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R 
 
VOYAGES 
 
 or 
 
 REV. FATHER EM^FANUEL CRESPEL, 
 
 CANADA, 
 
 AND .0 I B 
 
 SHIPWRECK, 
 
 WHILE RKTURNIXU TO FHANCB. 
 
 P XT n L I S » E II BY 
 
 SIEUR LOUIS CRESPEL, 
 
 U I S II K O T II E R , 
 
 F a A N K F H T - N - T II E - M E Y N. 
 
 1742. 
 
 ; - 1', 
 
To: 
 
 f luzm; 
 <U; Vil 
 tijo, L 
 gava, ' 
 of Flit 
 (.'astufii 
 (laxar, 
 of Cas 
 ernor i 
 pal Ca 
 (Jentle 
 man of 
 (lent o 
 Esquir 
 of the ' 
 Kxtrao 
 Majest; 
 
 My 
 
 lency, 
 Avorthv 
 ham to 
 of AIos 
 patienc 
 which 
 
DEPTO ATIOX. 
 
 188 
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 To His Excellenry, Don Christoplicr dc Portorarrero, 
 Ciuzman Luna, Pacheco, Enriciucz de Ahnanza, Funez 
 (le Villalpando, Aragon and Monrey ; Count of ^[on- 
 tijo, Lord of the town of Moquer ; Marquis of Al- 
 gava, Mllanueva del Fresno and of Barcarota ; Count 
 of Fuentiduena ; Marquis of Valderabano, Ossera, and 
 (•astaneda ; Lord of the towns of Adrada, Guotor- 
 daxar, \'ierlas, Crcspa and Palacios ; Grand ^Marshal 
 of Castile ; Grand Bailli of Seville ; Hereditary Gov- 
 ernor of the Castle and Fortress of Guadix ; Princi- 
 pal Captain of the Perpetual Company of a Hundred 
 Gentlemen attached to the House of Castile; Gentle- 
 man of the Chamber to His Catholic Majesty ; Presi- 
 dent of the Supreme Council of the Indies ; Grand 
 Esquire of the Queen ; Knight of the Illustrious Order 
 of the Golden Fleece ; Grandee of Spain ; Ambassador 
 Extraordinary of His Catholic Majesty to His Imperial 
 Majesty : 
 
 My Lord, — In presenting the Avork to your Excel- 
 lency, I venture to assure you that the subject is truly 
 Avorthy of you. The obedience and submission of Abra- 
 ham to the orders of Providence, the zeal and courage 
 of "Moses, in leading the Israelites into the desert, the 
 patience and resignation of Job, in suffering the evils by 
 which God wished to try him, and — what is more admi • 
 u 
 
184 
 
 T>Emr\TTO>', 
 
 rablc— the vifrilancp, and ospocuilly tlio cliavity, with- 
 out which St. Taul (IcenuHl hhiist-lf nothhig, are displayed 
 in the course of this relation M'hich I present to Your 
 
 Excellency. 
 
 Can so many virtues displease Your Lordship, who 
 admires them in others, and who, ever disposed to prac 
 tise them, merit having them admired in yourself? 
 
 This work belongs, then, to Your Excellency, and 
 should belong to no other. I do my mxY in dedicating 
 it to yon, and what pleasure have I not in doing my duty ? 
 
 This would be the place, My Lord, to do justice to 
 all the qualities which so advantageously distinguish 
 Your Excellency's mind and heart ; but I fear to wound 
 that modesty which renders these qualities still more 
 
 admirable. 
 
 I shall content myself, then, Uy Lord, with saying, 
 that all who have the honor to belong to you, bles^ 
 every instant of the day which crowned their felicity in 
 bringing them to Your Excellency. 
 
 Their attachment is your eulogy, the only one worthy 
 of men who, like you, My Lord, make it an occupation 
 to complete the happiness of those who belong to you. 
 This is not all, My Lord. No one can know yoy 
 without gladly paying a tribute of his heart and admi 
 ration ; the tribute we cannot but pay to virtue. 
 
 May Your Excellency, then, be ever like yourself: 
 may you, for the glory of your august Master, and the 
 good of your country, be ever in the ministry, which yov 
 discharge Avith so much distinction. Men like you 
 My Lord, should never die, and death could do nothini 
 against Your Excellency, if public desiies were accom 
 plished. 
 
Tuilly tho churity, with 
 self nothing, lire displayed 
 which I present to Your 
 
 •ase Your Lordship, who 
 ho, ever disposed to prac- 
 admircd in yourself '. 
 o Your Excellency, and 
 
 do my DtTY in dedicating 
 ,vc I not in doing my duty ? 
 
 My Lord, to do justice to 
 dvantagcously distinguish 
 leart ; hut I fear to wound 
 these qualities still more 
 
 ;n, My Lord, with saying 
 or to helong to you, hless 
 ;h crowned their felicity in 
 llency. 
 
 Lilogy, the only one worthy 
 ord, make it an occupation 
 those who belong to you 
 . No one can know yon 
 )ute of his heart and admi 
 It but pay to virtue, 
 len, be ever like yourself 
 rour august Master, and th{ 
 3r in the ministry, which yoi , 
 istinction. Men like you 
 and death could do nothini. 
 public desiies were accom 
 
 DKTITC ATTON 
 
 135 
 
 For myself, My Lord, what thanks Ao I not owe 
 Father Crespel, my brother, for liaving enahled nie to 
 tell the M-orld that all my -wishes centre in d«-siring 
 \our Excellency's preservation ; and beg you to accept 
 tlie most profound resjw'ct with which 
 I have the lionor to be, 'Sly Lord, 
 
 Your Excellency's most humble and 
 Most obedient servant, 
 
 LOVIS CUKSI'EL, 
 
186 
 
 K n I T O U ' n r K E F ACE. 
 
 EDITOR'S TREFACE. 
 
 This work would surely need no prefaoo, liad tlir 
 author intended it for puldication ; but, as his only aim 
 in writins,' wits to sutisfy my curiosity, 1 cannot ibrbear 
 giving the reader my reasons for publishing it. I hiul 
 shown the manuscript to several persons whom taste 
 and talent distinguish more than their rank and birth; 
 all advised me to present it, assuring me that the public 
 would thank me for doing so. My affection for my 
 brother, and my desire of pleasing tlu; public, convinced 
 me that I ought to follow this counsel ; I hope my ready 
 acquiescence will not be treated as folly or blindness. At 
 all events, my motives were laudable, and I am sure of 
 finding iavor with tliosc who do not seek to cast ridicule 
 on men's intentions. 
 
 • I also believe tliat I should tell how and for wluit 
 reason these letters were written ; this will be an ex- 
 cuse for Father Crespel, my brother, if his style seems 
 to deserve censure, and if he does not seem to enter into 
 suflicient detail. 
 
 I had long pressed him to tell me what had happened 
 to him in his voyages ; for several months he resisted ; 
 but, wearied doubtless with my frequent importunity, 
 he sent me, by one of my brothers now in Russia, a 
 Relation which I found too succinct. I complained of 
 
 Ills ind 
 him fo 
 him nc 
 many ] 
 that he 
 nu^ to 
 of his 
 while ; 
 (luring 
 publisl 
 
 It w 
 oxaggt 
 the ho 
 truth 1 
 (lisguis 
 invest( 
 that m 
 of it. 
 travels 
 liimsel 
 same f 
 one ii 
 would 
 try rei 
 
 Wh 
 _ this c 
 mande 
 in obt 
 were 
 among 
 at first 
 love J 
 
K K V A C E . 
 
 'REFACE. 
 
 need no preface, liad tlir 
 tion ; but, as liis only iiiin 
 curiosity, 1 cannot forbear 
 i for pul)li.shing it. I lnul 
 veral persons whom taste 
 than tlieir rank and birtli; 
 vssuring me that the pul)li( 
 
 so. My affection for my 
 using the pul)lic, convinccil 
 i counsel ; I hope my ready 
 k1 as folly or blindness. At 
 laudable, and I am sure ot' 
 
 do not seek to cast ridicule 
 
 dd tell how and for wluit 
 itten ; this will be an ex- 
 brother, if his style seems 
 ) does not seem to enter into 
 
 ) tell me what had happened 
 
 several months he resisted ; 
 
 th mv frequent importunity. 
 
 brothers now in Russia, a 
 
 succinct. I complained of 
 
 EDITOR d PREFACE, 
 
 18T 
 
 liis iiulolence in drawing me up only a journal ; I asked 
 liim for something more circumstantial, ami, to induce 
 him not to refuse mc, I told him — what was true — that 
 many persons to whom I had read his letter, regretted 
 that he had made it so short, and that they had bi^gged 
 me to entreat him to send me a more detailed Relation 
 of his travels in the New World, and his shipwreck 
 while returning to France ; he yielded to my wish, and 
 during his stay at I'aderborn, wrote the letters which I 
 publish. 
 
 It woidd be wronging my brother to suspect liim of 
 c.vaggeration in his narrative. 'I'hose by whom he has 
 the honor of being known, are aware what a lover of 
 truth he is, and that he would die sooner than betray or 
 (lisgiuse it ; moreover, the character with which he is 
 invested does not suppose an im])ostor, and 1 can say 
 that my brother has never rendered himself unworthy 
 of it. Lastly, there are still many companions of his 
 travels and his shipwreck ; would an honest man expose 
 liimselfto be contradicted by one who underwent the 
 same fatigues, and ran the same dangers l" It is all that 
 one interested in imposing could do, and even he 
 would EXi'OSK himself only tremblingly, and in a coun- 
 try remote from all who could expose his knavery. 
 
 When I had the pleasure of seeing my brother in 
 this city, at the passage of the French army, com- 
 manded bv Marshal de Mailleboy, I had no little trouble 
 in obtaining his permission to publish the letters; they 
 were written for mc alone ; and it is known that, 
 among brothers, no ceremony exists. My proposition 
 at first shocked him All men have their share of self- 
 love ; they do not like to speak before all the world 
 
138 
 
 editor's put-face. 
 
 i„ make. .l,.-m l*"' "'''',"', ,,,,,.,!„,. .„..'. -K 
 
 „i,„Uul i,. .1,, ir .yc..ooM«- o '';;",„„;„,„, ,„„. 
 1 1 ... ).<> Kppu nnvatelN. i''> 
 
 ■"" n .ic C I *■>-" '""" ""' " '"'■'"■ '", 
 
 evrr, at last ga^e way. piomiMMl 
 
 1 11 1.117 •isidr all stnl-lo^< » ''lui » i 
 his state HliouUl lay aside n-pimnau-T 
 
 ,„ offorks " »■"■■>' »'"'■'' '"■ ' ."" i< ll.lati.,,. .m ,in 
 
 ''^'''''■"^■'' :v,i:\t::.:^'''.! ■"-•■''■ i. 
 
 „,„c.rcun„.anoc I- ^^, ^,^ ^^^ „,,„„, ,„ 
 
 .„ ,V,at all n,ay ». - ^^^^^^^^ ^„,j ,,„„ „. 
 
 ::;:;ii:;Tii";rca..„s,„ai..p^^^^ 
 
 agree with the original. 
 
 TOYA 
 
 Mv 
 
 desire 
 made t 
 suspect; 
 acccdin 
 send yo 
 that yoi 
 plain th 
 to havt 
 make it 
 relation 
 long, ar 
 always 
 become 
 than ou 
 Don 
 tion of 
 these gi 
 scarcely 
 of oriiac 
 
F, F A C E . 
 
 the fear of findinp nlt- 
 uc\i more caii- on woiks 
 t is ri-iuUMing one's mU' 
 c to broad day wlii»t. was 
 ely. My brother, how- 
 ,wed huu that ii u.aii in 
 u.lf.lovc ; aud I promiMMl 
 k.. kuoNvn his rqni.muiiw . 
 ...•mcd unworthy of him 
 ,lish his Uclation, on my 
 
 neither add nor rrtrcnrh 
 
 from thinking othcrwiM'; 
 
 that all they are al)out tn 
 Dst exact truth, and that no 
 1 additions, or impose oi, 
 ; to sign all copies whi.l. 
 
 r Kill IS OF T II F. OCK, AN, KTC. 
 
 1.10 
 
 CHAn'KIl VI. 
 
 VOVAOKS AND Sllll'WIlKCKS Of F.\TIII;ll EMMAMKr, mrSPKf,, 
 MCOULSCT MlgBlO.VARlf IN NBW YoKK, (ANA MA, AMI lllK WK.KT. 
 
 I.KTTKIl I. 
 
 AIy Dear Buotiikr: — You liave so long cviiiccd a 
 desire to know the details of the voya-rc I foinierly 
 made to Canada, that fearing to give you grounds for 
 suspecting my friendship, if I eontinued to decline 
 acceding to your desire, I directed one of my brothers to 
 Kcnd you a relation of all tliat hefel me. You tell me 
 that you have received it, and, at the same time, com- 
 plain that it is too succinct, and that you would be glad 
 to have it more detailed. I love you too well not to 
 make it a jileasure to please you, but 1 will divide my 
 relation into several letters. A single one would be too 
 long, and would doubtless tire you. The mind does not 
 always keep pace with the heart. I would perhaps 
 become tedious if I spoke too long of other subjects 
 than our friendship. 
 
 Do not expect to find this relation sustained by eleva- 
 tion of style, force of expression, and varied imagery ; 
 these graces of genius are not natural to me, and besides 
 scarcely suit anything but fiction. Trutli has no need 
 of ornament, to be relished by those who really love it j 
 
140 
 
 P E n I L 3 OF THE 
 
 it is even dlffic-iilt to recognize It, when presented wit U 
 the dress usually thrown around the false to give ir 
 some resemblanee to her. 
 
 You must remember, that towards the close of the 
 year 1T;23, I was still at Avesncs, in llaynaut ; I then 
 received, from my Superiors, permission to go to the 
 New World, as I had long asked to do, and indeed, it 
 would have been a great mortiiicatiou had I been 
 
 refused. 
 
 I set out, then, on the 25th of Januaiy, 1724 ; pass- 
 ing by Cambray, I had the pleasure of embracing you, 
 and, on arriving at Paris, took an obedience from the 
 Rev. Father Julian Guesdron, Provincial of St. Denis, 
 on Avhom the missions of New France depend. 
 
 It would be useless to speak to you of Paris : you 
 know it better than I, and you know by experience that 
 it deserves, in every way, to be the first city in the 
 
 world. 
 
 On the first of May, I started for Eochelle, which I 
 reached on the 18th of that month. 1 did not make a 
 long stay there, for, after providing all that was necessary 
 for the voyage, I embarked on the King's vessel, the 
 Chamean, commanded by the naval lieutenants, de Tylly 
 and Meschain. 
 
 The 24th of July, the day that we set sail, was 
 mai-ked by the death of Mr. Robert, just going out as 
 Intendant of Canada. He was a gallant fellow, appar- 
 ently endowed with every quality needed to fill worthily 
 the post confided to him. 
 
 After a rather pleasant voyage of two months and a 
 half, we arrived before Quebec ; I remained there till 
 1726, and remai'ked nothing in particular, beyond what 
 
 issnigs 
 seculai 
 iicted 
 do Lij! 
 nation 
 four h 
 
 ^\'e 
 one hi 
 ^^■hich 
 of rap 
 take ai 
 tliis ri' 
 it Is i 
 river v 
 wide, 
 us into 
 course 
 
 As i 
 little 1 
 should 
 ion, at 
 
T THE 
 
 • it, when presented with 
 )und the false to give it 
 
 towards the close of tin- 
 les, in lliiynaut ; I then 
 permission to go to the 
 sked to do, and indeed, it 
 mortilication had I been 
 
 of January, ITii-t ; pass- 
 easurc of embracing you, 
 k an obedience from the 
 , Provincial of St. Denis, 
 f France depend, 
 eak to you of Paris ; you 
 u know by experience that 
 to be the first city in the 
 
 rted for Eochelle, which I 
 nonth. 1 did not make a 
 iding all that was necessary 
 on the King's vessel, the 
 naval lieutenants, de Tylly 
 
 ly that we set sail, was 
 Robert, just going out as 
 -as a gallant fellow, appar- 
 lality needed to fill worthily 
 
 )yage of two months and a 
 bee; I remained there till 
 ; in pai-ticular, beyond what 
 
 OCEAN AND WILDERNESS, 
 
 141 
 
 travellers say, and what you may read in their accounts. 
 On the 17th of March, in the year- of my departure 
 from Quebec, :Mr. de la Croix de St. Valier, Bishop of 
 tliat city, conf(n-red the priesthood on me, and soon 
 after gave me a mission or parish called Sorel, south of 
 the St. Lawrence, between Three Rivers and Montreal. 
 
 I was taken from my parish, where I had spent two 
 years, to become chaplain of a party of four hundred 
 French, whom the Marquis de Beauharnois had united 
 with eight or nine hundred Indians of every kind of 
 nation. There were especially, Iroquois, Ilurons, Nep- 
 issiugs and Ottawas, to whom the Rev. Mr. Pellet, 
 secular priest, and Father de la Bretonniere, Jesuit, 
 acted as chaplains. These troops commanded by Mr. 
 tic Ligncries, were commissioned to go and destroy a 
 nation called the Foxes, whose chief village lay about 
 four hundred and fifty leagues from Montreal. 
 
 We set out on the 5th of June, 1728, and for nearly 
 one hundred and fifty leagues, ascended the great river 
 ^^ Inch bears the name of the Ottawas, imd which is full 
 of rapids and portages, \^^e left it at Matawan, to 
 take another leading to Lake Nipissing, or Mipissing ; 
 this river was thirty leagues long, and, like the Ottawa, 
 it is interrupted by rapids and portages. From this 
 ivcr we entered the lake, which is about eight leagues 
 wide, and from this lake, French River quickly bore 
 us into Lake Huron, into which it empties, after a rapid 
 course of over thirty leagues. 
 
 As it is impossible for many to go together on these 
 little rivers, it was agreed that those who went first 
 -hould wait for the others at the cfltrance of Lake Hu- 
 ron, at a place called Laprairie, and which is, in fact, a 
 
143 
 
 PERILS OF THE 
 
 T 
 
 very beautiful prairie. Here, for the first time, I sa^v 
 the deadly rattle-snake ; when I have the pleasure of 
 seeing you, I shall speak more particularly of these 
 animals ; enough be it for the present, to say that none 
 of our party were troubled by them. 
 
 As we had all come up by the 26th of July, 1 cele- 
 brated J^Iass, which I had deferred till then, and the 
 next day we started for Michillima, or Missillima Kinac, 
 which is a post situated between Lakes Huron and 
 Michigan. Although we had a hundred leagues to 
 make, the wind was so fovorable that we reached it in 
 less than six days. Here we remained some time to 
 repair what had been damaged on the rapids and por- 
 tages. I here blessed the standards, and buried some 
 soldiers whom sickness or fatigue had carried off. 
 
 On the 10th of August, we set out from Michillimak- 
 inac, and entered Lake Michigan. The wind which 
 detained us there two days, enabled our Indians to go 
 to hunt ; they brought back some moose and reindeer, 
 and were polite enough to offer us some. We at first 
 excused ourselves, but they forced us to accept their 
 present, and told us, that, as we had shared with them 
 the dangers of the route, it was Mr that they should 
 share with us the good things they had found ; and that 
 they would not deem themselves men, if they acted 
 otherwise towards other men. This speech, which one 
 of our men translated for me, quite moved me. What 
 humanity in savages! how many men in Europe would 
 better deserve the name of barbarian than these 
 Americans ! 
 
 This generosity of our Indians merited, on our part, 
 indeed, a lively gratitude , for, as we had met no good 
 
' THE 
 
 C E A N A X n W I I, D E R N E 3 S . 
 
 143 
 
 for the first time, I saw 
 a I have the pleasure of 
 ore particularly of these 
 
 present, to say that none 
 them. 
 
 the 26th of July, 1 ccle- 
 jferred till then, and the 
 lima, or Missillima Kinae, 
 :ween Lakes Huron and 
 d a hundred leagues to 
 •able that we reached it in 
 e remained some time to 
 ^cd on the rapids and por- 
 mdards, and buried some 
 sjue had carried off. 
 
 set out from Michillimak- 
 higan. The wind which 
 
 enabled our Indians to go 
 ;ome moose and reindeer, 
 )ffer us some. We at first 
 
 forced us to accept their 
 we had shared with them 
 ; was fivir that they should 
 i they had found ; and that 
 iselves men, if they acted 
 This speech, which one 
 !, quite moved me. What 
 lany men in Europe would 
 
 of barbarian than these 
 
 lians merited, on our part, 
 or, as we had met no good 
 
 hunting-ground for some time past, we had boon com- 
 pelled to cat only pork ; the moose and reiudeor they 
 gave us relieved us from tlic disgust we were beginning 
 to feel for our ordinary food. 
 
 On the 14th of the same month, we continued our 
 route to the Chicago bend, and, M-hile crossing thence 
 to Dcathcape, wliich is five leagues off, a squall sur- 
 prised us, and drove on shore several of the canoes which 
 failed to double a poiiit and roach shelter. They were 
 dashed to pieces, and we were obliged to distribute in 
 the other canoes the men who, by the greatest happiness 
 in the world, had all escaped the danger. 
 
 The next day, we crossed to the ^lenomonees to 
 invite the tribe to oi)pose our landing ; they fell into 
 the trap, and were entirely defeated. 
 
 We encamped, on the following day, at the mouth of 
 a river called la Gasparde. Here our Indians entered 
 the woods, and soon brought in several deer ; this game 
 is very common at this place, and we accordingly laid 
 in a stock for some days. 
 
 On the ITth, at noon, we halted till evening, so as 
 to reach the Post at Green Bay only at night. We 
 wished to surprise the enemy, whom we knew to be 
 among the Sacs, their allies, whose village is near Fort 
 St. Francis. We began our march in darkness, and at 
 midnight reached the mouth of Fox river, where our 
 fort is built. As soon as we got there, Mr. De Lignerie 
 sent some Frenchmen to the Commandant to know 
 whether there were really any of the enemy in the Sac 
 village, and, learning that there must be, he sent all his 
 Indians, and a detachment of the French, over the river 
 to surround the village, and ordered the rest of the 
 
U4 
 
 PERILS OF THE 
 
 troops to cntc it. With all ouv precautk^s to «.cc.l 
 our approach, the enemy ^vere a.vare of U, ami all 
 lapey hut four. These were made a pre^ to o. 
 Indians, who, after amusing themselves ^vah them, 
 shot them to death with arrows. 
 
 I witnessed with pain this horrihle s.ght and could 
 not reconcile with the sentiments of the Indians as ex- 
 pressed a few days hefore the pleasure they took rn o - 
 Lenting these wretches by makmg them undeig a h un 
 dred deaths before depriving them of he. I wou 
 have liked to ask them whether they d.d not perceue 
 .ell as I this contrariety, and show them what saw 
 blamable in their course,but all who could acas^nt^- 
 preters for me were on the other side oi the nvei, and 
 I .vas obliged to defer satisfying my curiosity to some 
 
 other time. , , ^^, .. 
 
 After this little coup de man,, we ascended lox 
 Kiver, which is full of rapids, and has a coursx- ot thut> - 
 five or fortv leagues. On the 24th ot August, ^^e 
 re iched the Winnebago village, well disposed to destroy 
 a Whom we should find there, but their flight had pre- 
 ceded our arrival, and all we could do was to burn theu 
 cabins, and ravage their fields of Indian corn which 
 affords them their principal nourishment. 
 
 We then crossed Little Fox Lake, at the end o 
 
 .vhich we encamped, and, the next day, the least o M. 
 
 Louis, we entered, after mass, into a Uttle ;--' -hicl 
 
 td us to a kind of marsh, on the bank of which li. 
 
 the chief village of those whom we sought. Thei 
 
 ' allies, the Sacs, had doubtless warned them of ou 
 
 approach ; they did not think proper to await us - 
 
 we found in their vUlage only some women, of whom 
 
 ou.r Ii 
 bi.rnt 
 the cc 
 
 'riii 
 
 which 
 whom 
 self ol 
 o.sity 
 
 One 
 langiu 
 was SI 
 tormei 
 did n( 
 to nic 
 to en 
 iuid, t 
 into tl 
 still n 
 torn t( 
 bo tret 
 
 I w, 
 to sho^ 
 liis rca 
 MUitint 
 re([uir( 
 lion sh 
 and ob 
 tice is 
 thfit th 
 that th 
 enemie 
 that th 
 
THE 
 
 1 
 
 O C K A N AND W I L Tl E R N K S S . 
 
 r precautions to conceal 
 
 3 aware of it, and all 
 
 made a present to our 
 
 ;hemselves with tlicm, 
 
 lorriblc sight, and coulil 
 ts of the Indians as ex- 
 deasiue they took in tor- 
 ing them undergo a hun- 
 them of life. I would 
 ler they did not perceive 
 id show them what I saw 
 11 who could act as inter- 
 iier side of the river, aiul 
 ^ing my curiosity to some 
 
 main, we ascended Fox 
 and has a course of thirty- 
 the 24th of August, we 
 e, well disposed to destroy 
 e, but their flight had pre- 
 could do was to burn their 
 ds of Indian corn whicli 
 lourishment. 
 Fox Lake, at the end of 
 
 145 
 
 OUT Indians made slaves, and an old man whom they 
 1)1. rnt at the stake, without any iipparent repugnance at 
 the commission of such a barbarous action. 
 
 This cruelty seemed more marked to me than that 
 which they had exercised against the four Iiulians 
 whom they had taken in the Sac town. I availed my- 
 self of this occasion and circumstance to satisfy the curi- 
 osity which I mentioned a moment ago. 
 
 Oni.- of our Frenchmen understood the Irotiuois 
 language. 1 l)egged him to tell the Indians that I 
 was suiprised to see them take so much i)leasure in 
 tormenting a wretched old man, that the right of M'ar 
 did not extend so far, and that such barbarity seemed 
 to me to belie the principles which they had seemed 
 to entertain for all men. An Iroquois answered, 
 and, to justify his comrades, said that, when they fell 
 into the hands of the Sacs and Foxes, they received 
 still more cruel ti'catment, and that it was their cus- 
 tom to treat their enemies as they themselves would 
 be treated if conquered. 
 
 I would have wished to know this Indian's language 
 to show him myself what was defective and blamable in 
 ills reasoning ; but I had to content myself with repre- 
 ^onting to him that nature, and particularly religion, 
 rc([uired us to be humane to each other ; that modera- 
 3 next day, the feast of St. I lion should direct us in every thing ; that the pardon 
 
 s, into a little river which 
 on the bank of which lies 
 whom we sought. Their 
 less warned them of our 
 
 and oblivion of injuries done us is a virtue whose prac- 
 tice is expressly enjoined by Heaven ; that I conceived 
 that they ought not to spare the Sacs and Foxes, but 
 that they should deprive them of life only as rebels and 
 ak proper to await us, and enemies of the State, and not as their private enemies j 
 anly some women, of whom that their vengeance was criminal ; that to descend to 
 
 13 
 
1 
 
 146 
 
 rEKTi.3 OF tht: 
 
 such excesses as those into which they had fallen wU h 
 
 regard to the five .nen whose lives they had udu.nvudv 
 
 prolonged in order to put then, to death m n.ore ...u 
 
 Lments was, in some sort, to justity the bu^ar.y ...h 
 
 which they reproached their enemies ; that he n,h . 
 
 war simply permitted us to take an enemy s hfe, an 1 
 
 not, so to say, to hecome drunk in ^- .^>l«-\- ' 
 
 plunge him into despair, hy puttmg am to death n 
 
 Ly tvay but that of arms, or in any idace but tha to. 
 
 JconLt; Jastly. that it was the.r duty to gne 1. 
 
 Sacs and Foxes an example of that moderation whuh . 
 
 the part of a good heart, and which draws admujUu , 
 
 and love on the Christian religion, and consequentlj en 
 
 those who profess it. i . i n 
 
 I do not know whether my interpreter translated .11 
 that I have just said, but the Indian would never adnnt 
 that he acted on a false principle ; I was gouag to ,nv. 
 him some further reasons when the order was given to 
 advance against the enemy's last fort. This post is .t- 
 uated on the banks of a little nver, -^i^^ - 
 other called Wisconsin, and falls into the Mississippi 
 
 thirty leagues off. , ■, i f„ 
 
 We found no one there, and, as we had no order, to 
 go further, we spent some days in laying the country 
 waste, so as to cut off from the enemy all means of sub- 
 sistence. This country is fine enough: the soil is fer- 
 tile, game common, and of good flavor ; the mghts are 
 very cold, and the day extremely hot. I will spcA 
 to you, in my second letter, of my return to Mont- 
 real, and of what happened down to my departure for 
 France. I wish first to hear from you, and learn 
 Whether you find this sufficiently detailed. The sequel 
 
 of my 
 omit ni 
 1 am, I 
 
 Paderl 
 
 My 
 
 to my 
 
 say, h;! 
 showec 
 that th 
 travels 
 might 
 long e 
 this ni 
 Aft( 
 deed, ■ 
 step, \ 
 city w 
 t:mt. 
 l)cing 
 safe rt 
 Foxes 
 viiicecl 
 their t 
 have ( 
 fort, A 
 there. 
 
T II t; 
 
 ■h they had fallen witli 
 vos they had inhumanly 
 1 to death in more cnu.l 
 justity the barl)arity with 
 icmies ; that the right of 
 \ke an enemy's life, and 
 nk in his blood, and to 
 putting him to death in 
 in any place but that of 
 xs their duty to give the 
 that moderation which i> 
 which draws admiration 
 Tion, and consequently on 
 
 f interpreter translated all 
 Indian would never admit 
 iplc ; I was going to give 
 jn the order was given to 
 [ast fort. This post is Mt- 
 ttle river, which joins un- 
 falls into the Mississippi. 
 
 ind, as we had no orders to 
 days in laying the country 
 the enemy all means of sub- 
 ine enough : the soil is fcr- 
 good flavor ; the nights are 
 tremely hot. I will speak 
 ;r, of my return to IMont- 
 I down to my departure for 
 hear from you, and learn 
 lently detailed. The sequel 
 
 O r E A N A N T> W 1 T, n E R N E 3 ? . 
 
 147 
 
 of my relation will depend on your answer, and I shall 
 omit nothing to prove the tender friendship with wiiich 
 I am, dear brotiicr, your afl'ectionate brother, 
 
 Emmam Ki. CuKSPKi., Itcoilkcl. 
 Paderborn, January lOtb, 1T4'2. 
 
 I.ETTKH IT. 
 
 My dear Brother, — Nothing can he more flattering 
 to my self-love than your answer. My first letter, you 
 say, has satisfied many intelligent perscnis to whom you 
 showed it, and excited their curiosity to such a degree 
 that they arc extremely impatient to see the rest of my 
 travels. This desire, of which I feel all the advantage, 
 might injure me if I delayed to gratify it. 'J'hings too 
 long expected lose their value, and no one should fear 
 this more than myself 
 
 After the expedition of which I have spoken, if, in- 
 deed, we can give that name to an iil)solutely useless 
 step, we resumed the route for Moiitieal, from -which 
 city we Avere about four hundred and fifty leagues dis- 
 tant. On our way, we burnt the fort at the bay, because, 
 being too near the enemy, it would not have been a 
 safe retreat to the French left on guard there. 'J"he 
 Foxes, roused by the ravage of their country, and con- 
 vinced that we would not venture a second time into 
 their territorv in the uncertainty of finding them, Avould 
 have obliged our troops to shut themselves up in the 
 fort, would have attacked, and perhaps beaten tlu-m 
 there. When we were at !Micheillemakinak, the 
 
148 
 
 PERlT.fl OF THE 
 
 1 
 
 comniuiulant gave a cavto-blanchc to all. Wc had still 
 three hundred leagues to go, and we should und<.ul.t- 
 edly have run out of provisions, if we had not used 
 every effort to expedite our movements. The wind 
 favored us in passing Lake Huron, but we had almost con- 
 stant rain while ascending French river, traversing Lake 
 Nipissing, and on the little river ^latawan ; it stopped 
 when we entered the Ottawa. I cannot express the 
 rapidity with which we descended that great river; 
 imagination alone can form a just idea. As 1 was witli 
 men whom experience had rendered skilful in shoot in- 
 the rapids, I was not among the last at IMontre..!. 
 which I reached on the '28th of September, and left 
 only in the spring, in obedience to an order given me 
 to descend to Quebec. 
 
 Inad no sooner arrived in that city than our commis- 
 sary appointed me to the post of Niagara, a new estal>- 
 lishmcnt, with a fortress situated at the entrance of ;i 
 beautiful river that bears the same name, and whuh 
 is formed by the famous falls of Niagara, south .il 
 Lake Ontario, and six leagues from our fort. I accord- 
 ingly again bent my way to Montreal, and thence passed 
 to Frontenac or Catarakouy, which is a fort built 
 at the entrance of Lake Ontario. Although it is only 
 eighty leagues from Montreal, we were fifteen days in 
 reaching it on account of the rapids we had to pass. 
 There we waited some time for favorable winds ; for, 
 at this place, we leave the canoes to take a vessel which 
 the king has had built expressly to run to Niagara. 
 This vessel, which gauges about eighty tons, is very 
 light, and sometimes makes her trip, which is seventy 
 leagues, in less than thirty-six hours. The lake is very 
 
 safe, fr 
 
 I SOIUK 
 
 could 
 league! 
 
 Wo 
 the mo 
 able, tl 
 extreni 
 oak, el 
 
 The 
 Niagar 
 the unl 
 1 may 
 have 1 
 ing a tl 
 tenac, 
 nothinj 
 
 As " 
 to set 
 tirst of 
 
 Froi 
 saying 
 son we 
 oil the 
 missioi 
 to this 
 trance 
 from i. 
 
 This 
 ■ome 1 
 ulien 
 Great ', 
 
' THE 
 
 he to all. Wo had still 
 uid we sliould undouht- 
 oils, if we had not used 
 movements. The wind 
 n, but we had almost et>u- 
 nch river, traversing Luke 
 ver ^latawan ; it stoiiped 
 X. I eannot express the 
 ■ended that great river; 
 just idea. As 1 was with 
 iidered skilful in shooting 
 lij the last at Montre.il, 
 li of Septend)er, and let'i 
 lice to an order given mr 
 
 that city than our comniis- 
 , of Niagara, a new cstab- 
 latcd at the entrance of a 
 3 same name, and whii.li 
 dls of Niagara, south of 
 ; from our fort. I accord- 
 ontreal, and thence passed 
 V, which is a fort built 
 ;ario. Although it is only 
 1, we were fifteen days in 
 le rapids we had to pass 
 
 for favorable winds; f(ir, 
 noes to take a vessel Avhich 
 iressly to run to Niagara. 
 ihoni eighty tons, is very 
 
 her trip, which is seventy 
 X hours. The lake is very 
 
 OCT. \y A X n W 1 1, D E R N E =" 3 . 
 
 149 
 
 safe, free from shoals, and very deep ; about the middle 
 I sounded with nearly a hundred fathoms of line, but 
 could not touch bottom ; its width is about thirty 
 leagues, and its length ninety. 
 
 We set sail the ii2d of July, and reached our post on 
 the morning of the '27th. I found the spot very agree- 
 able, the chase and fishery are productive, the forest of 
 extreme beauty and full, especially of walnut, chcstiuit, 
 oak, elm and maple, siuh as we never see in France. 
 
 The fever soon damped the pleasure we enjoyed at 
 Niagara, and troubled us till fall set in, which dissipated 
 the unhealthy air. We spent the winter calmly enough, 
 1 may say agreeably, had not the vessel, Avhich should 
 have brought us suj)plies, been compelled, after stand- 
 ing a terrible tempest on the lake, to put back to Fron- 
 tenac, and left u.s under the necessity of drinking 
 nothing but water. 
 
 As the season was far advanced, it did not venture 
 to set sail again, and we got our supplies only on the 
 first of May. 
 
 From ^lartinmas the failure of wine prevented my 
 saying Mass, but, as soon as the vessel got in, the garri- 
 >on went to their Easter duties, and I started for Detroit 
 on the invitation of a religious of my order, who was 
 missionary there. It is a hundred leagues from Niagara 
 to this post, which is situated six leagues from the en- 
 trance of a very beautiful river, about fifteen leagues 
 from the extremity of Lake Erie. 
 
 This lake, which may be a hundred leagues long, and 
 
 -ome thirty wide, is very flat, and consequently bad 
 
 u lien the wind is high ; towards the north, above the 
 
 Great Point d' Ecorres, it is bounded by very high sand 
 
 18* 
 
150 
 
 PKnil.S <)!•• TIIK 
 
 hills; so tluit, if suipiiscd l)y the mIikIh in portions 
 wluMt' there is no landing-pliuo, and these are only 
 every three leagues, experience has shown that tlif 
 vessel must inlallibly be lost. 
 
 I arrived at Detroit on the 17th day after my depart- 
 ure ; the religious whom 1 Avent to visit, (Father Hoiki- 
 vcnture,) received me in a manner which wonderiiilly 
 charactcri/ed the pleasure we \isually fiel on inuWu'^ a 
 countryman in a far country ; add to uii. , wo were ot 
 the same order, and the same motive had led us tVoiu 
 our native land. I was, therefore, dear to him, for 
 more reasons than one, and he neglected nothing to 
 show me how pleased he was with my visit, lie was ;i 
 man a little older than myself, and highly esteemed for 
 the success of his apostolic labors. His house was 
 agreeable and commodious ; it was, so to speak, his own 
 work, and the abode of virtues. 
 
 The time not employed in the duties of his olllce, he 
 divided between study and the labors of the field ; ho 
 had some books and the selection he had made gave 
 some idea of his purity of life and extensive knowled^'c. 
 The language of the country was quite familiar to him, 
 and the ease with which he spoke it, endeared him to 
 many Indians who communicated to him their reflections 
 on all sorts of matters, and especially on religion. 
 Affability wins confidence, and no one deserved it more 
 than this religious. 
 
 He had carried his complaisance towards some of the 
 people of Detroit, so far as to teach them French. 
 Among these, I found several whose good sense, soHil 
 and profound judgment, would have made them admi- 
 rable men, even in France, had their minds been culti- 
 
 vated ' 
 
 this rt 
 
 lot lik 
 
 sliould 
 
 Aftc 
 
 return( 
 
 during 
 
 guaget 
 
 study 
 
 with tl 
 
 hood 
 
 of gre; 
 
 Wh 
 
 pired, 
 
 spend 
 
 Itv 
 
 season 
 
 least -I 
 
 not th 
 
 and hi 
 
 Kav 
 
 fell si 
 
 take 1 
 
 of thi 
 
 in abv 
 
 is sur 
 
 Ir( 
 
 to Mc 
 
 Cham 
 
 why 
 
 Whei 
 
 is the 
 
K T II K 
 
 )V the -iviiuls ill juiitiiinH 
 lure, and these are (nily 
 lire has shown that tlic 
 
 17th day after my depait- 
 ent to visit, (Father Hona- 
 nanner which •wondcrlully 
 e \isually IVel on tiiidin;,' a 
 ; add to in.. , we wvn- of 
 tic motive had U'd us iVciiu 
 lierefore, dear to him, Im- 
 he neglected nothing to 
 with my visit, lie was a 
 f, and highly esteemed lor 
 labors. His house was 
 t was, so to speak, his own 
 cs. 
 
 the duties of his oillce, he 
 the labors of the field ; he 
 dection he had made ga\e 
 ; and extensive knowledge, 
 was quite familiar to him, 
 spoke it, endeared him to 
 ■ated to him their refiectiotis 
 id especially on religion. 
 id no one deserved it more 
 
 isancc towards some of the 
 as to teach them French, 
 ral whose good sense, solid 
 )idd have made them adnii- 
 had their minds been culti- 
 
 OCK.VN .\N1) AVll.DKUNKrirf 
 
 151 
 
 vated by stud\ . During the whole time I spent with 
 this religious, I found daily new reasons to envy him a 
 lot like his. In one word, he was as happy as meu 
 hhould be not to blush at their happiness. 
 
 After <loing, at Detroit, what had led me thither, I 
 returned to Niagara, and remained there two years more ; 
 (luring this time 1 learned the Irofjuois ;ind Ottawa lan- 
 guages, in order to converse with the pi'ople. This 
 study at first afforded nie the pleasure of conversing 
 with the Indians, when 1 went to walk in the neighbor- 
 hood of the i)ost ; in the seciuel you will see that it was 
 of great use to me, and actually saved my life. 
 
 When my three years' residence at Niagara had ex- 
 laired, I was relieved according to custom, and wont to 
 spend the winter in our convent at (iucbcc. 
 
 It was a great comfort for mc to jiass that rigorous 
 season there ; if we had not what is superfluous, at 
 least we never wanted what is necessary, and, what is 
 not the least consolation, we receive news from home, 
 and have persons to converse with. 
 
 Earlv in the spring, the chaplain of Fort Frontenac 
 fell sick, and our Commissary appointed me to go and 
 take his place. I have already spoken of the situation 
 of this post ; we live agreeably there, and game is found 
 in abundance in the marshes, by which Fort Frontenac 
 is surrounded. 
 
 I remained here only two years, when I was recalled 
 to Montreal, and soon after sent to Crown Point in Lake 
 Champlain. It Avill not be amiss, I think, to tell you 
 why this point bears the name of Crown or Scalp. 
 When the Indians kill any one on their expeditions, it 
 is their custom to take oflF his scalp, which they bring 
 
153 
 
 V K U I I. S OF T II K 
 
 1 
 
 in on top of ii poll', to provir tluit tlii-y Imvo (Icleutid 
 the enemy. 'I'liin fciemony, or, if you like, this cubtom, 
 lu'gan on tliis point, after u kind of eoiiihat, in Mliidi 
 many liuliiins lost their scalps, which ^'ave name to tin 
 place where the battle was fought. 
 
 Lake ( :hainplain is some Hfty-tive leagues long ; it i > 
 stuihlcd with very hcautiful islands, and its water, whii li 
 is very pun-, makes it al)oun<l in li>h. The fort whiih 
 we have in this ])lace, hears the name vi' St. I'rederic ; 
 its situation is advantageous, for it is hviilt on an elevated 
 point about fifteen leagues di>tant, northerly from tlir 
 extremity of the lake ; it is the key of the colony on 
 that side, that Is to say, on the side of the Knglish, who 
 are only twenty or thirty leagues dlf. 
 
 1 arrived there, on the 17th of Xovembcr, ITii-"). 
 The season, which began to he severe, nudtiplied tlic 
 dillicnlties of our way; it is one of the nu)st painful 1 
 ever made in Canada, if I except my shipwreck, as you 
 may judge. 
 
 The day of my departure from Chambly, a ])o.st 
 about forty leagues from St. Fiederic, we were obliged 
 to sleep out, and during the night about a foot of snow 
 fell. The w inter continued as it set in, and, although 
 we were lodged, we did not sulicr less than if we were 
 in the open iields. The building Avhcre they put us 
 was not yet finished ; we were only partially sludtered 
 from the rain, and the walls, which were twelve feet 
 thick, having been finished oidy a few days, added still 
 more to our troubles which the snow and lain gave us. 
 !Manv of our soldiers were seized with scurvy, and 
 our eyes becanu; so sore, that we were afraid of losing 
 our sight without resource, AVe were not better fed 
 
' T II R 
 
 • that tli«'y have (lelcatKl 
 •, it' you like, this custom, 
 liiiil ot" roiiilmt, in whi( li 
 
 uliicli giive iKUHC to till 
 k'lit. 
 
 y-tive loagui'n h)ng ; it i^ 
 iuids, uiul its wator, wliii li 
 in li.sli. The fort whiih 
 e uanu! of St. I'lidi-ric ; 
 )!• it is built on an elevated 
 slant, northerly from tlir 
 he key of the colony on 
 
 • side of the Kiijili-'h, wln> 
 nes otf. 
 
 7th of N'ovemher, IT;}-"). 
 In' severe, multiplied the 
 ne of the nui^t painful 1 
 ept my shipwreck, as you 
 
 from Cluunhly, a jiost 
 Fiederic, we were obliged 
 night abotit a foot of sm)w 
 as it set in, and, although 
 uifcr less than if we were 
 ilding where they put us 
 re only partially sheltered 
 s, which were twelve feet 
 idy a few days, added still 
 :he snow and rain gave us. 
 seized with scurvy, and 
 it we were afraid of losing 
 
 AVe were not better fed 
 
 OTKAX ANn WII.DKUNKfla. 
 
 MS 
 
 than lodged. Scarcely can you find a (i\v patridges 
 near the fort, and, to eat venison, you must go to l,ake 
 (ieorge to Hnd it, and that is seven or eight leagues off. 
 
 We linished our liuildings as soon as the season wouhl 
 l)ernut, but we preferred to camp out in sununer, rather 
 than renniin any longer. 
 
 \ et W(! w(!re not more at ease, for the icver stuprised 
 us all, and not one of us could enjoy the ])leasures of 
 the country. 
 
 'I'his state, I avow, began to ])e tedious, when, towards 
 the month of August, I received from my provincial, 
 an obedience to r( turn to Frame. 'I'he religious whom 
 our Commissary sent to relieve \nv, was of our province, 
 and I'eter Venjuaille by name; he arrived on the l.'lst 
 of Septend)er, IToO, at St. Frederic, and I set out the 
 same day at four or five o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 The next day, we had a favorable wind, which drovo 
 us on to l.a I'oiute, about eight leagues from ( 'hambly. 
 
 On the ^.';}d, we Mere well-nigh lost in shooting tho 
 St. Teresa rapids ; this was the last danger I ran before 
 reaching (Quebec, where I expected to embark at once 
 for France. 
 
 Such, my dear brother, is a brief account of my 
 travels in a part of New France. Those who have 
 travelled in that country can see that I know tho 
 ^nound, and, in this, I have (;ndeavored to be accurate. 
 The relations of many travellers tell us a thousand 
 things which I could only repeat after them ; in writing 
 my travels, my design was only to detail the shipwreck I 
 uttered on my way back to France. The circumstances 
 ttemling it are most interesting ; prepare your heart 
 for emotion and sadness ; what remains for me to write 
 
151 
 
 'ERILS OF THE 
 
 will excite your curiosity only by heightening your 
 compassion ; do not blush at indulging ni_ it, dc.r 
 brother ; a noble heart is ever sensible to the nusfortuiu.s 
 of others ; he vho would be unmoved by the miserus 
 of his brethren, bears, so to speak, a stamp ot reproba- 
 tion which justly cuts him off from human society. 
 
 I shall write you some weeks hence ; do not answer 
 this, as I must 'go some leagues from this town, your 
 letter might not reach me, and I do not v^sh to risk its 
 
 ^° Do not be impatient for my third, I shall write some 
 pages every day ; rely on my word, and beUeve that 1 
 
 shall be, for life, 
 
 Uy dear brother, your aft'ectionatc brotlier, 
 
 Emmanuel Ckesvel, Recollect. 
 
 Padcrborn, January 30, 1742. 
 
 LETTER 111. 
 
 My Dkak TJuothek :— It is not a fortnight since 1 
 sent you mv second letter ; you must see, by my ddi- 
 .cnce in waiting the third, that I do not wish to keep 
 you waiting for the sequel of my narrative. If I ^vere 
 master of all niv time, my letters would be longer and 
 more frequent ; but duty must be preferred to all else, 
 and I can only afford you the hours not taken up by 
 the indispensable duties of my state 
 
 I remained some time at Quebec, awaiting an oppor- 
 tunity to return to France; two offered at once ; the 
 fir-st in the king's vessel, Le lleros, of which I did not 
 
F THE 
 
 
 nly by heightening your 
 at indulging in it, deiir 
 sensible to the niisfortuncs 
 e unmoved by the miseries 
 speak, a stamp of lepiobu- 
 t from human society, 
 ecks hence ; do not answer 
 agues from this town, your 
 id I do not v'sh to risk its 
 
 ry third, I shall write some 
 ny -svord, and believe that 1 
 
 ur aft'ectionatc brother, 
 
 [UKL CllESl'EL, Recollect. 
 
 ER III. 
 
 -It is not a fortnight since I 
 • ; you must see, by my dili- 
 \, that I do not wish to keep 
 of my narrative. If I were 
 Y letters would be longer and 
 must be preferred to all else, 
 ,u the hours not taken up by 
 
 my state 
 It Quebec, awaiting an oppor- 
 Lce ; two offered at once ; the 
 Le lleros, of wliich I did not 
 
 C K A N AND AV 1 1, 1) E 11 N K S S . 
 
 155 
 
 avail myself; the other was offered me by the Sieur de 
 Freneuse, a Canadian sprung from the noble family of 
 the d'Amours ; the friendship that existed between us 
 induced me to accept his offer with pleasure, and I 
 could not refuse his rc(iuest that I should act as chap- 
 lain. He Avas a very fine man, whom an experience of 
 forty-six years had rendered most skilful in navigation ; 
 and Messrs. Pacaud, Treasurers of France, and shii)pers 
 at Eochelle, had thought it impossible to confide their 
 ship La llenonimee, to better hands. It was a new ves- 
 sel, a good sailer, convenient, Avith a cargo of three 
 hundred tons, and armed with fourteen pieces of cannon. 
 
 Several gentlemen, for security and pleasiue, asked to 
 go with us, so that we were fifty-four on the vessel. 
 
 We weighed anchor and set sail on the third of 
 November, with several other vessels, and we all 
 anchored together at Trou St. I'atricc, three leagues 
 from (Quebec. 
 
 The next day we made the traverse, that is to say, 
 we crossed the St. Lawrence from south to north, and 
 the same day we reached the end of Isle Orleans, nine 
 miles from Quebec, and anchored off Cape jMaillard. 
 
 On the 5th, we hoisted sail to pass the Coufire, but 
 we were imable to do so on that day, and were com- 
 pelled to put back to the spot fron. which we had stai'ted, 
 to avoid beuig carried aAvay by the current, Avhich runs 
 towards that point from a considerable distance. 
 
 "We were more fortunate next day, for we passed this 
 (iouffie Avithout accident, as did the Sieur A'eillon, who 
 commanded a brigantine for Martiiu([ue, and who, like 
 ourselves, had l)cen imablc to pass the day before. 
 
 The ships with Mliich we had set sail, had passed at 
 
166 
 
 PERILS OP X H K 
 
 the first attempt, so that wc were without company, and 
 cast anchor at La Prairie, near Isle aux Coudres. 
 
 On the 7th, we continued our route to Isle aux 
 Lievres, and thence to Mathan, where a slight northerly 
 wind arose, on which our captain, who knew its fury at 
 that season, avowed that we had everything to fear. 
 He, accordingly, deemed it best to find a roadstead, that 
 is to say, a suitable place to shelter us a.^ainst the com- 
 ing storm. The winds, soon after, obliged us to tacli, 
 and the next day, the 11th of the month, toward? eight ui 
 the evening, they veered to X. N. E., N. E., E. N. E., E., 
 and at last, to S. S. E., and then continued in that quarter 
 for two days. During all this time we tacked about along 
 Isle Anticosti, with reefed topsails ; but as soon as the 
 winds veered to S. S. W., we steered 8. E. by E. and S. E., 
 till the morning of the Uth. On that day, we endeav- 
 ored to make the shore, but went aground a quarter of 
 a league from land, on the point of a shoal of flat rocks, 
 about eight leagues from the southern point cf Isle 
 
 Anticosti. 
 
 Our ship now sti-uck so frequently, that we expected 
 every moment to sec it open under us. The time must 
 have been bad, and the sailors in despair of our safety, 
 since all refused to give a hand in reefing the sails 
 and freeing the masts, although the strain they gave the 
 ship was evidently hurrying on our ruin. The water 
 rushed in in torrents ; fear had deprived half of all 
 presence of mind, and the general disorder seemed to 
 announce our death. 
 
 But for our cannoneer, our situation would have 
 been much more frightful ; he ran to the bread chest, 
 and, though the water had already reached it, he threw 
 
 sea 
 
' THE 
 
 rc without company, and 
 
 Isle aux Coudres, 
 
 1 our route to Isle aux 
 
 where a slight northerly 
 lin, who knew its fury at 
 
 had everything to fear. 
 3t to find a roadstead, that 
 Lcltcr UB against the com- 
 i after, obliged us to tack, 
 le month, toward? eight in 
 N.E.,N.E.,E.N.E.,E., 
 1 continued in that quarter 
 time we tacked about along 
 )ps;uls ; but as soon as the 
 ecred S. E. by E. and S. E., 
 
 On that day, we endcav- 
 went aground a quarter of 
 lint of a shoal of flat rocks, 
 le southern point cf Isle 
 
 ;quently, that we expected 
 under us. The time must 
 irs in despair of our safety, 
 hand in reefing the sails 
 gh the strain they gave the 
 g on our ruin. The water 
 had deprived half of all 
 general disorder seemed to 
 
 our situation would have 
 ; he ran to the bread chest, 
 ilready reached it, he threw 
 
 O r F, A. N AND w 1 1, n F, n N K s g . 
 
 157 
 
 out a part between decks ; he thought, too, that some 
 guns, a barrel of powder, and a case of cartridges, 
 would become necessary, in case we escaped the danger 
 we were actually in ; all this he had carried up. His 
 precaution was not useless, and, but for it, 1 would not 
 have the consolation of writing to you, my dear broth- 
 ers. The sea was as violent as tlie wind, neither dimin- 
 ishing in the least ; the wa-^es had carried away our 
 rudder, and we were obliged to cut away our niizen-mast 
 to throw it overboard. AVe then let down our boat, 
 taking every precaution to keep it ahead, so as to pre- 
 vent its being driven against the ship and dashed to 
 pieces ; the sight of death, and hope of deferring it, 
 gave courage to all ; and, although we were sui-e of 
 being miserable in tliat desert island for some months at 
 least, each thought lie would gain much by exposing 
 himself to everything to save his life. 
 
 After getting our boat aHoat, we suspended it on the 
 davits, in order to embark all we had more easily, and 
 get a wide berth as soon a possible to save ourselves from 
 the heavy sea, which would, perhaps, have driven us on 
 the vessel, if we had not got off with speed. But it is 
 in vain for men to rely on their priulencc ; when God 
 lays his heavy hand upon them, all their precautions are 
 useless. 
 
 "VVe entered the long boat to the number of twenty, 
 and, at that instant, the pulley of the fore davit gave 
 way ; judge of our situation ! the boat remained hang- 
 ing by the stern, and, of those in it, several fell into the 
 sea ; others clung to the sides, and some, by means of 
 ropes, hanging over the ship's sides, got on board again. 
 
 The captain, seeing the disaster, cut or slipped the 
 u 
 
158 
 
 r E n T T, s OF tut; 
 
 Btern pulley, an.l the long boat rightin^', T jumped In (o 
 save Ur Levcque and Dufrcsnois, ^vho Aveie alniovt 
 drowned. Meanwhile, the sea used our long boat .0 
 rou-hly, that it was leaking at every seam. Without 
 rudder, without strength, a Irightful wind, ram in tor- 
 rents, a sea in fury, and an ebb tide, what eould we 
 expect but a speedy end? Yet we made every effort 
 to get off; some bailed, one steered with an oar,— cveiy- 
 thing was wanting, or against us, and, to hll up our 
 miseries, we shipped two seas that left us knee-deep m 
 water; a third would have surely swamped u. ; our 
 strength began to give out as it became more necessary; 
 we made little headway, and, with good reason began 
 to fear our longboat would fill before we could rea.-h 
 land The rain prevented our making out a proper 
 place to run in ; all before us seemed very rocky, or 
 rather we saw nothing but death. 
 
 I believed that it was time to exhort all to prepare 
 by an act of contrition, to appear before God. ihis 1 
 had deferred till now, so as not to augment the panic 
 or unman their courage ; but there was no recodmg, 
 and 1 did not wish to have my conscience reproach me 
 with a neglect of duty. Every one prayed, and alter 
 the Covfiteor, I gave a general absolution. It was a 
 touching sight! Ml those men bailing and rowing, 
 while thev implored our Lord to have mercy on them, 
 and forgive them the sins which made them unworthy 
 of partaking of his glory ; at last they were prepared 
 for death, and awaited it without repining. As lor my- 
 self I commended my soul to God. I recited th 
 Miserere aloud, all repeating it after me. I saw no 
 hope left. The longboat was going down, and 1 tiaoi 
 
 alread 
 the n 
 suddei 
 
 Yoi 
 longbc 
 waves 
 and V 
 made 
 swallo 
 
 In 
 enoug 
 the 1( 
 it wa 
 perha] 
 
 Ou] 
 from 
 aid of 
 escape 
 from 1 
 little 
 great 
 deep, 
 perisi 
 us to 
 bring 
 could 
 and SI 
 fire i 
 It wa 
 it wa 
 pressi 
 gettin 
 
p T H t; 
 
 OCEAN AND W I T, n K R N E S S , 
 
 159 
 
 : rightin^', T jumped in to 
 •csnois, who were almovt 
 ■a used our long boat so 
 at every scam. Without 
 rightful wind, rain in tor- 
 ebb tide, what could wc 
 Yet we made every effort 
 eered with an oar, — even- 
 ist US, and, to till up our 
 ,s that left us knee-deep in 
 surely swamped ud ; our 
 it became more necessary ; 
 d, with good reason, began 
 till before we could reach 
 our making out a proper 
 ns seemed very rocky, or 
 
 cath. 
 
 me to exhort all to prepare, 
 appear before God. This I 
 us not to augment the panic 
 nit there was no recoiling, 
 ■ my conscience reproach me 
 ^verv one prayed, and alter 
 eneral absolution. It was a 
 e men bailing and rowing, 
 :>ord to have mercy on them, 
 which made them unworthy 
 at last they were prepared 
 ithout repining. As for my- 
 soul to God. I recited the 
 ing it after me. I saw no 
 was going down, and I had 
 
 already mufllcd my head in my clo.ik, so as not to see 
 the moment of our going down, wlien u gust of wind 
 suddenly drove; us ashore. 
 
 You may imagine, how eagerly we sprang from the 
 longboat ; but we were not yet out of danger ; several 
 waves broke over us, some of which knocked us down, 
 and very nearly carried us out of our depth , yet we 
 made head against them, and got off with no harm, but 
 swallowing an abundance of sand and water. 
 
 In this confusion, some one had presence of mind 
 enough, to keep hold of the line or chain attached to 
 the longboat, and hold it fast ; but for this precaution, 
 it was all over, as you will see by my next letter, or 
 perhaps by the close of this. 
 
 Our first care was to thank God for delivering us 
 from so great a danger, and, in fact, without a special 
 aid of Providence, it would have been impossible to 
 escape death. We were on a little sand-bank, separated 
 from the island by a small creek, running from a bay a 
 little above the place where we were. It was with 
 great difficulty that we r:ossed this creek, for it was so 
 deep, that for the Uuv^ time we were on the point of 
 perishing. The sea, which began to fall at last, enabled 
 us to go and get what we had in the longboat, and 
 bring it to the island. This was a new fatigue, but it 
 could not be put off. We were wet to our very bones, 
 and so was everything wc had. How could we make a 
 fire in this state ? Yet after some time we succeeded. 
 It was more necessary than anything else, and although 
 it was long since we had tasted food, and hunger was 
 pressing on us, we thought of satisfying it only afler 
 getting a little warm. 
 
leo 
 
 rEIlII.8 OF THK 
 
 About tluoo o'clock in the afternoon, our small boat 
 camo to lan.l with only six men ; the sea Avas «. violent 
 that it had been impossible for more to expose theni- 
 gelves in it. We went to meet them, and took all 
 necessary precautions to bring it in without injuring it. 
 Without this boat we couhl never have got to the ship to 
 bring off the provisions wliich the cannoneer had saved, 
 nor the seventeen men still on board. 
 
 However, none durst undertake to go there that day. 
 We passed the night sadly enough. The lire we had 
 made had not yet dried us, and we had nothing to shel- 
 ter us in that rigorous season. The wind seemed to us 
 to be rising, and although the vessel was strong, new 
 and well knit, there was every ground for fearing thai 
 it could not hold together till next morning, and that 
 all on board would perish miserably. About midnight 
 the wind fell, the sea subsided, and, at day-break, seeing 
 the ship in the same state that we left it, several s.ulc>rs 
 ■,vent out in the boat. They found all on board well, 
 having passed the night more at ease than we did, suice 
 they were sheltered and had something to cat and drink 
 They put some provisions in the boat, and brought all 
 off; they came seasonably for us, as we were now suffer- 
 ing cruelly from hunger. , , • . 
 We took what was necessary for a meal, that is to 
 Bay about three ounces of meat a piece, a little soup, 
 and some vegetables that we put in. We had to econ- 
 omize, and not expose ourselves to run out of provision, 
 so soon. Wo sent to the ship a second time to save 
 the carpenter's tools, tar, which we needed to repair 
 our longboat, an axe to cut wood, and some sails to 
 make a cabin. All this was a great help, especially 
 
 the sail 
 the ne> 
 board 1 
 boat, an 
 double 
 how nca 
 how it 1 
 could to 
 up on tl 
 the bott 
 made tw 
 got on b 
 position 
 I dcf 
 before c 
 such tidi 
 with th( 
 very affe 
 
 Padorbor 
 
 My E 
 
 answer, v 
 ially touc 
 and Hui 
 me the 
 but this ( 
 sensible ] 
 
T H R 
 
 n*noon, our small boat 
 
 the sua was so violi'iit 
 
 more to exjjosc theiu- 
 
 ut them, aiul took all 
 
 in without injuring it. 
 
 have got to the ship to 
 
 l; cannoneer had saved, 
 
 )ard. 
 
 c to go there that clay. 
 ,ugh. The fire we hail 
 ,ve had nothing to shel- 
 Thc wind seemed to us 
 vessel was strong, new- 
 ground for fearing thai 
 next morning, and that 
 .ibly. About midnight 
 ind, at day-break, seeing 
 we left it, several siulors 
 found all on board well, 
 , ease than we did, since 
 lething to cat and drink, 
 he boat, and brought all 
 s, as we were now suffor- 
 
 y for a meal, that is to 
 ;at a piece, a little soup, 
 ut in. We had to coon- 
 s to run out of provision^ 
 P a second time to save 
 ch we needed to repair 
 ivood, and some sails to 
 a great help, especially 
 
 OCEAN AND WILDERNESS. 
 
 161 
 
 the sails, for two feet of snow fell that night. On 
 the next day, November IGth, while some went on 
 board for stores, the others laid hold of the long- 
 boat, and at last got it high and dry by means of a 
 double pulley. The state wc found it in, showed us 
 how near death we had been, and we could not conceive 
 how it had ever brought us ashore ; we now did all we 
 could to repair it. The mizen yard, Avhich w;is thrown 
 up on the shore, enabled us to make a keel ; wc made 
 the bottom of a piece of wood cut in the forest ; we 
 made two linings for the bottom, with boards which we 
 got on board, and at last it was refitted as well as our 
 position enabled us. 
 
 I defer to my next the sequel of my shipwreck ; 
 before continuing it, I should be glad to hear of you ; 
 such tidings interest no one more than myself, who am, 
 with the warmest friendship, my dear brother, your 
 very affectionate brother, 
 
 Emmanuel Crespel, Recollect. 
 
 Padorborn, February 13, 1742. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 My Dear Brother: — I have just received your 
 answer, which gives me infinite pleasure. I was espec- 
 ially touched by what happened to you, in your ItaUan 
 and Hungarian campaigns. Why did you not send 
 me the details sooner ? Here I must reproach you ; 
 but this cannot displease you, as it serves to show how 
 sensible I am to all concerning you. 
 
 14» 
 
161 
 
 PERILS OF THE 
 
 I am glad that the beghinhig of my shlinvrcck cxatc-s 
 in your soul, the .cntiment« uhich 1 suUl it slu.ul. ; ., 
 is a proof that I have not exaggerated the evds vj lu. h 
 1 suffered, and saw others suffer. Yet after all my 
 dear brother, that is only a flight sketch and what 
 luve yet to tell far surpasses all 1 have hitherto said, 
 and deserves all your attention. 
 
 Wliile we were refitting the longboat, wc ate only 
 onee in twenty-four hours, and then our allowance wus 
 smaller then that I have already mentioned. It wu. 
 prudent to act so ; we had only two months stores m 
 the ship, this being the usual provision made on sailing 
 from Quebec to France ; all our biscuit w.is lost, and 
 more than half our meat liad been-consumed or spoil , 
 during the eleven days we had been at sea ; so tha , 
 v.ith all possible economy, we had only hve weeks food. 
 This calculation, or, if you like, this reriection, an- 
 nounced death at the end of forty days! for, alter all, 
 there was no prospect of finding, before then, any means 
 of leaving the desert-island. 
 
 The ships which pass by it, sail altogether too far 
 off, to perceive any signal we could make, and then h«^v 
 could we rely on them ? Our provisions could ast no 
 more than six weeks, at most, and no ship could pa>s 
 for six or seven months. 
 
 I saw despair coming on, courage began to sink, and 
 cold, snow, ice, and sickness, seemed banded to mcrease 
 our sufferings. We sank beneath the weight of .o 
 much misery. The ship became inaccessible from tin 
 ice, which gathered around it ; the cold caused an intol. 
 arable sleeplessness ; our sails were £u- from shieldmj| 
 us ixom the heavy snows that fell, that year, six feet 
 
 dc 
 
 CO 
 
 se( 
 u ( 
 
 to 
 rel 
 thi 
 an 
 
 co: 
 foi 
 isl; 
 wl 
 
 ou 
 on 
 
 C01 
 
 ha 
 lea 
 
 dit 
 tin 
 ou 
 inc 
 thi 
 sh( 
 tin 
 
 CO) 
 
 he; 
 wc 
 
F THE 
 
 g of my shipwreck excites 
 •hich 1 saitl It sliouUl ; it, 
 aggcratod the evils wliich 
 mtfer. Yet, alter all, my 
 blight sketch, and what 1 
 B8 all 1 have hitherto said, 
 
 a. 
 
 the longboat, wc ate only 
 nd then our allowance was 
 heady mentioned. It was 
 only two months' stores iu 
 [ provision made on sailing 
 I our biscuit %vas lost, and 
 id been'consumcd or spoilt, 
 ! had been at sea; so that, 
 e had only tive weeks' food. 
 1 like, this retlcction, an- 
 of forty days! for, after all, 
 ling, before then, any means 
 
 ^ it, sail altogether too far 
 e could make, and then how 
 Our provisions coidd last no 
 aost, and no ship could pass 
 
 courage began to sink, and 
 is, seemed banded to increase 
 
 beneath the weight of so 
 became inaccessible from tln' 
 L it ; the cold caused an intol- 
 sails were fiu- from shieldini; 
 
 that fell, that year, six feet 
 
 (UK AN AND W M.DKH N F. S£^, 
 
 lfi;{ 
 
 deep, and i'cvcr had already suri)riscd several of our 
 comrades. 
 
 Such circumstances were too frying for us, not to 
 seek to dispose otherwiso. We accorilingly resolved oil 
 tt decisive ^tej). 
 
 We knew that some of our countrymen were winter- 
 ing at Mingan, on the main land to the north, in order 
 to hunt seals for oil ; there we were almost sure to get 
 relief, but the dilliculty was to reach it at that season ; 
 the rivers were all frozen, the snow was three feet deep, 
 and increased day by day, and the distance was great, 
 considering the season, and our condition, for we were 
 forty leagues from the highest or northwest part of the 
 island, which we had to make, turn, and descend some- 
 what, then cross twelve leagues of open sea. 
 
 We were resolved to surmount all those obstacles ; 
 our actual state gave us no fears of a more frightful 
 one, but one reflection stopped us for some time. We 
 could not all start for Mingan, and half of us would 
 have to stay at this place which wc were so eager to 
 leave, even to expose ourselves to more real dangers. 
 
 Yet there was no other way — we must all resolve to 
 die on that place at the end of six weeks, or part for a 
 time. I showed them that the least delay would defeat 
 our plan, as, during our irresolution, the bad weather 
 increased, and our scanty stores were failing. I added, 
 that I could well conceive the repugnance each one 
 should have to remain where we were, but, at the same 
 time, I showed them the absolute necessity of parting 
 company, and I hoped our Lord would dispose the 
 hearts of some, to let the others go in search of aid ; I 
 wound up, that we must diy the chapel furniture — that 
 
ICA 
 
 PEEII.S OF THK 
 
 to draw down on us the light of tl.c Holy Ghost, I 
 wouhl ceU-hiute his SUm on the Ji()th, iind that I was 
 sure om- prayers would have the .Icsired .H'.ct. All 
 applauded mv proposition ; I said the Mass of the Jloly 
 (jhost, and "the same day twenty-four men ottered to 
 remain, provided provisions were left them, and a prom- 
 ise made, on the gospel, that relief would be «ent as 
 soon as the party got to Mingan. 
 
 I told my comrades, that I had made uj) my mind to 
 stay with the twenty-four men who had ottered to re- 
 main at the place of our shipwreck, and that 1 would 
 endeavor to help them to await patiently the promised 
 relief. All, however, opposed my design, and to dis- 
 suade me, said, that, as I knew the language of the 
 country, I must go with the party, so that if Mr. de 
 Frencusc and de Senneville should die, I might art as 
 interpreter, in case we met any Indians on the island. 
 Those who remained especially desired 1 should go ; 
 they knew me incapable of breaking my word, and did 
 not doubt, but that, on my arrival at Mingan, my first 
 care would be to relieve them ; not but that those who 
 were going were fully disposed to send a boat to their 
 relief as soon as possible, yet they relied apparently 
 more on the word of a priest, than that of one of them- 
 selves. When all was arranged, I exhorted those who 
 remained to patience. I told them that the means of 
 drawing upon them the blessings of Heaven, was not 
 to give away to despair, and to abandon themselves 
 entirely to t^he care of Trovidence— that they should 
 keep themselves in continual exercise to keep oft" sick- 
 ness, and not f\dl into discouragement,— that prudence 
 rec^uired an economical use of the food we had left, 
 
 althoii 
 
 hut tl 
 
 risk ( 
 
 who 
 
 on th( 
 
 rades, 
 
 side, 
 
 their 
 
 our 111 
 
 the te 
 
 of wl 
 
 'I'h 
 
 longh 
 
 day 11 
 
 were 
 
 endui 
 
 Th 
 
 but V 
 
 (juanl 
 
 On 
 
 oomp 
 
 abun( 
 
 Or 
 
 o'cloc 
 
 fire t 
 
 our I 
 
 Oi 
 
 re-en 
 
 ness, 
 
 little 
 
 was 1 
 
 ourst 
 
? T n K 
 
 ;ht of tlic Holy Ghost, I 
 tlic LMltli, an<l thiit I was 
 L" the (U'siird cirt'ct. All 
 siiul the Mass of the Holy 
 ventv-four men ottered to 
 ere left them, and a prom- 
 at relief would be sent as 
 an. 
 
 had made iij) my mind to 
 icn who had ottered to re- 
 wreck, and that 1 would 
 valt patiently the promised 
 ed my design, and to dis- 
 aiew the language of the 
 e party, so that if Mr. dc 
 should die, 1 might act as 
 any Indians on the island, 
 dly desired 1 should go ; 
 rcaking my word, and did 
 arrival at Mingan, my tirst 
 m ; not but that those who 
 losed to send a boat to their 
 y-et they relied apparently 
 t, than that of one of thcm- 
 iged, I exhorted those who 
 old them that the means of 
 essings of Heaven, was not 
 nd to abandon themselves 
 avidence — that they should 
 lal exercise to keep oft" sick- 
 ouragemcnt, — that prudence 
 e of the food we had left, 
 
 OCEAN ANP WILDKRNESS. 
 
 165 
 
 although I hojied to send them relief before it was spent ; 
 hut that it w as better to have some over, than to run the 
 risk of falling short. After giving this advice, those 
 who were to go, began to make their preparations, and, 
 on the ii'th, we prepared to go ; we embraced our com- 
 rades, who wished us a successful voyage, and, on our 
 side, we showed how anxiously we desired to relieve 
 their distress ; we were far from thinking that it was 
 our last embrace. Our farewell was most uttecting, and 
 the tears which attended it were a kind of presentiment 
 of what was to bef'll us. 
 
 'rhirteen got in the small boat, and seventeen in the 
 longboat ; we set out in the afternoon, and rowed that 
 day about three leagues, but could not make land, and 
 were obliged to pass the night on the water, where we 
 endured inexpressible cold. 
 
 The next day we did not make as much progress, 
 but we slept ashore, and during the night a prodigious 
 (puuitity of snow fell over us. 
 
 On the !^'.)th, the wind was against us, and wc were 
 compelled by the snow, which still continued to fall in 
 abundance, to go ashore very early. 
 
 On the 30th, the weather forced us to lie to ; at nine 
 o'clock in the morning, we landed and made a good 
 fire to cook some peas, which disagreed with several of 
 
 our party. 
 
 On the tirst of December, the winds prevented our 
 re-embarking, and, as our sailors complained of weak- 
 ness, and said that they could not row, we cooked a 
 little meat, which we ate after drinking the broth ; it 
 was the first time after our departure, that we had feasted 
 ourselves so well ; the other days wc ate only a little 
 
IflO 
 
 PERI IB OF THK 
 
 dried ocUish raw, or u pasto niaae of flour and Mat( 
 On tlu" morning of the Hecutul, tlu- wind Ka^iu^' chanK. 
 to S E., wo Hot Hail and made connidi lahU' l)l•o^n■^^ 
 about n<.on wc- joi.u'd llio ^niall Lout to cat toRi'llm ; 
 our joy *vaH cxtrt-mu to 8cc the fair weather contuuu . 
 and the winds become more and more favorable to on: 
 route ; but this joy scarce lasted at all, and gave pla.. 
 to the most flight ful consternation. After our meal, 
 we continued on our way ; the small boat wnt laM. . 
 by oarH, but by sail we had the advantage ; we thought 
 better to keep off shore, so as to double a poi.it wludi 
 we perceived, and made signal to the boat to follow u>. 
 but they let themselves be driven in towards the land, 
 and we lost sight of it. 
 
 At this point we found u frightful sea, and, althoug!. 
 the wind was not very violent, we doubled it only by 
 great elfort, and taking in a great deal of water. 'I'hh 
 made us tremble for the small boat which was m shore, 
 where the sea always breaks more violently than oti, 
 It was handled so roughly that it went down, and w. 
 heard no more of it till spring, as you will see by tlu 
 sciuel of my narrative. \N'heu we had passed tlu 
 point, we endeavored to hmd, but the night was too l,u 
 advanced, and we could not succeed ; the sea was bor- 
 dered by very high and rugged rocks for nearly tw.; 
 leagues, and, seeing at the end a sandy bay, we made 
 for it at full sail, and landed there without getting mud 
 wet. AVe at once lighted a fire to show the small boat 
 where we were, but this precaution was useless, because 
 it had been dashed to pieces. 
 
 After eating a little paste, each one wrapped himself 
 up in his blanket, and spent the night by the fire. At 
 
 ten o 
 dantl 
 gave 
 cold 
 I'c 
 our 1 
 liavii 
 da.slu 
 waki 
 ran i 
 what 
 up w 
 out t 
 that, 
 savec 
 trans 
 at iir 
 ashoi 
 ticiili 
 and 
 mon 
 of cc 
 the I 
 whic 
 In tl 
 help 
 us w 
 was 
 tog( 
 kille 
 ions 
 acco 
 
OP THR 
 
 O ( i; AN AN 1> U 1 1. 1) K u N i; S H , 
 
 1G7 
 
 ;e made of fldur and watr 
 tl, the wind haviiii,' chaii^'x; 
 iidc cousidi'iahlf |)I0^iinn 
 <mall lioat to cat tom'tlifi ; 
 
 the fair weather contiiuu. 
 and more favorahU; to oui 
 la.sted at all, and gave plac 
 crnatlon. Al'tir our iiumI, 
 
 the Hmall boat went fastiv 
 
 the advanta},'e ; we thought 
 ) as to doidde a point whi( 
 ;nal to the boat to IbUow u-. 
 
 driven in towards the land, 
 
 frightful sea, and, although 
 dent, we doubled it oidy by 
 I groat deal of water. 'I'hi- 
 lall boat which was in shore, 
 iks more violently than otf. 
 f that it went down, and wi 
 ing, as you will sec by tlu 
 When we had passed tlu 
 id, but the night was too fu 
 t succeed ; the sea was bor- 
 •ugged rocks for nearly two 
 
 end a sandy bay, we made 
 •d there without getting much 
 
 a lire to show the small boat 
 recaution was useless, because 
 
 iS. 
 
 e, each one wrapped himseh 
 ut the night by the tire. At 
 
 ten o'clock, the sky clouded over, and snow fell abun- 
 dantly till iif\t day. .\s the lire melted it, the snow 
 gave us muc h trouble, ho that we preferred standing the 
 cold to sUa-ping in water. 
 
 Towards midnight, the winds became so violent that 
 our longboat, which was otdy a short distance otf shore, 
 having dragged its anchor, was driven ashore and almost 
 dashed to pieces. The two men who were on board 
 waking uj), began to call out as loud as they coidd ; we 
 ran up at once. The captain and myself threw ashore 
 what we could save of the little cargo ; the others pai ked 
 up what we threw out ; and carried it as they supposed 
 out of reach of the tide, but the sea became so furious 
 that, as it rose, it would have curried olf all we had just 
 saved, had not our comrades taken the ))fccaution to 
 transport three diilerent times what they thought secure 
 at lirst. This was not enough ; we had to get our boat 
 ashore to i)revent its being carried out to sea. The dif- 
 ficulty we had in getting it high and dry is inconceivable, 
 and we did not accomplish it until ten o'clock in tho 
 morning ; we then found it much strained and in need 
 of consideral)le repairs. We deferred repairing it until 
 the next day, and made a fire to dry ourselves ; after 
 which we ate a little to restore us after our night's toil. 
 In the morning, the carpenter and all who were able to 
 help him labored to put matters in shape, and a part of 
 us went in search of the other boat, but in vain ; and it 
 was to no purpose that we remained there several days 
 to get tidings of it. On the eve of our departure we 
 killed two foxes, which enabled us to spare our provis- 
 ions ; in a situation like ours all must be turned to 
 account, and the fear of staiving to death prevenfed our 
 
168 
 
 TKRILS OF THE 
 
 .he seventh of the "°°*> '\;\" " „ld„-e„„»l- 
 ,vM, a BligU f«on.Me wmd, ^J -■^'''^' ^ our .«„ 
 
 foKs; five horns afte., the sky ^^^^^ 
 
 „i„a rising .vi.h t,^ .a wo - -"^^^^ ,„ „„, 
 there was none. ^\ o were tie ,„,^ Tlic 
 
 „ff „„d sail before the -"^'^.^^ I, Led ,1,0 
 night approaehcd ; ra.n. "'-■^; * ^'t:,, vehcnenco 
 
 ;t-:%3r:::::iT.p^-"Lrr 
 
 ^'Tthe height of the danger we were driven Into a 
 h.,tlretl^wind..»v»e^;-:^^^^^^^^ 
 
 boat being driven on some shoals, b 
 
 had not an hour to live throwing overboard 
 
 We nevertheless «*»'««^; YaT '^.^i „>„,„en,. 
 p„t of our boaf, load to P^;« f ; j f^.^.^^aecl 
 " "rrelntdoIuS r,! fear, as the ea.« 
 
 nrirrithehorrrofoureo....^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 "r:Xstpr::rd::::a:d.a:tsanre.in,e,topu, 
 
 rCt^rtasUtetogoandrenderGodanaceou.. 
 
 iVc 
 
 to 
 mc 
 
 esi 
 
 tliC 
 
 ini 
 
 wa 
 
 to 
 
 kn 
 
 to 
 
 ne: 
 
 (la: 
 
 (Us 
 
 vei 
 
 ] 
 
 yoi 
 do 
 I n 
 
 f 
 
 the 
 
F THE 
 
 of prolonging Ufc. On 
 we started at daybreak, 
 by which we made consld- 
 o'clock, we ate our two 
 ky clouded over and the 
 had to seek a haibor, but 
 therefore obliged to stand 
 \ to save ourselves. The 
 3d with hail, soon closed the 
 with so much vehemence 
 vcrn it, and our boat had 
 , usage to be able to stand 
 id to" yield to the circum- 
 
 ,ger we were driven into a 
 ■exed us, and where it was 
 ; ; our anchor could not hold 
 ased every moment, and our 
 shoals, we thought that vo 
 
 ored, by throwing overboard 
 , put off the fatal moment. 
 , when we were surrounded 
 loubled oiu: fear, as the cakes 
 d about and broke against us ; 
 ley drove us, but I shall not 
 that the various tossings wc 
 beyond all expression. The 
 jrror of our condition ; every 
 ;e our death. I exhorted all 
 3, and, at the same time, to put 
 •0 and render God an account 
 
 O K A N AND W I L D E Tl N E S P. 
 
 169 
 
 of a life wliirh he had granted us only to servo him, 
 aiul 1 roniinded tliom that he was the Master to take it 
 i'loni us Avhen he pleased. 
 
 Day canu' at last, and we endeavored amid the rocks 
 to make the bottom of the hay, where we were a little 
 more tran([uil ; every one regarded himself as having 
 escaped the gates of the grave, and rendered thanks to 
 tlic almighty hand which had preserved us amid such 
 imminent danger. 
 
 A\ ith all our efforts wc could not make land, the 
 water being too shallow. AVc had to cast anchor, and, 
 to get ashore, we had to go waist-decj) in some parts, 
 knee-deep in all. We had with us the kettle and flour 
 to make paste. After taking some nourishment, our 
 next thought was to dry our clothes, so as to start next 
 day. In a few days I will give you the sequel of our 
 disaster, and shall not await your answer. 
 
 I am, with all possible friendship, dear Brother, your 
 very affectionate brother. 
 
 Emmanuel Crespel, Recollect. 
 
 PaJcrborn, February 28, 1742. 
 
 letter V. 
 
 My Dear Brother : — It is not a week since I wrote 
 you my fourth letter, and I do not forget that at the 
 <lose I promised to send you the fifth without delay. 
 I now keep my word, and continue my narrative. 
 
 The cold increased so much during the night that 
 tlie whole bay was frozen over, and our boat hemmed 
 
 15 
 
170 
 
 PERILS OF THE 
 
 in on all skies. In vain did we horo that the v.n.l 
 lid detach it; day by day the cold became n.o,e 
 n ense ; the ice got stronger, and .ve had no altcrnat. 
 Cto Imd what little had not been tWn o.erbo.d, ^ 
 anl to bring in all our provision. We made cab.n. 
 ^ich we covered with fir branches ; the capta.n an 
 :^lf .ere versed in the way of b^ljng then, ^^h^^ 
 
 ^r,,. nf the most comfortable. I ne s>aiiois 
 niirs was one OI ine ih'J''^ , , , , 
 
 led theirs along-side of ours, and, to hold the prov.- 
 onsVwe erected I little place which no one could en c. 
 :;hout being seen by all. ^s was a ncc^^y " 
 cution, and to prevent suspicion whuh might an. 
 asinst those who had the charge of it, and to prevent 
 any 1 from consuming in a few days what was to si,,- 
 
 -:^,:r:S:rtSrnitureof.ieapartme^^ 
 had made for ourselves ; the iron pot nr winch we ha. 
 t atcTl the tar, served us as a kettle ; we had only on 
 ax but no stone to sharpen it, and our only pres n - 
 
 ^rlS^w"^, Without .e.t^i^^^^^ 
 be impossible to cook anything to sustam life , ^ ith 
 the axe, we could get no wood to keep up our hie, a 
 ^Uhm't our blankets, bad as they were, there w.s n 
 leanTof resisting the excessive cold wluch ahno. 
 
 ."t;^:i:;i"Steiime,wasMght^i.^.d-^^^ 
 
 J^^tiJtoit; pardon me, dear brother, er^^J 
 
 vl-Ul he aicredible. Its horror augments at e^n 
 ;:i rrve much to write you before I com^ 
 the extremity of misery to which I was reduced. 
 
 Oi 
 
 exist 
 to n 
 (•h;m 
 
 necoi 
 and 
 shou 
 our 
 boile 
 or g 
 aboil 
 mini 
 of f( 
 (;lse. 
 and I 
 rciili 
 (jiiaii 
 sottb 
 iindc 
 what 
 othe 
 on tl 
 V 
 cut 
 adap 
 in o 
 viok 
 liuni 
 in tl 
 ])res( 
 to ti 
 
!■ TUB 
 
 •n-c hoi^o that the vind 
 y the cold became more ' 
 and we had no alterniitivc 
 
 been tlnwvn overboard, 
 sions. We made cabins 
 ranches ; the captain and 
 r of buiUling them, so that 
 comfortable. The sailors 
 s, and, to hold the provi- 
 which no one could enter 
 I'his was a necessary prc- 
 picion M-hiih might arise 
 urge of it, and to prevent 
 , few days what was to sup- 
 
 niture of the apartments wo 
 
 iron pot in which we had 
 
 X kettle ; we had only onr 
 
 it, and our only preserva- 
 
 )ur clothts and some halt- 
 
 of these fliiled us, we should 
 
 Without the pot, it would 
 
 ing to sustain life ; without 
 
 3od to keep up our fire, and 
 
 s they were, there was no 
 
 xcessive cold which almost 
 
 me, was frightful, and noth- 
 m me, dear brother, ere loni: 
 
 horror augments at every 
 write you before I come to 
 
 which I was reduced. 
 
 O C E A N A \ D W ! T. I) E n \ E S 9 . 
 
 171 
 
 Our solo vesoiirce \v;is to Ik- able to prolong our 
 existence till tlu> closi' ol" A])ril, and to wait lor tlir ice 
 to niclt, in order to continue our vo\age in tlic lio.it ; 
 chance alone could bring us relief ill tliat s] <it ; it was 
 mere delusion to hope for any. In this cii.sis, it was 
 necessary to examine soberly what provisions we had, 
 and to regulate the distribution in such a way that they 
 should last till that time. We accordingly regulated 
 our food in the following manner : in the morning, we 
 boiled in snow-water two pounds of Hour, to have ]),i>te 
 or gruel ; in the evening, we cooked in the same way, 
 about tlu" same weight ot' meat ; we were seventeen in 
 nund)er, and consei^nently each had about four ounces 
 of food a day. There was no talk of ])read or anything 
 else. Once a week only wo ate peas instead oi" meat, 
 and although we had only a spoonful apiece, it was, in 
 reality, our best meal. It was not enough to fix the 
 (juantity of food which we were to take ; we had also to 
 settle on oin- occupations. Leger, I?asile and myself, 
 undertook to cut the necessary wood, be the weather 
 what it might ; some others agreed to carry it in ; 
 others, to clear the snow, or rather to diminish its depth, 
 on the road we had to take to tlie woods. 
 
 ^'ou will perhaps be surprised at my undertaking to 
 cut wood, an exercise for which I was not apparently 
 adapted, and even you may think, beyond my strength; 
 ill one sense, you are right ; but when you riHect, that 
 violent exercise opens the pores, and gives vent to many 
 humors, that it would 1)0 dangerous to leave festering 
 in the blood, you will easily understand that I owe my 
 ])reservation to tliis e.vercise. I always had foresight 
 to tire myself extremely whenever I felt heavy or 
 
172 
 
 PEBII-S OF TUB 
 
 feverish, and especkaly .ben I thought myself affec .1 
 bv the bad air. I accordingly went every day into the 
 ,;oods. and there in spite of all the cflWts to clear away 
 the snow, we often went waist-deep. 'Hus was not on. 
 only trouble in this employment ; the trees nr ovu- 
 neighborhood were full of branches, all so loackd wUh 
 snow, that, at the first stroke of the axe, rt knocked 
 down the one that struck ; we were all three in succe. 
 «ion thrown down, and we often fell each two or thrc. 
 times, then we continued the work ; and when , 
 repeated shaking, the tree was disencumbered of the 
 snow, we felled it, cut it in pieces, and returned to t u 
 cibin each with his load ; then our comrades went lor 
 the r'est, or rather for what was needed for that day 
 We found this hard work, but we had to do it ; aiul 
 although the fatigue was extreme, everything was to be 
 feared if we neglected to keep it up manfu ly ; the 
 diihcultv increased day by day, for, as we cut down the 
 .vood, we had to go further, and so lengthen our jour- 
 ney Our weakness increased, as our toil became greatcn: 
 Fi; branches thrown down without order, were our bed : 
 ,ve were devoured by vermin, for we had no change ot 
 clothing ; the smoke and snow gave us terrible soreness 
 in the eves, and, to complete our miseries, we became 
 at once 'extremely costive, and afflicted by an incont>. 
 nence of urine, which gave us not a moment s rest. 
 leave it to phvsicians to settle whence this arose ; had 
 - ^ve known the cause, it would not have availed us ; it . 
 useless to learn the source of an evil winch we cannot 
 
 remedy. , , ^ 
 
 On "the 24th of December, we dried our chapel lui 
 uiture ; we hud a little wine left ; I thawed it, and on 
 
 to g 
 
 quel 
 to ef 
 
 of SI 
 justi 
 theii 
 
 starv 
 
 !()UC 
 
 I kr 
 to tl 
 I 
 
V T U E 
 
 1 I thoutlit mysi'lf affect 
 Tly went every clay into the 
 'all the efforts to clear away 
 ist-ileep. This was not o\ii- 
 oyment; the trees in our 
 )ranche8, all so loaded with 
 rokc of the axe, it kuotkcd 
 we were all three in succes- 
 ; often fell each two or three 
 
 the work ; and when, hy 
 i was disencumbered of the 
 n pieces, and returned to the 
 i then our comrades went for 
 hat Avas needed for that day. 
 i, but we hiul to do it ; and 
 ixtreme, everything was to be 
 , keep it up manfully ; the 
 
 day, for, as we cut down the 
 ■r, and so lengthen our jour- 
 sed, as our toil became greater. 
 I without order, were our bed : 
 ■min, for we had no change of 
 snow gave us terrible soreness 
 plete our miseries, we became 
 ■c, and afflicted by an inconti- 
 ve us not a moment's rest. 1 
 , settle whence this arose ; had 
 ould not have availed us ; it i- 
 rce of an evil which we cannot 
 
 mber, we dried our chapel fur 
 ine left ; I thawed it, and or. 
 
 OCEAN AND WILDERNESS. 
 
 173 
 
 Christmas daj", said Mass ; when it was over, T made a 
 short discourse to exhort our folks to patience. It was 
 a kind of parallel between what the Savior of the world 
 had suffered, and what we endured, and I closed by 
 exhorting tliem to offer their pains to our Lord, and by 
 assuring tliem that this offering was a title to obtain the 
 end and recompense. We can express much better the 
 evils we feel, than those we see others experience. INIy 
 words had the cfl'ect I expected ; each one resumed 
 courage, and resigned himself to suffer, till it should 
 please God to call him to hliuself, or to rescue us from 
 danger. 
 
 On the first of January, considerable rain fell all day, 
 and, as we could not shelter ourselves from it, we had 
 to go to sleep all wet, and during the night, a violent 
 norther, so to speak, froze us in our cabin, broke up all 
 the ice in the bay, and carried the fragments off' with 
 our longboat ; a man named Foucault informed us of 
 this by a loud cry ; we sought, in vain, the spot to 
 which it had been carried. Judge of our consternation ; 
 this accident crowned our misfortunes, and took away 
 all hopes of seeing them end ; I felt all the conse- 
 quences of it ; I saw despair seize on all ; some wished 
 to eat at once what food we had, and go die at the foot 
 f some tree ; others no longer wished to work, and, to 
 justify their refusal, said, that it was useless to prolong 
 their pain, as there was no apparent hope of escaping 
 starvation. What a situation, my dear brother ! It would 
 touch the hardest heart. I shed tears as I write it, and 
 I know you are too sensitive to the miseries of others, 
 *o think that you can read my letter unmoved. 
 
 I had need to recall all my strength to oppose my 
 
 15« 
 
174 
 
 PERILS OF THK 
 
 companions; the best rca.o„s which allogo.l, seen -.1 
 to excite impatience, and make them tool move poignantl 
 their wretched state. As the mihh.ess by ^vh>ch 1 hu 
 hoped to dissuade them from their course had faded 
 assumed a tone which my character authorized ; 1 told 
 them, with a boldness at >vhich they were surpnse.l, 
 that "God was doubtless irritated against us; that he 
 measured the evils which he sent us, by the crimes we had 
 previously committed ; that these crimes were doubtU.. 
 enormous, as the punishment had been so rigorous, aiul 
 that the greatest of all wa« our despair, which, unless 
 speedily followed by repentance, would become m-enus- 
 sible. How do you know, my brethren but that you 
 are at the close of your penance? Ihe time ol tlu 
 greatest sufferings, is that of the greatest mercy ; do 
 not become unworthy of it by your murmurs ; the fus 
 dutv of a Christian is to submit blindly to the orders ot 
 his' Creator; and you, rebel hearts, would you resist 
 hhn' Would YOU lose in an instant, the fruit of th. 
 evils which God sends you. only to render you worthy 
 of the good things which he reserves for his children . 
 Would you become homicides, and, to escape transient 
 pain, not fear to rush into torments which have no 
 hounds, but eternity ? Follow your guilty resolve, 
 accomplish your horrible design, I have done my du y ; 
 it is your business to think that you are then lost for- 
 ever Yet I hope, I added, that among you, there will 
 be some at least so attached to the law of their God, as 
 to rcnird mv remonstrance, and that they will -join mr 
 in ottering 'him their imins, and asking strength to 
 
 bear them." . v ^ u 
 
 When I had finished, I wished to retire, but all 
 
F r H E 
 
 thcni tool more poigmiiuly 
 mildness by Avhlch I IkiiI 
 their course had fiiiknl, I 
 avacter authorized ; 1 told 
 lich they were surprised, 
 Ltated against us ; that lu- 
 lit us, by the crimes we had 
 liese crimes were doubtless 
 had been so rigorous, and 
 our despair, which, unless 
 ice, would become irremis- 
 fty brethren, but that yon 
 enancc ? The time of the 
 )f the greatest mercy ; do 
 )y your murmurs ; the iirst 
 mit blindly to the orders of 
 ;1 hearts, would you resist 
 an instant, the fruit of tin; 
 , only to render you worthy 
 ic reserves for his children ? 
 des, and, to escape transient 
 to torments which have no 
 ollow your guilty resolve, 
 ;sign, I have done my duty ; 
 ik that you are then lost foi- 
 , that among you, there will 
 I to the law of their God, as 
 , and that they will -join nw 
 ins, and asking strength to 
 
 I wished to retire, but uU 
 
 O (,' K V N AND W 1 T. U E R N E 3 3 . 
 
 175 
 
 stopped me, and begged me to pardon the excess of 
 despair into which they had fallen ; they promised me 
 with tears, that tliey would no longer j)>ovoke Heaven 
 by their murmurs and impatience, and that they wovdd 
 redouble their efforts, to prerci ve a life of which God, 
 alone, and not th"v, was Master to dispose of it. Each 
 one immediately resumed Ids ordinary occupation ; I 
 went to tlie woods willi my two comrades, and, when 
 we got back, the other two went for the wood we had 
 cut. When all were again together, I told them that, 
 having still wine enough for two or three INTasses, it 
 would be well for me to celebrate one, to ask, of the 
 Holy CJhost, the strength and light which we needed. 
 The weather cleared on the 5th of January ; I chose 
 that day to say the ^lass ; scarcely had I finished it, 
 when INIr. "\'aillant and Foucault, the chief steward, a 
 strong and vigorous man, informed us of their resolu- 
 tion to go and look for the longboat. I greatly praised 
 their zeal in exposing themselves thus for their com- 
 panions. However wc may be situated, we like praise ; 
 self-love never leaves us but with life. They had not 
 been gone two hoiu-s, when we saw them coming back 
 with a contented air, which made us believe that they 
 had some good news to tell us ; this conjecture was not 
 false, for Mr. Vaillant said, that, after walking an hour 
 with Foucault, they had perceived a little cabin and 
 two bark canoes ; that, on entering, they had found 
 seals, fat, and an axe, which they brought off, and that 
 impatience to announce this to their companions, had 
 prevented their going further. I was in the wood 
 when tb.ey eame back ; the Sieur de Senneville ran to 
 tell me of the discovery which Mr. Vaillant and Fou- 
 
176 
 
 PERILS OF THE 
 
 cault hiul just made ; I hurried buck to tlie cabin, and I 
 begged our two men to detail all that they had seen ; 
 they repeated what they had told the others. Kvery 
 word spread hope and joy over my heart ; I seized that 
 occasion to extol the care of Trovidence over those who 
 resign themselves entirely to it, and exhorted all to re- 
 turn thanks to God for the favor which he had just 
 done us. The nearer a man is to the brink of tlie 
 precipice, the more grateful he is to his deliverer. Yon 
 may judge whether our gratitude was lively. A tew 
 days before, we believed ourselves hopelessly lost, and, 
 when -we despaired of receiving any assistance, we 
 learned that there were Indians on the island, and that, 
 towards the end of ]March, they coidd aid us, when they 
 would return to the cabin to raise their canoes. 
 
 This discovery renewed the courage of those who had 
 made it. They started next day full of the confidence 
 which the first success gave ; they hoped to find our 
 longboat ; their hope was not deceived, for, after going 
 a little further than before, they perceived it off shore, 
 and on returning found and brought with them a trunk 
 full of clothes which we had thrown overboard, during 
 that night of which I have spoken. 
 
 On the tenth, although the weather was very cold, 
 we all went to try and put our boat in a place of safety ; 
 but being full of ice, and that which lay around making 
 it like a little mountain, it was impossible for us to draw 
 it ashore ; a hundred men would not have succeeded 
 without great difficulty ; and even then many w;ould 
 run the risk of perishing in the attempt. This obstacle 
 did not cause us much grief; to all appearance the own- 
 ers of the two canoes had a larger craft with which they 
 
T 11 K 
 
 back to tlie cabin, ami 1 
 [ all tliat they had seen ; 
 
 told the others. Kveiy 
 my heart ; I sci/od that 
 ovidence over those who 
 t, and exhorted all to ru- 
 favor Avhkh he had just 
 
 is to the brink of tlic 
 is to his deliverer. You 
 ;ude was lively. A few 
 ves hopelessly lost, and, 
 ring any assistance, we 
 3 on the island, and that, 
 f could aid us, when they 
 lise their canoes, 
 courage of those who had 
 ay full of the confidence 
 
 they hoped to find our 
 deceived, for, after going 
 2y perceived it off shore, 
 rought with them a trunk 
 hrown overboard, during 
 jkcn. 
 
 e weather was very cold, 
 r boat in a place of safety ; 
 which lay around making 
 s imiiossible for us to draw 
 should not have succeeded 
 I even then many would 
 le attempt. This obstacle 
 to all appearance the own- 
 irger craft with which they 
 
 o< i:an Axn wu, deux ess, 
 
 177 
 
 had crossed, and we hoped to jirofit by it. Wc accor- 
 dingly returned to our cabin ; scarcely li;id we taken 
 fifty steps when the cold seized Foucault so as to prevent 
 him from walking ; we were ol)lig<-(l to carry him, and 
 when Ave got him to the cabin, he gave up his soul to 
 (Jod. 
 
 On the twenty-third, our master carpenter sank under 
 the hardships ; he had time to confess and died a sin- 
 cere Christian. Although many of us had our legs 
 swollen, we lost no one from the twenty-third of Janu- 
 ary, till the sixteenth of February ; the expectation of 
 the close of March supported us, and we already thought 
 we saw those from whom wo hoped for rescue, arriving ; 
 but God did ordain that all should profit by the relief 
 which he sent us, the designs of his Providence arc 
 inscrutable, and, contrary as their effects may be to us, 
 we cannot without blasphemy, accuse them of injustice ; 
 what we call evil is often, in the designs of our Creator, 
 a benefit ; and, whether he rewards or punishes us, 
 whether he tries us by misfortune or prosperity, we 
 always owe him thanksgiving. 
 
 Farewell, my dear brother, I expect to hear from you ; 
 my letter is long enough ; I wish to let you sympathize 
 Avith me for a time ; this is a right which I believe I 
 may require from your affection. 
 
 I am, and ever shall be, my dear brother, your affec- 
 tionate brother, 
 
 Emmanuel Cuesi'el, Recollect. 
 
 PaderborD, February 28, 1712. 
 
178 
 
 l'tRll-3 OF TlIK 
 
 I.KTTKK VI. 
 
 SU Dfah Bkother:— T expected to hear from yen 
 on the fifteenth, or, at Litest, the eighteenth of th.s 
 month. It is now the twenty-tifth, and I hear nothin- 
 of you Your sentiments in my regard do not aUow me 
 to suppose that this dehiy is caused hy any coohiess or 
 indifterenee; I prefer to think that husmess heyon. 
 your eontrol has prevented you, and to show ymj that 
 I do not malce your sik<nce a erime, I for tlie thu'd time 
 take the advanee of you. 
 
 I elosod mv hist letter by saying that we had reache. 
 the heginning of February, sustained by the hope o 
 soon seeing the term of our misery, but that Cod had 
 otherwise disposed, and, my dear brother, this I wish to 
 
 cxphiin to vou to-day. 
 
 Ou the skteenth, the Sieur de Frenense, our captain, 
 died after receiving Extreme T^nction ; some liours_ alter, 
 Jerome, the boatswain, confessed and departed this hie 
 with admirable resignation. Towards evening, a young 
 man named Girard paid the same tribute to natm-e ; he 
 had for some days prepared to appear belore God. A 
 disease of the legs which lial come on trom warming 
 himself too near, had induced him to put his conscience 
 in order; in tliis 1 aided him. He made a general 
 confession, and the contrition which he seemed to 
 Ivavo for his sins, make me think he deserved pardon. 
 Our master gunner fell the next night into a debility 
 n-oni which he never recovered; and finally Kober . 
 another boatswain, was attacke.l by the sickness which 
 had carried off the others; I prepared him to make an 
 
F TH K 
 
 VI. 
 
 OCEAN AM) WII.DKHNKHS, 
 
 179 
 
 ixpcftod to lioav tVom you 
 t, the cigUti'euth of thi> 
 -iit'th, 1111(1 1 licar notliiiiu' 
 my iTfjfurd do not allow luf 
 iiused by any coolness or 
 ink that business boyond 
 )U, and to show you that 
 crime, I for the third time 
 
 saying' that we had reached 
 
 sustained by the hope of 
 
 misery, but that God had 
 
 dear brother, this I wish to 
 
 ,r do Frcneuse, our captain, 
 T^nction ; some hours after, 
 ;ssed and departed this life 
 
 Towards evening, a young 
 same tribute to nature ; he 
 
 to appear before God. A 
 a I come on from ■warminj; 
 d him to put his conscience 
 him. lie made a general 
 tion which he seemed to 
 
 think he deserved pardon. 
 
 next night into a debility 
 jvercd; and finally llobcrt, 
 eked by the sickness which 
 I prepared him to make an 
 
 abjuration ; he was a Calvinist ; and 1 avo\\ that it was 
 not easy to make him a (-'atholic ; fortunately, the good- 
 ness of the cause which 1 maintained supplied the stead 
 of the necessary talents ; the Protestants are well 
 instructed, w i; must admit ; I was twenty times ama/ed 
 at Kobert's arguments. What a pity, then, the basis of 
 Calvinism rests on a false principle ! 1 exclaim — \\ hat 
 a pity the Calvlnists are not of our communion ! With 
 what success would they not defend the right cause, 
 when they so vigorously sustain a bad one ! 
 
 At last this, Robert understood^ and chose to avoid 
 the danger of dying in any other creed than ours. On 
 the twenty-fourth of February, he made an abjuration, 
 repeated his piofession of fciith, and went to receive in a 
 better life the reward of the evils he had suHincd in 
 this. As these died, we put their bodies in the snow 
 beside the cabin. There was doubtless a want of pru- 
 dence in putting our dead so near us, but we had not 
 courage and strength to carry them further ; besides, 
 our situation did not permit us to think of every thing, 
 and we did not see any ground to fear the neighborhood 
 of what might so corrupt the air as to hasten our end, 
 or rather we thought that the excessive cold, which 
 prevailed, would prevent the corruption from producing 
 on us any of the effects M-hich it would have been 
 rational to dread in other circumstan -es. 
 
 So many deaths in so short a time, spread terror 
 among all. ^\'retched as man may be, he never looks 
 without horror on the moment which is to end his mis- 
 eries, Ijy dc'iirivliig him of life. Some bewailed their 
 wives and children, and bemoaned the state of misery 
 into which their death would plunge their families; 
 
180 
 
 PK m I. H oi" ' " '■' 
 
 otluTH 'kopt compliiiiiii.^' of h. in^ c.ini.d oil' at an n^v 
 whi-ii tlii'voiily hv'AM t.) n.j..y lil«- ; s«'"'<'. snisil.l.> t.. 
 th.' cliani'iM i.f ivifiidsliip, attarh.-a to home, and .IrstiiuMl 
 to agroeul)lo, and advantagoous positions in life, (ittcrnl 
 cries which it was impossibh^ to hear without .hc(hliii^ 
 ti-arH: every word they uttered cut me to tlie heart ; 
 scarcely had I strength h-ft to consoh-. At fust, 1 
 .ninglJd mv tears with theirs: I couhl not, without 
 injubtice, refuse them this consohition, nor eoi.denm 
 their grief. This conduct was dangerous, and I saw no 
 eoiirse more proper than to allow the etfect of their lir>l 
 reilections to subside. The object of their regret di.l 
 not make them guilty ; what could I coiidenui in their 
 grief? It were an attempt t» stil'.c nature, to silence it 
 on an occasion when it would he worthy of contempt, if 
 it were insensible. 
 
 The circumstances in which we were could not be 
 more distressing. To see one's self die, to see friends 
 die, unable to help them ; to be uncertain of the late ot 
 thirteen persons, whose boat had been wrecked ; to have 
 no doubt that the twenty-four near the vessel were not 
 at least as wretched as ourselves; to he ill fed, ill 
 clothed, worn out, with sore legs, eaten up hy vermin, 
 blinded continually, either by the snow or by the 
 smoke, such was our condition ; each one of us a pic- 
 ture of death ; we sluiddered to look at each other ; 
 and what passed in myself justified my comrade's lam- 
 entations. 
 
 A'iolent grief is never lasting, and extreme evils more 
 fre(iuently tUil to find expression than moderate ones.^ 
 
 As soon as I saw them plunged in that silence which 
 UBually follows teai-s excited by a great misfortune, and 
 
 marl 
 then 
 >( 
 
 (hen 
 liavc 
 eil'e( 
 
 seall 
 ship 
 sacri 
 cry 
 
 utcs 
 
 hc( 
 
 re>i 
 
 hiui 
 
 it 11 
 
 lf( 
 
 dee 
 
 lira 
 
 Vai 
 
 can 
 
 thi^ 
 
 iutt 
 
 my 
 
 aln 
 
 Im 
 
 not 
 
 tioi 
 
 ex] 
 
 im 
 
 in 
 
 us 
 
o (• E .V N \\ I) \v 1 1, 1) !•; u N r, s s . 
 
 181 
 
 i II i; 
 
 11,' c.inicd oil' lit an a^'' 
 lilf ; sdiiu', snisil)lf to 
 L'tl to home, and (U-Htiued 
 positions in lite, iittiMcd 
 I liL'iir •without ulicddiii),' 
 d cut mc to tlio hi'iiit ; 
 coHHole. At first. I 
 : I fould not, uithoiit 
 insoliition, nor condi'mii 
 diuigcrous, and I saw iwt 
 ow the etroct of thrir first 
 ihirct of their regret did 
 :'ould I coiidenui in their 
 stille nature, to silence it 
 he worthy of contempt, if 
 
 li MC were could not he 
 ;'8 self die, to see friends 
 he uncertain of the fate of 
 ad heen wrecked ; to have 
 near the vessel were not 
 selves; to he ill fed, ill 
 e-^s, eaten up hy venniii, 
 hy the snow or hy the 
 on ; each one of us a pic- 
 d to look at each other ; 
 istified my comrade's Lini- 
 ng, and extreme evils more 
 sion than moderate ones, 
 inged in that silence which 
 by a great misfortunCj and 
 
 inaikiiit? an excessive ^rief, I endeavored to console 
 thi'iii, and tiiis is ahmif «iiat 1 said. 
 
 " 1 cannot ((iiiilciiiii _\()ur himi'iitatioiis, iii\ tlcar diil- 
 dren, and (ind will doiihlless hear them favorahly. Wf 
 have more than once experienced in our misery the 
 elfects of ills goodness. Our longhoat open at every 
 scam, yet sustained and huoyed up tlie night of our 
 ^hi])wreck; the roolution of the twcuty-fnur im-n wlio 
 N.K riiiced themselves for us; and, iihove all, the discov- 
 ery of the tuo Indian canoes, are events whidi clc.irly 
 prove the protection which (iod uft'ords us. lledistnh- 
 utcs his favors only hy degrees. He wishes us, hcforc 
 he comi)lctes them, to render ourselves worthy hy our 
 resignation in sulfering the evils which it shall i)lease 
 him to send us. i,et us not desjiair of his I'rovidenee ; 
 it never aliandons tliose wlio suhmit entirely to his will. 
 If ( iod docs not deliver us in an instant, it is hccausc he 
 deems it proper to use for that purpose ajiparcntly nat- 
 ural means; he has already hegun hy leading the Sicur 
 Vaillant and Master Foucault to the spot where tlie 
 canoes are ; let us rest assured that he will accomplish 
 this work. For my own i)art, I have no douht ht; 
 intends those canoes for our deliverance. This relief, 
 my dear childnMi, must soon he ottered us: we have 
 aliuost reached the month of jNIarch, the time when the 
 Indians will come and take their canoes ; the term is 
 not long ; let us liavc patience, and redouble our atten- 
 tion to discover the coming of those from whom we 
 expect relief, 'lliey doid)tless have a sloop; let us 
 imi^ore (Jod to dispose them to take us in ; he holds 
 in his hands the hearts of all m.cn ; he will soften for 
 us the hearts of these Indians j he will excite their 
 
 10 
 
18S 
 
 PEBILS OF THE 
 
 compassion in our i^wov and ouv confia.wc in nis good- 
 ness! joined to the sacviiice .vhlcU je .dl make Inn. ot 
 
 our nains will merit what we ask. 
 
 ^^i^L fell onmy knees, and recited some pnry^^ 
 
 adapted to our situation and wants ; all imitated m , 
 nd'none thought more of his evils but ^^^^J^^ 
 God We were tranquil enough till the fifth of Maich 
 we beheld with joy the moment of our delivery 
 Ipproaching, we almost touched it, but God ag.un chose 
 to afflict us, and put our patience to new trials 
 
 On tbe sixth oi- March, Ash-Wednesday, about two 
 o'clock in the morning, a heavy snow, driven by a vio- 
 lent north wind, filled up our eup of misery : it ell 
 deep that it soon filled our cabin, and drove us into the 
 sailors'. It entered here as much as into ours, but, as it 
 w s rger,wehad more room; our fire was out ; we 
 Zl no mJans of making another, and to warm us^^ 
 had no recourse but to huddle close to each other. \ 
 
 tent to the sailors' cabin about eight o'^^o^^ - " f 
 rningofWednesday,earryingourblanet.Kabn 
 
 raw ham, which we ate as soon as we go in ; we then 
 Tew th; snow into a corner of tl. cabin, spread li 
 large blanket on the ground, lay down on it, and the 
 fragments of the small ones served to shield us from the 
 now more than from the cold. In this s a e we 
 tiled without fire, and without eating or drinking 
 anything but snow, till Saturday morning. 
 Then resolved to go out, cold as it was to bring som 
 .-ood and flour to make paste. It was risking life not 
 ; expose it to seek relief against cold and hunger^ 
 DuiJ the three days and nights we had spen in the 
 faUo^' cabin, I had seen four or five men die with then 
 
 legs t 
 
 not tc 
 
 intent 
 
 harde 
 
 of tht 
 
 I am 
 
 little 
 
 Lege] 
 
 were 
 
 and 5 
 
 froze: 
 
 W 
 
 reiid( 
 
 of pe 
 
 AVe^ 
 
 each 
 
 with 
 
 were 
 
 such 
 
 that 
 
 Oi 
 
 avail 
 
 good 
 
 ones 
 
 thel 
 
 sno'w 
 
 rest ; 
 
 in s< 
 
 a litt 
 
 sligl- 
 
 A 
 
 eigh 
 
tut; 
 
 I- confuV.'Ucc in liis good- 
 dU V.C will make liim of 
 
 sk." 
 
 nd recited some pvincrs 
 wants; all imitated me, 
 evils but to offer them to 
 yh till tlie fifth of March ; 
 mment of our delivcry 
 ;d it, but God again chose 
 tice to new trials. 
 sh-Wedncsday, about two 
 ,'y snow, driven by a vio- 
 cup of misery : it fell so 
 bin, and drove us into the 
 luch as into ours, but, as it 
 am ; our fire was out ; we 
 ,ther, and to warm us we 
 e close to each other. We 
 ibout eight o'clock in the 
 >-ing our blanket and a little 
 on as we got in ; we then 
 :r of the cabin, spread the 
 1, lay down on it, and the 
 served to shield us from the 
 i cold. In this state we 
 without eating or drinking 
 irday morning, 
 cold as it was, to bring some 
 tc. It was risking life not 
 >f against cold and hunger, 
 nights we had spent in the 
 >ur or five men die with then- 
 
 n f F, A N A X D w 1 1, n r. r n r. s s . 
 
 183 
 
 legs and hands completely frozen ; we were foitnnate 
 not to be surprised in the same way, for the cold was so 
 intense on Wednesday, Thurhd;iy and ]'"iiday, that tlie 
 hardest man would have infallibly died had he gone out 
 of the cabin for ten minutes. You may judge by m hat 
 I am going to tell you : the weather having become a 
 little milder on Saturday, I determined to go o\it ; 
 Leger, Basile and Foncault, resolved to follow me ; Ave 
 were not over a quarter of an hour getting the Hour, 
 and yet Basile and Foucault had their hands and feet 
 frozen on that journey, and died a few days alter. 
 
 We were unable to go to the woods, which the snow 
 rendered inaccessible, and we would have run the risk 
 of perishing had we attempted to overcome this obstacle. 
 We were, therefore, obliged to make our paste cold, 
 each one had about three ounces, and we well-nigh paid 
 with our lives this little relief, for all night long we 
 were tormented by such a cruel thirst, and devoured by 
 such a violent fe\er, that we thought every moment 
 that we should be consumed. 
 
 On Sunday, the lOth, Furst, Leger, and myself, 
 availed ourselves of the weather, which was pretty 
 good, to go and get a little wood ; we were the only 
 ones able to walk, but the cold we had to endure, and 
 the hardship Ave had to imdcrgo, in clearing aAvay the 
 snow, well-nigh reduced us to the same state as the 
 rest ; fortunately, avo held out against both ; we brought 
 in some Avood, made a fire, and^ with snoAV water and 
 a little flour, we had a very thin paste, Avhich, in some 
 slight degree, alleviated our thirst. 
 
 All the AVood Avhich we brought in, Avas burnt up by 
 eight o'clock, and the night was so cold, that the elder 
 
184 
 
 PEKIIS OV TIIK 
 
 Sienr Vaillant was found dea.l in thr morning. _ Uh 
 accident led Furst, Logcr, and myself, to think it bc-t- 
 tcr to voturn to our own cabin ; it was smaller, aiul 
 consequently warmer than that of the sailors ; the snow 
 had sto;.pcd, and there was no sign of another snow- 
 storm. "Great as was our weakness, we undertook t« 
 throw out of our first cabin, the snow and ice which 
 filled it ; we brought in new fir branches for beds, vc 
 went for wood, and lighted a great fire inside and out- 
 side of the cabin to warm it thoroughly. After tin. 
 work, which had greatly fatigued us, we went tor our 
 companions. I brought the Sieurs de SenneviUe, a.ul 
 VaiUant the younger, whose legs and arms were frozen. 
 m. le Vasseur, Basile, and Foucault, less afflicted than 
 the others, endeavored to crawl along without help ; wc 
 laid them on the branches which we had prepared, and 
 not one left them till after death. 
 
 On the 17th, Basile became insensible, and died two 
 days after. Foucault, who was of a hardy constitution, 
 and was young, suffered a violent agony ; his struggle. 
 >vith death made us tremble, nor have I ever seen a 
 more terrible sight. I endeavored to do my duty on 
 these sad occasions, and I hope, from the divine good- 
 ness, that my care has not been useless for the salvation 
 
 of the dying. 
 
 Our provisions drew near the end ; we had no more 
 flour ; we had scarcely ten pounds of peas ; we had not 
 • seven pounds of candles, nor as much pork; and our 
 lu.t ham did not weigh at best three pounds. It wa. 
 time to think of other means of living ; accordingly, 
 Teger and I, for Furst, our mate, was unable, went at 
 low water to get shell-fish; the weather was pretty fair, 
 
 we 
 
 last 
 
 shel 
 
 and 
 
 wen 
 
 for, 
 
 swo 
 
 mys 
 
 of'f 
 
 don 
 
 the 
 
 C 
 
 in 1 
 
 tool 
 
 exa 
 
 reli: 
 
 mei 
 
 disc 
 
 my 
 
 of ^ 
 
 the 
 
 inf( 
 
 son 
 
 rep 
 
 wil 
 
 wa: 
 
 suf 
 
 ex] 
 
 oui 
 
 mil 
 
 de] 
 
 ha 
 
1' THE 
 
 d in thr morning. 'I'lii^ 
 nd myself, to think it bot- 
 itbin ; it was smaller, ami 
 It of the sailors ; the snow- 
 no sign of another snow- 
 veakness, we undertook to 
 , the snow and ice which 
 V fir branches for beds, wc 
 great fire inside and out- 
 it thoroughly. After this 
 [fued us, we went for our 
 Sieurs de Sennevillc, and 
 legs and arms were frozen. 
 Foucault, less afflicted than 
 iwl along without help ; wc 
 vhich we had prepared, and 
 eath. 
 
 me insensible, and died two 
 was of a hardy constitution, 
 iolcnt agony ; his struggles 
 ble, nor have I ever seen a 
 ieavored to do my duty on 
 hope, from the divine good- 
 :)een useless for the salvation 
 
 ar the end ; we had no more 
 pounds of peas ; we had not I 
 
 nor as much pork; and our 
 best three pounds. It wa> 
 
 leans of living ; accordingly. 
 
 )ur mate, was unable, went at 
 
 ; the weather was pretty fair, 
 
 OCEAN AND WILDERNESS. 
 
 185 
 
 we walked knee-deep in water for two hours, and at 
 last found on a sand-bank, a kind of oyster, with single 
 shell ; wc brought along all we could ; they were good, 
 and whenincr the weather and the tide permitted, we 
 went and laid in a stock ; but they cost us pretty dear, 
 for, on reaching the cabin, our hands and feet were both 
 swollen, and almost frozen. I did not dissemble from 
 myself the danger I ran in renewing too often this kind 
 of fishery ; I saw the consequence, but what was to l)e 
 done ? We must live, or rather put off, for a few days, 
 the moment of our death. 
 
 Our sick companions grew worse daily ; gangrene set 
 in their legs, and no one could dress them ; I under- 
 took this charge ; it was incumbent on me to give an 
 example of that charity which is the base of our holy 
 religion, yet, for some moments, I wavered between the 
 merit of fulfilling my obligations, and the danger of 
 discharging them ; God gave me grace to triumph over 
 my repugnance ; duty prevailed, and although the time 
 of dressing my comrades' sores was the most cruel in 
 the day, I never relaxed the care I owed them. I will 
 inform you, in my seventh letter, of the nature of these 
 sores, and you may judge how well founded was the 
 repugnance I first felt to dressing them, or rather you 
 will see how excusable it was as a first impression. I 
 was well rewarded for my pain ; the gratitude of the 
 sufferers is inconceivable. " What ! " said one, " you 
 expose yourself to death to save ourselves ? Leave us to 
 our pain ; your care may soothe it, but will never dis- 
 miss it." "Leave us," said another, "and do not 
 deprive those who are not to die, of the consolation of 
 having you with them ; only help us to put our con- 
 
 1. 
 
 18» 
 
186 
 
 PERILS OF THE 
 
 lir which all breathes around us. 
 
 You may ju.lgo that their en.roa.ies were new .,e, 
 .Jr ZIL: .o .he„ ; .hey increase . e ^^snre 
 ^hich I felt in doing a cln.y. a"* g"'" "'= ""= """S'" 
 nrl :':^cr!r:" not .in.e.o.eU yon more, 
 
 .uVee le..ers have produee.l ■» y""' ^ 1 ?' , ' 
 hearts of those whom you have allowed .o .cad ... 
 1 1 ever, with .he same friendship, my dear brChe., 
 
 Your very affectionate brother, 
 
 Emmakuel Ckespel, Recollect. 
 
 Pftderborn, March 28, 1712. 
 
 LETTEK VIT. 
 
 Mv D.AB BRcrrHEE:-! am happy .0 lea™ that 
 „roc!:pa.ions have been Ae only -- » y^« 
 knee, I never -P^t^^ Mytst "- 
 tre,':L;:ur;:asm„ehas.he^^^^^^^^ 
 
 . J *V/i nniinsitv of those who nave 
 
 nnps have increased the cunosuy ui t 
 een*em; this flatters me greatly, and mdnces me to 
 slid you tke rest without delay ; I hope you w,ll have 
 Z lit of it about the 18th of May, nnless I am 
 *b Igltto male some excursion before that ; be t^ a, 
 i. i,, you .nay rdy ou ta bemg a» .ecu a» possible- 
 
THE 
 
 ;r an account to Oocl of 
 cl then tly tlic conupted 
 
 mtieaties were new tics 
 y increased the pleasure 
 ad gave me the strength 
 
 ; time to tell you more ; 
 car of you before ending 
 the effect which my last 
 n your heart, and on the 
 . allowed to read it. 
 endship, my dear brother, 
 te brother, 
 ;l Ckespel, Recollect. 
 
 ncEAN AN'D WILDERNESS. 
 
 187 
 
 ■VII. 
 
 am happy to learn that 
 the only cause of your 
 any other, and I see with 
 sta^^en. My last three let- 
 rou as much as the previous 
 riosity of those who have 
 greatly, and induces me to 
 lay ; I'hope you will have 
 I8th of May, unless I am 
 sion before that ; be that as 
 being as soon as possible. 
 
 I soon saw that our sick comrades could not cscaiie 
 death ; thoy felt it themselves, and, althou!j;h tlwy 
 seemed resigned, I did not deem myself dispensed from 
 serving them the last days of theii- life. I said jiniycrs 
 morning and evening beside them ; I then contirnied 
 them in the submission which they had to tlie will of 
 Heaven; "Otter your sufferings to Jesus Christ," I 
 would sav, " they will render you Avortliy of gathci ing 
 the fruit of tlie blood shed for the salvation of tlu; hu- 
 man race; the Man God is the perfect model of that 
 patience and resignation which I admire in you ; your 
 exile i about to end ; and what thanks have you not to 
 render to our Lord for having furnished you, l)y this 
 shipwreck, the surest means of reaching tlie pi)rt of 
 salvation ! You leave, indeed, wives who expect all 
 from you, my dear friends ; you leave children, whose 
 establishment was to be your labor, but hope in God, 
 he is a good Father, he never abandoned his own, and 
 rest assured, that, in calling you to himself, he will not 
 forget that he has taken you from your families, who 
 will, after your death, need the care of his Providence. 
 He has, himself, promised to be the stay of the widow 
 and the orphan ; his word is firm ; his promises are 
 never ineffectual, and you, by your sufferings, especially 
 deserve that he should cast a look of favor on your 
 wives and children, and do for them much more than 
 you ever could have done." 
 
 These poor dying men answered me only by assuring 
 me that all their hope was in God, and that it was so 
 firm that they were rondy to leave the world without 
 thinking of those whom they left, except to recommend 
 them to his divine protection. 
 
188 
 
 rEKll.a OF THE 
 
 When I had finishe.l speaking to them on spintual 
 things, I set to dressing their nore. ; I had only lye to 
 cleanse them ; I then covered them vith some rags >vhK-l.. 
 I dried, and when I had to take these oft I was sure to 
 hring awav strips of flesh which, hy their corruption, 
 spread an 'infected air even around the cahin. 
 ^ After twelve days, their legs had only the bones; 
 the feet were detached, and their hands entirely wasted 
 away. I was obliged to dress them several times ; the 
 infection arising was so great that, every now and then, 
 I had to get a breath of fresh air so as not to be sufto- 
 cvted Do not think, dear brother, that 1 am imposing 
 upon you ; God is my witness, that 1 add nothing to the 
 truth, and the reality is more horrible than 1 can depict. 
 Words are too feeble to express a situation like mme 
 then How many touching things could I not tell you 
 if 1 set down the words of these poor wretched men 1 1 
 constantly endeavored to console them by the hope of 
 an eternal reward, and I often blended my tears with 
 those which I saw them shed. 
 
 On the first of April, the Sieur Leger went to the spot 
 where the Indian canoes were, and I went to the woods 
 about eight o'clock in the morning ; I was resting on a 
 tree which I had cut down, when I thought I heard the 
 report of a gun ; as we had several times heard the same 
 noise without being able to discover whence it came, 
 xior what it was, I paid no great attention to it. About 
 ten o'clock, I went back to the cabin to ask Mr. Furst o 
 come and help me bring in the wood I had cut ; I told 
 him as we walked along, what I thought I had heard, 
 and'at the same time kept looking out to see whether 
 Mr. Leger was retui-uing. We liad scaixely gone two 
 
THE 
 
 ; to thorn on spiritual 
 •cs ; I had only lye to 
 mwith some rags which 
 these off I was sure to 
 ch, hy their corruption, 
 lid the cahin. 
 8 had only the bones; 
 ir hands entirely wasted 
 hem several times ; the 
 at, every now and then, 
 ir so as not to he sutt'o- 
 ther, that 1 am Imposing 
 that 1 add nothing to the 
 orrible than 1 can depict. 
 ss a situation like mine 
 ings could I not tell you, 
 e poor wretched men ! I 
 (le them by the hope of 
 1 blended my tears with 
 
 3ur Leger went to the spot 
 , and I went to the woods 
 •ning ; I was resting on a 
 hen I thought I heard the 
 veral times heard the same 
 discover whence it came, 
 eat attention to it. About 
 LB cabin to ask Mr. Furst to 
 le wood I had cut ; I told 
 at I thought I had heard, 
 loking out to see whether 
 We liad scaixely gone two 
 
 OCEAN AND WILDERNESS, 
 
 189 
 
 hundred paces when I perceived several persons ; I ran 
 to meet them, and Mr. Furst hastened with this happy 
 news to our sick comrades. When I was near enough 
 to distinguish, I saw an Indian with a woman whom 
 Mr. Leger was bringing along. I spoke to this man ; 
 he answered me, and then asked me several questions, 
 which I answered properly. At the sight of our cabin 
 he seemed sm-prised, and deeply touched at the extrem- 
 ity to which we were reduced; he promised to come 
 back the next day, to go a hunting, and bring us in 
 whatever he killed. 
 
 We spent the night in this expectation, and at every 
 moment rendered thanks to Heaven for the relief it had 
 just sent us. Day came, and seemed to bring in the 
 solace which had been promised the day before ; but 
 our hopes were deceived ; the morning glided away and 
 the Indian did not keep his word. Some flattered 
 themselves that he would come in the afternoon; for 
 my own part, I suspected the cause of his delay ; I saw 
 that it would be prudent to go to his cabin, and ask him 
 why he had not come as he had promised, and if he 
 hesitated in his answer, to force him to show us where 
 the boat was in which he had crossed. We started, but 
 judge of our consternation; on our arrival, we found 
 neither the Indian nor his canoe ; he had carried it off 
 I during the night, and had retired to some place where 
 we could not find him. 
 
 To tell you the reason of such a course, I must 
 inform you that the Indians are more fearful of death, 
 and consequently of sickness, than all others. His flight 
 was induced by the excessive fear peculiar to that race ; 
 the display of dead bodies, the frightful sUte of our sick, 
 
190 
 
 PERILS OF TUB 
 
 the infection of their sores, had so alarr.ecl the man. that 
 avoid being affected by the tainted an he though 
 best not to keep his word, and to change h.s abode, o. 
 fear ^'0 shouUl go and force him to return to our cabu. 
 
 "luhouTh this disappointment afflicted us greatly, we 
 should have felt it more if there had not been a second 
 ano ; but we had to take measures to prevent Us own- 
 e s from escaping us. Our fear was that the Indum , 
 vho had deceived us, would inform his comrade of the 
 t;L of visitu.g our cabin, and persuade ^^^ ^^ 
 get his canoe by night, and remove from the place 
 
 ^'ms::::^ led us to resolve to carry off the canoe 
 .ith us, in order to obhge the Indian to come o n. 
 :Z. a^d help us, whatever repugnance he m.g^. ee 
 to have But for this precaution we were lost , no 
 1 oTthe two occasions we had had would have served 
 lis and our death was certain. 
 
 When the canoe was brought, we l^istened it to a tree, 
 .0 that it could not be carried off without making noise 
 enough to warn us that some one was detac nng it 
 
 Some days were spent in waiting for the Indian t 
 .hom the 'canoe belonged; but we saw no one, and 
 durin- this time our three sick comrades died. 
 
 On^he seventh, in the evening, Mr. le Masseur was 
 surprised by a debility from which he never recoyeied 
 and' the other two seeing that even the Jn^lian s a. 
 which we expected, would be useless to them as they 
 ^eJe unable to walk, again prepared to put themselves 
 in a state to appear before God. 
 
 The 
 
 after ! 
 
 be im; 
 
 was si 
 
 lost oi 
 
 never 
 
 so soo 
 
 resign 
 
 ChrisI 
 
 Th^ 
 
 younj 
 
 other 
 
 ignati 
 
 men i 
 
 made 
 
 them 
 
 what 
 
 mere; 
 
 expn 
 
 souls 
 
 Tl 
 
 off, t 
 
 were 
 
 to d 
 
 instr 
 
 had 
 
 with 
 
 his 11 
 
 touc 
 
 ever 
 
 a a 
 
 was 
 
F TUB 
 
 SO alaiTietl the man, tliiit, 
 3 tainted air, he thought 
 . to change his ahodo, I'ov 
 im to return to our cabin 
 
 ■nt afflicted us greatly, wc 
 3re had not been a second 
 easures to prevent its own- 
 fear was that the Indian 
 inform liis comrade of the 
 md persuade him to go and 
 d remove from the place 
 
 ;solve to carry off the canoe 
 :he Indian to come to our 
 repugnance he might seem 
 :caution we were lost : not 
 had had would have served 
 
 n. 
 
 ight, we l\istened it to a tree, 
 3d off without making noise 
 ,e one was detaching it. 
 in waiting for the Indian to 
 1 ; but we saw no one, and 
 sick comrades died, 
 vening, Mr. le Vasseur was 
 a which he never recovered, 
 that even the Indian's aid 
 be useless to them, as they 
 , prepared to put themselves 
 God. 
 
 OCEAN AND WII.DKRNESS, 
 
 m 
 
 The Sionr Vaillant, the younger, died on the tenth, 
 after sulfering for a whole nionfli all that can possibly 
 be imagined ; liis patience always ociualknl his pain ; he 
 was sixteen years old ; the :Mr. ^'aillant whom wc had 
 lost on the eleventh of March, was his father ; his youth 
 never seemed to him a ground for complaining at being 
 so soon taken from life ; in a word, he expired with that 
 resignation ami courage which characterize the perfect 
 Christian. 
 
 The Sieur de Senneville imitated the virtues of the 
 younger Vaillant, or rather they were models to each 
 other ; the same pain, the same patience, the same res- 
 ignation ; why cannot I set down all that these young 
 men said the few days previous to their death i They 
 made me blush not to have as much couragi to console 
 them, as they had to suffer. With what confidence, 
 what respect, did they not speak of religion and the 
 mercy of our Lord? In what terms did they not 
 express their gratitude ? They were indeed two noble 
 souls, and the best hearts I ever met in my life. 
 
 The latter several times begged me to cut his legs 
 
 off, to prevent the gangrene getting up ; his entreaties 
 
 were, as you will imagine, useless ; I constantly refused 
 
 to do as he wished, and showed him that I had no 
 
 instrument suitable for the operation, and that, even if I 
 
 had wished to risk it, it would only increase his pain 
 
 without guaranteeing him from death. He then put 
 
 his affiiirs in order, and wrote to his parents in the most 
 
 touching manner, and resigned his soul to God, on the 
 
 evening of the thirteenth, aged about twenty. He was 
 
 a Canadian, and son of the Sieur de Senneville, who 
 
 was formerly a page to the Dauphiuess, theu a Mus^ue- 
 
lOS 
 
 PERILS OF rUl'i 
 
 teer. and now King'. Lieutenant at Montreal, where ^ 
 he possesses considerable property. 
 
 The death of these three victims, of cohl and hunKer, 
 afflicted us greatly, although ir. t^u. their lifc .^, ^Jo 
 H,y, a burthen to us ; 1 feU a lather s h.ve fo. hen, 
 2l was abundantly repaid; yet on reriectrng that ,f 
 the Indian had come while they were yet ahve we 
 would have had to leave them alone and una^secU 
 the cabin, or lose the chance ot gu.ng, 1 fe U tk^ 
 ought to thank our Lord for sparrng me such a cuu 1 
 ItLative. by calling them to himself^ Wc- had. more 
 over, no more provisions ; there was left only the sn- 1 
 ham of which I have spoken. 'rUls, we were afrard t 
 touch, and contented ourselves with the she U-hsh whuh 
 Leger and 1, from time to time, gathered on the se.. 
 shore. Our weakness increased Ir.nn day to daj . an I 
 we could scarcely stand, when I resolved to go m seard. 
 of the Indians whose coming we expectcnl. and t* um 
 their canoe for this purpose ; we got gum from the trc^s 
 to put it in order, and with our axe made paddles l 
 best way we could ; 1 knew how to paddle perlectly 
 this was a great advantage to accomplish our olv^ct ^ 
 even to expose ourselves, iu case we could not hnd th. 
 Indians, to run the risk of crossing in the canoe; rt 
 was our last resource, since it was a question ot pre- 
 serving hfe, or voluntarily braving all. It was cerUun 
 that by remaining on that island, we had only a f e s 
 days to live ; crossing the gulf we ran no greater rrsk, 
 and might hope that our attempt would succeed 
 
 All was readv on the 26th of Aprd ; we cooked halt 
 the ham. taking the broth first, and intending to reserve 
 the meat for our route ; but iu the evening we were so 
 
K r U B 
 
 luiut ut Montreal, where 
 erty. 
 
 ctiiiis, of cold and liunKcr, 
 u foct their life was, so to 
 It a father's love for them, 
 ; yet on rerieeting that if 
 they were yet alive, we 
 ;m alone and unassisted in 
 cc of goinjr, 1 felt that 1 
 ■or si)aring nie such a cnul 
 , himself. We had, more- 
 lere was left only the small 
 1. This, we were afraid to 
 PS with the shell-fish which 
 ) time, gathered on the sea- 
 .nised from day to day, and 
 jn I resolved to go in search 
 iug wc expected, and t* use 
 ; we got gum from the trees 
 h our axe made paddles the 
 ;w how to paddle perfectly ; 
 
 accomplish our ohject, and 
 
 1 case we could not find the 
 ,f crossing in the canoe ; it 
 :e it Avas a question of pre- 
 ' braving all. It was certain 
 ; island, we bad only a few 
 gulf we ran no greater risk, 
 tempt would succeed. 
 
 th of April ; we cooked half 
 first, and intending to reserve 
 It iu the evening we were so 
 
 OCEAN AND \V I Tin. 11 N K S 8 . 
 
 193 
 
 overcome by lnuig( r, that we wimc forced to eat it all. 
 'I'hr next (l:i\ wc were no strougei llinn the day before, 
 ;iii(l, on the l.'Sth, wv Were without resources, and 
 with no lio])e of linding any in time to save us from 
 starvation. ^V'e accordingly prepared for death by re- 
 citing the l.itauy of tlie Suiuts ; then we fell on our 
 knees, and lifting my hands to Heaven, I uttered this 
 l)rayer : 
 
 "(Jreat (iod, if it is thy will that we share the fate 
 of the fourteen persons who have perished before our 
 eyes, delay not to fulfil it ; do not ])ermit despair to 
 overconu! us; call us to thyself while we aie roigned 
 to leave this world without regret ; but. Lord, if thou 
 hast not yet resolved our death, send us help, and give 
 us strength to suj^port, without a murmur, the aillictions 
 which thy justice still jirepares for us, that we may not 
 lose in an instant the fruit of the submission which we 
 have thus far had to the decrees of thy rrovideuce." 
 
 1 was concluding my prayer, when we h(;ard the re- 
 port of a gun, whicli we (luickly answered ; we supposed 
 rightly, that it was the Indian who owned the canoe we 
 had ; he wished to see whether any of us were still 
 alive, and perceiving it by our gun, he kindled a fire fo 
 pass the night. I le did not suppose lis able to go to 
 him, and cleai'ly did not wish us to do so, for, as soon 
 as he saw us, he hid in the wood a part of a bear which 
 he had killed, and fled. 
 
 As we wore boots, we had a good deal of trouble to 
 reach his fire ; we had to cross a pretty large river, 
 thawed for some days ; we saw the tracks of his flight, 
 and followed them with incredible fatigue ; and even 
 this would have been useless, had not the Indian beeu 
 
194 
 
 VEUII.d OK llIE 
 
 comncUoa t<. slacks his p.rc to enable l.s son. a 1... 
 
 Z voavs 0I.I. to lollow hin. This nnn.n.,an..e ua. 
 
 "novation ;towanls..v..nin,w.. overtook tlHsnun. 
 
 : .:tlus;.hetheronrsiek.o.och.ad;th.sH.u.tn.^^ 
 ^.huhhepnt with an air of fear, h.t they shouhl nl 
 lu^ Cleft us no roon. to donbt hnt that the hr. 
 Man had toM him Pf our state ana the cu,,^^^^^^ 
 ,,,,oac.hin,. .mr abode. ^ ^id not th.nk ,>.,. at h 
 ti' answer his .lucstion, and. ithout -'>"-';' 
 pressed 1dm to ^ive us s.nnetlun, to .-at, and t... th s 
 o t.. retnrn lb' durst not resist ; we vvere t«o 
 rr.^ 1-1. and. .bat is nn.re, resolved^ 
 
 r'bim ^.r a moment. He a.hnhted that he had 
 „Wt a .vhole bear,.vhieb he did not refuse o. la,. 
 Uh us. When we ,ot to the pla, e >vhere he had hui- 
 :::!^tlnsbear..eeaebeata,.ieeel.ir..oUd;.^^^ 
 
 n,.ule the Indian and his viic tak.- the . st, and kd 
 Zm !o the spot .here we had left M.l..rst..h. 
 poor man awaited us in extreme impatience. ^\ hn. 
 r arrived, ho was ready to expire. 1 on n.ay nnagu ■ 
 :^; :hen^vc told Idm that we had food and a.^^^^^^^^ 
 anc^ He first ate a piece of bear meat ; we pu the 
 
 Tt on the fire, and took brotb all night long, whub w.' 
 CrVuhoutlleepin,,!^. tear our Indi^m who won 
 
 not sleep in the cabin, should decamp. AN hen he d > 
 cal I gave this man clearly to understand tha ho 
 Tst take us to the place where the boat was, m wbuh 
 hehad crossed, and, to induce him not to refuse ou. 
 request, I told him that we would use hnn very r^ughlj 
 
 fTe ;ade any delay about it. The fear of bemg 
 killed made him speedily construct a sled, on which \u 
 
 ptl his canoe ; he made signs for Leger and me to dra, 
 
 It, w 
 
 give 
 
 force 
 
 seem 
 
 Indiii 
 
 as ne 
 
 ■what 
 
 will 
 
 VOU I 
 
 i'ad 
 
 jSl 
 
 c1os( 
 to s 
 abse 
 Avbii 
 ( uri 
 I'ad 
 you 
 the 
 I 
 go 8 
 
 did 
 chil 
 
 I. 
 
F T II B 
 
 c to enable \\U son, a !)"> 
 ,. This ciriunistanie was 
 iiif we (>\crto()k this man. 
 
 weie dead ; this (piestion, 
 
 I'car, lest they should still 
 , doubt but that the iir>t 
 ■ state, and the danger of 
 a not think proper at firM 
 
 without any more ado I 
 lethin,',' to eat, and for this 
 St not resi>t ; we were two 
 lat is more, rescdved not to 
 
 !I(- admitted that he had 
 L he did not refuse to share 
 he phu c where he had hid- 
 pieeehalfeooked; we then 
 wife tak(> the rest, and led 
 e had left ^Ir. Furst. Thi- 
 extreme impatience. When 
 ) expire. You may imaguic 
 
 that we had food and assist- 
 re of bear meat ; we put the 
 roth all night long, whieh we 
 
 fear our Indian, who would 
 lid decamp. When the day 
 :learly to understand that he 
 fthere the boat was, in which 
 nduce him not to refuse oiu- 
 e would use him very roughly 
 ibout it. The fear of being 
 • construct a sled, on which he 
 igns for I.eger and me to drag 
 
 0< r AN AND w I I i>r, R \ f'.SS 
 
 in: 
 
 it, wishing, dniil)fless, to tire u* out, and (.liliu'c u- lf» 
 ^dv.' up aid whiih cost us so dear. »Ve mi-ht ha\e 
 ford'd him tu caiiN the < uior hiuiMlf, Itut tliis viiiienn- 
 seeuu'd to me out of place ; it was hclt.'r to manage our 
 Indian, and all we could do was to um' prccautinii, so 
 as not to be duped. I will tell \ou, in m\ eighth letter, 
 what these precautions were, and that oiu', 1 Iwhcve. 
 will enable nu' to conclude my shii)U ri'<ks. and ti-11 
 you of my return to France. 
 
 I am ever, with ju'riec t attachment, my (U'ar brother, 
 Your very afl'eclionate brother, 
 
 K.mmam;i;i. L'ki;si'i,i,, lUoiUixt. 
 
 I'aaurborn, Aiiril '.!4, \'Vl. 
 
 I.KTTKK Vlll. 
 
 My Dl-.AH Umn iii.it -.—1 should have sent you the 
 close of my narrative last inoutli, had 1 not been obliged 
 to spend some weeks in the.ountry. During all my 
 absen.e, 1 could m)t iind a single (luarter of an hour of 
 which 1 was master enough to devote to sati>fying your 
 (uriositv complet.'ly. 1 returned cmly yesterday to 
 Vaderborn. 1 made several vi>it> this morning ; scmie 
 you know are indispensable, and 1 sacrifice the rest of 
 
 the dav. 
 
 I required of the Indian and his wife that they should 
 go ahead, under the jiretext of clearing the way ; but I 
 did not end my i)recautions here. 1 told them that the 
 child would get tired on that march, and that he must 
 
196 
 
 PEKII.S OV THE 
 
 1 »l,.,f it woulf' airortl us a pleas- 
 be put in tlio canoe, anil that it woui< 
 
 urc to relievo Imn in tlud "^^r- ^^„,, . there 
 
 TheWofaparentrscve v^-^^^^^^^ 
 is none that does not feel obhgtcl lor 
 children, and that does no ae.pt ^-^^ 
 
 ^^^^-tr^m.^o::raleague, through 
 parent's hdehtv. .y.^^^^^^- ,,« extreme, but the 
 
 snow, water, or ice om tatigu ^^^^^ 
 
 ^°^^^^r'::i;uCs^ri.rrto drag the 
 
 encouraged us > c t^t . s i ^^^^ ^^^^^. ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 sled all the tunc. .^^ ^ f\' ° ' ,^,,,, on his shoulders 
 ^vith our exhaustion, took the anoe 
 and carried it to the shc.e, ^J^'^^i^,^,,,, 
 \.\\A m The question then was, vMucn 01 
 
 oftciTil to vomam. .>.«l toK ^^^ 
 
 have the incfceuco, 'f^'^^^Z, ,.e,cclpu.i.,s, 
 „t avowing a vrotAc'l enJ , » l"lc "« 
 
 that ho gue»ctl till ea ^^.^^ ^_^ ^ j^^ 
 
 c.vpr he dragged me in, and put oU. 
 
 I W tolUuK tbom what tl>o Iiulnm l.a.l «.« • ' 
 
 •n\ 
 
 on t 
 Indi; 
 kncv 
 their 
 Tl 
 his s 
 sno^^ 
 in t: 
 Afte 
 fire 
 two 
 Furs 
 I as( 
 high 
 Indi 
 of f 
 snov 
 wort 
 to s 
 thei 
 desc 
 folic 
 
 quit 
 cvei 
 is t 
 and 
 on I 
 I 1' 
 exti 
 lie, 
 fatii 
 
F THE 
 
 .t wouir. airord us a plca^- 
 
 erywlicrc tlio same ; there 
 iliged lor favors done las 
 t accept it Avith pleasure 
 age in our bands for hi. 
 cd over a league, through 
 ,tigue was extreme, but the 
 to bear supported ami 
 npossible for us to drag the 
 3ut, ami the ludlan, touched 
 
 the canoe on his shoulder. 
 , and first put his wifo and 
 en was, which of us should 
 
 only hold four, and cons. - 
 e could profit by it. I fii>t 
 I :Messrs. Turst and Leger to 
 li should go ; each wished to 
 ^rcd to lose this opportunity 
 ; Avhile they were disputing. 
 ,' come, and, after telling me 
 5U of the apparent dispute 
 he said he would only tak. 
 whhout giving me time to I 
 
 and put off. 
 iv gave themselves up as lost ; 
 ir despair ; 1 eould not resi>i 
 ndian to put in shore to enaVtk 
 onsolation to my comrades, 
 king distance, 1 justified my 
 what the Indian had said. I 
 he shore, and promised theni: 
 
 O r K A X ANT) WILDERNESS. 
 
 im 
 
 on the word of a priest, that, as soon as I reached the 
 Indian cabin, I would eonu' for them in a canoe. 'Ihey 
 knew me ineap:iblo of ]ierjury ; this assurance consoled 
 them, and without distrust they saw us put out to sea. 
 
 That day we landed ; the Indian took his canoe on 
 his shoulders, carried it near the wood, and laid it on the 
 snoAV. As I was tired from being so long on my knees 
 in the canoe, I was resting on a rock near the shore. 
 After a while, believing that the Indian was kindling a 
 fire to sleep there, I took my gun, two paddles, and 
 two large pieces of meat, which I had taken to save Mr. 
 Furst and Mr. Leger the trouble of carrying them, and 
 I ascended the heaps of ice, Avhieh were at least six feet 
 high. No sooner was I at the top, than I saw that my 
 Indian and his wife had put on their snow-shoes, a kind 
 of frame used by the Canadians to go faster over the 
 snow ; the man carried the child on his back, and both 
 were running as fast as they eould. The cries I uttered 
 to stop them only made them redouble the celerity of 
 their course. I at once threw down my paddles, 
 descended the ice mound, and, with my gun and meat, 
 followed their trail for some time. 
 
 While climbing the mound of ice, 1 wounded myself 
 quite badly in the right leg, and the pain was renewed 
 every time that I sank in the snow as I ran along, that 
 is to say, every moment. I could no longer breathe, 
 and had" to stop several times to take breath, and to rest 
 on the muzzle of my gun. I was in this posture, when 
 I heard Mr. Legcr's voice— this meeting gave us both 
 ,-Ntrenu- pleasure. I told him what had occurred, and 
 he, on his side, told me that :Mr. Furst, overcome with 
 fatigue, had been unable to follow him, and that he had 
 
 17» 
 
198 
 
 PERILS OF THE 
 
 left him strcKhod out on the snow, at a pu.re quite 
 remote from where we were. : 
 
 In any other circumstances, I sho^dd have flown to 
 his assisLce; hut it was all-important for us^ovo. 
 
 take our runaway. Mr. Leger, hke -y-^*> J'^ 
 much we risked in delaying any longer to lollo^v In. 
 
 '"we instantly started for the place where I knew he 
 had fled ; hut, as he had left the snow to take the sea- 
 s lore w uch was low. and sandy, we were stopped lor 
 :!rtimo. We kept on. however, and. du^w^^rng 
 a quarter of an hour, again struck on the trail ot the 
 Ind n, -ho had taken off his snow-shoes douht less 
 Sh g that I had been unable to follow hrm thus iar 
 Stei^umstance made us think that las cabrn w.. no 
 far ofi-: we redoubled our speed, arrd, as we got nea 
 S^ .ood, we heard the repo. of a gun ; we^^ 
 think it worth while to answer it, for fear that, it it .^ ^ 
 fired by the Indian whom we were pursuuig, he would 
 resume his snow-shoes to fly with new swiftness, as 
 soon as he knew we were so near. 
 
 We accordingly continued to walk on, and. soon afte 
 the first report, we heard another ; this made us suspect 
 Sltt^ii; wished to light a fire aier. to. st^^^ 
 
 his wife and child, after satisiying himselt that he ^^a 
 not followed. This conjecture was false, as you will 
 
 ^Tn minutes after the second report, we heard a third, 
 
 of which we saw the flash ; no answer from us ; wo 
 
 llced in silence. On our way, we found a large boa 
 
 on which somebody had been working the ^^O' ^'f "' ; '-^ 
 
 twenty steps further, we saw a large cabin. We entered 
 
 M-ith 
 supi^ 
 at hi 
 pern 
 
 (( 
 
 they 
 
 and 
 
 you 
 
 who 
 
 tell 
 
 this 
 
 ovei 
 
 cons 
 
 will 
 as 1 
 civi 
 ord 
 orei 
 knc 
 my 
 Inc 
 liac 
 
 sici 
 the 
 cal 
 the 
 of 
 he 
 de 
 kn 
 
THE 
 
 ( snow, ut a puiro quite 
 
 , I should have flown to 
 important for us to ovor- 
 •r, like myseir, felt how 
 liny longer to follow his 
 
 le place where I knew he 
 the snow to take the sea- 
 mdy, we were stopped for 
 owever, and after walkins^ 
 struck on the trail of the 
 is snow-shoes, douhtless 
 l)lc to follow him thus far. 
 ink that his cahin was not 
 speed, and, as we got near 
 KU-t of a gun ; we did not 
 ii- it, for fear that, if it was 
 3 -were pursuing, he would 
 ly with new swiftness, as 
 
 near. 
 
 to walk on, and, soon after 
 jther ; this made us suspect 
 i'ht a fire there, to rest with 
 tisfying himself that he was 
 ture was false, as you will 
 
 3nd report, we heard a third, 
 1 ; no answer from us ; wo 
 X way, we found a large hoat 
 1 working the day befor..-, and 
 / a large cabin. We entered 
 
 O C K A X AND W I 1. 1) K 11 N K 3 S . 
 
 199 
 
 with the air which suited our situation ; the tone of 
 suppliants was the only one that became us ; we took it 
 at first, but the old man, who spoke Trench, would not 
 permit us to continue it. 
 
 " Are not all nu-n e(iuals ? " said he, « at least ought 
 they not to be i Your misfortune is a title to respect, 
 and I regard it as a fivor, that Heaven, by bringing 
 you here, gives me an opportunity to do good to men, 
 whom misery still pursues. 1 only require of you to 
 tell me what has befallen you, since you were cast on 
 this island ; I should be glad to sympathize with you 
 over your past sufferings ; my sensibility wul be a new 
 consolation." 
 
 At the same time, ho ordered them to cook our meat 
 with peas, and spare nothing, to show that humanity is 
 as much a virtue of the American Indian, as of more 
 civilized pe(n^lc. When this old man had given his 
 orders, he begged us to gratify his curiosity ; I endeav- 
 ored to forget none of the circumstances which you 
 know attended our misfortune, and, after having finished 
 my storv, I begged the old man to tell me why the two 
 Indians,' whom we had seen in the depth of our misery, 
 had refused to help us. 
 
 " Indians," said he, " tremble at the mere name of 
 sickness, and all my arguments have not yet dispelled 
 the terror which still fills all whom you see in this 
 cabin. It is not that they are insensible to the misery of 
 their brethren ; they woidd fain help them, but the fear 
 of breathing a tainted air checks the impulses of their 
 hearts, which are naturally compassionate. They fear 
 death, not like other men, but to such a degree, that I 
 know not what crimes they would not commit, to avoid it. 
 
200 
 
 rKUTl.S OF THE 
 
 Here," said he, pointiu- to an Indiai. Iv lihul tlio others, 
 " this is the one avIio broke his word to you ; he eaine 
 here early in the mouth, and told us the Avretched state 
 in Avhieh he had seen the Firuehmen, Mhom he sup- 
 posed all dead by that time, and whom he would have 
 willingly assisted', but for the eorruption among them. 
 Here is the other," eontinucd the old man, pointing to 
 the one whom I had pursued, "he got here an hour 
 beibre you, and told us that there were still three French- 
 men alive, that they were no longer near their dead 
 companions, that they were in health, and could, he 
 thought, be aided without risk of bringing infection 
 witli"them ; we deliberated a moment, and then sent 
 one towards the quarter where you were, to show you, 
 by three reports of a gun, where our cabin was. Your 
 sick, alone, prevented oiu- going to help you, and we 
 should, perhaps, have gone, if we had not been assured 
 that the aid we might send, would be of no use to you, 
 and might be of great injury to us, as your cabin was 
 filled and surrounded with infected air, which it would 
 be very dangerous to breathe." 
 
 Such language in the mouth of a man belonging to a 
 nation whom a^'alse prejudice makes us suppose inca- 
 pable of thinking or reasoning, and to whom we unjustly 
 deny sentiment and expression, surprised me greatly. 
 I even avow, that to have the idea of Indians which 1 
 give you, it did not need less than my seeing them. 
 
 When the old man got through, I endeavored to 
 express all the gratitude which we felt. I begged him 
 to accept my gun, which its goodness and ornaments, for 
 it was covered with them, raised in value above all those 
 in the cabin. I then told him that fatigue had pre- 
 
 vent( 
 
 it wc 
 
 send 
 
 ies M 
 
 nobo 
 
 The} 
 
 next 
 
 man 
 
 be f[ 
 
 as h( 
 
 bettc 
 
 spen 
 
 shiel 
 
 inex 
 
 whei 
 
 cons 
 
 day, 
 
 him 
 
 take 
 
 hard 
 
 w'eii 
 
 him 
 
 anot 
 
 T 
 
 witl 
 
 shoA 
 
 othe 
 
 fail 
 
 the 
 
 duti 
 
 thar 
 
 that 
 
TH E 
 
 () (• KAN A \ n W T T, T) V. n \ K « ? . 
 
 201 
 
 iidiau b'liiiul tlio others, 
 s word to you ; lio ciiiiu" 
 Id us the wirtched bt;itc 
 (>iulnnrn, mIioiti lie sup- 
 iid whom ho wouhl have 
 corruption amoni? tlicm. 
 :he okl man, pointing to 
 (1, "he got here an hour 
 ■c Averc still three French- 
 longer near their dead 
 1 health, and could, he 
 sk of bringing infection 
 moment, and then sent 
 e yon -were, to show you, 
 <re our cabin was. Your 
 ing to help yon, and Ave 
 we had not been assured 
 mU he of no use to you, 
 r to us, as your cabin was 
 ccted air, which it would 
 
 1 of a man belonging to a 
 3 makes us suppose inca- 
 , and to whom we unjustly 
 on, surprised me greatly, 
 idea of Indians which 1 
 than my seeing them, 
 hroiigh, I endeavored to 
 h wc felt. I begged him 
 )odncss and ornaments, for 
 sed in value above all those 
 lim that fatigue had pre- 
 
 vented one of our comrades from followiug us, and that 
 it would be tlie crowning of his kindness if he would 
 send two men to enalile them to reach us. My entreat- 
 ies were useless ; Indians fear to go out by night, and 
 nobody Avould undertake to go to the relief of Mr. Fnrst. 
 They promised me, however, that they, would go early 
 next morning ; this refusal gave me much pain ; the old 
 man pcneived it, and, to console me said, that it ivoidd 
 be quite useless to try, and find my friend in the dark, 
 as he had no gun to show where he was, and that it was 
 better to wait for daylight. Mr. Furst accordingly 
 spent the night in the snow, where ( jod alone could 
 shield him from death, for, even in the cabin, we endured 
 inexpressible cold. The Indians never make a fire 
 when they lie down ; they have not wen blankets, and 
 consequently we spent a very poor night. The next 
 day, as wc were preparing to go after ^Ir. Furst, we saw 
 him arrive ; our footprints had guided him, and to over- 
 take us he had profited by the time when the snoM', 
 hardened by the night's cold, does not yield to the 
 weight of a man walking. Our first care Avas to warm 
 him, Avc then gave him some food, and we showed one 
 another the joy Ave felt to be together again. 
 
 We spent the twenty-ninth and thirtieth of April 
 AA'ith the Indians ; they seemed to be jealous Avho avouUI 
 shoAv us most attention, and endeavored to surpass each 
 other in this respect. IJear meat and caribou did not 
 fail us those tAvo days, and they took care to give us 
 the most delicate morsels. I knoAv not whether the 
 duties of hospitality are better fulfilled by Europeans 
 than by these Indians. At least I am tempted to believe 
 that these fulfil them Avith far better grace. 
 
mz 
 
 rKRIl.H OV TUK 
 
 0,1 tl.o ihst of Mav. tlu-y laiuuhocl the large l.oat ; 
 ^ve all cmbarktHl a.i.l sot sail; the ^viiul failed i.s 
 towards noon, at about six leagues from the maui and. 
 This ae<-ulent alUicled me; 1 feared to he unabh' to 
 relieve soon enough sueh of our eon>ra<les as had sur- 
 vived at the place of the shipwrcek. Thi. tear made 
 me entreat the old man to give me tAVo men, witli a 
 bark eanoe to go ashore. I tried to induee him to grant 
 mv r;<iuest l.v promising to send t.ibaeeo and brandy to 
 all in the large boat, as soon as 1 got to the I remh. 
 Mueh as he would have llke.l to oblige n>e, he hr.t 
 consulted before making me any promise, and it was 
 not without dhlicultv that they paid any attention to my 
 request. Thev feared that a trip of six leagues was too 
 long for a eancK-, and they did not wish to expose us to 
 perish AVe aecordingly started, and about half-past 
 eleven o'clock in the evening we reached land. 1 
 entered the house of the French ; the first whom 1 saw 
 wasAlr.A-olant,a native of St. (Jerman-cn-Laye, my 
 friend and master of this post. I could not fall into 
 better hands ; I found in a single man the sincere desuo 
 and real power of serving me. He did not recogm/.e 
 mc at first, and in fact I was not recognizable ; as smm 
 as 1 lohl him my name, he lavished marks of friendship 
 on me, and the pleasure w,> had in embracing each 
 other was extreme on both sides. I told him first to 
 ^vhat■I was bound ; with regard to the Indians he kept 
 mv promise, an.l each one of our liberators had liquor 
 aiid tobacco. Thoy arrived there only at ten o clock lu 
 the moruiu- ; till that time I was recounting to Mr 
 Volant all that had happened to me, and 1 insisted 
 especially on the fate of the twenty-four men who 
 
T I ! r. 
 
 n (■ KAN A N n W 1 T, n y. r n r, s ^^ . 
 
 ;2o;3 
 
 luiuhod the larii'c l)o;it ; 
 il; thi' wiiul tailed us 
 ;ucs iVoin the main land. 
 
 fcivrcd to be unable to 
 ur comrades as bad sur- 
 wrock. 'rbi> I'eiU' made 
 ,(' me two men, witb a 
 cd to induce liim to grant 
 ud tobacco and brandy to 
 
 as 1 got to the French. 
 I to oblige n>e, he first 
 any promise, and it -was 
 ,' paid any attention to my 
 lip of six leagues was too 
 :l not wish to expose us to 
 rtcd, and about lialf-past 
 n<? we reached land. 1 
 ch ; the first whom I saw 
 
 St. (Jcrman-cn-Laye, my 
 it. I could not lall into 
 nglc man the sincere desire 
 c. He did not recognize 
 not recognizable ; as soon 
 ivished marks of friendship 
 (' had in embracing each 
 sides. I told him first to 
 ;ard to the Indians he kept 
 "our liberators had liquor 
 there only at ten o'clock in 
 
 I was recounting to ^Ir. 
 icd to me, and I insisted 
 the twenty-four men who 
 
 wore at tho wreck. My friend was the more tonclied 
 l)V it as (hey Avere still in pain. He immediately litted 
 out a boat to go to their relief and to discover, if possible, 
 whether any one of the eleven men of tho small boat 
 was still alive. Wlien he got to the neighborhood of 
 our shipwreck, he fired several guns to make himself 
 heard by those Avhom we had left there ; at the same 
 tinn; ho saw lour men Avho fell on their knees, and with 
 clasped hands begged him to save their lives. Their 
 wast(Ml faces, so to speak, the sound of their voice, m hich 
 told that they were on the brink of the grave, and their 
 cries, pierced the heart of Mr. \'o!ant. lie advanced to 
 them, gave them some food, but with moderation for 
 fear of killing them, by overloading their system sud- 
 dcnlv. In spite of this wise precaution, one of these 
 four men, named Fenguay, a Breton by birth, died after 
 drinking a glass of brandy. 
 
 Mv friend had the twenty-one men Iniried who had 
 died since we left them, and brought oH' the other three 
 who had Ijorne up against hardship, hunger, and the 
 se\ erity of the season ; they were, however, far from 
 being in perfect health ; one of them, named Tourrillet, 
 the master's mate from the department of Ijrest, Avas 
 sligiitlv deianged, and the other two, by name, Boudet 
 and Houau, both from Isle Ilhe, Avere sAvoUen over the 
 whole l)ody. 
 
 (jood food and the care avc took of them restored 
 them, if not perfectly, at least enough to enable them to 
 sliiit with us for Quebec. 
 
 Iveturniug, Mr. ^'olant perceived, near the shore, one 
 Avlio seemed to liaAC bi'cn drowned, and some fragments 
 of a canoe ; he advanced to make sure of Avhat he per- 
 
T 
 
 204 
 
 PER IT, 3 OF TIIK 
 
 reived ; and by firing ^'Overal times, endeavored to mv 
 whetlier there was any one there ; no one appi^ared ; 
 there was no answer, and all I can say is, that thirteen 
 men died of cold and hunger, as my friend saw a kind 
 of cabin some distance from the shore, which proved 
 that they had landed and, finding no relief there, had 
 perished miserably. 
 
 It is useless, I believe, to tell you the feelings which 
 we experienced, when we saw the three men arrive who 
 hiid escaiied from the shipwreck ; you may imagine how 
 touching it was, and how little tears were spared. 
 
 After tenderly end)racing each other, I asked them 
 how thev had been able to live till then, and how the 
 others had died ; they told me that cold and hunger 
 had carried off a part of their comrades, and that the 
 others had been consumed by ulcers horrible to look 
 upon ; that, for themselves, having become destitute of 
 all food, they had eaten the very shoes of their deceased 
 comrades after boiling them in snow-water, and roasting 
 them on coals ; and this resource having failed, they 
 had even eaten the leather breeches of those whom 
 death had carried off; and that they had only one or 
 two, when Ih: ^"olant had come to their relief. 
 
 You see well, that the condition of these poor people 
 had not been less deplorable than ours, and they had, 
 perhaps, suffered much more than we, if for nothing 
 else than the necessity of eating the very garments of 
 those comrades whom they had lost. We remained 
 nearly six weeks at Mingan, all which time we spent 
 in thanking (Jod for having preserved us amid so many 
 dangers, and we did not pass a day without imploring 
 
 Ills 
 pel 
 
 I 
 
 int 
 
 the 
 
 to 
 
 oil 
 
 am 
 
 ev( 
 
 UIK 
 
 sat 
 mil 
 
 thi 
 of 
 pa 
 
 S0( 
 
 ga 
 foi 
 Fr 
 thi 
 la 
 
 till 
 to 
 re; 
 wi 
 CI 
 
 ]5( 
 K( 
 
 di 
 
T 
 
 () I 1. A N AND Av 1 r. n i; u n r. a s , 
 
 205 
 
 T II K 
 
 ncs, ciulcuvorofl to ncc 
 it'ie ; 11(1 *)iic iipiH'iiii'd ; 
 •an say is, that thiitfi'ii 
 s my friend saw a kind 
 le shore, Mhich proved 
 ig no relief there, had 
 
 I you the feelings which 
 the three men arrive mIio 
 k ; you may imagine how 
 tears were spared. 
 !ach other, I asked them 
 • till then, and how the 
 nc that cold and hunger 
 'ir comrades, and that the 
 IV ulcers horrible to look 
 wing become destitute of 
 ry shoes of their deceased 
 
 snow-water, and roasting 
 jurcc having failed, they 
 breeches of those whom 
 hat they had only one or 
 me to their relief, 
 iition of these poor people 
 
 than ours, and they had, 
 ; than we, if for nothing 
 ing the very garments of 
 had lost. We remained 
 a, all which time we spent 
 (reserved us amid so many 
 ss a day without imploring 
 
 his mercy, for the souls of forty-eight men who had 
 p(>rislu'd -•incc our sliipw icck. 
 
 Tlie Sicur Lcger Icfl us, and started for l.al)r,i(lor, 
 intendimr to iio to France on a St. Malo >hip, and, on 
 the 8t]i of June, we took the occasion of u small craft 
 to return to (Quebec. Tlie wind was so favorable, that, 
 on the evening of the I'Mx, we landed. All were 
 ama/cil to see us again ; they tliought us in France ; 
 everv one eagerly asked us what had l)ri)Ught us back, 
 und what had happened to us after our departure. Wo 
 satl>ticd the curiosity of those whose attachment to us 
 made them interested in all that concerned us. 
 
 The next day, they conveyed to the hospital the 
 three sailors whom ^Ir. "N'olant had found at the place 
 of our shii)wreclv. Mr. Furst and I, each did, for our 
 part, what was necessary to restore us completely. As 
 soon as my Superiors saw that I was a little better, they 
 gave me the little parish of Soulanges, which I served 
 for a year ; I then received a second obedience to go to 
 France. I accordingly embarked as chaplain, on board 
 the king's ship, " Le llubis," commanded by Mr. De 
 la .foncaire, ("apitaine de llaut-Bord. 
 
 We left (iuet)ec the 21st of October, lTo8, and, on 
 the !^d of December, we entered Port Louis, in Brittany, 
 to get some provisions, for wo were running out. We 
 remained there about twenty days, and left it on the t22d, 
 with the " Facon," commanded by the Marquis de 
 Chavagnac, who came from Cape Breton. 
 
 Al)out midnight, we anchored for about two hours, off 
 Belle Isle, to wait for a wind ; we then made sail for 
 IJocliefort, which we reached next day, and there my 
 duties detained me till all was unloaded. 
 M 
 
206 
 
 IM'.UIl.S or THE 
 
 Some days uftor, T sta.tc-.l for Paris, xvli.n.c I was 
 sent to Douav, in Flau.lrrs. Here I roiuai.ud. t.U rarly 
 in 1740, Mheii I was appointed ^'k•ar of our Convent 
 of Avosncs, in Hainaut. I arrived there on the '.>..th 
 of January, the same day that I had left it, sixteen 
 years before. "Sly Superiors, in sending me to that 
 house, hud expected that some year's' stay m my native 
 country would completely restore me, after the hard- 
 ships I had undergone in my travels. I had conceived 
 the same hope, Hut it turned out .luite the r.-verse ; my 
 stomach could no longer beai;thc food ol that part ; 1 
 had, so to speak, ac<iulred a new constitution ; repose 
 ^^•as injurious to me, and I had to accustom myself to it 
 gradually. 'I'his made me solicit from my Superiors an 
 obedience to return to I'aris, the air of which suited me 
 much better than that of my province. They were 
 kind enough to grant my request, and when I was per- 
 fectly well, thev appointed me chaplaui in the 1 rench 
 armv, commanded by the Marshal ^laiUebois. 
 
 Such, my dear brother, is the account of my voyages 
 and shipwrecks. I hope you will be better satisfied 
 with it, than with what I sent you first. You may rest 
 assured, that T have stated nothing that is not in accord- 
 ance with strict truth. I hope, Indeed, that the rumors 
 whidi begin to prevail, have some foundation ; 1 should 
 soon have the pleasure of embracing you at l-rankfort, 
 and of proving to you that I am, and shall be all my 
 life, with the sincerest friendship, dear brother, 
 Your very affectionate brother, 
 
 Emmanuel Cbespel, Recollect. 
 
 Paderborn, June 18, 1742. 
 
T II K 
 
 for rails, whence I was 
 ■ lu I romaiiud, till early 
 il \'icur of our Convent 
 rived there on the 2Ca\\ 
 t I had left it, sixteen 
 in sending me to that 
 years' stay in my native 
 tore me, after the hard- 
 avels. I had conceived 
 t (iiiite the reverse ; my 
 the food of that part ; I 
 ,ew constitution ; repose 
 to accustom myself to it 
 dt from my Superiors an 
 le air of wliich suited me 
 r province. They were 
 est, and when I was pcr- 
 e chaphiin in the French 
 dial 'Maillebois. 
 ic account of my voyages 
 Li will be better satisfied 
 you first. You may rest 
 hing that is not in accord- 
 c, indeed, that the rumors 
 ,omo foundation ; 1 should 
 iibracing you at Frankfort, 
 I am, and shall be all my 
 hip, dear brother, 
 onate brother, 
 UEL Cbespel, Recollect.