
Rel
re of
to
adth.
vhicU
Midft
cague
built,
but
otitis
ft the
, who
of the
of St.
i, and
led as
half a
of the
(land;
m this
migbt
NORTH- AMERICA. loi
might have been divided, would not have put it in the
State we now fee it^ nor have made the People fo hap-
fy. The Town of Montreal has a very chearful Afpe6l :
t is well fituated, open, and well built. The Agree-
ablenefs of its Environs, and its Prorpe£^s, infpires a cer-
tain Gaiety, of which every one feels the Effect. It is
not fortified : A fingle Pallifade, which is but poorly kept
up, is all its Defence ; with a bad Redoubt upon a little
Eminence, which ferves for a Bulwark, and which ter-
minates with a gentle Slope at a little Square. This is
what we meet with at firft, in coming from ^ebec. It
is not forty Years ago, fince the Town was quite open,
and expofed to be burnt by the Savages or the Englijh. It
was the Chevalier de Callieres, Brother of the Plenipo-
tentiary of Ryfwickf who enclofed it whilft he was Go-
vernor. They have talked fome Years of furrounding it
with Walls § ; but it will not be eafy to engage the In-
habitants to contribute towards it : They are brave, and
not rich ; and are hard to be perfuaded of the NecefTity of
this Expence, being fully convinced that their Valour is
more than fufficient to defend the Town againft any Ene-
my that fhould dare to attack it. Our Canadians, on this
Article, have all a pretty good Opinion of themfelves, and
we muft allow it is not ill founded ; but in Confequence
of the Confidence which this gives them, it is not fo dif-
ficult tofurprize 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 al-
moft all the Traders live there. The Seminary and the
Parifh Church, the RecoUets, the Jefuits, the Maids of
the Congregation, the Governor, and greatefl Part of the
Officers, are in the Higher Town. Beyond a little Ri-
vulet, which comes from the North Weil, and bounds
the Town on that Side, there are fome Houfes and the
Hofpital General ; and going to the Right, beyond the
Recolletf, whofe Convent is at the End of the Town, on
L 3 the
§ Thii is now done.
102 HISTORY or
the fame Side, there begins to be formed a Kind of Sub-
urb, which in Time will make a very fine Quarter,
The Jefuits here have but a very little Houfe ; but
their Church, which is juft finiihecf, 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 U " Town : It appears that they fludied more
to make it folic and convenient, than fine ; but yet it has
the Air of belonging to the Lords of the Place : It com-
municates with the Parifh Church, which has much
more the Appearance of a Cathedral than that of ^ebec.
The Service is performed here with a Modefty and Dig-
nity which infpires Refpe6\ for the Majefty of the God
who is here adored.
:f • , V
• " The Houfe of the Maids of the Congregation, though
one of the largefl; in the Town, is yet (till too little to
lodge fo numerous a Society : It is the Chief of an Or-
der, and the Noviciate of an Inflitution, which ought to
bft fo much dearer to New France, and to this Town in
particular, becaufe it took its Rile 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 la Flecbe in Anjou,
They are poor, yet their Poverty does not appear in
their Hall ; which is large and well furnilhed with Beds
and other Furniture ; nor in their Church, which is fine
and well adorned ; nor in their Houfe, which is well built,
neat and convenient : But they have but a poor Mainte-
nance, though they are all indefatigably employed in the
Inftruftionot Youth, and in the Care of the Sick.
The Hofpital General owes its Foundation to a private
Perfon, named Cbarron, who affociated himfeifwith ma-
ny pious Pcrfons, not only for this good Work, but alfo to
furnifh the Country Parilhes with School-Mafters, who
fliould inftruftthe Boys, as the Sifters of the Congrega-
lion do the Girls : But the Society was foon difl'olved :
Some left it for other Affairs, and fome through Fickle-
jncl's; fo that the Sieur ChaT-ron was left alone. However,
hj(?
•/I
NORTH- AMERICA.
X03
lie 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-
Mafters, and Perfons to attend the Hofpital. The Pub-
lic took a Pleafure to aflift and give Authority to a Man
who fpared neither his own Subftance, nor his Pains, and
whom nothing could difcourage. In fhort, before his
Death, which happened in 1719, heliad the Comfort to
fee hisProjeQ out of all Danger of failing, at lead with
Refpeft to the Hofpital General. The Houfe is fine, and
the Church very pretty. The School-Mafters arc not
yet well eftabliflied in the Parifhes ; and the Order they
have received from Court, forbidding them to wear an
uniform Habit, or to engage themfelvcs by Vows, may
hinder their Eflablifhment.
rrega-
>lved :
ickle-
^ever,
he
Between the Ifland of Montreal and the Continent on
the North Side, there is another Ifland about eight
Leagues long, and two Leagues over : It was firff nam-
ed the Ifland of Montmagny^ from the Name of a Gover-
nor General of Canada : It was afterwards granted to the
yefuits, who called it the Ifland of Jefus ; and it has pre-
ierved this lafl Name, though it has pafTed from the
Hands of the Jefuits to Mefficurs of the Seminary of i^e-
bee, 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 twoTflands, is called
the River des Prairies, (Meadows) becaufe it runs in the
Midfls of fine Meadows. Its Courfe is impeded towards
the Middle by a Torrent which they call the Recollet^s
Fall, in Memory of one of that Order, who was drowned
here. The Ecclefiuflics of the Seminary oi Montreal for
a long Time, had a Miinon of Savages i^ear this Place,
which they have fmce removed to ano.her Place.
The third Arm of the River is flrewed as it were with
fuch a prodigious Number of Iflands, that there is almofl
as much Land as Water. This Channel is called Milles-
ifles, or Rivei of St. Jean, (tboufand Ijlands, or St.
y his
Wc
eftablKhed amongft the greateil Part of them Magazines
and Forts, where there are always an Officer and Sol-
diers enough to fecure the Merchandize. The Savages
will always have a Gunfmith in thefe Places ; and in ma-
ny there are Miifionaries ; who would do more good it
there were no other French there. Thefe is Rcafon to
believe it would be better to fet Things upon the antient
Footing, fince Peace has been eftablifhed both within and
without the Colony : This would be the Means toreilrain
the Wood-Rangers, whofe Covetoufnefs (not to mention
the Diforders caufed by their Licentioufnefs) makes them
every Day guilty of mean A€lions, which render us de-
fpicable in the Sight of xhi Savages, have lowered our
Merchandizes, and raifed the Price of • Skins. Befides^
the Savages, naturally proud, are grown infolent^ fince
they find that we feek after them. ... » v.
The Fifliery might much more enrich Canada thaii
the Chafe ; and this does not depend on the Savages :
Two weighty Reafons for following it, which yet have
not been fufficient to engage our Colonifts to make it the
principal Objefit of their Trade.^ 1 have nothing to
add to what I have already faid on the Cod Filhery,
which alone would be worth more to us than PerUf if the
Founders oi New France had taken proper Meafures tO
fecure the Poflefllon of it to ourfelves. 1 begin with
the Fifliery for Seals, Sea-Cows, and Porpoifes, which
may be carried on every where in the Gulph of St, Lau'
rence, 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 re-
fembles not the Wolf, nor any Land Animal that we
know. Lefcarbot aflerts, 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 Fiflies; 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
Hair : 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 mud not be rec^uired of us always
to
>
r
io8
HISTORY OP
to fpeak the Language of the Old ; and Cuflcm^ againll
which there is no reafoning, is here in PofTefrion of all its
Rights. So that the War they make with the Seals, tho*
it is often on .Land, and with the Gun, is called a Fifhery ;
and that which they make with the Beavers in the Wa-
ter, and with Nets, is called a Chafe.
The Head of a Seal is fomething like a Bull-Dog's r
ile has four Legs, very fliort, efpecially thofe behind:
In every other Refpeft it is a Filh. It drags itfelf rather
than walks upon its Feet. Its Legs before have Nails,
thofe behind are like Fins : His Skin is hard, and covered
with ftiort Hair of divers Colours. There are fome Seals
all white, and they are all fo at firft ; but fome, as they
grow up, become black, others tawney: Many are of
, all thefe Colours mixed together.
The Fifhermen diftinguifh fevcral Spv'cles of Seals :
' The larged weigh up to two thoufand Pounds, and they^
fay their Nofe is more pointed than the others. Ther©
are fome that only friflc about in the Water : Our Sailors
call them Brajfeursy (Brewers.) They have given the
Name of Nau to anoth"*" Sort ; for which I can give no
Reafon, nor know the Meaning of the Word. Another
,Sort they call Groffes Tetet, (Great Heads.) There are
fome fmall ones that are very lively and (kilful in cutting
the Nets they are taken in : They are of a Tyger Co-
lour ; they are full of Play and Spirit, and as pretty as
Creatures of this Shape can be. The Savages teach thefe
to follow them like little Dogs, and eat them notwith-
flanding.
M. Denys fpeaks of two Sorts of Seals that are found
upon the Coaih of Acadia. One Sort (fays he) are fo
big, that their Young are larger than our largeft Porkers.
Ik adds, that foon atter they are brought forth, the old
ones carry them to the Water, and from Time to Time
bring them a(hore 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 Icarce any more
into ihc Water : That at ihe 6rll Noife the old ones fly,
m.ikirg 1 gre;At Nolle to give Notice to the young ones to
follow
N O R T H-A M E R I C A.
109
follow them ; which they never fail to do, if the Filher-
men do not make Hafte to give them a Blow on the Nofe
with a Stick, which is enough to kill them.,-— The Num-
ber of thefe Animals muft be very great upon thefe
Coafts, if it be true, as the fame Author affirms, that in
one Day they take fometimes eight hundred of the young
ones.
The fecond Species of thefe Seals, which M. Denys
fpeaks of, is very fmali, and has little more Oil but what
it has in its Bladder. Thefe laft never go far from the
Shore, and there is always one that ftands 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 Precaurions,
they furprize a great Number of them on Shore, and it
is almoft impoflible to take them any other Way.
It is agreed that the Flefli of the Seal is not bad to eat,
but it is more profitable to make Oil of it : This is not
difficult. They melt the Fat on the Fire, and it diflblves
into an Oil. Sometimes they only put the Fat of a great
many Seals on fquare 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
VefTel.
At the firft fettling the Colony, they ufed a great
Number of Seal Skins to make Muffs; but that is now
out of Fafhion ; and their chief Ufe at prefent is to cover
Trunks, l^c. When they are tanned they have almofl the
fame Grain as Morocco Leather : They are not fo fine,
but they are flronger, and wear better. They make of
them very good Shots, 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 Covens.
- . 'They
HISTORY OE
no ■■<
They tan thefe Skins hv^re with the Bark of the Spruce
Fir, and in the Tinfluie. they ufe to dye them black,
they mix a Powder, di«\wn from certain Stones they find
upon f! p -lii.ks of the Rivers, which are called Thunder
Stone J o: Marcafites. - .
The Seals couple upon the Rocks, and fometimes upon .
the Ice, where alfo the Females bring forth their Young.
They have commonly two, and they fuckie them ptetty
often in the "V^ater, but oftener 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 Pra£lice till the young ones can
fwim alone. If this Fa£t is true, this is a ftrange Fi(h, .
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 moft common 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 the/
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 0^'^.y have
only the Trouble to knock them on the Ktzd. They
follow them alfo in a Canoe, in Places whi '■: there is
Plenty of them, and when they put their Heads out of
the W^ter to breathe, they fhoot them. If they are on-
ly wounded, they eafily take them; but if they are (hot
dtad, they fink dire6tly to the Bottom, like as the Bea-
vers do. But they have great Dogs, which are trained
to fetch them up at the Depth of feven or eight Fathom.
Our Fifhermen take but few Sea-Cows on the Coafts of
the Gu^ph of St. Laurence ; I know not whether they
have tak n ^nv in other Places. The Englijb formerly
eftablifli'ci a < lliery for them at the Ifle of Sable; but
they mad<° no grcr.t Advantage of it. The Shape of this
Animai ii not vi; 7 4ifferent from tuQ Seals. What is pe-
....>■ - culiar
N O H T H-A M E R i C A. iii
cnllartoit, t : , vvo leeth, of the Bignefs and Length
of ; Man's Arnn, a little bent back at T jp, and which
api)tar at a Diftance like Horns ; ^his is prooaiily the
R.afon they are called Sea-Cows. Our Sailors call them
more plainly la bete a la grande dent, (the great toothed
Beall) thefe Teeth are of very fine Ivory, as well as all
thofe which are in the Jaw of this Filh, and which are
four Inches long.
There are in the River St, Laurence Porpolfes of two
Colours : In the Salt Water ; that is to fay^ till a
little below the Ifle of Orleans, they do not differ from
thofe found in the Sea : In the frelh Water they are all
white, and as big as a Cow. The firft go generally in
^Companies, I have not obferved the fame of the others,
though I have feen many of them playing in the Port of
^ebec. They feldom go higher than this City, but
-there are many on the Coaftsot 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 frefh Wa-
ter. The white Porpoifes yield a Hogfhead of Oil, and
this Oil is little differen;. 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
CaiPs.
The Skins of both Sorts are tann'd like Morocco Leather.
At firfl ic is foft like Fat, and is an Inch thick, they
fcrape it a long Time, and it becomes like a tranfparent
Leather; and how thin foever it is, even fo as to be fit
for Waiflcoats 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 ^«?^^r for Porpoifes, one
in the Bay of St. Paul, and the other feven or eight
Leagues lower, ovcr-againft a Habitation called Camou-
rafca, from the Name of certain Rockr that rife confide-
rably above the Water. The Exj. winces are not great ;
and
112 H I S T O R Y or
and the Profits would be confiderable, if the Porpoil'e*
were Animals fettled in a Place : But either through In-
ftinCV, or Caprice, they often break the Meafures of the
Fifhermcn, and take another Route than that where they
wait for them. Moreover, thefe Fifheries, which would
oniy enrich fome few Perfons, have occafioned an Incon-
venience which made the common People complain ;
which is, that they have greatly diminifhed the Eel Filh-
cry, which is a great Help to the poor Inhabitants. For
the Porpoifes, finding themfelves didurbed below ^tf-
bec, are retired to fome other Place ; and the Eels, find-
ing no longer thefe great Fifli in their Way, which ob-
liged them to return back, go down the River without
any Hindrance ; whence it happens, that between ^i?-
bec and Trots Rivieres, where they took a prodigious
Number every Year, they now fcarce take any.
The Way of fifliing for Porpoifes is much the fame as
that I have been mentioning tor Seals. When the Tide
is out, they fet Stakes in the Mud, or Sand, pretty near
one another, and they fatten 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 Fifli has en-
tered^ he can't find liis Way out again. The^ take Care
to put upon the Tops of the Stakes Branches of Greens.
When the Tide rifes, thefe Fifli giving Chace to Her-
rings, which always run to the Sides, and being allured by
the Green 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 At-
tempts 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
ihat there have be: n found fome among the white Sort,
which weighed turee the uiaid Pounds,
Every one knows the Ni . Hire of the Whale Fifhery,
therefore I Ihall fay nothing of it. It is faid here, that
the Bifcayners, who carried it on formerly in the River
Si. Laurence, difcontinut d it only to apply themfelves en-
tirely to the F' '-Trade, which required not fo much Ex-
pence or hajiiUT, and the Profits of which were then
more
NORTH- AMERICA.
113
In-
ihe
;hey
ould
:on-
ain ;
Mlh-
For
^e-
find-
iiob-
thout
igioui
moK confiderable, and of a quicker Return. On the
other Hand, they had not all the Conveniences for this
Fiihery, which may be had at prefent, now there are
Habitations very near the Gulph. Some Years ago they
tried to re-eilabli(h it, but without Succefs : The Un*
dertakers either had not a fufficient Fund to make the ne-
ceffary Advances, or expeded their Charges to be reim-
burfe^ fooner than the Thing would allow, or elfe they
wanted Perfeverance. It appears neverthelefs certain that
this Fifliery might be a great Article in the Trade of this
Colony *, and might be carried on with lefs Expence and
Danger than on the Coafls of Greenland ; and what
fliould hinder to Bx it here, as M. Denyt propofed to do
that of the Cod-Fiftxery in Acadia ? This is. Madam,
all that concerns the Fifheries, that may enrich Canada,
ime as
; Tide
y near
Shape
|e, and
las en-
Care
Jreens.
Her-
ired by
in the
nks, it
efs At-
d, ^nd
at one
ley fay
le Sort,
[ifhery,
, that
Rivei
Ives en-
Ich Ex-
Ire then
more
I antf &c.
* It is to be hoped that we (hail now eftablifli a Whale Fiflie-
ry in thefe Parts ; as there feems great Probability that a vaft
Advantage may be veaped from it.
Vol. I.
m
LETTER
»'!>♦-•. i J-
, iJK % -
,1»,M>»
,'^j;^/::\:vDTi;
■i-^x
m V
[ "5 3
LETTER IX.
■i
;j
^ the Fort of CuAMhhY : 0/ the Fijb ; of the Birds:
And of fame Animals j peculiar to Canada. Of the
Trees which are the fame with tbofe o/ France; and
oftbofe which are peculiar to this Country. ,, ; ,
^r.w
Mad
am,
j.'i.. ; •-
Chambly, March
I.
ON E of the chief Defences of Montreal againft the
Iroquois and New Torky is Fort Chambly : It is from
this Fort I have the Honour to write to you. I came
hither to pay a Vifit to the Commandant, who is M. de
Sabrevoisy of one of the beft Families of Beauce, my
Friend, my Companion in the Voyage, and a good Offi-
cer. I (hall defcribe this important Fort, and the Situ-
ation of it, in a few Words.
•• ' . . , ■» ' .J . ■-
In the firft Years of our Settlement in this Country,
the Iroquois, to make their Incurfions into the very Cen*
tre of our Habitations, came down a River which dif-
charges 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 Ri-
ver of Richelieu, from a Fort which bore this Name, and
which was built at its Meuth. This Fort being in a ru-
inous Condition, M. de Sorel, Captain in Carignan-Sali-
eres Regiment, built another, which he called by his own
Name. This Name communicated itfelf to the River,
and it is ftill called fo, tho' the Fort has not been ftanding
for a long Time. When we have gone up the River a-
bout feventeen Leagues, going always towards the South,
but a little to the South Wcft^ we find a Torrent or
Water-Fall, and over-againH: it a Kmd of little Lake,
M 2 fprm«d
ii6
HISTORY Of
formed by the River itfelf. It is by the Side of the Wa-
ter-Fall, and over againft the Lake, that the Fort is lltu-
ated. It was firft built of Wood, by M. de Cbambly, at
the fame Time that M. Je Sorel built his Fort, but it has
been fince built of Stone, and flanked with four Baftions,
tnd there is always a pretty good Garrifon kept in it. The
Lands round it are very good, and they begin to eflablifli
fome Habitations here, and many People think that in
Time, they will build a Town in this Place. From
Cbambly to Lake Cbamplairif it is but eight Leagues.
The River Sorel croffes the Lake ; and there is perhaps
no Part of Netu France which is more fit to be peopled.
The Climate is milder than any other Part of the Colo-
ny, and the Inhabitants will have the Iroquois for Neigh-
bours, 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 Neigh-
bourhood, than from that of New Tork. Many other
Reafons ought to engage us in this Settlement, but if I
fhould write all, I fhould have nothing to fay when I
have the Honour to fee you again. I (hall take Advan-
tage of the Leifure Hours I have here, to continue to
entertain you with the Particularities 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 New
France; it remains for me to fpeak of the Refources
which the Inhabitants may find here for the Support of
Life.
Wherever the Water of the River is fait, that is to fay ^
from Cape Torment to the Gulf, one may take almoil all
Fifli that live in the Sea, as Salmon, Tunny, Shad,
Trout, Lamprey, Smelts, Conger Eals, Mackerel, Soals,
Herrings, Anchovies, Pilchards. Turbots, and many
others 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 efteemed ; Lencornets^ a Kind of
Cuttle Fifh, St. Peter\ Fifh, Requiems, Sea Dogs, a
Kind of Requiems much lefs mifchievous whilft alive,
. and
N O R T H-A M E R I C A. . 117
and beyond Comparifon better when dead, than the com-
mon Sort. Oyfters are very Plenty in Winter on the
Cof lis of Acadia, and the Manner of fifhing for them
is fomething fingular. They make a Hole in the Ice,
and they thruft in two Poles together in fuch a Manner,
that they have the EfFe6k of a Pair of Pincers, and they
feldom draw them up without an Oyfter. The Lemor-
net is, as I have faid, a Kind of Cuttle Filh, but how-
ever it is very different from the common Cuttle Fifli.
It is quite round, or rather oval ; at the End of its Tail
is a Sort of Ledge, which makes him a Kind of Shield,
and his Head is furrounded with Barbs half a Foot long,
which he makes Ufe of to catch other Firti. There are two
Kinds, which differ only in Bignefs ; the fmaller Sort is
about a Foot long. They take but few of the lad 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 juft upon turning, they ap-
proach it, and fo are left aground. The Lencornet roaft-
ed, boiled, or fricaffee'd, is very good eating, but makes
the Sauce quite black. •
The St. Peter'' s Fi(h is like a fmall Cod, has the fame
Taffe, and is dried alfo like that. It has two black Spots
on the Sides of its Head, and the Sailors fay, this is the
Fifh in which St. Peter found the Piece of Money to pay
the Tribute to the Roman Emperor, for our Lord and
himfelf ; and that its two Spots are the two Places by
which he took hold ok it : For this Reafon they cr II it St.
Peter'*% Fifti. The Sea Plaice is firmer and better than
the River Plaice. They catch them as well as Lobfters
with long Sticks armed with a fharplron, which is notch-
ed to prevent the Efcape of the Fi{h. In (liort, in many
Places, efpecially towards Acadia^ the Ponds are full of
Salmon Trouts, and Turtles two Feet in Diameter, the
Flefh of which is excellent, and the Top Shell ftreaked
with white, red, and blue.
Among the Fifh with which Lake Champla'm, and the
Rivers which flow into it, abound, M. Cbamplain ob-
ferved one pretty fingular, which he calls Cbaoufarou,
probably from the Name given it by the Savages. It is
M 3 . a par-
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ti8
HISTORY Of
a particular Species of the armed T'i(h, -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 filver grey,
and there ^ ter or Juice than
the Maple ; but it is bitter, and the Sugar made of it
never lofes its Bitternefs. The Savages ms.ke Ufe of ils
Bark in certain Diforders that happen to Women.
There are in Canada three Sorts of A(h ; the True, the
Mongrel, and the Baftard : The firft Sort, which grows
amongft the Maples, is fit for the Carpenters Ufe, and
to make Calks for dry Goods : The fecond ha% the fame
Properties, and grows as the Baftard Kind does, only in
a low and good Soil.
v i; .■.''■ :' ' '"- " ■
They reckon alfo in this Country three Kinds of
Walnuts ; the hard, the foft, and a third Kind which
has a very thin Bark : The hard Kind bears very fmall
Nuts, good to eat, but hard to (hell ; 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
cur's; but to make Amends, it fcarce ever decays, either
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 (oft Shells. They make very good
Oil of thefe Nuts. This Tree yields fweeter Water than
the
128
HISTORY or
the Maple, but in a fmaller Quantity : It grows only,
like the foft Walnut, in the bed Soils.
Beach Trees are very plentiful here. I have feen fome
on Tandy Hills, and in very fruitful low Lands: They
bear nnuch Mail, from which it would be eaiy to extra^
an Oil. The Bears make it their principal Food, as do
silfo the Partridges. The Wood is very foft, and fit to
make Oars for Boats ; but the Rudders of Canoes are
made of Maple. The White Wood, which grows a*-
mongft the Maple and the wild Cherry, is very plenty.
Thefe Trees grow large and ftraight : They make Boards
and Planks of them, and alfo 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 are white and red. The Wood, of the firft is
hardeft to work, but lads the longed. The Iroquois make
their Canoes of the Bark of the red Elm : There are fome
of a (ingle 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 Marlhes.
They find in the thickeft Woods a great Number of
Plum-Trees, loaded with Fruit, but very four. The
Finegar-Tree is a Shrub very pithy, which yields Bunches
of a (harp Fruit of an Ox-Blood Colour. By infuHng
them in Water they make a Kind of Vinegar. The Pe-
mine 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 aftringent. There are three Sorts
of Goofberries 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 (hort Time. The Savages dry them as
we do Cherries in Frame.
The Jtoca is a Fruit with Kernels as big as a Cherry :
This Plant, which runs upon the G/ound in the Marfhes,
produces its Fruit in the Water. The Fruit is iharp, and
they make Sweet-Meats of it. The white-Thorn is found
by
NORTH-AMERICA. 129
by ihe Sides of Rivers, and pro<1uccs much Fruit with
three Kernels. This is the Food of many wild Bcafls.
They call here the Cotton-Trcc a Plant which (hoots 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 thefc Flowers,
and there falls off" with the Water a Kind of Honey,
which is made into Sugar by boilinp. The Seed grows
in a Bladder, which cont^ns a very fine Sort of Cotton.
The Soleil (the Sun) is anotner Plant very common in the
Fields of the Savages, and which grows feven or eight
Feel 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 lefs than our*s, which has a fweet
Taffc. They boil them whole, or roaft them under the
Arties, and eat them thus without any Thing with them.
The Savages before our Arrival here had the common
Melons, and the Water Melons. The firft are as good
as our*s in France, efpecially in this Ifland, 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 dif-
tinguifli a Traveller who ranges thro* the Woods and
Plains of Canada, and who is entertained with every
Thing that prefents itfelf to his View.
/ am, &ic.
Vol. I.
N
LETTER
by
n
r «3« ]
,vw -•:'..
L E T T E R X.
Of the Caufet of the Cold of Canada. Of the Refour^
ces tbey have for Subfiflence. Of the Cbara^er of tbf
French Canadians.
Madam,
Montreal, April 22.
IT is furprifing that in France , where they fo often fee
Perfons who have pafled a good Part of their Lives in
Canada f they (hould have fuch a wrong Idea of this Coun-
try. This proceeds without Doubt from the Informa-
tion of thofe People who know it by its worft Side. The
Wmter generally begins before the Veffels fail for France^
and it begins in a Manner that aftonifhes thofe who are
not ufed to it. The firft Froft fills the Rivers with Ice in a
few Days, and the Earth is foon covered with Snow,
which lads fix Months, and always rifes fix Feet high
where the Wind has not Power.
' There is indeed no Want of Wood to provide againfl
the Cold, which foon becomes exceflive, and lafts till the
Spring is pretty forward : But it is very melancholy not
to be able to ftir out without being frozen, or without be*
ing 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
between the Rivers and the Fields, no more Variety,
even the Trees are covered with a Rime, and all their
Branches are hung with Ificles, under which it is not fafe
to (land. 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
N 2, venture
132 HISTORYoF
venture out of their Holes ? And Indeed I never pafled a
Winter in this Country, but I faw iome Pepple who
were carried to the Hofpital, to have their Legs and Arms
cut off that were frozen. In Fa£t, 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 ^aft, the
Weather growsalitiJe 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 Fifli,
which had bcirn laid up in the Store-Rooms : So that in
Spigbt of the Rigour of the exceffive Cold, they are ftill
obliged to with for its Continuance. It is to no Purpofe
to fay the Winters are not fo cold ps they were eighty
Years ago, that in all Appearance they will grow milder
hereafter. The Misfortune of thofe who came before
us^ and the good Fortune of thofe who fh^ll come ai-
ter us, is np Cure for the prefent Evil whiqh we fufTer.
A Cfepie pf Martinico^ Avho ihould h{iye landed the firfl:
f ime in France during th^ gr^at Froft in 1 709, wpuld he
hafe been rt^uch relieved by hearing rpe fay, wl^o came
at that Time frpm $^eh^(^ that th^ Co(d was qot fp ftiarp
as !n Qana^d f For though \ fpoke ti>e Truth, and had
good Evidences of it, yet Kie nught Jiave anfwered me,
mat he did not find the Cold of France tefs piercing by
hearing that it was fliarper f^ill in Canq4f(- Neverthelefs,
as foon as the Month oflid^ay is come, the Scene is foon
changed, the Sweetnefs of this End of the Spring is fo
much the more pl^afing, as it fucceed^ sk tnore rigoFeus
Sea:fpn. TN Heat of tiie Supomer. which in lefe fhan
four Mopfhs Time (hews us both Qced-Tinie and U'W^
veft *, the Serenity of the Autumn, in >vhich we eiijoy
a Courfe of fine Days, whicji are foldon^ feen |n pipft ol
the Provinces of France : All tkisi,. added to ijie Liberty
wjjich th^y enjoy in this Country, is a Compenfation which
makes many People thir>k an Abode here, at leaft as
* They plow the Fields in Sumiugr> they fow frona the
midfl: or^/r/7to the loth of Mty cut the Corn (rpm
the 1 $th ofAuguJI to the 2pih of Sepiemher. The Lapdstbat
are not pbwed till the Spring bear lei's, becaufe they are not fo
well impregnated with the nitrous Parts of the Snow.
N O R T H-A M E R I C A.
«33
ligreeable as in the Kingdom where they were bom ; and
it is certain, that our Canaaians do not fcruple to give it
the Preference.
After all, there are In this exceflive and long Cold, fome
Inconyeniencies which can never be well remedied : I
ihall Place in the firil Rank, the Difficulty of feeding
Cattle, which during the whole Winter can find abfo-
lutely nothing in the Fields, and of Confequence coft
ipuch to feea, and the Flelh of which, after fix Months
dry Pood, has fcarce any Taftc. The Fowls require al-
fp a great deal of Care, and much Corn, to preferve
them during fo long and fevere a Winter. It we fave the
Expence by killing at the End of Oclcher, 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 Fi(h under the Ice, they cannot be very plen-
• ty ; befidfs that, they are iuomediately frozen. So that
it is almoll ImipojfTible to have them frefh in the Seafon
when it is moft difficult to do without. We fhould alfo
be very much embarralTed during Lent, without Cod and
Kels. There is at that Time no frefli Butter and Eggs ;
and there is but little Nourifliment to be expe£ted in eat-
iqg the Pulfe and Roots, which they preferve in Store-
Rooms as well as they can, but which has fcarce any
Virtue when they have been kepfc-therc fome Months.
Add to this, that excepting Apples, which are excellent
here, and the fmall Summer Fruit which do not keep, the
Fruits of France have not fucceeded in Canada. Thefe,
Madam, are the Difadvantages which are caufed by the
great Cold. We are, notwithftanding, as near the Sun
as they are iiithe mod fouthern Provinces of France j and
as we advance in the Colony, we come nearer flill. From
whence can this different Temperature of the Air pro-
ceed under the fame Parallels ? This is what, in my
Opinion, no Perfon has yet well explained.
The greateft Part of the Authors, who have treated
on this Matter, have fatisfied themfelves with faying, that
this lor.g and fevere Cold proceeds from the St ow's lying
fo long on the Ground, tlmt it is impofiible tint ihe
N 3 Ground
»34
HISTORY or
Ground (hould be well warmed again. But this Anfwer
makes the Difficulty ftill greater, for one may a(k what is
it that produces this great Quantity of Snow, in Climates
as hot as Lan^uedoc, and Provence, and in Parts that are
much more diftant from any Mountains. The Sieur De-
nyff whom I have cited feveral Times before, alTerts, 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 Forcft before there is a Leaf up-
on 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 al-
ways at the Bottom that it begins to melt: For who can
be perfuaded that the Earth, covered with a frozen Wa-
ter, fhould have more Heat than the Air, which receives
immediately the Heat of the Rays of the Sun. Befides, it
does not anfwer the Queflion, what is the Caufe of this
Deluge of Snow, which overflows vaft Countries in the
midflof the temperate Zone ? ,
There is no Doubt but that, generally fpeaking, the
Mountains, Woods, and Lakes, contribute much to it ;
but it appears to me, that we muft ftill feek for other
Catlfes. Father Jofepb Bre/fani., an Italian Jefuit, who
pafl the beft Years of his Life in Canada, has left us in
his native Tongue, a Relation o^ New France, in which
he endeavours to clear up this Point of Philofophy. He
cannot allow that we (hould ati/ibute the Cold, of which
we feek the Caufe, to any of the CaufesI have jufl men-
tioned, viz. the Mountains, Woods, and Lakes, with
which this Country abounds ; but he feems to go too far ;
for there is nothing to anfwer againft Experience, which
makes us fenfibie of the Abatement of the Cold, in Pro-
portion as the Country is cleared of the Woods, altho' it
is not in fo great a Proportion as it ought to be, if the
'J'hicknefs of the Woods was the ppircipal Caufe of it.
What he allows him^e^f, that it is common to fee a Froft
in Summer after a very hot Day, appears to me a Dc-
monftration againft him ; for how can we explain this
rhflDnpmenon ciherwifc., than by faying that the Sun
having
N O R T H-A M E R I C A. 135
having opened in the Day l''inie the Pores of the Earth,
the Moifture that was inclofed in it, and the nitrous Par-
ticles which the Snow left in it in great Quantities, and
the Heat which is continued after the fettingof the Sun,
in an Air fo fubtil as that we breathe in this Country,
form thefe little Frofts in the fame Manner as we make
Ice on the Fire : Now the Moifture of the Air is evident-
ly a great Part of the Caufe of the Cold ; and from
whence (hould this Moifturecome in a Country where the
Soil is generally mi xt with much Sand, if it was not from
the Lakes and the Rivers, from the Thicknefsof the Fo-
refts, and from Mountains covered with Snow, which in
melting water the Plains, and from Winds which carry
the Exhalations everv where.
Butif Father Br^'^ni was miftaken, as I think, from
excluding all thefe Things from the Caufes of the excef-
five Cold of Canada, what he fubftitutes in Lieu thereof,
feems to me to contribute greatly towards it. There are,
fays he, in the hotted Climates, fome moid Lands, and
there are fome very dry in the coldcd Countries : But a
certain Mixture of dry and moid makes Ice and Snow,
the Quantity of which makes the Excefsand Duration ot
the Cold. Now if one was to travel but very little in G»-
nada, we (hould perceive this Mixture in a very remark-
able Manner. It is without Cojitradiftion a Country
where there is the mod Water of any Country in the
World, and there are few, where the Soil is more mixt
with S(ones and Sand. Add to this, it feldom rains here,
and the Air is txtremely pure and healthy ; a certain
Proof of the natural Drynefs of the Earth. In Fa6V, Fa-
ther JSr^^H/ affirms, that during fixtcen Years that the
Miifion fubfided in the Country of thtHurons, there liv-
ed thvTe at the fame Time fixty freticbmen, many of
whom were of a tender Conftitution ; that they all fared
very hardly in Point of Diet, and fuffered in other Re-
fpeds beyond uU Imagination, and that not one died,
In Fa£V, this prodigious Multitude of Rivers and Lakes,
which occupy as much Space in N'ew Frame as half the
\ ,^r\(\'^'\\\ Europe f one would imagine fliould turnilh the
Air with Hv'w Vapours; but, befidcs that the grcaud
N 4 Part
iS6 H I S T O ft Y o F
Part of thefc Watc?rs are very clear, and on a fandy Bot-
tom, their great and continual Agitation blunt the Ray3
of the Sun, hinder it from raifing many Vapours, orcau-
fes them to fall again in the Fogs ; for the Winds excite
iipdh theft freih Water Seas as frequent and as violent
Storms as upon the Ocean : And this alfo is the true
Reafofi why it feldom rains at Sea.
Thefecond Caufe of the cxceffire Cold of C^^Wa, ac-
cording to Father Brejfartiy is the Neighboarhood of the
Northern Sea, covered with moftftrous Heaps of Ice
above eight Months in the Year. You may here recoi-
led. Madam, what I faid in my firft Letter of the Cold
we felt in the Dog Days, from the Neighbourhood of a
floating Ifland of Ice, or rather from the Wind which
blew upon us from the Side where it was, and which ceaf-
6d the Moment it was under the Wind. It is moreover
certain, that it 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 con-
tributes greatly to render fo piercing the Weft and North
Weft Winds, which come to us acrofs vaft Countries,
and a gCeat Chain of Mountains which are covered with
Snow.
Laftly,if we take the Opinion of this Italian Mifllona-
ry, the Height of the Land is not the leaft Caufe of the
Subtility of the Air which we breathe in this Country, and
confequently of the Severity of the Cold. Father Bref-
fani takes great Pains to prove this Elevation by the
Depth of the Se?., which increafes, fays he, in Proporti-
on 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 Fall'; of the River St. Laurence^ and of fome Rivers
in Nc-M France, prove no more than the Cataracts of the
Nile. On the other Kand, we do not obferve that from
Montreal, where the Falls begin, down to the Sea, that
the River St. Laurence is much more ri^pid than fome of
viviv\\.\\' ii>\v. Europe. I thii.L therefore, we muft keep
to ti)e Neighbourliood of the Ice of the North,* as the
Caufe
N O R T H-A M E R I C A. i^y
Caufc of the Cold, and that even in Spite of this Neigh-
bourhood, if Canada was as free from Woods, and as
well peopled as Prance, 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 has rarified the Air.
When the Winter is paft, Fifhing, Shooting, and
Hunting, abundantly fupply thofe with Provifions who
take the Pains for it : Befides the Fifh and Wild Fowl,
which I have already mentioned, the River St. Laurence
and the Foreft, furnifli the Inhabitants with two Sorts of
Manna, as we may call it, which are a great Support to
them. From ^ebec to I'rois Rivieres, they take in the
River a prodigious Quantity of great Eels, which come
down, as they fay, from Lake Ontario, where they
are bred in fome Marlhes, on the Side of the Lake ; but as
they meet, as I before remarked, with white Porpoifes,
which chafe them, the greateft Part drive to return again,
and this is the P.eafon they take fi:ch a great Number.
They fifh for theia 'n this Manner : Upon a Part of the
Shore which is covered at high Water, and which is left
dry when the Tide falls, they place Boxes at certain Di-
ftances, and fix them againft a Fence of Ozier Hurdles,
which leaves no Paffage open for the Eels. Latge Nets
or Bafkets of the fame Matter, are fixed by the narroweft
End into thefe Boxes, and the other End, which is very
wide, lies againft the Hurdles, upon which they place at
Intervals fome Bunches of Greens. When all is covered
with the Tide, the Eels which always run to the Side,
and which are enticed by the Greens, come in great
Numbers along this Fence, and enter into the BaHcets,
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 whafibcvcr
Sauce they are eaten, they always retain a rank T.afle, to
which we cannot reconcile ourfelves but with Difficulty ;
Perhaps this is the Fault of our Cooks. Their Bones all
* terminate
138 H I S T O R Y o F
terminate in a Point a little rent, which I do not remem-
ber to have A en in thofe of France. The heft Met^.cd of
drefllng this Fifti is to h;ing it up in the Chimney, and
there let it road flowly in i'-s f^kin : This Skin comes off
of itfelf,. and all the Oil runs out. As tliey provide great
Store of them during the three Mont!i;> that the Filliery
iafts, they fait them, and put them in Barrels like Her-
rings. The other Manna I fpoke of, is a Kind of Wood-
Pigeons, 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. Never-
thelefs, there dill comes into the Neighbourhood of the
Towns a pretty large Number to reft upon the Trees.
They commonly call them Tourtes, and they differ in
Fa£t from Wood-Pigeons, Turtles, and the common
Pigeons of Europe, enough to make a fourth Species.
They are fmaller than our largeft Pigeons of Europe ; but
have their Eyes, and the like Clouds of their Neck. Their
Plumage is of a dark brown, except their Wings, whert
they have fome Feathers of a very fine blue.
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 ; and they range themfelves in luch a Man- '
ner, that the word Markfman may knock down fix at
lead with one Shot. They have alio found a Way to
take many alive, and they feed them till the fird Frod ;
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 Neceffariesof Life : They pay little to the King ;
the Inhabitant knows neither Land-Tax nor Poll-Money ;
he has Bread cheap *, Meat and Fidi are not dear ; but
Wine and Stuffs, and every Thing they have from France^
is very dear. The ^mod to be pitied are the Gentlemen
and Officers here, who have only their Salaries, and are
burthened with Families: The Women feldom bring any
oiher Portions to their Huft)ands than much Wit, Love,
Agreeablcnefs, and Fruitfulnefs, But as God gives to the
Mairiat^csof this Country the BlefTing, which he gave
to the Patriarchs, they ought alfo in order to fubfid iuch
numerous
N O R TH-A M E R I C A. 139
numerous Families, to live like the Patriarchs; but thofe
Times are paft. In New France there are more Gen-
tlemen than in all the red of our Colonies together.
The King maintains here twenty-eight Companies of Ma-
rines, and three Etats Majors. Many Families have been
enoblcd here, and there have remained here feveral Offi-
cers of the Regiment Carignan Salieres, which have peo-
pled the Country with Gentlemen, the greateft Part of
which find it hard to live. It would be harder with them
(liil, if they were not allowed to '^rade, and if every one
here had not a common Right to fifh, Ihoot, and hunt.
After all, if they fuffer Want, they are a little to blame
ihcmfelves. The Land is good almoft every where, and
Agriculture does not degrade a Gentleman. How many
Gentlemen in all the Provinces r;f France would envy
the common Inhabitants of Canada if they knew it ; and
thofe who languifh here in fhameful Indigence, can they
be excufed for not embracing a Profefllon, which the fole
Corruption of Manners and weak Maxims have degraded
from its antient Honour ? We do not know in the World
a Country more healthful than this : There prevails here
no particular Difeafe ; the Fields and Woods are full of
Herbs of wonderful Virtue, and the Trees dillill moft ex-
cellent Balfams. Thefe Advantages ought at lead to
keep thofe in this Country who are born here ; but Fic-
klenefs, and an Averfion to diligent and regular Labour,
and a Spirit of Independency, have driven out a great
Number of young People, and have hindered the Colony
from being peopled.
Thefe, Madam, are the Failings of which they accufe^
with the moft Foundation, the French of Canada. The
Savages have alfo the fame ; one would think that the
Air which they breathe in this vaft Continent contributes
to it ; but the Example and Company of the natural In-
habitants, who place all their Happinefs in Liberty and
Independence, are more than fufTicient to form this Cha-
racter. They accufe alfo our Creoles of being very greedy,
and of heaping up Riches, and truly for this Purpofc,
they perform Things one would not believe without
feeing: The Journies they undertake, the Fatigues
they
140
HISTORY OF
they endure, the Dangers they expofc themfelves to, the
Efforts they make, exceed all Imagination. There are,
notwithftanding, few Men iefs covetous, who difllpate
more eafiiv what has coft them (o much Pa>' ^equire,
and who (new Iefs Concern for having lod ^ i\nd there
18 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 accuftomed be-
times to live a roving Life ; it has Charms for them that
knake them forget the pad Dangers and Fatigues ; and
they pride themfelves in braving them anew. They have
much Wit, (efpecially the Women, whofe Wit is brilli-
ant and eafy). They are fruitful in Expedients, bold,
and capable of conducting Affairs of the greateft Moment.
You have known. Madam, more than one of this Cha-
rafter, and you have often exprefTed to me your Surprize
at it. I do affure you, that the greatefl Part here are
fuch ; and they are the fame in all Ranks.
I know not whether I fhould place among the Failings
of the Canadians f the good Opinion they have of them-
felves. It is certain at leaft that it infpires them with a
Confidence that makes them undertake and execute what
would feem impoiTible to many others. We muft allow,
on the other Hand, that they have excellent Qualities.
They are of a good Stature, and well fhaped in Body.
Their Strength of Conftitution is not always anfwerable
thereto ; and if the Canadians live long, they are old and
worn out betimes^ This is not entirely their own Fa^lt,
it is partly that of their Parents, who for the mofl Part
do not watch enough over their Children to hinder them
from ruining their Healtli in an Age, in whicli, when it
is ruined, there is no Refource. Their Agility and Dex-
terity are without Parallel ; the mofl: fkilful Savages do
not guide their Canoes better in the raoll dangerous Tor-
rents, and are not better Markfmen.
*
Many People are pcrfuaded that they are not fit for the
Sciences, which recjuire much Application, and a Courfc
of Study. I cannot fay whether this Prejudice is well or
ill founded, for we have had no Canadian yet who has un-
dertaken to confute it. Perliaps they arc lo only from the
loofc
NORTH-AMERICA. 141
loofe diflipated Way they are brought up in. But every
one mud acknowledge, that they have a wonderful Gen^
Ls for Mechanics: They have fcarce any Need of Mafters
to excel in them, and wc fee every Day fome who fucceed
in all Trades without havin5 ferved an Apprcnticefhip.
Some charge them with Ingratitude, yet they have ap-
peared to me to have Hearts good enough, but their na-
tural Levity often hinders them from confidering 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 Ma((er». This is quite
contrary to what is faid of thofe from whom the greated
Part take their Origin. They would be perfed Men, if
with their own good Qualities, they had prelerved thofe
of tbeir Apceftors. Some have complained that they are
inconflant 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 Refiraint,
even in their own Affairs. If they are not eafy to be dif-
ciplined, this comes from the fame Principle; or benufe
they have a Difcipline of their own, which they think ihe
propereft to make War with the Savages, in which they
are not altogether in the wrong. On the other Hand,
they feem not to be Mafters of a certain Impetuofity,
which makes them fitter for a Coup de Maitij or a fudden
Expedition, than for the regular and fettled Operations
of a Campaign. It has alfo been remarked, thatamongfl
a great Number of brave Men, who have diftinguifhcd
themfelves in the late Wars, there have been few found
■who had Talents to command. This was perhaps, becaufe
they had not fufficicntly learnt how to obey. It is trwe
that when they are well headed, there is nothing they
cannot accomphrh, either by Land or Sea ; but for this
End, they mull: have a great Opinion of their Comman-
der. The late I.V d^ Iberville, who had all the good Qua-
lities of his Country, without any of its Defeds, 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 Regard they have for their
Parents ; who on their Side, have a Tendernefs for them
that is not juftifiable. The Savages fall into the fame
Krror,
i4a
HISTORY OP
Error, and it produces amongft them the fame EffeCls.
But what above all Things mould make us value our
Creoles u, that they have a g^reat deal of Piety and Reli-
gion, 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 extremely brave and dexterous, they might be render-
ed very ferviceable for War, for the Sea, and for the
Arts ; and I believe it would be for the Good of the State
to promote their Increafe more than has hitherto been
done. Men are the principal Riches of a Sove-
reign ; and Canada, though it could be of no other Ufc to
France, but for this Purpofe, would dill be, if it was well
peopled^ one of the moft important of our Colonies.
• ' I am, &c.
•-^ <
•/
LETTER
. r l:-..._'.
NORTH-AMERICA. 143
LETTER XI.
0/ the Iroquois Villagf, Of the Fall of St. Louis ;
and of the different People who inhabit Canada.
Madam, Fall of St. Louis, May 21.
THIS Village was at firft placed by St. Magdalen^
Meadow, about a League lower than the Fall of
St. Louis, towards the South. The Lands not being
found fit for producing Maiz, it was removed over-againil
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 Situa-
tion is charming, that the Church «nd the Houfe of the
MiiConaries arc two of the fineft Buildings in the Coun-
try ; from which we may conclude, that effe£tual Me-
furei have been taken not to be obliged to make more
Removals. I reckoned, when I came here, to go away
immediately after the Eajler Holidays ; but nothing is
more fubjefk to Difappointments of all Kinds, than thefe
Sorts 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 pafted
the Time in converdng with fome antient Mifllonaries,
who have lived a long Time with the Savages, and have
had from them many Particulars concerning various Peo-
ple who inhabit this vaft Continent ; which. Madam, I
ihall now communicate to you.
The firft Land of America that we meet with coming
from France to Canada, is the Ifland of Newfoundland,
one of the largeft that we know. It could never beknown
for
144
HISTORY OF
for Certainty, whether it had any Native Inhabitants :
Its Barrennefs, fuppofing it every where as real as it is
thought to be, is not a fufficient Proof th^t it has hfl() no
Native Inhabitants; for Fifhingand Hunting are fufficient
to maintain Savages. This is certain, that here was ne-
ver feen any but Efiimaux, who are not Natives of this
Country. Their real Country is Labrador, or N^iv- Bri-
tain : It is there at leaft that they pafs the greateft Part of
the Year ; for it would be profaning the Name of Na-
tive Country, to apply it to wandering Barbarians, who
having no Affeftion for any Country, travel over a vaft
Extent of Land. In Fa£l, befides the Coafls of New-
foundland, which the Efiimaux range over in the Sum-
mer, 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 Efiimaux :
They have been met with alfo a good Way up the River
Bourbon, which runs into HudJon*s Bay, coming from
the Weft.
The origins! Name of thcfe People is not certain;
however, it is very probable that it comes from the Abe-
naqui Word Efauimantjic, which fignifies an Eater of raw
Fie/b.— 'The Efiimaux are in TstQ. the only Savages known
that eat raw Fleih, though they have alfo the Cuftom of
drefling it, or drying it in the Sun : It is alfo certain, that
of all the People known in America, there are none who
conie nearer than thefe to compleat the firft Idea which
Europeans had of Savages. They are almoft the only
People where ihe Men have any Beard ; and they have
it (o thick up to their Eyes, that it is difficult to difttn-
guifti any Features of the Face : They have befides fome-
thing hideous ip their Look : Little Eyes, looking wild ;
large Teeth, and very foul : Their Hair is commonly
black, but fometimes light, much in Diibrder, and their
wliole outward Appearance very rough. Their Manners
and their Chara^er do not difagree with their ill Look :
They are fierce, furly, miftruftful, and uneafy^ always
inclined to do an Injury to Strangers, who ought there-
fore to be upon their guard agatnft them. As to their
Wit and Underftanding^ we have had fo little Commerce
with this People^ that we can fay nothing concerning
themj
N O R t H-A M li R t C A. 145
tliiem ; but they are however cunning enough to do Mif-
thief. They have often been feen to go in the Night to
cut the Cables of Ships that were at Anchor, that they
might be wrecked upon the Coaft ; and they make no Scru-
ple of attacking them openly in the Day^ when they know
they are weakly mann'd. It was never poifible to render
them more tra£table ; and we cannot yet treat with them,
but at the End of a long Pole. They not only refufe to ap-
proach the Europeans^ but they will eat nothing that
comes from them ; and iti all Things, they take on their
Part fuch Precaution, as (hews a great Diffidence, which
gives Room to miflruft reciprocally every Thing that
comes from them. They are tall, and pretty well fliap-
ed : Their Skin is as white as Snow, which proceeds,
without Doubt from their never going naked in the hot-
teft Weather. Their Hair, their Beards, the White-
nefs of their Skin, the little Refemblance and Commerce
they have with their neared Neighbours, leave no Room
to doubt that they have a different Origin from other
Americans : But the Opinion which makes them defcend-
cd from the Bifcayners, feems to me to have little Foun-
dation, efpecially if it is true, as I have been afTured, 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 inhabited by Men than Newfoundland and Labra--
dor, there is perhaps no People which deferve more to
be confined here than the EJkimaux. For my Part I am
perfuaded they came originally from Greenland.
Thefe Savages are covered in iuch 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 fowed together,
they have a Coat made of Bear or Deer Skins, and fome-
times of Birds Skins. A Capuchin of the fame Stuff,
and 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 be-
bw the Waifl ; but the Women wear them both before
Vol. I. O and
146
HISTORY OF
and behind, to the Middle of the Leg, and bound whh
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, witli the Hair inwards,
and over this a Boot, furred in like Manner on the In-
fide ; 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 Sa-
vages from being 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. It 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 the Environs, and above Hudfon's Bay. In the
Southern Part of this Bay, they trade with the Mijlajftm^
the Monfonisy the CriJlinauXy and the Ajpniboils, Thefe
lad came here from a great Diftance, fmce 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): of
the Sioux. The other three ufe the Algonquin Language.
The Crijiinaux, or Killijiinom, come from the North of
the upper Lake. The Savages of the River Bourbon *,
and the River Sainte Tberefe, have a Language entirely
different from either : It is probable they are more ac-
quainted with the EJkimaux Language. It is obferved,
that they are extremely fuperftitious, and offer fome Sort
of Sacrifices. Thofe who arc the mofl acquainted with
them affirm, that they have, like thofe of Canada, a No-
tion of good and evil Spirits ; that the Sun is ther: 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 light-
- . • ed
♦ They fay that when they have gone one hundred Leagues
up this River, it is no longer navigable for (\ity Leagues, and
that afterwards it runs fn the midft of a very fine Country, ahd
this lafts to the Lake of the Affiniboils^ where it rifes.
N O R T H-A M E R I C A.
147
ed
ViCS
and
and
cd 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 fnioke in the fame Pipe. All
thefe Savages, though they are of five or fix different Na-
tions, are known in the French Relations by the Name of
the Savanois, becaufe the Country where they inhabit is
low, marfliy, poorly wooded, and becaufe in Canada
they call Savanes * 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 fe-
cond the Rher of Seals. There arc fome Savages on the
Sides of thefe Rtvers, 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 with the
Savanoisy but neither one nor the other treat their Pri-
foners with that Barbarity which is ufual amongft the
Canadians ; they only keep them in Slavery. The Sa-
lianois are often reduced by Want to ilrange Extremities:
Either through Idlenefs on their Part, or that their Land
produces nothing at all, they find themfelves, when the
Chafe and Fifhery fail, without any Provifions ; and then
it is faid, they make no Difficulty to eat one another :
The Weakeft, no Doubt, go firft. It is alfo faid, that
k 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 moft fond of, who
flrangles him as foon as he can : He even thinks that in
this he does a good A£lion, not only becaufe he puts an
End to the Sufferings of his Father, but alfo becaufe he
is perfuaded he haftcns his Happinefs ; for thefe Savages
imagine that a Man who c'es in old Age, i^ 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
People never marry, but with the Confent of their Pa-
O 2
The Engli/b call them Siuamps,
rents.
148 HISTORY ok '
rents, and the Son-in-Law is obliged to live with his Fa-
ther-in-Law, and be fubje6l to him in every Thing, till
he has Children. The oons leave their Father*s Houfe
early. Thefe Savages, burn their Dead, and wrap up
their Aflies 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 fmokein the o-
ther World. If 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 among them
than the Chafe ; but to be efteemed a good Hunter, they
muft faft three Days together without taking the leaft
Nourilhment, having their Faces fmeared with Black all
this Time. When the Faft is over, the Candidate facri-
fices to the Great Spirit 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 appropriated to the Hunter to feaft his Friends
and Strangers with. As to the reft, they fay that thefe
Savages are perfefkly difmterefted, and are of moft invio-
lable Fidelity; that they cannot bear a Lye> and look
upon all Deceit with Horror.
This is, Madam, all that I could learn of thefe T^orth-
ern People, with whom we never had a fettled Inter-
courfe, and whom we never faw but en paffant,--—^het
us come to thofe we are better acquainted with. — One
may divide them into three Clafles, diftinguiftied by their
Language, and their particular Genius.
In that Extent of Country which is com*^nonly called
New France, wiiich has no Bounds to the North, but on
the Side of Hud/on's Bay, which was difmembered from
it by the Treaty of Utrecht, which has no other on
the Eaft but the Sea, the Englijb Colonies on the South,
Louifiana to the South-Eaft, and the Spanijb Territories
to the Weft : In this Extent of Country there are but
three Mother Tongues, from which all the others are
derived :
NORTH-AMERICA.
149
derived: Thefe are the Sioux, the Algonquirtf and the
Huron. We know hut httle of the People who fpeak the
firft of thefe Languages, ai)d no Body knows how far it
extends. We have hitherto had no Commerce but with
the Sioux and the AJfiniboih, and this has not been greatly
followed.
Our Miflionarieshave endeavoured to make a Settlement
among the Sioux ; and I knew one who greatly regretted
that he had not fuccecded, or rather, that had not remained
longer among thefe People, who appeared to him doci-
ble. There are none perhaps from whom we may gain
more Information concerning all that is to the North
Weft of the MiJIifpppiy as they have an Intercourfe with
all the Nations of thefe vaft Countries. They dwell com-
monly in Meadows, under Tents made of Skins, and
well wrought : They live on wild Oats, which grow in
Abundance in their Marfbes and Rivers, and by hunt-
ing, efpecially of the Buffaloes 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 Chafe detains them.
Our Geographers diftinguiih this Nation into wander-
ing Sioux J and Sisux of the Meadows, into Sioux of the
Eaji, and Sioux of the JVep. Thefe Divifions don't ap-
pear to me to be well grounded : All the Sioux live after
the fame Manner; whence it happens that a Village
which was laft Year on the Eaft Side of the Mijpfpppit
ihall next Year be on the Weft Side ; and that thofe who
•were at one Time by the River St. Pierre, arc perhaps now
far enough from it in fome Meadow. The Name of
Sioux, which we have given to thefe Savages, is entirely
our own making, or rather is the two laft Syllables of
NadoueJJioux, as they are called by many Nations: Others
call them Nadouejfts. They are the mofl: numerous Peo-
ple we know in Canada: They were peaceable enough,
and little ufed to War, before the Hurons and Outaouais
took Refuge in their Country, flying from the Fury of ■
the Iroquois. They derided their Simplicity, and made
them Warriors to their own Coft.
O 3 The
I50
HISTORY or
The Sioux have fevcral Wives, and they feverely
piinifn thoft tliat fai- of Conjugal Fidelity. They cut
off the End of their Nofes, and cut a Circle in a
Part of t^'c Skin on the Top of cheir Head, and pull it
off. I have feen fome People who are periuaded that
thefe Savages had a Cbinefe Accent : It would not be
difflcuU to know the Tnith of this, nor to know if their
Language has any Affinity with the Chinefe,
-J
Thofe who have been amongfl: the AJpniboils fay, that
they are tall, well made, Ikong, nimble, inured to the
Cold and all Manner of Fatigues ; that they prick them-
felves all over the Body, and mark out Figures of Ser-
pents, or other Animals, and that they undertake very
long Journies. There is nothing in this that diftinguifhes
them much from the other Savages of this Continent,
whom we know ; but what is particular in their Charac-
ter is, that they have a great deal of Gravity ; at leaft
they appear fo, in Comparifon of the Cnjlinaux, with
whom they h?vc fome Intercourfe. The Crijlinaux are
in Fa£t of an extraordinary Vivacity ; they are always
fmging and dancing ; and they fpeak with fuch a Volubi-
lity and Precipitation, that has npycr been obferved of any
other Savages, .....
The Native Country of the AJJiniboils is about a Lake
which bears their Name, and which is little known. A
Frenchman whom 1 have feen at Montreal, affured me he
had been there, but that he had feen it as they fee the
Sea in a Port and en pajfant. The common Opinion is,
that this Lake is fix hundred Leagues in Compaff, that
we cannot go to it but by Ways which are almoft impaf-
fable, 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 the Cold is extreme,
and that it contains fuch a Number of Iflands, that they
call It in thefe Parts the Lfl^^ of JJlands, Some Savages
call it Michinipif whic h fignifies the Great Water ; and
it feems in Fa£t to be the Source of the greateft Rivers
and all the great Lakes of North America ; For by feveral
Evident es, they make the River Bourbon to rife out of it,
V^Jii^h rups iptp fiudfon's Bay ; the lliver St* Laurence^
NORTH- AMERICA.
151
xthich carries its Waters to the Ocean ; the Miffijfippi,
which difcharges itfelf into the Gulph of Mexico \ the
Mejfouri, which mingles with the laft ; and which, to
the Place where they join, is in no Refpeft inferior to it;
and a fifth which runs, as they fay, to the Weft, and
Avhich of Courfe muft 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 terreftrial Paradife.
It would have been at leaft as well placed here as in
Scandinavia. But I do not warrant, Madam, all thefe
Fads for Truth, which are only founded upon the Re-
ports of Travellers; much lefs what fome Savages have
reported, viz. that about the Lake of the Affinibtils 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 moft common Ufes.
Father Marquette, who difcovered the MiJJiJpppi m
1673, fays in his Relation, that fome Savages not only
fpoke to him of the River, which taking its rife from this
Lake, runs to the Weft, but that they alfo added, that
they had feen great Ships in its Mouth. It appears in the
old Maps under the Name of Poualaks, and of whom
fome Relations fay that their Country is the Boundary to
that of the Crijiinaux, or Killijiinons,
The Algonquin and Huron Languages have between
them almoft all the Savage Nations of Canada that we
are acquainted with. Whoever ftiould well underftand
both, might travel without an Interpreter above one
ihoufand five hundred Leagues of Country, and make
himfelf underftood by one hundred different Nations,
who have each their peculiar Tongue. The Algonquin
efpecially has a vaft Extent : It begins at Acadia and the
Gulph of St. Laurence, and takes a Compafs oi twelve
hundred Leagues, twining from the South-Eaft by the
North to the South- Weft. They fay alfo, that the Wolf
Nation, or the Mabingans, and the greateft Part of the
Indians of New England and Virginia, fpeak Algonquin
Diale£ts,
04
The
152
HISTORY or
The AlgonquinSf or CaniBas, who arc Neighbours tp
New England have for their ncarefl: Neighbours the Ete-
cbe/fiint, or 'Malecites, about the River Pentagoet \ an4
more to the Eaft arc the Mtcmacks, or Souriquois, whofc
proper or Native Country is A*adiay the Continuance of
the Coafl: of the Gulf of ^/. Laurence^ up to Ga/pe, (froni
whence one Writer calls them Gafpeftans) and the neigh-
bouring Iflands. In going up the River St. Laurence^ wc
meet with at prefent no Savage Nation till we come to
Saguenay. Neverthfelefs, when Canada was firft difco-
vered, and many Years afterwards, they reckoned in this
Space many Nations, which fpread themfelves in the
liiand Anticojle^ towards the Hills of Notre-dame^ and
along the North Side of the River. Thofe which the
antient Relations fpeik rnoft of, are the Berjiamitet, the
Papinacbois, and the Montagnez. They call them alfo
(efpecially the laft) the lower Algonquint, becaufe they
inhabited the lower Part of the River with Rcfpedt to
^ebec. But the greateft Part of the others are reduced
to fome Families, which we meet with fome^imes in one
Place, and fpmctimes in another.
There were fome Savages who c^imc down into the
Colony from the North, fometimes by Saguenay, and
pftener by Trots Rivieres, of whom we have heard no-
thing for a long Time. There were amongft others the
jiltikameques : Thefe Savages came from far, and theif
Country was furrounded by many other Nations, who
extended themfelves about the Lake St. Jobn, and to the
Lakes of the Mijiajpns and Nemifeau. They have been
aimed all deftroyed by the Sword of the Iroquois, or by
Diftempers that were the Confequence 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, ^nd very affec-
tionate to the Fr^«r^.
Betweien ^ebec and Montreal, towards Trots Rivieres^
we meet flill with fome Algonquins, but who do not make
a Village, and who trade with the French, At our firfl
Arrival here, this Nation occupied all the Northern Side
^f the River from ^ehec (where M. de Cbamplain found
■- ' ,'-■'■■• " ■':>' ,■-•'.-.' -V; k'--' "'. ^'-' ' ■ them
NORTH-AMERICA.
IS3
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 Nipiffings, of Temifcam-
ings, of Tetes de Boulet, (Round Heads) of Jmihues, and
of Outaouah *. The firft are the true Alg^nquins, and
who have alone preferved the Algonquin Language, with-
out any Alteration : They have given their Name to a Iit-»
tie Lake iltuated between Lake Huron and the River of
the Qutaouais. The Temifcamings pccupy ihe Borders of
another little Lake, which bears their Name, and which
appears to be the feal Source of the River Outaouais. The
Round Heads are ftol far off: Their Name comes from
the Shape of their Heads : They think a round Head to
be a great Beauty; and it is very piobable that the Mo^
thers give this Shape to the Heads of their Children in
their Infancy. The Amihues, which they call alfo the
Nation of the Beavers, are reduced almoft to nothing :
The Remains of them are found m the Ifland Manitoua-
lin, which is in the Lake Huron, towards the North.
The Outaouais, formerly 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 ihall fpeak of hereafter. ,
Between Lake Huron and the upper Lake in the
Streight itfelf, by which the fecond flows into the firft, is
a Torrent, or Fall, which is called Saulte Sainte Marie,
(the Fall of St. Mary.) Its Environs were! formerly inha-
bited by Savages who came from the South Side of the
upper Lake, whom they call Saulteurs; that is to
SAY, the Inhabitants of the Fall. The) have probably
given them this Name, to fave the Trouble of pronounc-
ing their true Name ; which it is not polTible to do, with-
out taking Breath two or three Times f. There is no
Nation fettled (at leaft that I know of ) on the Borders
of the upper Lake ; but in the Pofts which we pofTefs
there, we trade with the Crifiinaux, who come here
from
* Many write and pronounce it OuttutUMkt^
• + PaueirigoueifiuhaH,
IS4 II I S T O R Y OF •
from the North Fad, and who belong to the Algonquin
Tongue, and with the AJftniboils^ wlio are to the North
Weft. •
The \j^kQ Michigan J which is almoft parallel with Lake
Huron, into which it difcharges itfelF, and whicli is fcpa-
rattd from it but by a Pcninfula one hundred Leag'ies
long, which growsJnarrowercoFitinualiy towards the North,
has few 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 Illi-
nois. In going up the River St. Jofepbt which run'i 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
FuanSf or fimply, the Bay. Its Entrance is very wide,
and tull of Iflands, fome of which are fifteen or twenty
Leagues in Compafs. They were formerly inhabited by
the Pouteouatamis, whofe Name they bear, excepting
fome which we leave to the Right, where there are ftill
(bme Savages called Noijuets. Tiic Pouteouatamis pofTefs
at prefent i ne of the Imalleft of thefe Iflands ; and they
have befides two other Villages, one in the River St. Jo'
fephy and another in the Streight. In the Bottom of the
Bay there are fome Sakis and Otcbagras, Thefe laft are
called Puans (Jiinking), but for what Reafon I know not.
Before we come to them, we leave upon the Right ano-
ther httle Nation, called Malbomines, or Falles Jvoires,
(wild-oat Indians.) .
A little River, much cumbered with Torrents or Falls,
difcharges itfelf into the Bottom of the Bay : It is known
by the Name of the River des Renards, (of the Foxes.)
All this Country is very beautiful; and that is ftill more
fo, which extends to the South to the River of the Illinois,
It is notwithftanding only inhabited by two little Nations,
which are the Kicapous and the Mafcoutins. Some of our
Geographers have been pleafed to call the laft the Nation
efFire, and their Country the Land of Fire* An equivo-
cal Word gave rife to this Name.
• Fifty
N O R T H-A M E R I C A. 15$
Fifty Years ago, the Miamit, were fettled at the South
End o^ the Lake Michigan, in a Place called Cbicagou,
which Is alfo the Name of a little River which runs into
the Lake, and the Spring of which is not Ur from that of
the Illi/nif. They arc at prefent divided into three Vil-
lages, one of which is on tin- River St. Jcfef^b, the fecond
on another River which be.us tiiclr Name, and runs in-
to Lake Erie, and the third upon tli,. River Ouabacbe^
which runs into the Mijpfippi. Thefe lall arc mrr" known
by the Name of Ouyatanons. There is fcarce any Doubt
but that this Nation and the Illinois , were, not long Tnce,
one People, confidering the Affinity of their Langi'ages.
I (hall be able to fpeak with more Certainty, when I iiave
been among them. For the reft, the greateft Part of the
Algonquin Nations, excepting thofe which are more ad-
vanced towards the South, employ themfelves but litile
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 j yet, far
from multiplying, they decreafe every Day. There it
not any one of thefe Nations that confifts of fix thoufand
Souls, and fome not of two thoufand.
The Huron Language is not by far fo extenfive as the
Algonquin: The Reafon of which is, without Doubt,
that the People who fpeak it have been lefs roving than
the Algonquins : I fay the Huron Language, 'n Conformity
to the common Opinion ; for fome maintain that the /ro-
quois is the Mother Tongue. Let that be as it will, all
the Savages which are to the South ot the River St. Lau-
renccy from the River Sorel to the End of the Lake £r/>,
and even pretty near Virginia, belong to this Language :
And whoever underftands the Huron, underltanils them
all. The Diale£ts are indeed extrei..v.'ly multiplied, 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 th jt was former-
ly called without any Diftin6lion the Huron, was not the
fame Language. I cannot find out to what Language the
Cberokees belong, a pretty numerous People, which inna-
bit the vaft iMeadows which are between the Lake Erie
and the Mijpjpppi.
But
156 H I S T O R Y o F
But it is worth while to obfcrvc, that as the grcatdl
Part of the Savages of Canada have at all Times been con-
verfant with each other, fometimes as Allies, ami fome-
timcs as Enemies, although the three Mother Tonguts
wiiich I have fpoken of, have no Manner of Affinity or
Agreement with each other, thefe People have neverrhe-
leS found Means to treat together without the Help of
an Interpreter : Either that long Cudom makes it cafy to
Underlland each other by Signs, or that they have formed
a Kind of common Jargon, which they learn by Ufc.—
I have juft received Notice that I mui\ embark : I (hall
finifh this Article at my firfl Leifure.
/ am, &c.
I
LETTER
; I
)' •:
N O R T H- A M E R I C A.
«S7
LETTER XII.
Voyage /oCatarocoui. A Deft ript ion of the Country^
and of the Falls of the River St. Laurence. De-
finption a nd Situa t ion of the Port Catarocoui. Of
the Languages o/ Can ad A, and of the People wbofpeak
tbem. The Occafton of the IVar between /i^r I r o qjj o I S
«i«^//^^ Algonquin s.
Madam, Catarocoui, May 14.
1 Departed from the Fall of St. Louis the Day after I
had clofed my laft Letter, and went to lie at the
Weftern Point of the Ifle oi 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 eroded the Lake St. Louis to go to the
Cafcades, where I found thofe of my People who went
hither in a dire£l Way : I found them buly in mending
their Canoe, which they had let fall in carrying it on their
Shoulders, and which was fplit from one F.nd to the other.
• This is. Madam, the Convenience and Inconveni-
ence of thefe little Carriages : The leaft Thing breaks
them, but the Remedy is ready and eafy. It fuffices to
furnifh 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 tbe Cafcades, is a Water-fall fituated
exaflly above the Ifland Perrot, which makes the Sepa-
ration of the Lake St. Louis, and thf; Lake des deux Mon*
tagnes, (of tbe two Mountains). To ^void it, we go a
little Way to the Right, and make the Cafloes pafs empty
in a Place they call le Trou, (tbe Hole) : Then they draw
them to Land, and make a Portage of half a Quarter of $1
League ; that is to fay, they carry the Canoe with all the
Baggage on their Shoulders. This is to avoid % fecond
Fall called le Buijfon, (tbe Bujb). This is a fine Sheet
of Water^ which falls from a flat Rock about half a Foot
high.
iss
HISTORY OF
high. They might eafe themfelves of this Trouble, by
deepening a little the Bed of a fmall River which runs in-
to another above the Cafcades : The Expence would not
be great.
Above the Buiffon, the River is a Mile wide, and the
Lands on both Sides are very good, and well wooded.
They begin to clear thofe which are on the North Side,
and it would be very eafy to make a Road from the Point,
wich is over againft the Ifland Montreai, to a Bay which
they call la Galette. They will ihun by this forty
Leagues of Navigation, which the Falls render almod
impradicable, and very tedious. A Fort would be much
better fituated and more neceffary at la Galette than at
Catarocoui, becaufe a fingle Canoe cannot pafs here with-
out being feen, whereas at Catarocoui, they may flip be-
hind the Iflands without being obferved : Moreover, the
Lands about Galette are very good, 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 Objefts which they had in View in building the Fort
Catarocoui, was the Trade with the Iroquois ; but thefe
Savages would come as willingly to la Galette, as to Ca^
tarocoui. They would have indeed fomething further to
go, but they would avoid a Paflage of eight or nine
Leagues, which they muft make over the Lake Ontario :
In (hort, a Fort at la Galette would cover the whole
Country, which is between the great River of the Outa-
ouais, 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 CommifTary of the Marine », who
was feiU by the King to vifitali thediftant Pofls of Canada,
The fame Day, May the third, I went three Leagues,"
and arrived 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 almofl all cut down.
On the fourth, I could go no farther than the fourth Fall,
. . ., which
♦ M. s ^ .
moi
any I
Tr«
and
fcril
ufe
NORTH-AMERICA.
159
which is called the Coteau du Lake, (the Hill of the Lake)
tho' it is but two Leagues and an half from the other ;
b«caufe one of the Canoes burft. You will not be furprifed.
Madam, at thefe frequent Wrecks, when you know how
thefe Gondolas are made. I believe that I have already
told you that there are two Sorts of them, the one of Elm
Back, which are wider and more clumfily built, but com-
monly 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 Proportion than their Length,
and much better made: It is thefe that I am going to de-
fcribe, becaufe all the French, and almoft 4I the Savages,
ufe them.
They lay the Bark, which is very thick, on flat and
very thin Ribs made of Cedar: Thefe Ribs are coufned
their whole Length by fmall Crofs-Bars, which feparato
the Seats of fhe Canoe ; two main Pieces of the fame
Wood, to which thefe little Bars are lew'd, ftrengthen
the whole Machine. Between the Ribs and the Bark they
thruft little Pieces of Cedar, which are thinner ftill
than the Ribs, and which help to ftrengthen the Canoe,
the two Ends of which rife by Degrees, and infenfibly
end in ftiarp Points that turn inwards. Thefe two Ends
are exa^ly alike ; fo that to change their Courfe, and turn
back, the Canoe-Men need only change Hands. He who
is behind fteers with his Oar, working continually ; and
the greateft Occupation of him who is forward, is to
take Care that the Canoe touches nothing to burft it.
They fit or kneel on the Bottom, and their Oars are Pad-
dles of five or fix Feet long, commonly of Maple ; but
when they go againft a Current that is pretty ftrong, they
muft ufe a Pole, and ftand upright. One muft have a
good deal of Praftice to preferve a Ballance in this Exer-^
cife, for nothing is lighter, and of Confequencc eafier to
overfet, than thefe Canoes ; the greateft of which, with
their Loading, does not draw more than half a Foot
Water. ,^, y ^ , ,^ ., "^;v^,-;
The BarTt of which thefe Canoes are made, as well as
the Ribs and the Bars, are fewed with the Roots of Fir«
which are more pliable^ aod dry much lefs than the Ozier.
AU
i6o
HISTORY OP
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 largeil Canoes carry twelve Men, two
upon a Seat ; and 4000/. Weight. Of all the Savages,
the mod (kilful Builders of Canoes are the Outaouais ;
and in general the Algonquin Nations fucceed herein better
than the Huront. Few French as yet can make them
even tolerably ; but to guide them, they are at (eaft as
fafe as the Savages of the Country ; and they pra£life this
Ezercife from their Childhood. All their 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 >Sf. Franfois, is but
a good half League. This Lake which I pafled the fifth
is feven Leagues long, and three Leagues wide at the
Inoft in its greateft Breadth. The Lands on 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. Franfois runs Weft South Weft, and
Eaft North Eaft. I encamped juft above it, and in the
Night I was wakened by fome piercing Cries, as of Peo-
ple complaining. I was frightened at firft, but foon re-
covered myfelf, when they told me they were Huars, a
Kind of Cormorants ; they added that thefe Cries were a
certain Sign of Wind the next Day, which proved true.
The (Ixth I pafted the Cbefnaux du Lac, they call thus
fome Canals^ which form a great Number of Iflands,
that almoft cover the River in this Place. I never faw a
Country more charming, and the Lands appear good.
The reft of the Day we employed in pafling the Falls, the
moft conHderable of which tjfiey call the Moulnet ; it is
frightful to look at, and we had a great deal of Trouble
to get thro' it. I went however that Day near feven
Leagues, and I encamped at the Bottom of the Long Fall;
this is a Fall half a League long, which the Canoes can-
not go up but with half their Loading. ' We pafled it at
feven in the Morning, then we failed till three o'Clock in
the Afternoon } but xh$n the Rain obliged us to eacamp,
.. and
NORTH-AMERICA.
i6f
and detained us all the next L ay : There fell the eighth
a Utile Snow, and at Night it froze as it does in France in
the Month of January. We were neverthelefs under
the fame Parallels as Languedoc. The ninth we pafTed
the Flat Fall, about feven Leagues didant from the Long
Fall, and five from the Gahts, which is the laft of the
Falls. La Galette is a League and a half further, and we ar-
rived there the tenth. I could not fufficiently admire the
Country which is between this Bay and les Galots. It is
impofTible to fee finer Forefts ; and I obferved efpeciall^
fome Oaks of an extraordinary Height.
Five or fix Leagues from la Galette, there is an Ifland
called Tonibata, the Soil of which appears pretty fertile,
and which is about half a League long. An Iroguois,
whom they call the ^aker, I know not why, a very
fenfible Man, and well affeded to the French, obtained
the Domain of it from the late Count de Frontenac, and
he fhews the Writing of this Grant to any one that will
fee it. He has neverthelefs fold the Lordfhip, 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 twelfth in
his Ifland, and I paid him a Vifit ; I found him work-
ing in his Garden, which is not the Cuftom of the Sa-
vages ; but he afFe£ts all the Manners of the French : He
received me very well, and would have regaled 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 ftill thir-
teen Leagues to Catarocoui ; the Weather was fine, the
Night very clear, and this engaged us to embark at three
in the Morning. We pafled thro' the midft of a Kind of
Archipelago, wiiich they call Alille IJles, (the thoufand
IJles,) and I believe there are above five hundred : When,
we are pafled thefe we have a League and half to arrives
at CatarocQui, the River is more open, and is at leaft
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 Baftions built with
Stone, and the Ground it occupi^ is ^ Quarter of a
Vol. I. *^ '^ P \ League
t€'2
HISTORY Of
League in Corwpafs, its bituation has really fom''tJ,lng
very pleafant ; the Sides of the River prefcnt every \Vay
a Landfcapc well varied, and it is the fame at the Entrance
of hake Ontario, which is but a fmall League diftant ;
it is full of Iflands of different Sizts, all well wooded,
and nothing bounds the Horiion on that Side : This Lake
was fome Time called St. Louis, afterwards FrontenaCy as
well as the Fort of Catarocoui, of which the Count Jc
Frontenac wds the Founder; but infenfibly the Lake has
gained its antient Name, vhich is Huron or Iroquois^ ami
the Fort that of the Place where it is built. The Soil
from this Fl.ice ?o la Galette appears fomelhing barren,
but this Is only on the Edges, it being very good farther
on. *rhere is over-againft the Fort a very pretty iflatid
in the midft of ?he River; they put fome Swine into it,
which have multiplied, and given it the Name of ijle des
Pores : There arc two other Iflands fomewhat fmalier,
which are lower, and half a League diftant from each
other ; one is called the Ijle of Cedars, the other IJJe aux
Cerfs, (Harts IJland). The Bay of Catarocoui is double,
that is to fay, that almoft 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 Catarocoui, 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 Marfli where there is a
great Plenty of Wild Fowl : This is a Benefit to, and
Employment 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 Englijb and to keep thefc Savages in
Awe, that the Fort was built : But this Trade did not laft
V 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 Miffifagu/z, an Algonquin Nation, which ftill
have a Village on the Weft Side of Lake Ontario, anothtr
at Niagara, and a third in the Streight.
I find here, Madam, an Opportunity of fending my
Letters to ^ebec: I fhall take Advantage of fome lei-
furc
N O R T H-A M E R IC A.
163
in
ire
[ill
litr
lei-
fure 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 perfedly fay, that thofe
three of which I have fpoken have all the Chara^ers of
Iprimitive Languages ; and it is certain that they have not
the fame Origin ; which the Pronunciation alone is fuffi-
cicnt to prove. The SUu whittles in fpeaking; the Hu-
ron has no labial Letter, which he cannot pronounce, he
he fpeaks in the Throat, and afpirates almoft every Syl-
lable; the Algonquin pronounces with more Sweetnds,
and fpeaks more naturally. I can learn nothing particu*
lar of the firft of thefe th. ^e Languages, but our a^tient
MitTionaries have much ftudied the two laft, and their
principal Dialers : This is what I have heard from th^
mod fkilful.
The Huron Language has a Copioufnefs, an Energy,
and a Sublimity perhaps not to be found united in any of
the fineft that we know ; and thofe whofc 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
Miijedy 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
greateil Number, have maintained it had the fame Origin
as the Greek ; but nothing is more trifling tlian the Proofs
they bring for it. We muft not depend efpecially upon
the Vocabulary of Brother Gabriel Sagbard, a Recollet,
who hath been cited to fupport this Opinion ; much lefs
on thofe of James Cartier and the Baron dt la Hontan.
Thefe three Authors took at Random fome Terms, fome
of which were Hiiro«, others vf/g'on^wn, which they ill
retained, and which often fignified quite different from
what they thought. And how many Errors have been
occadoned by fuch Miflakes of many Travellers.
The Algonquin Language has not fo much Force as
the Huron, but has more Sweetnefs and Elegance: Both
have a Richnefs of Expreflions, a Variety of Turns, a
Propriety of Terms, a Regularity which aflonifh : B^t
what is more furprifing is, that among thefe Barbarians
who never ftudy to fpeak well, and who never had the
^^ P 3 Ufe
164 ' HISTORY of
tjfc of Writing, there is not introduced a bad Word, an
ihiproper Term, or a vicious Conftruclion ; and even
ChiWiren preferve a!i the Purity of the La.iguage in their
tohiitloD Diftoiirfc. On the other Hand, the Manner
in which they animate all they fay, leaves no Room to
dotlbt of their comprehending all the Worth of their Ex-
ptieflions, and all the Beauty of their Language. The
Diatefls which are derived from both, have not preferv-
ed all their Beauties, nor the liime Force. The T/on-
M'ntbduafis, for Inrtance (this is one of the five /ro^tto/V
£!antorts) pafs among the Savages to have a vulgar 6r rude
Language. ^ .
In the tiufon all is conjugated ; a certain Device which
1 cannot well explain to you, diftlnguiflies the Verbs,
the Nouns, the Pronouns, the Adverbs, ^c. The finr>-
ple Verbs have a double Conjugation, one abfolute, and
the other reciprocal ; the third Ferfons have the two
Genders, for there are but two in thefe Languages ; that
is in fay f the noble and tlie ighoble Gender. As to the
Numbers and Tenfes, they have the fame Differences as
XA the Gttek: Fot Inftancie, to relate Tri^vels, they ex-
prcfs thetnfelvts diffefetttly according as it was by Land,
or by W^tet. The Verbs a£live multiply as often as there
jife Things which fall uhder A6lion ; as the Verb which
jfigtiifie^s to ettt varies as many Times as there are Things
to eat. The Action is cxpre^ed differently in Refpea
to any Thing that has Life, and an inanimate Thing ;
Vhus to fee a Mah, 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 (jpeak, are two different Verbs.
There is fomething of all this in the Algonqiiin Lan-
guage, tfao' not the famc) of which I am not able to giv^
any Account. Notwithftanding, Madam, if froih the
little I have faid it follows, that the Richnefs and Varie-
ty of thefe Languages renders them extremely difficult to
learn ; their Poverty and Barrennefs produces no lefs Dif-
ficulty : For as thefe People, when we firft converfed
w'th them, were ignorant of almbft every Things they
did not ufe, or which did not fall under their Senfes, they
wanted Terms to expfefs theitii or they had let them fall
■■-.'- into
N O R T H . A M E R I C A. 165
into Oblivion : Tlius, having no refrular Worftiip, and
forming of the Deity, and of every Tliinp which relaites to
Heligion, but confufed Ideas, not making fcarce any Re-
fl^xion$ but on tho Obje^s of their Senfes, and on no-
thing which did not concern their own Affairs, which
were con^ned within a fmall Compafs, and not being ac-
cuftonied to difcourfe on the Virtues, the PaiTions, and
many other Subjects of our common Converfation ; not
cultivating 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 fupcrfluous, nor
any Refinement : When we wanted to fpeak to them of
thefe Things, we found a great Vacuity in their Lan-
guages, and we were obliged, in order to make ourfeives
underClopd, to fill them up with Circumlocutions that
were iroublefome to them as well as to us : So that after
having learnt of them theif Language, we were obliged
to teach them another, comfofed partly of their own
Terms, and partly of our's traoflated into Huron and AU
g9nquin, to make the Pronunciation eafy to them. As to
Characters they had none, and they fupplied ihe Defe3:
by a Sort oi Hieroglyphicks. Nothing furprifed them
more than to fee us exprefs ourfeives as eafily by writing
as by fpeaking.
If it is aiked how we know that the Shu, the Huron,
and the Algonquin, are rather Mother Tongues than fome
©f thofe whidi we look upon as their Dialers, I anfwer,
that it is not eafy to miflake in this, and I think there
needs no other Proof than the Words of the Abbe Duhofs,
which I have already cited ; but in ftiort, as we can judge
here only by Comparifon, if from thefe Reflexions we
may conclude that the Languages of all the Savjiges of
Gamda are derived from thoie three which I have noted,
I allow it d^s not prove abfolutely that thefe are primi-
tive, and of the hrft Inflitution of Languages. I add,
that thefe People have in their Difcourfe fomething of
the Aftatic Genius, which gives Things a Turn, and figu-
rative ExprefHonsj and this is, perhaps, what has per-
fuaded fome Pcrfons that they derive their Orig'ui from
i^^9, which fecnis probable enough.
P 3 The
166
HISTORY or
The People of the Huron Latnguage have always ap»
plied thetnfelves more than the others to cultivating
the Land ; they have alfo extended themfelves much lefs,
which has produced two £flFe£ls : For in the firft Place,
they are better fettled, better lodged, and better fortified ;
and there has always been amongft them more Policy,
and a more diilinguifhed Form of Government. The
Quality of Chief, at lead among the true Huront, which
are the Tiennoniates, is hereditary. In the fecond Place,
till the Iroquois Wars, of which wc have been Witneffes,
their Country was more peopled, though they never al-
lowed Polygamy. They are alfo reputed more induftri-
ous, more dexterous in their AfFxirs, and more prudent in
their Refolutions ; which cannot be attributed but to a
Spirit of Society, which they have preferved better than
the others. This is remarked particularly of the Htirottf,
that tho* fcarcely any longer a Nation, and reduced to
two Villages not very large, and at a great Diftance one
from the other; yet they are the Soul of sil! ths Councils,
when they confult on any general Affairs. It is true that
in Spite of that Difference which is not feen at the firft
Glance, there is much Refemblance in the Senfe, the
Manners, and all the Cuftoms of the Savages of Canada ;
but this is the Confequence of the Intercourfe which has
been always between them for many Ages.
This would be the Place to fpeak to you concerning
the Government of thefe People, of their Cuftoms, and
of their Religion ; but I fee nothing in this yet but a
Chaos, which it is impoflible for nie (0 clear up.
There are fome Travellers who make no Scruple to
fill their Journals with whatever they hear faid, without
troubling thenifelvfcij about the Truth of any Thing.
You would not, doubtlefs, have me follow their l£xanei^|e,
and impofe upon you for Truth all the eiEtrava^ant
T hings that have been placed to the Account of our Sa-
vages, or that have been taken as they could from their
Traditions. Thefc Traditions, on the other Hand, are
fo little to be relied on, and almoft always contnidiA each
other fo grofsly, that it is almoft impoftible to difcover
any Thing from them that may be defKBn|ile4 on. In Fgd^
NORTH-AMERICA.
167
how could fuch People, as we found ihcfe, tranfmit
faithfully down to Pofterity what has pafl'ed between
them for fo many Ages, having nothing to help their Me-
mory ? And can we conceive that Men, who think fo
little of Futurity, (hould ever bufy themfelves about
what is part, to make any faithful Records of it ? So
that after all the Enquiries that could be made, we are
ftill at a Lofs to know what was the Situation of Canada
when we made the firft Difcovery thereof, about the
Middle of the fixteenth Century.
The only Point of their Hiftory, .which is derived to
us with any Sort of Probability, is the Origin of the
War, which M. de Cbampkin found very much kindled
between the Iroquoit on the one Side, and the Huront
and Algonquins on the other; and in which he en-
gaged himfelf much moie than was agreeable to our
true Intereft. I cannot difcover the firil Beginning of
this War, but I do not think it was very antient. What
I (hall lay about it, I give you Notice before Hand, I do
not warrant the Truth of, though I have it from pretty
good Authority.
The Algonquins, as I have already obferved, pofTeflfed all
that Extent of Country which is from ^ehec, and perJiaps
alfo from Tadoufac quite to the Lake of Nipijffng, follow-
ing the North Shore of the River St. Laurence, and Roing
up the great River which runs into it above the life of
Montreal. By this we may judge that 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 Huront were alone in a Condition to
difpute with them the Pre-eminence over all the reft. For
the Chafe they had no Equals, and for War they ac"
knowledged no Superiors. The few who remain to this
Day, hav«; not degenerated from the antient Merit of this
Nation, and their Misfortunes have not yet lefTened their
Reputation. The Iroquois had made with them a Ki;^d
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 Algonquins a real Superiority over the Iroquois,, Th«
P 4 latter.
H
i6f
HISTORY or
latter, almod wholly employed in the Cuhure of the
Lands, had engaged to give Part of their Harveft to the
Algonquins ; who on their Side, were to divide with them
the Fruit of the Chafe, and to defend them againft who-
ever (hould undertake to didurb them. The two Nati-
ons hved thus a long Time in a good Undei{l?.nding ; but
an ill timed Haughtinefs on one Side, and a Refentment,
which was not expe£led on the other Side, broke this
Union, and made a Quarrel between thefe twc People
that hath been never reconciled.
As Winter is the great Seafoni'or the Ch^^fp, and that
the Earth, then covered with Snow, givci. no Employ-
ment to them who cultivate it, the two Conf(:dcratc Na-
tions joined together to winter in the Woods; but the
Iroquois commonly left the Chale to the Algonquins, and
■contented themfelves with flaying the Beads, 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 Cuftonv: However, the Iroquois made no
Difficulty of it. From Time to Time, however, fomc of
them took a Fancy to try themfelves in the Chafe, and
the Algonquins did not oppofe it, in which they were bad
Politicians.
It happened one Wintcr,/that a Troop of both Nati-
ons ftopped in a Pkcc wnere they expeded Plenty of
Game, and Hx young Algonquins, accompanied with as
many Iroquois ot the fame Age, were detached to begin
the Chafe. They preftntly difcovered fome Elks, and
they all prepared themfelves dife£fcly to purfue them ; but
the Algonquins would not fuffer the Iroquoit to follow
them, and gave them to underftand that they would have
enough to do to flay the Beads tbey (hould kill. Unfor-
tunately for thefe Boafters, three Days pailed without
their being able to bring dawn a Tingle Orignal, though
a great Number came in Sight. This bad Succefs mor-
tined them, and probably was no Difpleafure to the Iro-
quois^ who earnefHy-defired to obtain Leave to go ano^
ther Way, where they hoped to be more fuccefsfol. Theif
Propolal was received by the Algonquins^ as was formerly
that by tbe Brothers of David, which the young Shepherd
made
r'
NORTH. AMERICA.
169
made to go and fight with the Giant Goliab: They told
them that they were very vain to pretend to have more
Skill than the Algonquins \ it was their Bufinefs to dig the
Earth, and that they (hould leave the Chafe to thofe that
were fit for it. The Iroquois, enraged at this Anfwcr,
made no Reply; but the next Night they departed pri-
vately for the Chafe. The Algonquins were furprifed in
the Morning at not feeing them, but their Surprife was
foon changed into extreme Vexation ; for in the Even-
ing of the fame Day, they faw the Iroquois returning
loaded with the Flefti of Orignals. There are no Men
in the World who are more fufceptible of Spite, a.id who
carry the EfFefts 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 an AflafTination could not be long a Secret ; and tho*
the Bodies were buried privately, the Nation was foon in-
formed of it. At firft they complained with M their infatiable Thirft for it One would hardly believe
how far they have travelled to feek 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 diminiflied ; and were it not
for the Prtfoners which they have brought from all Parts,
and the greateft Number of which they have adopted,
' their Situation wouM not be much more happy than
that of the Nations they have fubdued.
What has happened in this Refped to the Iroquois, rmy
be faid with more Reafon of all the other Savages of this
Country, and it is not ftrange if, as I have already ob-
ferved, thefe Nations decreale every Day in a very fen-
fible Manner. For though their Wars do not appear at
firft fo deftru£live as our*s, they are much more fo in
Proportion. The moft numerous of thefe Nations has
^.jaever had perhaps more than fixty thoufand Souls, and
from Time to Time there is much Blood fpilt. A Sur*
prizes
N O R T H-A M ERICA. 171
prize, or a Coup de Main^ fometinncs deOroys a whole
Town ; and often the Fear of an Irruption drives a
whole Canton to forfake their Country, and then theie Fu-
gitives, to avoid dying by the Sword of ihtir Enemies, or
by Torture, expofe themfelves to perifti by Hunger and
Cold in the Woods or on the Mountains, becaufe they
feldom have Leifure or Precaution to carry Provifioni
with them. This hu happened in the laft Age to a great
Number of Aigonqvitu and Hurmtp of whom we could
never hear any Account. ^
/ am, 6iC'
LETTER
J>
[ 173 1
*r
LET T E R Xlir.
Ji Defcriptim of tie Country up to the River oftbeOv-
NONT agues: Of tie Flux and Reflux in the great
Lakes «/" Canada. The Manner bow tbe Savages
Jpng their iVar-'Song. Of tbe God of War amongd
t)jtfe People. Of the Declaration of W^r. Of the
Necklaces of Shells: Of tbe Csflumetf and of their
Cufioms of Peace and War,
Madam,
Famine Bay, May i6.
I Have the Misfortune to be detained here by a contra-
ry Wind, which in all Appearance will laft a long
Time, and keep rae in one of the worft Places in the
World.
I (hall amufe myfelf with writing to you. Whole Ar-
mies of thofe Pigeons they call Tourtes pafs by here con-
tinually ; 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 (ay the Arabs and many other
Nations formerly did.
1 embarked the 14th, exa^ly at the fame Hour I ar-
rived at Catarocoui the Evening before. I had but fix
Leagues to go to the Ifle of Chevreuils, ( Roe-^Bucls )
where there is a pretty Port that can receive large Barks ;
but my Canadians had not examined their Canoe, and
th« Sun had melted the Gum of it in many Places ; it
took W^ter every where, and I w^ forced to lofe two
whole
174
HISTORY OF
vrhole Hours to repair it in one of the Iflands at the En-
trance of the Lake Ontario, After that we failed till ten
o'clock at Night, without being able to reach the Ifle of
of CbevreuiU, 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 atmoil as many as Trees ; to the
Top of which they rife. I had not yet made this Remark,
becaufe I had always till then (lopped in open Places ;
but they aflfure me it as the fame every where quite to
Mexico, The Stocks of thefe Vines are very large, aad
they bear many Bunches of Grapes ; but the Grapes arc
fcarcely fo big as a Pea ; and this mud 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. 'I hey have, neverthelefs, but the
Leavings of the Birds, who have foon gathered the Vin-
tage of whole Forefts.
I fet out early the next Morning, and at Eleven o'Clock
I ftopped at the Ifle aux Callots, three Leagues beyond
the Ifle aux Cievres, (of Goats,) in 43*. 33'. I reim-
barked about Noon, and made a Traverfe oi a League
«nd a half, to gain tbe Point of the Traverfe, If to come
hither from the Place where I pafled the Night, I had
been obliged to coaft the Continent, I fliould have had
above forty Leagues to make ; and we muil do this when
the Lake is not very calm ; for if it is the leaft agitated,
the Waves are as high as in the open Sea : It is not even
poflible to fail under the Coaft, when the Wind blows
hard from the Lake. From the Point of the Ifle aux
Gallotx, we fee to the Weft the River Cbouguen, other-
wife called the River d^Onnontague, which is fourteen
Leagues off. As the Lake was calm, and there was no
Appearance of bad Weather, and we had a little Wind
at Eaft, which was but juft enough to carry a Sail, I
refolved to make dire£lly for this River, that I might
fave fifteen or twenty Leagues in going round. My
Condudlors, who had more Experience than myfelf,
judged it a dangerous Attempt; but, ojt of Complal*
fance^
N O R T H-A M E R 1 C A.
>75
fance, they yielded to my Opinion.— The Beauty of
the Country which I quitted on the Left Hand, did noi
tempt me any more ihan the Salmon, and Numbers of
other excellent Fifh, which they take in fix fine Rivers
which are at two or three Leagues DiAance one from the
•thcr*: We took then to the open Lake, and till Four
o'clock we had no Caufe to repent of it ; but ther^ the
Wind rofe fuddenly, and we would willingly have been
nearer the Shore. We made towards the neareftj; from
which we were then three Leagues off, and we had much
Trouble to make It. At Itrigth, at Seven at Night we
landed at Famine Bay ; thus named, lince M. Je la Barre,
Governor Gener-il of New France f had like to have loft
all his Army here by Hunger and Didempers, going to
make War with the Iroquois, .
It was Time for us to get to Land ; for the Wind blew
ftrong, and the Waves ran fo high, that one would not
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 Chafe
or the Fifliery 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 alfo here a Tree of the largeft Kind ; the Wood
of which is hard, but brittle, and much refembles that
of the Plane-Trec : The Leaf has five Points, is of a
middle Size, a very fine Green on the Infide, and whit-
ilh without. It is called here the Cotton-Tree, bccaufe
in a Shell nearly of the Bignefs of a Horfe Chefnut, it
bears a Kind of Cotton ; which appears, neverthelefs, of
no life. As I walked upon the Side of the Lake, I
obfervcd that it lofes Ground on this Side fenfibly : This
is evident, becaufe for the Space of half a Lea^^ue in
Depth
* The River of the Ajjutfiption^ a L.eigue irom the Point of
the Traverfe ; that of Sables^ three Leagues lurrhei ; that of /a
Planche^ (the Plank) two Leagues further ; that of /.j grande
Famine (the great Famine) two Leagues more ; that of la fe-
tite Famine (the little Famine) one League; that of la groffe
F.orce, (the thick Bark) one League.
17^
HISTORY OF
Depth the Land is much lower and more Tandy than it
is beyond. I have obferved aifo in this Lake (and they
affnre me the fame happens in all the others) a Kind of
Flux and Reflux almofl moraentaneous ; fome Rocks
which are pretty near the Shore being covered and un-
covered feveral Times v.ithin 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 Ri-
vers, which flow in from all Parts^ and which produce
thefe intermitting Motions.
But would you believe. Madam, that in this Seafon,
and in 43 Degrees Latitude, there is not yet a Leaf up-
on the Trees, though we have fometimes as great Heat as
you have in the Month of July, The Reafon of this is,
vrithout Doubt, becaufR the Earth, which has been co-
vered 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 Fi(h.
There are here fome Eagles of a prodigious Bignefs. My
People have juft now taken down a Neft, which confifted of
a Cart Load of Wood, and two Eagles 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 Catarocoui; where, the Night that I
ftaid there, I was Witnefs to a Scene that was fomethlng
curious. About Ten or Eleven ©'Clock at Night, juft
as 1 was going to Bed, I heard a Cry, which they told
me was the War-Cry ; and a little after, I faw a Com-
pany oiMiJPfaguez enter the Fort fmging. Some Years
lince, theJe Savages engaged themfelves in the War
which the Iroquois make with the Cberokees, a pretty nu-
merous People, who inhabit a fine Country to the bouth
of Lake Eriff woA jGiMCt ttMt Time the yoiing People are
eager
NORTH-AMERICA. 177
eager for War. Three or four of thefe Heroes, equip-
ped as for a Mafquerade, their Faces painted in a horri-
ble Manner, and followed by almoH. all the Savages who
live about the Fort, after having run thro' all -their Ca-
bins Tinging their War-Song to the Sound of the Cbicbi'
hue *, came to do the fame in ail 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 Time one
fees it ; and I found by it what I had not fo fenfibly per-
ceived before, as I did then, viz. that 1 was amongft Bar-
barians : Their finging has always fomething mournful
and difmal ; but here I found i:i it fomething terrifying,
caufed perhaps folely by the Dai kncfs of the Night, and
the Preparation of the Feaft, for it is one for the Savages.
This Invitation was addrefTed to the Iroquois ; but they,
who begin to be Lofers by the War with the Cberokees^
or who were not in a Humour for it, demanded Time to
deliberate, and every one returned to his own Home.
It appears, Madam, that in thefe Songs they invoke the
God of War, whom the Huront call Arejkoui^ and the /ro-
quois call him Agrejkoue. I know not what Name they give
him in the Algonquin Language. But is it not fomething
ftrange that in the Greek Word Ares, who is the Mars^
or the God of War, in all the Countries where they fol-
lowed the Theology of Homers we find the Root from'
which feveral Terms of the Huron and Iroquois Language
feem to have been derived, which relate to War? Are^
gouen fignifies to make War, and is thus declined ? Gare-
gOy I make War ; Sarego, thou makeft War ; Arego, he :
makes War. For the reft, Arejkoui is not 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, thcGeijius who governs every Thing: But it
is chiefly for military Expeditions that they invoke him }
as if the Attribute which does him the moft Honour, was
that of the God of Hojis : His Name is the War-Cry
before the Battle, and in the Height of the Engagement :
Vol. I.s»,i"-t . Q„ '■-<• *v* ^ • , * Upoa .
♦ The Chichikoue is a Kind of Calibafli, full of Pebbles.
178
HISTORY OP
Upon the March alfo they often repeat it, by Wny
ofi.EfiDcouragement to each other, and to implore his
Aflldance.
n\i li'A 3l-*rv
J-
To take up the Hatchet, is to declare War : Every
private Perfon has a Right to do it, without any one hav-
ing a Power to hinder him; unlefs it be among the Hu-
rons and the Iroquois, with v/hom the Mothers of Fami-
lies can declare or forbid War when they pleafe. We
fhail fee, in its proper Place, how far their Authority ex-
tends 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 Hufhand, of
her Son, or of a near Relation, or to get Prifoners to fup-
ply the Places of thole in her Cabin whom Death or Cap-
tivity have deprived her of, fhe is obliged to make him a
Prefent of a Collar or Necklace of Shells, and it is very
fddom that fuchan Invitation is without Effect. ..... .
When the Bufinefs is to make a War in all the Forms
between two or more Nations, the Manner of exprefling
it is, to bang the Kettle upon the Fire', and has its Origin,
without Doubt, from the barbarous Cuftom of eating
the Prifoners, and thofe that were killed, after ihey haa
boiled them. ' They fay alfo in direO; AVords, that they
are going to eat a Nation ; to fignify, 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 if to fey, a great Shell, to in-
vite him to drink the Blood, or (according to the Mean-
ing of the Terms they ufe) the Broth of the Flefh of theif
Enemies. After all, this Quftom may be very antient ;
but it does not follow from hence, that thefe People were
•always Man-Eaters: It was perhaps, in the primitive
Times only an 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 Cuflom to eat the
Flefli of their Enemies, when he faid, Pf, xxvii. v. 2.
Ij^ben the Wicked, even mine Enemies, came upon me to
eat up my Flejh. In after Times, certain Nations that
were
.s^Iiid.
:n.
i;i..'l-;
t •■'.
NORTH-AMERICA. 179
were become favage and barbarous, fubftituted the Fa€t
in the Room of the Figure.
I have faid that the Porcelain of thefe Countries are
Shells: They are found on the Coafls of New England
and Virginia : They are channelM pretty long, a little
pointed, without Auricles, and pretty thick. The Fifli
that is inclofed in thefe Shells, is not good to eat ; but
the Infide of the Shell is of fuch a fine Varniih, 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 firft Parents did the Fig Leaves, when
they faw their Nakednefs, and were afhamed of it. They
hung them alfo about their Necks, as the mod precious
Thing they had ; and it is at this Day one of their great-
eft Treafures, and fineft Ornaments. In a Word, they
have the fame Idea of them, as we have of Gold, Silver,
and precious Stone; 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.
fames Cartier fpeaks in his Memoirs of a Kind of
Shell fomething like thefe, which he found in the Ifle of
Montreal: He calls it Efurgni ; and averts, that it had
the Virtue to flop bleeding at the Nofe. Perhaps it i»
the fame with that we are fpeaking of ; but they find
none about the Ifle of Montreal j and I never heard that
thefe Shells had the Properties which Cartier mentions.
They are of two Sorts, or of two Colours ; one white,
the other Violet : The firft is the moft common, and
perhaps for this Reafon is lefs efteemed : The fecond ap-
pears to be, fomething of a finer Grain when it is wrought.
The deeper the Colour is, 1 he more valuable it is. They
. make of both Sorts little cylindrical Beads : They pierce
them, and ftring them ; and it is of this that ihey make
Strings and Necklaces of Porcelain. The Strings are no-
thing elfe 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
• . , V ., s'V-,. .'< O 2 qH
i8o
HISTORY OF
of thefe Strings; which arc confined by Threads, which
make a Texture of four, five, fix, or feven Rows of
Beads, and of a proportionable Length : This depends
on the Importance of the Affair they treat of, and on the
Dignity of the Pcrfons to whom the Necklace is pre-
fented.
By the Mixture of Beads of differen: Colours they
form what Figures and Characters they pleafe, which
often fcrvc to exprefs the Affairs in Qiieftion. Some-
times alfo they paint the Beads ; at leaft it is certain they
often fend red Necklaces, when it concerns War. Thefe
Necklaces are preferved 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 pre-
fent is a whole Year. • •» - ■-] * '■'»- ^- , • ■•
It is only Affairs of Confequence that are treated of by
Necklaces ; for thofe of lefs Importance they ufe Strings
of Porcelain, Skins, Coverlets, Maiz, either in whole
Grains or in Flour, and other 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, fome-
timcs inflead of a Necklace they fend a Flag dipt in
Blood ; but this Cuftom is modern, and it is very proba-
ble that the Savages took the Notion from the Sight of
the white Flags of the French, and the red Flags of the
Englifi. It is faid alfo that we made Ufe of thefe firft
with them, and that they took a Fancy to dye their Flags
in Blood v^^hen they intended to declare War.
The Calumet is not lefs (acred among thefe PeopM
than the Mecklaces of Porcelain ; if you believe them, it
is derived from Heaven, for they fayit is aPrefent which
was made them by the Sun. It is more in Ufe with the
Nations of the South and Wefl, than thofe of the North'
and Fall-, and it is oftener ufed for Peace than for War.
Cj!::inet is a Norman Word, which fignifies Reed, and
the
N O R T H-A M E R 1 C A.
i8i
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 foi Ce-
remony, 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 ot the Ajouez
beyond the Mifftfftppi: 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 Cuftom is to
fmoke in the Calumet when you accept it, and perhaps
there is no Inftance where the Agreement has been vio-
lated which was made by this Acceptation. The Savages
are at leaft perfuaded, tliat the Great Spirit would not
leave fuch a Breach of Faith unpuniftied i If in the midft
of a Battle the Enemy prefents a Calumet it is allowable
to refufe it, but if they receive it they muft inftantly lay
down their Arms : There are Calumets for every Kind of
Treaty. In Trade, when they have agreed upon the Ex-
change, they prefent a Calumet to confirm it, which ren-
ders it in fome Manner facred. When it concerns War,
not only the Tube, but the Feathers alfo that adorn it,
are red : Sometimes they are only fet on one Side ; and
they fay that according to the Manner in which the Fea-
thers are difpofed, they immediately know what Nation it
is that prefents it, and whom they intend to attack.
There is fcarce any Room to doubt but that the Sa-
vages, in making thofe fmoke in the Calumet, with
whom they would trade or treat, intend to take the Sun
for Witnefs, and in fome Meafiire for a Guarantee of
their Treaties ; for they never fail to blow the Smoke to-
wards this Planet : But that from this Practice, and the
common Ufe of the Calumets, one fhould infer as fome
have done, that this Pipe might well be in its Origin, the
Caduceus of Mercury ^ does not appear to me to be proba-
ble, becaufc this Caduceus had no Relation to the Sun ;
and because in the Traditions of the Savages, we have
found nothing that gives any Room to judge, that they
ever had any Knowledge of the Greek Mythology. It
Q. 3 would
l82
HISTORY OF
would be in my Opinion, much more natural to think
that thefe People, having found by Experience that the
Smoke of their 1 obacco draws Vapours from the Braiii,
makes the Head clearer, roufes the Spirits, and makes us
fitter to treat of Affairs, have for thefe Reaions intro-
duced the Ufe of it in their Councils, where in Fa£l they
have always the Pipe in their Mouths ; and that after
having gravely deliberated, and taken their Refolution,
they thought they could never find a Symbol fitter to put
a Seal to their Determinations, nor any Pledge more ca-
pable of confirming the Execution of them, than the In-
flrument which had (o much Share in their Deliberations.
Perhaps it will appear to you more fimnle. Madam, to
fay that thefe People could not find any Signs more natu-
ral to mark a (Irifi Union, than to fmoak in the fame Pipe ;
cfpecially if the Smoke they draw from it is offered to a
Deity who puts the Seal of Religion to it. To fmoke in
the fame Pipe therefore in Token of Alliance, is the
fame Thing as to drink in the fame Cup, as has been prac-
tifed at all Times by many Nations. Thefe areCufloms
which are too natural, to feek any Myftery in them.
' The Largenefs, and the Ornaments of the Calumets,
which are prefented to Perfons of Di(lin£tion, and on
imporrant Occafions, have nothing neither that (hould
makii us fearch far for the Motive of it. When Men
become ev(^r fo little acquainted, and have a mutual Re-
fpe€l, thpy accuftom themfelves to a certain Regard for
one another, chiefly on Occafions of a publick Concern ;
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 Prefents they make.
For the re(}, they fay that the Calumet was given by the
Sun to the Pants, a Nation fettled upon the Borders of
the Miffouri, and which extends much towards New-
Mexico- But thefe Savages have probably done like ma-
ny other People, they liave pretended fomething marvel-
lous, to make a Cuftom eileemed, of which they were
the Authors; and all that we can conclude from this
Tradition is that the Pants were the moft antient Wor-
(hippers of the Sun, or were more diftinguiflied in their
■ Way
N O R T H-A M E R I C A.
h
Way of Worfllip of it, than the other Nations ot ihis
Part of the Continent of America^ and that they were
the firft who thought of making the Calumet a ^ymbo
of Alliance. In (hort if the Calumet was in its Inilitu*
tion, the Caduceuso^ Mercury, it would be employed on-
ly for Peace, or for Trade ; but it is certain that it is ufed
in Treaties which concern War. Thefe Reflexions, Ma-
dam, appeared neceflary to me, to give you a perfeft
Knowledge of what concerns the War of the Savages,
which I mall entertain you with in my Letters, till I
have entirely cxhaufted this Subjeft ; if they are Digref-
ilons they are not quite foreign to my Subje£^. Befides,
a Traveller endeavours to place in the bed Order he can^
whatever he learns on his Route.
J antf Sic,
CL4
LETTER
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LETTER XIV.
A Defcription of the Country from, V AMim Bay, to the
River of Sablvs. Motives of tb^ Wcrs of the Savages,
Departure of the Warriors^ and ivbat precedes their
Departure. Their Farewell. Their Arms Offenfive
and Defenfive. The Care they take to carry lut.b them
their Tutelar Deities. Particula rs of the Couti"
try up /0 Niagara.
Madam, River of Sables, M^y 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 (hould
have been in a bad Condition if we had not very luckily
met with this little River to (helter us. You muft allow.
Madam, that there are many Difficulties and Inconveni-
encies to get over in a Journey like this. It is very ne-
Ian(;holy to travel fometimes two hundred Leagues with-
out finding a Houfe, or meeting a Man ; not to be 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 fome-
times happens, whole Weeks on a Point or on a barren
Shore, where if it rains you muft remain under a Canoe
or under a Tent : If the Wind is high, you muft feek
Shelter in a Wood, where you are not without Danger
of being killtd by the Fall of a Tree. One might ftiun
fome of thefe Inconveniences by building 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'embaiked Yefterday early in the Morning, in the
fineft
1 86
HISTORY or
fined 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 On-
nontaguCf which appears to me about an hundred Paces
wide. The Lands are fomewhat low, but very well
wooded. Almoft all the Rivers which water the Iroquois
Cantons flow into this, the Source of which is a Lake
called Gannentaba, on the Border of 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 thg^ Bajrof
Goyogouins, which is ten Leagues from Onnontague. All
the Coafl: 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 Goyogouinf, obliged us to take Shelter in
it. It is one of the finefb Places I ever faw. A Peninfu-
la well wooded advances in the Middle, and forms a Kind
of Theatre. On the left of the Entrance, Me perceived
a little Ifland, which hides the Entrance of a River hv
which the Goyoguim defcend into the Lake. The Wind
did not lad, we purfued our Courfe, and we made three
or four Leagues more. This Morning we embarked be-
fore 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 j in the mean Time I (hall refume my
Account of the Wars of the Savages where I broke off.
It feldom happens, Madam, that thefc Barbarians re-
fufe to engage in a War when they are invited to it by
their Allies. They have no Need in general of Invitati-
on to take up Arms ; the leaft Motive or Trifle, even
nothing often induces them to it. Revenge efpecially :
Thty have always fome old or new Injury to revenge,
for Time »jever in them heals thefe Sorts of Wounds,
how light foever they may be. So that 'there is no de-
pending upon Peace being folidly eftablifhed between two
Nations which have been Enemies a long Time. On the
other Hand, the Defire of fupplying the Place of the
Dead
tie
NORTH-AMERICA. 187
Dead by Prifoners, or of appeadng their Spirits, the
Whim of a private Perfon, a Dream that he explains his
own Way, and other Reafons or Pretences as frivolous,
arc 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 Con-
fequence, and as they require no great Preparations, lit-
tle Notice is taken of them ; and generally fpeaking, they
are not much difpleafed to fee the young People thus ex-
ercife themfelves, and they mud have very good Reafons
who would oppofe it. Authority is feldom employed for this
Purpofe, becaufe every one is Matter of his own Condu^
But they endeavour to intimidate fome by falfe Reports,
which they give out ; they folicit others under-hand, they
engage the Chiefs by Prefents to break the Party, which
is very eafy ; for to this Purpofe there needs only a true
Dream or a feigned one. In fome Nations the lad Re-
fource is to apply to the Matrons, and this is almofl: al-
ways effedual ; but they never have Recourfe to this
but when the Affair is of great Confequence.
A War which concerns all the Nation is not concluded
on fo eafily : They weigh with a great deal of Thought
the Inconveniences and the Advantages of it ; and whilft
they deliberate, they are extremely careful to avoid every
Thing that would give the Enemy the leaft Caufe to fuf-
pecl that they intend to break with them. War being
refolved on, they dire^ly confider of the Provifions and
the Equipage of the Warriors, and this does not require
much Time. The Dances, Songs, Feafts, and fome
fuperftilious Ceremonies, which vary much, according
to the different Nations, require much more.
He who is to command does not think of raifing Sol-
diers till he has fafted feveral Days, during which he is
fmeared with black, hasfcarce any Converfation 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 the prefumptuous Nature of thefe
Savages
t88
HISTORY OF
Savages that he is going to obtain a Vidory, he fcldom
fails of having Dreams according to his Wiflies. The
Faft being over, he aflembl^s 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 infpires me with what 1 ought to
** do : The Blood of fuch a 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 refolved to 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 periih in this glorious Enter-
*' prize, or if any of thofe who will accompany me Ihould
'* lofe their Lives, this Collar Ihall 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 ihall be-
long to him who fhall take Care to bury the dead. In
pronouncing thefe laft Words, he lays the Collar on the
Ground, and he who takes it up, declares himfelf by do-
ing it, his Lieutenant : Then he thanks him for the
Zeal he (hews to revenge his Brother, or to fupport the
Honour of his Nation. Afterwards they heat Water,
they wa(h the Face of the Chief, they fet his Hair in or-
der, greafe it, and paint it. They alfo paint his Face
with various Colours, and put on his finefl Robe. Thus
adorned, he (Ings 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 fome alfo peculiar to each Family.
After this Preliminary, which pafles in a remote Placej.
and often in a Stove, the Chief goes to communicate his
Projeft to the Council, which confults upon it without
ever admitting to this Confuitation, the Author of the
Enterpri/.e. As foon as his Projeftis accepted, he makes
a Feaft, of which the chief, and fometimes the only
Diih, iT.ufl: be a Dog. Some pretend that this Animal is
offered to the God ot War before it is put into the Ket-
tle, and perhaps this is the Cuflom among fomc Nations.
. Fo'
N O R T H- A M E R I C A.
1S9
For I muft inform you here, Madam, that what I (hall
fay to you on this Article, I do not warrant to he the ge-
neral Cuftom among all the Nations. But it appears cer-
tain, that on the Occafion now mentioned, they make a
great many Invocations to all the Spirits good and evrfi'
and above all to the God of War.j
All this lafts many Days, or rather is repeated many
Days together : And though all the People feem entirely
employed in thefe Feafts, each Family takes their Mea-
fures to have its Share of the Prifoners that (hall be made,
in order to repair their Loflfes, 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 ot Prifoners they a(k Scalps, and this is eafier to
obtain. In fome Places, as among the Iroquois, as foon
as a military Expediton is refolved upon, they fet on the
Fire the Kettle of War, and they give Notice to their
Allies to bring fomething for it ; in doing which they de-
clare that they approve the Undertaking, and will go
Part in it.
All thofe who engage themfelves, give to the Chief,
as a Sign oF their Engagement, a Bit of Wood, with
their Mark. Whoever, after this, fhould go back from
his Word, would run a Rifque of his Life, at leaft he
would be difgraced for ever. The Party being formed,
the War Chief prepares a new Feaft, to which all the
Village muft he invited ; and before any Thing is touch-
ed, he fays, or an Orator for him, and in his Name,
Brethren, I know that I am not yet a Man, but you
know, neverthelefs, that I have feen the Enemy near
enough. We have been (lain, the Bones of fuch and
fuch an one remain yet uncovered, they cry out a-
gainft us, we muft fatisfy them : They were Men ;
how could we forget them fo foon, and remain fo long
quiet upon our Mats ? In (liort, the Spirit that is
inierefted in my Glory has infpired me to revenge
** them. Young Men take Courage, drefs your Hair,
paint your Faces, fill your Quivers, and make our
Forefts echo with your Songs of War; let us relieve
the
((
it
((
hat he is dead, then by the Means of a Pipe which he
has thruft imder the Tail, he caufes it to move, in blow-
: ' ". •^. ' ing
K
ill';"
192 H I S T O R Y OF .
ing fome Herbs into its Mouth, and their Cries of Ad-
miration are redoubled. Laftly, all the Troop of Jug-
gl'^Ts go round the Cabins finging the Virtue of their Me-
dic 'nes. Thefe Artifices at the Bottom do not impofeon
any one; but they amufe the Multitude, and Cuftom
mud be followed.
There is another Cuftom peculiar to the Miami f, and
perhaps to fome Nations in the Neighbourhood of Louiji^
ana, I had thefe Particulars from a Frencbmattf who was a
"Witnefs of them. After a folemn Feaft, they placed, faid
he, on a Kind of Altar, fome Pagods made with Bear
Skins, the Heads of which were painted green. All the Sa-
vages palfed this Altar bowing their Knees, and the Jug-
glers lead the Van, holding in their Hands a Sack which
contained all the Things which they ufe in their Conju-
rations. They all ftrove to exceed each other in their Con-
torfions, andas any one diftinguifhed himfelf in this Way,
they applauded him with great Shouts. Vv^hen they had
thus paid their firft Homage to the Idol, all the People
danced in much Confufion, to the Sound of a Drum and
a CbicbicQue ; and during this Time the Jugglers made a
Show of bewitching fome of the Savages, who feemed
ready to expire: Then putting a certain Powdei upon
their Lips, they made them recover. When this Farce
had lafted fome Tirhe, he who prefided at the Feaft,
having at his Sides two Men and two Women, ran
through al| the Cabins to give the Savages Notice that
the Sacrifices were going to begin. When he met any
one in hit> Way, he put both his Hands on his Head, and
the Perfon met embraced his Knees. The Vi6lims were
to be Dogs, and one heard on every Side the Cries of
thefe Animals, whofe Throats they cut ; and the Sava-
ges, who howled with all their Strength, feemed to imi-
tate their Cries. As foon as the Flelh 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 Diftri-
bution that was made to thefe Quacks, of whatever wai
found moll: to their Liking in all the Village.
From the Time that the R?folution is taken to make
War, till the Departure of the W^arriors, they fing th^ir
War-
N O R T H-A M E R I C A.
'9,3
War- Songs every Night : The Days are paflVd in making
Preparations. They depute fome Warriors to go *'y fing
the War-Song amongrf their Neighbours and AlHes,
whom they engage beforehand by fecret Negociations.
If they are to go by Water, they build, or repair their
Canoes : If it is Winter they furnifh themfelves with
Snow Shoes and Sledges. The Raquets which they xnuft
have to walk on the Snow are about three Feet long, and
about fifteen or fixteen Inches in their greatefl: 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 ftrengthen them,
atid the Piece which is before is in the Shape of a Bow,
where the Foot is fixed, and tied with Leather Thongf^.
The Binding of the Raquet is made of Slips of Leather
about the fixth Part of an Inch wide, and the Circumfe-
rence is of a light Wood hardened by Fire. To walk
well with thefe Raquets, they mud turn their Knees a
little inwards, and keep their Legs wide afunder. It is
fome Trouble to accuftom one's felf to it, but when a Per-
fpn is ufed to it, he walks with as much Eafe and as little
Fatigue as if he had nothing on his Feet. It is not
poflible to ufe the Raquets with our common Shoes,
we mud take thofe of the Savages, which are a Kind of
Socks, made of Skins/lried in the Srnoke, folded over at
the End of the Foot, and tied with Strings. The Sledges
which ferve to carry the Baggage, and in Cafe of Need
the fick and wounded, are two little 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
faften Straps to bind what is upon the Sledge. However
loaded thefe Carriages may be, a Savage can draw them
with Eafe by the Help of a long Band of Leather, which
he puts over his Breafl, 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 be-
ing come, they lake their Leave with great Demcnilrati-
on of real Tender nefs. Every Body defires fome thing
that 1 is been ufed by the Warriors, and in Return give
Vol. I. >■ it them
194 H I S T O R Y or
them fome Pledges of their Friendfhip, and AfTurances
of a perpetual Remembrance. They fcarce enter any Ca-
bin, 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 Ciiief : They find him armed as he was the firft
Day he fpoke to them ; and as he always appealed in pub-
lick from that Day. They then paint their Faces, every
one according to his own Fancy, and all of them in a ve-
ry frightful Manner. The Chief makes them a (hort
Speech ; then he come? oi.»t of his Cabin, finging his
Song of De:^th : The' .; follow him in a Line, keeping
a profound Silence, aul *hey do the fame every Morning
when they renew ^ larch. Here the Women go
before with the Pro\.iions -^d when the Warriors come
up with them, they give them their Clothes, and remain
almoH: naked, at l^aft as much as the Seafon will permit.
Formerly the Arms of thefe People were Bows and
Arrows, and a Kind of Javelin ; which, as well as their
Arrows, was armed with a Point of Bone wrought in dif-
ferent Shapes. Befides this, they had what they call the
Head-breaker : This is a little Club of very hard Wood,
the Head of which is rornd, and has one Side with an
Edge to cut. The greateft Part have no defenfive Arms ;
but when they attack an Intrenchment, tliey cover their
whole Body with little light Boards : Some have a fort
of Cuirafs made of Rufhes, or fmall pliable Sticks, pretty
well wrought : They had alfo Defences for their Arms
and Thighs of the fame Matter. But as this Armour
was not found to be Proof againft Fire Arms, they have
left it off, and ufe nothing in its Stead. The Weftern
• Savages always make life of Bucklers of Bulls Hides,
which are very light, and which a Muiket-Ball will not
pierce. It is foniething furprifing that the other Nations
do not ufe them.
When they make Ufe of our Swords, which is very
feklom, they ufe them like Spontoorts ; but when they
can get Guns, and Powder, and JBall, they lay afide their
Bows and Arrows, and ihoot very well. We have often
had Reafon to repent of letting them have any Fire Arms ;
bat it was not we wiio firft did it : The Iroquois having
1^0 1 lome of the Dutch, then in Pofleflion of New Tork,
we
jir
N O R T H-A M E R I C A. 195
we were under a Neceflity of giving the fame to our Al-
lies. Thcfe Savages have a Kind of Fnfigns 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. If the Party is numerous, each Fa-
mily or Tribe has its Enfign with its diftinguilhing Mark :
Their Arms are alfo dillinguifhed with different Figures,
and fomctimes with a particular Mark of the Chief.
But what the Savages would ftill lefs forget than their
Arms, and which they have the gre^te{^ Care about they
are capable of, are their Manitous. I fhall fpeak of them
more largely in another Place : It fuffices t*-! fay here
that they are the Symbols under which every one repre-
prelents his familiar Spirit. They put them into a Sac ,
painted of various Colours; and often, to do Honou'^ ro
the Chief, they place this Sack in the fore Part ot h.
Canoe. If there arc too many Manitous to be con'-tiin-
ed in one Sack, they diftribute them into feveral, v. :^
are entrufted to the Keeping of the Lieutenant and the
Elders of each Family : To thefe they join the Prefents
which have been made them in order to obtain Prifoners,
together with the Tongues of all the Animals killed during
the Campaign, and which are to be facriHced to the Genii
at their Return.
In their Marches by Land, the Chief carries his Sack
himfelf, which he calls his Mat ; but he may eafe him-
felf of this Burthen, by giving it to any one he chufcs ;
and he need not fear that any Perfon (hould refufe to
relieve him, becaufe this carries with it a Mark of Dif-
tinftion. This is, as it were, a Right of Reverfion to
the Command, in Cafe the Chief and his Lieutenant
fhould 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 (hall flay fome Days. I departed
from the River of Sables the 2lfl, before Sun-rife ; but
the Wind continuing againft us, we were oliliged at Ten
o'clock to enter the Bay of the Tfonnontbouans. Half
"Way from the River of Sables to this Bay, there is alit-
. R 2 tie
" i
II''
hi i
19^ H I S T O R Y o F
tie River, which I would not have failed to have vifited,
if I had been fooner informed of its Singularity, and ot
what I havejuil now learnt on my arriving here.
I^.ey cull this River Cnfconcbiagon: It is very narrow,
nnd of little Depth at its Entrance into the Lake. A lit-
tle hif^her, it is one hundred and forty Yardf wide, and
ihcy lay it is deep enough for the largert Veflels. Two
Lc.:ii;ucs from its Mouth, we are (lopped by a Fall which
appears to be ilxty Feet high, and one hundred and forty
Yards wide. A Mulket Shot higher, we find a fecond
of the fame Width, but not fo high by two thirds. Half
a I .e:igue further, a third, one hundred Feet high, good
Mcafure, and two hundred Yards wide. After this, we
meet wiiii feveral Torrents ; and after having failed fifty
Leagues further, we perceive a fourth Fall, every Way
( c|ual to the third. The Courfe of this River is one hun-
dred Leagues; and when we have gone up it about fixty
Leagues, v/e have but ten to go by Land, taking to the
Riglit, to arrive at the OhiOf called La belle Riviere:
The Place where we meet with it, is caWt^Ganos; where
nn OfHcer worthy of Credit *, and the fame from whom
] learnt wb.at 1 have jull now mentioned, aflured me that
he had fccn a Fountain, the Water of which is like Oil,
and i'.as the Talle of Iron. He faid alfo, that a little further
there is another Fountain exa£tly like it, and that the Sava-
ges make Ufe of its Water to appeafe all Manner of Pains.
The Bay of the Tfonnonthouans is a charming Place :
A pretty River winds here between two fine Meadows,
bordered witli liftle Hilb, between which we difcover
Wiiiies which extend a great Way, and the whole forms
x\\z fineH: Piofpect in the World, bounded by a great
Fcrt'il of liia,h Trees; hut the Soil appears to me to be
fomctbiing light and Ia\\(\)\
We continued our Courfe at half an Hour pad One,
and we failed tiil Ten o'Clock at Niglit. We intended
to jjo into a little River which they called La Riviere aux
Baatfi, (Ox River J; but we found the Entrance fhut up
1 y Sundo, which often happens to the little Rivers which
run
* M. ile JcKcaire, at prefent a Captain in the Troops of
Ke-zo f ranee.
NORTH-AMERICA.
197
run mto the Lakes, becaufe they bring dowir^^ith them
much Sand ; and when the Wind comes from the Lakes,
thefe Sands are flopped by the Waves, and form by De-
grees a Bank fo high and fo flrong, that thefe Rivers can-
not break through it, unlefs it be when their Waters are
Iwelled by the melting of the Snow.
I was therefore obliged to pafs the reft of the Night in
my Canoe, where I was forced to endure a pretty (harp
Froft. Indeed one could fcarcely here perceive the Shrubs
begin to bud : All the Trees were as bare as in the Midfl:
of Winter. We departed from thence at half an Hour
pad Three in the Morning, the 22d, being jycenJiofi-Day,
and I went to fay Mafs at Nine o'Clock in what they call
/(? Grand Marais (the great Marjh). This is a Bay much
like that of the Tfonnontbouansy but the Land here appear-
ed 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 pafles through the Lake Ontario, after a Strcight 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 Mijfifaguez, as at Gz-
tarocoui. The Sieur Joncaire, a Lieutenant in our
Troops, has alfo a Cabin here, to which they give before-
hand the Name of Fort • ; for they fay that in Time it
will be changed into a real Fortrefs.
I found here feveral Officers who muft return in a few
Days to ^ebes, which obliges me to clofe this Letter,
that I may fend it by this Opportunity. As for myfelf,
I forefee I (hall have Time enough after their Departure
to write you another ; and the Place itfelf will furnifh
me with enough to fill it, with that which I Ihvii; learn
farther from the Officers I have mentioned.
J ant, tsff.
R3 LETTER
♦ The Fort has been built fince at the Entrance of the Riv2p
Ningara, on the fame Side, and exadlly in the Place where M.
i^e Denonennevilie. Captain,
and the Sieur de la Cbauvignerie, Enfign, and the King*s
Interpreter for the Iroquois Language. Thefe Gentle-
men are going to negociate an Accomniodation with the
Canton oi Onnontague, and had Orders to vifit the Settle-
ment of M. de Joncaire, with which they were very
Av ell fatisfied. The Tfonnontbouans renewed to them the
Promife they had made to Aipport him. This was don^
in a Council ; where M. de Joncaire, as I have been told,
jpoke
♦ The Lake Ontario. The Lake Erie is three hundrtd
Leagues in Compafs.
i- ;
7 1
fl' 1
I
t
202 H I S T O R Y o p
fpoke with all the Senfe of the moft fenfible French man,
and with the moft fublime Iroquois Eloquence.
The Night before their Departure, that is to fay, the
24th, a Miffifague gave us an Entertainment which is
fomething lingular. He was quite naked when it began ;
and when we entered the Cabni of this Savage, v/e found
a fire lighted, near which a Man beat (finging at the
fame Time) upon a Kind of Drum : another Ihook, with-
out ceafing his Cbichikouc, and fiing alfo. This lafted
two Hours, till we were quite tired of it ; for they laid
always the fame Thing, 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 he gave us
this Mark of his Complaifance. Then we faw appear
five or fix Women ; who placed themfelves Side by Side
on the fame Line, as clol' as they could to each other,
with their Arms hanging down, fung and danced, that is
to fay f without breaking the Line, they made Ibme Steps
in Cadence, fometimes forward and fometimes backward.
When they had continued this about a Quarter of an
Hour, they put out the Fire, which alone gave Light to
the Cabin ; and then we faw nothing but a Savage, who
had in his Mouth a lighted Coal, and who danced. The
Symphony of the Drum and the Cbichikoue 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 diftinguifhed by the faint Gloom of
the lighted Coal which he had in his Mouth, he appeared
like a Spe£fcre, and made a horrible Sight. This Mix-
ture of Dances, Songs, Inftruments, and the Fire of
the Coal which ftill kept lighted, had fomething odd and
favage, which amufed us for half an Hour ; after which
we went out of the Cabin, 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 pafled the reft
of the Night. The Mufick, which I heard ftill fome
Time, was more tolerable at a Diftance than near. The
Contraft of the Voices of the Men and Women, at a cer-
tain Diftance, had an Effect that was pretty enough ; and
one
N O R T H- A M E R I C A. 203
one may fay, that if the Women Savages had a good
Manner of nnging, it would be a Pleafure to hear them
fing.
I had a great Defire to know how a Man could hold a
lighted Coal fo long in his Mouth, without burning it,
and without its being extinguilhcd ; but all that I could
learn of it was, that the Savages know a Plant which fe-
cures the Part that is rubbed with it from being burnt,
and that they would never communicate the Knowledge
of it to the Europeans. We know that Garlick and Oni-
ons will produce the fame Effect, but then it is only for
a (hort Time ». On the other Hand, how could this
Coal continue fo long on Fire ? However this may be, I
remember to have read in the Letters of one of our anti-
ent Miflionaries of Canada fomething like this, and which
he had from another Mifllonary who was a Witnefs there-
of. This laft ihewed him one Day a Stone, which a
Juggler had thrown into the Fire in his Prefence, and
left it there till it was thoroughly heated ; after which,
growing, as it were furiouf, he took it between his Teeth,
and carrying it all the Way thus, he went to fee a fick
Perfon, whither the Miflionary followed him. Upon en-
tering the Cabin, he threw the Stone upon the Ground ;
and the Miflionary 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 Mifli-
onary does not fay what the Juggler did afterwards for
the Relief of the lick Perfon. — The following is a Faft
of the fame Kind, which comes from the fame Source,
and of which you may make what Judgment you pleafe,
A Huron Woman, after a Dream, real or imaginary,
was taken with a fwimming of the Head, and almoft a
general Contraction of the Sinews. As from the Begin-
ning of this Difl:emper (he never flept without a great
Number of Dreams, which troubled her mucli, flie
guefled there was fome Myftery in it, and took it into her
Head that fhe Ihould be cured by Means of a Feaft ; of
which (he regulated herfelf the Ceremonies, according to
what (he remembered, as (he faid, of what (he had ^en
pradifed
• They fay that the Leaf of the Plant of the Aneinony of
Canada f though of a cau(tick Nature in itfelf, has this Virtue.
ao4 HISTORY op
pTz&.\(td bttiW. She deflred that they wouM carry her
ilire£tly to i'ae Village where fne was born ; and the El-
tV.ri whom fhe acquainted with her Defign, exhorted all
the People to accompany her. In a Moment her C^bin
was filled with People, who came to offer their Services :
SLie accepted them, and inftruded therp what they were
to do ; and immediately the ftrongeft put her into a Baf-
ket, and carried her by 'f urns, finglng with all therr
Strength.
When it was known flie was nv^ar the Village,, they
aflembled a great Cpuncilj, and out of Refpefl they in-
vited the Miflionaries to it, who in vain did every Thing
in their Power to dilTuade them from a Thing in which
they had Reafon to fufpeft there was as much Superftiti-
on as Folly. They Hftened quietly to all they could fay
on this Subje£^ ;''but when they had done fpeaking, one of
the Chiefs of the Council undertook to refute their D\{-
courfe: He could not eflfieQ; this; but fetting qfide tj^e
Miflionaries, he exhorted all the People to acquit them-
felves exaftly of all that (houtd be ordered, and to n^am-
tain the antient Cuftpn^s. WJiilft he was fpeaking, two
Meffengers from the fiqk Perform entered t^e Aflembly,
and brought News that Ihe would foon arriye ; and de-
fired, at her Requ?fl, tl^at they \v^oukl fend to n^eet h^r
two Boys and two Crirls, drefTed in Robes and Necklaces,
with ftich Prefenb ^s (he nanped ; addir"*. that fbe would
declare her Intentions to thefe foiii i'e; 'ons. ^|1 this
was performed immediately i ar^d a, i ''1- Time after, the
four young Perfops returned with their Hands empty,^ and
almoA naked, the fick Woman having obliged them to
give her every Thing, even to l;heir Robes. In this Con-
dition they entered into the Council^ which was f^ill af-
fembied, and there explained the Demands of this Wo-
man: They contained twen,^y-two Aifticles,; amongft
which was a blue Coverlet, which was to be fupplied by
the Miflionaries ; and all thefe Things were tp be deli-
vered immediately : They tried al,! Means to obtain tl?e
*{'ove»iet, b''t were conftantly refufed^ and they were
obliged to gu without it. As foon as the fick Woman
h.^d recci "^d the other Presents, fhe entered the Village,
cariied in ihe Manner rs before. In the Evening a public
Crver
N O R T H - A M E R I C A. 265
Cryer gave Notice, by her Order, to keep Fires lighted
in all the Cabins, becauie 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 pafled
through the Midft of all the Fires, her Feet and her
Legs being naked, and felt no Pain ; whilfl: her two Sup-
porters, though they kept as far from the Fires as they
pofllbly could, fuffered much by them ; for they were
to ler ] her thus through more than three hundred Fires.
As for tite fick Woman, they never heard her complain
but of Cold ; and at the End of this Courfe, ihe declared
tliat fhe found herfelt eafed.
The next Day, at Sun-rife, they began, by her Order
ftiil, a Sort 01' Bacchanal, which lafted three Days : The
firft Day the People ran through all the Cabins, breaking
and overfetting every Thing i 3nd by Degrees, as the
iSioife and HuH^-burly encreafed, the fick Woman aflur-
ed them that her Pains diminifhed. The two next Days
were employed in going over all the Hearths fhe had pafled
before, and (he propofing her Defires in enigmatical
Terms ; they were to find them out by Guefs", and ac«
comnli{h them dirc6lly. There weie fome of them hor-
ribly obfcene. Tlie 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 Midil: of two Bands of
Savages, who marched in a Row with a fad and languifh-
ing Air, and kept a profoimd 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 awa-
that they met. As foon as the fick Woman was entereti
into a Cabin, they made her fit down, and they placed
themfelves round her : She fighed, and pave an Account
of her Sufferings in a very afTeding Tone, and made
them to underftand that her perfect Cure depende on
the Accomplifliment cf her Dcfire, which Oic did not
explain, but ihey malt guefs: Every one did the hell
they could ; but this Dcfire was very complicated: It
contained many Things: As they named any one, they
were obliged to give it ht:, and in general file never
went out of a Cabin till flic \\-A got every Thing in .
Wiien flic faw that they could not guefs right, fhe ex-
pi- e {fed
iM
• 1
2o6 HISTORY OP
preffed herfelf more plainly ; and when they had guefTed
all, flie cauied every Thing to be reftored which flie had
received. Then they no longer doubted but that Ihc was
cured. They made a Feafl, which confifted in Cries,
or rather frightful Howlings, and In all Sorts of extrava-
gant Anions. Laftly, (he returned Thanks ; and the
better to (hew her Acknowledgment, (he vifited a third
Time all the Cabins, but without any Ceremony.
The Miflionary who was prefcnt at this ridiculous
Scene fays, that fhe was not entirely cured, but was much
better than before : Neverthelefs, a ftrong and healthy
Perfon would have been killed by this Ceremony. This
Father took Care to obferve to them, that her pretended
Genius had promifed her a perfefk 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 expefted that they would nave infifted
principally on the Refufal of the Coverlet ; and in Fa61:
they did juil mention it ; but they added, that after this
Refufal the Genius appeared to the fick Woman, and
aflured her that this Incident fhould not do her any Pre-
judice, becuufe as the French were not the natural Inha-
bitants of the Country, the Genii had no Power over
them. But to return to my Journey.
V^hen our Officers went away, I afcended thofe fright-
ful Mountains I fp >ke of, to go to the famous Fall of
Niagara J above which 1 was to embark. This Journey
is three Leagues ; It was formerly five, becaufe they
paflld tc t!ie other Side of the River ; that is to fay^ to
the Well, and ?]icy did not re-imbark but at two Leagues
above the Fn'l : Rut they have toimd on the Left, about
half a JViilc f^om ^..i;> Cataraft, a Bay where the Current
is not pcrcpiv;.''!!.., atri of Confcquence where any one
may enibAfk witho t L .inger. My firfl Care, at my Ar-
rival, v/as (o viht \\.>: linen: Cafcade perhnps in the
W'orld ; but I dire6lly found the Baron de la Hontan was
niiilakon, both as to its Height and its Form, In futh a
Ivi;uiner s to makt me ihmk he had never feen it. It is
certain ihat \\ we meaTure its Height by the three Moun-
tains \ hich we mud firfl pafs over, it is not much Icfs
than
N O R T H - A M E R I C A. 207
than the fix hundred Feet which the Map of M. DeUJle
gives it; who, without Doubt, did not advance this Pa-
radox, but on the Credit of Baron de la Hontan and Fa-
ther Henepin, But after I arrived at the Top of the
third Mountain, I obferved that in the Space of three
Leagues, which I travelled afterwards to this Fall of Wa-
ter, tho* we muft fometimes afcend, we defcended dill
more ; and this is what thefe Travellers do not feem to
have well confidered. As we cannot approach the Caf-
cade but by the Side, nor fee it but in Profile, it is n«)t
eafy to meafure it with Inflrunients : We tried to do it with
a long Cord fattened 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 fome Rock
which juts out; for although it was nlways drawn up
wet, as alfo the End of the Cord to which it was faften-
ed this proves nothing, becaufe the Water which falls
from the Mountain rebounds very high in a Foam. As
for myfelf, after I had viewed it from all the Places where
one may examine it moft eafily, I judged one could not
give it lefs than one hundred and forty, or one hundred
and fifty Feet. As to its Shape, it is ip thcrForm of a
Horfe-ihoe, and about four hundred Paces in Circumfe-
rence ; but exadly in the Middle '\)i is divided into two
by a very narrow Ifland 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
feen in Profile, has feveral Points which jut out; but
that which I faw in Front, .appeared to me very fmooth.
The Baron de la Hojitifri adds to this a Torrent which
comes from the We^ ; but if this was not invented by
the Author, we mu^ fay that in the Time of the Snow's
melting, the Watcr^ come to difcharge themfelves here
by fome Gutter.
You may very well fuppofe, Madim, that helnw this
Fall the River is for a long Way iif}e iince the River falls here pcrpcnd-
cularly
2oS
H I S TO R Y OK
cularly 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 neverthelefs fo
itrcng, notwithftanding all this, that ten or twelve Outa-
ouais endeavouring one Day to crofs the Ifland, to Ihun
fome Iroquois who purfued them, were carried away with
the Current down the Precipice, in Spite of whatever
Struggles they could nKike to avoid it.
I have been told that thfe Fifli that are brought into
-His Current^- are killed thereby, and that the Savages
fettled in thefe Parts make an Advantage of it \ but I fav^
no fuch ThiiK, I have alfo been aflured, that the Birds
that attempted to flyover it, were fometimes drawn into
the Vortex which was formfed in the Air by the Violence
of this Torrent , but I obferved quite the contrary. I
faw fome little Birds flying about, dire^ly over the Fall,
which came away withbut any DiflSculty. This Sheet
of Water is received upon a Rock ; and two Reafons
perfuade me that it has. fognd 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 Diftance. It is fcarcely to be
heard at M. de 'Joncaire'% Cabin, and perhaps alfo what
one hear; Uiere, is only the da(hing of the Water againft
the Rocks, which fill the Bed of the River up to this
Place : and the rather, becaufe above the Catara£l the
Noife is net heard near fo far. The fecond Reafon is,
that nothing has ever re-appeared (as they fay) of all that
has fallen into it,~^not even the Wreck of the Canoe of
thii Outaouais I mentioned juft now. However this may
be, Ovid gives us a Defcription of fuch a Catarafl, which
he fays is in the delightful Valley of Tempe. The Coun-
try about Niagara is far from being fo fine, but I think
its Cataraft is much finer *.
For
• Eft nemui Hjfemdnise prssrupta quod undiq ; claudit
Tvlva, vocant Tempe, per quae Peneus ab imo
EfFufus Pindo fpunrofis volvitur undis.
Deje£tifque gravi tenues agitantia Fumes
Nubila conducit, fummifque afpergine fylvas
Impluit, & fonitu plufquam vicina tatigat.
N O R T H-A M E R I C A. 209
For the reft, I perceived no Mift over it, but from
behind. At a Diftunce one would take it for Smoke ; and
it would deceive any Perfon that (hould come in Sight
of the liland, without knowing before-hand that there is
fuch a furprifing Cataraft in this Place. The Soil of
the three Leagues which I travr'led 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, Ma-
dam, that I told you that the Savages e^t as a Dainty the
Fleih 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 per-
form their Delufions, and they make themfelves Fillets
and Girdles of their Skins. It is alfo true, that they have
the Secret of enchanting them, or, to (peak more pro-
perly, of benumbing them ; fo that they take them alive,
handle them, and put them in their Bofoms, without re-
ceiving 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 expeded. I
muft bear it with Patience, and make good Ufe of the
Time. I (hall therefore proceed on the Article of the
Wars of the Savages, which will not be foon finiflied.— •
As foon as all the Warriors are embarked, the Canoes at
firfl: go a little Way, and range themfelves clofe together
upon a Line : Then the Chief rifes up, anil holding a
Chichicoue in his Hand, he thunders out his Song ot War,
and his Soldiers anfwer him by a treble //»', drawn with
all their Strength from the Bottom of their Breafts. The
Kiders and the Chiefs of the Council who remain upon
the Shore, exhort the Warriors to behave ueli, and ei-
pecially not to fuffer themfelves to be furpriied. Or all
the Advice that can be given to a Savage, this is the mod
neceffdi^y, and that of which in general he makes the ieaft
Benefit. This Exhortation does not interupt the Cmef,
Vol. I. , S who
iMD
2IO
HISTORY OF
who continues finj^ing. Laftly, ihe Warriors con'iurc
their Rehiions and Friends not to forget them. Thtn
fending torth all together hideous Howlings, they fet ofl'
directly and row with fuch Speed that they are foon out
of Sight. . • „ ■ •
Tiie Hurotu and the Iroquois do not ufe the Cbicbicoue,
Imt they jiive them to their Prifoners : So that thefe In-
(1 n (ivints, which amongft others is an Inftrument of
W ir, fcem amongft them to be a Mark of Slavery. The
W 1-riors feldorr^ mnke any fhort Marches, efpecially
Wiv n the Troop is numerous. But on the other Hand,
ihey l-iVj Pi cfacies from every Thing ; and the Jugglers,
li;yt'i)i> 'i'Tinpfs it is to explain them, haften or retard the
M;i<"< hr,' at their Plcaiure. Whilft they are not in a fuf-
■j »cr' ::! C Miniry they take no Precaution, and frequently
(yc\>t ihnii icarce find two or three Warriors together, each
tp.kii.^ i}is own Way to hunt ; but how far foever they
f" ly from the Route, they all return pundually to the
Place, and at the Hour appointed for their Rendezvous.
- They encamp a long Time before Sun-fet, and com-
fQoniy they leave before the Camp a large Space fur-
rounded with Paiifades, or rather a Sort of Lattice, on
which they place their Manitousy 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 lleeps quietly under their fuppofed Safe-
guard. Experience does not undeceive thefe Barbarians,
nor bring them out of their prefumptuous Confidence.
It has its Source in an Jr.olence and Lazinefs which no-
thing can conquer.
Every one is an Enemy in the Way of the Warriors ;
but neverthelel's, it they meet any of their Allies, or any
Parlies nearly equal in Force of People with whom they
have no Qiiarrej, thty make Friendfliip with each other.
If the Allies they mecit are at War with the fame Enemy,
the Chief of the rirongcll Party, or of that which took
up Arms fiiil:, gives (on^e Scalps to the other, v/hlch they
; ' arc
NORTH -AMERICA. 211
are always provided with for thcfe Occafions, and fiys to
him, " Tou have dotte your Bufinefs ; tliat is to fay, you
have fulfilled your F.ngagemcnt, your Honour is falc, yoa
may return Home." But this is to be undcrilood wlicn
the Meeting is accidental, when tiicy have not appointed
them, and when they have no Occafion for a Reinforce-
ment. When they are juft entering upon an I'^ncmy*s
Country, they flop for a Ceremony which is fomcthing
fingular. At Night they make a great Feaft, after which
they lie down to lleep : As foon as they arc awake, thofe
who have had any Dreams go from Fire to Fire, fmging
their Song of Death, with which they intermix their
Dreams in an enigmatical Manner. F.very one racks his
Brain to guefs tiiem, and if nobody can ilo it, thole who
have dreamt are at Liberty to return Home. "^I'his ^rives
a fine Opportunity to Cowards. Then ihey make new
Invocations to the Spirits; they animate each other more
than ever to do Wonders ; they fwear toallifl: each other,
and then they renew their March : And if they came
^ thither by Water, they quit their Canoes, v/hich they
^ hide very carefully. If every Thing was to be obfcrved
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 mc^re
Cries, nor hunt no more, nor even fpeak to each otiier
hut by Signs: But thefe Laws are ill obfervcd. Fvery
Savage is born prefumptuous, and incapable of the leafl
Reftraint. They feldoin negle6t, however, to fend out
every Evening feme Rangers, who employ iwo or three
Hours in looking round the Country : IF they have feen
nothing, they go to Heep quietly, and they leave the
Guard of the Camp again to the Alaniious,
As foon as they have difcovered the Enemy, they fend
out a Party to reconnoitre them, and on their Kcj-ori;
they hold a Council. The Attack is gcncrall) .nadv, ai
Day-I)reak. They iuppofe the Enemy is at this 'J inie in
their deepcll: Sleep, ami all night they lie on their i,.:I.;.s,
without iHrring. The Approaches are made in tl j lame
j'ort'.irc, crawling 0I2 their Feet and Hiiuds t;il tia-v
come to the Place : Tiien all rife up, liie Chi uivcs tiic
signal by a little Cry, to which all the Troop uniwuro by
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212 HISTORY OF
real Howllngs, and they make at the fame Time th^ir
firfl Difcharge : Then without giving the Enemy any
Time to look abput, they fall upon them with their Clubs.
In latter Times thefe People have fubftituted little Hatch-
ets, in the (lead of thefe wooden Head Breakers, which
they call by the fam j Name ; fince which their Engage-
ments 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 Refiftance.
If they find the Enemy on their Guard, or tpo well
intrenched, they Retire if they have Time for it ; if notj,
they take the Refolution to fight floutly, and there is
fometimes much Blood (hed on both Sides. The Attack
of a Camp is the Image of Fury itfelfj the barbarous
Fiercenefs of the Conquerors, and the Defpair of the
Vanc|ui(hed, who know what ^hey mud expe£t if they
fall into the Hands of their Enemies, produce on either
Side fuch Efforts as pafs all Defcription. The Appear-
ance of the Combatants all befmeared with black and red,
ftill encreafes the Horror of the Fight ; and from tkis
Pattern one might make a true Pifkure pf Hell. When
the Victory is no longer doubtful, they d'redly difpatch
all thofe whom it would be too troublefome to carry a-
way, and feek only to tire out the reft they intend to make
Prifoners.
The Savages are naturally intrepid, and notwithfland-
ing their brutal Fiercenefs, they yet preferve in the midft
of Adion much Coolnefs. Neverthelefs they never fight
in the Field but when they cannot avoid it. Their Rea-
fon is, that a Vidory marked with the Blood of the Con-
querors, is not properly a Vi6tory, and th?it the Glory of a
Chief confills principally in bringing back all his People
fafe and found. I have been told, that when two Ene-
mies that are acquainted meet in the Fight, there fome-
tiines pafles between them Dialogues much like that of
Honier^s Heroes. I do not think this happens in the
Height of the Engagement ; but it may happen that in
little Rencounters, or perhaps before pafiing a Brook, or
forcinpi
N O R T H-A M E R I C A.
21-?
forcing an Intrenchment, they fay fomething by Way cf
Defiance, or to call to Mind fome luch former Rencounter.
War is commonly made by a Surprize, and it general-
ly fucceeds ; for as the Savages very frequently negledt
the Precautions neceflary to fhun a Surprize, fo are they
a6iive and flcillul in furprifing. On ihe other Hand, thefe
People have a wonderful Talent, I might fay an Inftin^V,
to know if any Perfon has pafled through any Place. On
the fhortcft Grafs, on the hardeft Ground, even upon
Stones, they difcover fome Traces, and by the Way they
are turned, by the Shape of their Feet, by the M;mner
they are feparated from each other, they diftinguifli, as
they fay, the Footfteps of diflPerent Nations, and thofe of
Men from thofe of Women. I thought a long Time
th,at there was fome Exaggeration in this Matter, but th«
Reports of thofe who have lived among the Savages are
fo unanimous herein, that I fee no Room to doubt of
tjheir Sincerity.
Till the Conquerors are in a Country of Safety, they
march forward expeditioufly ; and left the Wounded
ihould retard their Retreat, they carry them by Turns
on Litters, or draw them in Sledges in Winter. When
they re-enter their Canoes, they make their Pri'onf rs
fing, and they praflife the fame Thing every Time f' y
meet any Allies; an Honour which coils them a ieaft
who receive it, and the unfortunate Captives fomething
more than the Trouble of finging: For they invite the
Allies to carefs them, and to carefs a Prifoner is to do Iiim
all the Mifchief they can devife, or to maim him in fuch
a Manner that he is lamed for ever. But there are 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 that holds them ; and at Night they are frr-rchtcl up-
on the Earth quite naked ; fome Cords fultcntd to Piquets,
fixed in the Ground, keep their Legs, Arms, and Necks
fo confined that they cannot ftir, and feme long Cordu
alfo confine their Hands and Feet, in fuch a Manner
S3 thul
214
HISTORY 01
tiiiU they cannct make the leail: Motion wiihput waking
tiic Savages, who lye upon thefc Cords.
If among the Prifoncrs tl-ierc are found any, who by
their Wounds are not in a Condition of being carried a-
way, they burn them dire6tly; and as this is done in the
firit Hear, and when they are often in Hade to retreat,
they are for the moil; Part quit at an cafier Rate than the
others, who are rcfcrved for a (lower Punilliment.
The Cuftom among feme Nations is, that the Chief of
the victorious Party leaves on the Field of Battle his Fight-
ini;-Club, on which he had taken Care to trace the Mark
jf his Nation, that of l.is Family, and his Portrait; that
if to 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 Hie-
roglyphic Characters, by Means of v/hich thofe who pafs
by may know even the minuted Circumftances, not only
of the A£tion, but alfo of the whole Tranfa£tions 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 Marmofets
placed on a Stick, or on a Cbicbicoue ; that of the Dea^l
by human Figures without Heads, with Differences to
diflinguirti the Men, the Women, and the Children. But
thefe Marks are not alv.ays fet up near the Place where
the Action happened, for when a Party is purfucd, they
place them out of their Route, on Purpofe to deceive
their Puriuers.
When !hc Warners are arrived at a certain Diftancc
from tlie Village from whence they came,they halt, and
the Chief fends one to give Notice of his Approach.
-Among fome Nations, as foon as the MefTenger is with-
in hearing, he malces various Cries, which give a gene-
ral Idea ot the principal Adventures and Succefs of the
Campaign: He marks the Number of Men they have
loft by fo many Cries of Death. Immediately the young
People come out to hear the Particulars ; Sometimes the
whole
N O R T H-A ^T E R I C A. 215
whole Village comes out, hut one alone addrefTcs the
Meflenger, and learns from him the Detail of the Mews
which he brings: As the MelVenger relales a Fa6t the
other repeats it aloud, turning towards thofe who r.^roni-
panied him, and they anfwcr him by Ac>.:lamations or dif-
mal Cries, according as the News is mournful cr pictfing.
The MciTenger is then condu6ted to a Cabin, whvre the
Elders put to him the fame Qucflions as before : after
which a public Crier invites all the younj^ People to go
to meet the Warriors, and the Women to carry thiim
Refrefliments. In fome Places they only think at firiT:
of mourning for thofe l hey have "lofl. The Meflenger
makes only Cries of Death. They do not go to meet
him, but at his entering the Village he finds all the Peo-
ple aflembled, he relates in a few Words all that ha-J
pafl'ed, then retires 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
proclaim the Vi^kory. Then every one dries up his Tears,
and they think of nothing but rejoicing. Something like
this is pra^ifed at the Return of the Hunters : The VV^o-
men who flayed in the Village go to meet them as foon
as they are informed of their Approach, and before they
enquire of the Succefs of their Hunting, they inform
them by their Tears of the Deaths that have happened
fmce their Departure.— To return to the Warriors, the
Moment when the Women join them, is properly fpeak-
ing the Beginning of the Punifhment of the Pnfoners ;
And when fome of them are intended to be adopted,
which is not allowed to be done by all Nations ; their fu-
ture Parents whom they take C.ire to inform of it, go and
receive them at a little Diftance, and conduct 'Jicm to
their Cabins by fome round-about Ways. In general thf.-
Captives are a long Time ignorant of their Fate, and
there are few who efcape the firfl Fury of the V/omen.
iii
i\
I am^ &rc.
ole
s- 4
LET T £ R
C«7l
LETTER XVI.
; 1 ■ -
Tbefirfl Reception of the Prifiners. The Triumph of the
JVarriors. The Diflribution of the Captives : How they
decide their Fate, and what follows after. With what
Inhumanity they treat tbofe who are condemned to die:
The Courage theyfbew. The Negociations of the Savages,
Madam, At the Entrance of Lake Erie, May 27.
I Departed this Morning from the Fall of Niagara, 1
had about feven Leagues to go to the Lake Erie, and I
did it without any Trouble. We reckoned that we
Ihou'd not lie here this Night; but whilft my People
rowed with all their Strength I have pfetty well forward-
ed another Letter, and while they take a little Re.il I will
finilh 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 off laft. .. *
All the Prifoners that are deftined to Death, and thofe
whofe Fate is not yet decided, are as I have already told
you, Madam, abandoned to the Fury of the Women,
who go to meet the Warriors ; and it is iurprifmg that
they nefift all the Evils they make them fuffer. If any
one efpecially has loft either her Son or her Hufband, or
any other Perfon that was dear to her, tho* this Lofs had
haj^pened thirty Years before, (he is a Fury. She attacks
the firft who tails under her Hand ; and one can fcarcely
-imagine how far (he is tranfported with Rage : She has no
Regard either to Humanitv or Decency, and every Wound
(he gives him, one woulcl expe£t him to fall dead at her
Feet, if we did not know how ingenious ihefe Barbarians
nre in prolonging the moll unheard of PuniOiment : Ail
the
ai8
HISTORY OP
the Night paffes in this Manner in the Camp of the
Warriors.
The next Day is the Day of the Triumph of the Warri-
ors. The Iroquois y and fome others, affef): a great Modefty
and a flill greater Difrntercdedncfs on thefe Occafions.
The Chiefs enter alone into ihe Village, without any
Mark of Vi6iory, keeping a profound Silence, and retire
to their Cabins, without (hewing that they have the leaft
Pretenfion to the Prifoners. Among other Nations the
fameCuftom 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 Death Cries. The Warriors
follow by two and two, the Prifoners in the Midft,
crowned with Flowers, their Faces and Hair painted,
holding a Stick in one Hand, and a Cbicbikoue in the
other, their Bodies almofl; naked, their Arms tied above
the Elbow with a Cord, the End of which is held by
the Warriors, and they fing without ceafihg t^ Ocath
St 7>g to the Sound of the Cbicbikoue,
This Song has fomething mournful and haughty at the
fame Time ; and the Captive has nothing of the Air of a
Man who fuffiers, and that is vanquilhed. This is pretty
near the Senfe of thefe Songs : *' / am brave and intre-
pid ; / do not fear Deatb, nor any Kind of Tortures :
Thofe who fear tbem, are Cowards ; they are lefs than
'^* Women : Life is nothing to thofe that have Courage :
May toy Enemies be confounded with Defpair and Rage :
Oh I that J could devour them^ and drink their Blood
to the lafi Drop'* From Time to Time they flop
tliem. ; 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 Aftions of their Lives;
they name all thofe they harve killed or burnt ; and they
make particular mention of thofe for whom the People
pvefent are moft concerned. One would fay that they
wrly feek to animate more and more agJtinft them the
Mafters of their Fate. In Fadt, thefe Boaftings make
thofe who hear them, quite furious, and they pay dear
for their Vanity : But by the Manner in which they re-
ceive
C(
(t
NORTH-AMER ICA.
219
ceive the mod cruel Treatment, one would fay that they
take a Pleafure in being tormented.
Sometimes they oblige the Prifoners to run through
two Ranks of Savages armed with Stones and Sticks, who
fall upon them as if they would knock them on the Head
at the firft Blow ; yet it never happens that they kill
them ; fo much Care do they take, even when they fcem
to (Irike at Random, and that their Hand is guided by Fu«
ry alone, not to touch any Part that would endanger Lih.
In this March every one has a Right to torment them ;
they are indeed allow 'd to defend themfelves ; bttt they
would, i!^ they were to attempt it, foon be overpowered.
As foon is they are arrived at the Village, they lead them
from Cabin to Cabin, and every where they make them
pay their Welcome : 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 Flefh quite to the
Bone : A Child with an Awl wounds them where be can :
A Woman whips them without Mercy, till fhe is fo tired
that ihe cannot lift up her Hands : But none oF ihe War-
riors lay their Hands upon them, although they are ftill
their Mailers; and no one can mutilate the Prifoners
without their Leave which they feldom grant : But this
excepted, they have an entire Liberty to make them fuf-
fer ; and if they lead them through feveral Villages, either
of the fame Nation, or their Neighbours or Allies who
have defired it, they are received every where in the fame
Manner.
After thefe Preludes, they fet about the Diflribution
of the Captives, and their Fate depends on ^ho'c to whom
they are delivered. At the Rifin^g of the Council, where
they have confulted of their Fate, a Crier invite3 all the
People to come to an open Place, where ti.e Diilrlbuticn
is made without ury Noifc or Difpuie. Tlie Women
who have loft their Children or Huibancls in the War,
generally receive the fiirfl Lot. In the next Place thcv
fulfil the Promifes made to thole who have given Coilarr,.
If there are not Captives enough for this Pnrpofe, they
iupply the Want oi' them by Scalps ; with wliich thole
who receive them, adorn ti»emfv.lvt3 en ic-joicir^ Day::;
^ . , . and
fi20
HISTORY or
nnd at othtr Times ihcy hang them up at the Doors of
their Cabins. On the contrary, if the Number of Pri-
foners exceeds that of the Claimants, they fend the Over-
plus to the Villages of their Allies. A Chief is not re-
placed but by a Chief, or by two or three ordinary Per-
fons, 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 therublick, and thefe
the Council difpofe of as they think proper : But the
Mothers of Families may dill fet afide their Sentence,
and are the Miftreffes of the Life and Death even of thofe
V'ho have been condemned or abfolved by the Council.
In fome Nations the Warriors do not entirely deprive
themfelves of the Right of difpoHng of their Captives ;
arivi they to whom the Council give them, are obliged to
put them again into their Hands, if they require it : But
they do it very feldom ; and when they do it, they arc ob-
liged to return the Pledges or Prefents received from thofe
Perfons. If, on their Arrival, they have declared their
Intentions on this Subjeft, it is fcldom oppcfed. In ge-
neral, 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, that they make no Difficulty of
going to War againft their own Countrymen. The Iro-
quois would have fcarcely fupported themfelves hitherto,
but by this Policy. Having been at War many Years
againft all the other Nations, they would at prefent have
been reduced almod to nothing, if they had not taken
great Care to naturalize a good Part of their Prifoners of
War.
It fometimes happens, that inflead of fending into the
other Villages the Surplus of their Captives, they give
them to private Perfons, 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
NORTH-AMERICA.
Sir
how they (hall difpofc of them -, or elfe they are obliged
to adopt them. In the firfl Cafe, he to whom they make
a Prefent of a Slave, fends for him by one ot his Family ;
then he faftens him to the Door of his Cabin, and alTem-
bles the Chiefs of the Council ; to whom he declares his
Intentions, and a(ks their Advice. This Advice is gene<*
rally agfceable to his Defire. In the fecond Cafe, the Coun-
cil, in giving the Priloner to the Perfon they have deter-
mined on, fay to him, " It is a long Time we have been
deprived of fuch a one, your Relation, or your Friend,
who was a Support of our Village." Or elle, ** We
regret the Spirit of fuch a one' whom you have loft ;
and who, by his Wifdom, maintained the publick
Tranquillity : He muft appear again this Day ; he was
too dear to us, and too prctious to defer his Revival
any longer : We place hini again on his Matj in the
Perfon of this Prifoner."
«
t€
«(
«
€t
4«
«
There are, neverthelefs, fome private Perfons that arc
in all Appearance more confidered than others ; to whom
they make a Prefent of a Captive, without any Conditions,
and with full Liberty to do what they pleafe with him:
And then the Council exprefy themfelves in thefe 7'erms,
when they put him in their Hands, " This is to repair
" the Lois of fuch a one, and to cleanfe the Heart ot his
** Father, of his Mother, of his Wife, and of his Child-
** ren. If you are either willing to make them drink the
" Broth of this Fle(h, 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 Prifoner is adopted, they lead him to the Ca-
bin where he mufl: live ; and the nrfl Thing they do, it
to untie hinr^. Then they warm fome Water to walh him :
They drefs his Wounds, if he has any ; and if they were
even pirtrified, 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 fo him whom he raifes from the Dead, this is their
Expreflion.— : — Scm>; Day.; aiter, they make a Feaft;
4uruig which they Igkmnly give him the Name of the
Perfon
u%
HISTORY OF
Perfon whom he replaces, and whofc Rights he not only
acquires from that Time, but he lays himfclf alfo under
the fame Oljligations.
Amongfl: the Huronty and the Iroquoi/, thofe Prifoners
they intend to burn, arc lometimes as well treated at firO,
and even till the Moment of their Plxecution, as thofe
that have been adopted. It appears as if they were Vic-
tims which they fattened for the Sacrifice, and they are
really a Sacrifice to the God ol War. The only dift'cr-
ence they make between thefe and the other, is, that
they blacken their P'aces all over: After this they enter-
tain them in the bed Manner they are able: They always
fpeak kindly to them ; they give them the Names of Sons,
Brothers, or Nephew^, according to the Perfon whofe
Manes they are to appeafe by their Death : They alfo
fometimes give them young Women, to ferve them for
Wives all the Time they have to live. But when thiy
are informed of their Fate, they muft be well kept, to
prevent their efcaping. Therefore oftentime this is con-
cealed from them.
When they have been delivered to a Woman, the Mo-
ment they inform her every Thing is ready for Exe-
cution, (he is no longer a Mother, fhe is a Fury, who
pafTes from the tendered CarefTes to the greateft Excefs
of Rage : She begins by invoking the Spirit of him (he
defires to revenge : ** Approach, (fays Ihe) you are go-
ing to be appeafed : I prepare a Feaft for thee ; drink
great Draughts of this Broth which is going to be
poured out for thee; receive the Sacrifice I make to
" to thee in facrificing this Warrior ; he Ihall be burnt,
«* and put in the Kettle; they fliall apply red-hot Hatch-
*' ets to his Flefli ; they Ihall pull off his Scalp ; they
*' fhall drink in his Skull: Make therefore no more Com-
** plaints; thou fhalt be fully fatisfied.'* This Form
of Speech, which is properly the Sentence of Death, va-
ries much .is to the Terms ; but for the Meaning, it is
always much the faiiic. Then a Cryer makes the Cap-
tive come out of the Cabin, and declares in a loud Voice
the Intention of him or her to whom he belongs, an-!
finiflies by exhorting tl e young People to behave well :
Another
((
tl
NORTH-AMERICA.
aiS
ik
to
m
'a-
is
P-
ce
!:
Another fucceeds, who addrefTes him that is to fuffer, and
fays, ** Brother^ take Courage \ tbou art going to he
** burnt:** And he anfwcrs coolly, ** That is wfll, /give
** /Ans they make, divert their Thoughts, I'ake off the Edge
ot the Pain, and produce the fame F.ffeft, and fometiiing
more, than Cries and Tears. In fhort, they know that
there are no Mopes of Mercy, and Defpair gives Refoiu-
tion, and infpires Boldnefs.
But this Kind of Infcnfibility is not fo general as many
h^iVG. thought : It is not unufual to hear thefe poor
'\\^r=jtLhos lend forth Cries that are t-apablc of piercing the
Jianlcf!: Ilcirt ; but which liavc no other i ffevt, ..'ut to
make Sport for the A6tors, and the reft that are prefent.
As to the Caufcs that fiiould produce in the 'ivages
an Inhumanity, which wc could never have believed Men
to have been guilty of, I believe they acquired it by De-
t/ees, and have been ufed to it infcnfibly by CuTtom ;
that a Dellre of feeing their Enemy behave nie;inly, the
fults which the Sufferers do not ceafe to make to their
Tormentor?, the Dcfire of Revenge, which is tJie reijin-
ing
324
HISTORY OP
jng PafHon of this People, and which they do not think
fufficiently glutted whilH: the Courage of thofe who are
the Obje£k of it is not fubdued, and laftly Superftition,
have a great Share in it ; Ffjr wliat Excefles are not pro-
duced by a falfe Zeal, guided by fo many Pallions.
I (hall not, Madam, relate the Particulars of all that
pafles in thefe horrible Executions : It would carry me too
far ; becaufe in this there is no Uniformity, nor any
Rules but Caprice and Fury. Often there are as many
Ad:ors as Sped^tprs; that is to fay, ail the Inhabitants of
the Village, Men, Women, and Children, 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 lead:, 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
fometimes they make the Puniihment lad a whole Week;
as it happened to a Gentleman of Canada amongil the Iro»
quois. They are the lead fpared, who having already
been taken and adopted, or fet at Liberty, are taken a fe-
fond Time. They look upon them as unnatural Children,
or ungrateful Wretches, who have made War with their
Parents and Benefa6iois, and they (hew them no Mercy.
It happens fometimes that the SufFiprer, even when he is
not executed in a Cabin, is not tied, and is allowed to
defend himielf ; which he does, much lefs in Hopes of
faving 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 follows an Inftance,
which is warranted by Eye-Witnefles, who are worthy
of Credit.
An Iroquois C^pt \x\ of the Canton o^ Ontteyouth, chofe
rather to expofc himfeif to every Thing, than to dif-
grace himfeif by a Flight, which he judged of dangerous
Confequence to the young People that were under his
Command. He fought a long Time like a Man who was
refolved to die with his Arms in his Hands ; but thft Hurons,
who oppofed him, were refolved to have him alive, and
he was taken. Hap;nly for him, and for thofe who were
taken
NORTH-AMERICA.
225
us
is
as
taken with him, they were carried to a Village, where
fome Mifllonaries refided, who were allowed full Liberty
of difcourfing with them. Thefe Fathers found them of
a Docility which they looked upon as the Beginning of
the Grace of their Converiion ; they inftruded them,
and baptized them: They' were all burnt a few Days af-
ter, and fhewed even till Death a Refolution, which the
Savages are not yet acquainted with, and which even thu
infidels attributed to the Virtue of the Sacraments.
The Onneyoutb Captain neverthelefs believed that he
was ftill allowed to do his Enemies all ihe 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
nothing ; but as he thought one of his Companions that
was tormented near him, fhewed fome Marks of Weak-
nefs, he (hewed on this Account a great Uneafinefs, and
omitted nothing that might encourage him to fufFcrwith
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 Chridian.
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 gbing to tear him in Pieces. He did
not appear to be at all moved at it, 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 pulPd 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 hi5 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 over
fiay'd and burnt, re-calls his Tormentors, and defies them
to approach him. They were affrighted at his Refoluti-
on, they fent forth horrid Cries, and armed themfelves,
fome with burning Fire-brands, others with red-hot Irons,
and fell upon him all together. He received them brave-
ly, and made them retreat. Th« Fire with which he
Vol. I. T was
I
226
HISTORY OF
V a* l\irroiindcd ferved him for an Intrenchment, and he
niade another with tlie Ladders that had been ufed to get
upon the Scaflold ; and being thus fortified in his own
funeral Pile, now bcxonie the Theatre of his Valour,
and armed with the Inftruments of his Punilhment, he
was for fome Time the Terror ot a whole Village, no
Body daring to approach a Man that was more than half
burnt, and whofc Blood flowed from all Parts of his Body.
A falfe Step which he made in driving to fliun a Fire-
brand that was thrown at him, left him once more to the
Mercy of his Tormentors: 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 impoflible for him ever to rife up
again. They were deceived : When they leaft thought
of it, they faw him, armedj with Fire-brands, run to-
wards the Village, as if be would fet it on Fire. All the
People were ftruck with Terror, and no Perfon had the
Courage to flop him : But as he came near the firft Clbin,
a Stick that was thrown between his Legs, threw him
down, and they fell upon him before he could rife : They
dircflly cut off his Hands and Feet, and then rolled him
upon fome burning Coals ; and laftly they threw him un-
der the Trunk of a Tree that was burning. Then all the
Village came round him, to enjoy the Pfeafure of feeing
him burn. The Blood which flowed from him almofl
extinguilhed the Fire ; and they were no longer afraid of
his Efforts : But yet he made one more, which aftonilhed
the boldeft : He crawled out upon his Elbows and Kneci
with a threatening Look and a Stoutnefs which drove a-
way the nearefl:; more indeed from Aftonilhment than
Fear; for what Harm could he do them in this maimed
Condition ? Some Time alter, a Huron took him at an Ad-
vantage, and cut off his Head. r »
Neverthelefs, Madam, if thefe People make War like
Barbarians, we muil allow that in their Treaties of Peace,
and generally in all their Negotiations they difcover a
JDexterity, and a Noblenefs of Sentiments, which would
do Honour to the mcfl: polilhed l,dtions. They have no
Notion
NORTH-AMERICA.
22y
like
ice,
ir a
luld
no
lion
?:•-■-
Notion of making Conquefts and extending their Domini-
ons. Many Nations have no Domain properly fo called,
nnd thofe who have not wandered from their Country,
«nd look upon themfelves as Mafters of their Lands, arc
not fo far jealous of them, as to be offended with any one
who fettles upon them, provided they give the Nation no
Di(lurbanc6. Therefore in their Treaties, they confider
nothing but to make themfelves Allies againfl: powerful
Enemies, to put an End to a War that is troublefome to
both Parties ; or rather to fufpend Hoflilities : For I have
already obferved, that the Wars are perpetual that are be-
tween Nation and Nation ; fo that there is no depending
updn a Treaty of Peace, fo long as one of the two 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 &ppe