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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6913.txt b/6913.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..db62c43 --- /dev/null +++ b/6913.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10441 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Voyages of Peter Esprit Radisson +by Peter Esprit Radisson + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Voyages of Peter Esprit Radisson + +Author: Peter Esprit Radisson + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6913] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 9, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGES OF PETER ESPRIT RADISSON *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the online Distributed Proofing team. +This file was produced from images generously made available +by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. + + + + + +The Publications of the Prince Society +Established May 25th, 1858. + +RADISSON'S VOYAGES. + + +VOYAGES +OF +PETER ESPRIT RADISSON, + +BEING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS TRAVELS AND EXPERIENCES AMONG +THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS, FROM +1652 TO 1684. + +TRANSCRIBED FROM ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS IN THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY +AND THE BRITISH MUSEUM. + +WITH HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS +AND AN +INTRODUCTION, + +BY GIDEON D. SCULL, + +LONDON, ENGLAND. + + + +PREFACE. + +It may be regarded as a fortunate circumstance that we are able to add to +the Society's publications this volume of RADISSON'S VOYAGES. The +narratives contained in it are the record of events and transactions in +which the author was a principal actor. They were apparently written +without any intention of publication, and are plainly authentic and +trustworthy. They have remained in manuscript more than two hundred years, +and in the mean time appear to have escaped the notice of scholars, as not +even extracts from them have, so far as we are aware, found their way into +print. The author was a native of France, and had an imperfect knowledge of +the English language. The journals, with the exception of the last in the +volume, are, however, written in that language, and, as might be +anticipated, in orthography, in the use of words, and in the structure of +sentences, conform to no known standard of English composition. But the +meaning is in all cases clearly conveyed, and, in justice both to the +author and the reader, they have been printed _verbatim et literatim_, as +in the original manuscripts. We desire to place upon record our high +appreciation of the courtesy extended to the Editor of this volume by the +governors of the Bodleian Library and of the British Museum, in allowing +him to copy the original manuscripts in their possession. Our thanks +likewise are here tendered to Mr. Edward Denham for the gratuitous +contribution of the excellent index which accompanies the volume. + +EDMUND F. SLAFTER, +_President of the Prince Society_. +BOSTON, 249 BERKELEY STREET, +November 20, 1885. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + + +PREFACE + +INTRODUCTION + +FIRST VOYAGE OF PETER ESPRIT RADISSON + +SECOND VOYAGE, MADE IN THE UPPER COUNTRY OF THE IROQUOITS + +THIRD VOYAGE, MADE TO THE GREAT LAKE OF THE HURONS, UPPER SEA OF THE EAST, + AND BAY OF THE NORTH + +FOURTH VOYAGE OF PETER ESPRIT RADISSON + +RELATION OF A VOYAGE TO THE NORTH PARTS OF AMERICA IN THE YEARS 1682 AND + 1683 + +RELATION OF THE VOYAGE ANNO 1684 + +OFFICERS OF THE PRINCE SOCIETY + +THE PRINCE SOCIETY + +PUBLICATIONS OF THE PRINCE SOCIETY + +VOLUMES IN PREPARATION BY THE PRINCE SOCIETY + +INDEX + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +The author of the narratives contained in this volume was Peter Esprit +Radisson, who emigrated from France to Canada, as he himself tells us, on +the 24th day of May, 1651. He was born at St. Malo, and in 1656, at Three +Rivers, in Canada, married Elizabeth, the daughter of Madeleine Hainault. +[Footnote: Vide _History of the Ojibways_, by the Rev. E. D. Neill, ed. +1885.] Radisson says that he lived at Three Rivers, where also dwelt "my +natural parents, and country-people, and my brother, his wife and +children." [Footnote: The Abbe Cyprian Tanguay, the best genealogical +authority in Canada, gives the following account of the family: Francoise +Radisson, a daughter of Pierre Esprit, married at Quebec, in 1668, Claude +Volant de St. Claude, born in 1636, and had eight children. Pierre and +Claude, eldest sons, became priests. Francoise died in infancy: Marguerite +married Noel le Gardeur; Francoise died in infancy; Etienne, born October +29, 1664, married in 1693 at Sorel, but seems to have had no issue. Jean +Francois married Marguerite Godfrey at Montreal in 1701. Nicholas, born in +1668, married Genevieve Niel, July 30, 1696, and both died in 1703, leaving +two of their five sons surviving. + +There are descendants of Noel le Gardeur who claim Radisson as their +ancestor, and also descendants of Claude Volant, apparently through +Nicholas. Among these descendants of the Volant family is the Rt. Rev. +Joseph Thomas Duhamel, who was consecrated Bishop of Ottawa, Canada, +October 28, 1874. + +Of Medard Chouart's descendants, no account of any of the progeny of his +son Jean Baptiste, born July 25, 1654, can be found.] This brother, often +alluded to in Radisson's narratives as his companion on his journeys, was +Medard Chouart, "who was the son of Medard and Marie Poirier, of Charly St. +Cyr, France, and in 1641, when only sixteen years old, came to Canada." +[Footnote: Chouart's daughter Marie Antoinette, born June 7, 1661, married +first Jean Jalot in 1679. He was a surgeon, born in 1648, and killed by the +Iroquois, July 2, 1690. He was called Des Groseilliers. She had nine +children by Jalot, and there are descendants from them in Canada. On the +19th December, 1695, she married, secondly, Jean Bouchard, by whom she had +six children. The Bouchard-Dorval family of Montreal descends from this +marriage. Vide _Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families_, Quebec, +1881.] He was a pilot, and married, 3rd September, 1647, Helen, the +daughter of Abraham Martin, and widow of Claude Etienne. Abraham Martin +left his name to the celebrated Plains of Abraham, near Quebec. She dying +in 1651, Chouart married, secondly, at Quebec, August 23, 1653, the sister +of Radisson, Margaret Hayet, the widow of John Veron Grandmenil. In Canada, +Chouart acted as a donne, or lay assistant, in the Jesuit mission near Lake +Huron. He left the service of the mission about 1646, and commenced trading +with the Indians for furs, in which he was very successful. With his gains +he is supposed to have purchased some land in Canada, as he assumed the +seigneurial title of "Sieur des Groseilliers." + +Radisson spent more than ten years trading with the Indians of Canada and +the far West, making long and perilous journeys of from two to three years +each, in company with his brother-in-law, Des Groseilliers. He carefully +made notes during his wanderings from 1652 to 1664, which he afterwards +copied out on his voyage to England in 1665. Between these years he made +four journeys, and heads his first narrative with this title: "The +Relation of my Voyage, being in Bondage in the Lands of the Irokoits, which +was the next year after my coming into Canada, in the yeare 1651, the 24th +day of May." In 1652 a roving band of Iroquois, who had gone as far north +as the Three Rivers, carried our author as a captive into their country, on +the banks of the Mohawk River. He was adopted into the family of a "great +captayne who had killed nineteen men with his own hands, whereof he was +marked on his right thigh for as many as he had killed." In the autumn of +1653 he accompanied the tribe in his village on a warlike incursion into +the Dutch territory. They arrived "the next day in a small brough of the +Hollanders," Rensselaerswyck, and on the fourth day came to Fort Orange. +Here they remained several days, and Radisson says: "Our treaty's being +done, overladened with bootyes abundantly, we putt ourselves in the way +that we came, to see again our village." + +At Fort Orange Radisson met with the Jesuit Father, Joseph Noncet, who had +also been captured in Canada by the Mohawks and taken to their country. In +September he was taken down to Fort Orange by his captors, and it is +mentioned in the Jesuit "Relations" of 1653, chapter iv., that he "found +there a young man captured near Three Rivers, who had been ransomed by the +Dutch and acted as interpreter." A few weeks after the return of the +Indians to their village, Radisson made his escape alone, and found his way +again to Fort Orange, from whence he was sent to New Amsterdam, or Menada, +as he calls it. Here he remained three weeks, and then embarked for +Holland, where he arrived after a six weeks' voyage, landing at Amsterdam +"the 4/7 of January, 1654. A few days after," he says, "I imbarqued myself +for France, and came to Rochelle well and safe." He remained until Spring, +waiting for "the transport of a shipp for New France." + +The relation of the second journey is entitled, "The Second Voyage, made in +the Upper Country of the Irokoits." He landed in Canada, from his return +voyage from France, on the 17th of May, 1654, and on the 15th set off to +see his relatives at Three Rivers. He mentions that "in my absence peace +was made betweene the French and the Iroquoits, which was the reson I +stayed not long in a place. The yeare before the ffrench began a new +plantation in the upper country of the Iroquoits, which is distant from the +Low Iroquoits country some four score leagues, wher I was prisoner and been +in the warrs of that country.... At that very time the Reverend Fathers +Jesuits embarked themselves for a second time to dwell there and teach +Christian doctrine. I offered myself to them and was, as their custome is, +kindly accepted. I prepare meselfe for the journey, which was to be in +June, 1657." Charlevoix [Footnote: _Charlevoix's History of New France_, +Shea's ed., Vol. II. p. 256.] says: "In 1651 occurred the almost complete +destruction of the Huron nation. Peace was concluded in 1653. Father Le +Moyne went in 1654, to ratify the treaty of peace, to Onondaga, and told +the Indians there he wished to have his cabin in their canton. His offer +was accepted, and a site marked out of which he took possession. He left +Quebec July 2, 1654, and returned September 11. In 1655 Fathers Chaumont +and Dablon were sent to Onondaga, and arrived there November 5, and began +at once to build a chapel. [Footnote: _Charlevoix's Hist. of New France_, +Shea's ed., Vol. II. p. 263.] + +"Father Dablon, having spent some months in the service of the mission at +Onondaga, was sent back to Montreal, 30 March, 1656, for reinforcements. He +returned with Father Francis le Mercier and other help. They set out from +Quebec 7 May, 1656, with a force composed of four nations: French, +Onondagas, Senecas, and a few Hurons. About fifty men composed the party. +Sieur Dupuys, an officer of the garrison, was appointed commandant of the +proposed settlement at Onondaga. On their arrival they at once proceeded to +erect a fort, or block-house, for their defence. + +"While these things were passing at Onondaga, the Hurons on the Isle +Orleans, where they had taken refuge from the Iroquois, no longer deeming +themselves secure, sought an asylum in Quebec, and in a moment of +resentment at having been abandoned by the French, they sent secretly to +propose to the Mohawks to receive them into their canton so as to form only +one people with them. They had no sooner taken this step than they +repented; but the Mohawks took them at their word, and seeing that they +endeavored to withdraw their proposition, resorted to secret measures to +compel them to adhere to it." [Footnote: _Ibid._, Vol. II. p.278.] The +different families of the Hurons held a council, and "the Attignenonhac or +Cord family resolved to stay with the French; the Arendarrhonon, or Rock, +to go to Onondaga; and the Attignaonanton, or Bear, to join the Mohawks." +[Footnote: _Relation Nouvelle France_, 1657 and _Charlevoix_, Shea's ed., +Vol. II. p 280.] "In 1657 Onondagas had arrived at Montreal to receive the +Hurons and take them to their canton, as agreed upon the year previous." +[Footnote: _Charlevoix_, Shea's ed., Vol. III. p. 13.] Some Frenchmen and +two Jesuits were to accompany them. One of the former was Radisson, who had +volunteered; and the two Jesuits were Fathers Paul Ragueneau and Joseph +Inbert Duperon. The party started on their journey in July, 1657. + +The relation of this, the writer's second voyage, is taken up entirely with +the narrative of their journey to Onondaga, his residence at the mission, +and its abandonment on the night of the 20th of March, 1658. On his way +thither he was present at the massacre of the Hurons by the Iroquois, in +August, 1657. His account of the events of 1657 and 1658, concerning the +mission, will be found to give fuller details than those of Charlevoix, +[Footnote: _Ibid_., Vol. III. p. 13.] and the Jesuit relations written for +those years by Father Ragueneau. Radisson, in concluding his second +narrative, says: "About the last of March we ended our great and incredible +dangers. About fourteen nights after we went downe to the Three Rivers, +where most of us stayed. A month after, my brother and I resolves to +travell and see countreys. Wee find a good opportunity in our voyage. We +proceeded three years; during that time we had the happiness to see very +faire countreys." He says of the third voyage: "Now followeth the +Auxoticiat, or Auxotacicae, voyage into the great and filthy lake of the +hurrons upper sea of the East and bay of the North." He mentions that +"about the middle of June, 1658, we began to take leave of our company and +venter our lives for the common good." + +Concerning the third voyage, Radisson states above, "wee proceeded three +years." The memory of the writer had evidently been thrown into some +confusion when recording one of the historical incidents in his relation, +as he was finishing his narrative of the fourth journey. At the close of +his fourth narrative, on his return from the Lake Superior country, where +he had been over three years, instead of over two, as he mentions, he says: +"You must know that seventeen ffrenchmen made a plott with four Algonquins +to make a league with three score Hurrons for to goe and wait for the +Iroquoits in the passage." This passage was the Long Sault, on the Ottawa +river, where the above seventeen Frenchmen were commanded by a young +officer of twenty-five, Adam Dollard, Sieur des Ormeaux. The massacre of +the party took place on May 21, 1660, and is duly recorded by several +authorities; namely, Dollier de Casson [Footnote: _Histoire de Montreal, +Relation de la Nouvelle France_, 1660, p. 14.], M. Marie [Footnote: _De +l'Incarnation_, p. 261.], and Father Lalemont [Footnote: _Journal_, June 8, +1660.]. As Radisson has placed the incident in his manuscript, he would +make it appear as having occurred in May, 1664. He writes: "It was a +terrible spectacle to us, for wee came there eight dayes after that defeat, +which saved us without doubt." He started on this third journey about the +middle of June, 1658, and it would therefore seem he was only absent on it +two years, instead of over three, as he says. Charlevoix gives the above +incident in detail. [Footnote: Shea's edition, Vol. III. p. 33, n.] + +During the third voyage Radisson and his brother-in-law went to the +Mississippi River in 1658/9. He says, "Wee mett with severall sorts of +people. Wee conversed with them, being long time in alliance with them. By +the persuasion of som of them wee went into the great river that divides +itself in two where the hurrons with some Ottanake and the wild men that +had warrs with them had retired.... The river is called the forked, because +it has two branches: the one towards the West, the other towards the South, +which we believe runs towards Mexico, by the tokens they gave." They also +made diligent inquiry concerning Hudson's Bay, and of the best means to +reach that fur-producing country, evidently with a view to future +exploration and trade. They must have returned to the Three Rivers about +June 1, 1660. Radisson says: "Wee stayed att home att rest the yeare. My +brother and I considered whether we should discover what we have seen or +no, and because we had not a full and whole discovery which was that we +have not ben in the bay of the north (Hudson's Bay), not knowing anything +but by report of the wild Christinos, we would make no mention of it for +feare that those wild men should tell us a fibbe. We would have made a +discovery of it ourselves and have an assurance, before we should discover +anything of it." + +In the fourth narrative he says: "The Spring following we weare in hopes to +meet with some company, having ben so fortunat the yeare before. Now during +the winter, whether it was that my brother revealed to his wife what we had +seene in our voyage and what we further intended, or how it came to passe, +it was knowne so much that the ffather Jesuits weare desirous to find out a +way how they might gett downe the castors from the bay of the North, by the +Sacques, and so make themselves masters of that trade. They resolved to +make a tryall as soone as the ice would permitt them. So to discover our +intentions they weare very earnest with me to ingage myselfe in that +voyage, to the end that my brother would give over his, which I uterly +denied them, knowing that they could never bring it about." They made an +application to the Governor of Quebec for permission to start upon this +their fourth voyage; but he refused, unless they agreed to certain hard +conditions which they found it impossible to accept. In August they +departed without the Governor's leave, secretly at midnight, on their +journey, having made an agreement to join a company of the nation of the +Sault who were about returning to their country, and who agreed to wait for +them two days in the Lake of St. Peter, some six leagues from Three Rivers. +Their journey was made to the country about Lake Superior, where they +passed much of their time among the nations of the Sault, Fire, Christinos +(Knisteneux), Beef, and other tribes. + +Being at Lake Superior, Radisson says they came "to a remarkable place. +It's a banke of Rocks that the wild men made a Sacrifice to,... it's like a +great portall by reason of the beating of the waves. The lower part of that +opening is as bigg as a tower, and grows bigger in the going up. There is, +I believe, six acres of land above it; a shipp of 500 tuns could passe by, +soe bigg is the arch. I gave it the name of the portail of St. Peter, +because my name is so called, and that I was the first Christian that ever +saw it." Concerning Hudson's Bay, whilst they were among the Christinos at +Lake Assiniboin, Radisson mentions in his narrative that "being resolved to +know what we heard before, we waited untill the Ice should vanish." + +The Governor was greatly displeased at the disobedience of Radisson and his +brother-in-law in going on their last voyage without his permission. On +their return, the narrative states, "he made my brother prisoner for not +having obeyed his orders; he fines us L. 4,000 to make a fort at the three +rivers, telling us for all manner of satisfaction that he would give us +leave to put our coat of armes upon it; and moreover L. 6,000 for the +country, saying that wee should not take it so strangely and so bad, being +wee were inhabitants and did intend to finish our days in the same country +with our relations and friends.... Seeing ourselves so wronged, my brother +did resolve to go and demand justice in France." Failing to get +restitution, they resolved to go over to the English. They went early in +1665 to Port Royal, Nova Scotia, and from thence to New England, where they +engaged an English or New England ship for a trading adventure into +Hudson's Straits in 61 deg. north. + +This expedition was attempted because Radisson and Des Groseilliers, on +their last journey to Lake Superior, "met with some savages on the lake of +Assiniboin, and from them they learned that they might go by land to the +bottom of Hudson's Bay, where the English had not been yet, at James Bay; +upon which they desired them to conduct them thither, and the savages +accordingly did it. They returned to the upper lake the same way they +came, and thence to Quebec, where they offered the principal merchants to +carry ships to Hudson's Bay; but their project was rejected. Des +Groseilliers then went to France in hopes of a more favorable hearing at +Court; but after presenting several memorials and spending a great deal of +time and money, he was answered as he had been at Quebec, and the project +looked upon as chimerical." [Footnote: Oldmixon, Vol. I. p. 548.] This +voyage to Hudson's Straits proved unremunerative. "Wee had knowledge and +conversation with the people of those parts, but wee did see and know that +there was nothing to be done unlesse wee went further, and the season of +the year was far spent by the indiscretion of our Master." Radisson +continues: "Wee were promissed two shipps for a second voyage." One of +these ships was sent to "the Isle of Sand, there to fish for Basse to make +oyle of it," and was soon after lost. + +In New England, in the early part of the year 1665, Radisson and Des +Groseilliers met with two of the four English Commissioners who were sent +over by Charles II in 1664 to settle several important questions in the +provinces of New York and New England. They were engaged in the prosecution +of their work in the different governments from 1664 to 1665/6. The two +Frenchmen, it appears, were called upon in Boston to defend themselves in a +lawsuit instituted against them in the courts there, for the annulling of +the contract in the trading adventure above mentioned, whereby one of the +two ships contracted for was lost. The writer states, that "the expectation +of that ship made us loose our second voyage, which did very much +discourage the merchants with whom wee had to do; they went to law with us +to make us recant the bargaine that wee had made with them. After wee had +disputed a long time, it was found that the right was on our side and wee +innocent of what they did accuse us. So they endeavoured to come to an +agreement, but wee were betrayed by our own party. + +"In the mean time the Commissioners of the King of Great Britain arrived in +that place, & one of them would have us goe with him to New York, and the +other advised us to come to England and offer ourselves to the King, which +wee did." The Commissioners were Colonel Richard Nicolls, Sir Robert Carr, +Colonel George Cartwright, and Samuel Mavericke. Sir Robert Carr wished the +two Frenchmen to go with him to New York, but Colonel George Cartwright, +erroneously called by Radisson in his manuscript "Cartaret," prevailed upon +them to embark with him from Nantucket, August 1, 1665. On this voyage +Cartwright carried with him "all the original papers of the transactions of +the Royal Commissioners, together with the maps of the several colonies." +They had also as a fellow passenger George Carr, presumably the brother of +Sir Robert, and probably the acting secretary to the Commission. Colonel +Richard Nicolls, writing to Secretary Lord Arlington, July 31, 1665, Says, +"He supposes Col. Geo. Cartwright is now at sea." George Carr, also writing +to Lord Arlington, December 14, 1665, tells him that "he sends the +transactions of the Commissioners in New England briefly set down, each +colony by itself. The papers by which all this and much more might have +been demonstrated were lost in obeying His Majesty's command by keeping +company with Captain Pierce, who was laden with masts; for otherwise in +probability we might have been in England ten days before we met the Dutch +'Caper,' who after two hours' fight stripped and landed us in Spain. +Hearing also some Frenchmen discourse in New England of a passage from the +West Sea to the South Sea, and of a great trade of beaver in that passage, +and afterwards meeting with sufficient proof of the truth of what they had +said, and knowing what great endeavours have been made for the finding out +of a North Western passage, he thought them the best present he could +possibly make His Majesty, and persuaded them to come to England. Begs His +Lordship to procure some consideration for his loss, suffering, and +service." Colonel Cartwright, upon his capture at Sea by the Dutch "Caper," +threw all his despatches and papers overboard. + +No doubt the captain of the Dutch vessel carefully scrutinized the papers +of Radisson and his brother-in-law, and, it may be, carried off some of +them; for there is evidence in one part at least of the former's narration +of his travels, of some confusion, as the writer has transposed the date of +one important and well-known event in Canadian history. It is evident that +the writer was busy on his voyage preparing his narrative of travels for +presentation to the King. Towards the conclusion of his manuscript he says: +"We are now in the passage, and he that brought us, which was one of the +Commissioners called Collonell George Cartaret, was taken by the +Hollanders, and wee arrived in England in a very bad time for the plague +and the warrs. Being at Oxford, wee went to Sir George Cartaret, who spoke +to His Majesty, who gave good hopes that wee should have a shipp ready for +the next Spring, and that the King did allow us forty shillings a week for +our maintenance, and wee had chambers in the town by his order, where wee +stayed three months. Afterwards the King came to London and sent us to +Windsor, where wee stayed the rest of the winter." + +Charles II., with his Court, came to open Parliament and the Courts of Law +at Oxford, September 25, 1665, and left for Hampton Court to reside, +January 27, 1666. Radisson and Des Groseilliers must have arrived there +about the 25th of October. DeWitt, the Dutch statesman, and Grand +Pensionary of the States of Holland from 1652, becoming informed by the +captain of the Dutch "Caper" of the errand of Radisson and his companion +into England, despatched an emissary to that country in 1666 to endeavor to +entice them out of the English into the service of the Dutch. Sir John +Colleton first brought the matter before the notice of Lord Arlington in a +letter of November 12th. The agent of DeWitt was one Elie Godefroy Touret, +a native of Picardy, France, and an acquaintance of Groseilliers. Touret +had lived over ten years in the service of the Rhinegrave at Maestricht. +Thinking it might possibly aid him in his design, he endeavored to pass +himself off in London as Groseilliers' nephew. One Monsieur Delheure +deposed that Groseilliers "always held Touret in suspicion for calling +himself his nephew, and for being in England without employment, not being +a person who could live on his income, and had therefore avoided his +company as dangerous to the State. Has heard Touret say that if his uncle +Groseilliers were in service of the States of Holland, he would be more +considered than here, where his merits are not recognised, and that if his +discovery were under the protection of Holland, all would go better with +him." + +On the 21st of November a warrant was issued to the Keeper of the Gate +House, London, "to take into custody the person of Touret for corresponding +with the King's enemies." On the 23d of December Touret sent in a petition +to Lord Arlington, bitterly complaining of the severity of his treatment, +and endeavored to turn the tables upon his accuser by representing that +Groseilliers, Radisson, and a certain priest in London tried to persuade +him to join them in making counterfeit coin, and for his refusal had +persecuted and entered the accusation against him. + +To Des Groseilliers and Radisson must be given the credit of originating +the idea of forming a settlement at Hudson's Bay, out of which grew the +profitable organization of the Hudson's Bay Company. They obtained through +the English Ambassador to France an interview with Prince Rupert, and laid +before him their plans, which had been before presented to the leading +merchants of Canada and the French Court. Prince Rupert at once foresaw the +value of such an enterprise, and aided them in procuring the required +assistance from several noblemen and gentlemen, to fit out in 1667 two +ships from London, the "Eagle," Captain Stannard, and the "Nonsuch," ketch, +Captain Zechariah Gillam. This Gillam is called by Oldmixon a New +Englander, and was probably the same one who went in 1664/5 with Radisson +and Groseilliers to Hudson's Strait on the unsuccessful voyage from Boston. + +Radisson thus alludes to the two ships that were fitted out in London by +the help of Prince Rupert and his associates. The third year after their +arrival in England "wee went out with a new Company in two small vessels, +my brother in one and I in another, and wee went together four hundred +leagues from the North of Ireland, where a sudden greate storme did rise +and put us asunder. The sea was soe furious six or seven hours after, that +it did almost overturne our ship. So that wee were forced to cut our masts +rather then cutt our lives; but wee came back safe, God be thanked; and the +other, I hope, is gone on his voyage, God be with him." + +Captain Gillam and the ketch "Nonsuch," with Des Groseilliers, proceeded on +their voyage, "passed thro Hudson's Streights, and then into Baffin's Bay +to 75 deg. North, and thence Southwards into 51 deg., where, in a river +afterwards called Prince Rupert river, He had a friendly correspondence +with the natives, built a Fort, named it Charles Fort, and returned with +Success." [Footnote: Oldmixon, _British Empire_, ed. 1741, Vol. I. p. 544] +When Gillam and Groseilliers returned, the adventurers concerned in fitting +them out "applied themselves to Charles II. for a patent, who granted one +to them and their successors for the Bay called Hudson's Streights." +[Footnote: _Ibid._, Vol. I. p. 545.] The patent bears date the 2d of May, +in the twenty-second year of Charles II., 1670. + +In Ellis's manuscript papers [Footnote: _Ibid_., Vol. V. p.319] has been +found the following original draft of an "answer of the Hudson's Bay +Company to a French paper entitled Memoriall justifieing the pretensions of +France to Fort Bourbon." 1696/7. + +"The French in this paper carrying their pretended right of Discovery and +settlement no higher then the year 1682, and their being dispossessed in +1684. Wee shall briefly shew what sort of possession that was, and how +those two actions were managed. Mr. Radisson, mentioned in the said paper +to have made this settlement for the French at Port Nelson in 1682, was +many years before settled in England, and marryed an English wife, Sir John +Kirke's daughter, and engaged in the interest and service of the English +upon private adventure before as well as after the Incorporation of the +Hudson's Bay Company. In 1667, when Prince Rupert and other noblemen set +out two shipps, Radisson went in the Eagle, Captain Stannard commander, and +in that voyage the name of Rupert's river was given. Again in 1668 and in +1669, and in this voyage directed his course to Port Nelson, and went on +shore with one Bayly (designed Governor for the English), fixed the King of +England's arms there, & left some goods for trading. In 1671 three ships +were set out from London by the Hudson's Bay Company, then incorporated, +and Radisson went in one of them in their service, settled Moose River, & +went to Port Nelson, where he left some goods, and wintered at Rupert's +River. In 1673, upon some difference with the Hudson's Bay Company, +Radisson returned into France and was there persuaded to go to Canada. He +formed severall designs of going on private accounts for the French into +Hudson's Bay, which the Governor, Monsr. Frontenac, would by no means +permitt, declaring it would break the union between the two Kings." + +Oldmixon says [Footnote: Oldmixon, Vol. I. p. 549.] that the +above-mentioned Charles Baily, with whom went Radisson and ten or twenty +men, took out with him Mr. Thomas Gorst as his secretary, who at his +request kept a journal, which eventually passed into the possession of +Oldmixon. The following extracts give some idea of the life led by the +fur-traders at the Fort: "They were apprehensive of being attacked by some +Indians, whom the French Jesuits had animated against the English and all +that dealt with them. The French used many artifices to hinder the natives +trading with the English; they gave them great rates for their goods, and +obliged Mr Baily to lower the price of his to oblige the Indians who dwelt +about Moose river, with whom they drove the greatest trade. The French, to +ruin their commerce with the natives, came and made a settlement not above +eight days' journey up that river from the place where the English traded. +'Twas therefore debated whether the Company's Agents should not remove from +Rupert's to Moose river, to prevent their traffick being interrupted by the +French. On the 3d of April, 1674, a council of the principal persons in the +Fort was held, where Mr Baily, the Governor, Captain Groseilliers, and +Captain Cole were present and gave their several opinions. The Governor +inclined to move. Captain Cole was against it, as dangerous, and Captain +Groseilliers for going thither in their bark to trade. [Footnote: Oldmixon, +Vol. I. p. 552.] ... The Governor, having got everything ready for a voyage +to Moose river, sent Captain Groseilliers, Captain Cole, Mr Gorst, and +other Indians to trade there. They got two hundred and fifty skins, and the +Captain of the Tabittee Indians informed them the French Jesuits had bribed +the Indians not to deal with the English, but to live in friendship with +the Indian nations in league with the French.... The reason they got no +more peltry now was because the Indians thought Groseilliers was too hard +for them, and few would come down to deal with him." [Footnote: Oldmixon, +Vol. I. p. 554.] After Captain Baily [Footnote: _Ibid._, Vol. I. p. 555.] +had returned from a voyage in his sloop to trade to the fort, "on the 30th +Aug a missionary Jesuit, born of English parents, arrived, bearing a letter +from the Governor of Quebec to Mr Baily, dated the 8th of October, 1673. + +"The Governor of Quebec desired Mr Baily to treat the Jesuit civilly, on +account of the great amity between the two crowns. Mr Baily resolved to +keep the priest till ships came from England. He brought a letter, also, +for Capt Groseilliers, which gave jealousy to the English of his +corresponding with the French. His son-in-law lived in Quebec, and had +accompanied the priest part of the way, with three other Frenchmen, who, +being afraid to venture among strange Indians, returned.... Provisions +running short, they were agreed, on the 17th Sept, they were all to depart +for Point Comfort, to stay there till the 22d, and then make the best of +their way for England. In this deplorable condition were they when the +Jesuit, Capt Groseilliers, & another papist, walking downwards to the +seaside at their devotions, heard seven great guns fire distinctly. They +came home in a transport of joy, told their companions the news, and +assured them it was true. Upon which they fired three great guns from the +fort to return the salute, though they could ill spare the powder upon such +an uncertainty." The ship "Prince Rupert" had arrived, with Captain Gillam, +bringing the new Governor, William Lyddel, Esq. + +Groseilliers and Radisson, after remaining for several years under the +Hudson's Bay Company, at last in 1674 felt obliged to sever the connection, +and went over again to France. Radisson told his nephew in 1684 that the +cause was "the refusal, that showed the bad intention of the Hudson's Bay +Company to satisfy us." Several influential members of the committee of +direction for the Company were desirous of retaining them in their employ; +among them the Duke of York, Prince Rupert their first Governor, Sir James +Hayes, Sir William Young, Sir John Kirke, and others; but it is evident +there was a hostile feeling towards Radisson and his brother-in-law on the +part of several members of the committee, for even after his successful +expedition in 1684 they found "some members of the committee offended +because I had had the honour of making my reverence to the King and to his +Royal Highness." + +From 1674 to 1683, Radisson seems to have remained stanch in his allegiance +to Louis XIV. In his narrative of the years 1682 and 1683 he shews that +Colbert endeavored to induce him to bring his wife over into France, it +would appear to remain there during his absence in Hudson's Bay, as some +sort of security for her husband's fidelity to the interests of the French +monarch. After his return from this voyage in 1683 he felt himself again +unfairly treated by the French Court, and in 1684, as he relates in his +narrative, he "passed over to England for good, and of engaging myself so +strongly to the service of his Majesty, and to the interests of the Nation, +that any other consideration was never able to detach me from it." + +We again hear of Radisson in Hudson's Bay in 1685; and this is his last +appearance in public records or documents as far as is known. A Canadian, +Captain Berger, states that in the beginning of June, 1685, "he and his +crew ascended four leagues above the English in Hudson's Bay, where they +made a Small Settlement. On the 15th of July they set out to return to +Quebec. On the 17th they met with a vessel of ten or twelve guns, commanded +by Captain Oslar, on board of which was the man named Bridgar, the +Governor, who was going to relieve the Governor at the head of the Bay. He +is the same that Radisson brought to Quebec three years ago in the ship +Monsieur de la Barre restored to him. Berger also says he asked a parley +with the captain of Mr Bridgar's bark, who told him that Radisson had gone +with Mr Chouart, his nephew, fifteen days ago, to winter in the River Santa +Theresa, where they wintered a year." [Footnote: _New York Colonial +Documents_, Vol. IX.] + +After this date the English and the French frequently came into hostile +collision in Hudson's Bay. In 1686 King James demanded satisfaction from +France for losses inflicted upon the Company. Then the Jesuits procured +neutrality for America, and knew by that time they were in possession of +Fort Albany. In 1687 the French took the "Hayes" sloop, an infraction of +the treaty. In 1688 they took three ships, valued, in all, at L. 15,000; L. +113,000 damage in time of peace. In 1692 the Company set out four ships to +recover Fort Albany, taken in 1686. In 1694 the French took York, alias +Fort Bourbon. In 1696 the English retook it from them. On the 4th +September, 1697, the French retook it and kept it. The peace was made +September 20, 1697. [Footnote: _Minutes Relating to Hudson's Bay Company_.] +In 1680 the stock rose from L. 100 to near L. 1,000. Notwithstanding the +losses sustained by the Company, amounting to L. 118,014 between 1682 and +1688, they were able to pay in 1684 the shareholders a dividend of fifty +per cent. Radisson brought home in 1684 a cargo of 20,000 beaver skins. +Oldmixon says, "10,000 Beavers, in all their factories, was one of the best +years of Trade they ever had, besides other peltry." Again in 1688 a +dividend of fifty per cent was made, and in 1689 one of twenty-five per +cent. In 1690, without any call being made, the stock was trebled, while at +the same time a dividend of twenty-five per cent was paid on the increased +or newly created stock. At the Peace of Utrecht, in 1713, the forts +captured by the French in 1697 were restored to the Company, who by 1720 +had again trebled their capital, with a call of only ten per cent. After a +long and fierce rivalry with the Northwest Fur Company, the two companies +were amalgamated in 1821. [Footnote: Encyclopaedia Britannica.] + +Radisson commences his narrative of 1652 in a reverent spirit, by +inscribing it "a la plus grande gloire de Dieu." All his manuscripts have +been handed down in perfect preservation. They are written out in a clear +and excellent handwriting, showing the writer to have been a person of good +education, who had also travelled in Turkey and Italy, and who had been in +London, and perhaps learned his English there in his early life. The +narrative of travels between the years 1652 and 1664 was for some time the +property of Samuel Pepys, the well-known diarist, and Secretary of the +Admiralty to Charles II. and James II. He probably received it from Sir +George Cartaret, the Vice-Chamberlain of the King and Treasurer of the +Navy, for whom it was no doubt carefully copied out from his rough notes by +the author, So that it might, through him, be brought under the notice of +Charles II. Some years after the death of Pepys, in 1703, his collection of +manuscripts was dispersed and fell into the hands of various London +tradesmen, who bought parcels of it to use in their shops as waste-paper. +The most valuable portions were carefully reclaimed by the celebrated +collector, Richard Rawlinson, who in writing to his friend T. Rawlins, +from. "London house, January 25th, 1749/50," says: "I have purchased the +best part of the fine collection of Mr Pepys, Secretary to the Admiralty +during the reigns of Charles 2d and James 2d. Some are as old as King Henry +VIII. They were collected with a design for a Lord High Admiral such as he +should approve; but those times are not yet come, and so little care was +taken of them that they were redeemed from _thus et adores vendentibus_." + +The manuscript containing Radisson's narrative for the years 1682 and 1683 +was "purchased of Rodd, 8th July, 1839," by the British Museum. The +narrative in French, for the year 1684, was bought by Sir Hans Sloane from +the collection of "Nicolai Joseph Foucault, Comitis Consistoriani," as his +bookplate informs us. With the manuscript this gentleman had bound up in +the same volume a religious treatise in manuscript, highly illuminated, in +Italian, relating to some of the saints of the Catholic Church. [Footnote: +I am under obligations to Mr. John Gilmary Shea for valuable information.] + + + + +VOYAGES +OF +PETER ESPRIT RADISSON. + +_The Relation of my Voyage, being in Bondage in the Lands of the Irokoits, +which was the next yeare after my coming into Canada, in the yeare 1651, +the 24th day of May._ + +Being persuaded in the morning by two of my comrades to go and recreat +ourselves in fowling, I disposed myselfe to keepe them Company; wherfor I +cloathed myselfe the lightest way I could possible, that I might be the +nimbler and not stay behinde, as much for the prey that I hoped for, as for +to escape the danger into which wee have ventered ourselves of an enemy the +cruelest that ever was uppon the face of the Earth. It is to bee observed +that the french had warre with a wild nation called Iroquoites, who for +that time weare soe strong and so to be feared that scarce any body durst +stirre out either Cottage or house without being taken or kill'd, +[Footnote: In 1641-1645 Father Vimont writes: "I had as lief be beset by +goblins as by the Iroquois. The one are about as invisible as the other. +Our people on the Richelieu and at Montreal are kept in a closer +confinement than ever were monks or nuns in our smallest convents in +France."] saving that he had nimble limbs to escape their fury; being +departed, all three well armed, and unanimiously rather die then abandon +one another, notwithstanding these resolutions weare but young mens +deboasting; being then in a very litle assurance and lesse security. + +At an offspring of a village of three Rivers we consult together that two +should go the watter side, the other in a wood hardby to warne us, for to +advertise us if he accidentaly should light [upon] or suspect any Barbars +in ambush, we also retreat ourselves to him if we should discover any thing +uppon the River. Having comed to the first river, which was a mile distant +from our dwellings, wee mett a man who mett a man who kept cattell, and +asked him if he had knowne any appearance of Ennemy, and likewise demanded +which way he would advise us to gett better fortune, and what part he spied +more danger; he guiding us the best way he could, prohibiting us by no +means not to render ourselves att the skirts of the mountains; ffor, said +he, I discovered oftentimes a multitude of people which rose up as it weare +of a sudaine from of the Earth, and that doubtless there weare some enemys +that way; which sayings made us looke to ourselves and charge two of our +fowling peeces with great shot the one, and the other with small. Priming +our pistols, we went where our fancy first lead us, being impossible for us +to avoid the destinies of the heavens; no sooner tourned our backs, but my +nose fell ableeding without any provocation in the least. Certainly it was +a warning for me of a beginning of a yeare and a half of hazards and of +miseryes that weare to befall mee. We did shoot sometime and killed some +Duks, which made one of my fellow travellers go no further. I seeing him +taking such a resolution, I proferred some words that did not like him, +giving him the character of a timourous, childish humor; so this did +nothing prevaile with him, to the Contrary that had with him quite another +isue then what I hoped for; ffor offending him with my words he prevailed +so much with the others that he persuaded them to doe the same. I lett them +goe, laughing them to scorne, beseeching them to helpe me to my fowles, and +that I would tell them the discovery of my designes, hoping to kill meat to +make us meate att my retourne. + +I went my way along the wood some times by the side of the river, where I +finde something to shute att, though no considerable quantitie, which made +me goe a league off and more, so I could not go in all further then +St. Peeter's, which is nine mile from the plantation by reason of the river +Ovamasis, which hindered me the pasage. I begun'd to think att my retourne +how I might transport my fowle. I hide one part in a hollow tree to keep +them from the Eagles and other devouring fowles, so as I came backe the +same way where before had no bad incounter. Arrived within one halfe a mile +where my comrades had left me, I rested awhile by reason that I was +looden'd with three geese, tenn ducks, and one crane, with some teales. + +After having layd downe my burden uppon the grasse, I thought to have heard +a noise in the wood by me, which made me to overlook my armes; I found one +of my girdle pistols wette. I shott it off and charged it againe, went up +to the wood the soffliest I might, to discover and defend myselfe the +better against any surprise. After I had gone from tree to tree some 30 +paces off I espied nothing; as I came back from out of the wood to an +adjacent brooke, I perceived a great number of Ducks; my discovery +imbouldened me, and for that there was a litle way to the fort, I +determined to shute once more; coming nigh preparing meselfe for to shute, +I found another worke, the two young men that I left some tenne houres +before heere weare killed. Whether they came after mee, or weare brought +thither by the Barbars, I know not. However [they] weare murthered. Looking +over them, knew them albeit quite naked, and their hair standing up, the +one being shott through with three boulletts and two blowes of an hatchett +on the head, and the other runne thorough in severall places with a sword +and smitten with an hatchett. Att the same instance my nose begun'd to +bleed, which made me afraid of my life; but withdrawing myselfe to the +watter side to see if any body followed mee, I espied twenty or thirty +heads in a long grasse. Mightily surprized att the view, I must needs passe +through the midst of them or tourne backe into the woode. I slipped a +boullet uppon the shott and beate the paper into my gunne. I heard a noise, +which made me looke on that side; hopeing to save meselfe, perswading +myselfe I was not yet perceived by them that weare in the medow, and in the +meane while some gunns weare lett off with an horrid cry. + +Seeing myselfe compassed round about by a multitude of dogges, or rather +devils, that rose from the grasse, rushesse, and bushesse, I shott my +gunne, whether un warrs or purposly I know not, but I shott with a pistolle +confidently, but was seised on all sids by a great number that threw me +downe, taking away my arme without giving mee one blowe; ffor afterwards I +felt no paine att all, onely a great guidinesse in my heade, from whence it +comes I doe not remember. In the same time they brought me into the wood, +where they shewed me the two heads all bloody. After they consulted +together for a while, retired into their boats, which weare four or five +miles from thence, and wher I have bin a while before. They layed mee +hither, houlding me by the hayre, to the imbarking place; there they began +to errect their cottages, which consisted only of some sticks to boyle +their meate, whereof they had plenty, but stuncke, which was strange to mee +to finde such an alteration so sudaine. They made [me] sitt downe by. After +this they searched me and tooke what I had, then stripped me naked, and +tyed a rope about my middle, wherin I remained, fearing to persist, in the +same posture the rest of the night. After this they removed me, laughing +and howling like as many wolves, I knowing not the reason, if not for my +skin, that was soe whit in respect of theirs. But their gaping did soone +cease because of a false alarme, that their Scout who stayed behind gave +them, saying that the ffrench and the wild Algongins, friends to the +ffrench, came with all speed. They presently put out the fire, and tooke +hould of the most advantageous passages, and sent 25 men to discover what +it meant, who brought certaine tydings of assurance and liberty. + +In the meanewhile I was garded by 50 men, who gave me a good part of my +cloathes. After kindling a fire againe, they gott theire supper ready, +which was sudenly don, ffor they dresse their meat halfe boyled, mingling +some yallowish meale in the broath of that infected stinking meate; so +whilst this was adoing they combed my head, and with a filthy grease +greased my head, and dashed all over my face with redd paintings. So then, +when the meat was ready, they feeded me with their hod-pot, forcing me to +swallow it in a maner. My heart did so faint at this, that in good deede I +should have given freely up the ghost to be freed from their clawes, +thinking every moment they would end my life. They perceived that my +stomach could not beare such victuals. They tooke some of this stinking +meate and boyled it in a cleare watter, then mingled a litle Indian meale +put to it, which meale before was tossed amongst bourning sand, and then +made in powder betwixt two rocks. I, to shew myselfe cheerfull att this, +swallowed downe some of this that seemed to me very unsavoury and clammie +by reason of the scume that was upon the meat. Having supped, they untyed +mee, and made me lye betwixt them, having one end of one side and one of +another, and covered me with a red Coverlet, thorough which I might have +counted the starrs. I slept a sound sleep, for they awaked me uppon the +breaking of the day. I dreamed that night that I was with the Jesuits at +Quebuc drinking beere, which gave me hopes to be free sometimes, and also +because I heard those people lived among Dutch people in a place called +Menada [Footnote: _Menada_, Manhattan, or New Netherlands, called by the +French of Canada "Manatte."], and fort of Orang, where without doubt I +could drinke beere. I, after this, finding meselfe somewhat altered, and my +body more like a devil then anything else, after being so smeared and burst +with their filthy meate that I could not digest, but must suffer all +patiently. + +Finally they seemed to me kinder and kinder, giving me of the best bitts +where lesse wormes weare. Then they layd [me] to the watter side, where +there weare 7 and 30 boats, ffor each of them imbark'd himselfe. They tyed +me to the barre in a boat, where they tooke at the same instance the heads +of those that weare killed the day before, and for to preserve them they +cutt off the flesh to the skull and left nothing but skin and haire, +putting of it into a litle panne wherein they melt some grease, and gott it +dry with hot stones. They spread themselves from off the side of the river +a good way, and gathered together againe and made a fearfull noise and +shott some gunns off, after which followed a kind of an incondit singing +after nots, which was an oudiousom noise. As they weare departing from +thence they injoyned silence, and one of the Company, wherein I was, made +three shouts, which was answered by the like maner from the whole flocke; +which done they tooke their way, singing and leaping, and so past the day +in such like. They offered mee meate; but such victuals I reguarded it +litle, but could drinke for thirst. My sperit was troubled with infinite +deale of thoughts, but all to no purpose for the ease of my sicknesse; +sometimes despairing, now againe in some hopes. I allwayes indeavoured to +comfort myselfe, though half dead. My resolution was so mastered with +feare, that at every stroake of the oares of these inhumans I thought it to +be my end. + +By sunsett we arrived att the Isles of Richelieu, a place rather for +victors then for captives most pleasant. There is to be seen 300 wild Cowes +together, a number of Elks and Beavers, an infinit of fowls. There we must +make cottages, and for this purpose they imploy all together their wits and +art, ffor 15 of these Islands are drowned in Spring, when the floods begin +to rise from the melting of the snow, and that by reason of the lowness of +the land. Here they found a place fitt enough for 250 men that their army +consisted [of]. They landed mee & shewed mee great kindnesse, saying +Chagon, which is as much [as] to say, as I understood afterwards, be +cheerfull or merry; but for my part I was both deafe and dumb. Their +behaviour made me neverthelesse cheerfull, or att least of a smiling +countenance, and constraine my aversion and feare to an assurance, which +proved not ill to my thinking; ffor the young men tooke delight in combing +my head, greasing and powdering out a kinde of redd powder, then tying my +haire with a redd string of leather like to a coard, which caused my haire +to grow longer in a short time. + +The day following they prepared themselves to passe the adjacent places and +shoote to gett victualls, where we stayed 3 dayes, making great cheere and +fires. I more and more getting familiarity with them, that I had the +liberty to goe from cottage, having one or two by mee. They untyed mee, and +tooke delight to make me speake words of their language, and weare earnest +that I should pronounce as they. They tooke care to give me meate as often +as I would; they gave me salt that served me all my voyage. They also tooke +the paines to put it up safe for mee, not takeing any of it for themselves. +There was nothing else but feasting and singing during our abode. I tooke +notice that our men decreased, ffor every night one other boate tooke his +way, which persuaded mee that they went to the warrs to gett more booty. + +The fourth day, early in the morning, my Brother, viz., he that tooke me, +so he called me, embarked me without tying me. He gave me an oare, which I +tooke with a good will, and rowed till I sweate againe. They, perceaving, +made me give over; not content with that I made a signe of my willingnesse +to continue that worke. They consent to my desire, but shewed me how I +should row without putting myselfe into a sweat. Our company being +considerable hitherto, was now reduced to three score. Mid-day wee came to +the River of Richlieu, where we weare not farre gon, but mett a new gang of +their people in cottages; they began to hoop and hollow as the first day of +my taking. They made me stand upright in the boat, as they themselves, +saluting one another with all kindnesse and joy. In this new company there +was one that had a minde to doe me mischiefe, but prevented by him that +tooke me. I taking notice of the fellow, I shewed him more friendshipe. I +gott some meate roasted for him, and throwing a litle salt and flower over +it, which he finding very good tast, gave it to the rest as a rarity, nor +did afterwards molest mee. + +They tooke a fancy to teach mee to sing; and as I had allready a beginning +of their hooping, it was an easy thing for me to learne, our Algonquins +making the same noise. They tooke an exceeding delight to heare mee. Often +have I sunged in French, to which they gave eares with a deepe silence. We +passed that day and night following with litle rest by reason of their joy +and mirth. They lead a dance, and tyed my comrades both their heads att the +end of a stick and hopt it; this done, every one packt and embarked +himselfe, some going one way, some another. Being separated, one of the +boats that we mett before comes backe againe and approaches the boat +wherein I was; I wondered, a woman of the said company taking hould on my +haire, signifying great kindnesse. Shee combs my head with her fingers and +tyed my wrist with a bracelett, and sunged. My wish was that shee would +proceed in our way. After both companys made a shout wee separated, I was +sorry for this woman's departure, ffor having shewed me such favour att her +first aspect, doubtlesse but shee might, if neede required, saved my life. + +Our journey was indifferent good, without any delay, which caused us to +arrive in a good and pleasant harbour. It was on the side of the sand where +our people had any paine scarce to errect their cottages, being that it was +a place they had sejourned [at] before. The place round about [was] full of +trees. Heare they kindled a fire and provided what was necessary for their +food. In this place they cutt off my hair in the front and upon the crowne +of the head, and turning up the locks of the haire they dab'd mee with some +thicke grease. So done, they brought me a looking-glasse. I viewing myselfe +all in a pickle, smir'd with redde and black, covered with such a cappe, +and locks tyed up with a peece of leather and stunked horridly, I could not +but fall in love with myselfe, if not that I had better instructions to +shun the sin of pride. So after repasting themselves, they made them ready +for the journey with takeing repose that night. This was the time I thought +to have escaped, ffor in vaine, ffor I being alone feared least I should be +apprehended and dealt with more violently. And moreover I was desirous to +have seene their country. + +Att the sun rising I awaked my brother, telling him by signes it was time +to goe. He called the rest, but non would stirre, which made him lye downe +againe. I rose and went to the water side, where I walked awhile. If there +weare another we might, I dare say, escape out of their sight. Heere I +recreated myselfe running a naked swoord into the sand. One of them seeing +mee after such an exercise calls mee and shews me his way, which made me +more confidence in them. They brought mee a dish full of meate to the water +side. I began to eat like a beare. + +In the mean time they imbark'd themselves, one of them tooke notice that I +had not a knife, brings me his, which I kept the rest of the voyage, +without that they had the least feare of me. Being ready to goe, saving my +boat that was ammending, which was soone done. The other boats weare not as +yett out of sight, and in the way my boat killed a stagg. They made me +shoot att it, and not quite dead they runed it thorough with their swoords, +and having cutt it in peeces, they devided it, and proceeded on their way. +At 3 of the clock in the afternoone we came into a rappid streame, where we +weare forced to land and carry our Equipages and boats thorough a dangerous +place. Wee had not any encounter that day. Att night where we found +cottages ready made, there I cutt wood as the rest with all dilligence. The +morning early following we marched without making great noise, or singing +as accustomed. Sejourning awhile, we came to a lake 6 leagues wide, about +it a very pleasant country imbellished with great forests. That day our +wild people killed 2 Bears, one monstrous like for its biggnesse, the other +a small one. Wee arrived to a fine sandy bancke, where not long before many +Cabbanes weare errected and places made where Prisoners weare tyed. + +In this place our wild people sweated after the maner following: first +heated stones till they weare redd as fire, then they made a lantherne with +small sticks, then stoaring the place with deale trees, saving a place in +the middle whereinto they put the stoanes, and covered the place with +severall covers, then striped themselves naked, went into it. They made a +noise as if the devil weare there; after they being there for an hour they +came out of the watter, and then throwing one another into the watter, I +thought veryly they weare insensed. It is their usual Custome. Being comed +out of this place, they feasted themselves with the two bears, turning the +outside of the tripes inward not washed. They gave every one his share; as +for my part I found them [neither] good, nor savory to the pallet. In the +night they heard some shooting, which made them embark themselves speedily. +In the mean while they made me lay downe whilst they rowed very hard. I +slept securely till the morning, where I found meselfe in great high +rushes. There they stayed without noise. + +From thence wee proceeded, though not without some feare of an Algonquin +army. We went on for some dayes that lake. Att last they endeavoured to +retire to the woods, every one carrying his bundle. After a daye's march we +came to a litle river where we lay'd that night. The day following we +proceeded on our journey, where we mett 2 men, with whome our wild men +seemed to be acquainted by some signes. These 2 men began to speake a longe +while. After came a company of women, 20 in number, that brought us dry +fish and Indian corne. These women loaded themselves, after that we had +eaten, like mules with our baggage. We went through a small wood, the way +well beaten, untill the evening we touched a place for fishing, of 15 +Cabbans. There they weare well received but myselfe, who was stroaken by a +yong man. He, my keeper, made a signe I should to him againe. I tourning to +him instantly, he to me, taking hould of my haire, all the wild men came +about us, encouraging with their Cryes and hands, which encouraged me most +that non helpt him more then mee. Wee clawed one another with hands, +tooth, and nailes. My adversary being offended I have gotten the best, he +kick't me; but my french shoes that they left mee weare harder then his, +which made him [give up] that game againe. He tooke me about the wrest, +where he found himselfe downe before he was awarre, houlding him upon the +ground till some came and putt us asunder. My company seeing mee free, +began to cry out, giving me watter to wash me, and then fresh fish to +relish me. They encouraged me so much, the one combing my head, the other +greasing my haire. There we stayed 2 dayes, where no body durst trouble me. + +In the same Cabban that I was, there has bin a wild man wounded with a +small shott. I thought I have seen him the day of my taking, which made me +feare least I was the one that wounded him. He knowing it to be so had +shewed me as much charity as a Christian might have given. Another of his +fellowes (I also wounded) came to me att my first coming there, whom I +thought to have come for reveng, contrarywise shewed me a cheerfull +countenance; he gave mee a box full of red paintings, calling me his +brother. I had not as yett caryed any burden, but meeting with an ould man, +gave me a sacke of tobacco of 12 pounds' weight, bearing it uppon my head, +as it's their usuall custome. We made severall stayes the day by reason of +the severall encounters of their people that came from villages, as warrs +others from fishing and shooting. In that journey our company increased, +among others a great many Hurrons that had bin lately taken, and who for +the most part are as slaves. We lay'd in the wood because they would not +goe into their village in the night time. + +The next day we marched into a village where as wee came in sight we heard +nothing but outcryes, as from one side as from the other, being a quarter +of a mile from the village. They satt downe and I in the midle, where I saw +women and men and children with staves and in array, which put me in feare, +and instantly stripped me naked. My keeper gave me a signe to be gone as +fast as I could drive. In the meane while many of the village came about +us, among which a good old woman, and a boy with a hatchet in his hand came +near mee. The old woman covered me, and the young man tooke me by the hand +and lead me out of the company. The old woman made me step aside from +those that weare ready to stricke att mee. There I left the 2 heads of my +comrades, and that with comforted me yet I escaped the blowes. Then they +brought me into their Cottage; there the old woman shewed me kindnesse. +Shee gave me to eate. The great terror I had a litle before tooke my +stomack away from me. I stayed an hower, where a great company of people +came to see mee. Heere came a company of old men, having pipes in their +mouthes, satt about me. + +After smoaking, they lead me into another cabban, where there weare a +company all Smoaking; they made [me] sitt downe by the fire, which made +[me] apprehend they should cast me into the said fire. But it proved +otherwise; for the old woman followed mee, Speaking aloud, whom they +answered with a loud ho, then shee tooke her girdle and about mee shee tyed +it, so brought me to her cottage, and made me sitt downe in the same place +I was before. Then shee began to dance and sing a while, after [she] brings +downe from her box a combe, gives it to a maide that was neare mee, who +presently comes to greas and combe my haire, and tooke away the paint that +the fellows stuck to my face. Now the old woman getts me some Indian Corne +toasted in the fire. I tooke paines to gether it out of the fire; after +this shee gave me a blew coverlett, stokins and shoos, and where with to +make me drawers. She looked in my cloathes, and if shee found any lice shee +would squeeze them betwixt her teeth, as if they had ben substantiall +meate. I lay'd with her son, who tooke me from those of my first takers, +and gott at last a great acquaintance with many. I did what I could to gett +familiarity with them, yeat I suffered no wrong att their hands, taking all +freedom, which the old woman inticed me to doe. But still they altered my +face where ever I went, and a new dish to satisfy nature. + +I tooke all the pleasures imaginable, having a small peece at my command, +shooting patriges and squerells, playing most part of the day with my +companions. The old woman wished that I would make meselfe more familiar +with her 2 daughters, which weare tolerable among such people. They weare +accustomed to grease and combe my haire in the morning. I went with them +into the wilderness, there they would be gabling which I could not +understand. They wanted no company but I was shure to be of the number. I +brought all ways some guifts that I received, which I gave to my +purse-keeper and refuge, the good old woman. I lived 5 weeks without +thinking from whence I came. I learned more of their maners in 6 weeks then +if I had bin in ffrance 6 months. Att the end I was troubled in minde, +which made her inquire if I was Anjonack, a Huron word. Att this I made as +if I weare subported for speaking in a strang language, which shee liked +well, calling me by the name of her son who before was killed, Orinha, +[Footnote: Called _Orimha_, over-leaf.] which signifies ledd or stone, +without difference of the words. So that it was my Lordshippe. Shee +inquired [of] mee whether I was Asserony, a french. I answering no, saying +I was Panugaga, that is, of their nation, for which shee was pleased. + +My father feasted 300 men that day. My sisters made me clean for that +purpos, and greased my haire. My mother decked me with a new cover and a +redd and blew cappe, with 2 necklace of porcelaine. My sisters tyed me with +braceletts and garters of the same porcelaine. My brother painted my face, +and [put] feathers on my head, and tyed both my locks with porcelaine. My +father was liberall to me, giving me a garland instead of my blew cap and a +necklace of porcelaine that hung downe to my heels, and a hattchet in my +hand. It was hard for me to defend myselfe against any encounter, being so +laden with riches. Then my father made a speech shewing many demonstrations +of vallor, broak a kettle full of Cagamite [Footnote: _Cagamite, Cagaimtie, +Sagamite_, a mush made of pounded Indian corn boiled with bits of meat or +fish.] with a hattchett So they sung, as is their usual coustom. They weare +waited on by a sort of yong men, bringing downe dishes of meate of +Oriniacke, [Footnote: _Oriniacke, Auriniacks, horiniac_, the moose, the +largest species of deer. Called by the French writers-- Sagard-Theodat, La +Hontan, and Charlevoix--_Eslan, Orinal_, or _Orignal_.] of Castors, and of +red deer mingled with some flowers. The order of makeing was thus: the +corne being dried between 2 stones into powder, being very thick, putt it +into a kettle full of watter, then a quantity of Bear's grease. This +banquett being over, they cryed to me Shagon, Orimha, that is, be hearty, +stone or ledd. Every one withdrew into his quarters, and so did I. + +But to the purpose of my history. As I went to the fields once, where I +mett with 3 of my acquaintance, who had a designe for to hunt a great way +off, they desired me to goe along. I lett them know in Huron language (for +that I knew better then that of the Iroquoits) I was content, desiring them +to stay till I acquainted my mother. One of them came along with mee, and +gott leave for me of my kindred. My mother gott me presently a sack of +meale, 3 paire of shoos, my gun, and tourned backe where the 2 stayed for +us. My 2 sisters accompanied me even out of the wildernesse and carried my +bundle, where they tooke leave. + +We marched on that day through the woods till we came by a lake where we +travelled without any rest. I wished I had stayed att home, for we had sad +victualls. The next day about noone we came to a River; there we made a +skiffe, so litle that we could scarce go into it. I admired their skill in +doing of it, ffor in lesse then 2 hours they cutt the tree and pulled up +the Rind, of which they made the boat. We embarked ourselves and went to +the lower end of the river, which emptied it selfe into a litle lake of +about 2 miles in length and a mile in breadth. We passed this lake into +another river broader then the other; there we found a fresh track of a +stagge, which made us stay heere a while. It was five of the clock att +least when 2 of our men made themselves ready to looke after that beast; +the other and I stayed behind. Not long after we saw the stagge crosse the +river, which foarding brought him to his ending. So done, they went on +their cours, and came backe againe att 10 of the clocke with 3 bears, a +castor, and the stagge which was slaine att our sight. How did wee rejoice +to see that killed which would make the kettle boyle. After we have eaten, +wee slept. + +The next day we made trappes for to trapp castors, whilst we weare bussie, +one about one thing, one about another. As 3 of us retourned homewards to +our cottage we heard a wild man singing. He made us looke to our selves +least he should prove an ennemy, but as we have seene him, called to him, +who came immediately, telling us that he was in pursuite of a Beare since +morning, and that he gave him over, having lost his 2 doggs by the same +beare. He came with us to our Cottage, where we mett our companion after +having killed one beare, 2 staggs, and 2 mountain catts, being 5 in number. +Whilst the meat was a boyling that wild man spoake to me the Algonquin +language. I wondred to heare this stranger; he tould me that he was taken 2 +years agoe; he asked me concerning the 3 rivers and of Quebuck, who wished +himselfe there, and I said the same, though I did not intend it. He asked +me if I loved the french. I inquired [of] him also if he loved the +Algonquins? Mary, quoth he, and so doe I my owne nation. Then replyed he, +Brother, cheare up, lett us escape, the 3 rivers are not a farre off. I +tould him my 3 comrades would not permitt me, and that they promissed my +mother to bring me back againe. Then he inquired whether I would live like +the Hurrons, who weare in bondage, or have my owne liberty with the +ffrench, where there was good bread to be eaten. Feare not, quoth he, shall +kill them all 3 this night when they will bee a sleepe, which will be an +easy matter with their owne hatchetts. + +Att last I consented, considering they weare mortall ennemys to my country, +that had cutt the throats of so many of my relations, burned and murdered +them. I promissed him to succour him in his designe. They not understanding +our language asked the Algonquin what is that that he said, but tould them +some other story, nor did they suspect us in the least. Their belly full, +their mind without care, wearyed to the utmost of the formost day's +journey, fell a sleepe securely, leaning their armes up and downe without +the least danger. Then my wild man pushed me, thinking I was a sleepe. He +rises and sitts him downe by the fire, behoulding them one after an other, +and taking their armes a side, and having the hattchetts in his hand gives +me one; to tell the truth I was loathsome to do them mischif that never did +me any. Yett for the above said reasons I tooke the hattchet and began the +Execution, which was soone done. My fellow comes to him that was nearest to +the fire (I dare say he never saw the stroake), and I have done that like +to an other, but I hitting him with the edge of the hattchett could not +disingage [it] presently, being so deep in his head, rises upon his breast, +butt fell back sudainly, making a great noise, which almost waked the +third; but my comrade gave him a deadly blow of a hattchet, and presently +after I shott him dead. + +Then we prepared our selves with all speed, throwing their dead corps, +after that the wild man took off their heads, into the watter. We tooke 3 +guns, leaving the 4th, their 2 swoords, their hattchetts, their powder and +shott, and all their porselaine; we tooke also some meale and meate. I was +sorry for to have ben in such an incounter, but too late to repent. Wee +tooke our journey that night alongst the river. The break of day we landed +on the side of a rock which was smooth. We carryed our boat and equippage +into the wood above a hundred paces from the watter side, where we stayed +most sadly all that day tormented by the Maringoines; [Footnote: +_Musquetos_.] we tourned our boat upside downe, we putt us under it from +the raine. The night coming, which was the fitest time to leave that place, +we goe without any noise for our safty. Wee travelled 14 nights in that +maner in great feare, hearing boats passing by. When we have perceaved any +fire, left off rowing, and went by with as litle noise as could [be] +possible. Att last with many tournings by lande and by watter, wee came to +the lake of St. Peeter's. + +We landed about 4 of the clock, leaving our skiff in among rushes farr out +of the way from those that passed that way and doe us injury. We retired +into the wood, where we made a fire some 200 paces from the river. There we +roasted some meat and boyled meale; after, we rested ourselves a while from +the many labours of the former night. So, having slept, my companion awaks +first, and stirrs me, saying it was high time that we might by day come to +our dweling, of which councel I did not approve. [I] tould him the Ennemys +commonly weare lurking about the river side, and we should doe very well +[to] stay in that place till sunnsett. Then, said he, lett us begon, we +[are] passed all feare. Let us shake off the yoake of a company of whelps +that killed so many french and black-coats, and so many of my nation. Nay, +saith he, Brother, if you come not, I will leave you, and will go through +the woods till I shall be over against the french quarters. There I will +make a fire for a signe that they may fetch me. I will tell to the Governor +that you stayed behind. Take courage, man, says he. With this he tooke his +peece and things. Att this I considered how if [I] weare taken att the +doore by meere rashnesse; the next, the impossibility I saw to go by +myselfe if my comrad would leave me, and perhaps the wind might rise, that +I could [only] come to the end of my journey in a long time, and that I +should be accounted a coward for not daring to hazard myselfe with him that +so much ventured for mee. I resolved to go along through the woods; but the +litle constancy that is to be expected in wild men made me feare he should +[take] to his heels, which approved his unfortunate advice; ffor he hath +lost his life by it, and I in great danger have escaped by the helpe of the +Almighty. I consent to goe by watter with him. + +In a short time wee came to the lake. The watter very calme and cleare. No +liklyhood of any storme. We hazarded to the other side of the lake, +thinking ffor more security. After we passed the third part of the lake, I +being the foremost, have perceaved as if it weare a black shaddow, which +proved a real thing. He at this rises and tells mee that it was a company +of buzards, a kinde of geese in that country. We went on, where wee soone +perceaved our owne fatall blindnesse, ffor they weare ennemys. We went back +againe towards the lande with all speed to escape the evident danger, but +it was too late; ffor before we could come to the russhes that weare within +halfe a league of the waterside we weare tired. Seeing them approaching +nigher and nigher, we threw the 3 heads in the watter. They meet with these +3 heads, which makes them to row harder after us, thinking that we had runn +away from their country. We weare so neere the lande that we saw the bottom +of the watter, but yett too deepe to step in. When those cruel inhumans +came within a musquett shott of us, and fearing least the booty should gett +a way from them, shott severall times att us, and deadly wounding my +comrade, [who] fell dead. I expected such another shott. The litle skiff +was pierced in severall places with their shooting, [so] that watter ran in +a pace. I defended me selfe with the 2 arms. Att last they environed me +with their boats, that tooke me just as I was a sinking. They held up the +wild man and threw him into one of their boats and me they brought with all +diligence to land. I thought to die without mercy. + +They made a great fire and tooke my comrade's heart out, and choped off his +head, which they put on an end of a stick and carryed it to one of their +boats. They cutt off some of the flesh of that miserable, broyled it and +eat it. If he had not ben so desperately wounded they had don their best to +keepe him alive to make him suffer the more by bourning him with small +fires; but being wounded in the chin, and [a] bullet gon through the troat, +and another in the shoulder that broake his arme, making him incurable, +they burned some parte of his body, and the rest they left there. That was +the miserable end of that wretch. + +Lett us come now to the beginning of my miseries and calamities that I was +to undergo. Whilst they weare bussie about my companion's head, the others +tyed me safe and fast in a strang maner; having striped me naked, they tyed +me above the elbows behind my back, and then they putt a collar about me, +not of porcelaine as before, but a rope wrought about my midle. So [they] +brought me in that pickle to the boat. As I was imbarqued they asked mee +severall questions. I being not able to answer, gave me great blowes with +their fists. [They] then pulled out one of my nailes, and partly untied me. + +What displeasure had I, to have seen meselfe taken againe, being almost +come to my journey's end, that I must now goe back againe to suffer such +torments, as death was to be expected. Having lost all hopes, I resolved +alltogether to die, being a folly to think otherwise. I was not the [only] +one in the clawes of those wolves. Their company was composed of 150 men. +These tooke about Quebucq and other places 2 frenchmen, one french woman, +17 Hurrons, men as [well as] women. They had Eleven heads which they sayd +weare of the Algonquins, and I was the 33rd victime with those cruels. + +The wild men that weare Prisners sang their fatal song, which was a +mornfull song or noise. The 12 couleurs (which weare heads) stood out for a +shew. We prisoners weare separated, one in one boat, one in an other. As +for me, I was put into a boat with a Huron whose fingers weare cutt and +bourned, and very [few] amongst them but had the markes of those inhuman +devils. They did not permitt me to tarry long with my fellow prisoner, +least I should tell him any news, as I imagine, but sent me to another +boat, where I remained the rest of the voyage by watter, which proved +somewhat to my disadvantage. + +In this boat there was an old man, who having examined me, I answered him +as I could best; tould him how I was adopted by such an one by name, and as +I was a hunting with my companions that wildman that was killed came to us, +and after he had eaten went his way. In the evening [he] came back againe +and found us all a sleepe, tooke a hattchett and killed my 3 companions, +and awaked me, and so embarked me and brought me to this place. That old +man believed me in some measure, which I perceived in him by his kindnesse +towards me. But he was not able to protect me from those that [had] a will +to doe me mischief. Many slandred me, but I tooke no notice. + +Some 4 leagues thence they erected cottages by a small river, very +difficult to gett to it, for that there is litle watter on a great sand +[bank] a league wide. To this very houre I tooke notice how they tyed their +captives, though att my owne cost. They planted severall poastes of the +bignesse of an arme, then layd us of a length, tyed us to the said poasts +far a sunder from one another. Then tyed our knees, our wrists, and elbows, +and our hairs directly upon the crowne of our heads, and then cutt 4 barrs +of the bignesse of a legge & used thus. They tooke 2 for the necke, puting +one of each side, tying the 2 ends together, so that our heads weare fast +in a hole like a trappe; likewayes they did to our leggs. And what +tormented us most was the Maringoines and great flyes being in abundance; +did all night but puff and blow, that by that means we saved our faces from +the sting of those ugly creatures; having no use of our hands, we are +cruelly tormented. Our voyage was laborious and most miserable, suffering +every night the like misery. + +When we came neere our dwellings we mett severall gangs of men to our +greatest disadvantage, for we weare forced to sing, and those that came to +see us gave porcelaine to those that most did us injury. One cutt of a +finger, and another pluck'd out a naile, and putt the end of our fingers +into their bourning pipes, & burned severall parts in our bodyes. Some +tooke our fingers and of a stick made a thing like a fork, with which +[they] gave severall blowes on the back of the hands, which caused our +hands to swell, and became att last insensible as dead. Having souffred all +these crueltyes, which weare nothing to that they make usually souffer +their Prisoners, we arrived att last to the place of execution, which is +att the coming in to their village, which wheere not [long] before I +escaped very neere to be soundly beaten with staves and fists. Now I must +think to be no lesse traited by reason of the murder of the 3 men, but the +feare of death takes away the feare of blowes. + +Nineteen of us prisoners weare brought thither, and 2 left behind with the +heads. In this place we had 8 coulours. Who would not shake att the sight +of so many men, women, and children armed with all sorte of Instruments: +staves, hand Irons, heelskins wherein they putt halfe a score [of] bullets? +Others had brands, rods of thorne, and all suchlike that the Crueltie could +invent to putt their Prisoners to greater torments. Heere, no help, no +remedy. We must passe this dangerous passage in our extremity without +helpe. He that is the fearfullest, or that is observed to stay the last, +getts nothing by it butt more blowes, and putt him to more paine. For the +meanest sort of people commonly is more cruell to the fearfullest then to +the others that they see more fearfull, being att last to suffer chearfuly +and with constancy. + +They begun to cry to both sides, we marching one after another, environed +with a number of people from all parts to be witnesse to that hidious +sight, which seriously may be called the Image of hell in this world. The +men sing their fatall song, the women make horrible cryes, the victores +cryes of joy, and their wives make acclamations of mirth. In a word, all +prepare for the ruine of these poore victimes who are so tyed, having +nothing saving only our leggs free, for to advance by litle and litle +according [to] the will of him that leades; ffor as he held us by a long +rope, he stayed us to his will, & often he makes us falle, for to shew them +cruelty, abusing you so for to give them pleasure and to you more torment. + +As our band was great, there was a greater crew of people to see the +prisoners, and the report of my taking being now made, and of the death of +the 3 men, which afflicted the most part of that nation, great many of +which came through a designe of revenge and to molest me more then any +other. But it was altogether otherwise, for among the tumult I perceaved my +father & mother with their 2 daughters. The mother pushes in among the Crew +directly to mee, and when shee was neere enough, shee clutches hould of my +haire as one desperat, calling me often by my name; drawing me out of my +ranck, shee putts me into the hands of her husband, who then bid me have +courage, conducting me an other way home to his Cabban, when he made me +sitt downe. [He] said to me: You senselesse, thou was my son, and thou +rendered thyselfe enemy, and thou rendered thyself enemy, thou lovest not +thy mother, nor thy father that gave thee thy life, and thou +notwithstanding will kill me. Bee merry; Conharrassan, give him to eate. +That was the name of one of the sisters. My heart shook with trembling and +feare, which tooke away my stomach. Neverthelesse to signifie a bould +countenance, knowing well a bould generous minde is allwayes accounted +among all sort of nations, especially among wariors, as that nation is very +presumptious and haughty. Because of their magnanimity and victories +opposing themselves into all dangers and incounters what ever, running over +the whole land for to make themselves appeere slaining and killing all they +meete in exercising their cruelties, or else shewing mercy to whom they +please to give liberty. God gave mee the grace to forgett nothing of my +duty, as I tould my father the successe of my voyage in the best tearme I +could, and how all things passed, mixturing a litle of their languag with +that of the Hurrons, which I learned more fluently then theirs, being +longer and more frequently with the Hurrons. + +Every one attentively gave ears to me, hoping by this means to save my +life. Uppon this heere comes a great number of armed men, enters the +Cabban, where finding mee yett tyed with my cords, fitting by my parents, +made their addresses to my father, and spak to him very loud. After a while +my father made me rise and delivers me into their hands. My mother seeing +this, cryes and laments with both my sisters, and I believing in a terrible +motion to goe directly on to the place of execution. I must march, I must +yeeld wheere force is predominant att the publique place. + +I was conducted where I found a good company of those miserable wretches, +alltogether beaten with blowes, covered with blood, and bourned. One +miserable frenchman, yett breathing, having now ben consumed with blowes of +sticks, past so through the hands of this inraged crew, and seeing he could +[bear] no more, cutt off his head and threw it into the fire. This was the +end of this Execrable wofull body of this miserable. + +They made me goe up the scaffold where weare 5 men, 3 women, and 2 children +captives, and I made the Eleventh. There weare severall scaffolds nigh one +an other, where weare these wretches, who with dolefull singings +replenished the heavens with their Cryes. For I can say that an houre +before the weather approved very faire, and in an instant the weather +changed and rayned Extremely. The most part retired for to avoid this +hayle, and now we must expect the full rigour of the weather by the +retiration of those perfidious [persons], except one part of the Band of +hell who stayed about us for to learn the trade of barbary; ffor those +litle devils seeing themselves all alone, continued [a] thousand inventions +of wickednesse. This is nothing strang, seeing that they are brought up, +and suck the crueltie from their mother's brest. + +I prolong a litle from my purpose of my adventure for to say the torments +that I have seen souffred att Coutu, after that they have passed the +sallett, att their entering in to the village, and the rencounters that +they meet ordinarily in the wayes, as above said. They tie the prisoners to +a poast by their hands, their backs tourned towards the hangman, who hath a +bourning fire of dry wood and rind of trees, which doth not quench easily. +They putt into this fire hattchets, swords, and such like instruments of +Iron. They take these and quench them on human flesh. They pluck out their +nailes for the most part in this sort. They putt a redd coale of fire uppon +it, and when it is swolen bite it out with their teeth. After they stop the +blood with a brand which by litle and litle drawes the veines the one after +another from off the fingers, and when they draw all as much as they can, +they cutt it with peeces of redd hott Iron; they squeeze the fingers +between 2 stones, and so draw the marrow out of the boanes, and when the +flesh is all taken away, they putt it in a dishfull of bourning sand. After +they tye your wrist with a corde, putting two for this effect, one drawing +him one way, another of another way. If the sinews be not cutt with a +stick, putting it through & tourning it, they make them come as fast as +they can, and cutt them in the same way as the others. Some others cutt +peeces of flesh from all parts of the body & broyle them, gett you to eat +it, thrusting them into yor mouth, puting into it a stick of fire. They +breake your teeth with a stoane or clubbs, and use the handle of a kettle, +and upon this do hang 5 or 6 hattchetts, red hott, which they hang about +their neck and roast your leggs with brands of fire, and thrusting into it +some sticks pointed, wherein they put ledd melted and gunnepowder, and then +give it fire like unto artificiall fire, and make the patient gather it by +the stumps of his remalning fingers. If he cannot sing they make him quack +like a henne. + +I saw two men tyed to a rope, one att each end, and hang them so all night, +throwing red coales att them, or bourning sand, and in such like bourne +their feet, leggs, thighs, and breech. The litle ones doe exercise +themselves about such cruelties; they deck the bodyes all over with hard +straw, putting in the end of this straw, thornes, so leaves them; now & +then gives them a litle rest, and sometimes gives them fresh watter and +make them repose on fresh leaves. They also give them to eat of the best +they have that they come to themselves againe, to give them more torments. +Then when they see that the patient can no more take up his haire, they +cover his head with a platter made of rind full of bourning sand, and often +getts the platter a fire. In the next place they cloath you with a suit +made of rind of a tree, and this they make bourne out on your body. They +cutt off your stones and the women play with them as with balles. When they +See the miserable die, they open him and pluck out his heart; they drink +some of his blood, and wash the children's heads with the rest to make them +valient. If you have indured all the above said torments patiently and +without moanes, and have defied death in singing, then they thrust burning +blades all along your boanes, and so ending the tragedie cutt off the head +and putt it on the end of a stick and draw his body in quarters which they +hawle about their village. Lastly [they] throw him into the watter or leave +[him] in the fields to be eaten by the Crowes or doggs. + +Now lett me come to our miserable poore captives that stayed all along +[through] the raine upon the scaffold to the mercy of 2 or 300 rogues that +shott us with litle arrowes, and so drew out our beards and the haire from +those that had any. The showre of rayne being over, all come together +againe, and having kindled fires began to burne some of those poore +wretches. That day they pluckt 4 nailes out of my fingers, and made me +sing, though I had no mind att that time. I became speechlesse oftentimes; +then they gave me watter wherin they boyled a certain herbe that the +gunsmiths use to pollish their armes. That liquour brought me to my speech +againe. The night being come they made me come downe all naked as I was, & +brought to a strang Cottage. I wished heartily it had ben that of my +parents. Being come, they tyed me to a poast, where I stayed a full houre +without the least molestation. + +A woman came there with her boy, inticed him to cutt off one of my fingers +with a flint stoan. The boy was not 4 yeares old. This [boy] takes my +finger and begins to worke, but in vaine, because he had not the strength +to breake my fingers. So my poore finger escaped, having no other hurt don +to it but the flesh cutt round about it. His mother made him suck the very +blood that runn from my finger. I had no other torment all that day. Att +night I could not sleepe for because of the great paine. I did eat a litle, +and drunk much watter by reason of a feaver I caught by the cruel torment I +suffred. + +The next morning I was brought back againe to the scaffold, where there +were company enough. They made me sing a new, but my mother came there and +made [me] hould my peace, bidding me be cheerfull and that I should not +die. Shee brought mee some meate. Her coming comforted me much, but that +did not last long; ffor heare comes severall old people, one of which being +on the scaffold, satt him downe by me, houlding in his mouth a pewter pipe +burning, tooke my thumb and putt it on the burning tobacco, and so smoaked +3 pipes one after another, which made my thumb swell, and the nayle and +flesh became as coales. My mother was allwayes by me to comfort me, but +said not what I thought. That man having finished his hard worke, but I am +sure I felt it harder to suffer it. He trembled, whether for feare or for +so much action I cannot tell. My mother tyed my fingers with cloath, and +when he was gon shee greased my haire and combed my haire with a wooden +comb, fitter to combe a horse's tayle then anything else. Shee goes back +againe. + +That day they ended many of those poore wretches, flinging some all alive +into the midle of a great fire. They burned a frenchwoman; they pulled out +her breasts and tooke a child out of her belly, which they broyled and made +the mother eat of it; so, in short, [she] died. I was not abused all that +day till the night. They bourned the soales of my feet and leggs. A +souldier run through my foot a swoord red out of the fire, and plucked +severall of my nailes. I stayed in that maner all night. I neither wanted +in the meane while meate nor drinke. I was supplied by my mother and +sisters. My father alsoe came to see me & tould me I should have courage. +That very time there came a litle boy to gnaw with his teeth the end of my +fingers. There appears a man to cutt off my thumb, and being about it +leaves me instantly & did no harme, for which I was glad. I believe that my +father dissuaded him from it. + +A while after my father was gon 3 came to the scaffold who swore they would +me a mischiefe, as I thinke, for yet he tied his leggs to mine, called for +a brand of fire, and layd it between his leggs and mine, and sings: but by +good lucke it was out on my side, and did no other effect then bourne my +skin, but bourned him to some purpos. In this posture I was to follow him, +& being not able to hould mee, draweth mee downe. One of the Company Cutt +the rope that held us with his knife, and makes mee goe up againe the +scaffold and then went their way. + +There I stayed till midday alone. There comes a multitude of people who +make me come downe and led mee into a cottage where there weare a number of +sixty old men smoaking tobacco. Here they make mee sitt downe among them +and stayed about halfe an houre without that they asked who and why I was +brought thither, nor did I much care. For the great torments that I +souffred, I knew not whether I was dead or alive. And albeit I was in a +hott feavor & great pain, I rejoyced att the sight of my brother, that I +have not seene since my arrivement. He comes in very sumptuously covered +with severall necklaces of porcelaine,[Footnote: _Porcelaine_, the French +for wam-pum, or shell beads.] & a hattchett in his hand, satt downe by the +company and cast an eye on me now and then. Presently and comes in my +father with a new and long cover, and a new porcelaine about him, with a +hatchett in his hands, likewise satt downe with the company. He had a +calumet of red stoane in his hands, a cake [Footnote: _Cake_, meaning a +medicine-bag.] uppon his shoulders, that hanged downe his back, and so had +the rest of the old men. In that same cake are incloased all the things in +the world, as they tould me often, advertising mee that I should [not] +disoblige them in the least nor make them angry, by reason they had in +their power the sun, and moone, and the heavans, and consequently all the +earth. You must know in this cake there is nothing but tobacco and roots to +heale some wounds or sores; some others keepe in it the bones of their +deceased friends; most of them wolves' heads, squirrels', or any other +beast's head. When there they have any debatement among them they sacrifice +to this tobacco, that they throw into the fire, and make smoake, of that +they puff out of their pipes; whether for peace or adversity or prosperity +or warre, such ceremonies they make very often. + +My father, taking his place, lights his pipe & smoaks as the rest. They +held great silence. During this they bring 7 prisoners; to wit, 7 women and +2 men, more [then] 10 children from the age of 3 to 12 years, having placed +them all by mee, who as yett had my armes tyed. The others all att liberty, +being not tyed, which putt me into some despaire least I should pay for +all. Awhile after one of the company rises and makes a long speech, now +shewing the heavens with his hands, and then the earth, and fire. This good +man putt himselfe into a sweate through the earnest discours. Having +finished his panigerique, another begins, and also many, one after another. + +They gave then liberty to some, butt killed 2 children with hattchetts, and +a woman of 50 years old, and threw them out of the cottage (saving onely +myselfe) att full liberty. I was left alone for a stake, they contested +together [upon] which my father rose and made a speech which lasted above +an houre, being naked, having nothing on but his drawers and the cover of +his head, and putt himselfe all in a heate. His eyes weare hollow in his +head; he appeared to me like [as if] mad, and naming often the Algonquins +in their language [that is, Eruata], which made me believe he spoake in my +behalfe. In that very time comes my mother, with two necklaces of +porcelaine, one in her armes, and another about her like a belt. As soone +as shee came in shee began to sing and dance, and flings off one of her +necklaces in the midle of the place, having made many tourns from one end +to the other. Shee takes the other necklace and gives it mee, then goes her +way. Then my brother rises and holding his hattchett in his hand sings a +military song. Having finished [he] departs. I feared much that he was +first to knock me in the head; and happy are those that can escape so well, +rather then be bourned. My father rises for a second time and sings; so +done, retired himselfe. I thought all their guifts, songs, and speeches +should prevaile nothing with mee. + +Those that stayed held a councell and spoake one to an other very long, +throwing tobacco into the fire, making exclamations. Then the Cottage was +open of all sides by those that came to view, some of the company retires, +and place was made for them as if they weare Kings. Forty staye about me, +and nigh 2000 about my cottage, of men, women, and children. Those that +went their way retourned presently. Being sett downe, smoaked againe +whilest my father, mother, brother, and sisters weare present. My father +sings a while; so done, makes a speech, and taking the porcelaine necklace +from off me throws it att the feet of an old man, and cutts the cord that +held me, then makes me rise. The joy that I receaved att that time was +incomparable, for suddenly all my paines and griefs ceased, not feeling the +least paine. He bids me be merry, makes me sing, to which I consented with +all my heart. Whilst I did sing they hooped and hollowed on all sids. The +old man bid me "ever be cheerfull, my son!" Having don, my mother, sisters, +and the rest of their friends [sung] and danced. + +Then my father takes me by the arme and leads me to his cabban. As we went +along nothing was heard but hooping and hollowing on all parts, biding me +to take great courage. My mother was not long after me, with the rest of +her friends. Now I see myselfe free from death. Their care att this was to +give me meate. I have not eaten a bitt all that day, and for the great joy +I had conceaved, caused me to have a good stomach, so that I did eat +lustily. Then my mother begins to cure my sores and wounds. Then begins my +paines to [break out] a new; ffor shee cleans my wounds and scrapes them +with a knife, and often thrusts a stick in them, and then takes watter in +her mouth, and spouts it to make them cleane. The meanwhile my father goes +to seeke rootes, and my sister chaws them, and my mother applyes them to my +sores as a plaster. The next day the swelling was gone, but worse then +before; but in lesse then a fortnight my sores weare healed, saving my +feete, that kept [me] more then a whole month in my Cabban. During this +time my nailes grewed a pace. I remained onely lame of my midle finger, +that they have Squeezed between two stoanes. Every one was kind to mee as +beforesaid, and [I] wanted no company to be merry with. + +I should [be] kept too long to tell you the particulars that befell me +during my winter. I was beloved of my Parents as before. My exercise was +allwayes a hunting without that any gave me the least injury. My mother +kept me most brave, and my sisters tooke great care of mee. Every moneth I +had a white shirt, which my father sent for from the Flemeings, who weare +not a farr off our village. I could never gett leave to goe along with my +brother, who went there very often. Finally, seeing myselfe in the former +condition as before, I constituted as long as my father and fortune would +permitt mee to live there. Dayly there weare military feasts for the South +nations, and others for the Algonquins and for the French. The +exclamations, hoopings and cryes, songs and dances, signifies nothing but +the murdering and killing, and the intended victory that they will have the +next yeare, which is in the beginning of Spring. In those feasts my father +heaves up his hattchett against the Algonquins. For this effect [he] makes +great preparations for his next incamping. Every night [he] never failes to +instruct and encourage the young age to take armes and to reveng the death +of so many of their ennemy that lived among the french nation. The desire +that I had to make me beloved, for the assurance of my life made me resolve +to offer myselfe for to serve, and to take party with them. But I feared +much least he should mistrust me touching his advis to my resolution. +Neverthelesse I finding him once of a good humour and on the point of +honnour encourages his son to break the kettle and take the hattchett and +to be gon to the forraigne nations, and that was of courage and of great +renowne to see the father of one parte and the son of another part, & that +he should not mispraise if he should seperat from him, but that it was the +quickest way to make the world tremble, & by that means have liberty +everywhere by vanquishing the mortall enemy of his nation; uppon this I +venture to aske him what I was. [He] presently answers that I was a +Iroquoite as himselfe. Lett me revenge, said I, my kindred. I love my +brother. Lett me die with him. I would die with you, but you will not +because you goe against the ffrench. Lett me a gaine goe with my brother, +the prisoners & the heads that I shall bring, to the joy of my mother and +sisters, will make me undertake att my retourne to take up the hattchett +against those of Quebecq, of the 3 rivers, and Monteroyall in declaring +them my name, and that it's I that kills them, and by that you shall know I +am your son, worthy to beare that title that you gave me when you adopted +me. He sett [up] a great crye, saying, have great courage, son Oninga, thy +brother died in the warrs not in the Cabban; he was of a courage not of a +woman. I goe to aveng his death. If I die, aveng you mine. That one word +was my leave, which made me hope that one day I might escape, having soe +great an opportunity; or att least I should have the happinesse to see +their country, which I heard so much recommended by the Iroquoites, who +brought wondrous stories and the facilitie of killing so many men. + +Thus the winter was past in thoughts and preparing for to depart before the +melting of the snow, which is very soone in that Country. I began to sett +my witts together how I should resolve this my voyage; for my mother +opposed against it mightily, saying I should bee lost in the woods, and +that I should gett it [put] off till the next yeare. But at last I +flattered with her and dissembled; besides, my father had the power in his +hands. Shee daring not to deny him any thing because shee was not borne in +my father's country, but was taken [when] little in the Huronit's Country. +Notwithstanding [she was] well beloved of her husband, having lived +together more then fourty years, and in that space brought him 9 children, +4 males and 5 females. Two girls died after a while, and 3 sons killed in +the warrs, and one that went 3 years before with a band of 13 men to warre +against a fiery nation which is farre beyonde the great lake. The 5th had +allready performed 2 voyages with a greate deale of successe. My father was +a great Captayne in warrs, having ben Commander in all his times, and +distructed many villages of their Ennemy, having killed 19 men with his +owne hands, whereof he was marked [on] his right thigh for as many [as] he +killed. He should have as many more, but that you must know that the +Commander has not amused himselfe to kille, but in the front of his army to +encourage his men. If by chance he tooke any prisoners, he calles one of +his men and gives him the captives, saying that it's honour enough to +command the conquerors, and by his example shews to the yong men that he +has the power as much as the honour. He receaved 2 gunn shots and 7 arrows +shotts, and was runne through the shoulders with a lance. He was aged 3 +score years old, he was talle, and of an excellent witt for a wild man. + +When our baggage was ready, my father makes a feast to which he invites a +number of people, & declares that he was sorry he had resolved to go to +warre against an Ennemy which was in a cold country, which hindred him to +march sooner then he would, but willing to see his sonnes before him, and +that this banquett was made for his 2 sons' farewell. Then he tould that +his adopted son was ready to go with his owne son to be revenged of the +death of their brothers, and desired the Commander to have a care of us +both. This Commander loved us both, said that the one which [was] meselfe +should be with him to the end. If anything should oppose he would make me +fight him. I was not att home when he spoke those words, but my mother +toald me it att my retourne. I was a fishing by with my sisters & brother. +When wee came back wee found all ready, butt with a heart broken that our +mother and sisters lett us goe. Few days after I was invited to a military +banquett where was the Captayne, a yong gallant of 20 years old, with a +company of 8, and I made the 10th. We all did sing and made good cheare of +a fatt beare. We gave our things to slaves, we carried only our musquetts. +Our kindred brought us a great way. My sister could not forbeare crying, +yett tould me to be of a stout heart. We tooke att last [leave and] bid +them adieu. We tooke on our journey over great snowes for to come to the +great Lake before the Spring. We travelled 7 days through woods and +indifferent country, easie in some places and others difficult. The Rivers +weare frozen, which made us crosse with a great deale of ease. + +Wee arrived the 7th day in a village called Nojottga [Footnote: _Nojottga_, +or Oneioutga, Oneida.], where we stayed 2 days. From thence came a young +man with us. We arrived into another village, Nontageya [Footnote: +_Nontageya_, Onontaguega, or Onondaga.], where we stayed foure days. Wee +had allways great preparations, and weare invited 9 or tenne times a day. +Our bellyes had not tyme to emptie themselves, because we feeded so much, +and that what was prepared for us weare severall sortes, Stagg, Indian +corne, thick flower, bears, and especially eels. We have not yett searched +our baggs wheare our provision was. In this place wee mended them. For my +part I found in myne 6 pounds of powder and more then 15 pounds of shott, 2 +shirts, a capp, 8 pairs of shoes, and wherewith to make a paire of +breeches, and about 1000 graines of black and white porcelaine, and my +brother as many. Wee had new covers, one to our body, another hung downe +from our shoulders like a mantle. Every one [had] a small necklace of +porcelaine and a collar made with a thread of nettles to tye the Prisoners. +I had a gunne, a hattchett, and a dagger. That was all we had. Our slaves +brought the packs after us. + +After we marched 3 dayes, we came to a village, Sonon-teeonon,[Footnote: +_Sononteeonon_, Tionnontonan, or Seneca.] there we layd a night. The next +day, after a small journey, we came to the last village of their +confederates. Heere they doe differ in their speech though of [our] nation. +It's called Oiongoiconon. [Footnote: _Oiongoiconon_ is Cayuga.] Here we +stay 2 dayes, and sent away our slaves and carryed our bundles ourselves, +going allwayes through the woods. We found great plaines of 2 leagues and a +halfe journey without a tree. We saw there stagges, but would not goe out +of our way to kill them. We went through 3 villages of this nation neare +one another. They admired to see a frenchman accompanying wild men, which I +understood by their exclamations. I thought I grewed leane to take litle +voyage, but the way seemed tedious to all. The raquett alwayes with the +feet and sometimes with the hands, which seemed to me hard to indure, yett +have I not complained. Att the parting of the slaves, I made my bundle +light as the rest. We found snowes in few places, saving where the trees +made a shaddow, which hindred the snow to thaw, which made us carry the +raquetts with our feete, and sometimes with the hands. + +After 10 days' march [we completed our journey] through a country covered +with water, and where also are mountaines and great plaines. In those +plaines wee kill'd stagges, and a great many Tourquies. Thence we came to a +great river of a mile wide which was not frozen, which made us stay there +10 or 12 dayes making skiffs of the rind of walnut trees. We made good +cheere and wished to stay there longer. We made 3 skiffs to hould 3 men, +and one to hould two. We imbarked though there weare ice in many places, +and yett no hinderance to us going small journeys, fearing least what +should befall us. In 4 dayes we came to a lake much frozen; covered in some +places with ice by reason of the tossing of the wind, and the ground all +covered with snow. Heere we did our best to save us from the rigour of the +aire, and must stay 15 dayes. The wild men admired that the season of the +yeare was so backward. Att the end the wind changes southerly, which made +the lake free from Ice and cleare over all the skirts of it, without either +snow or ice. There was such a thawing that made the litle brookes flow like +rivers, which made us imbarque to wander [over] that sweet sea. The weather +lovely, the wind fayre, and nature satisfied. Tending forwards, singing and +playing, not considering the contrary weather past, continued so 6 days +upon the lake and rested the nights ashore. + +The more we proceeded in our journey, the more the pleasant country and +warmer. Ending the lake, we entered into a beautifull sweet river, a +stoan-cast wide. After halfe a day we rid on it, weare forced to bring both +barks and equipage uppon our backs to the next streame of that river. This +done above 20 times, hawling our boats after us all laden. We went up that +river att least 30 or 40 leagues. Att last [it] brought us to a lake of +some 9 miles in length. Being comed to the highest place of the lake, we +landed and hid our boats farr enough in the woods, [and] tooke our bundles. +We weare 3 dayes going through a great wildernesse where was no wood, not +so much as could make us fire. Then the thickned flower did serve us +instead of meate, mingling it with watter. We foorded many litle rivers, in +swiming & sayling. Our armes, which we putt uppon some sticks tyed together +of such wood as that desolat place could afford, to keepe them from the +weatt. The evening we came on the side of a violent river, uppon which we +made bridges of trees that we [made] to meet, to go over. + +We left this place after being there 3 dayes. We went up that river in 2 +dayes; there we killed stagges. After we came to a mouth of another river. +We made a litle fort, where it was commanded by our captayne to make no +noise. They desired me to be very quiet, which I observed strictly. After +refreshment we imbarked, though unseasonably, in the night, for to make som +discovery. Some went one way, some another. We went a great way, but not +farr off our fort. The next day we meet altogether & made some Councell, +where it was decreed that 2 should go to the furthermost part of a small +river in a boat, to make a discovery, and see if there weare tracks of +people there, whilst the other 9 should take notice of a villag, that they +knew'd to be nigh, and because it was lesse danger to make there a +discovery. The youngest of the company and me are pitched [upon] to goe +into the river. We tooke the lightest boat. It was well, [for] that in some +places of the river there was not watter enough to carry us. We weare +fained to draw the boat after us. I believe not that ever a wild man went +that way because of the great number of trees that stops the passage of the +river. + +After we have gon the best part of the day, we found ourselves att the end +of a small lake some 4 mile in length, and seeing the woods weare not so +thick there as wheare wee passed, we hid our boat in some bushes, taking +onely our armes along, intending on still to pretend some discovery. We +scarce weare in the midle of the lake when we perceave 2 persons goeing on +the watter side, att the other side of the lake; so my comrade getts him up +a tree to discerne better if there weare any more. After he stayed there a +while [he] comes [down] & tells me that he thought they weare 2 women, and +that we might goe kill them. Doubtlesse, said I, if they are women the men +are not afarre from them, and we shall be forced to shoote. Wee are alone, +and should runne the hazzard of 2 women for to be discovered. Our breethren +also would be in danger that knowes nothing. Moreover it's night; what dost +thou intend to doe? You say well, replyes he; lett us hide ourselves in the +wood, for we cannot goe downe in the river in the night time. Att breake of +day we will [goe] back to our companions where we will finde them in the +fort. + +Here we came without any provisions, where we must lie under a rotten +tree. That night it rayned sadly. We weare wett; but a naturall Exercise is +good fire. We weare in our boat early in the morning, and with great +diligence we came back better then we went up, for the river grewed mighty +high by reason of so much that fell of raine. I will not omitt a strange +accident that befell us as we came. You must know that as we past under the +trees, as before mentioned, there layd on one of the trees a snake with +foure feete, her head very bigg, like a Turtle, the nose very small att the +end, the necke of 5 thumbs wide, the body about 2 feet, and the tayle of a +foot & a halfe, of a blackish collour, onto a shell small and round, with +great eyes, her teeth very white but not long. That beast was a sleepe upon +one of the trees under which wee weare to goe; neither of us ever seeing +such a creature weare astonished. We could not tell what to doe. It was +impossible to carry our boat, for the thicknesse of the wood; to shoot att +her wee would att least be discovered, besides it would trouble our +Company. Att last we weare resolved to goe through att what cost soever, +and as we weare under that hellish beast, shee started as shee awaked, and +with that fell'd downe into our boat, there weare herbes that served [to +secure] us from that dreadfull animal. We durst not ventur to kill her, for +feare of breaking of our boat. There is the question who was most fearfull? +As for me, I quaked. Now seeing shee went not about to doe us hurt, and +that shee was fearfull, we lett her [be] quiet, hoping shortly to land and +to tourne upsid downe of our boat to be rid of such a devill. Then my +comrad began to call it, and before we weare out of the litle river our +feare was over; so we resolved to bring her to the fort, and when once +arrived att the great river, nothing but crosse over it to be neare our +fort. But in the mean while a squirrell made us good spoart for a quarter +of an houre. The squirrell would not leap into the water; did but runne, +being afraid of us, from one end of the boat to the other; every time he +came nearer, the snake opened her wide mouth & made a kind of a noise, & +rose up, having her 2 fore feet uppon the side of the boat, which persuaded +us that shee would leave us. We leaned on that side of the boat, so with +our owers thrusted her out; we seeing her swime so well, hasted to kill her +with our owers, which shee had for her paines. [Footnote: Radisson's +description of this reptile has been shown to one of the most eminent +herpetologists in America, who writes that "no such reptile has ever been +described by scientific writers."] The squirrell tooke the flight, soe we +went, longing to be with our comrades to tell them of what we have seene. +We found one of our company watching for us att the side of a woode, for +they weare in feare least wee should be taken, & expected us all night +long. As for their part they neither have seen nor heard anything. +Wherefore resolved to goe further, but the news we brought them made them +alter their resolution. Wee layd all night in our fort, where we made good +cheare and great fires, fearing nothing, being farr enough in the wood. + +The next day before the breaking of the day we foorded the river, & leaving +our 3 boats in the wood, went a foot straight towards the place where we +have seene the 2 persons; & before we came to the lake we tooke notice of +some fresh trakes which made us look to ourselves, and followed the trakes, +which brought us to a small river, where no sooner came but we saw a woman +loaden with wood, which made us believ that some cottage or village was not +afar off. The Captaine alone takes notice of the place where abouts the +discovery was, who soone brought us [to see] that there weare 5 men & 4 +women a fishing. We wagged [sic] att this the saffest [way] to come +unawarre uppon them, and like starved doggs or wolves devoured those poore +creatures who in a moment weare massacred. What we gott by this was not +much, onely stagges' skins with some guirdles made of goate's hair, of +their owne making. These weare in great estime among our wild men. Two of +ours goes to the cabban which was made of rushes, where they founde an old +woman. They thought it charity to send her into the other world, with two +small children whome also they killed; so we left that place, giving them +to the fishes their bodyes. Every one of us had his head, and my brother +two; our share being considerable [we] went on along the river till we came +to a small lake. Not desiring to be discovered, we found a faire road close +by a wood, withtooke ourselves out of it with all haste, and went towards a +village. There we came by night, where we visited the wildernesse to find +out a secure place for security to hide ourselves; but [finding] no +conveniencies we [went] into the wood in a very cleare place. Heere we layd +downe uppon our bellies. We did eat, among other things, the fish we gott +in the cabban of the fishermen. After dispatching one of the Company +bouldly into the village, being thirsty after eating, for heere we had no +water, [which] brings us [so] that we are all very quiett. The great desire +we had to catch and take made us to controule the Buissinesse. + +Early in the morning we came to the side of the wildernesse, where we layd +in an ambush, but could see nobody that morning. Att two of the clock in +the after non we see 20, as well men as women, a great way from us. We went +to the wood, whence we perceived many att worke in the fields. Att evening +[they] passed by very nigh us, but they neither see nor perceived us. They +went to cutt wood; whilst they weare att worke there comes foure men and +three women, that tooke notice of our ambush. This we could not avoid, so +weare forced to appeare to their ruine. We tooke the 3 women and killed 2 +men. The other 2 thought to escape, but weare stayed with our peeces; the +other 2 that weare aworking would runne away, but one was taken, the other +escaped. The news was brought over all those parts. Thence we runne away +with our 4 prisoners and the 4 new heads with all speed. The women could +not goe fast enough, and therefore killed them after they went a whole +night; their corps we threwed into the river; heere we found a boat which +Served us to goe over. We marched all that day without any delay; being +come to an open field we hid ourselves in bushes till thee next day. We +examined our Prisoners, who tould us no news; non could understand them, +although many Huron words weare in their language. In this place we +perceived 2 men a hunting afarre off; we thought [it] not convenient to +discover ourselves, least we should be discovered and passe our aime. We +tooke another day, 2 before and the rest after, thee prisoners in the +midle. We speedily went the rest of thee day through a burned country, and +the trees blowne downe with some great windes. The fire over came all, over +15 leagues in length and 10 in breadth. We layd in the very midle of that +country upon a faire sandy place where we could see 3 or 4 leagues off +round about us, and being secure we made the prisoners sing which is their +Acconroga before death. There we made a litle fire to make our Kettle boyle +a tourkey, with some meale that was left. Seeing no body persued, we +resolved to goe thence before daylight to seeke for more booty. We stayed +14 nights before we turned back to the village, during which time we mett +with nothing, and having gon on all sides with great paines without +victualls. Att last we came to kill 2 Stagges, but did not suffice 12 of +us. We weare forced to gather the dung of the stagges to boyle it with the +meat, which made all very bitter. But good stomachs make good favour. +Hunger forced us to kill our Prisoners, who weare chargeable in eating our +food, for want of which have eaten the flesh. So by that means we weare +freed from the trouble. + +The next day we came neere a Village. Att our coming we killed a woman with +her child, & seeing no more for us that way we tourned backe againe for +feare of pursueing, and resolved to goe backe to the first village that was +3 days' journey; but on the way we mett with 5 and 20 or 30 men and women, +who discovered us, which made [us] go to it. They fought & defended +themselves lustily; but [there is] no resisting the Strongest party, for +our guns were a terrour to them, and made them give over. During the fight +the women ranne away. Five of the men weare wounded with arrowes and foure +escaped, but he that was sent with me att first to make a discovery was +horribly wounded with 2 arrowes and a blow of a club on the head. If he had +stuck to it as we, he might proceed better. We burned him with all speed, +that he might not languish long, to putt ourselves in safty. We killed 2 of +them, & 5 prisoners wee tooke, and came away to where we left our boats, +where we arrived within 2 days without resting, or eating or drinking all +the time, saveing a litle stagge's meate. We tooke all their booty, which +was of 2 sacks of Indian corne, stagges' skins, some pipes, some red and +green stoanes, and some tobacco in powder, with some small loaves of bread, +and some girdles, garters, necklaces made of goats' haire, and some small +coyne of that country, some bowes and arrowes, and clubbs well wrought. The +tournes of their heads weare of snakes' skin with bears' pawes. The hayre +of some of them very long, & all proper men. We went on the other side of +the river the soonest we could, and came to our fort. After we looked about +us least we should be surprised, and perceiving nothing, we went about to +gett meat for our wants & then to sleepe. + +Att midnight we left that place. Six of us tooke a boate, 5 an other, and 2 +the litle one. We row the rest of the night with all strength, & the +breaking of the day hid ourselves in very long rushes & our boats. The +litle boat went att the other side of the river, those hid it in the wood. +One of them went up a tree to spie about, in case he could perceive any +thing, to give notice to his comrades, & he was to come within sight of us +to warne us. We weare in great danger going downe the streame of that river +in the night time. We had trouble enough to carry all our baggage without +the least noise. Being come to the end of the river which empties it selfe +into a lake of some 8 or 9 leagues in compasse, we went into a small river +to kill salmons, as in deed we tooke great many with staves, and so +sturgeons, of which we made provision for a long while. Att last finding +our selves out of all feare & danger, we went freely a hunting about the +lake, where we tarried 3 dayes, and 2 of our Company mett with 2 women that +runned away from the Sanoutin's country, which is of the Iroquoit nation. +Those poore creatures having taken so much paines to sett themselves att +liberty to goe to their native country, found themselves besett in a +greater slavery then before, they being tyed [and] brought to us. + +The next day we went from thence with the 5 prisoners & the 22 heads. So +much for the litlenesse of our boats as for the weight we had to putt upon +them, being in danger, which made us make the more hast to the place where +we intended to make new boats. For 9 days we went through dangerous places +which weare like so many precipices with horrible falling of watters. We +weare forced to carry our boats after the same maner as before, with great +paines. We came att last to a lake where we contrived other boats, and +there we parted our acquisited booty, and then each had care of his owne. +We ordered the biggest boat should hould 4 men and 2 prisoners; the next 3 +men and the 2 women that last weare taken; the 3d should hould 3 and the +other prisoner. My brother and I had a man & woman with 4 heads to our +share, and so the rest accordingly without dispute or noise. + +We wandered severall dayes on that lake. It was a most delightfull place, +and a great many islands. Here we killed great many bears. After we came to +a most delightfull place for the number of stagges that weare there. Thence +into a straight river. From thence weare forced to make many carriages +through many stony mountains, where we made severall trappes for castors. +We tooke above 200 castors there, and fleaced off the best skins. There +weare some skins so well dressed that [they] held the oyle of beares as +pure bottles. During that time we mett severall huntsmen of our country; so +we heard news of our friends. Only our father was not yett retourned from +the warrs against the french and algonquins. We left our small boats, that +weare purposely confected for our hunting, & tooke our great boats that +could carry us and all our luggage. + +We went up the same river againe, not without great labour. Att last with +much ado we arrived at the landing place where wee made a stay of 4 days; +where many Iroquoites women came, and among others my 2 sisters, that +received me with great joy, with a thousand kindnesses and guifts, as you +may think. I gave them the 2 heads that I had, keeping the woman for my +mother, to be her slave. There was nothing but singing & dancing out of +meere joy for our safe retourne. I had 20 castors for my share, with 2 +skins full of oyle of beare and another full of oriniack and stagge's +grease. I gave to each of my sisters 6 stagges' skins to make them coats. I +kept the grease for my mother, to whome it is convenient to give what is +necessary for the family. We made our slaves carry all our booty, & went on +to litle journeys through woods with ease, because the woods weare not +thick and the earth very faire and plaine. All the way the people made much +of me, till we came to the village, and especially my 2 sisters, that in +all they shewed their respects, giveing me meate every time we rested +ourselves, or painting my face or greasing my haire or combing my head. Att +night they tooke the paines to pull off my stokins, & when I supped they +made me lay downe by them and cover me with their coats, as if the weather +had ben cold. + +This voyage being ended, albeit I came to this village, & twice with feare +& terror, the 3d time notwithstanding with joy & contentment. As we came +neare the village, a multitude of people came to meete us with great +exclamations, and for the most part for my sake, biding me to be cheerfull +& qualifying me dodcon, that is, devil, being of great veneration in that +country to those that shew any vallour. Being arrived within halfe a league +of the village, I shewed a great modesty, as usually warriors use to doe. +The whole village prepares to give the scourge to the captives, as you +[have] heard before, under which I myselfe I was once to undergoe. My +mother comes to meet mee, leaping & singing. I was accompanied with both +[of] my sisters. Shee takes the woman, slave that I had, and would not that +any should medle with her. But my brother's prisoner, as the rest of the +captives, weare soundly beaten. My mother accepted of my brother's 2 heads. +My brother's prisoner was burned the same day, and the day following I +received the sallery of my booty, which was of porcelaine necklaces, Tourns +of beads, pendants, and girdles. + +There was but banqueting for a while. The greatest part of both young men & +women came to see me, & the women the choicest of meats, and a most dainty +and cordiall bit which I goe to tell you; doe not long for it, is the best +that is among them. First when the corne is greene they gather so much as +need requireth, of which leaves they preserve the biggest leaves for the +subject that followes. A dozen more or lesse old women meet together alike, +of whome the greatest part want teeth, and seeth not a jott, and their +cheeks hange downe like an old hunting-dogg, their eyes full of watter and +bloodshott. Each takes an eare of corne and putts in their mouths, which is +properly as milke, chawes it, and when their mouths are full, spitts it out +in their hands, which possibly they wash not once one yeare; so that their +hands are white inside by reason of the grease that they putt to their +haire & rubbing of it with the inside of their hands, which keeps them +pretty clean, but the outside in the rinknesse of their rinkled hands there +is a quarter of an ounze of filth and stinking grease. + +And so their hands being full of that mince meate minced with their gumms +and [enough] to fill a dish. So they chaw chestnutts; then they mingle this +with bear's grease or oyle of flower (in french we call it Tourne Sol) with +their hands. So made a mixture, they tye the leaves att one end & make a +hodgepot & cover it with the same leaves and tye the upper end so that what +is within these leaves becomes a round ball, which they boile in a kettle +full of watter or brouth made of meate or fish. So there is the description +of the most delicious bitt of the world. I leave you taste of their Salmi +gondy, which I hope to tell you in my following discourses of my other +voyages in that country, and others that I frequented the space of tenne +years. + +To make a period of this my litle voyage. After I stayed awhile in this +village with all joy & mirth, for feasts, dances, and playes out of meere +gladnesse for our small victorious company's hapy retourne, so after that +their heads had sufficiently danced, they begin to talke [of going] to +warre against the hollanders. Most of us are traited againe for the castors +we bestowed on them. They resolve unanimously to goe on their designe. +Every thing ready, we march along. The next day we arrived in a small +brough [Footnote: _Brough_ probably means borough, used, as the French +applied it to "bourgade," for a town of Indians or whites.] of the +hollanders, where we masters them, without that those beere-bellies had the +courage to frowne att us. Whether it was out of hope of lucre or otherwise, +we with violence tooke the meate out of their potts, and opening their +coubards [cupboards] we take and eat what we [can] gett. For drinking of +their wine we weare good fellowes. So much that they fought with swords +among themselves without the least offer of any misdeed to me. I drunk more +then they, but more soberly, letting them make their quarrells without any +notice. + +The 4th day we come to the fort, of Orange, wher we weare very well +received, or rather our Castors, every one courting us; and was nothing but +pruins and reasins and tobbacco plentifully, and all for ho, ho, which is +thanks, adding _nianonnha_, thanke you. We went from house to house. I went +into the fort with my brother, and have not yett ben knowne a french. But a +french souldier of the fort speaks to me in Iroquois language, & demanded +if I was not a stranger, and did veryly believe I was french, for all that +I was all dabbled over with painting and greased. I answered him in the +same language, that no; and then he speaks in swearing, desiring me [to +tell him] how I fell in the hands of those people. And hearing him speake +french, amazed, I answered him, for which he rejoyced very much. As he +embraces me, he cryes out with such a stirre that I thought him senselesse. +He made a shame for all that I was wild but to blush red. I could be no +redder then what they painted me before I came there. All came about me, +ffrench as well as duch, every one makeing [me] drink out of the bottles, +offering me their service; but my time yett was not out, so that I wanted +not their service, for the onely rumour of my being a frenchman was enough. +The flemish women drawed me by force into their houses, striving who should +give, one bread, other meate, to drinke and to eate, and tobacco. I wanted +not for those of my nation, Iroquois, who followed me in a great squadroon +through the streets, as if I had bin a monster in nature or a rare thing to +be seen. + +I went to see the Governor, & talked with me a long time, and tould him the +life that I lead, of which he admired. He offred me to buy me from them att +what prise so ever, or else should save me, which I accepted not, for +severall reasons. The one was for not to be behoulding to them, and the +other being loathsome to leave such kind of good people. For then I began +to love my new parents that weare so good & so favourable to me. The 3d +reason was to watch a better opportunity for to retyre to the french rather +then make that long circuit which after I was forced to doe for to retyre +to my country more then 2,000 leagues; and being that it was my destiny to +discover many wild nations, I would not to strive against destinie. I +remitted myselfe to fortune and adventure of time, as a thing ordained by +God for his greatest glorie, as I hope it will prove. Our treatis being +done, overladend with bootyes abundantly, we putt ourselves in the way that +we came to see againe our village, and to passe that winter with our wives, +and to eat with them our Cagaimtie in peece, hoping that nobody should +trouble us during our wintering, and also to Expect or finde our fathers +retourning home. + +Leaving that place, many cryed to see me among a company of wolves, as that +souldier tould me who knowed me the first houre; and the poore man made the +tears come to my eyes. The truth is, I found many occasions to retire for +to save me, but have not yett souffred enough to have merited my +deliverence. In 2 dayes' journey we weare retourned to our cabbans, where +every one of us rendered himself to his dearest kindred or master. My +sisters weare charged of porcelaine, of which I was shure not to faile, for +they weare too liberall to mee and I towards them. I was not 15 dayes +retourned, but that nature itselfe reproached me to leade such a life, +remembering the sweet behaviour and mildnesse of the french, & considered +with meselfe what end should I expect of such a barbarous nation, enemy to +God and to man. The great effect that the flemings shewed me, and the litle +space was from us there; can I make that journey one day? The great belief +that that people had in me should make them not to mistrust me, & by that I +should have greater occasion to save me without feare of being pursued. + +All these reasons made one deliberat to take a full resolution, without +further delay, of saving meselfe to the flemings; ffor I could be att no +safty among such a nation full of reveng. If in case the ffrench & +algonquins defeats that troupe of theirs, then what spite they will have +will reveng it on my boanes; ffor where is no law, no faith to undertake to +goe to the ffrench. I was once interrupted, nor have I had a desire to +venture againe for the second time. I should delight to be broyled as +before in pitifull torments. I repented of a good occasion I lett slippe, +finding meselfe in the place with offers of many to assist me. But he that +is of a good resolution must be of strong hopes of what he undertakes; & if +the dangers weare considered which may be found in things of importancy, +you ingenious men would become cooks. Finally, without expecting my +father's retourne, putting away all feare & apprehension, I constituted to +deliver meselfe from their hands at what ever rate it would come too. For +this effect I purposed to faine to goe a hunting about the brough; & for to +dissemble the better, I cutt long sticks to make handles for a kind of a +sword they use, that thereby they might not have the least suspition. + +One day I tooke but a simple hattchett & a knife, if occasion presented to +cutt some tree, & for to have more defence, if unhappily I should be +rencountred, to make them believe that I was lost in the woods. Moreover, +as the whole nation tooke me for proud, having allways great care to be +guarnished with porcelaine, & that I would fly away like a beggar, a thing +very unworthy, in this deliberation I ventured. I inquired [of] my brother +if he would keepe me company. I knewed that he never thought, seeing that +he was courting of a young woman, who by the report of many was a bastard +to a flemish. I had no difficulty to believe, seeing that the colour of her +hayre was much more whiter then that of the Iroquoits. Neverthelesse, shee +was of a great familie. I left them to their love. In shorte, that without +any provision I tooke journey through the forests guided by fortune. No +difficulty if I could keepe the highway, which is greatly beatten with the +great concours of that people that comes & goes to trade with the flemings; +but to avoid all encounters I must prolong a farre off. Soe being assisted +by the best hope of the world, I made all diligence in the meene while that +my mother nor kindred should mistrust me in the least. + +I made my departure att 8 of the clock in the morning the 29th 8bre, 1663 +[1653]. I marched all that journey without eating, but being as accustomed +to that, without staying I continued my cours att night. Before the +breaking of the day I found myselfe uncapable because of my feeblenesse and +faintnesse for want of food and repose after such constraint. But the feare +of death makes vertu of necessity. The morning commanded me to goe, for +it's faire and could ayre, which [was] somewhat advantageous to keepe [me] +more cheerfull. Finally the resolution reterning my courage, att 4 of the +clocke att evening, the next daye I arrived in a place full of trees cutt, +which made mee looke to myselfe, fearing to approach the habitation, though +my designe was such. It is a strange thing that to save this life they +abhorre what they wish, & desire which they apprehend. Approaching nigher +and nigher untill I perceived an opening that was made by cutting of wood +where was one man cutting still wood, I went nearer and called him. [He] +incontinently leaves his work & comes to me, thinking I was Iroquoise. I +said nothing to him to the contrary. I kept him in that thought, promissing +him to treat with him all my castors att his house, if he should promise me +there should be non of my brother Iroquoise there, by reson we must be +liberall to one another. He assured me there was non then there. I tould +him that my castors were hidden and that I should goe for them to-morrow. +So satisfied [he] leads me to his cabban & setts before me what good cheare +he had, not desiring to loose time because the affaire concerned me much. I +tould him I was savage, but that I lived awhile among the ffrench, & that I +had something valuable to communicate to the governor. That he would give +me a peece of paper and Ink and pen. He wondered very much to see that, +what he never saw before don by a wildman. He charges himself with my +letter, with promise that he should tell it to nobody of my being there, +and to retourne the soonest he could possible, having but 2 litle miles to +the fort of Orange. + +In the meane while of his absence shee shews me good countenance as much as +shee could, hoping of a better imaginary profit by me. Shee asked me if we +had so much libertie with the ffrench women to lye with them as they; but I +had no desire to doe anything, seeing myselfe so insnared att death's door +amongst the terrible torments, but must shew a better countenance to a +worse game. In the night we heard some wild men singing, which redoubled my +torments and apprehension, which inticed me to declare to that woman that +my nation would kill [me] because I loved the ffrench and the flemings more +than they, and that I resolved hereafter to live with the flemings. Shee +perceiving my reason hid me in a corner behind a sack or two of wheat. +Nothing was to me but feare. I was scarcely there an houre in the corner, +but the flemings came, 4 in number, whereof that french man [who] had +knowne me the first, who presently getts me out & gives me a suite that +they brought purposely to disguise me if I chanced to light upon any of the +Iroquoits. I tooke leave of my landlady & landlord, yett [it] grieved me +much that I had nothing to bestow upon them but thanks, being that they +weare very poore, but not so much [so] as I. + +I was conducted to the fort of Orange, where we had no incounter in the +way, where I have had the honnour to salute the Governor, who spoake +french, and by his speech thought him a french man. The next day he caused +an other habit to be given me, with shoos & stokins & also linnen. A +minister that was a Jesuit [Footnote: "A minister that was a Jesuit." This +was the Jesuit father, Joseph Noncet. See Introduction, page 3.] gave me +great offer, also a Marchand, to whom I shall ever have infinit +obligations, although they weare satisfied when I came to france att +Rochel. I stayed 3 dayes inclosed in the fort & hidden. Many came there to +search me, & doubt not but my parents weare of the party. If my father had +ben there he would venture hard, & no doubt but was troubled att it, & so +was my mother, & my parents who loved me as if I weare their owne naturall +son. My poore sisters cryed out & lamented through the town of the +flemings, as I was tould they called me by my name, ffor they came there +the 3rd day after my flight. Many flemings wondered, & could not perceive +how those could love me so well; but the pleasure caused it, as it agrees +well with the Roman proverbe, "doe as they doe." I was imbarked by the +governor's order; after taking leave, and thanks for all his favours, I was +conducted to Menada, a towne faire enough for a new country, where after +some 3 weekes I embarked in one of their shipps for holland, where we +arrived after many boisterous winds and ill weather, and, after some six +weeks' sayle and some days, we landed att Amsterdam the 4th of January, +1664 [1654]. Some days after I imbarked myselfe for france and came to +Rochelle well & safe, not without blowing my fingers many times as well as +I [had] done before [when] I arrived in holland. I stayed till spring, +expecting the transporte of a shippe for new france. + +_The Second Voyage made in the Upper Country of the Iroquoits._ + +The 15th day of may I embarked in a fisherboat to go for peerce Island, +which is 6 score leagues off Quebecq, being there arrived the 7th of may. I +search diligently the means possible for to end my voyage & render meselfe +neere my naturall parents & country people. Att last I found an occasion to +goe by some shallops & small boats of the wildernesse, which went up as +farre as the ffrench habitation, there to joyne with the Algonquins & +Mountaignaies to warre against the Iroquoits from all times, as their +histories mentions. Their memory is their Chronicle, for it [passes] from +father to son, & assuredly very excellent for as much as I know & many +others has remarked. I embarked into one of their shallops & had the wind +favorable for us N. E. In 5 dayes came to Quebecq, the first dwelling place +of the ffrench. I mean not to tell you the great joy I perceivd in me to +see those persons that I never thought to see more, & they in like maner +with me thought I was dead long since. In my absence peace was made +betweene the french & the Iroquoits, which was the reason I stayed not long +in a place. The yeare before, the French began a new plantation [Footnote: +"Began a new plantation," at Onondaga.] in the upper Country of the +Iroquoits, which is distant from the Low Iroquois Country som fourscore +leagues, where I was prisoner, & been in the warrs of that country. I tooke +great notice of it, as I mentioned in my formest voyage, which made me have +mind to goe thither againe, by the reason peace was concluded among them. + +Friends, I must confesse I loved those poore people entirely well; +moreover, nothing was to be feared by reason of the great distance which +causes a difference in their speech, yett they understand one another. At +that very time the Reverend fathers Jesuits embarked themselves for a +second time to dwell there and teach Christian doctrin. I offered myselfe +to them, and was, as their custome is, kindly accepted. I prepare meselfe +for the journey, which was to be in June. You must know that the Hurrons +weare contained in the article of peace, but not the Algonquins, which +caused more difficulty; for those Iroquoits who imbarqued us durst not come +downe the 3 rivers where the french should embarque, because it is the +dwelling place of the Algonquin. To remedy this the ffrench and the +barbarrs that weare to march, must come to Mont Royall, the last french +inhabitation, in shalopps. + +It will not be amisse to leave the following of the voyage for to repeat +the reasons why those poor hurrons ventured themselves into their hands, +who have bin ennemy one to another all their life time, and that naturally. +You must know that the Hurrons, so called by the ffrench, have a bush of a +hair rised up artificially uppon the heads like to a cock's comb. Those +people, I say, weare 20 or 30,000 by report of many not 20 years ago. Their +dwelling is neere the uper lake, so called by name of the ffrench. That +people tell us of their pedegree from the beginning, that their habitation +above the Lake, many years agoe, and as they increased, many, great many, +began to search out another country. For to tend towards the South they +durst not, for the multitude of people that was there, and besides some of +their owne nations had against them. Then [they] resolved to goe to the +north parts, for westward there was much watter, which was without end. +Moreover many inhabitants, monstruous for the greatnesse of body. We will +speake about this in another place more att large, where will give an exact +account of what came to our knowledge dureing our travells, and the land we +have discovered since. If eastward, they had found the Iroquoits who +possessed some parts of the river of Canada, and their dwelling was where +Quebecq is situated, and about that place, & att the upper end of +Montmerency 2 leagues from Quebecq, where was a great village where now is +seene a desolat country, that is, for woods and forests, nor more nor lesse +then what small bushes nigh the river's side in the place called the Cape +de Magdelaine. It's such a country that the ffrench calls it the burned +country 20 miles about, and in many places the same is to be seene where +there weare forests. + +So seeing that the north regions weare not so peopled, they pursued [their] +route of that way, and for the purpose provided themselves provision for a +twelvemonth to live, with all their equipage imbarqued in the begining of +the Spring. After that they passed great wayes, coming to a lake which +conducts them into a great river, [Footnote: "Coming to a lake which +conducts them into a great river." Moose River, which leads into Hudson's +Bay.] which river leads them to a great extent of salt watter; so as they +being good fishers want no fish. They coasted this great watter for a long +time, finding allways some litle nation whose language they knew not, +haveing great feare of one another. Finally, finding but a fearfull country +full of mountains and rocks, they made great boats that might hould some 30 +men to traverse with more assurance the great bay for to decline from the +tediousnesse of the highway, which they must doe, having but small boats; +whence they came to a country full of mountains of ice, which made us +believe that they descended to the goulden arme. + +So, fearing the winter should come on, they made sayles wherein they made +greate way when the wind was behind; otherwyse they could not make use of +their sayles, and many of their boats weare lost, but still went on, hoping +of a better country. They wandered so many moons with great danger and +famine, ffor they began to misse such plenty as they [were] used [to]. Att +last [they] gott out, and coasting the skirts of the sea, and enters as it +weare into a country where the sumer begins againe, they weare incouraged +to greater hopes, insomuch that the poore people became from their first +origine to lead another life. Being only conducted by their imaginary idea +or instinct of nature ffor steering, they knewed nothing but towards the +roote of the Sun, and likewise by some starrs. Finally the coast brings +them to the great river St. Lawrence, river of Canada; knowing not that it +was a river till they came just opposit against the mounts of our blessed +lady, where they then perceaved to [be] betwixt 2 lands, albeit that litle +summer was past, and that the season of the yeare growing on somewhat +sharpe, which made them think to search for winter. [They] mounted allways +up the river, and finding one side most beautifull for the eye, they passed +it over, and planted their cabbans in many parts by reason of the many +streams there flowing with quantity of fish, whereof they made a good store +for their wintering. After a while that upon this undertaking they made +cognicence and commerced with the highlanders, inhabitants of that country, +who gave them notice that there weare a nation higher who should understand +them, being that they weare great travellers, that they should goe on the +other side and there should find another river named Tatousac. + +They seeing the winter drawing on they made a fort and sent to discover the +said place a band of their men to Tatousac. They finde a nation that +understands them not more then the first, but by chance some that escaped +the hands of their ennemy Iroquoits, and doubts that there is great +difference of language between the Iroquoits and the Hurrons. They weare +heard; & further you must note that neere the lake of the Hurrons some 40 +leagues eastward there is another lake belonging to the nation of the +Castors, which is 30 miles about. This nation have no other trafick nor +industry then huntsmen. They use to goe once a yeare to the furthest place +of the lake of the Hurrons to sell their Castors for Indian Corne, for some +collors made of nettles, for sacks, & such things, for which they weare +curious enough. So coming backe to their small lake againe, those +marchandises weare transported to a nation beyond that lake towards N. N. +E., and that nation had commerce with a people called the white fish, which +is norwest to the 3 rivers some 150 leagues in the land. That nation had +intelligence with the Saguenes, who are those that liveth about Tadousac, +so that the 2 nations have great correspondency with one another because of +their mutual language, saving that each one have a particular letter and +accent. + +Finding that nation of the Castors, who for the most part understands the +Hurron idiom, they conversed together & weare supplied with meat by that +wandring nation that lives onely by what they may or can gett. Contrary +wise the Hurrons are seditious. We shall speak of them more amply in its +place. So those miserable adventurers had ayd during that winter, who +doubtlesse should souffer without this favor. They consulted together +often, seeing themselves renforced with such a succour of people for to +make warrs against the Iroqois. + +The next spring their warre was conducted with success, ffor they chassed +the Iroquois out of their country which they lost some winters before. They +march up to the furthest part of the Lake Champlaine, to know if that was +their formest dwelling, but they speak no further of it. Those Iroquoits to +wander up and downe and spread themselves as you have heard to the lake +d'Ontario, of which I will after make mention. I heard all this from +frenchmen that knewed the Huron speech better then I myselfe, and after I +heard it from the wildmen, & it's strang (being if it be so as the french +as [well] as wildmen do already) that those people should have made a +circuit of that litle world. + +The Iroquoits after being putt out of that country of Quebecq, the Hurrons +and Algonquins made themselves masters in it; that is to say, they went up +above monmorency after that they left the place of their wintring, which +was over against Tadousac, att the height of the Chaudiere (so called in +french), and after many years they retourned to live att the gape of their +lake, which is 200 Leagues long & 50 or 60 leagues large. Those hurrons +lived in a vast country that they found unhabited, & they in a great number +builded villages & they multiplied very many. The Iroquoits also gott a +great country, as much by sweetnesse as by force. They became warriors +uppon their owne dispences and cost. They multiplied so much, but they +became better souldiers, as it's seene by the following of this discourse. +The hurrons then inhabited most advantageously in that place, for as much +as for the abundance of dears and staggs, from whence they have the name +since of Staggy. It's certaine that they have had severall other callings, +according as they have builded villages. Fishing they have in abundance in +his season of every kind; I may say, more then wee have in Europe. In some +places in this lake where is an innumerable quantity of fish, that in 2 +houres they load their boat with as many as they can carry. + +At last [they] became so eminent strong that they weare of a minde to fight +against the neighbouring nation. Hearing that their sworne ennemys the +Iroquoits retired towards the nation called Andasstoueronom, which is +beyond the lake d'Ontario, between Virginia & that lake, they resolved to +goe & search them for to warre against them; but they shall find it to +their ruine, which I can affirme & assure, because the Iroquoits in the +most part of their speeches, which comes from father to son, says, we bears +(for it's their name) whilst we scraped the earth with our pawes, for to +make the wheat grow for to maintaine our wives, not thinking that the deare +shall leape over the lake to kill the Beare that slept; but they found that +the beare could scratch the stagge, for his head and leggs are small to +oppose. Such speeches have they commonly together, in such that they have +had warrs many years. + +The Holanders being com'd to inhabit Menada, furnished that nation with +weopens, by which means they became conquerors. The ffrench planters in +Newfrance came up to live among this nation. In effect they doe live now +many years; but the ambition of the fathers Jesuits not willing to permitt +ffrench families to goe there, for to conserve the best to their profitt, +houlding this pretext that yong men should frequent the wild women, so that +the Christian religion by evil example could not be established. But the +time came that they have forsook it themselves. For a while after the +Iroquoits came there, the number of seaven hundred, on the snow in the +beginning of Spring, where they make a cruell slaughter as the precedent +years, where some ghostly fathers or brothers or their servants weare +consumed, taken or burnt, as their relation maks mention. + +This selfesame yeare they tooke prisoners of 11 or 12,000 of those poore +people in a village att [in] sight of the Jesuits' Fort, which had the name +Saint, but [from] that houre it might have the name of feare. Heere follows +sicknesse, and famine also was gott among these people, flying from all +parts to escape the sword. They found a more rude and cruell enemy; for +some after being taken gott their lives, but the hunger and their treachery +made them kill one another, be it for booty or whatsoever other. None +escaped, saving some hundred came to Quebecq to recover their first +liberty, but contrary they found their end. So the ffathers left walls, +wildernesse, and all open wide to the ennemy and came to Quebecq with the +rest of the poore fugitives. They were placed in the wildernesse neere the +habitation of Quebecq; but being not a convenient place, they weare putt to +the Isle of Orleans, 3 leagues below Quebecq, in a fort that they made with +the succour of the ffrench, where they lived some years planting & sowing +Indian corne for their nourishment, and greased robes of Castors, of which +grease the profit came to the ffathers, the summe of 10,000 livres tournois +yearly. + +In this place they weare catched when they least thought of it, not without +subject of conivance. God knoweth there weare escaped that time about 150 +women and some 20 men. The rest are all killed, taken and brought away, of +which for the most part weare sett at liberty in the country of their +ennemy, where they found a great number of their kindred and relations who +lived with all sorte of liberty, and went along with the Iroquois to warre +as if they weare natives, in them was no trust to be given, ffor they weare +more cruell then the Iroquois even to their proper country, in soe much +that the rest resolved to surrender themselves then undergoe the hazard to +be taken by force. The peace was made by the instancy of the ffather +Jesuits. As before, some weare going there to live, as they have already +begun. They seeing our departure & transporting of our goods to Mount +Royall for to runne yea the hazard, they also must come. To lett you know +[if] our fortune or theirs be better or worse, it should be a hard thing +for me to declare; you may judge yourselfe. + +Lett us come to our purpose and follow our voyage. Being arrived att the +last french habitation, where we must stay above 15 dayes, ffor to pass +that place without guide was a thing impossible, but after the time +expired, our guides arrived. It was a band of Iroquois that was appointed +to fetch us, and conduct us into their country. One day att 10 of the clock +in the morning, when we least thought of any, saw severall boats coming +from the point of St Louis, directly att the foot of a hill so called some +3 miles from mont Royall. Then rejoycing all to see coming those that they +never thought to have seene againe, ffor they promissed to come att the +beginning of Spring and should arrive 15 dayes before us, but seeing them, +every one speakes but of his imbarcation. + +The Hurrons that weare present began to make speeches to encourage their +wives to make ready with all their stuffe and to feare nothing, being that +the heavans would have it so disposed, & that it was better to die in +Iroquois Country and peace with their brethren, then stay in the knott of +their nativity, that is their country, to be murthered, & better in the +Iroquois Country in warre for to be burned. All things so disposed, they +prepare themselves to receave the Iroquois, who weare no more then 3,000 in +number, [Footnote: "No more than 3,000 in number," meaning, no doubt, that +number at Onondaga and its vicinity.] and made a halt for to hold councell +to know what they must say that they thought of every one and of the +Hurrons. But those Barbars had an other designe, ffor their destiny was to +doe, and not to speake; but for to doe this, this must be a treachery in +which they are experted. You must know that that bande [of] Irokois [in] +descending the last streame or falling watter one of their skiffs made +shipwrake in which weare seaven, all drowned without none could souccour +them. A thing remarkable, that every one strive to help himselfe without +that they will give ayde or assistance to an other; uppon this, that +untoward army, those wild barbarous with vengence, held councell, as is +before said, for to be revenged of the losse of their Compagnions, where +they determined, being that they come to fetch the french and the hurrons, +to revenge this uppon them and kill them as soone as they should be in +their jurisdiction; but considering after that wee french had a fort in +their country with a good strong guard, and that that should cause affairs, +it was concluded that there furor should not be discharged but uppon the +poore hurrons. + +Upon this deliberation they broke councell and arrived att the fort. Their +speech was cleare contrary to their designe, and promises inviolably +ffriendshipp. There was presents and guifts given of both party, but when +they pertooke the death of their Compagnions they must make other presents +perhaps that prevailed somewhat in their thoughts, and tourne them from +their perfidious undertakings. For often the liberalitie of those savage +was seene executed, but the desire brings great booty, and observance +causes that covetousnesse will prove deare to the ffrench as to the Hurrons +in few days. Presently they procure some boats, ffor the Iroquoits had but +eleven and the hurrons none, for they came in the ffrench shallope. So that +it must be contrivance for the one and other, which was soone done. In +lesse then 8 dayes parted the dwelling we found more then 30 boats, and all +very great, we being also so many in company, 80 Iroquoits, some hundred +huron women and some 10 or 12 men, 20 ffrench with two ffathers Jesuits. In +this manner we departed Mont royall, every one loaded with his burden. Wee +passed the same journie. Wee passed the gulfe of St Louis, and made cabbans +in the furthermost part of the streame. That day was laborious to us, so +much that the Iroquoits resolved to be backe againe, and make a company to +fight against the Algonquins of Quebecq. Upon this, 30 left us. + +The next day we embarqued though not without confusion, because many weare +not content nor satisfied. What a pleasure the two ffathers to see them +trott up and downe the rocks to gett their menage into the boat, which with +much adoe they gott in. The boats weare so loaden that many could not +proceed if bad weather should happen. The journey but small came only to +the lake of St Louis, 3 leagues beyond the streame. There the savage +threwed the ffathers' bundle on the watter side, and would take no care for +them; seeing many of their men gone, the french as well as Hurrons, who +would have disputed their lives with them for their lives, and had +prevented them if their designe had bin discovered. So that after a great +debat we must yeeld to the strongest party for the next embarking. + +The ffathers' merchandises weare left behind to oblige the ffrench to stay +with it, and seaven of us onely embarqued, one of the ffathers with 6 more, +and the rest stayed to bring what was left behind, so that ours weare +diminished above 40 men. Wee embarqued indifferently one with another, +ffrench, Iroquoits, and Hurrons. After we came to the highest of the Isle +of Montroyall; we saw the separation, or rather the great two rivers that +of Canada are composed; the one hath its origine from the west and the +other from South Southeast. It was the last that wee sayled, coming to the +end of that lake, which is 14 or 15 leagues long and 3 in breadth. We must +make carriages which are high withall, and the boats by lande because no +other way to passe. The trainage is where the watter is not so trepid. We +draw the boats loaden after us, and when there is not water enough, every +one his bundle by land. + +Having proceeded 3 dayes' journey on the river, we entered another lake +somewhat bigger; it's called St. francis. This is delightfull to the eye as +the formost. I speak not of the goodnesse, for there are many things to be +spoaken off. I am satisfied to assure you that it is a delightfull & +beautifull country. We wanted nothing to the view passing those skirts, +killing staggs, auriniacks & fowles. As for the fish, what a thing it is to +see them in the bottom of the watter, & take it biting the hooke or lancing +it with lance or cramp iron. In this lake the Hurrons began to suspect the +treachery conspirated against them, ffor they observed that the Iroquoits +allways consulted privately together, not giving them the least notice, +which made a Hurron with 3 men & 2 women goe away & run away to the ffrench +of Quebecq; & for this intent one very morning, after being imbarqued as +the rest, went in to the midle of the river, where they began to sing & +take their leave, to the great astonishment of the rest & to the great +discontent of the Iroquoits, that saw themselves so frustrated of so much +booty that they exspected. But yett they made no signe att the present, but +lett them goe without trouble for feare the rest would doe the same, & so +be deprived of the conspiracy layde for the death of their compagnions. To +that purpose knowing the place where they weare to land, which was in an +island in the midle of the river, a league long & a quarter broade, they +resolved to murder them in the said place, which was promptly executed in +this maner following:-- + +They embarqued both hurron men and women in their boats, and among them +made up som 20 that embarked themselves in 2 of their boats, in a posture +as if they should goe to the warrs, & went before the breake of day. We +weare but 7 frenchmen, & they put us 7 [in] several boats. I find meselfe +with 3 Iroquoits & one Hurron man. Coming within sight of the Isle where +they weare to play their game, one of the Iroquoits in the same boate as I +landed, takes his gunne & charges it. The hurron and I saw this, but +neither dreamed of the tragedy that was att hand. After goes into the +woode, & the Iroquois that governed the boat takes up a hattchett & knocks +downe the poore hurron, that never thought to be so ended, and the other +that charged his musket in the wood shoots him and fell downe uppon my +heels. My feet soone swims in the miserable hurron's bloode. He did quiver +as if he had an ague, and was wounded with great many wounds, that still +they doubled. Both Iroquoits came to me and bid [me have] courage, ffor +they would not hurt me; but [as] for him that was killed, he was a dogg, +good for nothing. The small knowledge that I have had of their speech made +of a better hope; but one that could not have understood them would have +ben certainly in a great terror. This murder could not be committed so but +that the rest of the boats should heare it, and therefore in that very time +we heard sad moans and cryes horidly by hurron women. They threwed the +corps immediately into the water and went the other side of the river into +the abovesaid isle. Being landed together, the poore women went in a flock +like sheep that sees the wolves ready to devour them. There were 8 hurron +men that tooke theire armes. The Iroquoits not hindering them in the least, +but contrarily the Captayne of the Iroquoits appeared to defend their +cause, giving sharp apprehensions to those that held up armes, and so farr +that he did beat those that offered to hurt them. + +In this example you may perceive the dissimulation & vengence of this +cursed people. So that the Company, reassured in some respects, the +affrighted company, made them goe up to the toppe of the hill and there +errect cottages some 40 paces from them; during the while I walked on the +side where they weare hard at work and firmly believed that the poore +hurron was killed by the Iroquoit out of malice, so much trust I putt in +the traiterous words. As I was directly coming where the hurrons weare, +what should I see? A band of Iroquoits all daubed, rushing out of a wood +all painted, which is the signe of warre. I thought they weare those that I +have seene in [the] morning before, as effectually they weare. I came to +the place where weare all those poore victims. There was the good ffather +comforting the poore innocent women. The chief of them satt by a valliant +huron who all his life time killed many Iroquoits, and by his vallour +acquired the name of great Captayne att home and abroad. The Iroquoit spake +to him, as the ffather told us, and as I myself have heard. "Brother, +cheare up," says he, "and assure yourselfe you shall not be killed by +doggs; thou art both man and captayne, as I myselfe am, and will die in thy +defence." And as the afforesaid crew shewed such a horrid noise, of a +sudaine the captayne tooke hold of the chaine that was about him, thou +shalt not be killed by another hand then by mine. Att that instant the +cruell Iroquoits fell upon those hurrons, as many wolves, with hattchetts, +swords, and daggers, & killed as many [as] there weare, save onely one man. +That hurron captayne seeing himselfe so basly betrayed, he tooke hold of +his hattchett that hunged downe his side, and strook downe a Iroquoit; but +the infinit deale tooke his courage and life away. This that was saved was +an old man, who in his time had ben att the defeat and taking of severall +Iroquoits. He in authority by his means saved some. This news brought to +them and his name as benefactor, which deed then saved his life. Heere you +see a good example, that it is decent to be good to his Ennemy. + +After this was done & their corps throwne into the watter, the women weare +brought together. I admired att them, seeing them in such a deepe silence, +looking on the ground with their coverletts uppon their heads, not a sigh +heard, where a litle before they made such a lamentable noise for the losse +of their companyion that was killed in my boate. Some 2 howers all was +pacified & the kettle almost ready for [to] goe to worke. In this very +moment there calls a councell. The ffather was called as a statsman to that +councell, where he hears their wild reasons; that what they had done was in +reveng of their deare comrades that weare drowned in coming for them, and +also to certifie the ffrench of their good will. So done, the meate was +dressed, we weare invited. The ffather comes to take his dish, and finds us +all 5 in armes, resolving to die valiently, thinking the councell was +called to conclud our death as the Hurron's. The 6th was not able to menage +armes, being a litle boy. The ffather gave us a brother of his company who +had invincible good looke and a stout heart. We waited onely for his +shooting. The ffather could not persuade him to draw. We told him if he +would not fight, to leave our company; which perceived by the Iroquoits, +made them looke to themselves. They came & assured us of their good will. +The 4 frenchmen that understood not longed for the schermish & die for it. +Att last the ffather prevailed with us, & tould us what was done in +Councell. Two Iroquoits came to us with weapons, who signifies there is +nothing layd against you, & commanded their compagnions to put by their +armes, that they weare our brethren. The agreement was made. Some went to +the feast, some stayed. Having eaten, the ffather calls them againe to +councell, & for that purpose borrows some porcelaine from the captayne to +make 3 guifts. + +All being together the ffather begins his speech, throwing the first guift +into the midle of the place, desiring that it might be accepted for the +conservation of the ffriendshipe that had ben long between them and us, and +so was accepted with a ho, ho, which is an assurance & a promise, as +thanks. The 2nd was for the lives of the women which weare in their hands, +& to conduct them with saftie into their country, which was accepted in +like manner. The 3rd was to encourage them to bring us to their owne +country & carry our Marchandises in such [manner] that they may not be +wett, nor leave them behind, which was, as abovesaid, punctually observed. + +The councell being ended, the captaynes made speeches to encourage the +masters of the boats to take a bundle to his care & charge, & give an +account of it in the country. I wish the lotts weare so distributed before +we came from mont royall, but that it is the miserable comfort, better late +then never. Att night every one to his cabben, and the women dispersed into +every cabban with their children, which was a sight of compassion. The day +following being the 8th day of our departure, some went a hunting, some +stayed att home. The next day to that we embarqued all a sunder, a boat for +each. I was more chearfull then the rest, because I knewed a litle of their +language, and many saw me in the low country. Wherefore [they] made me +embarque with a yong man, taller & properer then myselfe. We had paines and +toyles enough; especially my sperit was grieved, and have souffred much +troubles 6 weeks together. I thought we should come to our journey's end & +so help one another by things past; ffor a man is glad to drive away the +time by honest, ingenuous discours, and I would rejoyce very much to be +allwayes in company uppon my journey. It was contrary to me all the voyage, +ffor my boat and an other, wherein weare 2 men & a woman Iroquoit, stayed +behind without seeing or hearing from one another. I leave with you to +think if they weare troubled for me or I for them. There was a great +alteration a litle before; a whole fleete of boats, now to be reduced [to] +2 onely. But patience perforce. + +We wandered on that gay river by the means of high and low gulfs that are +in it; ffor since I made reflection of the quantity of water that comes in +that river that comes from off the top of the high mountains with such a +torrent that it causes a mighty noise which would make the bouldest men +afraid. We went on some journeys with a deale of paines and labour becaus +for our weeknesse, and moreover a man of the other boat fell sick of the +ague, soe that one of us must helpe him either in the carriag or drawing +the boat; and, which was wors, my compagnion was childish and yong as I. +The long familiarity we had with one another breeded contempt, so that we +would take nothing from one another, which made us goe together by the +ears, and fought very often till we weare covered in blood. The rest tooke +delight to see us fight; but when they saw us take either gun or sword, +then came they to putt us a sunder. When we weare in the boat we could not +fight but with our tongues, flying water att one another. I believe if the +fathers' packet had ben there, the guift could not keepe it from wetting. +As for meat we wanted none, and we had store of large staggs along the +watter side. We killed some almost every day, more for sport then for +neede. We finding them sometimes in islands, made them goe into the watter +and after we killed about a score, we clipped the ears of the rest and hung +a bell to it, and then let them loose. What a sporte to see the rest flye +from that that had the bell! + +As I satt with my compagnion I saw once of an evening a very remarquable +thing. There comes out of a vast forest a multitud of bears, 300 att least +together, making a horrid noise, breaking small trees, throwing the rocks +downe by the watter side. We shot att them but [they] stirred not a step, +which frightned us that they slighted our shooting. We knewed not whether +we killed any or no, because of the darke, neither dare we venter to see. +The wild men tould me that they never heard their father speake of so many +together. + +We went to the other side to make cabbans, where being arrived, where we +made fire & put the kettle on. When it was ready we eat our belly full. +After supper the sick wild man tould me a story and confirmed it to be +true, which happened to him, being in warre in the upper Country of the +Iroquoits neere the great river that divides it self in two. "Brother," +sayes he, "it's a thing to be admired to goe afar to travell. You must +know, although I am sick I am [a] man, and fought stoutly and invaded many. +I loved alwayes the ffrench for their goodnesse, but they should [have] +given us [to] kill the Algonkins. We should not warre against the ffrench, +but traited with them for our castors. You shall know I am above 50 years +(yett the fellow did not looke as if he had 40). I was once a Captayne," +says he, "of 13 men, against the nation of the fire & against the Stairing +hairs, our Ennemys. We stayed 3 whole winters from our country, and most of +that time among our ennemy, but durst not appeare because of the small +number we had against a multitude, which made us march in the night and +hide ourselves in the daytime in forests. Att last we are weary to be so +long absent from our wives & countrey. We resolved some more execution, & +take the first nation that we should incountre. We have allready killed +many. We went some dayes on that river, which is bordered of fine sands; no +rocks there to be seene. Being landed one morning to goe out of the way +least we should be discovered, and for [to] know the place that we weare, +sent two of our men to make a discovery, who coming back brought us [word] +that they have seen devils, and could not believe that they weare men. We +presently putt ourselves on our gards, and looke to our armes, thought to +have ben lost, but tooke a strong resolution to die like men, and went to +meet those monsters. We weare close to one an other, saveing they that made +a discovery, that went just before us, tould us, being neere the waterside, +that they have seene afar off (as they thought) a great heape of stoanes. +We needing them mightily we went to gett some. Within 200 paces nigh we +found them converted into men, who weare of an extraordinary height, lying +all along the strand asleepe. Brother, you must know that we weare all in +feare to see Such a man and woman of a vast length. They weare by two feete +taller then I, and big accordingly. They had by them two basquetts, a bow +and arrows. I came nigh the place. Their arrows weare not so long as ours, +but bigger, and their bows the same; each had a small stagg's skin to cover +their nakednesse. They have noe winter in their country. After being gone +we held a councell to consider what was to be done. We weare two boats; the +one did carry 8 men, the other 5. That of 8 would goe back againe, but that +of 5 would goe forward into another river. So we departed. The night being +come, as precedent nights, we saw fires in severall places on the other +side of the river, which made us goe there att the breake of day, to know +what it was, which was men as tall as the other man and woman, and great +many of them together a fishing. We stealed away without any noise and +resolved not to stay longer in them parts, where every thing was so bigg. +The fruits of trees are as bigg as the heart of an horiniac, which is +bigger then that of an oxe. + +"The day after our retourne, being in cottages covered with bushes, we +heard a noise in the wood, which made us speedily take our weopens, every +one hiding himselfe behind a tree the better to defend himselfe, but +perceaved it was a beast like a Dutch horse, that had a long & straight +horne in the forehead, & came towards us. We shott twice at him; [he] falls +downe on the ground, but on a sudaine starts up againe and runs full boot +att us; and as we weare behind the trees, thrusts her home very farr into +the tree, & so broak it, and died. We would eat non of her flesh, because +the flemings eat not their horses' flesh, but tooke off the skin, which +proved heavy, so we left it there. Her horne 5 feet long, and bigger then +the biggest part of an arme." [Footnote: In O'Callaghan's _Documentary +History of New York_, Vol. IV. p. 77, 1851, is given an engraving of this +animal, with the title, "Wild Animals of New Netherlands," taken from a +Dutch work published in Amsterdam in 1671. In this work it is thus +described: "On the borders of Canada animals are now and again seen +somewhat resembling a horse; they have cloven hoofs, shaggy manes, a horn +right out of the forehead, a tail like that of the wild hog, black eyes, a +stag's neck, and love the gloomiest wildernesses, are shy of each other. So +that the male never feeds with the female except when they associate for +the purpose of increase. Then they lay aside their ferocity. As soon as the +rutting season is past, they again not only become wild but even attack +their own."] + +We still proceeded in our journey. In 7 dayes we overtook the boat that +left us. Now whether it was an unicorne, or a fibbe made by that wild man, +yet I cannot tell, but severall others tould me the same, who have seene +severall times the same beast, so that I firmly believe it. So his story +ended, which lasted a great while; ffor having an excellent memory, tould +me all the circumstances of his rencounters. + +We [went] from thence the next morning. We came to a beatifull river, wide +one league and a halfe, which was not violent nor deepe, soe that we made +no carriages for 15 or 20 leagues, where we had the view of eagles and +other birds taking fishes, which we ourselves have done, & killed salmons +with staves. One of my compagnions landed a sturgeon six fadoms deepe and +brought it. Going along the woodside we came where a greate many trees +weare cutt, as it weare intended for a fort. At the end of it there was a +tree left standing, but the rind taken away from it. Upon it there was +painted with a coale 6 men hanged, with their heads at their feete, cutt +off. They weare so well drawen, that the one of them was father by the +shortnesse of his haire, which lett us know that the french that was before +us weare executed. A litle further an other was painted of 2 boats, one of +3 men, an other of 2, whereof one was standing with a hattchett in his +hands striking on the head. Att an other weare represented 7 boats, +pursueing 3 bears, a man drawn as if he weare on land with his gune +shooting a stagge. I considering these things, troubled me very much, yea, +caused my heart to tremble within me; and moreover when those that weare +with me certified me of what I was too sure, telling me the 6 ffrenchmen +weare dead, but tould me to be cheerfull, that I should not die. After I +found so much treachery in them I could but trust litle in their words or +promisses, yett must shew good countenance to a wors game then I had a +minde, telling me the contrary of what they told me of the death of the +frenchmen, to shew them that I was in no feare. + +Being embarqued, the wild men tould me we should goe on the other side of +that broad river. It was extreamly hott, no wind stiring. I was ready that +both should be together for the better assurance of my life. I perceived +well that he alone was not able to performe the voyage; there was the other +sick of the other boat, that did row but very slowly. I thought to meselfe +they must needs bring me into their countrey if they meet non by the way, +and so I comforted meselfe with better hope. We soone came to the other +side of the river. The other boat followed not, being nigh the land. My +comrade perceaved an eagle on a tree, the feathers of which are in esteeme +among them. He lands and takes his gunne, charges it, and goes into the +wood. I was in feare, without blame, for I knewed not what he meant. I +remembered how the poore Hurron was served so a litle before in his boat, +and in like manner. As he went about, I could not imagine what was best, +but resolved to kill [rather] then be killed. Upon this I take my gunne, +which the other saw, desires me not to make any noise, shewing me the +eagle, that as yett I have not seene. To obey him I stoope downe like a +monkey, visiting my weopon that he should not suspect. My eyes +neverthelesse followed for feare. I see at last the truth of his designe; +he shoots and kills the eagle. + +[We] after imbarqued ourselves, the night drawing on, and must think to goe +to the other boat or he to us, which he did. I admired the weather, cleare +and calme that we could scarce see him, yet that we should heare them +speake, and understand, as if they weare but 20 or 30 paces from us. He +being come, we sought for conveniency to make cottages, which soone was +done. The others sooner landed then we. They came to receive us att our +landing. One tooke my gunne, the other a litle bondle of mine. I was +surprised att this. Then they asked me [for] my powder and shott, and +opened my bagge, began to partage my combs & other things that I had. I +thought it the consultest way to submitt to the strongest party, therefore +I tooke [no] notice of what they did. The woman kindled the fire. Seeing +myselfe out of care of my fright, satt me selfe downe by the woman. Shee +looked now and then uppon me, which made me more and more mistrust. In the +meane while he that was sick calls me. I came and asked him what he +pleased. "I will," sayd he, "that you imbarque your selfe by me," and +throws his cappot away, bidding me also to leave my capot. He takes his +hattchett, and hangs it to his wrest, goes into the boat, & I with him. I +would have carryed my gunne. I tooke it from the place where they layd it. +They, seeing, laughed & gave a shout, as many beasts, yett it was not in +their power to make me goe to the boat without my weapon; so lett me have +it, and went straight as if we weare to goe on the other side of the river. +About the midle the wild man bids mee goe out, to which I would not +consent. I bid him goe. After we disputed awhile, I not obeying, began to +consider if he had a minde to drowne me, that he himselfe would not go in +the water. Being come a litle to myselfe I perceaved that the water was not +2 foote deepe. It was so darke, yett one might perceive the bottom covered +with muskles. Having so much experience, I desired him to have patience; so +gott of my shirt & lep't into the watter & gathered about half a bushell of +those shells or mussells. I made sure that the boat should not leave me, +for I fastened my girdle to it, and held the end. Mistrust is the mother of +safety. We came back againe. We found the kettle ready; they gave me meat +and a dish of broth, which exercised me a while. Having done, the man comes +and makes me pull of my shirt, having then nothing but my drawers to cover +my nackednesse. He putts on my shirt on his back, takes a knif and cutts a +medail that hung to my necke. He was a great while searching me and feeling +if I was fatt. I wished him farr enough. I looked [for] an opportunity to +be from him, thinking to be better sheltered by the woman. I thought every +foot he was to cutt my troat. I could [not] beare [it]. I had rather dye +[at] once then being so often tormented. I rose and satt me downe by the +woman, in whome was all my trust. Shee perceived I was in great feare, +whether by collour of my face or other, I know not. Shee putts her hands +uppon my head & combs it downe with her fingers. "My son," says shee, "be +chearfull. It is my husband; he will not hurt thee; he loves me and knoweth +that I love thee, and have a mind to have thee to our dwelling." Then shee +rose and takes my shirt from her husband and brings it me. Shee gave me one +of her covers. "Sleepe," said shee. I wanted not many persuasions. So chuse +rather the fatall blow sleeping then awake, for I thought never to escape. + +The next morning I finding meselfe freed, which made me hope for the +future. I have reason to remember that day for two contrary things; first, +for my spirits being very much perplexed, and the other for that the +weather was contrary though very lovely. That morning they rendered all my +things againe, & filled my bagge with victualls. We left this place, which +feared me most then hurt was done. Some laughed att me afterwards for my +feares wherein I was, which I more & more hoped for better intertainment. +The weather was fair all that day, but the next wee must make a waynage, +which [was] not very hard; but my comrade drew carelessly, and the boat +slipps from his hands, which turned with such force that it had me along if +I had not lett my hould goe, chusing [rather] that then venter my selfe in +danger. Soe that it [no] sooner gott downe then we gott it up againe; but +by fortune was not hurted, yett it runn'd aground among rocks. We must goe +downe the river. I was driven to swime to it, where I found it full of +watter, and a hole that 2 fists might goe through it, so that I could not +drive it to land without mending it. My compagnion must also in the water +like a watter dogg, comes and takes hould of the foure oares. All the wild +men swims like watter doggs, not as we swime. We mende the boat there +neatly, not without miscalling one another. They spoake to me a word that I +understood not because of the difference betweene the low Iroquoits and +their speech, and in the anger and heat we layde the blame uppon one +another to have lett the boat flippe purposely. I tooke no heed of what he +alleadged. He comes sudainly uppon me & there cuffed one another untill we +weare all in bloode. Being weary, att last, out of breath, we gave over +like 2 cocks over tyred with fighting. We could not fight longer, but must +find strength to draw up the boat against the streame and overtake the +other, which was a good way from us. It was impossible to overtake the day, +nor the next. So that we must lay 3 nights by our selves. + +The third day we arrived to a vast place full of Isls, which are called the +Isles of Toniata, where we overtooke our compagnions, who stayd for us. +There they killed a great bigg and fatt beare. We tooke some of it into our +boats & went on our journey together. We came thence to a place like a +bazon, made out of an Isle like a halfe moone. Here we caught eeles five +fadoms or more deepe in the waiter, seeing cleerly the bottome in abundance +of fishes. We finde there 9 low country Iroquoits in their cabbans that +came back from the warre that was against the nation of the Catts. They had +with them 2 women with a young man of 25 years & a girle of 6 years, all +prisoners. They had a head with short haire of one of that nation, that +uses to have their hair turned up like the prickles of an headg hogge. We +cottaged ourselves by them. Some of them knewed me & made much of mee. They +gave me a guirland of porcelaine & a girdle of goat's haire. They asked +when should I visit my ffriends. I promissed to come there as soone as I +could arrive att the upper village. I gave them my hattchett to give to my +ffather, and 2 dozen of brass rings & 2 shooting-knives for my sisters, +promissing to bring a cover for my mother. They inquired what was it that +made me goe away, and how. I tould them through woods & arrived att the 3 +rivers in 12 dayes, and that I souffred much hunger by the way. I would not +tell them that I escaped by reason of the Duch. They called me often Devill +to have undertaken such a task. I resolved to goe along with them. Heere I +found certainty, and not till then, of the 6 ffrenchmen, whom they have +seene seaven dayes before att the coming in of the great Lake D'ontario; +and that undoubtedly the markes we have seene on the trees weare done by +seaven other boats of their owne nation that came backe from the warres in +the north, that mett 2 hurron boats of 8 men, who fought & killed 3 +Iroquoits and wounded others. Of the hurrons 6 weare slained, one taken +alive, and the other escaped. Those 2 boats weare going to the ffrench to +live there. That news satisfied much my wild men, and much more I rejoiced +at this. We stayed with them the next day, feasting one another. They cutt +and burned the fingers of those miserable wretches, making them sing while +they plucked out some of their nailes, which done, wee parted well +satisfied for our meeting. From that place we came to lye att the mouth of +a lake in an island where we have had some tokens of our frenchmen by the +impression of their shooes on the sand that was in the island. In that +island our wild men hid 10 caskes of Indian Corne, which did us a +kindnesse, ffor there was no more veneson pye to be gotten. + +The next day we make up our bundles in readinesse to wander uppon that +sweet sea, as is the saying of the Iroquoits, who rekens by their daye's +journey. This was above 100 leagues in length & 30 in breadth. Seeing the +water so calme and faire, we ventured some 3 leagues, to gaine a point of +the firme land, that by that means we should shorten 7 or 8 leagues in our +way. We went on along the lake in that maner with great delight, sometimes +with paine and labour. As we went along the water side, the weather very +faire, it comes to my mind to put out a cover instead of a saile. My +companion liked it very well, for generally wild men are given to +leasinesse. We seeing that our sayle made us goe faster then the other +boat, not perceiving that the wind came from the land, which carried us far +into the lake, our compagnions made a signe, having more experience then +wee, and judged of the weather that was to come. We would not heare them, +thinking to have an advantage. + +Soone after the wind began to blow harder, made us soone strike sayle, and +putt our armes to worke. We feeled not the wind because it was in our +backs, but turning aside we finde that we had enough to doe. We must gett +ourselves to a better element then that [where] we weare. Instantly comes a +shower of raine with a storme of winde that was able to perish us by reason +of the great quantity of watter that came into our boat. The lake began to +vapour and make a show of his neptune's sheep. Seeing we went backwards +rather then forwards, we thought ourselves uterly lost. That rogue that was +with me sayd, "See thy God that thou sayest he is above. Will you make me +believe now that he is good, as the black-coats [the ffather Jesuits] say? +They doe lie, and you see the contrary; ffor first you see that the sun +burns us often, the raine wetts us, the wind makes us have shipwrake, the +thundering, the lightnings burns and kills, and all come from above, and +you say that it's good to be there. For my part I will not goe there. +Contrary they say that the reprobats and guilty goeth downe & burne. They +are mistaken; all is goode heare. Doe not you see the earth that nourishes +all living creatures, the water the fishes, and the yus, and that corne and +all other seasonable fruits for our foode, which things are not soe +contrary to us as that from above?" As he said so he coursed vehemently +after his owne maner. He tooke his instruments & shewed them to the +heavens, saying, "I will not be above; here will [I] stay on earth, where +all my friends are, and not with the french, that are to be burned above +with torments." How should one think to escape this torments and storms, +but God who through his tender mercy ceas'd the tempest and gave us +strength to row till we came to the side of the water? I may call it a +mighty storme by reason of the litlenesse of the boat, that are all in +watter to the breadth of 5 fingers or lesse. I thought uppon it, and out of +distress made a vertue to seeke the means to save ourselves. We tyed a sack +full of corne in the fore end of our boat, & threw it into the watter, +which hung downe some foure fathoms, and wee putt our selves in the other +end, so that the end that was towards the wind was higher then the other, +and by that means escaped the waves that without doubt, if we had not used +that means, we had sunk'd. The other boat landed to lett that storme [pass] +over. We found them in the even att their cottages, and thought impossible +for us to escape. + +After severall dayes' travell we came to an isle where we made cottages. We +went so farre that evening that we might be so much the neerer to take a +broader passage which should shorten our voyage above 20 leagues. Att night +wee saw severall fires uppon the land. We all judged that it was our +company that went before us. Before brake of day we did what we could to +overtake them, not without hazard, by reason the winds that blewed hard, +which we could not perceive before. Being come to the bay of the isle we +could not turne back without greater danger, so resolved to proceede. We +came to the very place where we saw the fires, & found that we weare not +mistaken in our opinions. By good looke they weare there, else we had +perished for all being so neere the land, for the lake swelled by reason of +the great wind that blew, which stayed them there above 14 nights. Neither +for this reason was there any landing, because of a great banck or heape of +rocks, untill those that weare ashore came to us into the watter to their +oxtars [Footnote: _Oxtars_, up to their armpits.] and stoped our boats. We +then cast our selves and all that we had overboord, leaving our boats +there, which weare immediately in thousands [of] peaces. + +Being arrived, we placed our cottages by a most pleasant delicat river, +where for delightfullnesse was what man's heart could wish. There weare +woods, forests, meddows. There we stayed 3 dayes by reason of the weather. +One night I layd neare a faire comely lasse that was with us. There they +take no notice, for they live in so great liberty that they are never +jealous one of another. I admired of a sudaine to heare new musick. Shee +was in travell and immediately delivered. I awaked all astonished to see +her drying her child by the fire side. Having done, [she] lapt the child in +her bosome and went to bed as if that had ben nothing, without moan or cry, +as doe our Europian women. Before we left the place that babe died. I had +great mind to baptize him, but feared least they should accuse me to be the +cause of his death. + +Being come to the above named place, where weare the ghostly ffathers with +8 other french, 3 came to meet us from the fort, which weare but 30 leagues +off, where I have receaved a censure for being so timidous, [in] not +dareing to ffling watter on the head of that poore innocent to make him +happy. We frenchmen began to tell our adventures, having ben out of hopes +of ever to see one another, being exceeding glad that we weare deceaved in +our opinions. Some leaves us & went by land to their cabbans. The rest +stayes for faire weather to come to our journey's ende. We wanted not +slaves from that place to carry our packs. We came into a river towards the +fort which was dangerous for its swiftnesse. From that river that brought +us within 30 leagues of the lake we came into a narrower river from a small +lake where a french fort was built. This river was 2 leagues long & the +lake 5 in compasse. About it a most pleasant country, very fruitfull. +Goeing up that same river we meet 2 french that weare fishing a kind of +fish called dab, which is excellent, & have done us great kindnesse, having +left no more provision then what we needed much. + +Having come to the landing place att the foot of the fort, we found there a +most faire castle very neatly built, 2 great & 2 small ones. The bottom was +built with great trees & well tyed in the topp with twiggs of ashure, +strengthened with two strong walles & 2 bastions, which made the fort +imppregnable of the wild men. There was also a fine fall of woods about it. +The french corne grewed there exceeding well, where was as much as covered +half a league of land. The country smooth like a boord, a matter of some 3 +or 4 leagues about. Severall fields of all sides of Indian corne, severall +of french tournaps, full of chestnutts and oakes of accorns, with thousand +such like fruit in abundance. A great company of hoggs so fatt that they +weare not able to goe. A plenty of all sortes of fowles. The ringdoves in +such a number that in a nett 15 or 1600 att once might be taken. So this +was not a wild country to our imagination, but plentyfull in every thing. + +We weare humanly receaved by the Reverend ffathers Jesuits and some other +40 frenchmen, as well domestiques as volontiers. We prepared ourselves to +take the country's recreation, some to hunt, some to fish, but prevented by +a feaver that seised on us all. Some continued a month, some more and some +lesse, which is the tribut that one must pay for the changment of climat. + +Some dayes after we had news that another company of Iroquoits weare +arrived att mont Royall. As soone [as] we went from thence the father & the +rest of the ffrench that did stay behind did imbark themselves with them +and followed us so close that ere long would be at us. As they went up to +make cottages in the island of the massacre, which was 16 dayes before our +departure, one of the company goes to shute for his pleasure, finds a woman +half starved for hunger, lying on a rock by a water. He brings her to the +cottages & made so much by giving her some luckwarme water, which he boyled +with flower & grease, that she came to herselfe entirely againe. Shee was +examined. Shee told them what is above said, and when it happened. Shee hid +her selfe in a rotten tree during the slaughter, where shee remained 3 +dayes; after we weare gone shee came foorth for to gett some food, and +found nothing, but founde onely some small grapes, of roots the 3 first +dayes, & nothing else. Shee finding her selfe feeble and weake, not able to +sustaine such, resolved for death. The father, knowing her to be a +Christian, had a singular care for her, & brought her where I overtooke the +said father with the 8 french. Being brought [she] was frightened againe +for seeing a man charging his gunne to kill her, as shee said, so went away +that night, & non knowes what became of her. Being weake, not thoroughly +healed, shee fancied that such a thing might be done. By this, we poore, +many have recovered. The father arrives, that affirmes this newes to us, +being very sorry for the losse of this poore creature that God has so long +preserved without any subsistance, which shews us apparently that wee ought +not to despaire, & that keeps those that lives in his feare. We went to +meete the father, I meane those that weare able, to bid the father welcome +& his company. Being come safe & in a good disposition together, we +rendered God thanks. + +There weare many that waited for us, desiring to tourne back againe to +Quebecq, obtaining their desier from the fathers & the governour of the +fort. They weare 13 in number & one father. After 6 weeks end we recovered +our health. So we went to bring them a part of the way, some to the water +side, some to the laksende, where we tooke of one another farewell, with +such ceremonys as are used when friends depart. Some dayes after we heare +that the poore woman was in the woods; not that shee knew'd which way to +tourne, but did follow her owne fancy whersoever it lead her, & so wandered +6 dayes, getting some times for her subsistance wild garlick, yong buds of +trees, & roots. Shee was seene in an evening by a river, whereby shee was +for 3 dayes, by 3 hurrons renegades. They tooke her, but in a sad +condition. They not considering that shee was of their owne nation, stript +her. It is the custom to strip whomsoever is lost in the woods. They +brought her to the village, where the father was that brought her from the +place of murdering to that place whence shee runned away the second time. +This father, knowing her, brings her to our fort, that we might see her as +a thing incredible but by the mercy of God. I was in the village with the +father and with another frenchman, where we see the crudest thing in nature +acted. Those Iroquoits that came along the river with us, some weare about +fishing, some a hunting, they seeing this woman makes her [their] slave. + +One day a man or theirs was forwearned for his insolency, for not referring +to the Governor, doing all out of his owne head. [He him] selfe was to come +that day, leading 2 women with their 2 children, he not intending to give +an account of anything but by his owne authority. The elders, heering this, +goes and meets him some 50 paces out of the village for to maintaine their +rights. They stayed this man. What weare those beasts? He answered they +weare his; he no sooner had spoaken, but one old man spoak to him thus: +"Nephew, you must know that all slaves, as well men as women, are first +brought before the Councell, and we alone can dispose [of] them." So said, +& turned to the other side, and gave a signe to some soldiers that they +brought for that purpose, to knock those beasts in the head, who executed +their office & murdered the women. One tooke the child, sett foot on his +head, taking his leggs in his hands, wrought the head, by often turning, +from off the body. An other souldier tooke the other child from his +mother's brest, that was not yett quite dead, by the feete and knocks his +head against the trunck of a tree. This [is] a daily exercise with them, +nor can I tell the one half of their cruelties in like sortes. Those with +many others weare executed, some for not being able to serve, and the +children for hindering their mothers to worke. So they reckne a trouble to +lett them live. O wicked and barbarious inhumanity! I forgott to tell that +the day the woman layed in, some houres before, shee and I roasted some +Indian Corn in the fire: being ready, shee pulled out the grains one by one +with a stick, and as shee was so doing, shee made a horrid outcry, shewing +me a toad, which was in the breadth of a dish, which was in the midle of +the redd ashes striving to gett out. We wondered, for the like was never +seene before. After he gott out of the fire we threwed stoanes & staves att +him till it was killed. That toad lived 2 dayes in or under the fire. + +Having remained in that village 6 dayes, we have seene horrible cruelties +committed. Three of us resolved to turne back to our fort, which was 5 +miles off. We brought above 100 women, hurron slaves & others, all loadened +with corne. We weare allwayes in scarcity for pollicy, though we had +enough, ffor certainty is farre better then the incertainry. Before we +departed this base place we received [news] that the hurron who was saved +by the consent of the rest in the Isle of Massacre, as is above said, 2 +dayes after his deliverance run'd away by night towards the lower country +of the Iroquoits, where he arrived safe, not without sufferings in the way, +ffor such long voyages cannot be performed otherwise, having gon through +vast forests, finding no inn in the way, neither having the least +provision. Att his coming there he spoake whatever the reveng, wrath, and +indignation could provoke or utter against the ffrench, especially against +the ffathers, saying that it was they that have sold and betrayed them; and +that he would bestow the same uppon them if ever he should meet with them. +As for him, he gave heaven thanks that he was yett living; that he had his +life saved by them to whome he would render like service, warning them not +to lett the french build a fort, as the upper Iroquoits had done; that he +could tell them of it by experience; that they should remember the nation +of the Stagges so bigg. As soone as the french came there, nothing but +death and slaughter was expected, having caused their death by sorcery, +which brought a strange sicknesse amongst them. Such things can prevaile +much uppon such a wild, credulous nation; their minds alltogether for the +warrs in which they delight most of any thing in the world. We came our +way; this news troubled us very much, knowing the litle fidelity that is +[in] that wild nation, that have neither faith nor religion, neither law +nor absolut government, as we shall heare the effects of it. + +The autumn scarce began but we heare that the lower Iroquoits contrived a +treason against the ffrench. So having contrived & discovered that they +weare resolved to leavy an armie of 500 men of their owne nation, who are +esteemed the best souldiers, having the Anojot to assist them; a bold, rash +nation, and so thought to surprise the inhabitants of that place. As they +weare contriving and consequently seased upon the fort and towne, thinking +to execute their plot with ease, because of their assurance, trusting (if +contrary to their contrivance) to the peace, saying that the ffrench weare +as many hoggs layed up to be fatted in their country. But, O liberality, +what strength hast thou! thou art the onely means wherby men know all and +pierce the hearts of the most wild & barbarous people of the world. Hearing +such news, we make friends by store of guifts, yea such guifts that weare +able to betray their country. What is that, that interrest will not do? We +discover dayly new contryvances of treason by a Councellor. There is +nothing done or said but we have advice of it. Their dayly exercise is +feasting, of warrs, songs, throwing of hattchetts, breaking kettles. What +can we do? We are in their hands. It's hard to gett away from them. Yea, as +much as a ship in full sea without pilot, as passengers without skill. We +must resolve to be uppon our guard, being in the midle of our Ennemy. For +this purpose we begin to make provisions for the future end. We are tould +that a company of the Aniot nation volontiers was allready in their march +to breake heads & so declare open warres. This company finds enough to doe +att Mount Royall; ffor the ffrench being carelesse of themselves, working +incomparably afarre from their fortifications without the least +apprehension. They killed 2 french and brought them away in triumph, their +heads sett up for a signe of warrs. We seeing no other remedy but must be +gon and leave a delightful country. The onely thing that we wanted most was +that wee had no boats to carry our bagage. It's sad to tend from such a +place that is compassed with those great lakes that compose that Empire +that can be named the greatest part of the knowne world. Att last they +contrived some deale boords to make shipps with large bottoms, which was +the cause of our destruction sooner then was expected. + +You have heard above said how the ffathers inhabited the hurron country to +instruct them in Christian doctrine. They preach the mighty power of the +Almighty, who had drowned the world for to punish the wicked, saving onely +our father Noe with his familie was saved in an arke. One came bringing +Indian corne, named Jaluck, who escaped the shipwrake that his countrymen +had gone, being slave among us. He received such instructions of those +deale boords, & reflected soundly upon the structure that he thought verily +they weare to make an other arke to escape their hands, and by our +inventions cause all the rest to be drowned by a second deluge. They +imputing so much power to us, as Noe had that grace from God, thought that +God at least commanded us so to doe. All frightened [he] runns to his +village. This comes back makes them all afraid. Each talkes of it. The +elders gathered together to consult what was to be done. In their councell +[it] was concluded that our fort should be visited, that our fathers should +be examined, & according to their answers deliberation should be taken to +preserve both their life and countrey. We had allwayes spyes of our side, +which weare out of zele and obedience. The ffathers Jesuits and others +voluntarily ventured their lives for the preservation of the common +liberty. They remaine in the village of those barbars to spie what their +intent should be, houlding correspondence with some of those of the +councell by giving them guifts, to the end that we might know what was +concluded in the Councell & give us advise with all speede. We by these +means had intelligence that they weare to come & visit our forts. + +To take away all suspicion of our innocency from thinking to build any +shipp, which if it had come to their knowledge had don a great prejudice to +our former designe, a shippe then uppon the docke almost finished. Heere we +made a double floore in the hall where the shippe was abuilding, so that +the wild men, being ignorant of our way of building, could not take any +notice of our cuningnesse, which proved to our desire. So done, finding +nothing that was reported, all began to be quiet and out of feare. By this +we weare warned from thencefoorth, mistrusting all that came there, so +preserved ourselves, puting nothing in fight that should give the least +suspition. Both shipps weare accomplished; we kept them secretly & covered +them with 12 boats of rind that we kept for fishing and hunting. The +wildmen knewed of these small things, but suspected nothing, believing that +the french would never suspect to venture such a voyage for the difficultie +of the way and violence of the swiftnesse of the rivers and length of the +way. We stayed for opportunity in some quietnesse, devising to contrive our +game as soone as the spring should begin. The winter we past not without +apprehensions, having had severall allarmes, false as [well] as true; for +often weare we putt to our armes, in so much that one of our sentryes was +once by force drawen from the doore of the fort. He, to avoid the danger, +drawes his sword & wounds one of them & comes to the fort, crying, "To your +armes." This was soone appeased; some guifts healed the wound. + +The season drawing nigh we must think of some stratageme to escape their +hands and the rest of ours that weare among them; which was a difficulty, +because they would have some of us by them allwaye for the better +assurance. But all their contrivances & wit weare too weake to strive +against our plotts which weare already invented to their deceipt that would +deceave us. We lett them understand that the time drew neere that the +french uses to trait their friends in feasting and meriment, and all should +be welcome, having no greater ffriends then they weare. They, to see our +fashions as well as to fill their gutts, gave consent. By that means the +considerablest persons are invited, the ffather & 2 ffrench. There they +weare made much of 2 dayes with great joy, with sounds of trompetts, +drumms, and flageoletts, with songs in french as wild. So done, they are +sent away, the ffather with them. He was not a mile off but fains to gett a +falle and sighed that his arme was broken. The wild men being much troubled +att this accident brings the father back and makes guifts that he may be +cured. A plaster was sett to his arme, which done [he is] putt into a bed. +Then all the wildmen came to see him; he incouraged them that he should +soone recover and see them. The french that knewed not the plott cryed for +the ffather, which confirmed the belief of the wildmen. They all retyred to +their village and we [sought] the meanes to embarke ourselves. + +We resolved once more to make another feast when we should have everything +ready for our purpose; that is, when the father should be well of his +fayned sicknesse, ffor they allso doe delight in feasting, which was to be +done for the safe recovery of the ffather's health. We dayly had messengers +from the elders of the country to know how he did, who (after the lake was +opened from the ice that was covered with ice) should be in good +disposition. Many wished to have the suneshine ardently, their desire was +so great to be gone. Att last our patient begins to walke with a scharfe +about his armes. + +When the shippes and boats weare ready, we sent them word that the father +was well, & for joy would make a feast. The elders are invited. They weare +sure not to faile, but to be first. Being come, there are speeches made to +incourage them to sing and eat. It's folly to induce them to that, for they +goe about it more bould then welcome. They are told that the morow should +be the day of mirth. Heare is but play and dances, the ffrench by turns, to +keepe them still in exercise, shewing them tricks to keepe them awake, as +the bird-catcher doth to teach the bird to sing and not to fly away, as we +then intended. Not one wildman was admitted to come into the fort that day, +saying it was not our coustomes to shew the splendour of our banquetts +before they should be presented att table. The wildmen have no other then +ground for their table. + +In the meantime we weare not idle, the impatient father exercising himselfe +as the rest. The evening being come, the wildmen are brought to the place +destinated, not far from our fort. Every one makes his bundle of provisions +& marchandises & household stuff, gunns, &c., some hid in the ground, and +the rest scattered because we could not save them. We made excellent +bisquetts of the last year's corne, & forgott not the hoggs that weare a +fatning. Att last the trumpetts blowes, putt yourselves in order; there is +nothing but outcryes, clapping of hands, & capering, that they may have +better stomach to their meat. There comes a dozen of great kettles full of +beaten Indian corne dressed with mince meate. The wisest begins his speech, +giving heaven thanks to have brought such generous ffrench to honnour them +so. They eate as many wolves, having eyes bigger then bellies; they are +rare att it without noise. The time was not yett com'd to acknowledge the +happinesse we received from such incompareable hosts. Heare comes 2 great +kettles full of bussards broyled & salted before the winter, with as many +kettles full of ducks. As many turtles was taken in the season by the nett. +Heere att this nothing but hooping to man's admiration whilst one was a +eating, and other sort comes, as divers of fish, eels, salmon, and carps, +which gives them a new stomach. Weare they to burst, heere they will shew +their courage. The time comes on. The best is that we are sure none will +forsake his place, nor man nor woman. A number of french entertaines them, +keeping them from sleepe in dancing & singing, for that is the custome. +Their lutrill, an instrumentall musick, is much heere in use. Yett nothing +is done as yett, ffor there comes the thickened flower, the oyle of bears, +venison. To this the knif is not enough; the spunes also are used. Wee see +allready severall postures: the one beats his belly, the other shakes his +head, others stopp their mouthes to keepe in what they have eaten. They +weare in such an admiration, making strange kinds of faces, that turned +their eyes up and downe. We bid them cheare up, & tould them it was an +usuall custome with the ffrench to make much of themselves & of their +friends. "They affect you, and yee must shew such like to them by shewing +your respects to them that they so splendidly trait you. Cheere up like +brave men. If your sleepe overcomes you, you must awake; come, sound [the] +drumme, it is not now to beat the Gien; [Footnote: "To beat the gien," +probably meaning the guitar, as Charlevoix mentions that at the feast to +the Indians one of the French young men played upon that instrument for +their amusement.] come, make a noise. Trumpett blow and make thy cheeks +swell, to make the belly swell alsoe." + +In the end nothing [is] spared that can be invented to the greater +confusion. There is a strife between the french who will make the greatest +noise. But there is an end to all things; the houre is come, ffor all is +embarked. The wildman can hold out no longer; they must sleepe. They cry +out, _Skenon_, enough, we can beare no more. "Lett them cry _Skenon_; we +will cry _hunnay_, we are a going," sayes we. They are told that the +ffrench are weary & will sleepe alsoe awhile. They say, "Be it so." We come +away; all is quiet. Nobody makes a noise after Such a hurly-burly. The fort +is shutt up as if we had ben in it. We leave a hogg att the doore for +sentery, with a rope tyed to his foot. He wanted no meat for the time. Here +we make a proposition, being three and fifty ffrench in number, to make a +slaughter without any difficulty, they being but 100 beasts not able to +budge, & as many women. That done, we could goe to their village att the +breake of the day, where we weare sure there weare not 20 men left, nor +yong nor old. It was no great matter to deale with 5 or 600 women, & may be +1000 children; besides, the huntsmen should not be ready this 2 moneths to +come home. Having done so, we might have a great hole in the skirts of that +untoward & pervers nation, that it was in way of revenge, because of their +disloyalty, breaking the peace & watching an opportunity to doe the like to +us, that we should by that means have a better opportunity to escape; +shewing by this whosoever intends to betray, betrays himselfe. The +ffathers' answer was to this, that they weare sent to instruct the people +in the faith of Jesus Christ and not to destroy; that the crosse must be +their sword; moreover that they are told that we weare able to keepe the +place, having victualls for the space of 4 yeares, with other provisions. +[Footnote: The new Governor, Viscount d'Argenson, who arrived in Canada a +few months after, disapproved of the evacuation of Onondaga. "The location +of this fortification was probably about three quarters of a mile below +Green Point, on the farm now occupied [in 1849] by Mr. Myrick Bradley, in +the town of Salina, where the embankment and outlines were plain to be seen +fifty years ago." _History of Onondaga_, by J. V. H. Clarke, Vol. I. p. +161, n., 1849.] So done, in the meanewhile some 16 french should goe downe +to the french & tell the news; ffor the rest they weare able to oppose all +the Iroquoits, having such a strong fort, and before the time could be +expired some succour was to be expected out of ffrance, as well as with the +helpe of some of the wildmen, their allies, make an assault, and so free +ourselves of such a slavery & the many miseries wherin we weare dayly to +undergoe, that by that means we might save the lives of many french and +cleare a way from such inhumans. It was in vaine to think to convert them, +but the destroying of them was to convert them. So discover nations and +countryes, and that the ffrench finding some fourty resolut brothers that +would have ventured themselves full liberty & assurance of their lives to +preserve them from the cruelest enemy that ever was found uppon the earth. +All these sayings could prevaile nothing uppon people that will avoid all +slaughter. + +So to be obedient to our superiours, without noise of trompet or drum, but +zeal with griefe, we left that place. We are all embarked, and now must +looke for the mouth of the river; and weare put to it, ffor it frized every +night and the Ice of good thicknesse, and consequently dangerous to venture +our boats against it. We must all the way breake the ice with great staves +to make a passage. This gave us paines enough. Att the breake of day we +weare in sight att the mouth of the river, where we weare free from ice. If +those had but the least suspicion or had looked out, they had seene us. We +soone by all diligence putt ourselves out of that apprehension, and came +att the first rising of the river, where freed from ice tenne leagues from +the fort, where we kept a good watch. + +The day following we came to the Lake d'Ontario. The wind being boisterous, +could goe no further. There we sought for a place to make cottages, which +was in an Island very advantageous, where we stayed 2 dayes for the +weather. We weare not without feare, thinking that the wildmen should +follow us. They contrary wise stayed (as we heard) seaven nights, thinking +that we weare asleepe, onely that some rose now and then, and rung the +litle bell which stooke to the hogg's foot. So mystifying the businesse +affaire, [they] went & brought news to the village, which made them come +and looke over the pallisados, and saw in good earnest the Anomiacks weare +gone. + +In our journey [we had] bad weather, high winds, snow, and every day raine +on our backs. We came to the river att last, where was difficulty enough by +reason of the goeing out of the lake, which is hard to find, by the many +isles that are about the opening of the river. We weare in a maner of +sheepe scattered. After many crossings to and fro we find ourselves att the +first streame; the watters high, went on without danger, but the navigation +proved worse & worse because we came into a coulder country and into the +most dangerousest precipices. Now the river [was] covered over with ice and +snow which made the river give a terrible noise. The land also covered all +over with snow, which rendered us incapable of knowledge where we weare, & +consequently found ourselves in great perils. It was well that the river +swelled, for not a mother's son of us could else escape; ffor where we +might have made carriages we [would] innocently have gone uppon those +currents. One of our greatest vessells runned on sand and soone full by +reason of the running of the stream, but by tournings, with much adoe we +gott it out againe, and by all dexterity brought to a harbour, which is +hard to find in that place, ffor the ice and the streame continually cutts +the coasts steepe downe, & so no landing thereabouts. + +Heere a boat of 4 men made shipwrake. Heere every one for himselfe & God +for all. Heere is no reliefe. There the 3 that could swime weare drowned, +because they held not [to] the boat, but would swime to land. The other +that had held it was saved with much adoe. Afterwards we came where the +streame was not so swifte at all, but as dangerous for its ice. We cutt the +ice with hattchetts & we found places where [it] was rotten, so we hazarded +ourselves often to sinke downe to our necks. We knewed the isle of murder +againe because of the woman that runn'd away was with us. Shee had reason +to know it, though all covered with snow. The ffathers some dayes before +our departur caused her to come to the fort to deliver her out of the hands +of her ennemy, because she was a Christian. In short time after her +arrivall att Quebecq [she] was marry'd, and died in childbed. + +Six weeks being expired we came to the hight of St Louis, 3 leagues from +mont royal, the first habitation of the ffrench. We went all that hight +without making carriages, trusting to the depth of the watter, & passed it +by God's providence, that have made us that passage free; ffor if we had +come there the day before we could not possibly passe (by the report of the +ffrench), by reason that underneath the water was mighty swift, the river +was frozen and covered with ice, and could not have turned back, for the +streame could bring us against our will under the ice. It was our lott to +come after the ice was melted. The french inquire who is there with +astonishment, thinking that it should be the charge of the Iroquoits. We +thanked God for our deliverance. + +Heere we had time to rest ourselves awhile att ease, which was not +permitted by the way. About the last of March we ended our great paines and +incredible dangers. About 14 nights after we went downe the 3 rivers, where +most of us stayed. A month after my brother and I resolves to travell and +see countreys. We find a good opportunity. In our voyage wee proceeded +three yeares. During that time we had the happinesse to see very faire +countryes. + +_The ende of the second voyage made in the Upper Country of the Iroquoits_. + +_Now followeth the Auxoticiat Voyage into the Great and filthy Lake of the +Hurrons, Upper Sea of the East, and Bay of the North_. + +Being come to the 3 rivers, where I found my brother who the yeare before +came back from the lake of the Hurrons with other french, both weare upon +the point of resolution to make a journey a purpose for to discover the +great lakes that they heard the wild men speak off; yea, have seene before, +ffor my brother made severall journeys when the ffathers lived about the +lake of the hurrons, which was upon the border of the sea. So my brother +seeing me back from those 2 dangerous voyages, so much by the cruelties of +the barbars as for the difficulties of the wayes, for this reason he +thought I was fitter & more faithfull for the discovery that he was to +make. He plainly told me his minde. I knowing it, longed to see myselfe in +a boat. There weare severall companies of wild men Expected from severall +places, because they promissed the yeare before, & [to] take the advantage +of the Spring (this for to deceive the Iroquoits, who are allwayes in wait +for to destroy them), and of the rivers which is by reason of the melting +of the great snows, which is onely that time, ffor otherwise no possibility +to come that way because for the swift streams that runs in summer, and in +other places the want of watter, so that no boat can come through. We soone +see the performance of those people, ffor a company came to the 3 rivers +where we weare. They tould us that another company was arrived att Mont +Royal, and that 2 more weare to come shortly, the one to the Three Rivers, +the other to Saegne, [Footnote: _Saegne, Sacgnes, Sacquenes,_ or the River +Saguenay.] a river of Tudousack, who arrived within 2 dayes after. They +divided themselves because of the scant of provision; ffor if they weare +together they could not have victualls enough. Many goes and comes to +Quebecq for to know the resolution of mr. Governor, who together with the +ffathers thought fitt to send a company of ffrench to bring backe, if +possible, those wildmen the next yeare, or others, being that it is the +best manna of the countrey by which the inhabitants doe subsist, and makes +the ffrench vessells to come there and goe back loaden with merchandises +for the traffique of furriers who comes from the remotest parts of the +north of America. + +As soone as the resolution was made, many undertakes the voyage; for where +that there is lucre there are people enough to be had. The best and ablest +men for that businesse weare chosen. They make them goe up the 3 rivers +with the band that came with the Sacques. There take those that weare most +capable for the purpose. Two ffathers weare chosen to conduct that company, +and endeavoured to convert some of those foraigners of the remotest country +to the Christian faith. We no sooner heard their designe, but saw the +effects of the buisnesse, which effected in us much gladnesse for the +pleasure we could doe to one another, & so abler to oppose an ennemy if by +fortune we should meet with any that would doe us hurt or hinder us in our +way. + +About the midle of June we began to take leave of our company and venter +our lives for the common good. We find 2 and 30 men, some inhabitants, some +Gailliards that desired but doe well. What fairer bastion then a good +tongue, especially when one sees his owne chimney smoak, or when we can +kiss our owne wives or kisse our neighbour's wife with ease and delight? It +is a strange thing when victualls are wanting, worke whole nights & dayes, +lye downe on the bare ground, & not allwayes that hap, the breech in the +watter, the feare in the buttocks, to have the belly empty, the wearinesse +in the bones, and drowsinesse of the body by the bad weather that you are +to suffer, having nothing to keepe you from such calamity. + +Att last we take our journey to see the issue of a prosperous adventure in +such a dangerous enterprise. We resolved not to be the first that should +complaine. The ffrench weare together in order, the wildmen also, saving my +brother & I that weare accustomed to such like voyages, have foreseene what +happened afterwards. Before our setting forth we made some guifts, & by +that means we weare sure of their good will, so that he & I went into the +boats of the wild men. We weare nine and twenty french in number and 6 +wildmen. We embarked our traine in the night, because our number should not +be knowne to some spyes that might bee in some ambush to know our +departure; ffor the Iroquoits are allwayes abroad. We weare 2 nights to +gett to mont royall, where 8 Octanac stayed for us & 2 ffrench. If not for +that company, we had passed the river of the meddowes, which makes an isle +of Mont royall and joines itselfe to the lake of St Louis, 3 leagues +further then the hight of that name. + +We stayed no longer there then as the french gott themselves ready. We +tooke leave without noise of Gun. We cannot avoid the ambush of that eagle, +which is like the owle that sees better in the night then in the day. We +weare not sooner come to the first river, but our wildmen sees 5 sorts of +people of divers countrys laden with marchandise and gunns, which served +them for a shew then for defence if by chance they should be sett on. So +that the glorie begins to shew itsselfe, no order being observed among +them. The one sings, the other before goes in that posture without bad +encounter. We advanced 3 dayes. There was no need of such a silence among +us. Our men composed onely of seaven score men, we had done well if we had +kept together, not to goe before in the river, nor stay behind some 2 or 3 +leagues. Some 3 or 4 boats now & then to land to kill a wild beast, & so +putt themselves into a danger of their lives, & if there weare any +precipice the rest should be impotent to helpe. We warned them to looke to +themselves. They laughed att us, saying we weare women; that the Iroquoits +durst not sett on them. That pride had such power that they thought +themselves masters of the earth; but they will see themselves soone +mistaken. How that great God that takes great care of the most wild +creatures, and will that every man confesses his faults, & gives them grace +to come to obedience for the preservation of their lives, sends them a +remarquable power & ordnance, which should give terrour and retinue to +those poore misled people from the way of assurance. + +As we wandered in the afforesaid maner all a sunder, there comes a man +alone out of the wood with a hattchett in his hand, with his brayer, & a +cover over his shoulders, making signes aloud that we should come to him. +The greatest part of that flock shewed a palish face for feare att the +sight of this man, knowing him an ennemy. They approached not without feare +& apprehension of some plot. By this you may see the boldnesse of those +buzards, that think themselves hectors when they see but their shadowes, & +tremble when they see a Iroquoit. That wild man seeing us neerer, setts him +downe on the ground & throwes his hattchett away & raises againe all naked, +to shew that he hath no armes, desires them to approach neerer for he is +their friend, & would lose his life to save theirs. Hee shewed in deed a +right captayne for saveing of men that runned to their ruine by their +indiscretion & want of conduct; and what he did was out of meere piety, +seeing well that they wanted wit, to goe so like a company of bucks, every +one to his fancy, where his litle experience leads him, nor thinking that +danger wherin they weare, shewing by their march they weare no men, for not +fearing. As for him, he was ready to die to render them service & prisoner +into their hands freely. "For," saith he, "I might have escaped your sight, +but that I would have saved you. I feare," sayth he, "not death"; so with +that comes downe into the watter to his midle. There comes many boats about +him, takes him into one of the boats, tying a coard fast about his body. +There is he fastned. He begins to sing his fatal song that they call a +nouroyall. That horrid tone being finished, makes a long, a very long +speech, saying, "Brethren, the day the sunne is favourable to mee, +appointed mee to tell you that yee are witlesse before I die, neither can +they escape their ennemys, that are spred up and downe everywhere, that +watches all moments their coming to destroy them. Take great courage, +brethren, sleepe not; the ennemy is att hand. They wait for you; they are +soe neare that they see you, and heare you, & are sure that you are their +prey. Therefore I was willing to die to give you notice. For my part that +what I have ben I am a man & commander in the warrs, and tooke severall +prisoners; yet I would put meselfe in death's hands to save your lives. +Believe me; keepe you altogether; spend not your powder in vaine, thinking +to frighten your enemys by the noise of your guns. See if the stoanes of +your arrowes be not bent or loose; bend your bowes; open your ears; keepe +your hattchetts sharpe to cutt trees to make you a fort; doe not spend soe +much greas to greas yourselves, but keep it for your bellies. Stay not too +long in the way. It's robbery to die with conduct." + +That poore wretch spake the truth & gave good instructions, but the +greatest part did not understand what he said, saving the hurrons that +weare with him, and I, that tould them as much as I could perceive. Every +one laughs, saying he himself is afraid & tells us that story. We call him +a dogg, a woman, and a henne. We will make you know that we weare men, & +for his paines we should burne him when we come to our country. Here you +shall see the brutishnesse of those people that think themselves valliant +to the last point. No comparison is to be made with them for vallour, but +quite contrary. They passe away the rest of that day with great +exclamations of joy, but it will not last long. + +That night wee layd in our boats and made not the ketle boyle, because we +had meat ready dressed. Every boat is tyed up in the rushes, whether out of +feare for what the prisoner told them, or that the prisoner should escape, +I know not. They went to sleepe without any watch. The ffrench began to +wish & moane for that place from whence they came from. What will it be if +wee heare yeatt cryes & sorrows after all? Past the breake of day every one +takes his oare to row; the formost oares have great advantage. We heard the +torrent rumble, but could not come to the land that day, although not farr +from us. Some twelve boats gott afore us. These weare saluted with guns & +outcrys. In the meane while one boat runs one way, one another; some men +lands and runs away. We are all put to it; non knowes where he is, they are +put to such a confusion. All those beasts gathers together againe frighted. +Seeing no way to escape, gott themselves all in a heape like unto ducks +that sees the eagle come to them. + +That first feare being over a litle, they resolved to land & to make a fort +with all speed, which was done in lesse then two houres. The most stupidest +drowsy are the nimblest for the hattchett & cutting of trees. The fort +being finished, every one maketh himselfe in a readiness to sustaine the +assult if any had tempted. The prisoner was brought, who soone was +despatched, burned & roasted & eaten. The Iroquoits had so served them, as +many as they have taken. We mist 20 of our company, but some came safe to +us, & lost 13 that weare killed & taken in that defeat. The Iroquoite +finding himselfe weake would not venture, & was obliged to leave us least +he should be discovered & served as the other. Neverthelesse they shewed +good countenances, went & builded a fort as we have done, where they +fortified themselves & feed on human flesh which they gott in the warres. +They weare afraid as much as we, but far from that; ffor the night being +come, every one imbarks himselfe, to the sound of a low trumpet, by the +help of the darknesse. We went to the other side, leaving our marchandises +for our ransome to the ennemy that used us so unkindly. We made some +cariages that night with a world of paines. We mist 4 of our boats, so that +we must alter our equipages. The wildmen complained much that the ffrench +could not swime, for that they might be together. The ffrench seeing that +they weare not able to undergo such a voyage, they consult together & for +conclusion resolved to give an end to such labours & dangers; moreover, +found themselves incapable to follow the wildmen who went with all the +speed possible night & day for the feare that they weare in. The ffathers, +seeing our weaknesse, desired the wildmen that they might have one or two +to direct them, which by no means was granted, but bid us doe as the rest. +We kept still our resolution, & knowing more tricks then they, would not +goe back, which should be but disdainful & prejudiciall. We told them so +plainly that we would finish that voyage or die by the way. Besides that +the wildmen did not complaine of us att all, but incouraged us. After a +long arguing, every one had the liberty to goe backwards or forwards, if +any had courage to venter himselfe with us. Seeing the great difficulties, +all with one consent went back againe, and we went on. + +The wildmen weare not sorry for their departure, because of their ignorance +in the affaire of such navigation. It's a great alteration to see one and +30 reduced to 2. We encouraged one another, both willing to live & die with +one another; & that [is] the least we could doe, being brothers. Before we +[went] to the lake of the hurrons we had crosses enough, but no encounter. +We travelled onely in the night in these dangerous places, which could not +be done without many vexations & labours. The vanity was somewhat cooler +for the example we have seene the day before. The hungar was that tormented +us most; for him we could not goe seeke for some wild beasts. Our chiefest +food was onely some few fishes which the wildmen caught by a line, may be +two dozens a whole day, no bigger then my hand. + +Being come to the place of repose, some did goe along the water side on the +rocks & there exposed ourselves to the rigour of the weather. Upon these +rocks we find some shells, blackish without and the inner part whitish by +reason of the heat of the sun & of the humidity. They are in a maner glued +to the rock; so we must gett another stone to gett them off by scraping +them hard. When we thought to have enough [we] went back again to the +Cottages, where the rest weare getting the litle fishes ready with trips, +[Footnote: _Trips_,--meaning "tripe des boiled resolves itself into a black +glue, roche, a species of lichen, which being nauseous but not without +nourishment." _Discovery of the Great West_, by Parkman.] gutts and all. +The kittle was full with the scraping of the rocks, which soone after it +boyled became like starch, black and clammie & easily to be swallowed. I +think if any bird had lighted upon the excrements of the said stuff, they +had stuckt to it as if it weare glue. In the fields we have gathered +severall fruits, as goosberyes, blackberrys, that in an houre we gathered +above a bushell of such sorte, although not as yett full ripe. We boyled +it, and then every one had his share. Heere was daintinesse slighted. The +belly did not permitt us to gett on neither shoos nor stockins, that the +better we might goe over the rocks, which did [make] our feet smart [so] +that we came backe. Our feet & thighs & leggs weare scraped with thorns, in +a heape of blood. The good God looked uppon those infidels by sending them +now & then a beare into the river, or if we perceived any in an Isle forced +them to swime, that by that means we might the sooner kill them. But the +most parts there abouts is so sterill that there is nothing to be seene but +rocks & sand, & on the high wayes but deale trees that grow most +miraculously, for that earth is not to be seene than can nourish the root, +& most of them trees are very bigg & high. We tooke a litle refreshment in +a place called the lake of Castors, which is some 30 leagues from the first +great lake. Some of those wildmen hid a rest [Footnote: "Hid a rest," or +cache.] as they went down to the ffrench; but the lake was so full of +fishes we tooke so much that served us a long while. + +We came to a place where weare abundance of Otters, in so much that I +believe all gathered to hinder our passage. We killed some with our arrows, +not daring to shoote because we discovered there abouts some tracks, +judging to be our ennemy by the impression of their feet in the sand. All +knowes there one another by their march, for each hath his proper steps, +some upon their toes, some on their heele, which is natural to them, for +when they are infants the mother wrapeth them to their mode. Heer I speake +not of the horrid streams we passed, nor of the falls of the water, which +weare of an incredible height. In some parts most faire & delicious, where +people formerly lived onely by what they could gett by the bow & arrows. We +weare come above 300 leagues allwayes against the streame, & made 60 +carriages, besides drawing, besides the swift streams we overcame by the +oares & poles to come to that litle lake of Castors which may be 30 or 40 +leagues in compasse. The upper end of it is full of Islands, where there is +not time lost to wander about, finding wherewithall to make the kettle +boyle with venison, great bears, castors & fishes, which are plenty in that +place. The river that we goe to the great lake is somewhat favorable. We +goe downe with ease & runing of the watter, which empties itsselfe in that +lake in which we are now coming in. This river hath but 8 high & violent +streams, which is some 30 leagues in length. The place where we weare is a +bay all full of rocks, small isles, & most between wind and water which an +infinite [number] of fishes, which are seene in the water so cleare as +christiall. That is the reason of so many otters, that lives onely uppon +fish. Each of us begins to looke to his bundle & merchandizes and prepare +himselfe for the bad weather that uses to be on that great extent of water. +The wildmen finds what they hid among the rocks 3 months before they came +up to the french. Heere we are stiring about in our boats as nimble as bees +and divided ourselves into 2 companys. Seaven boats went towards west +norwest and the rest to the South. + +After we mourned enough for the death of our deare countrymen that weare +slained coming up, we take leave of each other with promise of amitie & +good correspondence one with another, as for the continuance of peace, as +for the assistance of strength, if the enemy should make an assault. That +they should not goe to the french without giving notice one to another & +soe goe together. We that weare for the South went on severall dayes +merily, & saw by the way the place where the ffathers Jesuits had +heretofore lived; a delicious place, albeit we could but see it afarre off. +The coast of this lake is most delightfull to the minde. The lands smooth, +and woods of all sorts. In many places there are many large open fields +where in, I believe, wildmen formerly lived before the destruction of the +many nations which did inhabit, and tooke more place then 600 leagues +about; for I can well say that from the river of Canada to the great lake +of the hurrons, which is neere 200 leagues in length & 60 in breadth, as I +guesse, for I have [been] round about it, plenty of fish. There are banks +of sand 5 or 6 leagues from the waterside, where such an infinite deale of +fish that scarcely we are able to draw out our nett. There are fishes as +bigg as children of 2 years old. There is sturgeon enough & other sorte +that is not knowne to us. The South part is without isles, onely in some +bayes where there are some. It is delightfull to goe along the side of the +watter in summer where you may pluck the ducks. + +We must stay often in a place 2 or 3 dayes for the contrary winds; ffor +[if] the winds weare anything high, we durst not venter the boats against +the impetuosity of the waves, which is the reason that our voyages are so +long and tedious. A great many large deep rivers empties themselves in that +lake, and an infinit number of other small rivers, that cann beare boats, +and all from lakes & pools which are in abundance in that country. + +After we travelled many dayes we arrived att a large island where we found +their village, their wives & children. You must know that we passed a +strait some 3 leagues beyond that place. The wildmen give it a name; it is +another lake, but not so bigg as that we passed before. We calle it the +lake of the staring hairs, because those that live about it have their hair +like a brush turned up. They all have a hole in their nose, which is done +by a straw which is above a foot long. It barrs their faces. Their ears +have ordinarily 5 holes, where one may putt the end of his finger. They use +those holes in this sort: to make themselves gallant they passe through it +a skrew of coper with much dexterity, and goe on the lake in that posture. +When the winter comes they weare no capes because of their haire tourned +up. They fill those skrews with swan's downe, & with it their ears covered; +but I dare say that the people doe not for to hold out the cold, but rather +for pride, ffor their country is not so cold as the north, and other lakes +that we have seene since. + +It should be difficult to describe what variety of faces our arrivement did +cause, some out of joy, others out of sadnesse. Neverthelesse the numbers +of joyfull exceeded that of the sorrowfull. The season began to invite the +lustiest to hunting. We neither desire to be idle in any place, having +learned by experience that idlenesse is the mother of all evil, for it +breeds most part of all sicknesse in those parts where the aire is most +delightfull. So that they who had most knowledge in these quarters had +familiarity with the people that live there about the last lake. + +The nation that we weare with had warrs with the Iroquoits, and must trade. +Our wildmen out of feare must consent to their ennemy to live in their +land. It's true that those who lived about the first lake had not for the +most part the conveniency of our french merchandise, as since, which +obliged most of the remotest people to make peace, considering the enemy of +theirs that came as a thunder bolt upon them, so that they joyned with them +& forgett what was past for their owne preservation. Att our coming there +we made large guifts, to dry up the tears of the friends of the deceased. +As we came there the circumjacent neighbours came to visit us, that bid us +welcome, as we are so. There comes newes that there weare ennemy in the +fields, that they weare seene att the great field. There is a councell +called, & resolved that they should be searched & sett uppon them as [soon +as] possible may be, which [was] executed speedily. I offered my service, +soe went and looked for them 2 dayes; finding them the 3rd day, gave them +the assault when they least thought off it. We played the game so furiously +that none escaped. + +The day following we returned to our village with 8 of our enemys dead and +3 alive. The dead weare eaten & the living weare burned with a small fire +to the rigour of cruelties, which comforted the desolat to see them +revenged of the death of their relations that was so served. We weare then +possessed by the hurrons and Octanac; but our minde was not to stay in an +island, but to be knowne with the remotest people. The victory that we have +gotten made them consent to what we could desire, & because that we shewed +willing [ness] to die for their defence. So we desired to goe with a +company of theirs that was going to the nation of the stairing haires. + +We weare wellcomed & much made of, saying that we weare the Gods & devils +of the earth; that we should fournish them, & that they would bring us to +their ennemy to destroy them. We tould them [we] were very well content. We +persuaded them first to come peaceably, not to destroy them presently, and +if they would not condescend, then would wee throw away the hattchett and +make use of our thunders. We sent ambassadors to them with guifts. That +nation called Pontonatemick without more adoe comes & meets us with the +rest, & peace was concluded. Feasts were made & dames with guifts came of +each side, with a great deale of mirth. + +We visited them during that winter, & by that means we made acquaintance +with an other nation called Escotecke, which signified fire, a faire proper +nation; they are tall & bigg & very strong. We came there in the spring. +When we arrived there weare extraordinary banquetts. There they never have +seen men with beards, because they pull their haires as soone as it comes +out; but much more astonished when they saw our armes, especially our guns, +which they worshipped by blowing smoake of tobacco instead of sacrifice. I +will not insist much upon their way of living, ffor of their ceremonys +heere you will see a pattern. + +In the last voyage that wee made I will lett you onely know what cours we +runned in 3 years' time. We desired them to lett us know their neighboring +nations. They gave us the names, which I hope to describe their names in +the end of this most imperfect discours, at least those that I can +remember. Among others they told us of a nation called Nadoneceronon, which +is very strong, with whome they weare in warres with, & another wandering +nation, living onely uppon what they could come by. Their dwelling was on +the side of the salt watter in summer time, & in the land in the winter +time, for it's cold in their country. They calle themselves Christinos, & +their confederats from all times, by reason of their speech, which is the +same, & often have joyned together & have had companys of souldiers to +warre against that great nation. We desired not to goe to the North till we +had made a discovery in the South, being desirous to know what they did. +They told us if we would goe with them to the great lake of the stinkings, +the time was come of their trafick, which was of as many knives as they +could gett from the french nation, because of their dwellings, which was +att the coming in of a lake called Superior, but since the destructions of +many neighboring nations they retired themselves to the height of the lake. +We knewed those people well. We went to them almost yearly, and the company +that came up with us weare of the said nation, but never could tell +punctually where they lived because they make the barre of the Christinos +from whence they have the Castors that they bring to the french. This place +is 600 leagues off, by reason of the circuit that we must doe. The hurrons +& the Octanacks, from whence we came last, furnishes them also, & comes to +the furthest part of the lake of the stinkings, there to have light earthen +pots, and girdles made of goat's hairs, & small shells that grow art the +sea side, with which they trim their cloath made of skin. + +We finding this opportunity would not lett it slippe, but made guifts, +telling that the other nation would stand in feare of them because of us. +We flattered them, saying none would dare to give them the least wrong, in +so much that many of the Octanacks that weare present to make the same +voyage. I can assure you I liked noe country as I have that wherein we +wintered; ffor whatever a man could desire was to be had in great plenty; +viz. staggs, fishes in abundance, & all sort of meat, corne enough. Those +of the 2 nations would not come with us, but turned back to their nation. +We neverthelesse put ourselves in hazard, for our curiosity, of stay 2 or 3 +years among that nation. We ventured, for that we understand some of their +idiome & trusted to that. + +We embarked ourselves on the delightfullest lake of the world. I tooke +notice of their Cottages & of the journeys of our navigation, for because +that the country was so pleasant, so beautifull & fruitfull that it grieved +me to see that the world could not discover such inticing countrys to live +in. This I say because that the Europeans fight for a rock in the sea +against one another, or for a sterill land and horrid country, that the +people sent heere or there by the changement of the aire ingenders +sicknesse and dies thereof. Contrarywise those kingdoms are so delicious & +under so temperat a climat, plentifull of all things, the earth bringing +foorth its fruit twice a yeare, the people live long & lusty & wise in +their way. What conquest would that bee att litle or no cost; what +laborinth of pleasure should millions of people have, instead that millions +complaine of misery & poverty! What should not men reape out of the love of +God in converting the souls heere, is more to be gained to heaven then what +is by differences of nothing there, should not be so many dangers committed +under the pretence of religion! Why so many thoesoever are hid from us by +our owne faults, by our negligence, covetousnesse, & unbeliefe. It's true, +I confesse, that the accesse is difficult, but must say that we are like +the Cockscombs of Paris, when first they begin to have wings, imagining +that the larks will fall in their mouths roasted; but we ought [to +remember] that vertue is not acquired without labour & taking great paines. + +We meet with severall nations, all sedentary, amazed to see us, & weare +very civil. The further we sejourned the delightfuller the land was to us. +I can say that [in] my lifetime I never saw a more incomparable country, +for all I have ben in Italy; yett Italy comes short of it, as I think, when +it was inhabited, & now forsaken of the wildmen. Being about the great sea, +we conversed with people that dwelleth about the salt water, [Footnote: +"That dwelleth about the salt water;" namely, Hudson's Bay.] who tould us +that they saw some great white thing sometimes uppon the water, & came +towards the shore, & men in the top of it, and made a noise like a company +of swans; which made me believe that they weare mistaken, for I could not +imagine what it could be, except the Spaniard; & the reason is that we +found a barill broken as they use in Spaine. Those people have their haires +long. They reape twice a yeare; they are called Tatarga, that is to say, +buff. They warre against Nadoneceronons, and warre also against the +Christinos. These 2 doe no great harme to one another, because the lake is +betweene both. They are generally stout men, that they are able to defend +themselves. They come but once a year to fight. If the season of the yeare +had permitted us to stay, for we intended to goe backe the yeare following, +we had indeavoured to make peace betweene them. We had not as yett seene +the nation Nadoneceronons. We had hurrons with us. Wee persuaded them to +come along to see their owne nation that fled there, but they would not by +any means. We thought to gett some castors there to bring downe to the +ffrench, seeing [it] att last impossible to us to make such a circuit in a +twelve month's time. We weare every where much made of; neither wanted +victualls, for all the different nations that we mett conducted us & +furnished us with all necessaries. Tending to those people, went towards +the South & came back by the north. + +The Summer passed away with admiration by the diversity of the nations that +we saw, as for the beauty of the shore of that sweet sea. Heere we saw +fishes of divers, some like the sturgeons & have a kind of slice att the +end of their nose some 3 fingers broad in the end and 2 onely neere the +nose, and some 8 thumbs long, all marbled of a blakish collor. There are +birds whose bills are two and 20 thumbs long. That bird swallows a whole +salmon, keeps it a long time in his bill. We saw alsoe shee-goats very +bigg. There is an animal somewhat lesse then a cow whose meat is exceeding +good. There is no want of Staggs nor Buffes. There are so many Tourkeys +that the boys throws stoanes att them for their recreation. We found no +sea-serpents as we in other laks have seene, especially in that of +d'Ontario and that of the stairing haires. There are some in that of the +hurrons, but scarce, for the great cold in winter. They come not neere the +upper lake. In that of the stairing haires I saw yong boy [who] was bitten. +He tooke immediately his stony knife & with a pointed stick & cutts off the +whole wound, being no other remedy for it. They are great sorcerors & turns +the wheele. I shall speake of this at large in my last voyage. Most of the +shores of the lake is nothing but sand. There are mountains to be seene +farre in the land. There comes not so many rivers from that lake as from +others; these that flow from it are deeper and broader, the trees are very +bigg, but not so thick. There is a great distance from one another, & a +quantitie of all sorts of fruits, but small. The vines grows all by the +river side; the lemons are not so bigg as ours, and sowrer. The grape is +very bigg, greene, is seene there att all times. It never snows nor freezes +there, but mighty hot; yett for all that the country is not so unwholsom, +ffor we seldome have seene infirmed people. I will speake of their manners +in my last voyage, which I made in October. + +We came to the strait of the 2 lakes of the stinkings and the upper lake, +where there are litle isles towards Norwest, ffew towards the Southest, +very small. The lake towards the North att the side of it is full of rocks +& sand, yett great shipps can ride on it without danger. We being of 3 +nations arrived there with booty, disputed awhile, ffor some would returne +to their country. That was the nation of the fire, & would have us backe to +their dwelling. We by all means would know the Christinos. To goe backe was +out of our way. We contented the hurrons to our advantage with promises & +others with hope, and persuaded the Octonack to keepe his resolution, +because we weare but 5 small fine dayes from those of late that lived in +the sault of the coming in of the said upper lake, from whence that name of +salt, which is _panoestigonce_ in the wild language, which heerafter we +will call the nation of the salt. + +Not many years since that they had a cruell warre against the +Nadoneseronons. Although much inferiour in numbers, neverthelesse that +small number of the salt was a terror unto them, since they had trade with +the ffrench. They never have seene such instruments as the ffrench +furnished them withall. It is a proude nation, therfore would not submitt, +although they had to doe with a bigger nation 30 times then they weare, +because that they weare called ennemy by all those that have the accent of +the Algonquin language, that the wild men call Nadone, which is the +beginning of their name. The Iroquoits have the title of bad ennemy, +Maesocchy Nadone. Now seeing that the Christinos had hattchetts & knives, +for that they resolved to make peace with those of the sault, that durst +not have gon hundred of leagues uppon that upper lake with assurance. They +would not hearken to anything because their general resolved to make peace +with those of the Christinos & an other nation that gott gunns, the noise +of which had frighted them more then the bulletts that weare in them. The +time approached, there came about 100 of the nation of the Sault to those +that lived towards the north. The christinos gott a bigger company & fought +a batail. Some weare slaine of both sids. The Captayne of these of the +Sault lost his eye by an arrow. The batail being over he made a speech, & +said that he lost his fight of one side, & of the other he foresee what he +would doe; his courage being abject by that losse, that he himselfe should +be ambassador & conclud the peace. + +He seeing that the Iroquoits came too often, a visit I must confesse very +displeasing, being that some [of] ours looses their lives or liberty, so +that we retired ourselves to the higher lake neerer the nation of the +Nadoneceronons, where we weare well receaved, but weare mistrusted when +many weare seene together. We arrived then where the nation of the Sault +was, where we found some french men that came up with us, who thanked us +kindly for to come & visit them. The wild Octanaks that came with us found +some of their nations slaves, who weare also glad to see them. For all they +weare slaves they had meat enough, which they have not in their owne +country so plentifull, being no huntsmen, but altogether ffishers. As for +those towards the north, they are most expert in hunting, & live uppon +nothing else the most part of the yeare. We weare long there before we gott +acquaintance with those that we desired so much, and they in lik maner had +a fervent desire to know us, as we them. Heer comes a company of Christinos +from the bay of the North sea, to live more at ease in the midle of woods & +forests, by reason they might trade with those of the Sault & have the +Conveniency to kill more beasts. + +There we passed the winter & learned the particularitie that since wee saw +by Experience. Heere I will not make a long discours during that time, +onely made good cheere & killed staggs, Buffes, Elends, and Castors. The +Christinos had skill in that game above the rest. The snow proved +favourable that yeare, which caused much plenty of every thing. Most of the +woods & forests are very thick, so that it was in some places as darke as +in a cellar, by reason of the boughs of trees. The snow that falls, being +very light, hath not the strenght to stopp the eland, [Footnote: _Elend_, +plainly the Moose. "They appear to derive their Dutch appellation +(_eelanden_) from _elende_, misery, they die of the smallest wound." +_Documentary History of New York_, by O'Callaghan, Vol. IV. p. 77.] which +is a mighty strong beast, much like a mule, having a tayle cutt off 2 or 3 +or 4 thumbes long, the foot cloven like a stagge. He has a muzzle mighty +bigge. I have seene some that have the nostrills so bigg that I putt into +it my 2 fists att once with ease. Those that uses to be where the buffes be +are not so bigg, but about the bignesse of a coach horse. The wildmen call +them the litle sort. As for the Buff, it is a furious animal. One must have +a care of him, for every yeare he kills some Nadoneseronons. He comes for +the most part in the plaines & meddows; he feeds like an ox, and the +Oriniack so but seldom he galopps. I have seene of their hornes that a man +could not lift them from of the ground. They are branchy & flatt in the +midle, of which the wildman makes dishes that can well hold 3 quarts. These +hornes fall off every yeare, & it's a thing impossible that they will grow +againe. The horns of Buffs are as those of an ox, but not so long, but +bigger, & of a blackish collour; he hath a very long hairy taile; he is +reddish, his haire frized & very fine. All the parts of his body much +[like] unto an ox. The biggest are bigger then any ox whatsoever. Those are +to be found about the lake of the Stinkings & towards the North of the +same. They come not to the upper lake but by chance. It's a pleasur to find +the place of their abode, for they tourne round about compassing 2 or 3 +acres of land, beating the snow with their feete, & coming to the center +they lye downe & rise againe to eate the bows of trees that they can reach. +They go not out of their circle that they have made untill hunger compells +them. + +We did what we could to have correspondence with that warlick nation & +reconcile them with the Christinos. We went not there that winter. Many +weare slained of both sides the summer last. The wound was yett fresh, +wherfore it was hard to conclude peace between them. We could doe nothing, +ffor we intended to turne back to the ffrench the summer following. Two +years weare expired. We hoped to be att the 2 years end with those that +gave us over for dead, having before to come back at a year's end. As we +are once in those remote countreys we cannot doe as we would. Att last we +declared our mind first to those of the Sault, encouraging those of the +North that we are their brethren, & that we would come back & force their +enemy to peace or that we would help against them. We made guifts one to +another, and thwarted a land of allmost 50 leagues before the snow was +melted. In the morning it was a pleasur to walke, for we could goe without +racketts. The snow was hard enough, because it freezed every night. When +the sun began to shine we payed for the time past. The snow sticks so to +our racketts that I believe our shoes weighed 30 pounds, which was a paine, +having a burden uppon our backs besides. + +We arrived, some 150 of us, men & women, to a river side, where we stayed 3 +weeks making boats. Here we wanted not fish. During that time we made +feasts att a high rate. So we refreshed ourselves from our labours. In that +time we tooke notice that the budds of trees began to spring, which made us +to make more hast & be gone. We went up that river 8 dayes till we came to +a nation called Pontonatenick & Matonenock; that is, the scrattchers. There +we gott some Indian meale & corne from those 2 nations, which lasted us +till we came to the first landing Isle. There we weare well received +againe. We made guifts to the Elders to encourage the yong people to bring +us downe to the ffrench. But mightily mistaken; ffor they would reply, +"Should you bring us to be killed? The Iroquoits are every where about the +river & undoubtedly will destroy us if we goe downe, & afterwards our wives +& those that stayed behinde. Be wise, brethren, & offer not to goe downe +this yeare to the ffrench. Lett us keepe our lives." We made many private +suits, but all in vaine. That vexed us most that we had given away most of +our merchandises & swapped a great deale for Castors. Moreover they made no +great harvest, being but newly there. Beside, they weare no great huntsmen. +Our journey was broaken till the next yeare, & must per force. + +That summer I went a hunting, & my brother stayed where he was welcome & +putt up a great deale of Indian corne that was given him. He intended to +furnish the wildmen that weare to goe downe to the ffrench if they had not +enough. The wild men did not perceive this; ffor if they wanted any, we +could hardly kept it for our use. The winter passes away in good +correspondence one with another, & sent ambassadors to the nations that +uses to goe downe to the french, which rejoyced them the more & made us +passe that yeare with a greater pleasur, saving that my brother sell into +the falling sicknesse, & many weare sorry for it. That proceeded onely of a +long stay in a new discovered country, & the idlenesse contributs much to +it. There is nothing comparable to exercise. It is the onely remedy of such +diseases. After he languished awhile God gave him his health againe. + +The desire that every one had to goe downe to the ffrench made them +earnestly looke out for castors. They have not so many there as in the +north part, so in the beginning of spring many came to our Isle. There +weare no lesse, I believe, then 500 men that weare willing to venter +themselves. The corne that my brother kept did us a world of service. The +wildmen brought a quantity of flesh salted in a vesell. When we weare ready +to depart, heere comes strang news of the defeat of the hurrons, which +news, I thought, would putt off the voyage. There was a councell held, & +most of them weare against the goeing downe to the ffrench, saying that the +Iroquoits weare to barre this yeare, & the best way was to stay till the +following yeare. And now the ennemy, seeing himselfe frustrated of his +expectation, would not stay longer, thinking thereby that we weare resolved +never more to go downe, and that next yeare there should be a bigger +company, & better able to oppose an ennemy. My brother & I, feeing +ourselves all out of hopes of our voyage, without our corne, which was +allready bestowed, & without any merchandise, or scarce having one knife +betwixt us both, so we weare in a great apprehension least that the hurrons +should, as they have done often, when the ffathers weare in their country, +kill a frenchman. + +Seeing the equipage ready & many more that thought long to depart thence +for marchandise, we uppon this resolved to call a publique councell in the +place; which the Elders hearing, came and advised us not to undertake it, +giving many faire words, saying, "Brethren, why are you such ennemys to +yourselves to putt yourselves in the hands of those that wait for you? They +will destroy you and carry you away captives. Will you have your brethren +destroyed that loves you, being slained? Who then will come up and baptize +our children? Stay till the next yeare, & then you are like to have the +number of 600 men in company with you. Then you may freely goe without +intermission. Yee shall take the church along with you, & the ffathers & +mothers will send their children to be taught in the way of truth of the +Lord." Our answer was that we would speake in publique, which granted, the +day appointed is come. There gathered above 800 men to see who should have +the glorie in a round. They satt downe on the ground. We desired silence. +The elders being in the midle & we in their midle, my brother began to +Speake. "Who am I? am I a foe or a friend? If I am a foe, why did you +suffer me to live so long among you? If I am friend, & if you take so to +be, hearken to what I shall say. You know, my uncles & brethren, that I +hazarded my life goeing up with you; if I have no courage, why did you not +tell me att my first coming here? & if you have more witt then we, why did +not you use it by preserving your knives, your hattchetts, & your gunns, +that you had from the ffrench? You will see if the ennemy will sett upon +you that you will be attraped like castors in a trape; how will you defend +yourselves like men that is not courageous to lett yourselves be catched +like beasts? How will you defend villages? with castors' skins? how will +you defend your wives & children from the ennemy's hands?" + +Then my brother made me stand up, saying, "Shew them the way to make warrs +if they are able to uphold it." I tooke a gowne of castors' skins that one +of them had uppon his shoulder & did beat him with it. I asked the others +if I was a souldier. "Those are the armes that kill, & not your robes. What +will your ennemy say when you perish without defending yourselves? Doe not +you know the ffrench way? We are used to fight with armes & not with robes. +You say that the Iroquoits waits for you because some of your men weare +killed. It is onely to make you stay untill you are quite out of stocke, +that they dispatch you with ease. Doe you think that the ffrench will come +up here when the greatest part of you is slained by your owne fault? You +know that they cannot come up without you. Shall they come to baptize your +dead? Shall your children learne to be slaves among the Iroquoits for their +ffathers' cowardnesse? You call me Iroquoit. Have not you seene me +disposing my life with you? Who has given you your life if not the ffrench? +Now you will not venter because many of your confederates are come to visit +you & venter their lives with you. If you will deceave them you must not +think that they will come an other time for shy words nor desire. You have +spoaken of it first, doe what you will. For myne owne part, I will venter +choosing to die like a man then live like a beggar. Having not wherewithal +to defend myselfe, farewell; I have my sack of corne ready. Take all my +castors. I shall live without you." & then departed that company. + +They weare amazed of our proceeding; they stayed long before they spoake +one to another. Att last sent us some considerable persons who bid us +cheare up. "We see that you are in the right; the voyage is not broaken. +The yong people tooke very ill that you have beaten them with the skin. All +avowed to die like men & undertake the journey. You shall heare what the +councell will ordaine the morrow. They are to meet privatly & you shall be +called to it. Cheare up & speake as you have done; that is my councell to +you. For this you will remember me when you will see me in your country; +ffor I will venter meselfe with you." Now we are more satisfied then the +day before. We weare to use all rhetorique to persuade them to goe downe, +ffor we saw the country languish very much, ffor they could not subsist, & +moreover they weare afraid of us. The councell is called, but we had no +need to make a speech, finding them disposed to make the voyage & to +submitt. "Yee women gett your husbands' bundles ready. They goe to gett +wherwithall to defend themselves & you alive." + +Our equipage was ready in 6 dayes. We embarked ourselves. We weare in +number about 500, all stout men. We had with us a great store of castors' +skins. We came to the South. We now goe back to the north, because to +overtake a band of men that went before to give notice to others. We passed +the lake without dangers. We wanted nothing, having good store of corne & +netts to catch fish, which is plentyfull in the rivers. We came to a place +where 8 Iroquoits wintered. That was the company that made a slaughter +before our departure from home. Our men repented now they did not goe +sooner, ffor it might be they should have surprised them. + +Att last we are out of those lakes. One hides a caske of meale, the other +his campiron, & all that could be cumbersome. After many paines & labours +wee arrived to the Sault of Columest, so called because of the Stones that +are there very convenient to make tobacco pipes. We are now within 100 +leagues of the french habitation, & hitherto no bad encounter. We still +found tracks of men which made us still to have the more care and guard of +ourselves. Some 30 leagues from this place we killed wild cowes & then gott +ourselves into cottages, where we heard some guns goe off, which made us +putt out our fires & imbark ourselves with all speed. We navigated all that +night. About the breake of day we made a stay, that not to goe through the +violent streames for feare the Ennemy should be there to dispute the +passage. We landed & instantly sent 2 men to know whether the passage was +free. They weare not halfe a mile off when we see a boat of the ennemy +thwarting the river, which they had not done without discovering our boats, +having nothing to cover our boats nor hide them. Our lightest boats shewed +themselves by pursueing the ennemy. They did shoot, but to no effect, which +made our two men come back in all hast. We seeing ourselves but +merchandmen, so we would not long follow a man of warre, because he runned +swifter then ours. + +We proceeded in our way with great diligence till we came to the carriage +place, where the one halfe of our men weare in readinesse, whilst the other +halfe carried the baggage & the boats. We had a great alarum, but no hurt +done. We saw but one boat, but have seene foure more going up the river. +Methinks they thought themselves some what weake for us, which persuaded us +[of] 2 things: 1st, that they weare afraid; andly, that they went to warne +their company, which thing warned us the more to make hast. + +The 2nd day att evening after we landed & boyled an horiniack which we +killed. We then see 16 boats of our ennemy coming. They no sooner perceived +us but they went on the other side of the river. It was a good looke for us +to have seene them. Our wildmen did not say what they thought, ffor they +esteemed themselves already lost. We encouraged them & desired them to have +courage & not [be] afraid, & so farr as I think we weare strong enough for +them, that we must stoutly goe & meet them, and they should stand still. We +should be alltogether, & put our castors' skins upon pearches, which could +keepe us from the shott, which we did. We had foure & 20 gunns ready, and +gave them to the hurrons, who knewed how to handle them better then the +others. The Iroquoits seeing us come, & that we weare 5 to 1, could not +imagine what to doe. Neverthelesse they would shew their courage; being +that they must passe, they putt themselves in array to fight. If we had not +ben with some hurrons that knewed the Iroquoits' tricks, I believe that our +wild men had runned away, leaving their fusiques behind. We being neere one +another, we commanded that they should row with all their strength towards +them. We kept close one to another to persecut what was our intent. We +begin to make outcryes & sing. The hurrons in one side, the Algonquins att +the other side, the Ottanak, the panoestigons, the Amickkoick, the +Nadonicenago, the ticacon, and we both encouraged them all, crying out with +a loud noise. The Iroquoits begin to shoot, but we made ours to goe one +forwards without any shooting, and that it was the onely way of fighting. +They indeed turned their backs & we followed them awhile. Then was it that +we weare called devils, with great thanks & incouragements that they gave +us, attributing to us the masters of warre and the only Captaynes. We +desired them to keepe good watch and sentry, and if we weare not surprized +we should come safe and sound without hurt to the ffrench. The Iroquoite +seeing us goe on our way, made as if they would leave us. + +We made 3 carriages that day, where the ennemy could doe us mischief if +they had ben there. The cunning knaves followed us neverthelesse pritty +close. We left 5 boats behind that weare not loaden. We did so to see what +invention our enemy could invent, knowing very well that his mind was to +surprize us. It is enough that we are warned that they follow us. Att last +we perceived that he was before us, which putt us in some feare; but seeing +us resolut, did what he could to augment his number. But we weare mighty +vigilent & sent some to make a discovery att every carriage through the +woods. We weare told that they weare in an ambush, & there builded a fort +below the long Sault, where we weare to passe. Our wildmen said doubtlesse +they have gott an other company of their nation, so that some minded to +throw their castors away & returne home. We told them that we weare almost +att the gates of the ffrench habitation, & bid [them] therefore have +courage, & that our lives weare in as great danger as theirs, & if we weare +taken we should never escape because they knewed us, & I because I runned +away from their country having slained some of their brethren, & my brother +that long since was the man that furnished their enemy with arms. + +They att last weare persuaded, & landed within a mile of the landing place, +& sent 300 men before armed. We made them great bucklers that the shot +could not pearce in some places. They weare to be carryed if there had ben +occasion for it. Being come neere the torrent, we finding the Iroquoits +lying in ambush, who began to shoot. The rest of our company went about +cutting of trees & making a fort, whilst some brought the boats; which +being come, we left as few means possible might bee. The rest helped to +carry wood. We had about 200 men that weare gallant souldiers. The most +weare hurrons, Pasnoestigons, & Amickkoick frequented the ffrench for a +time. The rest weare skillfull in their bows & arrows. The Iroquoits +perceiving our device, resolved to fight by forceing them to lett us passe +with our arms. They did not know best what to doe, being not so munished +nor so many men above a hundred and fifty. They forsooke the place & +retired into the fort, which was underneath the rapide. We in the meane +while have slained 5 of theirs, & not one of ours hurted, which encouraged +our wildmen. We bid them still to have good courage, that we should have +the victory. Wee went & made another fort neere theirs, where 2 of our men +weare wounded but lightly. + +It is a horrid thing to heare [of] the enormity of outcryes of those +different nations. The Iroquoits sung like devils, & often made salleys to +make us decline. They gott nothing by that but some arrows that did +incommodat them to some purpose. We foresee that such a batail could not +hold out long for want of powder, of shott & arrows; so by the consent of +my brother & the rest, made a speech in the Iroquoit language, inducing +meselfe with armours that I might not be wounded with every bullett or +arrow that the ennemy sent perpetually. Then I spoake. "Brethren, we came +from your country & bring you to ours, not to see you perish unlesse we +perish with you. You know that the ffrench are men, & maks forts that +cannot be taken so soone therefore cheare upp, ffor we love you & will die +with you." This being ended, nothing but howling & crying. We brought our +castors & tyed them 8 by 8, and rowled them before us. The Iroquoits +finding that they must come out of their fort to the watterside, where they +left their boats, to make use of them in case of neede, where indeed made +an escape, leaving all their baggage behind, which was not much, neither +had we enough to fill our bellyes with the meat that was left; there weare +kettles, broaken gunns, & rusty hattchetts. + +They being gone, our passage was free, so we made hast & endeavoured to +come to our journey's end; and to make the more hast, some boats went downe +that swift streame without making any carriage, hopeing to follow the +ennemy; but the bad lacke was that where my brother was the boat turned in +the torrent, being seaven of them together, weare in great danger, ffor God +was mercifull to give them strength to save themselves, to the great +admiration, for few can speed so well in such precipices. When they came to +lande they cutt rocks. My brother lost his booke of annotations of the last +yeare of our being in these foraigne nations. We lost never a castor, but +may be some better thing. It's better [that one] loose all then lose his +life. + +We weare 4 moneths in our voyage without doeing any thing but goe from +river to river. We mett severall sorts of people. We conversed with them, +being long time in alliance with them. By the persuasion of som of them we +went into the great river that divides itselfe in 2, where the hurrons with +some Ottanake & the wild men that had warrs with them had retired. There is +not great difference in their language, as we weare told. This nation have +warrs against those of [the] forked river. It is so called because it has 2 +branches, the one towards the west, the other towards the South, which we +believe runns towards Mexico, by the tokens they gave us. Being among these +people, they told us the prisoners they take tells them that they have +warrs against a nation, against men that build great cabbans & have great +beards & had such knives as we have had. Moreover they shewed a Decad of +beads & guilded pearls that they have had from that people, which made us +believe they weare Europeans. They shewed one of that nation that was taken +the yeare before. We understood him not; he was much more tawny then they +with whome we weare. His armes & leggs weare turned outside; that was the +punishment inflicted uppon him. So they doe with them that they take, & +kill them with clubbs & doe often eat them. They doe not burne their +prisoners as those of the northern parts. + +We weare informed of that nation that live in the other river. These weare +men of extraordinary height & biggnesse, that made us believe they had no +communication with them. They live onely uppon Corne & Citrulles, +[Footnote: _Citrulles_, pumpkins.] which are mighty bigg. They have fish in +plenty throughout the yeare. They have fruit as big as the heart of an +Oriniak, which grows on vast trees which in compasse are three armefull in +compasse. When they see litle men they are affraid & cry out, which makes +many come help them. Their arrows are not of stones as ours are, but of +fish boans & other boans that they worke greatly, as all other things. +Their dishes are made of wood. I having seene them, could not but admire +the curiosity of their worke. They have great calumetts of great stones, +red & greene. They make a store of tobacco. They have a kind of drink that +makes them mad for a whole day. This I have not seene, therefore you may +believe as you please. + +When I came backe I found my brother sick, as I said before. God gave him +his health, more by his courage then by any good medicine, ffor our bodyes +are not like those of the wildmen. To our purpose; we came backe to our +carriage, whilst wee endeavoured to ayde our compagnions in their +extremity. The Iroquoits gott a great way before, not well satisfied to +have stayed for us, having lost 7 of their men; 2 of them weare not nimble +enough, ffor our bulletts & arrows made them stay for good & all. Seaven of +our men weare sick, they have ben like to be drowned, & the other two weare +wounded by the Iroquoits. + +The next day we went on without any delay or encounter. I give you leave if +those of mont Royall weare not overjoyed to see us arrived where they +affirme us the pitifull conditions that the country was by the cruelty of +these cruell barbars, that perpetually killed & slaughtered to the very +gate of the ffrench fort. All this hindered not our goeing to the ffrench +att the 3 rivers after we refreshed ourselves 3 dayes, but like to pay +dearly for our bold attempt. 20 inhabitants came downe with us in a +shawlopp. As we doubled the point of the river of the meddows we weare sett +uppon by severall of the Iroquoits, but durst not come neare us, because of +two small brasse pieces that the shalop carryed. We tyed our boats together +& made a fort about us of castors' skins, which kept us from all danger. We +went downe the streame in that posture. The ennemy left us, & did well; for +our wildmen weare disposed to fight, & our shaloupp could not come neare +them because for want of watter. We came to Quebecq, where we are saluted +with the thundring of the guns & batteryes of the fort, and of the 3 shipps +that weare then att anchor, which had gon back to france without castors if +we had not come. We weare well traited for 5 dayes. The Governor made +guifts & sent 2 Brigantins to bring us to the 3 rivers, where we arrived +the 2nd day of, & the 4th day they went away. + +That is the end of our 3 years' voyage & few months. After so much paine & +danger God was so mercifull [as] to bring us back saf to our dwelling, +where the one was made much off by his wife, the other by his friends & +kindred. The ennemy that had discovered us in our goeing downe gott more +company, with as many as they could to come to the passages, & there to +waite for the retourne of those people, knowinge well that they could not +stay there long because the season of the yeare was almost spent; but we +made them by our persuasions goe downe to Quebecq, which proved well, ffor +the Iroquoits thought they weare gone another way. So came the next day +after our arrivall to make a discovery to the 3 rivers, where being +perceived, there is care taken to receive them. + +The ffrench cannot goe as the wildmen through the woods, but imbarks +themselves in small boats & went along the river side, knowing that if the +ennemy was repulsed, he would make his retreat to the river side. Some +Algonquins weare then att the habitation, who for to shew their vallour +disposed themselves to be the first in the poursuit of the enemy. Some of +the strongest and nimblest ffrench kept them company, with an other great +number of men called Ottanacks, so that we weare soone together by the +ears. There weare some 300 men of the enemy that came in the space of a +fourteen night together; but when they saw us they made use of their heels. +We weare about 500; but the better to play their game, after they runned +half a mile in the wood they turned againe, where then the batail began +most furiously by shooting att one another. + +That uppermost nation, being not used to shooting nor heare such noise, +began to shake off their armours, and tooke their bows and arrows, which +indeed made [more] execution then all the guns that they had brought. So +seeing 50 Algonquins & 15 ffrench keep to it, they resolved to stick to it +also, which had not long lasted; ffor seeing that their arrows weare almost +spent & they must close together, and that the enemy had an advantage by +keeping themselves behind the trees, and we to fall uppon we must be +without bucklers, which diminished much our company that was foremost, we +gave them in spight us place to retire themselves, which they did with all +speed. Having come to the watter side, where their boats weare, saw the +ffrench all in a row, who layd in an ambush to receive them, which they had +done if God had not ben for us; ffor they, thinking that the enemy was att +hand, mistrusted nothing to the contrary. The ffrench that weare in the +wood, seeing the evident danger where their countrymen layd, encouraged the +Ottanaks, who tooke their armes againe and followed the enemy, who not +feared that way arrived before the ffrench weare apprehended, by good +looke. + +One of the Iroquoits, thinking his boat would be seene, goes quickly and +putts it out of sight, & discovers himselfe, which warned the ffrench to +hinder them to goe further uppon that score. Our wildmen made a stand and +fell uppon them stoutly. The combat begins a new; they see the ffrench that +weare uppon the watter come neere, which renforced them to take their boats +with all hast, and leave their booty behind. The few boats that the french +had brought made that could enter but the 60 ffrench, who weare enough. The +wildmen neverthelesse did not goe without their prey, which was of three +men's heads that they killed att the first fight; but they left Eleven of +theirs in the place, besides many more that weare wounded. They went +straight to their countrey, which did a great service to the retourne of +our wildmen, and mett with non all their journey, as we heard afterwards. + +They went away the next day, and we stayed att home att rest that yeare. My +brother and I considered whether we should discover what we have seene or +no; and because we had not a full and whole discovery, which was that we +have not ben in the bay of the north, not knowing anything but by report of +the wild Christinos, we would make no mention of it for feare that those +wild men should tell us a fibbe. We would have made a discovery of it +ourselves and have an assurance, before we should discover anything of it. + +_The ende of the Auxotacicac voyage, which is the third voyage_. + + + + + +_[Fourth Voyage of Peter Esprit Radisson]_ + +The spring following we weare in hopes to meet with some company, having +ben so fortunat the yeare before. Now during the winter, whether it was +that my brother revealed to his wife what we had seene in our voyage and +what we further intended, or how it came to passe, it was knowne; so much +that the ffather Jesuits weare desirous to find out a way how they might +gett downe the castors from the bay of the north by the Sacgnes, and so +make themselves masters of that trade. They resolved to make a tryall as +soone as the ice would permitt them. So to discover our intentions they +weare very earnest with me to ingage myselfe in that voyage, to the end +that my brother would give over his, which I uterly denied them, knowing +that they could never bring it about, because I heard the wild men say that +although the way be easy, the wildmen that are feed att their doors would +have hindred them, because they make a livelyhood of that trade. + +In my last voyage I tooke notice of that that goes to three lands, which is +first from the people of the north to another nation, that the ffrench call +Squerells, and another nation that they call porquepicque, and from them to +the Montignes & Algonquins that live in or about Quebucque; but the +greatest hinderance is the scant of watter and the horrid torrents and want +of victuals, being no way to carry more then can serve 14 dayes' or 3 +weeks' navigation on that river. Neverthelesse the ffathers are gone with +the Governor's son of the three rivers and 6 other ffrench and 12 wildmen. + +During that time we made our proposition to the governor of Quebuc that we +weare willing to venture our lives for the good of the countrey, and goe to +travell to the remotest countreys with 2 hurrons that made their escape +from the Iroquoits. They wished nothing more then to bee in those parts +where their wives and families weare, about the Lake of the stairing haire; +to that intent would stay untill august to see if any body would come from +thence. My brother and I weare of one minde; and for more assurance my +brother went to Mont royall to bring those two men along. He came backe, +being in danger. The Governor gives him leave, conditionaly that he must +carry two of his servants along with him and give them the moitie of the +profit. My brother was vexed att such an unreasonable a demand, to take +inexperted men to their ruine. All our knowledge and desir depended onely +of this last voyage, besides that the governor should compare 2 of his +servants to us, that have ventured our lives so many years and maintained +the countrey with our generosity in the presence of all; neither was there +one that had the courage to undertake what wee have done. We made the +governor a slight answer, and tould him for our part we knewed what we +weare, Discoverers before governors. If the wild men came downe, the way +for them as for us, and that we should be glad to have the honnour of his +company, but not of that of his servants, and that we weare both masters +and servants. The Governor was much displeased att this, & commanded us not +to go without his leave. We desired the ffathers to Speake to him about it. +Our addresses were slight because of the shame was putt uppon them the +yeare before of their retourne, besids, they stayed for an opportunity to +goe there themselves; ffor their designe is to further the Christian faith +to the greatest glory of God, and indeed are charitable to all those that +are in distresse and needy, especially to those that are worthy or +industrious in their way of honesty. This is the truth, lett who he will +speak otherwise, ffor this realy I know meselfe by experience. I hope I +offend non to tell the truth. We are forced to goe back without doeing any +thing. + +The month of August that brings a company of the Sault, who weare come by +the river of the three rivers with incredible paines, as they said. It was +a company of seaven boats. We wrote the news of their arrivement to Quebuc. +They send us word that they will stay untill the 2 fathers be turned from +Sacquenes, that we should goe with them. An answer without reason. +Necessity obliged us to goe. Those people are not to be inticed, ffor as +soone as they have done their affaire they goe. The governor of that place +defends us to goe. We tould him that the offense was pardonable because it +was every one's interest; neverthelesse we knewed what we weare to doe, and +that he should not be blamed for us. We made guifts to the wildmen, that +wished with all their hearts that we might goe along with them. We told +them that the governor minded to send servants with them, and forbids us to +goe along with them. The wild men would not accept of their company, but +tould us that they would stay for us two dayes in the Lake of St Peter in +the grasse some 6 leagues from the 3 rivers; but we did not lett them stay +so long, for that very night, my brother having the keys of the Brough as +being Captayne of the place, we embarqued ourselves. + +We made ready in the morning, so that we went, 3 of us, about midnight. +Being come opposit to the fort, they aske who is there. My brother tells +his name. Every one knows what good services we had done to the countrey, +and loved us, the inhabitants as well as the souldiers. The sentrey answers +him, "God give you a good voyage." We went on the rest of that night. Att 6 +in the morning we are arrived to the appointed place, but found no body. We +weare well armed, & had a good boat. We resolved to goe day and night to +the river of the meddows to overtake them. The wildmen did feare that it +was somewhat else, but 3 leagues beyond that of the fort of Richlieu we saw +them coming to us. We putt ourselves uppon our guards, thinking they weare +ennemy; but weare friends, and received us with joy, and said that if we +had not come in 3 dayes' time, they would have sent their boats to know the +reason of our delay. There we are in that river waiting for the night. +Being come to the river of the medows, we did separat ourselves, 3 into 3 +boats. The man that we have taken with us was putt into a boat of 3 men and +a woman, but not of the same nation as the rest, but of one that we call +sorcerors. They weare going downe to see some friends that lived with the +nation of the fire, that now liveth with the Ponoestigonce or the Sault. It +is to be understood that this river is divided much into streams very swift +& small before you goe to the river of Canada; [on account] of the great +game that there is in it, the ennemy is to be feared, which made us go +through these torrents. This could make any one afraid who is inexperted in +such voyages. + +We suffered much for 3 dayes and 3 nights without rest. As we went we heard +the noise of guns, which made us believe firmly they weare ennemyes. We saw +5 boats goe by, and heard others, which daunted our hearts for feare, +although wee had 8 boats in number; but weare a great distance one from +another, as is said in my former voyage, before we could gaine the height +of the river. The boat of the sorcerors where was one of us, albeit made a +voyage into the hurrons' country before with the ffathers, it was not +usefull, soe we made him embark another, but stayed not there long. The +night following, he that was in the boat dreamed that the Iroquoits had +taken him with the rest. In his dreame he cryes out aloud; those that weare +att rest awakes of the noise. We are in alarum, and ready to be gone. Those +that weare with the man resolved to goe back againe, explicating that an +evill presage. The wildmen councelled to send back the ffrenchman, saying +he should die before he could come to their countrey. It's usually spoken +among the wildmen when a man is sick or not able to doe anything to +discourage him in such sayings. + +Here I will give a relation of that ffrenchman before I goe farther, and +what a thing it is to have an intrigue. The next day they see a boat of +their ennemys, as we heard since. They presently landed. The wild men +runned away; the ffrenchman alsoe, as he went along the watter side for +fear of loosing himselfe. He finds there an harbour very thick, layes +himselfe downe and falls asleepe. The night being come, the wildmen being +come to know whether the ennemy had perceived them, but non pursued them, +and found their boat in the same place, and imbarques themselves and comes +in good time to mount royall. They left the poore ffrenchman there, +thinking he had wit enough to come along the watter side, being not above +tenne leagues from thence. Those wild men, after their arrivement, for +feare spoak not one word of him, but went downe to the 3 rivers, where +their habitation was. Fourteen days after some boats ventured to goe looke +for some Oriniaks, came to the same place, where they made cottages, and +that within a quarter of mille where this wrech was. One of the ffrench +finds him on his back and almost quite spent; had his gunne by him. He was +very weake, and desirous that he should be discovered by some or other. He +fed as long as he could on grappes, and at last became so weake that he was +not able any further, untill those ffrench found him. After awhile, being +come to himselfe, he tends downe the three rivers, where being arrived the +governor emprisons him. He stayed not there long. The inhabitants seeing +that the ennemy, the hunger, and all other miseries tormented this poore +man, and that it was by a divine providence he was alive, they would not +have souffred such inhumanity, but gott him out. + +Three dayes after wee found the tracks of seaven boats, and fire yett +burning. We found out by their characters they weare no ennemys, but +imagined that they weare Octanaks that went up into their countrey, which +made us make hast to overtake them. We tooke no rest till we overtooke +them. They came from Mount royall and weare gone to the great river and +gone by the great river. So that we weare now 14 boats together, which +weare to goe the same way to the height of the upper lake. + +The day following wee weare sett uppon by a Company of Iroquoits that +fortified themselves in the passage, where they waited of Octanack, for +they knewed of their going downe. Our wildmen, seeing that there was no way +to avoid them, resolved to be together, being the best way for them to make +a quick Expedition, ffor the season of the yeare pressed us to make +expedition. We resolved to give a combat. We prepared ourselves with +targetts. Now the businesse was to make a discovery. I doubt not but the +ennemy was much surprised to see us so in number. The councell was held and +resolution taken. I and a wildman weare appointed to goe and see their +fort. I offered myselfe with a free will, to lett them see how willing I +was to defend them; that is the onely way to gaine the hearts of those +wildmen. We saw that their fort was environed with great rocks that there +was no way to mine it, because there weare no trees neere it. The mine was +nothing else but to cutt the nearest tree, and so by his fall make a +bracke, and so goe and give an assault. Their fort was nothing but trees +one against another in a round or square without sides. + +The ennemy seeing us come neere, shott att us, but in vaine, ffor we have +fforewarned ourselves before we came there. It was a pleasur to see our +wildmen with their guns and arrows, which agreed not together. +Neverthelesse we told them when they received a breake their guns would be +to no purpose; therefore to putt them by and make use of their bows and +arrows. The Iroquoits saw themselves putt to it, and the evident danger +that they weare in, but to late except they would runne away. Yett our +wildmen weare better wild footemen then they. These weare ffrenchmen that +should give them good directions to overthrow them, resolved to speake for +peace, and throw necklaces of porcelaine over the stakes of their fort. Our +wildmen weare dazelled att such guifts, because that the porcelaine is very +rare and costly in their countrey, and then seeing themselves flattered +with faire words, to which they gave eare. We trust them by force to putt +their first designe in Execution, but feared their lives and loved the +porcelaine, seeing they had it without danger of any life. They weare +persuaded to stay till the next day, because now it was almost night. The +Iroquoits make their escape. This occasion lost, our consolation was that +we had that passage free, but vexed for having lost that opportunity, & +contrarywise weare contented of our side, for doubtlesse some of us had ben +killed in the bataill. + +The day following we embarqued ourselves quietly, being uppon our guard for +feare of any surprize, ffor that ennemy's danger scarcely begane, who with +his furour made himselfe so redoubted, having ben there up and downe to +make a new slaughter. This morning, in assurance enough; in the afternoone +the two boats that had orders to land some 200 paces from the landing +place, one tooke onely a small bundle very light, tends to the other side +of the carriage, imagining there to make the kettle boyle, having killed 2 +staggs two houres agoe, and was scarce halfe way when he meets the +Iroquoits, without doubt for that same businesse. I think both weare much +surprized. The Iroquoits had a bundle of Castor that he left behind without +much adoe. Our wild men did the same; they both runne away to their +partners to give them notice. By chance my brother meets them in the way. +The wild men seeing that they all weare frightned and out of breath, they +asked the matter, and was told, _nadonnee_, and so soone said, he letts +fall his bundle that he had uppon his back into a bush, and comes backe +where he finds all the wildmen dispaired. He desired me to encourage them, +which I performed with all earnestnesse. We runned to the height of the +carriage. As we weare agoing they tooke their armes with all speed. In the +way we found the bundle of castors that the ennemy had left. By this means +we found out that they weare in a fright as wee, and that they came from +the warrs of the upper country, which we told the wildmen, so encouraged +them to gaine the watter side to discover their forces, where wee no sooner +came but 2 boats weare landed & charged their guns, either to defend +themselves or to sett uppon us. We prevented this affair by our diligence, +and shott att them with our bows & arrows, as with our gunns. + +They finding such an assault immediately forsooke the place. They would +have gone into their boats, but we gave them not so much time. They threwed +themselves into the river to gaine the other side. This river was very +narrow, so that it was very violent. We had killed and taken them all, if 2 +boats of theirs had not come to their succour, which made us gave over to +follow them, & looke to ourselves, ffor we knewed not the number of their +men. Three of their men neverthelesse weare killed; the rest is on the +other side of the river, where there was a fort which was made long before. +There they retired themselves with all speed. We passe our boats to augment +our victory, seeing that they weare many in number. They did what they +could to hinder our passage, butt all in vaine, ffor we made use of the +bundle of Castors that they left, which weare to us instead of Gabbions, +for we putt them att the heads of our boats, and by that means gott ground +in spight of their noses. They killed one of our men as we landed. Their +number was not to resist ours. They retired themselves into the fort and +brought the rest of their [men] in hopes to save it. In this they were far +mistaken, for we furiously gave an assault, not sparing time to make us +bucklers, and made use of nothing else but of castors tyed together. So +without any more adoe we gathered together. The Iroquoits spared not their +powder, but made more noise then hurt. The darknesse covered the earth, +which was somewhat favorable for us; but to overcome them the sooner, we +filled a barill full of gun powder, and having stoped the whole of it well +and tyed it to the end of a long pole, being att the foote of the fort. +Heere we lost 3 of our men; our machine did play with an execution. I may +well say that the ennemy never had seen the like. Moreover I tooke 3 or 4 +pounds of powder; this I put into a rind of a tree, then a fusy to have the +time to throw the rind, warning the wildmen as soone as the rind made his +execution that they should enter in and breake the fort upside down, with +the hattchett and the sword in their hands. + +In the meane time the Iroquoits did sing, expecting death, or to their +heels, att the noise of such a smoake & noise that our machines made, with +the slaughter of many of them. Seeing themselves soe betrayed, they lett us +goe free into their fort, that thereby they might save themselves; but +having environed the fort, we are mingled pell mell, so that we could not +know one another in that skirmish of blowes. There was such an noise that +should terrifie the stoutest men. Now there falls a showre of raine and a +terrible storme, that to my thinking there was somthing extraordinary, that +the devill himselfe made that storme to give those men leave to escape from +our hands, to destroy another time more of these innocents. In that +darknesse every one looked about for shelter, not thinking of those braves, +that layd downe halfe dead, to pursue them. It was a thing impossible, yett +doe believe that the ennemy was not far. As the storme was over, we came +together, making a noise, and I am persuaded that many thought themselves +prisoners that weare att Liberty. Some sang their fatall song, albeit +without any wounds. So that those that had the confidence to come neare the +others weare comforted by assuring them the victory, and that the ennemy +was routed. We presently make a great fire, and with all hast make upp the +fort againe for feare of any surprize. We searched for those that weare +missing. Those that weare dead and wounded weare visited. We found 11 of +our ennemy slain'd and 2 onely of ours, besides seaven weare wounded, who +in a short time passed all danger of life. While some weare busie in tying +5 of the ennemy that could not escape, the others visited the wounds of +their compagnions, who for to shew their courage sung'd lowder then those +that weare well. The sleepe that we tooke that night did not make our heads +guidy, although we had need of reposeing. Many liked the occupation, for +they filled their bellyes with the flesh of their ennemyes. We broiled some +of it and kettles full of the rest. We bourned our comrades, being their +custome to reduce such into ashes being stained in bataill. It is an +honnour to give them such a buriall. + +Att the brake of day we cooked what could accommodate us, and flung the +rest away. The greatest marke of our victory was that we had 10 heads & +foure prisoners, whom we embarqued in hopes to bring them into our +countrey, and there to burne them att our owne leasures for the more +satisfaction of our wives. We left that place of masacre with horrid cryes. +Forgetting the death of our parents, we plagued those infortunate. We +plucked out their nailes one after another. The next morning, after we +slept a litle in our boats, we made a signe to begone. They prayed to lett +off my peece, which made greate noise. To fullfill their desire, I lett it +of. I noe sooner shott, butt perceived seaven boats of the Iroquoits going +from a point towards the land. We were surprised of such an incounter, +seeing death before us, being not strong enough to resist such a company, +ffor there weare 10 or 12 in every boat. They perceiving us thought that we +weare more in number, began in all hast to make a fort, as we received from +two discoverers that wee sent to know their postures. It was with much adoe +that those two went. Dureing we perswaded our wildmen to send seaven of our +boats to an isle neare hand, and turne often againe to frighten our +adversaryes by our shew of our forces. They had a minde to fortifie +themselves in that island, but we would not suffer it, because there was +time enough in case of necessity, which we represent unto them, making them +to gather together all the broaken trees to make them a kind of barricado, +prohibiting them to cutt trees, that thereby the ennemy might not suspect +our feare & our small number, which they had knowne by the stroaks of their +hattchetts. Those wildmen, thinking to be lost, obeyed us in every thing, +telling us every foot, "Be chearfull, and dispose of us as you will, for we +are men lost." We killed our foure prisoners because they embarassed us. +They sent, as soone as we weare together, some fourty, that perpetually +went to and againe to find out our pollicy and weaknesse. + +In the meane time we told the people that they weare men, & if they must, +die altogether, and for us to make a fort in the lande was to destroy +ourselves, because we should put ourselves in prison; to take courage, if +in case we should be forced to take a retreat the Isle was a fort for us, +from whence we might well escape in the night. That we weare strangers and +they, if I must say so, in their countrey, & shooting ourselves in a fort +all passages would be open uppon us for to save ourselves through the +woods, was a miserable comfort. In the mean time the Iroquoits worked +lustily, think att every step we weare to give them an assault, but farr +deceived, ffor if ever blind wished the Light, we wished them the obscurity +of the night, which no sooner approached but we embarqued ourselves without +any noise, and went along. It's strang to me that the ennemy did not +encounter us. Without question he had store of prisoners and booty. We left +the Iroquoits in his fort and the feare in our breeches, for without +apprehension we rowed from friday to tuesday without intermission. We had +scarce to eat a bitt of sault meat. It was pitty to see our feete & leggs +in blood by drawing our boats through the swift streames, where the rocks +have such sharp points that there is nothing but death could make men doe +what we did. On the third day the paines & labour we tooke forced us to an +intermission, ffor we weare quite spent. After this we went on without any +encounter whatsoever, having escaped very narrowly. We passed a sault that +falls from a vast height. Some of our wildmen went underneath it, which I +have seene, & I myselfe had the curiosity, but that quiver makes a man the +surer. The watter runs over the heads with such impetuosity & violence that +it's incredible. Wee went under this torrent a quarter of a mille, that +falls from the toppe above fourty foot downwards. + +Having come to the lake of the Castors, we went about the lake of the +castors for some victuals, being in great want, and suffered much hunger. +So every one constituts himselfe; some went a hunting, some a fishing. This +done, we went downe the river of the sorcerers, which brought us to the +first great lake. What joy had we to see ourselves out of that river so +dangerous, after we wrought two and twenty dayes and as many nights, having +not slept one houre on land all that while. Now being out of danger, as +safe from our enemy, perhaps we must enter into another, which perhaps may +give practice & trouble consequently. Our equipage and we weare ready to +wander uppon that sweet sea; but most of that coast is void of wild beasts, +so there was great famine amongst us for want. Yett the coast afforded us +some small fruits. There I found the kindnesse & charity of the wildmen, +ffor when they found any place of any quantity of it they called me and my +brother to eat & replenish our bellys, shewing themselves far gratfuller +then many Christians even to their owne relations. + +I cannot forgett here the subtilty of one of these wildmen that was in the +same boat with me. We see a castor along the watter side, that puts his +head out of the watter. That wildman no sooner saw him but throwes himself +out into the watter and downe to the bottom, without so much time as to +give notice to any, and before many knewed of anything, he brings up the +castor in his armes as a child, without fearing to be bitten. By this we +see that hunger can doe much. + +Afterwardes we entered into a straight which had 10 leagues in length, full +of islands, where we wanted not fish. We came after to a rapid that makes +the separation of the lake of the hurrons, that we calle Superior, or +upper, for that the wildmen hold it to be longer & broader, besids a great +many islands, which maks appeare in a bigger extent. This rapid was +formerly the dwelling of those with whome wee weare, and consequently we +must not aske them if they knew where they have layed. Wee made cottages +att our advantages, and found the truth of what those men had often [said], +that if once we could come to that place we should make good cheare of a +fish that they call _Assickmack_, which signifieth a white fish. The beare, +the castors, and the Oriniack shewed themselves often, but to their cost; +indeed it was to us like a terrestriall paradise. After so long fastning, +after so great paines that we had taken, finde ourselves so well by +chossing our dyet, and resting when we had a minde to it, 'tis here that we +must tast with pleasur a sweet bitt. We doe not aske for a good sauce; it's +better to have it naturally; it is the way to distinguish the sweet from +the bitter. + +But the season was far spent, and use diligence and leave that place so +wished, which wee shall bewaile, to the coursed Iroquoits. What hath that +poore nation done to thee, and being so far from thy country? Yett if they +had the same liberty that in former dayes they have had, we poore ffrench +should not goe further with our heads except we had a strong army. Those +great lakes had not so soone comed to our knowledge if it had not ben for +those brutish people; two men had not found out the truth of these seas so +cheape; the interest and the glorie could not doe what terror doth att the +end. We are a litle better come to ourselves and furnished. We left that +inn without reckoning with our host. It is cheape when wee are not to put +the hand to the purse; neverthelesse we must pay out of civility: the one +gives thanks to the woods, the other to the river, the third to the earth, +the other to the rocks that stayes the ffish; in a word, there is nothing +but _kinekoiur_ of all sorts; the encens of our Encens (?) is not spared. +The weather was agreable when we began to navigat upon that great extent of +watter, finding it so calme and the aire so cleare. We thwarted in a pretty +broad place, came to an isle most delightfull for the diversity of its +fruits. We called it the isle of the foure beggars. We arrived about 5 of +the clocke in the afternone that we came there. We sudainly put the kettle +to the fire. We reside there a while, and seeing all this while the faire +weather and calme. We went from thence att tenne of the clocke the same +night to gaine the firme lande, which was 6 leagues from us, where we +arrived before day. Here we found a small river. I was so curious that I +inquired my dearest friends the name of this streame. They named me it +_pauabickkomesibs_, which signifieth a small river of copper. I asked him +the reason. He told me, "Come, and I shall shew thee the reason why." I was +in a place which was not 200 paces in the wood, where many peeces of copper +weare uncovered. Further he told me that the mountaine I saw was of nothing +else. Seeing it so faire & pure, I had a minde to take a peece of it, but +they hindred me, telling my brother there was more where we weare to goe. +In this great Lake of myne owne eyes have seene which are admirable, and +cane maintaine of a hundred pounds teem will not be decayed. [Footnote: "Of +a hundred pounds teem." This sentence seems somewhat obscure. The writer +perhaps meant to say that he had seen masses of copper not less than a +hundred pounds weight.] + +From this place we went along the coasts, which are most delightfull and +wounderous, for it's nature that made it so pleasant to the eye, the +sperit, and the belly. As we went along we saw banckes of sand so high that +one of our wildmen went upp for curiositie; being there, did shew no more +then a crow. That place is most dangerous when that there is any storme, +being no landing place so long as the sandy bancks are under watter; and +when the wind blowes, that sand doth rise by a strang kind of whirling that +are able to choake the passengers. One day you will see 50 small mountaines +att one side, and the next day, if the wind changes, on the other side. +This putts me in mind of the great and vast wildernesses of Turkey land, as +the Turques makes their pylgrimages. + +Some dayes after we observed that there weare some boats before us, but +knewed not certainely what they weare. We made all the hast to overtake +them, fearing the ennemy no more. Indeed the faster we could goe the better +for us, because of the season of the yeare, that began to be cold & freeze. +They weare a nation that lived in a land towards the South. This nation is +very small, being not 100 in all, men & women together. As we came neerer +them they weare surprized of our safe retourne, and astonied to see us, +admiring the rich marchandises that their confederates brought from the +ffrench, that weare hattchetts and knives and other utensils very +commodious, rare, precious, and necessary in those countreys. They told the +news one to another whilst we made good cheere and great fires. They +mourned for the death of [one] of their comrades; the heads of their ennemy +weare danced. Some dayes [after] we separated ourselves, and presented +guiftes to those that weare going an other way, for which we received great +store of meate, which was putt up in barrills, and grease of bears & +Oriniacke. + +After this we came to a remarquable place. It's a banke of Rocks that the +wild men made a sacrifice to; they calls it _Nanitoucksinagoit_, which +signifies the likenesse of the devill. They fling much tobacco and other +things in its veneration. It is a thing most incredible that that lake +should be so boisterous, that the waves of it should have the strength to +doe what I have to say by this my discours: first, that it's so high and +soe deepe that it's impossible to claime up to the point. There comes many +sorte of birds that makes there nest here, the goilants, which is a white +sea-bird of the bignesse of pigeon, which makes me believe what the wildmen +told me concerning the sea to be neare directly to the point. It's like a +great Portail, by reason of the beating of the waves. The lower part of +that oppening is as bigg as a tower, and grows bigger in the going up. +There is, I believe, 6 acres of land. Above it a shipp of 500 tuns could +passe by, soe bigg is the arch. I gave it the name of the portail of St +Peter, because my name is so called, and that I was the first Christian +[Footnote: "The first Christian that ever saw it." French Jesuits and +fur-traders pushed deeper and deeper into the wilderness of the northern +lakes. In 1641 Jacques and Raynbault preached the Faith to a concourse of +Indians at the outlet of Lake Superior. Then came the havoc and desolation +of the Iroquois war, and for years further exploration was arrested. At +length, in 1658, two daring traders penetrated to Lake Superior, wintered +there, and brought back the tales they had heard of the ferocious Sioux, +and of a great western river on which they dwelt. Two years later the aged +Jesuit Mesnard attempted to plant a mission on the southern shore of the +lake, but perished in the forest by famine or the tomahawk. Allouez +succeeded him, explored a part of Lake Superior, and heard in his turn of +the Sioux and their great river, the "Messipi."--Introduction to Parkman's +_Discovery of the Great West_. There can be no doubt but that the "two +daring traders who in 1658 penetrated to Lake Superior," and dwelt on the +great river, were Radisson and Des Groseilliers, who repeated their journey +a few years after, described in this narrative. The "Pictured Rocks" and +the "Doric Rock" were so named in Governor Cass's and Schoolcraft's +_Travels_ in 1820.] that ever saw it. There is in that place caves very +deepe, caused by the same violence. We must looke to ourselves, and take +time with our small boats. The coast of rocks is 5 or 6 leagues, and there +scarce a place to putt a boat in assurance from the waves. When the lake is +agitated the waves goeth in these concavities with force and make a most +horrible noise, most like the shooting of great guns. + +Some dayes afterwards we arrived to a very beautifull point of sand where +there are 3 beautifull islands, [Footnote: "Three beautiful islands." In +Cass's and Schoolcraft's _Travels_ (1820) through the chain of American +lakes these islands are called Huron Islands, and the bay beyond is marked +on their map "Keweena Bay."] that we called of the Trinity; there be 3 in +triangle. From this place we discovered a bay very deepe, where a river +empties its selfe with a noise for the quantitie & dept of the water. We +must stay there 3 dayes to wait for faire weather to make the Trainage, +which was about 6 leagues wide. Soe done, we came to the mouth of a small +river, where we killed some Oriniacks. We found meddows that weare squared, +and 10 leagues as smooth as a boord. We went up some 5 leagues further, +where we found some pools made by the castors. We must breake them that we +might passe. The sluce being broaken, what a wounderfull thing to see the +industrie of that animal, which had drowned more then 20 leagues in the +grounds, and cutt all the trees, having left non to make a fire if the +countrey should be dried up. Being come to the height, we must drague our +boats over a trembling ground for the space of an houre. The ground became +trembling by this means: the castor drowning great soyles with dead water, +herein growes mosse which is 2 foot thick or there abouts, and when you +think to goe safe and dry, if you take not great care you sink downe to +your head or to the midle of your body. When you are out of one hole you +find yourselfe in another. This I speake by experience, for I meselfe have +bin catched often. But the wildmen warned me, which saved me; that is, that +when the mosse should breake under I should cast my whole body into the +watter on sudaine. I must with my hands hold the mosse, and goe soe like a +frogg, then to draw my boat after me. There was no danger. + +Having passed that place, we made a carriage through the land for 2 +leagues. The way was well beaten because of the commers and goers, who by +making that passage shortens their passage by 8 dayes by tourning about the +point that goes very farr in that great lake; that is to say, 5 to come to +the point, and 3 for to come to the landing of that place of cariage. In +the end of that point, that goeth very farre, there is an isle, as I was +told, all of copper. This I have not seene. They say that from the isle of +copper, which is a league in the lake when they are minded to thwart it in +a faire and calme wether, beginning from sun rising to sun sett, they come +to a great island, from whence they come the next morning to firme lande +att the other side; so by reason of 20 leagues a day that lake should be +broad of 6 score and 10 leagues. The wildmen doe not much lesse when the +weather is faire. + +Five dayes after we came to a place where there was a company of Christinos +that weare in their Cottages. They weare transported for joy to see us come +backe. They made much of us, and called us men indeed, to performe our +promisse to come and see them againe. We gave them great guifts, which +caused some suspicion, for it is a very jealous nation. But the short stay +that we made tooke away that jealousy. We went on and came to a hollow +river which was a quarter of a mile in bredth. Many of our wildmen went to +win the shortest way to their nation, and weare then 3 and 20 boats, for we +mett with some in that lake that joyned with us, and came to keepe us +company, in hopes to gett knives from us, which they love better then we +serve God, which should make us blush for shame. Seaven boats stayed of the +nation of the Sault. We went on half a day before we could come to the +landing place, and wear forced to make another carriage a point of 2 +leagues long and some 60 paces broad. As we came to the other sid we weare +in a bay of 10 leagues about, if we had gone in. By goeing about that same +point we passed a straight, for that point was very nigh the other side, +which is a cape very much elevated like piramides. That point should be +very fitt to build & advantgeous for the building of a fort, as we did the +spring following. In that bay there is a chanell where we take great store +of fishes, sturgeons of a vast biggnesse, and Pycks of seaven foot long. +Att the end of this bay we landed. The wildmen gave thanks to that which +they worship, we to God of Gods, to see ourselves in a place where we must +leave our navigation and forsake our boats to undertake a harder peece of +worke in hand, to which we are forced. The men told us that wee had 5 great +dayes' journeys before we should arrive where their wives weare. We foresee +the hard task that we weare to undergoe by carrying our bundles uppon our +backs. They weare used to it. Here every one for himselfe & God for all. + +We finding ourselves not able to performe such a taske, & they could not +well tell where to finde their wives, fearing least the Nadoneceronons had +warrs against their nation and forced them from their appointed place, my +brother and I we consulted what was best to doe, and declared our will to +them, which was thus: "Brethren, we resolve to stay here, being not +accustomed to make any cariage on our backs as yee are wont. Goe yee and +looke for your wives. We will build us a fort here. And seeing that you are +not able to carry all your marchandizes att once, we will keepe them for +you, and will stay for you 14 dayes. Before the time expired you will send +to us if your wives be alive, and if you find them they will fetch what you +leave here & what we have; ffor their paines they shall receive guifts of +us. Soe you will see us in your countrey. If they be dead, we will spend +all to be revenged, and will gather up the whole countrey for the next +spring, for that purpose to destroy those that weare the causers of their +death, and you shall see our strenght and vallour. Although there are +seaven thousand fighting men in one village, you'll see we will make them +runne away, & you shall kill them to your best liking by the very noise of +our armes and our presence, who are the Gods of the earth among those +people." + +They woundered very much att our resolution. The next day they went their +way and we stay for our assurance in the midst of many nations, being but +two almost starved for want of food. We went about to make a fort of +stakes, which was in this manner. Suppose that the watter side had ben in +one end; att the same end there should be murtherers, and att need we made +a bastion in a triangle to defend us from an assault. The doore was neare +the watter side, our fire was in the midle, and our bed on the right hand, +covered. There weare boughs of trees all about our fort layed a crosse, one +uppon an other. Besides these boughs we had a long cord tyed with some +small bells, which weare senteryes. Finally, we made an ende of that fort +in 2 dayes' time. We made an end of some fish that we putt by for neede. +But as soone as we are lodged we went to fish for more whilst the other +kept the house. I was the fittest to goe out, being yongest. I tooke my +gunne and goes where I never was before, so I choosed not one way before +another. I went to the wood some 3 or 4 miles. I find a small brooke, where +I walked by the sid awhile, which brought me into meddowes. There was a +poole where weare a good store of bustards. I began to creepe though I +might come neare. Thought to be in Canada, where the fowle is scared away; +but the poore creatures, seeing me flatt uppon the ground, thought I was a +beast as well as they, so they come neare me, whisling like gosslings, +thinking to frighten me. The whistling that I made them heare was another +musick then theirs. There I killed 3 and the rest scared, which +neverthelesse came to that place againe to see what sudaine sicknesse +befeled their comrads. I shott againe; two payed for their curiosity. I +think the Spaniards had no more to fullfill then as kill those birds, that +thought not of such a thunder bolt. There are yett more countreys as +fruitfull and as beautifull as the Spaniards to conquer, which may be done +with as much ease & facility, and prove as rich, if not richer, for bread & +wine; and all other things are as plentifull as in any part of Europ. This +I have seene, which am sure the Spaniards have not in such plenty. Now I +come backe with my victory, which was to us more then tenne thousand +pistoles. We lived by it 5 dayes. I tooke good notice of the place, in +hopes to come there more frequent, but this place is not onely so. + +There we stayed still full 12 dayes without any news, but we had the +company of other wild men of other countreys that came to us admiring our +fort and the workmanshipp. We suffered non to goe in but one person, and +liked it so much the better, & often durst not goe in, so much they stood +in feare of our armes, that weare in good order, which weare 5 guns, two +musquetons, 3 fowling-peeces, 3 paire of great pistoletts, and 2 paire of +pockett ons, and every one his sword and daggar. So that we might say that +a Coward was not well enough armed. Mistrust neverthelesse is the mother of +safety, and the occasion makes the thief. During that time we had severall +alarums in the night. The squerels and other small beasts, as well as +foxes, came in and assaulted us. One night I forgott my bracer, which was +wett; being up and downe in those pooles to fetch my fowles, one of these +beasts carried it away, which did us a great deal of wrong, and caused the +life to great many of those against whom I declared myselfe an ennemy. We +imagined that some wildmen might have surprized us; but I may say they +weare far more afrayd then we. Some dayes after we found it one half a mile +from the fort in a hole of a tree, the most part torne. Then I killed an +Oriniack. I could have killed more, but we liked the fowles better. If we +had both libertie to goe from our fort, we should have procured in a month +that should serve us a whole winter. The wildmen brought us more meate then +we would, and as much fish as we might eate. + +The 12th day we perceived afarr off some 50 yong men coming towards us, +with some of our formest compagnions. We gave them leave to come into our +fort, but they are astonied, calling us every foot devills to have made +such a machine. They brought us victualls, thinking we weare halfe starved, +but weare mightily mistaken, for we had more for them then they weare able +to eate, having 3 score bussards and many sticks where was meate hanged +plentifully. They offred to carry our baggage, being come a purpose; but we +had not so much marchandize as when they went from us, because we hid some +of them, that they might not have suspicion of us. We told them that for +feare of the dayly multitud of people that came to see us, for to have our +goods would kill us. We therefore tooke a boat and putt into it our +marchandises; this we brought farre into the bay, where we sunke them, +biding our devill not to lett them to be wett nor rusted, nor suffer them +to be taken away, which he promised faithlesse that we should retourne and +take them out of his hands; att which they weare astonished, believing it +to be true as the Christians the Gospell. We hid them in the ground on the +other sid of the river in a peece of ground. We told them that lye that +they should not have suspicion of us. We made good cheere. They stayed +there three dayes, during which time many of their wives came thither, and +we traited them well, for they eat not fowle att all, scarce, because they +know not how to catch them except with their arrowes. We putt a great many +rind about our fort, and broake all the boats that we could have, for the +frost would have broaken them or wild men had stolen them away. That rind +was tyed all in length to putt the fire in it, to frighten the more these +people, for they could not approach it without being discovered. If they +ventured att the going out we putt the fire to all the torches, shewing +them how we would have defended ourselves. We weare Cesars, being nobody to +contradict us. We went away free from any burden, whilst those poore +miserable thought themselves happy to carry our Equipage, for the hope that +they had that we should give them a brasse ring, or an awle, or an needle. + +There came above foure hundred persons to see us goe away from that place, +which admired more our actions [than] the fools of Paris to see enter their +King and the Infanta of Spaine, his spouse; for they cry out, "God save the +King and Queene!" Those made horrid noise, and called Gods and Devills of +the Earth and heavens. We marched foure dayes through the woods. The +countrey is beautifull, with very few mountaines, the woods cleare. Att +last we came within a league of the Cabbans, where we layed that the next +day might be for our entrey. We 2 poore adventurers for the honneur of our +countrey, or of those that shall deserve it from that day; the nimblest and +stoutest went before to warne before the people that we should make our +entry to-morow. Every one prepares to see what they never before have +seene. We weare in cottages which weare neare a litle lake some 8 leagues +in circuit. Att the watterside there weare abundance of litle boats made of +trees that they have hollowed, and of rind. + +The next day we weare to embarque in them, and arrived att the village by +watter, which was composed of a hundred cabans without pallasados. There is +nothing but cryes. The women throw themselves backwards uppon the ground, +thinking to give us tokens of friendship and of wellcome. We destinated 3 +presents, one for the men, one for the women, and the other for the +children, to the end that they should remember that journey; that we should +be spoaken of a hundred years after, if other Europeans should not come in +those quarters and be liberal to them, which will hardly come to passe. The +first was a kettle, two hattchetts, and 6 knives, and a blade for a sword. +The kettle was to call all nations that weare their friends to the feast +which is made for the remembrance of the death; that is, they make it once +in seaven years; it's a renewing of ffriendshippe. I will talke further of +it in the following discours. The hattchetts weare to encourage the yong +people to strengthen themselves in all places, to preserve their wives, and +shew themselves men by knocking the heads of their ennemyes with the said +hattchetts. The knives weare to shew that the ffrench weare great and +mighty, and their confederats and ffriends. The sword was to signifie that +we would be masters both of peace and warrs, being willing to healpe and +relieve them, & to destroy our Ennemyes with our armes. The second guift +was of 2 and 20 awles, 50 needles, 2 gratters of castors, 2 ivory combs and +2 wooden ones, with red painte, 6 looking-glasses of tin. The awles +signifieth to take good courage, that we should keepe their lives, and that +they with their hushands should come downe to the ffrench when time and +season should permitt. The needles for to make them robes of castor, +because the ffrench loved them. The 2 gratters weare to dresse the skins; +the combes, the paint, to make themselves beautifull; the looking-glasses +to admire themselves. The 3rd guift was of brasse rings, of small bells, +and rasades of divers couleurs, and given in this maner. We sent a man to +make all the children come together. When they weare there we throw these +things over their heads. You would admire what a beat was among them, every +one striving to have the best. This was done uppon this consideration, that +they should be allwayes under our protection, giving them wherewithall to +make them merry & remember us when they should be men. + +This done, we are called to the Councell of welcome and to the feast of +ffriendshipp, afterwards to the dancing of the heads; but before the +dancing we must mourne for the deceased, and then, for to forgett all +sorrow, to the dance. We gave them foure small guifts that they should +continue such ceremonyes, which they tooke willingly and did us good, that +gave us authority among the whole nation. We knewed their councels, and +made them doe whatsoever we thought best. This was a great advantage for +us, you must think. Amongst such a rowish kind of people a guift is much, +and well bestowed, and liberality much esteemed; but not prodigalitie is +not in esteeme, for they abuse it, being brutish. Wee have ben useing such +ceremonyes 3 whole dayes, & weare lodged in the cabban of the chiefest +captayne, who came with us from the ffrench. We liked not the company of +that blind, therefore left him. He wondred at this, but durst not speake, +because we weare demi-gods. We came to a cottage of an ancient witty man, +that had had a great familie and many children, his wife old, neverthelesse +handsome. They weare of a nation called Malhonmines; that is, the nation of +Oats, graine that is much in that countrey. Of this afterwards more att +large. I tooke this man for my ffather and the woman for my mother, soe the +children consequently brothers and sisters. They adopted me. I gave every +one a guift, and they to mee. + +Having so disposed of our buissinesse, the winter comes on, that warns us; +the snow begins to fall, soe we must retire from the place to seeke our +living in the woods. Every one getts his equipage ready. So away we goe, +but not all to the same place; two, three att the most, went one way, and +so of an other. They have so done because victuals weare scant for all in a +place. But lett us where we will, we cannot escape the myghty hand of God, +that disposes as he pleases, and who chastes us as a good & a common loving +ffather, and not as our sins doe deserve. Finaly wee depart one from an +other. As many as we weare in number, we are reduced to a small company. We +appointed a rendezvous after two months and a half, to take a new road & an +advice what we should doe. During the said terme we sent messengers +everywhere, to give speciall notice to all manner of persons and nation +that within 5 moons the feast of death was to be celebrated, and that we +should apeare together and explaine what the devill should command us to +say, and then present them presents of peace and union. Now we must live on +what God sends, and warre against the bears in the meane time, for we could +aime att nothing else, which was the cause that we had no great cheare. I +can say that we with our comrades, who weare about 60, killed in the space +of 2 moons and a halfe, a thousand moons [Footnote: The writer no doubt +meant that they killed so many that they had bear's grease enough to last +for a thousand moons.] we wanted not bear's grease to annoint ourselves, to +runne the better. We beated downe the woods dayly for to discover +novellties. We killed severall other beasts, as Oriniacks, staggs, wild +cows, Carriboucks, fallow does and bucks, Catts of mountains, child of the +Devill; in a word, we lead a good life. The snow increases dayly. There we +make raketts, not to play att ball, but to exercise ourselves in a game +harder and more necessary. They are broad, made like racketts, that they +may goe in the snow and not sinke when they runne after the eland or other +beast. + +We are come to the small lake, the place of rendezvous, where we found some +company that weare there before us. We cottage ourselves, staying for the +rest, that came every day. We stayed 14 dayes in this place most miserable, +like to a churchyard; ffor there did fall such a quantity of snow and +frost, and with such a thick mist, that all the snow stoocke to those trees +that are there so ruffe, being deal trees, prusse cedars, and thorns, that +caused the darknesse uppon the earth that it is to be believed that the sun +was eclipsed them 2 months; ffor after the trees weare so laden with snow +that fel'd afterwards, was as if it had been sifted, so by that means very +light and not able to beare us, albeit we made racketts of 6 foot long and +a foot and a halfe broad; so often thinking to tourne ourselves we felld +over and over againe in the snow, and if we weare alone we should have +difficultie enough to rise againe. By the noyse we made, the Beasts heard +us a great way off; so the famine was among great many that had not +provided before hand, and live upon what they gett that day, never thinking +for the next. It grows wors and wors dayly. + +To augment our misery we receive news of the Octanaks, who weare about a +hundred and fifty, with their families. They had a quarell with the hurrons +in the Isle where we had come from some years before in the lake of the +stairing hairs, and came purposely to make warres against them the next +summer. But lett us see if they brought us anything to subsist withall. But +are worst provided then we; having no huntsmen, they are reduced to famine. +But, O cursed covetousnesse, what art thou going to doe? It should be farr +better to see a company of Rogues perish, then see ourselves in danger to +perish by that scourg so cruell. Hearing that they have had knives and +hattchetts, the victualls of their poore children is taken away from them; +yea, what ever they have, those doggs must have their share. They are the +coursedest, unablest, the unfamous & cowarliest people that I have seene +amongst fower score nations that I have frequented. O yee poore people, you +shall have their booty, but you shall pay dearly for it! Every one cryes +out for hungar; the women become baren, and drie like wood. You men must +eate the cord, being you have no more strength to make use of the bow. +Children, you must die. ffrench, you called yourselves Gods of the earth, +that you should be feared, for your interest; notwithstanding you shall +tast of the bitternesse, and too happy if you escape. Where is the time +past? Where is the plentynesse that yee had in all places and countreys? +Here comes a new family of these poore people dayly to us, halfe dead, for +they have but the skin & boans. How shall we have strength to make a hole +in the snow to lay us downe, seeing we have it not to hale our racketts +after us, nor to cutt a litle woad to make a fire to keepe us from the +rigour of the cold, which is extreame in those Countreyes in its season. +Oh! if the musick that we heare could give us recreation, we wanted not any +lamentable musick nor sad spectacle. In the morning the husband looks uppon +his wife, the Brother his sister, the cozen the cozen, the Oncle the nevew, +that weare for the most part found deade. They languish with cryes & +hideous noise that it was able to make the haire starre on the heads that +have any apprehension. Good God, have mercy on so many poore innocent +people, and of us that acknowledge thee, that having offended thee punishes +us. But wee are not free of that cruell Executioner. Those that have any +life seeketh out for roots, which could not be done without great +difficultie, the earth being frozen 2 or 3 foote deepe, and the snow 5 or 6 +above it. The greatest susibstance that we can have is of rind tree which +growes like ivie about the trees; but to swallow it, we cutt the stick some +2 foot long, tying it in faggott, and boyle it, and when it boyles one +houre or two the rind or skinne comes off with ease, which we take and drie +it in the smoake and then reduce it into powder betwixt two graine-stoans, +and putting the kettle with the same watter uppon the fire, we make it a +kind of broath, which nourished us, but becam thirstier and drier then the +woode we eate. + +The 2 first weeke we did eate our doggs. As we went backe uppon our stepps +for to gett any thing to fill our bellyes, we weare glad to gett the boans +and carcasses of the beasts that we killed. And happy was he that could +gett what the other did throw away after it had ben boyled 3 or foure times +to gett the substance out of it. We contrived an other plott, to reduce to +powder those boanes, the rest of crows and doggs. So putt all that together +halfe foot within grounde, and so makes a fire uppon it, We covered all +that very well with earth, soe seeling the heat, and boyled them againe and +gave more froth then before; in the next place, the skins that weare +reserved to make us shoose, cloath, and stokins, yea, most of the skins of +our cottages, the castors' skins, where the children beshit them above a +hundred times. We burned the haire on the coals; the rest goes downe +throats, eating heartily these things most abhorred. We went so eagerly to +it that our gumms did bleede like one newly wounded. The wood was our food +the rest of sorrowfull time. Finaly we became the very Image of death. We +mistook ourselves very often, taking the living for the dead and the dead +for the living. We wanted strength to draw the living out of the cabans, or +if we did when we could, it was to putt them four paces in the snow. Att +the end the wrath of God begins to appease itselfe, and pityes his poore +creatures. If I should expresse all that befell us in that strange +accidents, a great volume would not centaine it. Here are above 500 dead, +men, women, and children. It's time to come out of such miseryes. Our +bodyes are not able to hold out any further. + +After the storme, calme comes. But stormes favoured us, being that calme +kills us. Here comes a wind and raine that putts a new life in us. The snow +sails, the forest cleers itselfe, att which sight those that had strings +left in their bowes takes courage to use it. The weather continued so 3 +dayes that we needed no racketts more, for the snow hardned much. The small +staggs are [as] if they weare stakes in it after they made 7 or 8 capers. +It's an easy matter for us to take them and cutt their throats with our +knives. Now we see ourselves a litle fournished, but yett have not payed, +ffor it cost many their lives. Our gutts became very straight by our long +fasting, that they could not centaine the quantity that some putt in them. +I cannot omitt the pleasant thoughts of some of them wildmen. Seeing my +brother allwayes in the same condition, they said that some Devill brought +him wherewithall to eate; but if they had seene his body they should be of +another oppinion. The beard that covered his face made as if he had not +altered his face. For me that had no beard, they said I loved them, because +I lived as well as they. From the second day we began to walke. + +There came 2 men from a strange countrey who had a dogg; the buissinesse +was how to catch him cunningly, knowing well those people love their +beasts. Neverthelesse wee offred guifts, but they would not, which made me +stubborne. That dogge was very leane, and as hungry as we weare, but the +masters have not suffered so much. I went one night neere that same cottage +to doe what discretion permitts me not to speake. Those men weare +Nadoneseronons. They weare much respected that no body durst not offend +them, being that we weare uppon their land with their leave. The dogg comes +out, not by any smell, but by good like. I take him and bring him a litle +way. I stabbed him with my dagger. I brought him to the cottage, where [he] +was broyled like a pigge and cutt in peeces, gutts and all, soe every one +of the family had his share. The snow where he was killed was not lost, +ffor one of our company went and gott it to season the kettles. We began to +looke better dayly. We gave the rendezvous to the convenientest place to +celebrat that great feast. + +Some 2 moons after there came 8 ambassadors from the nation of +Nadoneseronons, that we will call now the Nation of the beefe. Those men +each had 2 wives, loadened of Oats, corne that growes in that countrey, of +a small quantity of Indian Corne, with other grains, & it was to present to +us, which we received as a great favour & token of friendshippe; but it had +been welcome if they had brought it a month or two before. They made great +ceremonys in greasing our feete and leggs, and we painted them with red. +They stript us naked and putt uppon us cloath of buffe and of white +castors. After this they weeped uppon our heads untill we weare wetted by +their tears, and made us smoake in their pipes after they kindled them. It +was not in common pipes, but in pipes of peace and of the warrs, that they +pull out but very seldom, when there is occasion for heaven and earth. This +done, they perfumed our cloaths and armour one after an other, and to +conclude did throw a great quantity of tobbacco into the fire. We told them +that they prevented us, for letting us know that all persons of their +nation came to visite us, that we might dispose of them. + +The next morning they weare called by our Interpretor. We understood not a +word of their language, being quit contrary to those that we weare with. +They are arrived, they satt downe. We made a place for us more elevated, to +be more att our ease & to appeare in more state. We borrowed their Calumet, +saying that we are in their countrey, and that it was not lawfull for us to +carry anything out of our countrey. That pipe is of a red stone, as bigge +as a fist and as long as a hand. The small reede as long as five foot, in +breadth, and of the thicknesse of a thumb. There is tyed to it the tayle of +an eagle all painted over with severall couleurs and open like a fan, or +like that makes a kind of a wheele when he shuts; below the toppe of the +steeke is covered with feathers of ducks and other birds that are of a fine +collour. We tooke the tayle of the eagle, and instead of it we hung 12 Iron +bows in the same manner as the feathers weare, and a blade about it along +the staffe, a hattchett planted in the ground, and that calumet over it, +and all our armours about it uppon forks. Every one smoaked his pipe of +tobacco, nor they never goe without it. During that while there was a great +silence. We prepared some powder that was litle wetted, and the good powder +was precious to us. Our Interpreter told them in our name, "Brethren, we +have accepted of your guifts. Yee are called here to know our will and +pleasur that is such: first, we take you for our brethren by taking you +into our protection, and for to shew you, we, instead of the eagles' tayle, +have putt some of our armours, to the end that no ennemy shall approach it +to breake the affinitie that we make now with you." Then we tooke the 12 +Iron off the bowes and lift them up, telling them those points shall passe +over the whole world to defend and destroy your ennemyes, that are ours. +Then we putt the Irons in the same place againe. Then we tooke the sword +and bad them have good courage, that by our means they should vanquish +their Ennemy. After we tooke the hattchett that was planted in the ground, +we tourned round about, telling them that we should kill those that would +warre against them, and that we would make forts that they should come with +more assurance to the feast of the dead. That done, we throw powder in the +fire, that had more strenght then we thought; it made the brands fly from +one side to the other. We intended to make them believe that it was some of +our Tobacco, and make them smoake as they made us smoake. But hearing such +a noise, and they seeing that fire fled of every side, without any further +delay or looke for so much time as looke for the dore of the cottage, one +runne one way, another an other way, ffor they never saw a sacrifice of +tobacco so violent. They went all away, and we onely stayed in the place. +We followed them to reassure them of their faintings. We visited them in +their appartments, where they received [us] all trembling for feare, +believing realy by that same meanes that we weare the Devils of the earth. +There was nothing but feasting for 8 dayes. + +The time now was nigh that we must goe to the rendezvous; this was betwixt +a small lake and a medow. Being arrived, most of ours weare allready in +their cottages. In 3 dayes' time there arrived eighten severall nations, +and came privatly, to have done the sooner. As we became to the number of +500, we held a councell. Then the shouts and cryes and the encouragments +weare proclaimed, that a fort should be builded. They went about the worke +and made a large fort. It was about 603 score paces in lenght and 600 in +breadth, so that it was a square. There we had a brooke that came from the +lake and emptied itselfe in those medows, which had more then foure leagues +in lenght. Our fort might be seene afar off, and on that side most +delightfull, for the great many stagges that took the boldnesse to be +carried by quarters where att other times they made good cheare. + +In two dayes this was finished. Soone 30 yong men of the nation of the +beefe arrived there, having nothing but bows and arrows, with very short +garments, to be the nimbler in chasing the stagges. The Iron of their +arrows weare made of staggs' pointed horens very neatly. They weare all +proper men, and dressed with paint. They weare the discoverers and the +foreguard. We kept a round place in the midle of our Cabban and covered it +with long poles with skins over them, that we might have a shelter to keepe +us from the snow. The cottages weare all in good order; in each 10, twelve +companies or families. That company was brought to that place where there +was wood layd for the fires. The snow was taken away, and the earth covered +with deale tree bows. Severall kettles weare brought there full of meate. +They rested and eat above 5 houres without speaking one to another. The +considerablest of our companyes went and made speeches to them. After one +takes his bow and shoots an arrow, and then cryes aloud, there speaks some +few words, saying that they weare to lett them know the Elders of their +village weare to come the morrow to renew the friendship and to make it +with the ffrench, and that a great many of their yong people came and +brought them some part of their wayes to take their advice, ffor they had a +minde to goe against the Christinos, who weare ready for them, and they in +like manner to save their wives & children. They weare scattered in many +Cabbans that night, expecting those that weare to come. To that purpose +there was a vast large place prepared some hundred paces from the fort, +where everything was ready for the receiving of those persons. They weare +to sett their tents, that they bring uppon their backs. The pearches weare +putt out and planted as we received the news; the snow putt aside, and the +boughs of trees covered the ground. + +The day following they arrived with an incredible pomp. This made me thinke +of the Intrance that the Polanders did in Paris, saving that they had not +so many Jewells, but instead of them they had so many feathers. The ffirst +weare yong people with their bows and arrows and Buckler on their +shoulders, uppon which weare represented all manner of figures, according +to their knowledge, as of the sun and moone, of terrestriall beasts, about +its feathers very artificialy painted. Most of the men their faces weare +all over dabbed with severall collours. Their hair turned up like a Crowne, +and weare cutt very even, but rather so burned, for the fire is their +cicers. They leave a tuff of haire upon their Crowne of their heads, tye +it, and putt att the end of it some small pearles or some Turkey stones, to +bind their heads. They have a role commonly made of a snake's skin, where +they tye severall bears' paws, or give a forme to some bitts of buff's +horns, and put it about the said role. They grease themselves with very +thick grease, & mingle it in reddish earth, which they bourne, as we our +breeks. With this stuffe they gett their haire to stand up. They cutt some +downe of Swan or other fowle that hath a white feather, and cover with it +the crowne of their heads. Their ears are pierced in 5 places; the holes +are so bigg that your little finger might passe through. They have yallow +waire that they make with copper, made like a starr or a half moone, & +there hang it. Many have Turkeys. They are cloathed with Oriniack & staggs' +skins, but very light. Every one had the skin of a crow hanging att their +guirdles. Their stokens all inbrodered with pearles and with their own +porke-pick worke. They have very handsome shoose laced very thick all over +with a peece sowen att the side of the heele, which was of a haire of Buff, +which trailed above halfe a foot upon the earth, or rather on the snow. +They had swords and knives of a foot and a halfe long, and hattchetts very +ingeniously done, and clubbs of wood made like backswords; some made of a +round head that I admired it. When they kille their ennemy they cutt off +the tuffe of haire and tye it about their armes. After all, they have a +white robe made of Castors' skins painted. Those having passed through the +midle of ours, that weare ranged att every side of the way. The Elders came +with great gravitie and modestie, covered with buff coats which hung downe +to the grounde. Every one had in his hand a pipe of Councell sett with +precious jewells. They had a sack on their shoulders, and that that holds +it grows in the midle of their stomacks and on their shoulders. In this +sacke all the world is inclosed. Their face is not painted, but their heads +dressed as the foremost. Then the women laden like unto so many mules, +their burdens made a greater sheu then they themselves; but I supose the +weight was not equivolent to its bignesse. They weare conducted to the +appointed place, where the women unfolded their bundles, and slang their +skins whereof their tents are made, so that they had houses [in] less then +half an hour. + +After they rested they came to the biggest cabbane constituted for that +purpose. There were fires kindled. Our Captayne made a speech of +thanksgiving, which should be long to writ it. We are called to the +councell of new come chiefe, where we came in great pompe, as you shall +heare. First they come to make a sacrifice to the french, being Gods and +masters of all things, as of peace, as warrs; making the knives, the +hattchetts, and the kettles rattle, etc. That they came purposely to putt +themselves under their protection. Moreover, that they came to bring them +back againe to their countrey, having by their means destroyed their +Ennemyes abroad & neere. So Said, they present us with guifts of Castors' +Skins, assuring us that the mountains weare elevated, the valleys risen, +the ways very smooth, the bows of trees cutt downe to goe with more ease, +and bridges erected over rivers, for not to wett our feete; that the dores +of their villages, cottages of their wives and daughters, weare open at any +time to receive us, being wee kept them alive by our marchandises. The +Second guift was, yet they would die in their alliance, and that to +certifie to all nations by continuing the peace, & weare willing to receive +and assist them in their countrey, being well satisfied they weare come to +celebrat the feast of the dead. The 3rd guift was for to have one of the +doors of the fort opened, if neede required, to receive and keepe them from +the Christinos that come to destroy them; being allwayes men, and the +heavens made them so, that they weare obliged to goe before to defend their +country and their wives, which is the dearest thing they had in the world, +& in all times they weare esteemed stout & true soldiers, & that yett they +would make it appeare by going to meet them; and that they would not +degenerat, but shew by their actions that they weare as valiant as their +fore ffathers. The 4th guift was presented to us, which [was] of Buff +Skins, to desire our assistance ffor being the masters of their lives, and +could dispose of them as we would, as well of the peace as of the warrs, +and that we might very well see that they did well to goe defend their owne +countrey; that the true means to gett the victory was to have a thunder. +They meant a gune, calling it _miniskoick_. + +The speech being finished, they intreated us to be att the feast. We goe +presently back againe to fournish us with woaden bowls. We made foure men +to carry our guns afore us, that we charged of powder alone, because of +their unskillfullnesse that they might have killed their ffathers. We each +of us had a paire of pistoletts and Sword, a dagger. We had a role of +porkepick about our heads, which was as a crowne, and two litle boyes that +carryed the vessells that we had most need of; this was our dishes and our +spoons. They made a place higher & most elevate, knowing our customs, in +the midle for us to sitt, where we had the men lay our armes. Presently +comes foure elders, with the calumet kindled in their hands. They present +the candles to us to smoake, and foure beautifull maids that went before us +carrying bears' skins to putt under us. When we weare together, an old man +rifes & throws our calumet att our feet, and bids them take the kettles +from of the sire, and spoake that he thanked the sun that never was a day +to him so happy as when he saw those terrible men whose words makes the +earth quacke, and sang a while. Having ended, came and covers us with his +vestment, and all naked except his feet and leggs, he saith, "Yee are +masters over us; dead or alive you have the power over us, and may dispose +of us as your pleasur." So done, takes the callumet of the feast, and +brings it, So a maiden brings us a coale of fire to kindle it. So done, we +rose, and one of us begins to sing. We bad the interpreter to tell them we +should save & keepe their lives, taking them for our brethren, and to +testify that we short of all our artillery, which was of twelve gunns. We +draw our Swords and long knives to our defence, if need should require, +which putt the men in Such a terror that they knewed not what was best to +run or stay. We throw a handfull of powder in the fire to make a greater +noise and smoake. + +Our songs being finished, we began our teeth to worke. We had there a kinde +of rice, much like oats. It growes in the watter in 3 or 4 foote deepe. +There is a God that shews himselfe in every countrey, almighty, full of +goodnesse, and the preservation of those poore people who knoweth him not +They have a particular way to gather up that graine. Two takes a boat and +two sticks, by which they gett the eare downe and gett the corne out of it. +Their boat being full, they bring it to a fitt place to dry it, and that is +their food for the most part of the winter, and doe dresse it thus: ffor +each man a handfull of that they putt in the pott, that swells so much that +it can suffice a man. After the feast was over there comes two maidens +bringing wherewithall to smoake, the one the pipes, the other the fire. +They offered ffirst to one of the elders, that satt downe by us. When he +had smoaked, he bids them give it us. This being done, we went backe to our +fort as we came. + +The day following we made the principall Persons come together to answer to +their guifts. Being come with great solemnity, there we made our +Interpreter tell them that we weare come from the other side of the great +salted lake, not to kill them but to make them live; acknowledging you for +our brethren and children, whom we will love henceforth as our owne; then +we gave them a kettle. The second guift was to encourage them in all their +undertakings, telling them that we liked men that generously defended +themselves against all their ennemyes; and as we weare masters of peace and +warrs, we are to dispose the affairs that we would see an universall peace +all over the earth; and that this time we could not goe and force the +nations that weare yett further to condescend & submitt to our will, but +that we would see the neighbouring countreys in peace and union; that the +Christinos weare our brethren, and have frequented them many winters; that +we adopted them for our children, and tooke them under our protection; that +we should send them ambassadors; that I myself should make them come, and +conclude a generall peace; that we weare sure of their obedience to us; +that the ffirst that should breake the peace we would be their ennemy, and +would reduce them to powder with our heavenly fire; that we had the word of +the Christinos as well as theirs, and our thunders should serve us to make +warrs against those that would not submitt to our will and desire, which +was to see them good ffriends, to goe and make warrs against the upper +nations, that doth not know us as yett. The guift was of 6 hattchetts. The +3rd was to oblige them to receive our propositions, likewise the +Christinos, to lead them to the dance of Union, which was to be celebrated +at the death's feast and banquett of kindred. If they would continue the +warrs, that was not the meanes to see us againe in their Countrey. The 4th +was that we thanked them ffor making us a free passage through their +countreys. The guift was of 2 dozen of knives. The last was of smaller +trifles,--6 gratters, 2 dozen of awles, 2 dozen of needles, 6 dozens of +looking-glasses made of tine, a dozen of litle bells, 6 Ivory combs, with a +litle vermillion. Butt ffor to make a recompence to the good old man that +spake so favorably, we gave him a hattchett, and to the Elders each a blade +for a Sword, and to the 2 maidens that served us 2 necklaces, which putt +about their necks, and 2 braceletts for their armes. The last guift was in +generall for all the women to love us and give us to eat when we should +come to their cottages. The company gave us great Ho! ho! ho! that is, +thanks. Our wildmen made others for their interest. + +A company of about 50 weare dispatched to warne the Christinos of what we +had done. I went myself, where we arrived the 3rd day, early in the +morning. I was received with great demonstration of ffriendshippe. All that +day we feasted, danced, and sing. I compared that place before to the +Buttery of Paris, ffor the great quantity of meat that they use to have +there; but now will compare it to that of London. There I received guifts +of all sorts of meate, of grease more then 20 men could carry. The custome +is not to deface anything that they present. There weare above 600 men in a +fort, with a great deale of baggage on their shoulders, and did draw it +upon light slids made very neatly. I have not seen them att their entrance, +ffor the snow blinded mee. Coming back, we passed a lake hardly frozen, and +the sun [shone upon it] for the most part, ffor I looked a while +steadfastly on it, so I was troubled with this seaven or eight dayes. + +The meane while that we are there, arrived above a thousand that had not +ben there but for those two redoubted nations that weare to see them doe +what they never before had, a difference which was executed with a great +deale of mirth. I ffor feare of being inuied I will obmitt onely that there +weare playes, mirths, and bataills for sport, goeing and coming with cryes; +each plaid his part. In the publick place the women danced with melody. The +yong men that indeavoured to gett a pryse, indeavoured to clime up a great +post, very smooth, and greased with oyle of beare & oriniack grease. The +stake was att least of 15 foot high. The price was a knife or other thing. +We layd the stake there, but whoso could catch it should have it. The feast +was made to eate all up. To honnour the feast many men and women did burst. +Those of that place coming backe, came in sight of those of the village or +fort, made postures in similitud of warrs. This was to discover the ennemy +by signs; any that should doe soe we gave orders to take him, or kill him +and take his head off. The prisoner to be tyed [and] to fight in +retreating. To pull an arrow out of the body; to exercise and strike with a +clubbe, a buckler to theire feete, and take it if neede requireth, and +defende himselfe, if neede requirs, from the ennemy; being in sentery to +heark the ennemy that comes neere, and to heare the better lay him downe on +the side. These postures are playd while the drums beate. This was a +serious thing, without speaking except by nodding or gesture. Their drums +weare earthen potts full of watter, covered with staggs-skin. The sticks +like hammers for the purpose. The elders have bomkins to the end of their +staves full of small stones, which makes a ratle, to which yong men and +women goe in a cadance. The elders are about these potts, beating them and +singing. The women also by, having a nosegay in their hands, and dance very +modestly, not lifting much their feete from the ground, keeping their heads +downewards, makeing a sweet harmony. We made guifts for that while 14 days' +time. Every one brings the most exquisite things, to shew what his country +affoards. The renewing of their alliances, the mariages according to their +countrey coustoms, are made; also the visit of the boans of their deceased +ffriends, ffor they keepe them and bestow them uppon one another. We sang +in our language as they in theirs, to which they gave greate attention. We +gave them severall guifts, and received many. They bestowed upon us above +300 robs of castors, out of which we brought not five to the ffrench, being +far in the countrey. + +This feast ended, every one retourns to his countrey well satisfied. To be +as good as our words, we came to the nation of the beefe, which was seaven +small Journeys from that place. We promised in like maner to the Christinos +the next spring we should come to their side of the upper lake, and there +they should meete us, to come into their countrey. We being arrived among +the nation of the beefe, we wondred to finde ourselves in a towne where +weare great cabbans most covered with skins and other close matts. They +tould us that there weare 7,000 men. This we believed. Those have as many +wives as they can keepe. If any one did trespasse upon the other, his nose +was cutt off, and often the crowne of his head. The maidens have all maner +of freedome, but are forced to mary when they come to the age. The more +they beare children the more they are respected. I have seene a man having +14 wives. There they have no wood, and make provision of mosse for their +firing. This their place is environed with pearches which are a good +distance one from an other, that they gett in the valleys where the Buffe +use to repaire, uppon which they do live. They sow corne, but their harvest +is small. The soyle is good, but the cold hinders it, and the graine very +small. In their countrey are mines of copper, of pewter, and of ledd. There +are mountains covered with a kind of Stone that is transparent and tender, +and like to that of Venice. The people stay not there all the yeare; they +retire in winter towards the woods of the North, where they kill a quantity +of Castors, and I say that there are not so good in the whole world, but +not in such a store as the Christinos, but far better. + +Wee stayed there 6 weeks, and came back with a company of people of the +nation of the Sault, that came along with us loaden with booty. We weare 12 +dayes before we could overtake our company that went to the lake. The +spring approaches, which [is] the fitest time to kill the Oriniack. A +wildman and I with my brother killed that time above 600, besides other +beasts. We came to the lake side with much paines, ffor we sent our wildmen +before, and we two weare forced to make cariages 5 dayes through the woods. +After we mett with a company that did us a great deale of service, ffor +they carryed what we had, and arrived att the appointed place before 3 +dayes ended. Here we made a fort. Att our arrivall we found att least 20 +cottages full. + +One very faire evening we went to finde what we hide before, which we finde +in a good condition. We went about to execut our resolution, fforseeing +that we must stay that yeare there, ffor which wee weare not very sorry, +being resolved to know what we heard before. We waited untill the Ice +should vanish, but received [news] that the Octanaks built a fort on the +point that formes that Bay, which resembles a small lake. We went towards +it with all speede. We had a great store of booty which we would not trust +to the wildmen, ffor the occasion makes the thiefe. We overloaded our slide +on that rotten Ice, and the further we went the Sun was stronger, which +made our Trainage have more difficultie. I seeing my brother so strained, I +tooke the slide, which was heavier then mine, and he mine. Being in that +extent above foure leagues from the ground, we sunke downe above the one +halfe of the legge in the Ice, and must advance in spight of our teeth. To +leave our booty was to undoe us. We strived so that I hurted myselfe in so +much that I could not stand up right, nor any further. This putt us in +great trouble. Uppon this I advised my brother to leave me with his slide. +We putt the two sleds one by another. I tooke some cloathes to cover mee. +After I stripped myselfe from my wett cloathes, I layed myselfe downe on +the slide; my brother leaves me to the keeping of that good God. We had not +above two leagues more to goe. He makes hast and came there in time and +sends wildmen for me and the slids. There we found the perfidiousnesse of +the Octanaks. Seeing us in Extremitie, would prescribe us laws. We promised +them whatever they asked. They came to fetch me. + +For eight dayes I was so tormented I thought never to recover. I rested +neither day nor night; at last by means that God and my brother did use, +which was by rubbing my leggs with hott oyle of bears and keeping my thigh +and leggs well tyed, it came to its former strenght. After a while I came +to me selfe. There comes a great company of new wildmen to seeke a nation +in that land for a weighty buissinesse. They desired me to goe a long, so I +prepare myselfe to goe with them. I marched well 2 dayes; the 3rd day the +sore begins to breake out againe, in so much that I could goe no further. +Those left me, albeit I came for their sake. You will see the cruelties of +those beasts, and I may think that those that liveth on fish uses more +inhumanities then those that feed upon flesh; neverthelesse I proceeded +forwards the best I could, but knewed [not] where for the most part, the +sun being my onely guide. + +There was some snow as yett on the ground, which was so hard in the +mornings that I could not percave any tracks. The worst was that I had not +a hattchett nor other arme, and not above the weight of ten pounds of +victualls, without any drink. I was obliged to proceed five dayes for my +good fortune. I indured much in the morning, but a litle warmed, I went +with more ease. I looked betimes for som old cabbans where I found wood to +make fire wherwith. I melted the snow in my cappe that was so greasy. One +night I finding a cottage covered it with boughs of trees that I found +ready cutt. The fire came to it as I began to slumber, which soone awaked +me in hast, lame as I was, to save meselfe from the fire. My racketts, +shoos, and stokens kept me my life; I must needs save them. I tooke them +and flung them as farr as I could in the snow. The fire being out, I was +forced to looke for them, as dark as it was, in the said snow, all naked & +very lame, and almost starved both for hungar and cold. But what is it that +a man cannot doe when he seeth that it concerns his life, that one day he +must loose? Yett we are to prolong it as much as we cane, & the very feare +maketh us to invent new wayes. + +The fifth day I heard a noyse and thought it of a wolfe. I stood still, and +soone perceived that it was of a man. Many wild men weare up and downe +looking for me, fearing least the Bears should have devoured me. That man +came neere and saluts me, and demands whether it was I. We both satt downe; +he looks in my sacke to see if I had victualls, where he finds a peece as +bigg as my fist. He eats this without participation, being their usuall +way. He inquireth if I was a hungary. I tould him no, to shew meselfe stout +and resolute. He takes a pipe of tobacco, and then above 20 pounds of +victualls he takes out of his sack, and greased, and gives it me to eate. I +eat what I could, and gave him the rest. He bids me have courage, that the +village was not far off. He demands if I knewed the way, but I was not such +as should say no. The village was att hand. The other wildmen arrived but +the day before, and after a while came by boats to the lake. The boats +weare made of Oriniacks' skins. I find my brother with a company of +Christinos that weare arrived in my absence. We resolved to cover our +buissinesse better, and close our designe as if we weare going a hunting, +and send them before; that we would follow them the next night, which we +did, & succeeded, but not without much labor and danger; for not knowing +the right way to thwart the other side of the lake, we weare in danger to +perish a thousand times because of the crums of Ice. We thwarted a place of +15 leagues. We arrived on the other side att night. When we came there, we +knewed not where to goe, on the right or left hand, ffor we saw no body. +Att last, as we with full sayle came from a deepe Bay, we perceived smoake +and tents. Then many boats from thence came to meete us. We are received +with much Joy by those poore Christinos. They suffered not that we trod on +ground; they leade us into the midle of their cottages in our own boats, +like a couple of cocks in a Basquett. There weare some wildmen that +followed us but late. We went away with all hast possible to arrive the +sooner att the great river. We came to the seaside, where we finde an old +howse all demollished and battered with boulletts. We weare told that those +that came there weare of two nations, one of the wolf, the other of the +long-horned beast. All those nations are distinguished by the +representation of the beasts or animals. They tell us particularities of +the Europians. We know ourselves, and what Europ is, therefore in vaine +they tell us as for that. + +We went from Isle to Isle all that summer. We pluckt abundance of Ducks, as +of all other sort of fowles; we wanted nor fish nor fresh meate. We weare +well beloved, and weare overjoyed that we promised them to come with such +shipps as we invented. This place hath a great store of cows. The wildmen +kill them not except for necessary use. We went further in the bay to see +the place that they weare to passe that summer. That river comes from the +lake and empties itselfe in the river of Sagnes, called Tadousack, which is +a hundred leagues in the great river of Canada, as where we weare in the +Bay of the north. We left in this place our marks and rendezvous. The +wildmen that brought us defended us above all things, if we would come +directly to them, that we should by no means land, and so goe to the river +to the other sid, that is, to the north, towards the sea, telling us that +those people weare very treacherous. Now, whether they tould us this out of +pollicy, least we should not come to them ffirst, & so be deprived of what +they thought to gett from us [I know not]. In that you may see that the +envy and envy raigns every where amongst poore barbarous wild people as att +Courts. They made us a mapp of what we could not see, because the time was +nigh to reape among the bustards and Ducks. As we came to the place where +these oats growes (they grow in many places), you would think it strang to +see the great number of ffowles, that are so fatt by eating of this graine +that heardly they will move from it. I have seene a wildman killing 3 ducks +at once with one arrow. It is an ordinary thing to see five [or] six +hundred swans together. I must professe I wondred that the winter there was +so cold, when the sand boyles att the watter side for the extreame heate of +the Sun. I putt some eggs in that sand, and leave them halfe an houre; the +eggs weare as hard as stones. We passed that summer quietly, coasting the +seaside, and as the cold began, we prevented the Ice. We have the +commoditie of the river to carry our things in our boats to the best place, +where weare most bests. + +This is a wandring nation, and containeth a vaste countrey. In winter they +live in the land for the hunting sake, and in summer by the watter for +fishing. They never are many together, ffor feare of wronging one another. +They are of a good nature, & not great whore masters, having but one wife, +and are [more] satisfied then any others that I knewed. They cloath +themselves all over with castors' skins in winter, in summer of staggs' +skins. They are the best huntsmen of all America, and scorns to catch a +castor in a trappe. The circumjacent nations goe all naked when the season +permitts it. But this have more modestie, ffor they putt a piece of copper +made like a finger of a glove, which they use before their nature. They +have the same tenents as the nation of the beefe, and their apparell from +topp to toe. The women are tender and delicat, and takes as much paines as +slaves. They are of more acute wits then the men, ffor the men are fools, +but diligent about their worke. They kill not the yong castors, but leave +them in the watter, being that they are sure that they will take him +againe, which no other nation doth. They burne not their prisoners, but +knock them in the head, or slain them with arrows, saying it's not decent +for men to be so cruell. They have a stone of Turquois from the nation of +the buff and beefe, with whome they had warrs. They pollish them, and give +them the forme of pearle, long, flatt, round, and [hang] them att their +nose. They [find] greene stones, very fine, att the side of the same bay of +the sea to the norwest. There is a nation called among themselves neuter. +They speake the beefe and Christinos' speech, being friends to both. Those +poore people could not tell us what to give us. They weare overjoyed when +we sayd we should bring them commodities. We went up on another river, to +the upper lake. The nation of the beefe sent us guifts, and we to them, by +[the] ambassadors. In the midle of winter we joyned with a Company of the +fort, who gladly received us. They weare resolved to goe to the ffrench the +next spring, because they weare quite out of stocke. The feast of the dead +consumed a great deale of it. They blamed us, saying we should not trust +any that we did not know. They upon this asked if we are where the +trumpetts are blowne. We sayd yea, and tould that they weare a nation not +to be trusted, and if we came to that sea we should warre against them, +becaus they weare bad nation, and did their indeavour to tak us to make us +their slaves. + +In the beginning of Spring there came a company of men that came to see us +from the elders, and brought us furrs to intice us to see them againe. I +cannot omitt [a] pleasant encounter that happened to my brother as we weare +both in a cottag. Two of the nation of the beefe came to see us; in that +time my brother had some trade in his hands. The wildmen satt neere us. My +brother shews unto them the Image which [re]presented the flight of Joseph +and holy mary with the child Jesus, to avoid the anger of herod, and the +Virgin and child weare riding the asse, and Joseph carrying a long cloake. +My brother shewing that animal, naming it _tatanga_, which is a buffe, the +wildmen, seeing the representation of a woman, weare astonished and weeps, +pulls their haire, and tumbles up and downe to the fire, so continued half +an houre, till he was in a sweat, and wetted with his tears the rest of the +wildmen that weare there. One of them went out of the cottage. My brother +and I weare surprized; thought they might have seene a vision, ffor +instantly the man putt his hands on his face, as if he should make the +signe of the crosse. Now as he came to himselfe, he made us understand, +ffor I began to know much of their speech, that first we weare Devills, +knowing all what is and what was done; moreover, that he had his desire, +that was his wif and child, whome weare taken by the nation of the beefe +foure years agoe. So he tooke the asse for the nation of the beefe, the +Virgin mary for the picture of his wife, and Jesus for his son, and Joseph +for himselfe, saying, "There am I with my long robe, seeking for my wife +and child." + +By our ambassadors I came to know an other Lake which is northerly of their +countrey. They say that it's bigger then all the rest. The upper end is +allways frozen. Their ffish comes from those parts. There are people that +lives there and dare not trade in it towards the south. There is a river so +deepe and blacke that there is no bottome. They say that fish goes neither +out nor in to that river. It is very warme, and if they durst navigate in +it, they should not come to the end in 40 dayes. That river comes from the +lake, and the inhabitants makes warrs against the birds, that defends & +offends with theire bills that are as sharpe as sword. This I cannot tell +for truth, but told me. All the circumjacent neighbours do incourage us, +saying that they would venter their lives with us, for which we weare much +overjoyed to see them so freely disposed to goe along with us. Here nothing +but courage. "Brother, doe not lye, ffor the ffrench will not believe +thee." All men of courage and vallour, lett them fetch commodities, and not +stand lazing and be a beggar in the cabbane. It is the way to be beloved of +women, to goe and bring them wherewithall to be joyfull. We present guifts +to one and to another for to warne them to that end that we should make the +earth quake, and give terror to the Iroquoits if they weare so bold as to +shew themselves. The Christinos made guifts that they might come with us. +This was graunted unto them, to send 2 boats, to testifie that they weare +retained slaves among the other nations, although they furnish them with +castors. The boats ready, we embarque ourselves. We weare 700. There was +not seene such a company to goe downe to the ffrench. There weare above 400 +Christinos' boats that brought us their castors, in hopes that the people +should give some marchandises for them. Att their retourne the biggest +boats could carry onely the man and his wife, and could scarce carry with +them 3 castors, so little weare their boats. In summer time I have seene +300 men goe to warrs, and each man his boat, ffor they are that makes the +least boats. The company that we had filled above 360 boats. There weare +boats that caryed seaven men, and the least two. It was a pleasur to see +that imbarquing, ffor all the yong women went in stark naked, their hairs +hanging down, yett it is not their coustoms to doe soe. I thought it their +shame, but contrary they thinke it excellent & old custome good. They sing +a loud and sweetly. They stood in their boats, and remained in that posture +halfe a day, to encourage us to come and lodge with them againe. Therefore +they are not alltogether ashamed to shew us all, to intice us, and +inanimate the men to defend themselves valliantly and come and injoy them. + +In two dayes we arrived att the River of the sturgeon, so called because of +the great quantity of sturgeons that we tooke there. Here we weare to make +our provissions to passe the lake some 14 dayes. In the said tearme wee +dryed up above a million of sturgeons. [Footnote: He no doubt meant to say, +above "un mille," or "above a thousand."] The women followed us close; +after our abode there two dayes they overtooke us. We had severall fals +allarums, which putt us in severall troubles. They woundred to have found +an Oryanck dead uppon the place, with a boullet in his body. There thousand +lyes weare forged. Therefore we goe from thence, but before we come to the +Longpoint whereof we spoak before, the wildmen called it _okinotoname_, we +perceive smoake. We goe to discover what it was, and by ill looke we found +it was a Iroquoits boat of seaven men, who doubtlesse stayed that winter in +the lake of the hurrons, and came there to discover somewhat. I cannot say +that they weare the first that came there. God graunt that they may be the +last. As they saw us, away they, as swift as their heels could drive. They +left their boat and all. They to the woods, and weare pursued, but in +vaine, ffor they weare gone before three houres. The pursuers came backe; +the one brings a gun, the one a hattchett, the other a kettle, and so +forth. The councell was called, where it was decreed to go backe and shooke +off to goe downe to the ffrench till the next yeare. This vexed us sore to +see such a fleete and such an opportunity come to nothing, foreseeing that +such an other may be not in tenne years. We weare to persuade them to the +contrary, but checked soundly, saying we weare worse then Ennemyes by +perswading them to goe and be slained. In this we must lett theire feare +passe over, and we back to the river of the sturgeons, where we found our +wives, very buissie in killing those creatures that comes there to +multiplie. We dayly heare some newe reporte. All every where ennemy by +fancy. + +We in the meane time buissie ourselves in the good of our country, which +will recompence us badly ffor such toyle and labour. Twelve dayes are +passed, in which time we gained some hopes of faire words. We called a +councell before the company was disbanded, where we represented, if they +weare discouvers, they had not vallued the losse of their kettle, knowing +well they weare to gett another where their army layed, and if there should +be an army it should appeare and we in such an number, they could be well +afraid and turne backe. Our reasons weare hard and put in execution. The +next day we embarqued, saving the Christinos, that weare afraid of a sight +of a boat made of another stuff then theirs, that they went back as we came +where the Iroquoits' boat was. Our words proved true and so proceeded in +our way. + +Being come nigh the Sault, we found a place where 2 of these men sweated, & +for want of covers buried themselves in the sand by the watter side to +keepe their bodyes from the flyes called maringoines, which otherwise had +killed them with their stings. We thwarted those 2 great lakes with great +pleasur, having the wind faire with us. It was a great satisfaction to see +so many boats, and so many that never had before commerce with the ffrench. +So my brother and I thought wee should be wellcomed. But, O covetousnesse, +thou art the cause of many evils! We made a small sayle to every boate; +every one strived to be not the last. The wind was double wayes favourable +to us. The one gave us rest, the other advanced us very much, which wee +wanted much because of the above said delay. We now are comed to the +cariages and swift streames to gett the lake of the Castors. We made them +with a courage, promptitud, and hungar which made goe with hast as well as +the wind. We goe downe all the great river without any encounter, till we +came to the long Sault, where my brother some years before made a +shipwrake. Being in that place we had worke enough. The first thing wee saw +was severall boats that the Ennemy had left att the riverside. This putt +great feare in the hearts of our people. Nor they nor we could tell what to +doe; and seeing no body appeared we sent to discover what they weare. The +discovers calls us, and bids us come, that those who weare there could doe +us no harme. + +You must know that 17 ffrench made a plott with foure Algonquins to make a +league with three score hurrons for to goe and wait for the Iroquoits in +the passage att their retourne with their castors on their ground, hoping +to beat and destroy them with ease, being destitut of necessary things. If +one hath his gun he wants his powder, and so the rest. Att the other side +without doubt had notice that the travelers weare abroad, and would not +faile to come downe with a company, and to make a valiant deede and heroick +action was to destroy them all, and consequently make the ffrench tremble +as well as the wildmen, ffor the one could not live without the other; the +one for his commodities, the other ffor his castors; so that the Iroqoits +pretending to wait for us at the passage came thither fflocking. The +ffrench and wild company, to putt the Iroquoit in some feare, and hinder +his coming there so often with such confidence, weare resolved to lay a +snare against him. That company of souldiers being come to the farthest +place of that long sault without being discovered, thought allready to be +conquerors making cariage, having abroad 15 men to make discoveries, but +mett as many ennemyes. They assaulted each other, and the Iroquoits found +themselves weake, left there their lives and bodyes, saving 2 that made +their escape, went to give notice to 200 of theirs that made ready as they +heard the gunns, to help their foreguard. The ffrench seeing such great +odds made a retreat, and warned by foure Algonquins that a fort was built +not afar off, built by his nation the last yeare, they fled into it in an +ill houre. In the meane while the Iroquoits consulted what they should doe; +they sent to 550 Iroquoits of the lower nation and 50 Orijonot that weare +not afar off. Now they would asault the ffrench in their ffort, the ffort +not holding but 20 men. The hurrons could not come in and could not avoid +the shott of the ennemy. Then the ffrench pulled downe the fort, and closed +together they stoutly began to worke. Those that the ffrench had killed, +cutt their heads off & put them uppon long poles of their fort. This +skermish dured two dayes & two nights. The Iroquoits finds themselves +plagued, ffor the ffrench had a kind of bucklers and shelters. Now arrives +600 men that they did not think of in the least. Here is nothing but cryes, +fire, and flame day & night. Here is not to be doubted, the one to take the +other, the one to defend himselfe till death. The hurrons seeing such a +company submitted to the ennemyes, but are like to pay for their cowardise, +being in their hands weare tyed, abused, smitten, and burned as if they +weare taken by force, ffor those barbarous weare revenged on their boanes +as any was wounded or killed in the battaille. + +In this great extremity our small company of one and twenty did resist 5 +days against 800 men, and the two foremost dayes against 200 which weare +seaven dayes together without intermission, & the worst was that they had +no watter, as we saw, ffor they made a hole in the ground out of which they +gott but litle because they weare on a hill. It was to be pitied. There was +not a tree but was shot with buletts. The Iroquoits come with bucklers to +make a breach. The ffrench putt fire to a barill of powder, thinking to +shoake the Iroquoits or make him goe back; but did to their great +prejudice, for it fell againe in their fort, which made an end of their +combat. Uppon this the Ennemy enters, kills and slains all that he finds, +so one did not make an escape, saveing one that was found alive; but he +stayed not long, for in a short time after his fortune was as the rest; for +as he was brought to one of the Forts of the Irokoits, as he was bid to sit +down he finds a Pistolet by him, and takes it at adventure, not knowing +whether it was charged or no. He puts the end to the breast of him that +tyed him, and killd him in the presence of all his camerades; but without +any more adoe he was burnt very cruelly. All the French though dead were +tyed to posts along the River side, and the 4 Algonquins. As for the hurons +they were burnt at their discretion. Some neverthelesse escaped to bring +the certain newes how all passed. [Footnote: Frenchmen massacred at Long +Sault. See Introduction.] It was a terrible spectacle to us, for wee came +there 8 dayes after that defeat, which saved us without doubt. I beleeve +for certain that the Iroqoits lost many men, having to doe with such brave +and valiant souldiers as that company was. Wee visited that place and there +was a fine Fort; three were about the other two. + +Wee went down the river without making any carriage, and wee adventured +very much. As Soon as wee were at the lower end many of our wildmen had a +mind to goe back and not to goe any further, thinking really that all the +French were killed. As for my Brother and I, wee did fear very much that +after such a thing the pride of the enemy would make them attempt anything +upon the habitations of mount Royall, which is but 30 leagues from thence. +Wee did advise them to make a ffort, or to put us in one of the enemies', +and to send immediately two very light boats, that could not be overtaken +if the enemy should discover them; and that being arrived at the +habitation, they should make them shoot the peeces of Ordnance, and that as +soon as the night should come wee would embarque our selves and should hear +the noise, or else wee should take councell of what wee should doe, and +stay for them at the height of the Isle of mount Royall; which was done +accordingly without any hazard, for all the enemies were gone dispairing of +our comeing down, and for what they had done and for what they had lost, +which by the report of some Hurons was more then four score men; and if the +French had had a Fort flanke & some water they had resisted the enemy +miraculously and forced them to leave them for want of powder and shott and +also of other provisions. They were furnished for the whole summer. Our two +boats did goe, but the rest were soe impatient that they resolved to follow +them, being willing to run the same hazard; and wee arrived the next +morning and were in sight when the peeces were shott off, with a great +deale of Joy to see so great a number of boats that did almost cover the +whole River. + +Wee stayd 3 dayes at mont-Royall, and then wee went down to the three +Rivers. The wildmen did aske our advice whether it was best for them to goe +down further. We told them no, because of the dangers that they may meet +with at their returne, for the Irokoits could have notice of their comeing +down, and so come and lay in ambush for them, and it was in the latter +season, being about the end of August. Well, as soon as their businesse was +done, they went back again very well satisfyed and wee very ill satisfied +for our reception, which was very bad considering the service wee had done +to the countrey, which will at another time discourage those that by our +example would be willing to venture their lives for the benefit of the +countrey, seeing a Governor that would grow rich by the labours and hazards +of others. + +Before I goe further I have a mind to let you know the fabulous beleafe of +those poore People, that you may see their ignorance concerning the soul's +immortality, being separated from the body. The kindred and the friends of +the deceased give notice to the others, who gather together and cry for the +dead, which gives warning to the young men to take the armes to give some +assistance and consolation to the deceased. Presently the corps is covered +with white skins very well tyed. Afterwards all the kindred come to the +cottage of the deceased and begin to mourn and lament. After they are weary +of making such musick the husbands or Friends of the deceased send their +wives for gifts to pacifie a little the Widdow and to dry her tears. Those +guifts are of skins and of what they can get, for at such a ceremony they +are very liberall. As soon as that is done and the night comes, all the +young men are desired to come and doe what they will to have done to them. +So that when darknesse has covered the whole face of the Earth they come +all singing with staves in their hands for their armes, and after they are +set round the cabbin, begin to knock and make such a noise that one would +thinke they have a mind to tear all in peeces, and that they are possessed +of some Devills. All this is done to expell and frighten the soule out of +that poor and miserable body that she might not trouble his carcase nor his +bones, and to make it depart the sooner to goe and see their Ancestors, and +to take possession of their immortall glory, which cannot be obtained but a +fortnight towards the setting of the sun. The first step that she makes is +of seven dayes, to begin her course, but there are many difficulties, ffor +it is through a very thick wood full of thorns, of stones and flints, which +[brings] great trouble to that poor soule. At last having overcome all +those dangers and toyles she comes to a River of about a Quarter of a mile +broad where there is a bridge made onely of one planke, being supported by +a beame pointed at one end, which is the reason that planke rises and falls +perpetually, having not any rest nor stay, and when the soule comes near +the side of that river, she meets with a man of extraordinary stature, who +is very leane and holds a dagger of very hard wood and very keen in his +hands, and speakes these words when he sees the petitioning soule come +near: _Pale_, _pale_, which signifies, Goe, goe; and at every word the +bridge ballances, and rises his knife, and the traveller offering himselfe, +receives a blow by which he is cut in two, and each halfe is found upon +that moving, and according as he had lived they stay upon it; that is, if +his body was valiant the passage was soon made free to him, for the two +halfes come together and joyn themselves again. So passe to the other side +where she finds a bladder of bear's grease to grease herselfe and refresh +herselfe for that which she is to do, which being done she finds a wood +somewhat cleerer and a straight road that she must goe, and for 5 dayes +neither goe to the right nor to the left hand, where at last being arrived +she finds a very great and cleer fire, through which she must resolve to +passe. That fire is kindled by the young men that dyed since the beginning +of the world to know whether those that come have loved the women or have +been good huntsmen; and if that soule has not had any of those rare Vertues +she burnes and broiles the sole of her feet by going through the fire; but +quite contrary if she has had them qualityes, she passes through without +burning her selfe in the least, and from that so hot place she finds grease +and paint of all sorts of colour with which she daubs and makes herselfe +beautifull, to come to that place so wished for. But she has not yet all +done, nor made an end of her voyage; being so dress'd she continues her +course still towards the same pole for the space of two dayes in a very +cleer wood, and where there is very high and tall trees of which most be +oakes, which is the reason that there is great store of bears. All along +that way they do nothing else but see their enemies layd all along upon the +ground, that sing their fatall song for having been vanquished in this +world and also in the other, not daring to be so bold as to kill one of +those animalls, and feed onely upon the down of these beasts. Being +arrived, if I may say, at the doore of that imaginarie paradise, they find +a company of their ancestors long since deceased, by whom they are received +with a great deale of ceremony, and are brought by so venerable a company +within halfe a daye's journey of the place of the meeting, and all along +the rest of the way they discourse of things of this world that are passd; +for you must know they travell halfe a day without speaking one word, but +keepe a very deep silence, for, said they, it is like the Goslings to +confound one another with words. As soon as they are arrived they must have +a time to come to themselves, to think well upon what they are to speak +without any precipitation, but with Judgement, so that they are come where +all manner of company with drumms & dryd bumpkins, full of stones and other +such instruments. The elders that have brought her there cover her with a +very large white skin, and colour her leggs with vermillion and her feet +likewise, and so she is received amongst the Predestinates. There is a deep +silence made as soon as she is come in, and then one of the elders makes a +long speech to encourage the young people to go a hunting to kill some meat +to make a feast for entertainment of the soul of their countryman, which is +put in execution with a great deal of diligence and hast; and while the +meat is boyling or roasting, and that there is great preparations made for +the feast, the young maidens set out themselves with the richest Jewells +and present the beesome to the new-comer. A little while after the kettles +are filled, there is feasting every where, comedies acted, and whatsoever +is rare is there to be seene; there is dancing every where. Now remaines +nothing but to provide that poor soule of a companion, which she does +presently, for she has the choice of very beautifull women, and may take as +many as she pleases, which makes her felicity immortall. + +By this you may see the silly beleefe of these poor People. I have seen +right-minded Jesuites weep bitterly hearing me speake of so many Nations +that perish for want of Instruction; but most of them are like the wildmen, +that thinke they offend if they reserve any thing for the next day. I have +seen also some of the same company say, "Alas, what pity 'tis to loose so +many Castors. Is there no way to goe there? The fish and the sauce invite +us to it; is there no meanes to catch it? Oh, how happy should I be to go +in those countreys as an Envoye, being it is so good a countrey." That is +the relation that was made me severall times by those wildmen, for I +thought they would never have done. But let us come to our arrivall againe. + +The Governour, seeing us come back with a considerable summe for our own +particular, and seeing that his time was expired and that he was to goe +away, made use of that excuse to doe us wrong & to enrich himselfe with the +goods that wee had so dearly bought, and by our meanes wee made the country +to subsist, that without us had beene, I beleeve, oftentimes quite undone +and ruined, and the better to say at his last beeding, no castors, no ship, +& what to doe without necessary commodities. He made also my brother +prisoner for not having observed his orders, and to be gone without his +leave, although one of his letters made him blush for shame, not knowing +what to say, but that he would have some of them at what price soever, that +he might the better maintain his coach & horses at Paris. He fines us four +thousand pounds to make a Fort at the three Rivers, telling us for all +manner of satisfaction that he would give us leave to put our coat of armes +upon it, and moreover 6,000 pounds for the country, saying that wee should +not take it so strangely and so bad, being wee were inhabitants and did +intend to finish our days in the same country with our Relations and +Friends. But the Bougre did grease his chopps with it, and more, made us +pay a custome which was the 4th part, which came to 14,000 pounds, so that +wee had left but 46,000 pounds, and took away L. 24,000. Was not he a +Tyrant to deal so with us, after wee had so hazarded our lives, & having +brought in lesse then 2 years by that voyage, as the Factors of the said +country said, between 40 and 50,000 pistolls? For they spoke to me in this +manner: "In which country have you been? From whence doe you come? For wee +never saw the like. From whence did come such excellent castors? Since your +arrivall is come into our magazin very near 600,000 pounds Tournois of that +filthy merchandise, which will be prized like gold in France." And them +were the very words that they said to me. + +Seeing ourselves so wronged, my brother did resolve to goe and demand +Justice in France. It had been better for him to have been contented with +his losses without going and spend the rest in halfe a year's time in +France, having L. 10,000 that he left with his wife, that was as good a +Houswife as he. There he is in France; he is paid with fair words and with +promise to make him goe back from whence he came; but he feeing no +assurance of it, did engage himselfe with a merchant of Rochell, who was to +send him a Ship the next spring. In that hope he comes away in a fisher +boat to the pierced Island, some 20 leagues off from the Isle d'eluticosty, +[Footnote: _Eluticosty_, Anticosti, an island at the mouth of the river St. +Lawrence.] the place where the ship was to come; that was to come whilst he +was going in a shallop to Quebucq, where I was to goe away with him to the +rendezvous, being he could not do anything without me; but with a great +deel of difficulty it proved, so that I thought it possible to goe tast of +the pleasures of France, and by a small vessell that I might not be idle +during his absence. He presently told me what he had done, and what wee +should doe. Wee embarked, being nine of us. In a few dayes wee came to the +pierced Island, where wee found severall shipps newly arrived; & in one of +them wee found a father Jesuit that told us that wee should not find what +wee thought to find, and that he had put a good order, and that it was not +well done to distroy in that manner a Country, and to wrong so many +Inhabitants. He advised me to leave my Brother, telling me that his designs +were pernicious. Wee see ourselves frustrated of our hopes. My Brother told +me that wee had store of merchandize that would bring much profit to the +french habitations that are in the Cadis. I, who was desirous of nothing +but new things, made no scruple. + +Wee arrived at St. Peter, in the Isle of Cape Breton, at the habitation of +Monsr. Denier, where wee delivered some merchandizes for some Originack +skins; from thence to Camseau where every day wee were threatned to be +burned by the french; but God be thanked, wee escaped from their hands by +avoiding a surprize. And in that place my Brother told me of his designe to +come and see new England, which our servants heard, and grumbled and +laboured underhand against us, for which our lives were in very great +danger. Wee sent some of them away, and at last with much labour & danger +wee came to Port Royall, which is inhabited by the french under the English +Government, where some few dayes after came some English shipps that +brought about our designes, where being come wee did declare our designes. +Wee were entertained, and wee had a ship promissed us, and the Articles +drawn, and wee did put to sea the next spring for our discovery, and wee +went to the entry of Hudson's streight by the 61 degree. Wee had knowledge +and conversation with the people of those parts, but wee did see and know +that there was nothing to be done unlesse wee went further, and the season +of the yeare was far spent by the indiscretion of our master, that onely +were accustomed to see some Barbadoes Sugers, and not mountaines of Suger +candy, which did frighten him, that he would goe no further, complaining +that he was furnished but for 4 months, & that he had neither Sailes, nor +Cord, nor Pitch, nor Towe, to stay out a winter. Seeing well that it was +too late, he would goe no further, so brought us back to the place from +whence wee came, where wee were welcome, although with great losse of goods +& hope, but the last was not quite lost. Wee were promissed 2 shipps for a +second voyage. They were made fit and ready, and being the season of the +yeare was not yet come to be gone, one of them 2 shipps was sent to the +Isle of Sand, there to fish for the Basse [Footnote: This fishing +expedition was to the well-known Sable Island. In 1676 "The King granted +Medard Chouart, Sieur des Grozelliers, and Pierre Esprit, Sieur des +Radision, the privilege of establishing fisheries for white porpoises and +seal in the river St. Lawrence in New France."] to make Oyle of it, where +wee came in very bad weather, and the ship was lost in that Island, but the +men were saved. The expectation of that ship made us loose our 2nd voyage, +which did very much discourage the merchants with whom wee had to doe. They +went to law with us to make us recant the bargaine that wee had made with +them. After wee had disputed a long time it was found that the right was on +our side, and wee innocent of what they did accuse us. So they endeavoured +to come to an agreement, but wee were betrayed by our own Party. In the +meantime the Commissioners of the King of Great Brittain arrived in that +place, and one of them would have us goe with him to New Yorke, and the +other advised us to come to England and offer our selves to the King, which +wee did. Those of new England in generall made profers unto us of what ship +wee would if wee would goe on in our Designes; but wee answered them that a +scalded cat fears the water though it be cold. + +Wee are now in the passage, and he that brought us, which was one of the +Commissioners called Collonell George Carteret, was taken by the +Hollanders, and wee arrived in England in a very bad time for the Plague +and the warrs. Being at Oxford, wee went to Sir George Carteret, who spoke +to his Majestie, who gave us good hopes that wee should have a ship ready +for the next spring, and that the king did allow us 40 shillings a week for +our maintenance, and wee had chambers in the Town by his order, where wee +stayed 3 months. Afterwards the King came to London and sent us to Windsor, +where wee stayed the rest of the winter. Wee are sent for from that place, +the season growing neare, and put into the hands of Sir Peter Colleton. The +ship was got ready something too late, and our master was not fit for such +a Designe. But the Hollanders being come to the River of Thames had stopp'd +the passage, soe wee lost that opportunity. So wee were put off till the +next yeare, & a little while after that same ship was sent to Virginia and +other places to know some news of the Barbadoes, and to be informed if that +Island was not in danger; which if it had been lost, had taken from the +English Ladyes the meanes or the pleasure of drinking french wine. Those of +Burdeaux & of Rochell were great loosers in the expectation of the ship, +that was not gone to the Isle of Sand, but to Holland. Wee lost our second +voyage, for the order was given to late for the fitting another ship, which +cost a great deale of money to noe purpose. The third yeare wee went out +with a new company in 2 small vessells, my Brother in one & I in another, & +wee went together 400 leagues from the North of Ireland, where a sudden +great storme did rise & put us asunder. The sea was soe furious 6 or 7 +houres after that it did almost overturne our ship, so that wee were forced +to cut our masts rather then cutt our lives; but wee came back safe, God be +thanked, and the other, I hope, is gone on his voyage, God be with him. I +hope to embarke myselfe by the helpe of God this fourth yeare, & I beseech +him to grant me better successe then I have had hitherto, & beseech him to +give me Grace & to make me partaker of that everlasting happinesse which is +the onely thing a man ought to look after. + +I have here put the names of severall Nations amongst which I have been for +the most part, which I think may extend to some 900 leagues by the +reckoning of my Travells. + +The names of the Nations that live in the South:-- + +Avieronons. Khionontateronons. Oscovarahronoms. +Aviottronons. Ohcrokonanechronons. Huattochronoms. +Anontackeronons. Ahondironons. Skinchiohronoms. +Sonontueronons. Ougmarahronoms. Attitachronons. +Oyongoironons. Akrahkuaeronoms. Ontorahronons. +Audastoueronons. Oneronoms. Aoveatsiovaenhronons. +Konkhaderichonons. Eressaronoms. Attochingochronons. +Andonanchronons. Attionendarouks. Maingonis. +Kionontateronons. Ehriehronoms. Socoquis. +Ouendack. Tontataratonhronoms. Pacoiquis. + Ariotachronoms. + +All these Nations are sedentaries, and live upon corn and other grains, by +hunting and fishing, which is plentifull, and by the ragouts of roots. +There were many destroyed by the Iroquoits, and I have seen most of those +that are left. + +The names of the Nations that live in the North:-- + +Chisedeck. Nipifiriniens. Piffings. +Bersiamites. Tivifeimi. Malhonniners. +Sagfeggons. Outimaganii. Afinipour. +Attikamegues. Ouachegami. Trinivoick. +Ovaouchkairing or Mitchitamon. Nafaonakouetons. + Algonquins. Orturbi. Pontonatemick. +Kischeripirini. Ovasovarin. Escouteck. +Minifigons. Atcheligonens. Panoestigons. +Kotakoaveteny. Annikouay. Nadoucenako. +Kinoncheripirini. Otanack. Titascons. +Matouchkarini. Ouncisagay. Christinos. +Ountchatarounongha. Abaouicktigonions. Nadouceronons. +Sagahigavirini. Roquay. Quinipigousek. +Sagnitaovigama. Mantonech. Tatanga. + +The two last are sedentary and doe reap, and all the rest are wandering +people, that live by their hunting and Fishing, and some few of Rice that +they doe labour for, and a great many of them have been destroyed by the +Iroquoites. Besides all the above-named Nations I have seen eight or nine +more since my voyages. + + + + +VOYAGES +OF +PETER ESPRIT RADISSON. + +_The Relation of a Voyage made by Peter Raddisson, Esquire, to the North +parts of America, in the years 1682 and 1683._ + +In the first place, I think myself oblidg'd to vindicat myself from the +imputation of inconstancy for acting in this voyage against the English +Intrest, and in the yeare 1683 against the French Intrest, for which, if I +could not give a very good account, I might justly lye under the sentenc of +capritiousness & inconstancy. But severall Persons of probity and good +repute, being sensible what my brother-in-Law, Mr Chouard Des Groisiliers, +and myself performed in severall voyadges for the Gentlemen conserned in +the Hudson's Bay Trade, relating to the Comers of Bever skins, and the just +cause of dissattisfaction which both of us had, to make us retire into +France. I have no cause to believe that I in the least deserve to bee taxed +with lightness or inconstancy for the Imployments wherein I since ingaged, +although they were against the Interests of the said Company, for it is +suffitiently known that my Brother nor myself omitted nothing that lay in +our power, having both of us severall times adventur'd our lives, and did +all that was possible for Persons of courage and Honour to perform for the +advantage and profit of the said Company, ever since the yeare 1665 unto +the yeare 1674. But finding that all our advise was slighted and rejected, +and the Councill of other persons imbrac'd and made use of, which +manifestly tended to the ruin of the setlement of the Beaver Trade, & that +on all occasions wee were look'd upon as useless persons, that deserved +neither reward nor incouragement, this unkinde usage made us at last take a +resolution, though with very great reluctancy, to return back into France; +for in the maine it is well knowne that I have a greater inclination for +the Interest of England than for that of ffrance, being marry'd at London +unto an Honorable familly, [Footnote: He married, between 1666 and 1673, +for his second wife, the daughter of Sir John Kirke. He was one of the +original founders of the Hudson's Bay Company, having subscribed L. 300 to +the common stock in 1670. He was one of the seven members on the Committee +of management for the Company, and was no doubt instrumental in securing to +Radisson a permanent pension of 1,200 livres a year, after he left the +service of France. In all probability, Radisson emigrated to Canada with +his family in 1694, for in that year his son's name thus appears as holding +a land patent: "1695. Another patent of confirmation to 'Sieur Etienne +Volant Radisson' of the concession made to him the 19th of October, 1694, +of the isles, islets, and 'baitures' not granted, that are to be found +across Lake St Peter, above the islands granted to the 'Sieur Sorel,' from +the edge of the north channel, as far as the great middle channel, called +the channel of Platte Island," etc., etc. As Peter Radisson's will can +nowhere be found at Somerset House, London, he probably died in Canada.] +whos alliance had also the deeper ingadged me in the Intrest of the Nation. +Morover, all my friends know the tender love I had for my wife, and that I +declared unto them how much I was troubled in being reduced to the +necessity of leaving her. I hope thes considerations will vindicate my +proceedings touching the severall Interests which I espous'd, and what I +shall relate in this ensuing Narrative touching my proceedings in regard of +the English in this voyadge in the River, and also in Nelson's harbour in +the year 1683, and will justify me against what has ben reported to my +prejudice to render me Odious unto the nation. For it will appeare that +having had the good fortune to defend my setlment against those which at +that time I look'd upon as my Ennemy's, & defeated them by frustrating +their designes, I improv'd the advantage I had over them the best I could; +yet would they do me right, they must own that they had more just cause to +give me thanks than to complaine of me, having ever used them kindly as +long as they pleas'd to live with me. I freely confess I used all the skill +I could to compass my designes, & knowing very well what these Gentlemen +intended against me, I thought it better to surprise them than that they +should me; knowing that if they had ben afore hand with me, I should have +passed my time wors with them than they did with me. I come now to discours +of my voyadge, not thinking it materiall heere to mention the campaign I +made in the french fleet, since I left England, in the Expeditions for +Guinea, Tobaga, [Footnote: This expedition was commanded by Jean, Count +d'Estrees. He reduced the Island of Tobaga. He was made a Marshal of +France, and sent out, 1 August, 1687, as Viceroy over America.] and other +occasions wherein I was concern'd before I ingadged in this voyadge. + +At the time my Brother-in-Law and I were dissattisfy'd with the Hudson's +Bay Company, wee were severall times invited by the late Monsieur Colbert +to return back for france, with large promises that wee should bee very +kindly entertain'd. Wee refused a great while all the offers that were made +us; but seeing our businesse went wors and wors with the company, without +any likelyhood of finding any better usage, at last wee accepted the offer +that was made unto us, of paying us 400 Lewi-Dors redy money, of +discharging all our Debts, and to give us good Employments. These +conditions being agreed upon, wee passed over into france in Xber, 1674. + +As soon as wee got to Paris wee waited upon monsieur Colbert. Hee +reproached us for preferring the English Interest before that of ffrance; +but having heard our defence, and observ'd by what wee said unto him of our +discoverys in the Northern parts of America, and of the acquaintance wee +had with the Natives, how fit wee might bee for his purpos, hee soon +assur'd us of his favor & protection, & also of the King's pardon for what +was past, with an intire restoration unto the same state wee were in before +wee left france, upon condition that wee should employ our care & industry +for the advancement & increas of the comers of the Beaver Trade in the +french Collonies in Canada. Hee also confirmed the promis had ben made us +at London, of the gratuity of 400 french Pistolls, that all our Debts +should bee discharg'd, & that wee should bee put into Employments. Our +Letters Pattents of pardon & restoration were forthwith dispatch't, & +monsieur Colbert would have it expressly mention'd in them, for what caus +the King granted them, viz., to employ the greatest of our skill & industry +with the Natives, for the utillity & advancement of the Beaver Trade in the +french Collonies. The 400 peeces of Gould was pay'd us, & all things else +promised was perform'd, excepting only the Employment, for the which wee +were made to attend a great while, and all to no purpos. + +But at last I perceaved the cause of this delay, & that my marrying in +England made me bee suspected, because my wife remained there. Monsr. +Colbert having delayed us a long time with sundry Excuses, one day hee +explained himself, saying I should bring my wife over into france if I +expected that a full confidence should bee put in mee. I represented unto +him that it was nott a thing fully in my power to doe, my wife's father +refusing to give me the Liberty of bringing her over into france; but I +promiss'd him to use my best endeavors to that effect. In the meantime +Monsr. Colbert intimated that hee would have my Brother-in-Law & myself +make a voyadge unto Canada, to advise with the Governour what was best ther +to bee done, assuring us that hee would write unto him in our behalf. + +Wee undertook the voyadge, but being arriv'd at Quebeck, wee found that +jelosy & interest which some Persons had over those that had the absolute +command, at that time, of the Trade in Canada, & whos Creatures were +Imploy'd for new Discoverys, ordered things so that the Count De Frontinac, +the Governor, took no care to perform what wee had ben promis'd hee should +have don for us; so that finding myself slighted, I left my Brother-in-Law +with his familly in Canada, & returned back again for France, intending to +serve at sea in the fleet. Accordingly I there passed the Campaigns above +mention'd untill wee suffer'd shippwreck at the Isle D'ane, from which +being escaped, I returned with the rest of the Army unto Brest, in the +moneth of July, having lost all my Equipage in this disaster. The Vice +Admirall & the Intendant wrote to Court in my favour, & upon the good +character they were pleas'd to give of me, I receav'd a gratuity of 100 +Louis D'ors upon the King's account, to renew my Equipage; & these +Gentlemen also were pleased to tell me I should ere long have the command +of a Man of Warr; but thinking that could not so easily bee, I desired +leave to make a turn over into England under pretext of visitting my wife & +to make a farther Tryall of bringing her over into france, whereupon I had +my pass granted, with a farther gratuity of 100 Louis D'ors towards the +charges of my voyage. I was comanded to make what dispatch possible might +bee, & espetially to mind the business of bringing my wife along with me, & +then I shold not doubt of having good Imployments. + +I set forwards, & arrived in London the 4th of July, & amongst other +discours told my father-in-Law, Sir John Kirk, of what great importance it +was unto me of making my fortune in france to take my wife along with me +thither; notwithstanding, hee would by no means give his consent thereunto, +but desired me to write to my friends in France concerning some pretention +hee had against the Inhabitants of Canada, [Footnote: John Kirke and his +elder brothers, Sir David, Sir Lewis, and others, held a large claim +against Canada, or rather France, dating back to 1633, which amounted in +1654, including principal and interest, to over--L. 34.000.] which I did. I +endeavor'd also, during my stay at London, both by myself & by Friends, to +try if the Gentlemen of the Company might conceave any better thoughts of +me, & whether I might not by some means or other be restor'd unto their +good liking; but all my endevors proved in vaine. I found no likelyhood of +effecting what I so much desir'd, therefore I return'd into France & +arrived at Brest the 12th of 8ber, 1679.... Having inform'd the Vice +Admirall & the Intendant of the litle Successe I had in my voyadge, & that +it was not through any neglect of myne, they order'd me to goe give an +Account of it unto the Marquis De Signelay, which I did; & telling him I +could not prevaile to bring my wife over along with me, hee revil'd me, & +told me hee knew very well what an Inclination I had still for the English +Intrest, saying with all that I must not expect any confidence should bee +put in me, nor that I shold not have the least Imployment, whilst my wife +stay'd in England. + +Neverthelesse, hee promis'd to speak to his Father, Monsieur Colbert, +touching my affaires, which hee also performed; & afterwards waiting upon +him, hee spake unto me much after the same rate his sonn, the Marquis De +Signelay had don before, as to what concerned my wife, & order'd me to goe +unto monsieur Bellinzany, his chief agent for the businesse of Trade, who +would farther inform me of his intentions. Meeting with Monsieur Belinzany, +hee told me that monsieur Colbert thought it necessary that I should +conferr with monsieur De La Chesnay, [Footnote: M. Du Chesneau was +appointed 30 May, 1675, Intendant of Justice, Police, and Finance of +Canada, Acadia, and Isles of Newfoundland.] a Canada Merchant who mannadg'd +all the Trade of thos parts, & who was then at Paris, that with him some +mesures should bee taken to make the best advantage of our Discoveries & +intreagues in the Northern parts of Canada, to advance the Beaver Trade, & +as much as possible might bee to hinder all strangers from driving that +trade to the prejudice of the French Collonies. The said monsr. Belinzany +also told me I could not more oblige monsr. Colbert, nor take any better +cours to obtaine his friendship by any servis whatsoever, than by using all +my skill & industry in drawing all the natives of thos Northern parts of +America to traffick with & to favor the French, & to hinder & disswade them +from trading with strangers, assuring me of a great reward for the servis I +should render the state upon this account, & that Mr. De La Chesiiay would +furnish me in Cannada with all things necessary for executing what +dessignes wee should conclude upon together to this intent. + +According to these Instructions I went unto Mr. De La Chesnay. Wee +discours'd a long time together, & after severall inquiry's of the state of +the countrys that I had most frequented, having communicated unto him my +observations, hee propos'd unto me to undertake to establish a treaty for +the Beaver trade in the Great Bay where I had ben some years before upon +the account of the English. Wee spent two Dayes in adjusting the means of +selling this business; at last it was agreed that I should make a voyadge +into England to endevor to perswade my wife to come away, & also at the +same time to inform myself what shipps the Hudson Bay Company intended to +fit out for those parts. I performed this second voyage for England with +some remainder of hopes to find the Gentlemen of the Company something +better inclin'd towards me than they had ben formerly; but whether they +then looked upon me as wholy unneccessary for their purpos, or as one that +was altogether unable to doe them any harm, I was sufferr'd to come away +without receaving the least token of kindnesse. All the satisfaction I had +in the voyadge was that Prince Rupert was pleas'd to tell me that hee was +very sorry my offers of servis was so much slighted. + +I resolv'd with myself not to bee dejected at this coldnesse, & returned +into france, thinking there to have found Monsieur De La Chesnay; but being +come to Paris, I heard hee was gon, & I presently resolved to follow him to +Canada, to execute what wee had concluded upon at Paris. I went to take my +leave of monsieur Colbert, acquainting him of my dessigne, whereof hee +approved very well. Hee wished me a good voyadge, advising me to be +carefull. I went to visit the Society of the Jesuits at Paris, as being +also concern'd with La Chesnay in the Beaver Trade. They gave mee some +money for my voyadge. I went & took shipp at Rochell, & arrived at Quebeck +the 25th of 7ber, 1682. As soon as I went ashore I spake with monsieur La +Chesnay, who seem'd to bee very glad to see me, and after some discours of +what wee had concluded upon at Paris, hee said the businesse must bee +presently set about; & being privy unto the Court Intrigues, & fully +acquainted with the mesures wee were to use in this enterprize, hee took me +along with him unto the Governor's house, & ingadg'd me to demand his +assistance & such orders as wee should stand in need of from him for the +carrying on our Dessigne. But the Governor spake unto us in a way as if hee +approved not of the businesse; whereupon La Chesnay demanded a Pass for me +to return back unto Europ by the way of New England, in a vessel belonging +to the Governor of Accadia, which was at that instant at Quebeck, & redy to +saile in som short time. + +These formalitys being over, Monsieur La Chesnay & I spake home to the +businesse. Wee agreed upon the voyage, & of all things that were to bee +setled relative unto our concerns & Intrest. Hee undertook to buy the +Goods, & to furnish all things that concern'd the Treaty; to furnish me +with a vessell well fitted & stored with good provisions. It was agreed +that I should have one fourth part of the Beaver for my care and paines, & +the danger I expos'd myself unto in making the setlment. My Brother-in-Law, +Desgroisilliers, who was then at Quebeck, made a contract with De La +Chesnay for the same voyage allmost on the same terms as I had don. All +things being thus concluded, the Governor was desired that I might have +leave to take three men along with me. Hee knew very well to what intent, +but hee pretended to bee ignorant of it, for 'tis unlikely that hee could +think I would return back to france without doing something about what La +Chesnay & I had mention'd unto him, seeing I demanded these three men to +goe along with me. One was my kinsman, John Baptista Des Grosiliers, of +whom I made great account, having frequented the country all his life, & +had contracted great familliarity & acquaintance with the natives about +trade. Hee laid out L. 500 Tournais of his own money in the voyadge & +charge, disbursed by monsieur De La Chesnay in the Enterprize. The second +was Peter Allmand, whom I took for my Pilot, & the 3d was John Baptista +Godfry, who understood perfectly well the Languadge of the natives, & one +that I knew was capable of Treating. I set saile from Quebeck the 4th of +9ber, 1682, with my 3 men, in the Governor of Accady's vessell, having my +orders to bee redy the Spring following, at the L'isle perse, hallow Isle, +at the entrance of the River Saint Lawrence, unto which place La Chesnay +was to send me a vessell well Equipp'd & fitted according to agreement for +Executing the dessigne. Hee also promisd to send mee fuller Instructions in +writing, for my directions when I should bee on the place. + +Wee arrived at Accadia the 26th of november, 1682, and there winter'd. In +the Spring I repair'd unto hallow Island. The vessell I expected arrived, +but proved not so good as was promised, for it was only an old Barque of +about 50 Tunns with an Equippage but of 12 men, thos with me being +comprised in the number. There was goods enough on board to have carry'd on +the Treaty, but Provisions were scant, so that had I not ben so deeply +ingadg'd as I was in the businesse, such a kind of a vessell would have +quite discouradg'd me. But the arrivall of my Brother-in-Law, +Desgrosiliers, in a vessell of about 30 Tunns, with a crew of 15 men, +incouradg'd me, so that wee joyntly resolved not to quit our Enterprize; +but wee had much adoe to perswade our men to it, being unwilling to expose +themselves to the danger of a voyadge of 900 Leagues in such small, +ordinary vessells, & in such boisterous seas, where ther was also danger of +Ice. However, they seeing us willing to run the same fortune as they did, +they at length consented, & it was agree'd upon betwixt my Brother-in-Law & +myself to steere the same cours, & to keep as neere each other as wee +could, the better to assist one another as occasion required. Wee sailed +from the Island the 11th July, 1682 [1683.] After the space of 19 dayes' +sailing, being past the Straights of new found Land, the seamen on board my +Brother-in-Law's vessell mutin'd against him, refusing to proceed any +farther, pretending they feared being split with the Ice, also of ingadging +in unknown countreys where they might be reduced to want Provisions in the +Winter. Wee pacify'd the mutineers by threatnings & by promises, & the +sight of a saile in 57 deg. 30 minutes, North Lat., upon the Coast of +Brador, somwhat contributed thereunto, every one desiring to shun this +sail. Wee were twixt him & the shoar, & they bore directly towards us, +desirous to speak with us; but wee not being in a condition of making any +resistance, I thought it the best not to stand towards him, but steering +the same cours as hee did, wee recover'd under the shoar, & so out of +Danger; they tackt about & stood off 2 hours before night, & wee lost sight +of them. There was much ice in those seas, which drive to the Southwards. +Wee put into Harbour to avoide the Danger of it, as also to take in fresh +Water & some other Provisions at the Coast of the Indians called Esquimos, +the most cruell of all the salvages when they meet an advantage to surprize +Persons. Neverthelesse, they came to our shipp side, & traded with us for +some hundred of Woolf Skins. Wee stay'd there 2 dayes, during which time +there happned a nother mutiny, our men refusing to proceed any farther; but +I pacify'd the seditious, & having put to sea I order'd our men to preserve +the Wood & Water wee had taken on board the best they could, for my +Brother-in-Law & I had resolved not to goe a shoare untill wee had gain'd +our Port, unless wee were chased. The winds proving favorable, wee entred +Hudson's Straight and sailed along on the Northern shoare; there was much +Ice. Some of my Seamen kill'd a white Beare of Extraordinary biggness. They +eat of it to such excess that they all fell Extremely sick with head akes & +loosnesse, that I thought they would have dyed out. I was forc'd to give my +Brother notice of this accident, & to desire his assistance, so that by +takeing Orvietan & sweating they escaped that Danger, but all their skin +pell'd off. Wee were inform'd by the Indians that those white Bears have a +Poison in the Liver, that diffuses itself through the whole mass of the +body, which occasions these distempers unto thos that eat of them. + +I observ'd during this Disorder, neer Mile Island, at the western point, +wee drove N. W. by the compass about 8 leagues in 6 hours, towards Cape +Henry. Wee had much adoe to recover out of the Ice, & had like divers times +to have perrish'd, but God was pleas'd to preserve us. My brother-in-Law, +fearing to bear too much saile, stay'd behind. I arrived before him, the +26th of August, on the western coast of Hudson's Bay, & we met the 2nd of +7ber, at the entrance of the River called _Kakivvakiona_ by the Indians, +which significies "Let him that comes, goe." Being enter'd into this River, +our first care was to finde a convenient place where to secure our +vessells, & to build us a House. Wee sailed up the River about 15 miles, & +wee stop't at a litle Canall, whrein wee lay our vessells, finding the +place convenient to reside at. I left my brother-in-Law busy about building +a house, & the next day after our arrivall I went up into the Country, to +seek for Indians. To this purpos I went in a Canoo, with my nephew & +another of my crew, being all 3 armed with firelocks & Pistolls, & in 8 +dayes wee went about 40 leagues up the River, & through woods, without +meeting one Indian or seeing any signe where any had lately ben; & finding +severall Trees gnawed by Beavors, wee judged there was but few Inhabitants +in those parts. In our travelling wee kill'd some Deere. But the 8th day +after our departure, our canoo being drawn ashore & overturn'd neer the +water side, reposing ourselves in a small Island, about evening an Indian +pursuing a Deere espyed our Canoo. Thinking there were some of his own +Nation, hee whistled to give notice of the Beast, that pass'd by to the +litle Island not farr off from us. My nephew having first spyed the Indian, +told me of it, not mynding the Deere. I presently went to the water side & +called the Indian, who was a good while before hee spake, & then said hee +understood me not, & presently run away into the woods. + +I was glad of meeting this Indian, & it gave me some hopes of seeing more +ere long. Wee stood upon our gard all night. Next morning I caus'd our +canoo to bee carry'd the other side of the Island, to have it in readyness +to use in case of danger. I caused a fier to bee made a 100 paces off. In +the morning wee discovered nyne canoos at the point of the Island coming +towards us, & being within hearing, I demanded who they were; they return'd +a friendly answer. I told them the cause of my coming into their country, & +who I was. One of the eldest of them, armed with his lance, Bow & arrows, +etc., etc., rose up & took an arrow from his Quiver, making a signe from +East to West & from North to South, broke it in 2 peeces, & flung it into +the River, addressing himself to his companions, saying to this purpos: +"Young men, bee not afraid; the Sun is favorable unto us. Our ennemys shall +feare us, for this is the man that we have wished for ever since the dayes +of our fathers." After which they all swimed a shore unto me, & coming out +of their canoos I invited them unto my Fier. My nephew & the other man that +was with him came also within 10 paces of us without any feare, although +they see the Indian well armed. I asked them who was their Chief Commander, +speaking unto him unknownst to me. Hee bowed the head, & another told me it +was hee that I talked unto. Then I took him by the hand, and making him sit +downe, I spoke unto him according to the genius of the Indians, unto whom, +if one will bee esteemed, it is necessary to bragg of one's vallour, of +one's strength and ablnesse to succour & protect them from their Ennemyes. +They must also bee made believe that one is wholy for their Intrest & have +a great complesance for them, espetially in making them presents. This +amongst them is the greatest band of friendshipp. I would at this first +enterview make myself known. The chief of these salvages sitting by me, I +said to him in his Languadge, "I know all the Earth; your friends shall bee +my friends; & I am come hether to bring you arms to destroy your Ennemys. +You nor your wife nor children shall not dye of hunger, for I have brought +Merchandize. Bee of good cheere; I will bee thy sonn, & I have brought thee +a father; hee is yonder below building a fort, where I have 2 great shipps. +You must give me 2 or 3 of your Canoos that your people may go visit your +father." + +Hee made a long speech to thank me & to assure me that both himself & all +his nation would venture their Lifes in my servis. I gave them some Tobacco +& Pipes, & seeing one of them used a peece of flat Iron to cut his Tobacco, +I desired to see that peece of Iron & flung it into the fier, wherat they +all wonder'd, for at the same time I seemed to weep; & drying up my tears, +I told them I was very much grieved to see my Brethren so ill provided of +all things, & told them they should want for nothing whilst I was with +them; & I tooke my sword I had by my side & gave it unto him from whom I +took the peece of Iron; also I caus'd some bundles of litle knives to bee +brought from my canoo, which I distributed amongst them. I made them smoke, +& gave them to eate, & whilst they were eating, I set forth the presents I +brought them, amongst the rest a fowling-peece, with some powder & shot for +their chief commander. I told him, in presenting him with it, I took him +for my Father; hee in like mannor took me to bee his sonn in covering me +with his gowne. I gave him my blanket, which I desired him to carry unto +his wife as a token from me, intending shee should bee my mother. Hee +thanked me, as also did the rest, to the number of 26, who in testimony of +their gratitude cast their garments at my feete & went to their canoos & +brought all the furr Skins they had; after which ceremonys wee parted. They +promised before noone they would send me 3 of their canoos, wherein they +failed not. They put my Beavors in them, & wee went towards the place where +I left my Brother-in-Law. I arrived the 12th of 7ber, to the great +satisfaction of all our people, having inform'd them the happy success of +my Journey by meeting with the Natives. + +The very day I return'd from this litle Journey wee were alarm'd by the +noise of some Great Gunns. The Indians that came along with us heard them, +& I told them that these Gunns were from some of our shipps that were in +the great River called Kawirinagaw, 3 or 4 leagues' distance from that wher +wee were setled; but being desirous to bee sattisfyed what it should meane, +I went in a Canoo unto the mouth of our River, & seeing nothing, I suppos'd +wee were all mistaken, & I sent my nephew with another french man of my +crew back with the salvages unto the Indians; but the same evening they +heard the Gunns so plaine that ther was no farther cause of doubt but that +ther was a shipp; upon which they return'd back to tell me of it, wherupon +I presently went myself with 3 men to make the discovery. Having crossed +over this great River Kawirinagaw, which signifies the dangerous, on the +16th, in the morning, wee discovered a Tent upon an Island. I sent one of +my men privatly to see what it was. He came back soon after & told me they +were building a House & that there was a shipp; wherupon I approached as +neere as I could without being discover'd, & set myself with my men as it +were in ambush, to surprize some of thos that were there & to make them +prisoners to know what or who they might bee. I was as wary as might bee, & +spent the whole night very neere the place where the Hous stood, without +seeing anybody stirr or speak untill about noon next day, & then I see they +were English, & drawing neerer them the better to observe them, I return'd +to my canoo with my men. Wee shewed ourselves a Cannon-shott off & stayed +as if wee had ben salvages that wonder'd to see anybody there building a +House. It was not long before wee were discover'd, & they hollowed unto us, +inviting us to goe unto them, pronouncing some words in the Indian tongue, +which they Read in a Book. But seeing wee did not come unto them, they came +unto us along the shoare, & standing right opposit unto us, I spoke unto +them in the Indian tongue & in French, but they understood me not; but at +last asking them in English who they were & what they intended to do there, +they answer'd they were English men come hether to trade for Beaver. +Afterwards I asked them who gave them permission, & what commission they +had for it. They told me they had no commission, & that they were of New +England. I told them I was setled in the country before them for the French +Company, & that I had strength sufficient to hinder them from Trading to my +prejudice; that I had a Fort 7 leagues off, but that the noise of their +Gunns made me come to see them, thinking that it might bee a french shipp +that I expected, which was to come to a River farther North then this where +they were, that had put in there by some accident contrary to my +directions; that I had 2 other shipps lately arriv'd from Canada, commanded +by myself & my Brother, & therefore I advised them not to make any longer +stay there, & that they were best bee gon & take along with them on board +what they had landed. + +In speaking I caus'd my canoo to draw as neer the shoare as could bee, that +I might the better discern thos I talked with; & finding it was young +Guillem that comanded the shipp, I was very glad of it, for I was +intimately acquainted with him. As soon as hee knew mee hee invited me +ashore. I came accordingly, & wee imbraced each other. Hee invited me on +board his shipp to treat me. I would not seem to have any distrust, but +having precaution'd myself went along with him. I caus'd my 3 men to come +out of my canoo & to stay ashore with 2 Englishmen whilest I went on board +with the Captain. I see on board a New England man that I knew very well. +Before I enter'd the shipp the Captain caused English coullers to bee set +up, & as soon as I came on board some great Gunns to bee fir'd. I told him +it was not needfull to shoot any more, fearing least our men might bee +allarm'd & might doe him some mischief. Hee proposed that wee might +Traffick together. I told him I would acquaint our other officers of it, & +that I would use my endeavor to get their consent that hee should pass the +winter wher hee was without receaving any prejudice, the season being too +far past to bee gon away. I told him hee might continue to build his House +without any need of fortifications, telling him I would secure him from any +danger on the part of the Indians, over whom I had an absolute sway, & to +secure him from any surprize on my part. I would before our parting let him +know with what number of men I would bee attended when I came to visit him, +giving him to understand that if I came with more then what was agreed +betwixt us, it would bee a sure signe our officers would not consent unto +the proposal of our trading together. I also advised him hee should not +fier any Gunns, & that hee should not suffer his men to goe out of the +Island, fearing they might bee met by the french men that I had in the +woods, that hee might not blame me for any accident that might ensue if hee +did not follow my advice. I told him also the salvages advised mee my shipp +was arrived to the Northwards, & promiss'd that I would come visit him +againe in 15 days & would tell him farther. Wherof hee was very thankfull, +& desired me to bee mindfull of him; after which wee seperated very well +sattisfy'd with each other, hee verily beleeving I had the strenght I spake +of, & I resolving always to hold him in this opinion, desiring to have him +bee gone, or if hee persisted to interrupt me in my trade, to wait some +opportunity of seizing his shipp, which was a lawfull Prize, having no +Commission from England nor france to trade. But I would not attempt +anything rashly, for fear of missing my ayme; especially I would avoide +spilling blood. + +Being returned with my men on board my Canoo, wee fell down the River with +what hast wee could; but wee were scarce gon three Leagues from the Island +where the new England shipp lay, but that wee discovered another shipp +under saile coming into the River. Wee got ashore to the southwards, & +being gon out of the Canoo to stay for the shipp that was sailing towards +us, I caused a Fier to bee made; & the shipp being over against us, shee +came to Anchor & sent not her Boat ashore that night untill next morning. +Wee watched all night to observe what was don, & in the morning, seeing the +long boat rowing towards us, I caused my 3 men, well armed, to stand at the +entrance into the wood 20 paces from me, & I came alone to the water side. +Mr Bridgar, whom the Company sent Governor into that country, was in the +Boate, with 6 of the crew belonging unto the shipp wherof Capt Guillam was +Commander, who was father, as I understood afterwards, unto him that +Comanded the New England shipp that I had discover'd the day before. Seeing +the shallopp come towards me, I spake a kinde of jargon like that of the +salvages, which signify'd nothing, only to amuse those in the boat or to +make them speake, the better to observe them, & to see if there might bee +any that had frequented the Indians & that spak their Languadge. All were +silent; & the boat coming a ground 10 or 12 paces from me, seeing one of +the seamen leap in the water to come a shore, I showed him my wepons, +forbidding him to stirr, telling him that none in the Boate should come a +shore untill I knew who they were; & observing by the make of the shipp & +the habit of the saylors that they were English, I spake in their +Languadge, & I understood that the seamen that leapt in the water which I +hinder'd to proceed any farther said aloud, "Governor, it is English they +spake unto you;" & upon my continuing to ask who they were who comanded the +shipp, & what they sought there, some body answer'd, "What has any body to +doe to inquire? Wee are English." Unto which I reply'd, "And I am French, +and require you to bee gon;" & at the same instant making signe unto my men +to appeare, they shewed themselves at the entrance of the wood. Those of +the shallop thinking in all likelyhood wee were more in number, were about +to have answer'd me in mild terms & to tell me they were of London, that +the shipp belong'd unto the Hudson Bay Company, & was Comanded by Capt +Guillem. I inform'd them also who I was; that they came too late, & that I +had taken possession of those parts in the name & behalf of the King of +ffrance. + +There was severall other things said, which is not needfull heere to +relate, the English asserting they had right to come into thos parts, & I +saying the contrary; but at last Mr Bridgar saying hee desired to come +ashore with 3 of his crew to embrace me, I told him that I should bee very +well sattisfy'd. Hee came a shore, & after mutuall salutations, hee asked +of me if this was not the River Kakiwakionay. I answer'd it was not, & that +it was farther to the Southward; that this was called _Kawirinagau_, or the +dangerous. Hee asked of me if it was not the River where Sir Thomas Button, +that comanded an English shipp, had formerly winter'd. I told him it was, & +shew'd him the place, to the northwards. Then hee invited me to goe aboard. +My crew being come up, disswaded me, especially my Nephew; yet, taking 2 +hostages which I left ashore with my men, for I suspected Capt Guillem, +having declared himself my Ennemy at London, being of the faction of those +which were the cause that I deserted the English Intrest, I went aboard, & +I did well to use this precaution, otherwise Capt Guillem would have stop't +me, as I was since inform'd; but all things past very well. Wee din'd +together. I discoursed of my Establishment in the country; that I had good +numbers of ffrench men in the woods with the Indians; that I had 2 shipps & +expected another; that I was building a Fort; to conclude, all that I said +unto young Guillem, Master of the New England shipp, I said the same unto +Mr Bridgar, & more too. He took all for currant, & it was well for me hee +was so credulous, for would hee have ben at the troble I was of travelling +40 leagues through woods & Brakes, & lye on the could ground to make my +Discoverys, hee wold soon have perceaved my weakness. I had reason to hide +it & to doe what I did. Morover, not having men suffitient to resist with +open force, it was necessary to use pollicy. It's true I had a great +advantage in having the natives on my side, which was a great strength, & +that indeed wherupon I most of all depended. + +Having stay'd a good while on board I desir'd to go ashore, which being +don, I made a signe to my men to bring the hostages, which they had carry'd +into the woods. They brought them to the water side, & I sent them aboard +their shipp. I confess I repented more then once of my going aboard. It was +too rashly don, & it was happy for me that I got off as I did. Before I +came ashore I promissed Mr. Bridgar & the Captain that in 15 Dayes I would +visit them againe. In the mean time, the better to bee assured of their +proceedings, I stay'd 2 dayes in the Woods to observe their actions; and +having upon the matter seen their dessigne, that they intended to build a +Fort, I passed the River to the Southwards to return to my Brother-in-Law, +who might well bee in some feare for me. But coming unto him, hee was very +glad of what had past, & of the good condition I had sett matters. Wee +consulted together what mesures to take not to be surpriz'd & to maintaine +ourselves the best wee could in our setlement for carrying on our Treaty. +Wee endeavor'd to secure the Indians, who promis'd to loose their Lives for +us; & the more to oblidge them to our side I granted them my nephew & +another frenchman to goe along with them into the country to make the +severall sorts of Indians to come traffick with us, & the more, to +incourage them I sent presents unto the chiefest of them. + +During my voyage of Discovering 2 English shipps, there happned an Ill +accident for us. Our Company had kill'd 60 Deere, which had ben a great +help towards our winter provisions; but by an Inundation of waters caused +by great Rains they were all carry'd away. Such great floods are common in +those parts. The loss was very great unto us, for wee had but 4 Barrells of +Pork & 2 of Beef; but our men repair'd this Losse, having kill'd some more +Deere and 4,000 white Partridges, somewhat bigger than thos of Europ. The +Indians also brought us Provisions they had kill'd from severall parts at a +great distance off. Ten dayes after my return from Discovering the English, +I took 5 other men to observe what they did. I had forseen that wee should +bee forced to stay for faire weather to crosse the mouth of the dangerous +River of Kauvirinagaw, which also proved accordingly, for the season began +to be boisterous; but having stay'd some time, at last wee got safe over, +although it was in the night, & 14 dayes after our departure wee gained +neere the place where Mr Bridgar lay. Wee presently see the shipp lay +aground on the ooze, a mile from the place where they built their House. +Being come neere the shipp, wee hailed severall times & no body answered, +which oblig'd us to goe towards land, wondring at their silence. At length +a man called us & beckn'd to us to come back. Going towards him & asking +how all did, hee said something better, but that all were asleep. I would +not disturb them & went alone unto the Governor's house, whom I found just +getting up. After the common ceremonys were past, I consider'd the posture +of things, & finding there was no great danger, & that I need not feare +calling my people, wee went in all together. I made one of my men pass for +Captain of the shipp that I said was lately arrived. Mr Bridgar beleev'd it +was so, & all that I thought good to say unto him, endeavoring all along +that hee should know nothing of the New England Interloper. Wee shot off +severall Musquets in drinking healths, those of the vessell never being +concern'd, wherby I judg'd they were careless & stood not well on their +gard, & might bee easily surpriz'd. I resolved to vew them. Therefore, +takeing leave of Mr. Bridgar, I went with my people towards the vessell. +Wee went on board to rights without opposition. The Captain was somthing +startled at first to see us, but I bid him not feare; I was not there with +any dessigne to harme him; on the contrary, was ready to assist & help him +wherin hee should comand me, advising him to use more Diligence than hee +did to preserve himselfe & shipps from the Danger I see hee was in of being +lost, which afterwards happned. But hee was displeas'd at my Counsill, +saying hee knew better what to doe than I could tell him. That might bee, +said I, but not in the Indians' country, where I had ben more frequent than +he. However, hee desired me to send him som refreshments from time to time +during the winter season, espetially some oyle & candles, of which hee +stood in great want, which I promis'd to doe, & perform'd accordingly. Hee +made me present of a peece of Beeff & a few Bisketts. Being fully inform'd +of what I desired to know, & that I need not feare any harm these Gentlemen +could doe me in regard of my trade, I took leave of the Captain, to goe see +what passed on behalf of the new England Interloper. + +I arrived there next day in the afternoon, & found they had employ'd the +time better than the others had don, having built a Fort, well fortifyed +with 6 great Gunns mounted. I fired a musket to give notice unto those in +the Fort of my coming, & I landed on a litle beach under the Gunns. The +lieutenant came out with another man well arm'd to see what wee were. When +hee see me hee congratulated my safe return, & asked what news. I told him +I had found, though with great difficulty, what I sought after, & that I +came to visit them, having taken other men than those I had before; that +one of those with me was captain of the shipp lately arrived, & the other 4 +were of Cannada. The Lieutenant answer'd me very briskly: "Were they 40 +Devills wee will not feare. Wee have built a Fort, & doe fear nothing." Yet +hee invited mee into his Fort to treat me, provided I would go in alone, +which I refused, intimating hee might have spoke with more modesty, coming +to visit him in friendship & good will, & not in a hostile manner. I told +him also I desired to discours with his Captain, who doubtless would have +more moderation. Wherupon he sent to inform the Captain, who came unto me +well armed, & told me that I need not bee jealous of the Fort hee had +caused to bee built, that 'twas no prejudice to me, & that I should at any +time comand it, adding withall that hee feared me not so much as hee did +the English of London, & that hee built this fort to defend himself against +the Salvages, & all thos that would attack him. I thank'd him for his +civillitys unto me, & assur'd him I came not thither to shew any displesure +for his building a fort, but to offer him 20 of my men to assist him, & to +tell him that thos hee so much feared were arrived, offering my servis to +defend him, telling him if hee would follow my consill I would defend him +from all danger, knowing very well the Orders these new comers had, & also +what condition they were in. I also told him that as to the difference +which was betwixt us about the trade, it was referr'd unto the arbitrement +of both our Kings; that for good luck to him, his father comanded the shipp +newly arrived; that he brought a Governor for the English Company, whom I +intended to hinder from assuming that Title in the Countrys wherin I was +established for the french company, & as for his part, I would make him +pass for a french man, therby to keep him from receaving any dammadge. + +Having said thes things to the Captain of the fort, I made him call his men +together, unto whom I gave a charge in his presence that they should not +goe out of their fort, nor fire any Gunns, nor shew their cullers; that +they should cover the head & stern of their shipp; & that they should +suffer neither ffrench nor English to come near their fort, neither by land +nor by Water, & that they should fier on any of my people as would offer to +approach without my orders. The Captain promis'd all should bee observ'd +that I had said, & comanded his men in my presence so to doe, desiring me +to spare him 2 of my men as soon as I could, to guard them. I told him that +his father, Captain of the Company's shipp, was sick, wherat hee seem'd to +bee much trobled, & desired me to put him in a way to see him without any +damadge. I told him the danger & difficulty of it; nevertheless, having +privat reasons that this enterview of Father & Sonn might be procur'd by my +means, I told him I would use my best endeavor to give him this +satisfaction, & that I hop'd to effect it, provided hee would follow my +directions. Hee agreed to doe what I advised, & after some litle studdy wee +agreed that hee should come along with me disguis'd like one that lived in +the woods, & that I wold make him passe for a french man. This being +concluded, I sent my men next morning early to kill some fowle. They +returned by 10 o'clocke with 30 or 40 Partridge, which I took into my +canoo, with a Barrill of Oyle & some candles that I had promis'd the old +Captain Guillem. I left one of my men hostage in the fort, and imbarked +with young Guillem to goe shew him his father. The tyde being low, wee were +forced to stop a mile short of the shipp, & goe ashore & walk up towards +the shipp with our provisions. I left one of my men to keepe the Canoo, +with orders to keep off, & coming neere the shipp I placed 2 of my best men +betwixt the House Mr. Bridgar caus'd to bee built & the water side, +comanding them not to shew themselves, & to suffer the Governor to goe to +the vessell, but to seize him if they see him come back before I was got +out of the shipp. + +Having ordered things in this manner, I went with one of my men & young +Guillem aboard the shipp, where wee againe entered without any opposition. +I presented unto Captain Guillem the Provisions I had brought him, for +which hee gave me thanks. Afterwards, I made my 2 men go into his cabbin, +one of which was his son, though unknown to him. I desired Captain Guillem +to bid 2 of his servants to withdraw, having a thing of consequence to +inform him of, which being don, I told him the secret was that I had +brought his sonn to give him a visit, having earnestly desired it of me; & +having told him how necessary it was to keep it privat, to prevent the +damadge might befall them both if it shold bee known, I presented the son +unto his father, who Imbraced each other very tenderly & with great joy; +yet hee told him hee exposed him unto a great deale of danger. They had +some priviat discours togather, after which hee desired me to save my new +French man. I told him I would discharge myself of that trust, & againe +advised him to bee carefull of preserving his shipp, & that nothing should +bee capable of making any difference betwixt us, but the Treaty hee might +make with the Indians. Hee told me the shipp belonged to the Company; that +as to the Trade, I had no cause to bee afraid on his account, & that though +hee got not one skin, it would nothing troble him; hee was assured of his +wages. I warned him that he should not suffer his men to scatter abroad, +espetially that they should not goe towards his sonn's fort, which hee +promis'd should bee observ'd. Whilst wee were in this discours, the +Governor, hearing I was come, came unto the Shipp & told me that my Fort +must needs bee neerer unto him than hee expected, seeing I return'd so +speedily. I told him, smiling, that I did fly when there was need to serve +my friends, & that knowing his people were sick & wanted refreshments, I +would not loose time in supplying them, assuring him of giving him part +what our men did kill at all times. Some prying a litle too narrowly, young +Guillem thought hee had ben discovered, wherat the Father & son were not a +litle concern'd. I took upon me, & said it was not civill so narrowly to +examine my people; they excus'd it, & the tyde being com in, I took leave +to be gon. The Governor & Captain divided my provisions, & having made a +signe unto my 2 men to rise out of their ambush, I came out of the shipp, & +wee march'd all of us unto the place where wee left our Canoo. Wee got into +it, & the young Captain admired to see a litle thing made of the rhind of a +Tree resist so many knocks of Ice as wee met withall in returning. + +Next day wee arrived at the Fort, & very seasonably for us; for had wee +stayed a litle longer on the water, wee had ben surprized with a terrible +storm at N. W., with snow & haile, which doubtless would have sunk us. The +storm held 2 days, & hinder'd us from going to our pretended fort up the +river; but the weather being setled, I took leave of the Captain. The +Lieut. would faine have accompanyed us unto our habitation, but I sav'd him +that Labour for good reasons, & to conceall the way. Parting from the fort, +wee went to the upper part of the Island; but towards evening wee returned +back, & next day were in sight of the sea, wherin wee were to goe to double +the point to enter the River where our habitation was; but all was so +frozen that it was almost impossible to pass any farther. Wee were also so +hem'd in on all sides with Ice, that wee could neither go forward nor get +to Land, yet wee must get over the Ice or perrish. Wee continued 4 hours in +this condition, without being able to get backwards or forwards, being in +great danger of our lifes. Our cloaths were frozen on our backs, & wee +could not stirr but with great paine; but at length with much adoe wee got +ashore, our canoo being broke to peeces. Each of us trussed up our cloaths +& arms, & marched along the shoare towards our habitation, not having eat +anything in 3 days, but some crows & Birds of prey that last of all retire +from these parts. There was no other fowle all along that coast, which was +all covered with Ice & snow. At length wee arrived opposite unto our +habitation, which was the other side of the River, not knowing how to get +over, being cover'd with Ice; but 4 of our men ventur'd in a Boat to come +unto us. They had like to have ben staved by the Ice. Wee also were in very +great danger, but wee surmounted all these difficultys & got unto our +habitation, for which wee had very great cause to give God thanks of seeing +one another after having run through so great Dangers. + +During my travelling abroad, my brother-in-Law had put our House into +pretty good order. Wee were secure, fearing nothing from the Indians, being +our allies; & as for our neighbours, their disorder, & the litle care they +took of informing themselves of us, set us safe from fearing them. But as +it might well happen that the Governor Bridgar might have notice that the +New England Interloper was in the same river hee was, & that in long +running hee might discover the truth of all that I had discoursed & +concealed from him, & also that hee might come to understand that wee had +not the strength that I boasted of, I thought it fit to prevent Danger; & +the best way was to assure my self of the New England shipp in making +myself master of her; for had Mr. Bridgar ben beforehand with mee, hee +would have ben too strong for me, & I had ben utterly unable to resist him; +but the question was how to effect this businesse, wherin I see manifest +difficultys; but they must bee surmounted, or wee must perrish. Therefore I +made it my business wholy to follow this Enterprise, referring the care of +our House & of the Traffick unto my brother-in-Law. + +Seeing the River quite froze over, every other day for a fortnight I sent +my men through the woods to see in what state the Company's shipp lay. At +length they told me shee lay a ground neer the shoare, the creek wherin +shee was to have layn the Winter being frozen up, which made me conjecture +shee would infallibly bee lost. I also sent 2 of my men unto Young Captain +Guillem into the Island, which hee had desired of me for his safegard; but +I was told by my people that hee intended to deceave me, having, contrary +unto his promise of not receaving any into his Fort but such as should come +by my Orders, had sent his Boat to receave 2 men from the Company's shipp, +which Mr. Bridgar had sent to discover what they could the way that I tould +him our fort was, & also to see if they could find any wreck of their +shipp; but these 2 men, seeing thos of the fort begin to stir & to Lanch +out their Boat, they thought they would fier on them, as I had comanded. +They were affrighted & run away. Being come to Mr. Bridgar, they told him +there was a Fort & a french shipp neerer unto them than I had said. Upon +this information, Mr. Bridgar sent 2 men to pass from north to south, to +know if it were true that wee had 2 Shipps besides that which was at the +Island. Wherof being advised by my people, I sent out 3 severall ways to +endeavor to take the 2 men Mr. Bridgar had sent to make this discovery, +having ordered my people not to doe them any violence. My people succeded, +for they found the 2 poore men within 5 leagues of our House, allmost dead +with cold & hunger, so that it was no hard matter to take them. They +yeelded, & were brought unto my habitation, where having refreshed them +with such provision as wee had, they seemed nothing displeas'd at falling +into our hands. I understood by them the orders Mr. Bridgar had given them +for making the Discovery, which made me stand the more close on my Gard, & +to use fresh means to hinder that the Governor Bridgar should not have +knowledge of the New-England Interlopers. + +About this time I sent some provisions unto Mr. Bridgar, who was in great +want, although hee strove to keep it from my knowledge. Hee thanked mee by +his Letters, & assur'd me hee would not interrupt my trade, & that hee +would not any more suffer his men to come neere the forts, which hee +thought had ben ours. I also sent to visit young Guillem to observe his +proceedings, & to see in what condition hee was, to make my best advantage +of it. The 2 Englishmen which my people brought, told me the Company's +shipp was stay'd to peeces, & the captain, Leftenant, & 4 seamen drown'd; +but 18 of the company being ashore escaped that danger. Upon this advice I +went to visit Mr. Bridgar, to observe his actions. I brought him 100 +Partridges, & gave him some Powder to kill fowle, & offer'd him my servis. +I asked where his shipp was, but hee would not owne shee was lost, but said +shee was 4 leagues lower in the River. I would not press him any farther in +the businesse, but civilly took our leave of each other. + +From thence I went unto the Fort in the Island also, to see what past +there, & to endeavor to compasse the dessigne I had laid of taking the +Shipp & fort, having since discovered by letters intercepted, that young +Guillim intended to shew me a trick & destroy me. Being come to the fort in +the Island, I made no shew of knowing the losse of his father, nor of the +Company's shipp, only I told young Guillim his father continued ill, & did +not think safe to write him, fearing to discover him. Afterwards I desired +hee would come unto our habitation; & so I returned without effecting any +more that day. Eight days after, I returned to see Mr. Bridgar, unto whom I +said that hee did not take sufficient care to preserve his men; that I had +2 of them at my Fort, who told me of the losse of his shipp, which hee +owned. I told him I would assist him, & would send him his 2 men & what +else hee desired. I also offer'd him one of our Barques, with provisions +requisit to convey him in the Spring unto the bottom of the Bay, which hee +refused. I assured him of all the servis that lay in my power, treating him +with all civillity could bee for the Esteeme that I ever bore unto the +English nation. As for Mr. Bridgar, I had no great caus to bee over well +pleased with him, being advised that hee spake ill of mee in my absence, & +had said publickly unto his people that hee would destroy my Trade, should +hee give 6 axes & proportionably of other Goods unto the Indians for a +Bevor Skin. [Footnote: The Company's early standard for trading was: "For 1 +Gun, one with another, 10 good Skins, that is, winter beavor; 12 Skins for +the biggest sort, 10 for the mean, and 8 for the smallest. Powder, a beaver +for 1/2 a lb. A beaver for 4 lb. of shot. A beaver for a great and little +hatchet. A beaver for 6 great knives or 8 jack-knives. Beads, a beaver for +1/2 a lb. Six beavers for one good laced coat. Five beavers for one red +plain coat. Coats for women, laced, two yards, six beavers. Coats for +women, plain, Five beavers. Tobacco, a beaver for 1 lb. Powder-horns, a +beaver for a large one and two small ones. Kettles, a beaver for one lb. of +Kettle. Looking-glasses and combs, 2 skins."] I have an attestation heerof +to shew. I stayed 2 dayes on this voyadge with Mr. Bridgar, having then a +reall intent to serve him, seeing hee was not in a condition to hurt me; & +returning unto my habitation, I called at Young Gwillim's fort in the +Island, where I intended to execute my dessigne, it being now time. + +When I arrived at the fort, I told young Gwillim his father continued ill, +& that hee referr'd all unto me, upon which I said unto him touching his +father & of his resolution, hee earnestly desired I would goe back with him +& take him along with me, disguised as before, that hee might see him; but +I disswaded him from this, & put in his head rather to come see our +habitation, & how wee lived. I knew hee had a desire to doe soe, therefore +I would sattisfy his curiosity. Having, therefore, perswaded him to this, +wee parted next morning betimes. Hee took his Carpenter along with him, & +wee arrived at our habitation, Young Gwillim & his man being sufficiently +tired. I thought it not convenient that young Gwillim should see the 2 +Englishmen that was at our House. I kept them privat, & fitted them to bee +gon next morning, with 2 of my men, to goe athwart the woods unto their +habitation, having promis'd Mr. Bridgar to send them unto him. I gave them +Tobacco, Cloaths, & severall other things Mr. Bridgar desired; but when +they were to depart, one of the Englishmen fell at my feet & earnestly +desired that I would not send him away. I would not have granted his +request but that my Brother-in-Law desired me to do it, & that it would +also ease Mr. Bridgar's charge, who wanted provisions; so I sufferred the +other to depart along with my 2 men, having given them directions. I caused +young Gwillem to see them going, telling him I sent them unto our Fort up +the river. + +I continued a whole moneth at quiet, treating young Guillem, my new guest, +with all civillity, which hee abused in severall particulars; for having +probably discovered that wee had not the strength that I made him beleeve +wee had, hee unadvisedly speak threatning words of me behind my back, +calling me Pyrate, & saying hee would trade with the Indians in the Spring +in spight of me. Hee had also the confidence to strike one of my men, but I +connived at it. But one day discoursing of the privilledges of new England, +he had the confidence to speak slightly of the best of Kings, wherupon I +called him pittyfull Dogg for talking after that manner, & told him that +for my part, having had the honour to have ben in his majesty's servis, I +would pray for his majesty as long as I lived. Hee answered mee with harsh +words that hee would return back to his fort, & when hee was there, that +would not dare talk to him as I did. I could not have a fairer opportunity +to begin what I dessigned. Upon which I told the young foole that I brought +him from his fort & would carry him thither againe when I pleas'd, not when +hee liked. Hee spake severall other impertinencys, that made me tell him +that I would lay him up safe enough if hee behaved not himself wiser. Hee +asked me if hee was a prisoner. I told him I would consider of it, & that I +would secure my Trade, seeing hee threatened to hinder it. After which I +retired & gave him leave to bee inform'd by the Englishman how that his +father & the company's shipp were lost, & the bad condition Mr. Bridgar was +in. I left a french man with them that understood English, but they knew it +not. When I went out, young Gwillim bid the Englishman make his escape & +goe tell his master that hee would give him 6 Barrills of Powder & other +provisions if hee would attempt to deliver him out of my hands. The +Englishman made no reply, neither did hee tell me of what had ben proposed +unto him. I understood it by my frenchman, that heard the whole matter, & I +found it was high time to act for my owne safety. + +That evning I made no shew of any thing, but going to bed I asked our men +if the fier Locks that wee placed at night round our fort to defend us from +thos that would attack us were in order. At this word of fire Locks young +Gwillim, who knew not the meaning of it, was suddenly startled & would have +run away, thinking wee intended to kill him. I caused him to bee stay'd, & +freed him of his feare. But next morning I made him an unwelcom compliment; +I told him that I was going to take his shipp & fort. Hee answered very +angrily that if I had 100 men I could not effect it, & that his men would +kill 40 before they could come neere the pallissade. I was nothing +discouradged at his bravado, knowing very well that I should compasse my +dessigne. I made account that 2 of my men would have stay'd in the fort for +hostages, but having what libberty they would, one of them returned to our +habitation without my order. I was angry at it, but I made no shew of it, +having laid my dessigne so as to make more use of skill & pollicy than of +open force; seeing therefore the haughty answer young Gwillem made me, that +I could not take his fort with 100 men, I asked of him how many men hee had +in it. Hee said nyne. I desired him to choose the like number of myne, I +being one of the number, telling him I would desire no more, & that in 2 +dayes I would give him a good account of his fort & of his shipp, & that I +would not have him to have the shame of being present to see what I should +doe. Hee chose & named such of my men as hee pleas'd, & I would not choose +any others. I sufferr'd him to come with me to the water side, & I made the +ninth man that went upon this Expedition, with an Englishman of Mr. +Bridgar's to bee a wittness of the busenesse. + +Being arriv'd within half a league of the fort, I left the Englishman with +one frenchman, ordering they should not stirr without farther order; at the +same time I sent 2 of my men directly to the fort to the Southward of the +Island, & I planted myself with my other 5 men at the North point of the +same Island to observe what they did that I sent to the fort. They were +stop't by 3 Englishmen armed, that asked if they had any letters from their +master. My people answer'd, according to my Instructions, that hee was +coming along with mee; that being weary, wee stay'd behind; that they came +a litle before for some brandy which they offerr'd to carry. The Englishmen +would needs doe the office, & my 2 men stay'd in the fort. Hee that was +hostage had orders to seize on the Court of Gard Dore, one of them newly +come to seize the Dore of the House, & the 3 was to goe in & out, that in +case the dessigne was discover'd hee might stopp the passage of the Dore +with Blocks of wood, to hinder it from being shutt & to give me freedom to +enter unto their assistance; but there needed not so much adoe, for I +enter'd into the fort before thos that were appointed to defend it were +aware. The Lieutenant was startled at seeing me, & asked "wher his master +was; it was high time to appear & act." I answered the Lieutenant "it +matter'd not where his master was, but to tell me what men hee had & to +call them out;" & my men being enter'd the fort & all together, I told thos +that were present the cause of my coming, that I intended to bee Master of +the place, & that 'twas too late to dispute. I commanded them to bring me +the Keys of the Fort & all their Arms, & to tell mee if they had any Powder +in their chests, & how much, referring myself unto what they should say. +They made no resistance, but brought me their Arms, & as for Powder, they +said they had none. I took possession of the Fort in the name of the King +of ffrance, & from thence was conducted by the Lieutenant to take +possession of the shipp also in the same name, which I did without any +resistance; & whilst I was doing all this, young Guillem's men seemed to +rejoyce at it rather then to bee troubled, complaining of him for their Ill +usage, & that hee had kill'd his Supercargo. But a Scotchman, one of the +crew, to shew his zeale, made his Escape & run through the woods towards +Mr. Bridgar's House to give him notice of what pas't. I sent 2 of my +nimblest men to run after him, but they could not overtake him, being gon 4 +hours before them. Hee arrived at Mr. Bridgar's house, who upon the +relation of the Scotchman resolved to come surprise me. + +In the meane while I gave my Brother notice of all that past, & that I +feared a Scotchman might occasion me some troble that had got away unto Mr. +Bridgar, & that I feared I might bee too deeply ingadg'd unless hee +presently gave me the assistance of 4 men, having more English prisoners to +keep than I had french men with me. I was not deceiv'd in my conjecture. At +midnight one of our Doggs alarm'd our sentinell, who told me hee heard a +noise on board the shipp. I caus'd my People to handle their armes, & shut +up the English in the cabins under the Gard of 2 of my men. I with 4 others +went out to goe to the shipp. I found men armed on board, & required them +to lay downe their arms & to yeeld. There was 4 that submitted & some +others got away in the dark. My men would have fired, but I hinder'd them, +for which they murmur'd against me. I led the prisoners away to the fort & +examin'd them one after another. I found they were of Mr. Bridgar's people, +& that hee was to have ben of the number, but hee stay'd half a League +behind to see the success of the businesse. The last of the Prisoners I +examin'd was the Scotch man that had made his escape when I took the fort; +& knowing hee was the only cause that Mr. Bridgar ingadg'd in the +businesse, I would revenge me in making him afraid. + +I caus'd him to bee ty'd to a stake & told that hee should bee hang'd next +day. I caus'd the other prisoners, his comrades, to bee very kindly +treated; & having no farther dessigne but to make the Scotch man afraide, I +made one advise him to desire the Lewtenant of the fort to begg me to spare +his life, which hee did, & easily obtain'd his request, although hee was +something startled, not knowing what I meant to doe with him. The 4 men I +desired of my Brother-in-Law arrived during these transactions, & by this +supply finding myself strong enough to resist whatever Mr. Bridgar could +doe against me, I wrote unto him & desired to know if hee did avow what his +men had don, whom I detain'd Prisoners, who had Broke the 2 Dores & the +deck of the shipp to take away the Powder. Hee made me a very dubious +answer, complaining against me that I had not ben true unto him, having +concealed this matter from him. Hee writ me also that having suffitient +orders for taking all vessells that came into those parts to Trade, hee +would have joyned with me in seizing of this; but seeing the purchas was +fal'n into my hands, hee hoped hee should share with mee in it. + +I sent back his 3 men with some Tobacco & other provisions, but kept their +arms, bidding them tell Mr. Bridgar on my behalf that had I known hee would +have come himself on this Expedition, I would have taken my mesures to have +receav'd him ere he could have had the time to get back; but I heard of it +a litle too late, & that in some short time I would goe visit him to know +what hee would bee at, & that seeing hee pretended to bee so ignorant in +what quallity I liv'd in that country, I would goe and inform him. Before +these men's departure to Mr. Bridgar's I was inform'd that some English men +had hidden Powder without the fort. I examin'd them all. Not one would owne +it; but at last I made them confess it, & 5 or 6 pound was found that had +ben hid. Then I took care to secure the fort. I sent 4 of the English men +of the fort unto my Brother-in-Law, & I prepar'd to goe discover what Mr. +Bridgar was doing. I came to his House & went in before hee had notice of +my coming. Hee appeared much surpris'd; but I spoke to him in such a manner +as shewed that I had no intent to hurt him, & I told him that by his late +acting hee had so disoblidged all the ffrench that I could not well tell +how to assist him. I told him hee had much better gon a milder way to work, +in the condition hee was in, and that seeing hee was not as good as his +word to me, I knew very well how to deall with him; but I had no intention +at that time to act any thing against Mr. Bridgar. I only did it to +frighten him, that hee should live kindly by me; & in supplying him from +time to time with what he wanted, my chief ayme was to disable him from +Trading, & to reduce him to a necessity of going away in the Spring. + +Seeing Mr. Bridgar astonish'd at my being there with 12 men, & in a +condition of ruining him if I had desire to it, I thought fit to setle his +mynd by sending away 6 of my men unto my Brother-in-Law, & kept but 6 with +me, 4 of which I sent out into the woods to kill some provisions for Mr. +Bridgar. About this time I receaved a letter from my Brother wherin hee +blam'd me for acting after this manner with persons that but 2 days agoe +endeavor'd to surprise me; that if I did so, hee would forsake all; that I +had better disarm them for our greater security, & that I should not charge +myself with any of them. It was also the judgment of the other french men, +who were all exasperated against Mr. Bridgar. Not to displease my owne +people, instead of 4 English men that I promis'd Mr. Bridgar to take along +with me that hee might the better preserve the rest, I took but 2, one of +which I put in the Fort at the Island, & the other I brought unto our +habitation. I promiss'd Mr. Bridgar before I left him to supply him with +Powder & anything else that was in my power, & demanding what store of +musquets hee had remaining, hee told me hee had Ten, & of them 8 were +broken. I tooke the 8 that were spoyl'd, & left him myne that was well +fixt, promising to get his mended. Hee also offer'd me a pocket Pistoll, +saying hee knew well enough that I intended to disarm him. I told him it +was not to disarm him, to take away his bad arms & to give him good in +stead of them. I offerr'd him my Pistolls, but hee would not accept of +them. In this state I left him, & went to our habitation to give my +Brother-in-Law an account of what I had don. + +Some dayes after, I went to the Fort in the Island to see if all was well +there, & having given all necessary directions I return'd unto our place, +taking the Lieutenant of the Fort along with me, unto whom I gave my owne +chamber & all manner of libberty; taking him to bee wiser than his captain, +whom they were forc'd to confine in my absence. Hee thanked mee for my +civillityes, & desiring hee might goe to his Captain, I consented. About +this time I had advise, by one of the men that I left to guard the fort in +the Island, that Mr. Bridgar, contrary to his promis, went thether with 2 +of his men, & that our men having suffer'd them to enter into the fort, +they retain'd Mr. Bridgar & sent the other 2 away, having given them some +Bread & Brandy. This man also told me that Mr. Bridgar seemed very much +trobl'd at his being stopt, & acted like a mad man. This made me presently +goe to the fort to hinder any attempts might be made against me. Being +arrived, I found Mr. Bridgar in a sad condition, having drank to excess. +Him that comanded in the fort had much adoe to hinder him from killing the +Englishman that desired to stay with us. Hee spoke a thousand things +against me in my hearing, threatning to kill me if I did not doe him right. +But having a long time born it, I was at length constraint to bid him bee +quiet; & desirous to know his dessignes, I asked him if any of his People +were to come, because I see smoake & fiers in crossing the River. Hee Said +Yes, & that hee would shortly shew me what hee could doe, looking for 14 +men which hee expected, besides the 2 my people return'd back. I told him I +knew very well hee had not soe many men, having let many of his men perish +for want of meate, for whom hee was to bee accountable; & morover I was not +afraid of his threats. Nevertheless, no body appear'd, & next dayly I +order'd matters so as Mr. Bridgar should come along with me unto our +habitation, wherunto hee see it was in vaine to resist. I assured him that +neither I nor any of my People shold goe to his House in his absence, & +that when hee had recreated himself 10 or 15 Days with mee at our +habitation, hee might return with all freedom againe unto his House. + +Mr. Bridgar was a fortnight at our House without being overtired, & it +appeared by his looks that hee had not ben Ill treated; but I not having +leasure allways to keep him company, my affairs calling me abroad, I left +him with my Brother-in-Law whilst I went unto the Fort in the Island to see +how matters went there; & at my going away I told Mr. Bridgar that if hee +pleas'd hee might dispose himself for his departure home next morning, to +rectify some disorders committed by his people in his absence, to get +victualls, & I told him I would meet him by the way to goe along with him. +Having dispatcht my business at the fort of the Island, I went away betimes +to bee at Mr. Bridgar's house before him, to hinder him from abusing his +men. The badness of the weather made me goe into the House before hee came. +As Soon as I was enter'd, the men beseech'd me to have compassion on them. +I blam'd them for what they had don, & for the future advised them to bee +more obedient unto their master, telling them I would desire him to pardon +them, & that in the Spring I would give passage unto those that would goe +home by the way of ffrance. Mr. Bridgar arrived soon after me. I beg'd his +pardon for going into his House before hee came, assuring him that I had +still the dessigne of serving him & assisting him, as hee should find when +hee pleas'd to make use of me, for Powder & anything else hee needed; which +also I performed when it was desir'd of me, or that I knew Mr. Bridgar +stood in need of any thing I had. I parted from Mr. Bridgar's habitation to +return unto our own. I passed by the fort in the Island, & put another +frenchman to comand in the place of him was there before, whom I intended +to take with me to work uppon our shipps. + +The Spring now drawing on, the English of the fort of the Island murmur'd +because of one of Mr. Bridgar's men that I had brought thether to live with +them. I was forst to send him back to give them content, not daring to send +him to our habitation, our french men opposing it, wee having too many +allready. Arriving at our habitation, I was inform'd that the English +captain very grossly abused one of his men that I kept with him. Hee was +his carpenter. I was an eye witness myself of his outrageous usage of this +poore man, though hee did not see me. I blamed the Captain for it, & sent +the man to the fort of the Island, to look after the vessell to keep her in +good condition. My nephew arrived about this time, with the french men that +went with him to invite downe the Indians, & 2 days after there came +severall that brought provisions. They admired to see the English that wee +had in our House, & they offer'd us 200 Bevor skins to suffer them to goe +kill the rest of them; but I declar'd unto them I was far from consenting +therunto, & charged them on the contrary not to doe them any harm; & Mr. +Bridgar coming at instant with one of his men unto our habitation, I +advised him not to hazard himself any more without having some of my men +with him, & desir'd him, whilst hee was at my House, not to speak to the +Indians. Yet hee did, & I could not forbeare telling him my mynde, which +made him goe away of a suddain. I attended him with 7 or 8 of my men, +fearing least the Indians who went away but the Day before might doe him a +mischief. I came back next day, being inform'd that a good company of +Indians, our old Allies, were to come; & I found they were come with a +dessigne to warr against the English, by the perswasion of some Indians +that I see about 8ber last, & with whom I had renew'd an alliance. I +thanked the Indians for their good will in being ready to make warr against +our Ennemys; but I also told them that I had no intent to doe them any +harm, & that having hindred them from hurting me I was sattisfy'd, & that +therefore they would oblidge me to say nothing of it, having promis'd me +they would bee gon in the Spring, but if they came againe I would suffer +them to destroy them. The Indians made great complaints unto me of the +English in the bottom of the Bay, which I will heere omitt, desiring to +speak only of what concerns myself; but I ought not omit this. Amongst +other things, they alleadg'd to have my consent that they might warr +against the English. They said thus: "Thou hast made us make presents to +make thine Ennemys become ours, & ours to bee thyne. Wee will not bee found +lyers." By this may bee seen what dependance is to bee laid on the +friendship of this people when once they have promis'd. I told them also +that I lov'd them as my own Brethren the French, & that I would deal better +by them than the English of the Bay did, & that if any of my men did them +the least injury I would kill him with my own hands; adding withall that I +was very sorry I was not better stor'd with Goods, to give them greater +tokens of my friendship; that I came this voyage unprovided, not knowing if +I should meet them, but I promis'd to come another time better stor'd of +all things they wanted, & in a condition to help them to destroy their +Ennemys & to send them away very well sattisfy'd. The English admir'd to +see with what freedom I lived with these salvages. This pas't in the +beginning of Aprill, 1683. Being faire wether, I caused my nephew to +prepare himself, with 3 men, to carry Provisions & Brandy unto our french +men & to the English men at the fort of the Island. The Ice began to bee +dangerous, & I see that it was not safe hazarding to goe over it after this +time; therefore I said to my nephew that hee would doe well to proceed +farther unto the Indians, unto whom hee promis'd to give an account how wee +did, & to inform them also that wee had conquer'd our Ennemys. + +After my nephew's departure on this voyadge, there hapned an unlookt-for +accident the 22 or 23rd of Aprill, at night. Having haled our vessells as +far as wee could into a litle slip in a wood, wee thought them very secure, +lying under a litle Hill about 10 fathom high, our Houses being about the +same distance off from the River side; yet about 10 o'clock at night a +hideous great noise rous'd us all out of our sleep, & our sentinill came & +told us it was the clattering of much Ice, & that the floods came downe +with much violence. Wee hasted unto the river side & see what the sentinell +told us, & great flakes of Ice were born by the waters upon the topp of our +litle Hill; but the worst was that the Ice having stop't the river's mouth, +they gather'd in heaps & were carry'd back with great violence & enter'd +with such force into all our Brooks that discharg'd into the River that +'twas impossible our vessells could resist, & they were stay'd all to +peeces. There remained only the bottom, which stuck fast in the Ice or in +the mudd, & had it held 2 hours longer wee must have ben forst to climbe +the trees to save our lives; but by good fortune the flood abated. The +river was cleer'd by the going away of the Ice, & 3 days after, wee see the +disorder our vessells were in, & the good luck wee had in making so great a +voyadge in such bad vessells, for myne was quite Rotten & my Brother's was +not trunnel'd. This accident put us into a great feare the like mischief +might bee hapned unto the New England shipp; the Indians telling us that +the River was more dangerous than ours, & that they beleev'd the vessell +could not escape in the place wher shee lay. But mr Bridgar having +heertofore related unto me alike accident hapned in the River Kechechewan +in the Bottom of the Bay, that a vessell was preserv'd by cutting the Ice +round about her, I took the same cours, & order'd the Ice should bee cut +round this vessell quite to the keele, & I have reason to thank mr Bridgar +for this advice; it sav'd the vessell. Shee was only driven ashore by the +violence of the Ice, & there lay without much dammadge. Whilst the waters +decreas'd wee consulted upon which of the 2 bottoms wee should build us a +shipp, & it was at last resolv'd it shold bee on myne. Upon which wee +wrought day & night without intermission, intending this vessell should +carry the English into the Bay, as I had promis'd mr Bridgar. + +I went down 2 or 3 times to the River's mouth to see what the floods & Ice +had don there, & if I could pass the point into the other River, wher mr +Bridgar & the English vessell was at the fort of the Island, for was +impossible to pass through the woods, all being cover'd with water. I +adventur'd to pass, & I doubled the point in a canoo of bark, though the +Ice was so thick that wee drew our canoo over it. Being enter'd the River, +I march'd along the South Shore & got safe to the fort of the Island with +great difficulty. I found the shipp lying dry, as I mention'd before, in a +bad condition, but easily remedy'd, the stern being only a litle broke. I +gave directions to have her fitted, & I incouradged the English to work, +which they did perform better than the french. Having given these +directions, I took the shipp's Boat & went down to Mr. Bridgar's +habitation, & looking in what condition it was, I found that 4 of his men +were dead for lack of food, & two that had ben poyson'd a litle before by +drinking some liquer they found in the Doctor's chest, not knowing what it +was. Another of Mr. Bridgar's men had his Arm broke by an accident abroad a +hunting. + +Seeing all these disorders, I passed as soon as I could to the South side +of the river to recover unto our Houses, from whence I promis'd Mr. Bridgar +I would send his English Curiorgion that was with us some Brandy, vinegar, +Lynnen, & what provisions I could spare out of the small store wee had +left. Being got a shore, I sent back the Boat to the fort of the Isle, with +orders unto my 2 men I left there to bring my canoo & to use it for +fowling. In returning I went a shore with one of Mr. Bridgar's men that I +took along with me to carry back the provisions I had promis'd, although +hee did not seeme to be very thankfull for it, continueing his threatnings, +& boasted that hee expected shipps would come unto him with which hee would +take us all. I was nothing daunted at this, but kept on my cours, knowing +very well Mr. Bridgar was not in a capacity of doing us any harm; but it +being impossible but that his being present on the place should hinder me, +I order'd my business so as to bee gon with what skins I had, & sent away +Mr. Bridgar after having secured our Trade. + +I made severall journeys to the Fort of the Island about repairing of the +shipp; also I went severall times to Mr. Bridgar's house to carry him +provisions, & to assist him & also his men with all things that I could +procure, which they can testify; & had it not ben for me they had suffred +much more misery. I had like to bee lost severall times in these journeys +by reason of great stores of Ice; & the passage of the entrance of the +River to Double the point to enter into that where Mr. Bridgar & the new +England shipp lay was allways dangerous. + +I will not here insist upon the perrills I expos'd my self unto in coming & +going to prepare things for our departure when the season would permitt; +but I cannot omit telling that amongst other kindnesses I did Mr. Bridgar I +gave him stuff suffitient to sheath his shallup, which was quite out of +order, as also cordage & all things else necessary; but hee did not well by +me, for contrary to his word which he had given me not to goe to the fort +in the Island, hee attempted to goe thether with his people in his shallup, +& being come within musket-shott under a pretence of desiring some Powder, +the comander would not suffer him to come any neerer, & made him cast anker +farther off. Hee sent his boats for Mr. Bridgar, who came alone into the +fort, though hee earnestly desired one of his men might bee admitted along +with him, but was deny'd. His men were order'd to lodge themselves ashore +the North side of the River in hutts, & provisions was sent unto them. Mr. +Bridgar spent that night in the Fort, went away the next day. The day +before I see the shallup going full salle towards the fort, whether I was +also going myself by land with one Englishman in whom I put a great deale +of confidence, having no body else with me. I did suspect that Mr. Bridgar +had a dessign to make some surprise, but I was not much afraid by reason of +the care & good order I had taken to prevent him. + +Nevertheless I feared that things went not well; for when I came neer the +fort, seeing the boate coming for me, & that the comander did not make the +signall that was agreed upon betwixt us, this startled me very much, & I +appeared as a man that had cause to feare the worst; which one of our +frenchmen that steered the boat wherin ther was 4 Englishmen perceiving, +cry'd out all was well, & made the signall. I blamed him & the comander for +putting me in feare in not making the usuall signes. + +When I came to the fort I was told Mr. Bridgar was there, & that hee was +receayed, as has been recited. I was also tould hee had privat discours +with the carpenter of the new England shipp that I had formerly ingadged in +a friendly manner to attend & serve him. This discours made the comander +the more narrowly to inspect Mr. Bridgar. & to stand better upon his gard, +the Scotch man telling him hee was not come thither with any good +intention; so that the comander of the Fort sent him away in the morning, +having given him some Pork, Pease, & Powder. Having given Orders at the +fort, I went to Mr. Bridgar. Being come to his House, I taxed him of breach +of promise, & I tould him ther should bee no quarter if hee offered to doe +soe any more, & that therefore hee should prepare himself to goe for the +Bay (as soone as ever the Ice did permitt) in the vessell that wee had +left, it being so agreed on by our french men, assuring him I would furnish +him with all things necessary for the voyadge. Hee appear'd much amaz'd at +the compliment I made him, & hee told me in plaine terms that it must bee +one of thes 3 things that must make him quit the place,--his master's +orders, force, or hunger. Hee desired me afterwards that if the captain of +the salvages of the river of new Severn came, that hee might see him by my +means, which I promis'd to doe. + +Having thus disposed Mr. Bridgar for his departure, I continued to assist +him & his people with all that I could to enable them to work to sit +ourselves to bee gon. I left Mr. Bridgar in his house & I went unto ours, & +having consulted my Brother-in-Law, wee resolved that 'twas best to burn +the fort in the Island & secure Mr. Bridgar, thereby to draw back our men & +to ease us of the care of defending the fort & of the trouble of so many +other precautions of securing ourselves from being surprized by Mr. +Bridgar. The crew of both our vessells made an agreement amongst themselves +to oppose our dessigne of giving our shipp unto the English for their +transportation. It was necessary at the first to seeme to yeeld, knowing +that in time wee should master the factions. It was the master of my Bark +that began the mutiny. The chief reason that made me seem to yeeld was that +I would not have the English come to know of our Divisions, who happly +might have taken some advantage of it. Wee had 4 amongst us unto whom I +granted libberty upon their parole; but to make sure of those of new +England, wee caus'd a Lodge to bee built in a litle Island over against our +House where they were at a distance off us. Wee sent from time to time to +visit them to see what they did. Wee gave them a fowling-peece to divert +them, but one day abusing my nephew, wee took away the Gun from them. + +Going afterwards unto the fort of the Island, I sent a boate unto Mr. +Bridgar, advising him the captain hee desired to see was come, & that hee +might come with one of his men; which hee did, & as soon as hee was come I +told him that to assure our Trade I was obliged to secure him & would +commit him into the custody of my nephew, unto whom I would give orders to +treat him kindly & with all manner of respect, telling him withall that +when I had put all things on board the vessell that was in the fort, I +would go & set it on Fier. I told him hee might send his man with me to his +House with what Orders hee thought fit. I went thither the same day. I told +Mr. Bridgar's people that not being able to supply them any longer but with +Powder only, & being redy for my departure to Cannada, it was necessary +that those that intended to stay should speak their minds, & that those +that desired to go should have their passage. I demanded their names, which +they all told me except 2. I ordered them to have a great care of all +things in the House. I left one frenchman to observe them & to goe fowling, +Mr. Bridgar's men not being us'd to it. These Orders being given, I left +Mr. Bridgar's house & cross'd over to the South side, where I met 2 of our +french men a hunting. I sent them with what fowle they had kill'd to the +fort of the Island, where they might bee servisable unto the rest in +carrying down the shipp & in bringing her to an anker right against Mr. +Bridgar's house, to take on board his goods, which was accordingly don. I +came by land unto the other river, & met at the entrance of it severall +Indians that waited impatiently for me, how wee might adjust & setle our +Trade. + +They would have had my Brother-in-Law to have rated the Goods at the same +prizes as the English did in the bottom of the Bay, & they expected also I +would bee more kind unto them. But this would have ruined our trade; +therefore I resolved to stand firm in this occasion, becaus what wee now +concluded upon with these Salvages touching comers would have ben a Rule +for the future. The Indians being assembled presently after my arrivall, & +having laid out their presents before me, being Beavors' tailes, caribou +tongues dry'd, Greas of Bears, Deere, & of Elks, one of the Indians spake +to my Brother-in-Law & mee in this wife: "You men that pretend to give us +our Lifes, will not you let us live? You know what Beavor is worth, & the +paines wee take to get it. You stile your selves our brethren, & yet you +will not give us what those that are not our brethren will give. Accept our +presents, or wee will come see you no more, but will goe unto others." I +was a good while silent without answering the compliment of this Salvage, +which made one of his companions urge me to give my answer; and it being +that wheron our wellfare depended, & that wee must appeare resolute in this +occasion, I said to the Indian that pressed me to answer, "To whom will +thou have me answer? I heard a dogg bark; let a man speak & hee shall see I +know to defend myself; that wee Love our Brothers & deserve to bee loved by +them, being come hither a purpose to save your lives." Having said these +words, I rose & drew my dagger. I took the chief of thes Indians by the +haire, who had adopted me for his sonn, & I demanded of him who hee was. +Hee answered, "Thy father." "Well," said I, "if thou art my father & dost +love me, & if thou art the chief, speak for me. Thou art master of my +Goods; this Dogg that spoke but now, what doth hee heare? Let him begon to +his brethren, the English in the Bay; but I mistake, hee need not goe so +farr, hee may see them in the Island," intimating unto them that I had +overcom the English. "I know very well," said I, continueing my discours to +my Indian father, "what woods are, & what 'tis to leave one's wife & run +the danger of dying with hunger or to bee kill'd by one's Ennemys. You +avoide all these dangers in coming unto us. So that I see plainly 'tis +better for you to trade with us than with the others; yet I will have pitty +on this wretch, & will spare his life, though hee has a desire to goe unto +our Ennemys." I caused a sword-blade to bee brought me, & I said unto him +that spake, "Heere, take this, & begon to your brethren, the English; tell +them my name, & that I will goe take them." There was a necessity I should +speak after this rate in this juncture, or else our trade had ben ruin'd +for ever. Submit once unto the Salvages, & they are never to bee recalled. + +Having said what I had a mind to say unto the Indian, I went to withdraw +with my Brother-in-Law; but wee were both stop't by the chief of the +Indians, who incouraged us, saying, Wee are men; wee force nobody; every +one was free, & that hee & his Nation would hold true unto us; that hee +would goe perswade the Nations to come unto us, as hee had alredy don, by +the presents wee had sent them by him; desiring wee would accept of his, & +that wee would trade at our own discretion. Therupon the Indian that spake, +unto whom I had presented the sword, being highly displeas'd, said hee +would kill the Assempoits if they came downe unto us. I answer'd him I +would march into his country & eate Sagamite in the head of the head of his +grandmother, which is a great threat amongst the Salvages, & the greatest +distast can bee given them. At the same instant I caus'd the presents to be +taken up & distributed, 3 fathom of black tobacco, among the Salvages that +were content to bee our friends; saying, by way of disgrace to him that +appear'd opposit to us, that hee should goe smoak in the country of the +tame woolfe women's tobacco. I invited the others to a feast; after which +the salvages traded with us for their Beavors, & wee dismissed them all +very well sattisfy'd. + +Having ended my business with the Indians, I imbark'd without delay to goe +back, & I found the new England shipp at anchor over against Mr. Bridgar's +House, as I had order'd. I went into the House & caus'd an Inventory to be +taken of all that was there. Then I went to the fort of the Island, having +sent order to my nephew to burn it. I found him there with Mr. Bridgar, who +would himself bee the first in setting the Fort a fire, of which I was +glad. There being no more to doe there, I went down to the shipp, & found +they had put everything abord. I gave Order to my Nephew at my coming away +that the next day hee should bring Mr. Bridgar along with him unto our +House, where being arriv'd, my Brother-in-Law, not knowing him as well as I +did, made him bee sent into the Island with the Captain of the new England +shipp & his folks; of which Mr. Bridgar complain'd unto me next day, +desiring that I would release him from thence, saying hee could not endure +to bee with those people; which I promis'd to doe, & in a few days after +brought him unto a place I caus'd to bee fitted on a point on the North +side of our River, where hee found his own men in a very good Condition. I +not being yet able to overcome our Men's obstinacy in not yeelding that I +should give our vessell unto the English, Mr. Bridgar propos'd that hee +would build a Deck upon the Shallup if I would but furnish him with +materialls necessary for it; saying that if the shallup were but well +decked & fitted, he would willingly venture to goe in her unto the Bay, +rather then to accept of his passage for france in one of our vessells. I +offerr'd him all that hee desir'd to that purpos, & stay'd with him till +the shipp that I caus'd to bee fitted was arriv'd. When shee was come, I +see a smoak on the other side of the River. I crossed over, & found that it +was my Indian father. I told him how glad I was to see him, & invited him +to goe aboard, saying that going at my request, my nephew would use him +civilly; that they would fier a Great Gun at his arrivall, would give him +something to eate, would make him a present of Bisketts, & of 2 fathom of +Tobacco. Hee said I was a foole to think my people would doe all this +without order. I wrote with a coale on the rind of a Tree, & gave it to him +to carry aboard. Hee, seeing that All I said unto him was punctually +perform'd, was much surpris'd, saying wee were Divells; so they call thos +that doe any thing that is strange unto them. I return'd back to our +houses, having don with Mr. Bridgar. + +I had sounded the Captain of the Shipp that was in the Island right against +our house, to know of him that, being an English man, whether hee would +give a writing under his hand to consent that Mr. Bridgar should bee put in +posession of his shipp, or if hee had rather I should carry her to Quebeck; +but hee & his men intreated mee very earnestly not to deliver them unto Mr. +Bridgar, beleeving they should receave better usage of the french than of +the English. I told my Brother-in-Law what the Captain said, & that hee +refer'd himself wholy unto our discretion. + +Whilst wee were busy in fitting things for our departure, I found myself +necessitated to compose a great feude that hapined betwixt my Indian +father's familly & another great familly of the country. I had notice of it +by a child, some of my Indian father's, who playing with his comrades, who +quarrelling with him, one told him that hee should bee kill'd, & all his +Familly, in revenge of one of the familly of the Martins, that his father +had kill'd; for the famillys of the Indians are distinguis'd by the names +of Sundry Beasts; & death being very affrighting unto thos people, this +child came to my House weeping bitterly, & after much adoe I had to make +him speak, hee told me how his comrade had threatned him. I thought at +first of somthing else, & that the salvages had quarrel'd amongst +themselves. Desiring, therefore, to concern my self in keeping peace +amongst them, I presently sent for this chief of the Indians, my adopted +father, who being come according to my order, I told him the cause of my +feare, & what his child had told me. I had no sooner don speaking, but hee +leaning against a pillar and covering his face with his hands, hee cryed +more than his child had don before; & having asked what was the matter, +after having a litle dry'd up his teares, hee told me that an Indian of +another familly, intending to have surpris'd his wife, whom hee loved very +tenderly, hee kill'd him, & the salvages that sided to revenge the other's +cause having chased him, hee was forc'd to fly, & that was it that made him +meet mee about 8ber last; that hee continued the feare of his Ennemys' +displeasure, that they would come kill him. + +I tould him hee should not fear any thing, the frenchmen being his fathers +& I his sonn; that our king that had sent mee thither cover'd him with his +hand, expecting they should all live in Peace; that I was there to setle +him, & that I would doe it or dye; that I would require all the Indians to +come in that day [that they] might know me & that hee should know my +intentions. Having thus spoke unto him, I caus'd a fowling-peece & 2 +ketles, 3 coats, 4 sword-blades, 4 tranches, 6 graters, 6 dozen of knives, +10 axes, 10 fathom of tobacco, 2 coverlets for women, 3 capps, some Powder +& shott, & said unto the salvage my adopted father, in presence of his +allies that were ther present, "Heere is that will cure the wound & dry +away tears, which will make men live. I will have my brethren love one +another; let 2 of you presently goe and invite the familly of the Martins +to the feast of amity, and make them accept my presents. If they refute it +& seek for blood, it is just I should sacrifice my life for my father, whom +I love as I doe all the rest of the Indians our allies, more than I doe my +owne selfe, So that I am redy to lay down my head to bee cutt off in case +my presents did not serv turn, but I would stirr up all the frenchmen my +brethren to carry Gunns to assist me to make warr against that familly." + +The salvages went to goe unto the familly that was ennemy unto my adopted +father to make them offer of my presents, & in my name to invite them unto +the feast of unity. I stay'd so litle a while in the country afterwards +that I could not quite determine this differrence. In due time I will +relate what upon Inquiry I farther heard of it in my last voyadge. + +This businesse being upon a matter ended, I was inform'd that Mr. Bridgar, +contrary to his promise of not speaking with the Indians, yet enter'd into +discours with them & said that wee were Ill people, & told them hee would +come & kill us; that hee would traffick with them more to their advantage +then wee did; that hee would give them 6 axes for a Bever Skin & a +fowling-peece for 5 skins. I taxed Mr. Bridgar with it; also I ratted the +salvages, who promis'd they would go neere him no more, & that I should +feare nothing. Being desirous to make all things redy for my departure, I +againe crossed over the dangerous river to goe burn Mr. Bridgar's House, +there being nothing left remaining in it, having caused evry thing to bee +put on board the New England shipp & taken a full Inventary of it before. I +had along with me 3 English men & one frenchman, relying more on the +English, who loved me because I used them kindly, than I did on the +ffrenchmen. What I did at this time doth shew the great confidence I put in +the English; for had I in the least distrusted them, I would not have +ventur'd to have gon 11 Leagues from my habitation with 3 English & but one +of my owne french men to have fired Mr. Bridgar's House. Wee were very like +to bee lost in returning home. I never was in so great danger in all my +life. Wee were surpris'd with a suddain storm of wind neere the flats, & +there was such a great mist that wee knew not where wee were. + +Being return'd unto our Habitation, I found our Men had brought the shipp +to anker neere our House, & seeing the weather beginning to come favorable, +I gave my Nephew Instructions to carry on the Trade in my absence untill +our Return. I left 7 men with him & the absolute comand & disposall of all +things; which being don I caused our ffurrs to bee put on board & the shipp +to fall down to the mouth of the river to set saile the first faire wind. +It was where I left Mr. Bridgar. His shallup being well provided & +furnish'd with all things, hee was ready to saile; but having made some +tripps from one river unto the other, the sight of such vast quantitys of +Ice as was in those seas made him afraide to venture himselfe in so small a +vessell to saile unto the Bay. So that wee fitting things to bee gon the 20 +July, having sent for Mr. Bridgar to come receave his Provisions, hee told +me hee thought it too rash an action for him to venture himself so great a +voyadge in so small a vessell, & desired I would give him passage in our +shipp, supposing all along that I would compell him to imbark for ffrance. +I told him hee should bee very welcom, & that I intended not to force him +to anything but only to quitt the place. It was concluded that hee should +imbark with my Brother-in-Law in the small vessell. Hee said hee had rather +goe in the other shipp; but it was but just that the Captain should +continue on board, & wee could not with great reason take Mr. Bridgar on +board, having allredy more English to keep then wee were french. + +The 27th of July wee weighed Ankor & passed the flatts; but next day, +having as yet sailed but 8 or 9 Leagues, wee were forced to enter into the +Ice & used all our Endevor not to bee farr from each other. The Bark, +tacking to come, cast her Grapers on the same Ice as wee fastned unto. Shee +split to peeces, so that wee were forced to fend presently to their help & +to take out all the goods was on board her, & to lay them on the Ice, to +careen, which wee did with much difficulty. Wee continued in this danger +till the 24 of August. Wee visitted one another with all freedom; yet wee +stood on our gard, for the Englishman that wee found the beginning of the +winter in the snow, remembring how kindly hee was used by me, gave mee +notice of a dessigne the Englishmen had that were in the Bark, of cutting +all the Frenchmen's throats, & that they only waited a fit opportunity to +doe it. This hint made us watch them the more narrowly. At night time wee +secured them under lock & key, & in the day time they enjoy'd their full +liberty. + +When wee were got to the southward in the 56 Degree, Mr. Bridgar desired me +to let him have the Bark to goe to the Bay along with his men. I tould him +I would speak to my Brother-in-Law about it, who was not much against it. +Ther was only the master & some other obstinat fellows that opposed; but at +length I got all to consent, and having taken the things out, wee delivered +the Bark unto Mr. Bridgar, taking his receipt. It was in good will that I +mannadg'd all this for him, and I thought hee would have gon in the Bark, +for hee knows that I offerrd it unto him; but having made the Englishman +that belong'd unto him, and since chosen to stay with us, and in whom wee +put much confidence, to desire leave of me to goe along with Mr. Bridgar, +wee presently supposed, and wee were not deceived, that 'twas by his +perswasion this seaman desired to bee gon, & wee had some apprehension that +Mr. Bridgar might have some dessigne to trepan us by returning unto port +Nelson before us to surprise our people, wherunto the English seaman that +understood our business might have ben very servicable unto him. Having +therefore conferr'd amongst ourselves upon this Demand, wee resolv'd to +keep Mr. Bridgar and to take him along with us unto Quebeck. Wee caus'd him +to come out of the Bark and told him our resolution; wherat hee flew into +great passion, espetially against me, who was not much concerned at it. Wee +caus'd him to come into our vessell, and wee tould his people that they may +proceed on their voyage without him, and hee should come along with us; +after which wee took in our graple Irons from off the Ice, seeing the sea +open to the westward and the way free'd to saile. Wee were distant about +120 leagues from the bottom of the Bay when wee parted from the Bark, who +might easily have got ther in 8 days, and they had Provisions on board for +above a month, vizt, a Barrill of Oatmealle, 42 double peeces of Beeff, 8 +or 10 salt gees, 2 peeces of Pork, a powder Barrell full of Bisket, 8 or 10 +pounds of powder, & 50 pounds of short. I gave over & above, unknown to my +Brother-in-Law, 2 horns full of Powder & a Bottle of Brandy, besides a +Barrill they drank the evening before wee parted. I made one of the new +England seamen to goe on board the Bark to strengthen the crew, many of +them being sickly. + +Being got out of the Ice, having a favorable wind, wee soon got into the +straights, where through the negligence or the ignorance of one of our +French pilots and seamen, the English being confin'd in the night, a storm +of wind & snow drove us into a Bay from whence wee could not get out. Wee +were driven a shoare without any hopes of getting off; but when wee +expected evry moment to be lost, God was pleased to deliver us out of this +Danger, finding amongst the Rocks wherin wee were ingadg'd the finest +Harbour that could bee; 50 shipps could have layn there & ben preserv'd +without Anchor or cable in the highest storms. Wee lay there 2 days, & +having refitted our shipp wee set saile & had the wether pretty favorable +untill wee arriv'd at Quebeck, which was the end of 8ber. As soon as ever +wee arriv'd wee went unto Monr La Barre, Governor of Cannada, to give him +an Account of what wee had don. Hee thought fit wee should restore the +shipp unto the new England Merchants, in warning them they should goe no +more unto the place from whence shee came. [Footnote: This restoration did +not meet with the approval of Monsr. de Seignelay, for he wrote to Govr. De +la Barre, 10th April, 1684: "It is impossible to imagine what you meant, +when of your own authority, without calling on the Intendant, and without +carrying the affair before the Sovereign council, you caused to be given up +to one Guillin, a vessel captured by the men named Radisson and des +Grozelliers, and in truth you ought to prevent the appearance before his +Majesty's eyes of this kind of proceeding, in which there is not a shadow +of reason, and whereby you have furnished the English with matter of which +they will take advantage; for by your ordinance you have caused a vessel to +be restored that according to law ought to be considered a Pirate, having +no commission, and the English will not fail to say that you had so fully +acknowledged the vessel to have been provided with requisite papers, that +you had it surrendered to the owners; and will thence pretend to establish +their legitimate possession of Nelson's river, before the said Radisson and +des Grozeliers had been there." _New York Colonial MSS._, Vol. IX. p. 221.] +Mr. Bridgar imbark'd himself on her with young Guillem for New England +against my mynde, for I advis'd him as a friend to imbark himself on the +ffrench shipps, which were ready to saile for Rocheil. I foretold him what +came to pass, that hee would lye a long while in New England for passage. +Wee parted good ffriends, & hee can beare me witnesse that I intimated unto +him at that time my affection for the English Intrest, & that I was still +of the same mynde of serving the King & the nation as fully & +affectionately as I had now serv'd the ffrench. + +Eight or tenn days after my arrivall, Monsr. La Barre sent for me, to shew +me a letter hee had receaved from Monsr. Colbert by a man-of-warr that had +brought over some soldiers, by which hee writ him that those which parted +last yeare to make discoverys in the Northern parts of America being either +returned or would soon return, hee desired one of them to give the court an +account of what they had don, & of what setlements might bee made in those +parts; & the Governour told me that I must forthwith prepare myself to goe +sattisfy Monsr. Colbert in the business. I willingly accepted the motion, & +left my business in the hands of Monsr. De La Chenay, although I had not +any very good opinion of him, having dealt very ill by me; but thinking I +could not bee a looser by satisfying the prime Minister of state, although +I neglected my owne privat affaires, I took leave of Monsr. La Barre, & +imbark'd for france with my Brother-in-Law, the 11 9ber, 1683, in the +frigat that brought the soldiers, and arrived at Rochell the 18 of Xber, +where I heard of the death of Monsr. Colbert; yet I continued my jorney to +Paris, to give the Court an account of my proceedings. I arriv'd at Paris +with my Brother-in-Law the 15th January, wher I understood ther was great +complaints made against me in the King's Councill by my Lord Preston, his +Majesty's Envoy Extrordinary, concerning what had past in the River and +Port Nelson, and that I was accus'd of having cruelly abused the English, +Robbed, stoln, and burnt their habitation; for all which my Lord Preston +demanded satisfaction, and that exemplary punishment might bee inflicted on +the offenders, to content his majesty. This advice did not discourage me +from presenting myself before the Marquiss De Signalay, & to inform him of +all that had past betwixt the English and me during my voyadge. Hee found +nothing amiss in all my proceedings, wherof I made him a true relation; and +so farr was it from being blamed in the Court of france, that I may say, +without flattering my self, it was well approved, & was comended. +[Footnote: Louis XIV. to De la Barre, to April, 1684: "The King of England +has authorized his ambassador to speak to me respecting what occurred in +the river Nelson between the English and Radisson and des Grozelliers, +whereupon I am happy to inform you that, as I am unwilling to afford the +King of England any cause of complaint, & as I think it important, +nevertheless, to prevent the English establishing themselves on that river, +it would be well for you to have a proposal made to the commandant at +Hudson's Bay that neither the French nor the English should have power to +make any new establishments; to which I am persuaded he will give his +consent the more readily, as he is not in a position to prevent those which +my subjects wish to form in said Nelson's river."] I doe not say that I +deserv'd it, only that I endeavor'd, in all my proceedings, to discharge +the part of an honnest man, and that I think I did no other. I referr it to +bee judged by what is contain'd in this narrative, which I protest is +faithfull & sincere; and if I have deserved the accusations made against me +in the Court of ffrance, I think it needlesse to say aught else in my +justification; which is fully to bee seen in the Relation of the voyadge I +made by his Majesty's order last year, 1684, for the Royal Company of +Hudson's Bay; the successe and profitable returns whereof has destroyed, +unto the shame of my Ennemys, all the evell impressions they would have +given of my actions. + + + + +VOYAGES OF PETER ESPRIT RADISSON. + +_Relation of the Voyage of Peter Esprit Radisson, Anno_ 1684. + +_(Translated from the French.)_ + + * * * * * + +I have treated at length the narrative of my voyage in the years 1682 and +1683, in Hudson's Bay, to the North of Canada. Up to my arrival in the city +of Paris, all things were prepared for the fitting out of the ships with +which I should make my return to the North of Canada, pending the +negotiations at Court for the return to me of every fourth beaver skin that +the very Christian King took for the customs duty, which had been promissed +to me in consideration of my discoveries, voyages, and Services; by which I +hoped to profit over & above my share during the first years of that +establishment. It was also at the same time that my Lord Viscount Preston, +Minister Extraordinary from the King at the Court of France, continued to +pursue me concerning the things of which I was accused by the account +against me of the gentlemen of the Royal Hudson's Bay Company; my enemies +having taken due care to publish the enormous crimes of which I was +charged, & my friends taking the pains to support me under it, & to give me +advice of all that passed. Although at last no longer able to suffer any +one to tax my conduct, I considered myself obliged to undeceive each one. I +resolved at length within myself to speak, to the effect of making it +appear as if my dissatisfaction had passed away. For that effect I made +choice of persons who did me the honor of loving me, and this was done in +the conversations that I had with them upon the subject. That my heart, +little given to dissimulation, had avowed to them, on different occasions, +the sorrow that I had felt at being obliged to abandon the service of +England because of the bad treatment that I had received from them, & that +I should not be sorry of returning to it, being more in a condition than I +had been for it, of rendering service to the king and the nation, if they +were disposed to render me justice and to remember my services. I spoke +also several times to the English Government. I had left my nephew, son of +Sieur des Groseilliers, my brother-in-law, with other Frenchmen, near Port +Nelson, who were there the sole masters of the beaver trade, which ought to +be considerable at that port, and that it depended upon me to make it +profitable for the English. All these things having been reported by one of +my particular friends to the persons who are in the interest of the +Government, they judged correctly that a man who spoke freely in that +manner, & who made no difficulty in letting his sentiments be known, & who +shewed by them that it was possible to be easily led back, by rendering +justice to him, to a party that he had only abandoned through +dissatisfaction, I was requested to have some conferences with these same +persons. I took in this matter the first step without repugnance, & upon +the report that was made to my Lord Preston of things that we had treated +upon in the interviews, & of that of which I claimed to be capable of +doing, I was exhorted from his side of re-entering into my first +engagements with the English; assuring me that if I could execute that +which I had proposed, I should receive from His majesty in England, & from +His Royal Highness of the Hudson's Bay Company, & from the Government, all +kinds of good treatment & an entire satisfaction; that, moreover, I need +not make myself uneasy of that which regarded my interests, this minister +being willing himself to be charged with the care of me, to preserve them, +& of procuring me other advantages after that I should be put in a position +of rendering service to the King his master. They represented to me again +that His Royal Highness honoring the Hudson's Bay Company with his +protection, it would pass even on to me if I would employ upon it my +credit, my attentions, & the experience that I had in the country of the +North, for the utility & the benefit of the affairs of that Company, in +which His Royal Highness took great interest. + +At the same time I received some letters at Paris from the Sieur Ecuyer +Young, one of those interested in the Hudson's Bay Company, in which he +solicited me on his part, & in the name of the Company, to return into +England, giving me some assurances of a good reception, & that I should +have reason to be satisfied on my part in regard to my particular +interests, as well as for some advantages that they would make me. These +letters, joined to those in which my Lord Preston continued his urgencies +against me to the very Christian King, decided me to determine, by the +counsel of one of my friends, to yield myself at last to all their +solicitations of passing over to England for good, & of engaging myself so +strongly to the service of His Majesty, & to the interests of the Nation, +that any other consideration was never able to detach me from it. There was +only my Lord Preston, some of his household, & the friend who had +counselled me to come into England, who knew of my design. I took care to +save appearances from suspicion by the danger in which I exposed myself, & +up to the evening of my departure I had some conferences with the ministers +of the Court of France, & the persons who there have the departments of the +marine & commerce, upon some propositions of armament, & the Equipment of +the Ships destined for my 2nd voyage. They wished to bind me to make them +upon the same footing as the proceeding, which has made since then the talk +of the two nations. + +The day of my departure was fixed for the 24th of April, 1684; but at last, +that those with whom I was obliged to confer daily by order of the +Ministers of France never doubted in the least of my discontinuing to see +them, I told them that I was obliged to make a little journey into the +country for some family business, & I could be useful to them during that +time by going to London, where I arrived the 10th of May. + +At the moment of my arrival I had the honor of going to see the gentlemen, +Ecuyer Young and the Chevalier Hayes, both of whom were interested in the +Hudson's Bay Company, who gave me a good reception in showing me the joy +that they felt at my return, & in giving me such assurances that I should +receive on their part & on that of their company all manner of +satisfaction. I then explained fully to them the nature of the service that +I expected to render to His Majesty, to the Company, & to the Nation, in +establishing the Beaver trade in Canada & making those to profit by it who +were interested, to the extent of 15 or 20,000 Beaver skins that I hoped to +find already in the hands of the French that I had left there, that would +cost to them only the Interest that I had in the thing, & the just +satisfaction that was owing to the French who had made the trade for them. + +These gentlemen having received in an agreeable manner my proposition, & +wishing to give me some marks of their satisfaction, did me the honour of +presenting me to His Majesty & to His Royal Highness, to whom I made my +submission, the offer of my very humble services, a sincere protestation +that I would do my duty, that even to the peril of my life I would employ +all my care & attention for the advantage of the affairs of the Company, & +that I would seek all occasions of giving proof of my zeal & inviolable +fidelity for the service of the King, of all which His Majesty & His Royal +Highness appeared satisfied, & did me the favour of honouring me with some +evidences of their satisfaction upon my return, & of giving me some marks +of their protection. + +After that I had several conferences in the assembled body, & in particular +with the gentlemen interested in the Hudson's Bay Company, in which I made +them acquainted in what manner it was necessary for them to proceed there +for establishing to the best advantage the Beaver trade in the Northern +country, the means of properly sustaining it, & of ruining in a short time +the trade with foreigners, & to that end I would commence by becoming +master of both the fort & the settlement of the French, as well as of all +the furs that they had traded for since my departure, on the condition that +my influence would serve to convert them, & that my nephew whom I had left +commandant in that fort & the other French would be paid what would be to +them their legitimate due. These gentlemen, satisfied with what I had said +to them, believed with justice that they would be able to have entire +confidence in me. As for that, having resolved to entrust me with their +orders for going with their shipps, equipped & furnished with everything to +found that establishment in putting into execution my projects, they gave +the power of settling in my own mind & conscience the claims of my nephew & +the other French, assuring me that they would be satisfied with the account +that I would present to them. I accepted that commission with the greatest +pleasure in the world, and I hurried with so much diligence the necessary +things for my departure, that in less than eight days I was in a condition +to embark myself. This was done even without any precaution on my part for +my own interests, for I did not wish to make any composition with these +gentlemen. I said to them that since they had confidence in me, I wished +also on my part to make use of it generously with them and remit everything +to the success of my voyage, and on my return, in the hope that I had that +they would satisfy my honesty of purpose, and that after having given to +them some marks of my sincerity in executing the things to perform which I +had engaged myself for their service, they would render me all the justice +that I had cause for hoping from gentlemen of honour and probity. The ships +destined for Hudson's Bay and the execution of my design were ready to make +sail, & myself being all prepared for embarking, I took leave of the +gentlemen of the Company in giving them fresh assurances of the good +success of my voyage if God did me the favour of preserving me from the +dangers to which I went to expose myself; of which they appeared so well +satisfied that the Chevalier Hayes dared not flatter himself of the +advantage that I promissed to him, that they should get from 15 to 20,000 +Beavers that I hoped to find in the hands of the French, said, in embracing +me, that the company would be satisfied if I had only 5,000 of them there. + +The event has justified that which I predicted, and these gentlemen have +not been deceived in the hopes that I have given to them. I departed from +the port of Gravesend the 17th of the same month of May, in the ship called +"The Happy Return," in the company of 2 others that these gentlemen sent +also to Port Nelson for the same reason. The winds having been favourable +for us, we arrived in a few days upon the western side of Buttons Bay +without anything happening to us worth mentioning, but the winds and the +currents. We having been made to drift to the South of Port Nelson about 40 +leagues, and the ice having separated the ship in which I was from the 2 +others in Hudson's Straits, I began to doubt of succeeding in my enterprise +by the apprehension that I had that the 2 ships having arrived sooner than +ours the men who were inside would not hazard themselves to take any step +which could at all do them any damage. Under this anxiety, knowing the +necessity that there was that I should arrive the first, I resolved to +embark myself in a shallop that we had brought to be employed in any +service that might be necessary. I ordered the captain to equip it, and +although but little more than 20 leagues from Port Nelson, I put myself on +board with 7 men, and after 48 hours of fatigue, without having been able +to take any rest because of the danger that there was to us, we found by +the breadth of Hayes river, which having recognized, at last we touched +land at a point north of the river, where we landed with an Englishman who +spoke good french, whom I wished to make accompany me in order that he +might be the witness of all that I did. + +After having come to land I recognized by certain marks that my nephew, +having heard the noise of the cannon of the English ships, had come to the +place where we landed to know if his father or myself were arrived, and +that he had himself returned after having recognized that they were English +shipps. These same marks gave me also to know that he had left me further +away from those that I had given him since I had established him for +Governor in my absence. The which should inform me of his condition and the +place where he was with his men; but I did not find it to the purpose of +going as far as that place, that I had not learned truly the condition of +the English who had arrived in the country since I had departed from it. I +resolved then to embark myself afresh in the shallop to go and learn some +news. I encouraged for that purpose the 7 men who were with me, who were so +diligent that in spite of a contrary wind and tide we arrived in a very +little time at the mouth of that great and frightful river of Port Nelson, +where I had wished to see myself with such impatience that I had not +dreamed a moment of the danger to which we had exposed ourselves. That +pleasure was soon followed by another; for I saw at anchor in this same +place 2 ships, of which one had the glorious flag of His Majesty hoisted +upon his main mast, that I recognized to be the one that was commanded by +Captain Outlaw when the one in which I was passed had been separated from +the 2 others. At the same time I made the shallop approach & I perceived +the new Governor with all his men under arms upon the deck, who demanded of +us where our shallop came from, and who we were. Upon that I made myself +known, & I went on board the ship, where I learned that the one which was +alongside was an English frigate that had wintered in the Port of Nelson +with the Governor, which port they had abandoned to retire themselves for +fear of being insulted by the French & the savages; but that having been +met with by Capt Outlaw going out of the bay, he had returned, having +learned that I had thrown myself into the service of England, and that I +came into the country to re-establish there everything to the advantage of +the nation. + +My first care after that was of making myself informed of what had passed +between the English & the French since my departure & their arrival. By +what the English told me I judged that it was proper to risque everything +to try to join my nephew as soon as possible, & the men that I had left +with him; in fine, of endeavouring to reach them by kindness, or to +intercept them by cunning, before they received the shock upon what design +I came, for that was of extreme consequence. Thus without waiting for the +arrival of the ship in which I had come, I resolved to embark myself upon +the same shallop, which was named "The Little Adventure;" which I did not, +nevertheless, on the same day, because the Governor found it proper to +delay the party until the following day, & of giving me other men in the +place of those that I had brought, who sound themselves fatigued. I +embarked myself on the morrow, early in the morning, with Captain Gazer; +but the wind being found contrary, I had myself landed on the coast, with +Captain Gazer & the Englishman who spoke French, & after having sent back +the shallop with the other men, I resolved to go by land as far as the +place where I should find the marks of my nephew, which should make me +recognise the place where he was & his condition. We marched, all three, +until the morrow morning; but being arrived at the place where I had told +my nephew to leave me some marks, which having taken up, I learned that he +& his men had left our old houses & that they had built themselves another +of them upon an island above the rapids of the river Hayes. After that we +continued our route until opposite to the houses which had been abandoned, +where I hoped that we should discover something, or at least that we should +make ourselves seen or heard by firing some reports of the gun & making of +smoke; in which my attempt was not altogether vain, for after having rested +some time in that place we perceived 10 canoes of savages, who descended +the river. I believed at first that it would be probable they had there +some French with them; that my nephew would be able to send to discover who +were the people newly arrived, which obliged me to tell Captain Gazer that +I should go down to the bank of the river to speak to them; that I prayed +him to await me upon the heights without any apprehension, & that in a +little while he would be able to render evidence of my fidelity for the +service of the Company. I was at the same moment met by the savages, & from +the bank of the river I made them the accustomed signal, to the end of +obliging them to come towards me; but having perceived that they did not +put themselves to the trouble of doing it, I spoke to them in their +language, for to make myself known; which done, they approached the bank, & +not recognising me, they demanded of me to see the marks that I had; which +having shown them, they gave evidence, by their cries & postures of +diversion, the pleasure that they had of my arrival. I learned then from +them that my nephew & the other Frenchmen were above the rapids of the +river, distant about 4 leagues from the place where I was, & that they had +told them that my brother-in-law, des Groisille, should also come with me; +which obliged me telling them that he was arrived, & that they would see +him in a few days. Then I told them that we had always loved them as our +brothers, & that I would give them some marks of my amity, for which they +thanked me in begging me to not be angry for that which, by counsel, they +had been trading with the English, nor of that when I found them going to +meet their captain, who had gone across some woods, with 20 men, to the +English ships, to procure some powder & guns, which they did; that their +laying over for a month, in awaiting for me, had compelled them, but that +since I had arrived they would not go on farther, & that their chief, whom +they went to inform of my arrival, would speak more of it to me. As I had +occasion for some one among them to inform my nephew that I was in the +country, I asked of all of them if they loved the son of des Groisille, & +if he had not some relation among them; upon which there was one of them +who said to me, "He is my Son; I am ready to do that which thou wishest;" & +at that moment, he having landed, I made him throw his Beaver skin on the +ground, & after having called Captain Gazer, I spoke in these terms to this +savage in the presence of all the others: "I have made peace with the +English for love of you. They & I from henceforth shall be but one. Embrace +this captain & myself in token of peace. He is thy new brother, & this one +thy son. Go at once to him to carry this news, with the token of peace, & +tell him to come to see me in this place here, whilst the savages of the +Company go to attend me to the mouth of the river." + +This savage did not fail to go & inform his son, my nephew, of my arrival, +& of carrying to him the news of peace between the French & the English, +during which we awaited with impatience his descent towards the place where +we were; whom, nevertheless, did not arrive until the morrow, about 9 +o'clock in the morning. I saw at first appear my nephew, in a canoe with 3 +other Frenchmen, accompanied by another canoe of the savages that I had +sent, & which came in advance to inform me of the arrival of my nephew. I +promised to this savage & his comrade each one a watch-coat, & returned to +them their Beaver skins, with the order of going to join those of their +nation, & to wait for me at the mouth of the river. After that, Captain +Gazer, the Englishman who spoke French, & myself waded into the water +half-leg deep to land upon a little island where my nephew, with his men, +would come on shore. He had arrived there before us, & he came to meet us, +saluting me, greatly surprised at the union that I had made with the +English. We then proceeded all together in his canoe as far as our old +houses, where I had the English and French to enter, & whilst they +entertained each other with the recital of their mutual hardships, I spoke +privately to my nephew in these terms:-- + +"It is within your recollection, without doubt, of having heard your father +relate how many pains & fatigues we have had in serving France during +several years. You have also been informed by him that the recompense we +had reason to hope for from her was a black ingratitude on the part of the +Court as well as on the part of the company of Canada; & that they having +reduced us to the necessity of seeking to serve elsewhere, the English +received us with evidences of pleasure & of satisfaction. You know also the +motives that have obliged your father & myself, after 13 years of service, +to leave the English. The necessity of subsisting, the refusal that showed +the bad intention of the Hudson's Bay Company to satisfy us, have given +occasion to our separation, & to the establishment that we have made, & for +which I left you in possession in parting for France. But you ignore, +without doubt, that the Prince who reigns in England had disavowed the +proceedings of the Company in regard to us, & that he had caused us to be +recalled to his service, to receive the benefits of his Royal protection, & +a complete satisfying of our own discontents. I have left your father in +England, happier than we in this, that he is assured of his subsistance, +and that he commences to taste some repose; whilst I come to inform you +that we are now Englishmen, & that we have preferred the goodness & +kindness of a clement & easy king, in following our inclinations, which are +to serve people of heart & honour in preference to the offers that the King +of France caused to be made to us by his ministers, to oblige us to work +indirectly for his glory. I received an order, before leaving London, of +taking care of you, & of obliging you to serve the English nation. You are +young, & in a condition to work profitably for your fortune. If you are +resolved to follow my sentiments I never will abandon you. You will receive +the same treatment as myself. I will participate even at the expense of my +interests for your satisfaction. I will have a care also of those who +remain under my control in this place with you, & I shall leave nothing +undone that will be able to contribute to your advancement. I love you; you +are of my blood. I know that you have courage & resolution; decide for +yourself promptly, & make me see by your response, that I wait for, that +you are worthy of the goodness of the clement prince that I serve; but do +not forget, above all things, the injuries that the French have inflicted +upon one who has given his life to you, & that you are in my power." + +When my nephew had heard all that I had to say to him, he protested to me +that he had no other sentiments but mine, & that he would do all that I +would wish of him, but that he begged me to have care of his mother; to +which I answered that I had not forgotten that she was my sister, & that +the confidence that he gave me evidence of had on that occasion imposed +upon me a double engagement, which obliged me of having care of her & of +him; with which, having been satisfied, he remitted to me the power of +commandant that I had left to him, & having embraced him, I said to him +that he should appear in the assembly of the English & French as satisfied +as he should be, & leave the rest to my management. After which we +re-entered into the house, & I commanded one of the Frenchmen to go out +immediately & inform his comrades that all would go well if they should +have an entire confidence in me & obey all my orders, which doing, they +should want nothing. I ordered also this same Frenchman to inform the +savages to come to me & work immediately with their comrades to bring back +into the house newly built the Beaver skins buried in the wood; & to that +end, to be able to work with more diligence, I told them I would double +their rations. Then I told my nephew to cross the river with the Frenchman +who served him as interpreter, & go by land to the north side at the +rendezvous that I had given to the savages the preceding day, whilst I +would make my way by water to the same meeting-place with Captain Gazer & 2 +other men who remained with me; the which having embarked in my nephew's +canoe, I descended the river as far as the mouth, where I found the +savages, who awaited me with impatience, they having been joined the +following day by 30 other canoes of savages that I had had warned to +descend, by their captain who had come towards me. We were all together in +the canoes of the savages & boarded some ships which were stranded upon +Nelson's River. + +This was in that strait that the chief of the savages spoke to me of many +things, & who after having received from my hands one of the presents +designed for the chief of these nations, he told me that he & his people +would speak of my name to all the nations, to invite them to come to me to +smoke the pipe of peace; but he blamed strongly the English Governor for +telling him that my brother had been made to die, that I was a prisoner, & +that he had come to destroy the rest of the French. The chief of the +savages added to the blame his complaint also. He said haughtily that the +Governor was unworthy of his friendship & of those of their old brothers +who commenced to establish it amongst them, in telling them such +falsehoods. Grumbling & passion had a share in his indignation. He offered +several times to inflict injuries upon the governor, who endeavoured to +justify himself for these things that he had said to them through +imprudence against the truth. But the chief savage would not hear anything +in his defense, neither of those of the other Englishmen there; all of them +were become under suspicion. Nevertheless I appeased this difference by the +authority that I have upon the spirit of these nations; & after having made +the governor & the chief embrace, & having myself embraced both of them, +giving the savage to understand that it was a sign of peace, I said to him +also that I wished to make a feast for this same peace, & that I had given +orders what they should have to eat. + +On such similar occasions the savages have the custom of making a speech +precede the feast, which consists in recognising for their brothers those +with whom they make peace, & praise their strength. After having informed +the chief of the savages of the experience, strength, valour of the English +nation, he acquitted himself with much judgment in that action, for which +he was applauded by our and his own people. I said afterwards in presence +of his people that the French were not good seamen, that they were afraid +of the icebergs which they would have to pass across to bring any +merchandise, besides that their ships were weak & incapable of resistance +in the northern seas; but as to those of the English, they were strong, +hardy, & enterprising, that they had the knowledge of all seas, & an +infinite number of large & strong ships which carried for them merchandises +in all weathers & without stoppage. Of which this chief, having full +evidence, was satisfied. + +He came to dine with us whilst his people were eating together of that +which I had ordered to be given them. The repast being finished, it was a +question with me whether I should commence to open a trade; & as I had +formed the design of abolishing the custom which the English had introduced +since I had left their service, which was of giving some presents to the +savages to draw them to our side, which was opposed to that that I had +practised, for in place of giving some presents I had myself made, I said +then to the chief of the savages in the presence of those of his nation, +"that he should make me presents that I ordinarily received on similar +occasions." Upon that they spoke between themselves, & at length they +presented me with 60 skins of Beaver, in asking me to accept them as a sign +of our ancient friendship, & of considering that they were poor & far +removed from their country; that they had fasted several days in coming, & +that they were obliged to fast also in returning; that the French of Canada +made them presents to oblige them to open their parcels; & that the English +at the bottom of the bay gave to all the nations 3 hatchets for a Beaver +skin. They added to that, that the Beaver was very difficult to kill, & +that their misery was worthy of pity. + +I replied to them that I had compassion for their condition, & that I would +do all that was in my power to relieve them; but that it was much more +reasonable that they made me some presents rather than I to them, because +that I came from a country very far more removed than they to carry to them +excellent merchandise; that I spared them the trouble of going to Quebec; & +as to the difference in the trade of the English at the bottom of the Bay +with ours, I told them that each was the master of that which belonged to +him, & at liberty to dispose of it according to his pleasure; that it +mattered very little of trading with them, since I had for my friends all +the other nations; that those there were the masters of my merchandises who +yielded themselves to my generosity for it; that there were 30 years that I +had been their brother, & that I would be in the future their father if +they continued to love me, but that if they were of other sentiments, I was +very easy about the future; that I would cause all the nations around to be +called, to carry to them my merchandises; that the gain that they would +receive by the succour rendered them powerful & placed them in a condition +to dispute the passage to all the savages who dwelt in the lands; that by +this means they would reduce themselves to lead a languishing life, & to +see their wives & children die by war or by famine, of which their allies, +although powerful, could not guarantee them of it, because I was informed +that they had neither knives nor guns. + +This discourse obliged these savages to submit themselves to all that I +wished; so that seeing them disposed to trade, I said to them that as they +had an extreme need of knives & guns, I would give them 10 knives for one +Beaver, although the master of the earth, the King, my sovereign, had given +me orders to not give but 5 of them, & that as for the guns, I would give +them one of them for 12 Beavers; which they went to accept, when the +Governor, through fear or imprudence, told them that we demanded of them +but 7 & up to 10 Beavers for each gun, which was the reason that it was +made necessary to give them to the savages at that price. The trade was +then made with all manner of tranquillity & good friendship. After which +these people took their leave of us very well satisfied according to all +appearances, as much in general as in particular of our proceeding, & the +chief as well as the other savages promissed us to return in token of their +satisfaction. But at the moment that they went to leave, my nephew having +learned from a chief of a neighbouring nation who was with them that they +would not return, he drew aside the savage chief & told him that he had +been informed that he did not love us, & that he would return no more. At +which this chief seemed very much surprised in demanding who had told him +that. My nephew said to him, "It is the savage called Bear's Grease;" which +having heard, he made at the same time all his people range themselves in +arms, speaking to one & to the other; in fine, obligeing the one who was +accused to declare himself with the firmness of a man of courage, without +which they could do nothing with him, but Bear's Grease could say nothing +in reply. Jealousy, which prevails as much also among these nations as +among Christians, had given place to this report, in which my nephew had +placed belief because he knew that the conduct of the Governor towards them +had given to them as much of discontent against us all as he had caused +loss to the Company; the genius of these people being that one should never +demand whatever is just, that is to say, that which one wishes to have for +each thing that one trades for, & that when one retracts, he is not a man. +That makes it clear that there are, properly, only the people who have +knowledge of the manners & customs of these nations who are capable of +trading with them, to whom firmness & resolution are also extremely +necessary. I myself again attended on this occasion, to the end of +appeasing this little difference between the savages, & I effected their +reconciliation, which was the reason that their chief protested to me +afresh in calling me "Porcupine's Head,", which is the name that they have +given me among them, that he would always come to me to trade, & that +whereas I had seen him but with a hundred of his young men, he would bring +with him 13 different nations, & that he wanted nothing in his country, +neither men nor beaver skins, for my service; after which they left us, & +we dispersed ourselves to go and take possession of the house of my nephew +in the manner that I had arranged with him for it. + +With this in view I parted with the Governor, Captain Gazer, & our people +to go by land as far as the place where we had left one of our canoes upon +the river Hayes, whilst the other party went by sea with the shallop, "the +Adventure," to round the point. We had the pleasure of contemplating at our +ease the beauty of the country & of its shores, with which the Governor was +charmed by the difference that there was in the places that he had seen +upon Nelson's river. + +We embarked ourselves then in the canoe just at the place where the French +had built their new house, where we found those who were left much advanced +in the work that I had ordered them to do, but, however, very inquiet on +account of having no news from my nephew, their commandant, nor of me. They +had carried all the beaver skins from the wood into the house & punctually +executed all my other orders. + +Having then seen myself master of all things without having been obliged to +come to any extremity for it, the French being in the disposition of +continueing their allegiance to me, I made them take an Inventory of all +that was in the house, where I found 239 packages of beaver skins, to the +number of 12,000 skins, and some merchandise for trading yet for 7 or 8,000 +more, which gave me much satisfaction. Then I told my nephew to give a +command in my name to these same Frenchmen to bring down the beaver skins +as far as the place where they should be embarked to transport them to the +ships, which was executed with so much diligence that in 6 days eight or +ten men did (in spite of difficulties which hindered them that we could go +in that place but by canoes because of the rapidity & want of water that +they had in the river) what others would have had trouble in doing in 6 +months, without any exaggeration. + +My nephew had in my absence chosen this place where he built the new house +that was, so to speak, inaccessible, to the end of guaranteeing himself +from the attacks that they would be able to make against him; & it was that +same thing which restrained the liberty of going & coming there freely & +easily. The savages with whom we had made the trading, not having made so +much diligence on their route as we, for returning themselves into their +country, having found out that I was in our house, came to me there to +demand some tobacco, because that I had not given them any of that which +was in the ships, because that it was not good, making as an excuse that it +was at the bottom of the cellar. I made them a present of some that my +nephew had to spare, of which they were satisfied; but I was surprised on +seeing upon the sands, in my walk around the house with the governor, +rejected quantities of an other tobacco, which had been, according to +appearances, thus thrown away through indignation. I turned over in my mind +what could have possibly given occasion for this, when the great chief & +captain of the savages came to tell me that some young men of the band, +irritated by the recollection of that which the English had said to them, +that my brother, des Groseilliers, was dead, that I was a prisoner, & that +they were come to make all the other Frenchmen perish, as well as some +reports of cannon that they had fired with ball in the wood the day that I +was arrived, had thus thrown away this tobacco which had come from the +English by mistake, not wishing to smoke any of it. He assured me also that +the young men had wicked designs upon the English; that he had diverted +them from it by hindering them from going out of the house. The Governor, +who had difficulty in believing that this tobacco thrown upon the sands was +the omen of some grievous enterprise, was nevertheless convinced of it by +the discourse of the savage. I begged him to come with me into the house, & +to go out from it no more, with the other English, for some time; assuring +them, nevertheless, that they had nothing to fear, & that all the French & +myself would perish rather than suffer that one of them should be in the +least insulted. After which I ordered my nephew to make all those savages +imbark immediately, so as to continue their journey as far as their own +country, which was done. Thus we were delivered from all kinds of +apprehension, & free to work at our business. + +In the mean while I could not admire enough the constancy of my nephew & of +his men in that in which they themselves laboured to dispossess themselves +of any but good in favour of the English, their old enemies, for whom they +had just pretensions, without having any other assurances of their +satisfaction but the confidence that they had in my promises. Besides, I +could not prevent myself from showing the pleasure that I experienced in +having succeeded in my enterprise, & of seeing that in commencing to give +some proofs of my zeal for the service of the English Company I made it +profit them by an advantage very considerable; which gave them for the +future assurances of my fidelity, & obliged them to have care of my +interests in giving me that which belonged to me legitimately, & acquitting +me towards my nephew & the other French of that which I had promissed them, +& that a long & laborious work had gained for them. After that, that is to +say, during the 3 days that we rested in that house, I wished to inform +myself exactly, from my nephew, in the presence of the Englishmen, of all +that which had passed between them since that I had departed from the +country, & know in what manner he had killed two Englishmen there; upon +which my nephew began to speak in these words:-- + +"Some days after your departure, in the year 1683, the 27th of July, the +number of reports of cannon-shots that we heard fired on the side of the +great river made us believe that they came from some English ship that had +arrived. In fact, having sent 3 of my men to know, & endeavour to +understand their design, I learned from them on their return that it was 2 +English ships, & that they had encountered 3 men of that nation a league +from these vessels, but that they had not spoken to them, having contented +themselves with saluting both. As my principal design was to discover the +English ones, & that my men had done nothing in it, I sent back 3 others of +them to inform themselves of all that passed. These 3 last, having arrived +at the point which is between the 2 Rivers of Nelson & Hayes, they met 14 +or 15 savages loaded with merchandise, to whom, having demanded from whence +they were & from whence they had come, they had replied that their nation +lived along the river called Nenosavern, which was at the South of that of +Hayes, & that they came to trade with their brothers, who were established +at the bottom of the Bay; after which my men told them who they were and +where they lived, in begging them to come smoke with them some tobacco the +most esteemed in the country; to which they freely consented, in making it +appear to them that they were much chagrined in not having known sooner +that we were established near them, giving evidence that they would have +been well pleased to have made their trade with us. + +"In continueing to converse upon several things touching trade, they +arrived together in our house, reserving each time that but one of them +should enter at once; which under a pretext of having forgotten something, +one had returned upon his steps, saying to his comrades that they had leave +to wait for him at the house of the French, where he arrived 2 days after, +to be the witness of the good reception that I made to his brothers, whom I +made also participants in giving to him some tobacco; but I discovered that +this savage had had quite another design than of going to seek that which +he had lost, having learned that he had been heard telling the other +savages that he had been to find the English, & that he was charged by them +of making some enterprise against us. In fact, this villain, having seen me +alone & without any defence, must set himself to execute his wicked design. +He seized me by the hand, & in telling me that I was of no value since I +loved not the English, & that I had not paid him by a present for the +possession of the country that I lived in to him who was the chief of all +the nations, & the friend of the English at the bottom of the Bay, he let +fall the robe which covered him, & standing all naked he struck me a blow +with his poniard, which I luckily parried with the hand, where I received a +light wound, which did not hinder me from seizing him by a necklace that he +had around his neck, & of throwing him to the ground; which having given me +the leisure of taking my sword & looking about, I perceived that the other +savages had also poniards in their hands, with the exception of one, who +cried out, 'Do not kill the French; for their death will be avenged, by all +the nations from above, upon all our families.' + +"The movement that I had made to take my sword did not prevent me from +holding my foot upon the throat of my enemy, & knew that that posture on my +sword had frightened the other conspirators. There was none of them there +who dared approach; on the contrary, they all went out of the house armed +with their poniards. But some Frenchmen who were near to us, having +perceived things thus, they ran in a fury right to the house, where having +entered, the savages threw their poniards upon the ground in saying to us +that the English had promissed to their chief a barrel of powder & other +merchandise to kill all the French; but that their chief being dead, for +they believed in fact that he was so, we had nothing more to fear, because +that they were men of courage, abhorring wicked actions. My people, having +seen that I was wounded, put themselves into a state to lay violent hands +on the savages; but I prevented any disturbance, wishing by that +generousity, & in sparing his life to the chief, to give some proofs of my +courage, & that I did not fear neither the English there nor themselves. +After which they left us, & we resolved to put ourselves better upon our +guard in the future, & of making come to our relief the savages our allies. + +"Some days after, these savages, by the smoke of our fires, which were our +ordinary signals, arrived at our house. According to their custom, they +having been apprised of my adventure, without saying anything to us, +marched upon the track of the other savages, & having overtaken them, they +invited them to a feast, in order to know from them the truth of the +things; of which having been informed, the one among them who was my +adopted brother-in-law spoke to the chief who had wished to assassinate me +thus, as has been reported to me by him: 'Thou art not a man, because that, +having about thee 15 of thy people thou hast tried to accomplish the end of +killing a single man.' To which the other replied haughtily, & with +impudence, 'It is true; but if I have missed him this autumn with the +fifteen men, he shall not escape in the Spring by my own hand alone.' 'It +is necessary,' then replied my adopted brother-in-law, 'that thou makest me +die first; for without that I shall hinder thy wicked design.' Upon which, +having come within reach, the chief whose life I had spared received a blow +of a bayonet in the stomach, & another of a hatchet upon the head, upon +which he fell dead upon the spot. In respect to the others, they did not +retaliate with any kind of bad treatment, & they allowed them to retire +with all liberty, in saying to them that if they were in the design of +revenging the death of their chief, they had only to speak, & they would +declare war upon them. + +"After that expedition these same savages our allies divided into two +parties, & without telling us their design descended to the place where the +English made their establishment; they attacked them & killed some of them, +of which they then came to inform me, in telling me that they had killed a +great number of my enemies to avenge me of the conspiracy that they had +done me & my brother, and that they were ready to sacrifice their lives for +my service; in recognition of which I thanked them & made them a feast, +begging them not to kill any more of them, & to await the return of my +father & my uncle, who would revenge upon the English the insult which they +had made me, without their tarnishing the glory that they had merited in +chastising the English & the savages, their friends, of their perfidy. We +were nevertheless always upon the defensive, & we apprehended being +surprised at the place where we were as much on the part of the English, as +of those of the savages, their friends; that is why we resolved of coming +to establish ourselves in the place where we are at present, & which is, as +you see, difficult enough of access for all those who have not been +enslaved as we are amongst the savages. We built there this house in a few +days with the assistance of the savages, & for still greater security we +obliged several among them to pass the winter with us on the condition of +our feeding them, which was the reason that our young men parted in the +summer, having almost consumed all our provisions. During the winter +nothing worthy of mention passed, except that some savages made several +juggles to know from our Manitou, who is their familiar spirit among them, +if my father and my uncle would return in the spring; who answered them +that they would not be missing there, and that they would bring with them +all kinds of merchandise and of that which would avenge them on their +enemies. + +"At the beginning of April, 1684, some savages from the South coast arrived +at our new house to trade for guns; but as we had none of them they went to +the English, who had, as I afterwards learned, made them Some presents & +promissed them many other things if they would undertake to kill me with +the one of my men whom you saw still wounded, who spoke plainly the +language of the country. These savages, encouraged by the hope of gain, +accepted the proposition and promissed to execute it. For that means they +found an opportunity of gaining over one of the savages who was among us, +who served them as a spy, and informed them of all that we did. +Nevertheless they dared not attack us with open force, because they feared +us, & that was the reason why they proceeded otherwise in it; and this is +how it was to be done. + +"The Frenchman that you saw wounded, having gone by my orders with one of +his comrades to the place where these savages, our friends, made some +smoked stag meat that they had killed, to tell them to bring me some of it, +fell, in chasing a stag, upon the barrel of his gun, and bent it in such a +manner that he could not kill anything with it without before having +straightened it; which having done, after having arrived at the place where +the savages were, he wished to make a test of it, firing blank at some +distance from their cabin; but whilst he disposed himself to that, one of +the savages who had promissed to the English his death & mine, who was +unknown to several of his comrades amongst the others, fired a shot at him +with his gun, which pierced his shoulder with a ball. He cried out directly +that they had killed him, & that it was for the men who loved the French to +avenge his death; which the Savages who were our friends having heard, went +out of their cabins & followed the culprit without his adherents daring to +declare themselves. But the pursuit was useless, for he saved himself in +the wood after having thrown away his gun & taken in its place his bow & +his quiver. This behaviour surprised our allies, the savages, exceedingly, +& obliged them to swear, in their manner, vengeance for it, as much against +that savage nation as against the English; but not having enough guns for +that enterprise, they resolved to wait until my father and uncle had +arrived. In the mean time they sent to entreat all the nations who had +sworn friendship to my father & my uncle to come to make war upon the +English & the savages on the southern coast, representing to them that they +were obliged to take our side because that they had at other times accepted +our presents in token of peace & of goodwill; that as to the rest, we were +always men of courage, & their brothers. + +"As soon as these other nations had received intelligence of the condition +in which we were, they resolved to assist us with all their forces, & in +waiting the return of my father or my uncle to send hostages for it to give +a token of their courage, in the persons of two of their young men. One of +the most considerable chiefs among these nations was deputed to conduct +them. I received them as I ought. This chief was the adopted father of my +uncle, & one of the best friends of the French, whom I found adapted to +serve me to procure an interview with the English, to the end of knowing +what could possibly be their resolution. For that purpose I deputed this +chief savage towards the English, to persuade them to allow that I should +visit them & take their word that they would not make me any insult, +neither whilst with them nor along the route there, for which this chief +stood security. The English accepted the proposition. I made them a visit +with one of the French who carried the present that I had seat to make +them, in the manner of the savages, & who received it on their part for me +according to custom. We traded nothing in that interview regarding our +business, because I remembered that the English attributed directly that +which had been done against them to the savages. All the advantage that I +received in that step was of making a trade for the savages, my friends, of +guns which I wanted; although they cost me dear by the gratuity which I was +obliged to make to those who I employed there; but it was important that I +had in fact hindered the savages from it who came down from the country to +trade, of passing on as far as the English. The end of that invitation and +that visit, was that I promissed to the solicitation of the Governor of the +English of visiting there once again with my chief; after which we retired +to our house, where I was informed by some discontented savages not to go +any more to see the English, because that they had resolved either to +arrest me prisoner or of killing me. Which my chief having also learned, he +told me that he wished no more to be security with his word with a nation +who had none of it; which obliged us to remain at home, keeping up a very +strict guard. At the same time the river Hayes having become free, several +detachments of the nations who were our allies arrived to assist us. The +Asenipoetes [Footnote: _Asenipoetes, Assinipoueles, Assenipoulacs,_ and, +according to Dr. O'Callaghan, _Assiniboins_, or "Sioux of the Rocks."] +alone made more than 400 men. They were the descendants of the great +Christionaux of the old acquaintance of my uncle, & all ready to make war +with the English; but I did not find it desirable to interest them in it +directly nor indirectly, because I did not wish to be held on the defensive +in awaiting the return of my father or of my uncle, & that besides I knew +that several other nations who loved the French, more particularly those +who would come to our relief at the least signal. In the mean time the +chief of the Asenipoetes did not wish us to leave his camp around our +house, resolved to await up to the last moment the return of my uncle, of +whom he always spoke, making himself break forth with the joy that he would +have in seeing him by a thousand postures; & he often repeated that he +wished to make it appear that he had been worthy of the presents that the +Governor of Canada had made to him formerly in giving tokens of his zeal to +serve the French. + +"The necessity for stores which should arrive in their camp partly hindered +the effects of that praiseworthy resolution, & obliged the chief of the +Asenipoetes to send back into his country 40 canoes in which he embarked +200 men of the most feeble & of the least resolute. He kept with him a like +number of them more robust, & those who were able to endure fatigue & +hunger, and determined having them to content themselves with certain small +fruits, which commenced to ripen, for their subsistence, in order to await +the new moon, in which the spirit of the other savages had predicted the +arrival of my uncle, which they believed infallible, because their +superstitious custom is of giving faith to all which their Manitou +predicts. They remained in that state until the end of the first quarter of +the moon, during which their oracles had assured them that my uncle would +arrive; but the time having expired, they believed their Manitou had +deceived them, & it was determined between them to join themselves with us +& of separating in 2 bodys, so as to go attack the English & the savages at +the south; resolved in case that the enterprise had the success that they +expected, of passing the winter with us, to burn the English ships in order +to remove the means of defending themselves in the Spring & of effecting +their return. That which contributed much to that deliberation was some +information which was given to them that the English had formed a design of +coming to seek the French to attack them, which they wished to prevent. + +"These menaces on the part of the English were capable of producing bad +effects, the genius of the savages being of never awaiting their enemies, +but on the contrary of going to seek them. In this design the chief of the +Asenipoetes disposed himself to march against the English with a party of +his people; when 10 or 12 persons were seen on the northern side of the +Hayes river seeking for these same fruits on which the savages had lived +for some time, he believed that they were the advance guard of the English +& of the savages from the South, whom he supposed united, who came to +attack us; which obliged him to make all his men take their bows and +arrows, after which he ranged them in order of battle & made this address +in our presence: 'My design is to pass the river with 2 of the most +courageous among you to go attack the enemy, & of disposing of you in a +manner that you may be in a condition of relieving me or of receiving me, +whilst the French will form the corps of reserve; that our women will load +in our canoes all our effects, which they are to throw over in case +necessity requires it But before undertaking this expedition I wish that +you make choice of a chief to command you in my absence or in case of my +death.' Which having been done at the moment, this brave chief addressing +us said: 'We camp ourselves upon the edge of the wood with our guns, so as +to hinder the approach of the enemy; & then it would be necessary to march +the men upon the edge of the water, to the end that they should be in a +condition to pass to support or to receive him, according to the +necessity.' + +"After that he passes the river with 2 men of the most hardihood of his +troops, who had greased themselves, like himself, from the feet up to the +head. Having each only 2 poniards for arms, their design was to go right to +the chief of the English, present to him a pipe of tobacco as a mark of +union, & then, if he refused it, endeavour to kill him & make for +themselves a passage through his people with their poniards as far as the +place where they would be able to pass the river to be supported by their +men. But after having marched as far as the place where the persons were +who they had seen, they recognized that it was some women; to whom having +spoken, they returned upon their steps, & said to us that there was nothing +to fear, & that it was a false alarm. This general proceeding on their part +gave us proofs of their courage & of their amity in a manner that the +confidence that we had placed in their help had put us in a condition of +fearing nothing on the part of the English nor of those there of the +savages of the South; and we were in that state when God, who is the author +of all things, & who disposes of them according to his good pleasure, gave +me the grace of my uncle's arrival in this country to arrest the course of +the disorders, who could come & work for our reconciliation. That work so +much desired on both sides is accomplished. It depends not upon me that it +may not be permanent. Live henceforth like brothers in good union & without +jealousy. As to myself, I am resolved, if the time should arrive, of +sacrificing my life for the glory of the King of Great Britain, for the +interest of the nation & the advantage of the Hudson's Bay Company, & of +obeying in all thirds my uncle." + +I found this with regard to repeating the recital that my nephew made us +concerning what had passed between him & the English & the savages, their +allies, that although he had apprised me of the true state in which the 2 +parties were at the time of my arrival, yet I also saw plainly the need +that the English had of being succoured, & the necessity that the French +had for provisions, of merchandise, and especially of guns, which could not +come to them but by my means. + +But it is time to resume the care of our affairs, & to continue to render +an account of our conduct. Our people worked always with great application +to transport the beaver skins a half league across the wood, for it was the +road that it was necessary to make from the house as far as the place where +the shallops were, & they carried them to the little frigate, which +discharged them upon the ships. I was always present at the work, for the +purpose of animating all our men, who gave themselves in this work no rest +until it was done, & that against the experience of the Captains of our +ships, whom some had made believe that the business would drag at length; +but having gone to them I assured them that if they were ready to do so +they could raise the anchor to-morrow. + +There things thus disposed of, it only disturbed me yet more to execute a +secret order that the company had given me, leaving it, however, to my +prudence and discretion. It was of retaining in its service my nephew and +some other Frenchmen, & above all the one who spoke the savage dialect, who +was the wounded one, to remain in the country in my absence, which I dared +not promise myself. In the meantime I resolved to make the proposition to +my nephew, believing that after gaining him I should be able easily to add +the others also. I caused to assemble for that end 5 or 6 of the savages of +the most consideration in the country with the Governor, & in their +presence I said to him, that for the glory of the King & for the advantage +of the company it was necessary that he should remain in the country. To +which he was averse at first; but the Governor having assured him that he +would trust him as his own nephew, & that he would divide the authority +that he had with him, & myself on my part having reproached him that he was +not loyal to the oath of allegiance that he had sworn to me, these reasons +obliged him to determine, & he assured me that he was ready to do all that +I wished of him. What contributed much was the discourse that the savages +made to him, telling him that I left him amongst them to receive in my +absence the marks of amity that they had sworn to me, & that they regarded +him as the nephew of the one who had brought peace to the nations & made +the union of the English & French in making by the same means the brothers +of both. + +This last success in my affairs was proof to me of the authority that I had +over the French & the savages; for my nephew had no sooner declared that he +submitted himself to do what I wished, than all the other Frenchmen offered +themselves to risk the ennui of remaining in the country, although my +design was only to leave but two of them; & the savages on their part burst +out in cries of joy in such a manner that I no more considered after that +but to put an end to all things. + +All our beaver skins having been embarked, I resolved, after having put +everything into tranquil & assured state for my return into England, where +my presence was absolutely necessary, to make known to the Company in what +manner it was necessary to act to profit advantageously the solid +establishment that I came to do & the things which were of indispensible +necessity in the country to facilitate the trade with the savages & +hindering them from making any of it with foreigners, that is to say, with +the French of Canada. + +I was then for the last time with my nephew at the house of our Frenchmen, +to the end of leaving there some Englishmen. I found there a number of +savages arrived to visit me, who called my nephew & myself into one of +their cabins, where a venerable old man spoke to me in these terms: +"Porcupine's head, thy heart is good & thou hast great courage, having made +peace with the English for the love of us. Behold, we have come towards +thee, old & young, wives & daughters & little children, to thank thee for +it, & to recognise thee for our father. We wish to be the children & adopt +for our son thy nephew that thou lovest so much, & in fine to give thee an +eternal mark of the obligation that we have to thee. We weep no more +henceforth except for the memory of those of whom thou bearest the name." +After which, having told one of the young people to speak, he fell like as +if in a swoon, & the other spoke after that same manner: "Men & women, +young men & children, even those who are at the breast, remember this one +here for your father. He is better than the sun who warms you. You will +find always in him a protector who will help you in your needs & console +you in your afflictions. Men, remember that he gave you guns during the +course of the year for you to defend yourselves against your Enemies, & to +kill the beasts who nourish you & your families. Wives, consider that he +gave you hatchets & knives with which you banish hunger from your country; +daughters & children, fear nothing more, since the one who is your father +loves you always, & that he gave you from time to time all that is +necessary for you to have your subsistance. We all together weep no more, +on the contrary give evidence by cries of our mirth that we have beheld the +man of courage;" & at the same time they set themselves to cry with all +their might, weeping bitterly for the last time, in saying, "We have lost +our father; [Footnote: "But here is one that you adopt for your father." +_Note by Radisson,_] we have lost our children." [Footnote: "Here is the +nephew of your father, who will be your son; he remains with you & he will +have care of his mothers." _Note by Radisson,_] + +After that piteful music they all came to be acknowledged. To be +acknowledged by our adoption with some presents, & covering us with robes +of white beaver skins, giving us quantities of beavers' tails, Some +bladders of stag's marrow, several tongues of the same animal smoked, that +which is the most exquisite to eat among them. They also presented us two +great copper boilers full of smoked & boiled flesh, of which we ate all +together, they, the English, & ourselves, & it is what is called a feast +among these nations. After that I said adieu to them, & having given charge +in the house what should be embarked in the ship, I went down to the mouth +of the River, where Captain Gazer worked to build a fort in the same place +where the preceding year Sieur Bridger had made to be constructed his +shallop. It was the most advantageous situation that he had been able to +find, & I advised that he should make all the diligence possible; but he +had some men who by their delicacy were incapable of responding to his +vigilence. I made this observation because I hold it for a maxim that one +should only employ men robust, skilful, & capable of serving, & that those +who are of a complexion feeble, or who flatter themselves of having +protection & favour, ought to be dismissed. + +Then we passed to the place where the ships were, because my design was to +oblige by my presence the captains to return to their ships ready to make +sail; but I was no sooner arrived there than a savage came to inform me +that my adopted father, whom I had not seen because that he was at the +wars, waited for me at the place where Captain Gazer was building the Fort +of which I came to speak. That is why I resolved to go there, & I expressed +the same hope to the savage whom I sent back to give information to my +father that the Governor would come with me to make some friendship to him +& protect him in my absence. It was with the consent of the Governor & upon +his parole that I had told him that; nevertheless he did not wish to come, +& I was for the first time found a liar among the savages, which is of a +dangerous consequence, for these nations have in abomination this vice. He +came to me, however, in no wise angry in that interview, & I received not +even a reproach from him. + +When I was at the rendezvous they told me that my adopted father was gone +away from it because I had annoyed a savage, for he had been informed that +I had arrived to see him. This savage having remembered the obligation to +return, although very sad on account of some news that he had learned upon +the road, which was that the chief of the nation who inhabited the height +above the river Neosaverne, named "the bearded," & one of his sons, who +were his relations, had been killed in going to insult those among the +savages who were set to the duty of taking care of the Frenchman who had +been wounded by a savage gained over by the English, after that he had +embraced me, & that he had informed me of the circumstance of that affaire, +& the number of people he had as followers, I wrote to the Governor to come +to me in the place where we were, to make him know in effect that he must +after my departure prevent the continuation of these disorders in virtue of +the treaty of peace & of union that I had made in presence of the savages +between the French & the English. + +The Governor having arrived, I presented to him my adopted father, & said +to him that as it was the chief who commanded the nation that inhabited in +the place where they built the fort, I had made him some little presents by +Captain Gazer, & that it was also desirable that he make some to him, +because I had promissed some the preceeding year that I had not given; +which the Governor found very bad, & he became irritated even against this +chief without any cause for it; except that it might be because he was my +adopted father, & I have learned since that he was angry that when I had +arrived I had not given any present to a simple savage who served as a spy, +who was the son of that chief called "the bearded." That was a horrible +extravagence; for this Governor was inferior to me, & I was not under any +obligation to recognize his favor; besides, I had never made any presents +but to the chiefs of the nations. Moreover, it was not for our Governor to +censure my conduct. I had received some independent orders, which had been +given me on account of the outrage that he had committed; but acting for +the service of my King and for those of the Company, I passed it over in +silence. I saw that it would be imprudent if I should speak my sentiments +openly to a man who after my departure should command all those who +remained in the country.[Footnote: "That would have perhaps drawn upon him +some contempt." _Note by Radisson._ ] I contented myself then with letting +him know the inconveniences which would happen from the indifference that +he affected to have for the chief of the savage nations, & I exhorted him +also to change at once his policy in regard to my adopted father; not by +that consideration, but because that he was, as I said to him, the chief of +the nations which inhabited the place where they built the fort, which he +promissed me of undoing. After that I went on board our ship. + +My nephew, who remained in the fort with the Governor, having learned that +the ships were ready to leave, kept himself near me with the French whom I +had resolved to leave in Canada, to say adieu to me, & it was in the +company of this Governor that they made the journey, during which, as I +have since learned from my nephew, he showed to them more good will than he +had yet done, assuring them that they should never want anything, & in +consideration of me they would receive the same treatment as himself. The +behaviour that my nephew & the other Frenchmen had shown gave no reason for +doubting the sincerity of their protestations. They no longer believed that +any one could have any mistrust of them. My nephew & his interpreter had +been solicited to remain in the country to serve the company, & they had +consented to it without a murmur because I had charged myself with the care +of their interests in England. All that passed in the presence and by the +persuasions of the Governor. Nevertheless, behold a surprising change which +came to pass by the inconstancy, the caprice, & the wicked behaviour of +this same Governor. + +I disposed myself to part with the other Frenchmen, when the Governor, +having come aboard of the little frigate, caused a signal to be made to +hold a council of war. Upon this the Captains of the ships & myself +rendered ourselves on board, where my nephew followed us, remaining upon +the poop, whilst the officers & myself were in the room where this Governor +demanded of us, at first, if we had any valid reasons why he should not +send back in the ships all the Frenchmen who were in the country; to all +which the others having said nothing, I was obliged to speak in these +terms: "At my departure from England I received a verbal order from the +company, in particular from Sir James Hayes, to leave in the country where +we are as many of the Frenchmen as I should find desirable for the good & +advantage of the company. I have upon that resolved to engage my nephew & +his interpreter to remain in it, & I have come for that end, by my +attendance, for the consent of the Governor, who demands to-day that they +may be sent back as people who apparently are known to him as suspected. I +have always believed, & I believe it still, that their presence is useful +in this Country and also necessary to the Company, and it was difficult to +be able to overlook two, because they are known to all the nations. It is +also upon them that I have relied for the Security of the merchandises +which are left behind at the houses of the French, because without their +assistance or their presence they would be exposed to pillage. Nevertheless +I do not pretend to oppose my self to the design that the Governor has put +in execution & the proposition that he proposes making. He is free to undo +what he pleases, but he cannot make me subscribe to his resolutions, +because I see that they are directly opposed to those of the Company, to my +instructions, and to my experience. On the contrary, I will protest before +God and before men against all that he does, because, after what he has +said to you, he is incapable of doing what is advantageous for his masters. +It is in vain that one should give him good councels, for he has not the +spirit to understand them, that he may again deal a blow to which he would +wish I opposed nothing." + +This declaration had without doubt made some impression upon a spirit not +anticipated in an imaginary capacity of governor; but this one here, on the +contrary, fortified himself in his resolution, & begged me to tell the +French to embark themselves, without considering that my nephew had not +time enough to go seek his clothes, nor several bonds that were due to him +in Canada, which remained in the house of the French, and that I had +abandoned to him, to yield whatever I was in a condition of giving +satisfaction to him, & that in the hope that the Company would set up for +him the way exclusively. + +The Council after that broke up; but the Governor, apprehending that the +Frenchmen would not obey, wished to give an order to the Captains to seize +upon them and put them on board. He had even the insolence of putting me +first on the lists, as if I was suspected or guilty of something, for which +Captain Bond having perceived, said to him that he should not make a charge +of that kind, as I must be excepted from it, because he remembered nothing +in me but much of attachment for the service of his masters, & that they +should take care of the establishment that we had made, & of the advantages +that would accrue to the Company. They obliged the Governor to make another +list, and thus finished a council of war held against the interests of +those who had given power to assemble them. The persons who had any +knowledge of these savages of the north would be able to judge of the +prejudice which the conduct of this imprudent Governor would without +contradiction have caused the Company. Many would attribute his proceeding +to his little experience, or to some particular hatred that he had +conceived against the French. Be it as it may, I was not of his way of +thinking; and I believed that his timidity & want of courage had prompted +him to do all that he had done, by the apprehension that he had of the +French undertaking something against him; & what confirmed me in that +thought was the precaution that he had taken for preventing the French from +speaking to any person since the day of council, for he put them away from +the moment that we went away from them. I made out also that he had wanted +but the occasion of putting to the sword my nephew if he had had the least +pretext; but knowing his wicked designs, I made him understand, as well as +the other Frenchmen, that we were to go to England, & that he must not +leave the ship, because we were at any moment ready to depart. + +Although this change surprised my nephew & his interpreter, nevertheless +they appeared not discontented with it, especially when I had assured them, +as well as the other Frenchmen, that they would receive all kinds of good +treatment in England, and that it would do them no harm in their persons +nor in their pretensions. I left them then in the ship, and having embarked +myself in the frigate, we were put ashore two leagues from the place where +they were at anchor, to take on board some goods that remained on the +shore, with more diligence than we had been able to make with the ships; +which having succeeded in happily doing, we went to rejoin the ships at the +place where they were at anchor, in one of which my nephew and the other +Frenchmen were staying during this time without having taken the least +step, although they were in a condition for any enterprise, because they +could easily render themselves masters of the two ships and burn them, +having there for both but two men and one boy in each; after which they +could also, without danger, go on shore on the south side with the canoes +of the savages, who were from the north, and then make themselves masters +of their houses and their merchandise, which were guarded but by two men; +but to go there to them, he made doubts of all that I had told him, and +that it would be ill intentioned to the service of the company, as it was +to the Governor. That is why they were not capable, neither those nor the +others, after having submitted themselves & having taken the oath of +fidelity as they had done. + +At length, after having suffered in my honour and in my probity many things +on the part of the Governor, [Footnote: "Before Radisson's arrival, Capt. +John Abraham had been to Port Nelson with supplies of stores, & finding Mr +Bridgar was gone, he staid himself, & was continued Governor by the Company +in 1684." _Oldmixon_.] and much fatigue and indisposition of trouble and of +care in my person, to come to the end of my design, having happily +succeeded, and all that was to be embarked in the ships being on board, we +made sail the 4th day of September, 1684, and we arrived at the Downs, +without anything passing worth mentioning, the 23rd of October of the same +year. + +The impatience that I had of informing the Gentlemen of the Hudson's Bay +Company of the happy success of my voyage, and our return, and that I had +acquitted myself for the service of the King and their own interest in all +the engagements into which I had entered, obliged me to mount a horse the +same day, to present myself in London, where I arrived at midnight. All +which did not hinder me, so the Sieur Ecuyer Young was informed, who was +one of those interested, who having come to me on the morrow morning to +take me, did me the honour to present me to His Majesty and to His Royal +Highness, to whom I rendered an account of all which had been done; and I +had the consolation of receiving some marks of the satisfaction of these +great princes, who in token gave order to the Sieur Ecuyer Young to tell +the company to have care of my interests, & to remember my services. + +Some days after, I went before the Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company, +to render to it an account of my conduct, hoping to receive their +approbation of my proceeding as the first fruits of the just satisfaction & +recompence which was my due; but in place of that I found the members of +the Committee for the most part offended because I had had the honour of +making my reverence to the King and to his Royal Highness, & these same +persons continued even their bad intention to injure me, and, under pretext +of refusing me the justice which is due to me, they oppose themselves also +to the solid and useful resolutions that are necessary for the glory of his +Majesty and the advantage of the Nation and their own Interest. + +FINIS. + + + + +OFFICERS OF THE PRINCE SOCIETY. +1885. + + * * * * * + + _President_. +THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, A.M. BOSTON, MASS. + + _Vice-Presidents_. +JOHN WARD DEAN, A.M. BOSTON, MASS. +WILLIAM B. TRASK BOSTON, MASS. +THE HON. CHARLES H. BELL, LL.D. EXETER, N.H. +JAMES P. BAXTER, A.M. PORTLAND, ME. + + + _Corresponding Secretary_. +THE REV. HENRY W. FOOTE, A.M. BOSTON, MASS. + + _Recording Secretary_. +DAVID GREENE HASKINS, JR., A.M. CAMBRIDGE, MASS. + + _Treasurer_. +ELBRIDGE H. GOSS BOSTON, MASS. + +THE PRINCE SOCIETY. + +1885. + + * * * * * + +The Hon. Charles Francis Adams, LL.D. Boston, Mass. +Charles Francis Adams, Jr., A.B. Quincy, Mass. +Thomas Coffin Amory, A.M. Boston, Mass. +William Sumner Appleton, A.M. Boston, Mass. +Walter T. Avery New York, N.Y. +Thomas Willing Balch Philadelphia, Pa. +George L. Balcom Claremont, N.H. +Charles Candee Baldwin, M.A. Cleveland, Ohio. +Charles E. Banks, M.D. Chelsea, Mass. +Samuel L. M. Barlow New York, N.Y. +James Phinney Baxter, A.M. Portland, Me. +The Hon. Charles H. Bell, LL.D. Exeter. N.H. +John J. Bell, A.M. Exeter, N.H. +J. Carson Brevoort, LL.D. Brooklyn, N.Y. +The Rev. Phillips Brooks, D.D. Boston, Mass. +Sidney Brooks, A.M. Boston, Mass. +John Marshall Brown, A.M. Portland, Me, +John Nicholas Brown Providence, R.I. +Joseph O. Brown New York, N.Y. +Philip Henry Brown, A.M. Portland, Me. +Thomas O. H. P. Burnham Boston, Mass. +The Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, A.M. Chelsea, Mass. +The Hon. William Eaton Chandler, A.M. Washington, D.C. +George Bigelow Chase, A.M. Boston, Mass. +Clarence H. Clark Philadelphia, Pa. +Gen. John S. Clark Auburn, N.Y. +The Hon. Samuel Crocker Cobb Boston, Mass. +Ethan N. Coburn Charlestown, Mass. +Jeremiah Coburn, A.M. Boston, Mass. +Deloraine P. Corey Boston, Mass. +Erastus Corning Albany, N.Y. +Ellery Bicknell Crane Worcester, Mass. +Abram E. Cutter Charlestown, Mass. +William M. Darlington Pittsburg, Pa. +John Ward Dean, A.M. Boston, Mass. +Charles Deane, LL.D. Cambridge, Mass. +Edward Denham New Bedford, Mass. +John Charles Dent Toronto, Canada. +Prof. Franklin B. Dexter, A.M. New Haven, Ct. +The Rev. Henry Martyn Dexter, D.D. Boston, Mass. +Samuel Adams Drake Melrose, Mass. +Henry Thayer Drowne New York, N.Y. +Henry H. Edes Charlestown, Mass. +Jonathan Edwards, A.B., M.D. New Haven, Ct. +William Henry Egle, A.M., M.D. Harrisurg, Pa. +Janus G. Elder Lewiston, Me. +Prof. William Elder, A.M. Waterville, Me. +Samuel Eliot, LL.D. Boston, Mass. +The Hon. William M. Evarts, LL.D. New York, N.Y. +Joseph Story Fay Woods Holl, Mass. +John S. H. Fogg, M.D. Boston, Mass. +The Rev. Henry W. Foote, A.M. Boston, Mass. +Samuel P. Fowler Danvers, Mass. +James E. Gale Haverhill, Mass. +Isaac D. Garfield Syracuse, N.Y. +Julius Gay, A.M. Farmington, Ct. +Abner C. Goodell, Jr., A.M. Salem, Mass. +Elbridge H. Goss Boston, Mass. +The Hon. Justice Horace Gray, LL.D. Boston, Mass. +William W. Greenough, A.B. Boston, Mass. +Isaac J. Greenwood, A.M. New York, N.Y. +Charles H. Guild Somerville, Mass. +David Greene Haskins, Jr., A.M. Cambridge, Mass. +The Hon. Rutherford B. Hayes, LL.D. Fremont, Ohio. +Thomas Wentworth Higginson, A.M. Cambridge, Mass. +W. Scott Hill, M.D. Augusta, Me. +Amor Leander Hollingworth, A.M. Milton, Mass. +James F. Hunnewell Charlestown, Mass. +Henry Higgins Hurlbut Chicago, Ill. +Theodore Irwin Oswego, N.Y. +The Rev. Henry Fitch Jenks, A.M. Lawrence, Mass. +The Hon. Clark Jillson Worcester, Mass. +Sawyer Junior Nashua, N.H. +D. S. Kellogg, M.D. Plattsburgh, N.Y. +George Lamb Boston, Mass. +Edward F. De Lancey New York, N.Y. +Henry Lee, A.M. Boston, Mass. +Henry Cabot Lodge, Ph.D. Boston, Mass. +William T. R. Marvin, A.M. Boston, Mass. +William F. Matchett Boston, Mass. +Frederic W. G. May Boston, Mass. +The Rev. James H. Means, D.D. Boston, Mass. +George H. Moore, LL.D. New York, N.Y. +The Rev. James De Normandie, A.M. Boston, Mass. +Prof. Charles E. Norton, LL.D. Cambridge, Mass. +John H. Osborne Auburn, N.Y. +George T. Paine Providence, R. I. +Nathaniel Paine Worcester, Mass. +John Carver Palfrey, A.M. Boston, Mass. +Daniel Parish, Jr. New York, N.Y. +Francis Parkman, LL.D. Boston, Mass. +Augustus T. Perkins, A.M. Boston, Mass. +The Rt. Rev. William Stevens Perry, D.D., LL.D. Davenport, Iowa. +William Frederick Poole, LL.D. Chicago, Ill. +Samuel S. Purple, M.D. New York, N.Y. +The Rt. Rev. Charles F. Robertson, D.D., LL.D. St. Louis, Mo. +The Hon. Nathaniel Foster Safford, A.M. Milton, Mass. +Gideon D. Scull London, Eng. +Joshua Montgomery Sears, A.B. Boston, Mass. +John Gilmary Shea, LL.D. Elizabeth, N.J. +The Hon. Mark Skinner Chicago, Ill. +The Rev. Carlos Slafter, A.M. Dedham, Mass. +The Rev. Edmund F. Slafter, A.M. Boston, Mass. +Charles C. Smith Boston, Mass. +Oliver Bliss Stebbins Boston, Mass. +George Stewart, Jr. Quebec, Canada. +The Rev. Increase Niles Tarbox, D.D. Newton, Mass. +Walter Eliot Thwing Boston, Mass. +William B. Trask Boston, Mass. +Joseph B. Walker, A.M. Concord, N.H. +William Henry Wardwell Boston, Mass. +Miss Rachel Wetherill Philadelphia, Pa. +Henry Wheatland, A.M., M.D. Salem, Mass. +John Gardner White, A.M. Cambridge, Mass. +William H. Whitmore, A.M. Boston, Mass. +Henry Austin Whitney, A.M. Boston, Mass. +The Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, Ph.D., LL.D. Boston, Mass. +Henry Winsor Philadelphia, Pa. +The Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, LL.D. Boston, Mass. +Charles Levi Woodbury Boston, Mass. +Ashbel Woodward, M.D. Franklin, Ct. +J. Otis Woodward Albany, N.Y. + + LIBRARIES. +American Antiquarian Society Worcester, Mass. +Amherst College Library Amherst, Mass. +Astor Library New York, N.Y. +Bibliotheque Nationale Paris, France. +Bodleian Library Oxford, Eng. +Boston Athenaeum Boston, Mass. +Boston Library Society Boston, Mass. +British Museum London, Eng. +Concord Public Library Concord, Mass. +Cornell University Library Ithaca, N.Y. +Eben Dale Sutton Reference Library Peabody, Mass. +Free Public Library Worcester, Mass. +Free Public Library of Toronto Toronto, Canada. +Gloucester Public Library Gloucester, Mass. +Grosvenor Library Buffalo, N.Y. +Harvard College Library Cambridge, Mass. +Historical Society of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pa. +Lancaster Public Library Lancaster, Mass. +Library Company of Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pa. +Library of Parliament Ottawa, Canada. +Library of the State Department Washington, D.C. +Literary and Historical Society of Quebec Quebec, Canada. +Long Island Historical Society Brooklyn, N.Y. +Maine Historical Society Portland, Me. +Maryland Historical Society Baltimore, Md. +Massachusetts Historical Society Boston, Mass. +Mercantile Library New York, N.Y. +Minnesota Historical Society St. Paul, Minn. +Newburyport Public Library, Peabody Fund Newburyport, Mass. +New England Historic Genealogical Society Boston, Mass. +Newton Free Library Newton, Mass. +New York Society Library New York, N.Y. +Peabody Institute of the City of Baltimore Baltimore, Md. +Plymouth Public Library Plymouth, Mass. +Portsmouth Athensum Portsmouth, N.H. +Public Library of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio. +Public Library of the City of Boston Boston, Mass. +Redwood Library Newport, R.I. +State Historical Society of Wisconsin Madison, Wis. +State Library of Massachusetts Boston, Mass. +State Library of New York Albany, N.Y. +State Library of Rhode Island Providence, R.I. +State Library of Vermont Montpelier, Vt. +Williams College Library Williamstown, Mass. +Woburn Public Library Woburn, Mass. +Yale College Library New Haven, Ct. +Young Men's Library Buffalo, N.Y. + +INDEX. + +Abaouicktigonions +Abraham, Capt. John +Accadia +Ahondironons +Akrahkuseronoms +Algonquins +Allmund, Peter +Amickkoicks +Amsterdam +Andasstoueronom +Andonanchronons +Animal, a strange +Aniot nation +Annikouay +Anojot +Anomiacks +Anontackeronons +Anticosti Island +Aoveatsiovaenhronons +Arendarrhonons go to Onondaga +Ariotachronoms +Arlington, Lord +Asenipoetes +Asinipour +Assenipoulacs. (See Asenipoetes.) +Assickmack +Assiniboins. (See Asenipoetes.) +Assinipoueles. (See Asenipoetes.) +Atcheligonens +Attignaonantons join the Mohawks +Attignenonhacs +Attikamegues +Attionendarouks +Attochingochronons +Auriniacks +Avieronons +Aviottronons + +B. + +Baffin's Bay +Baily, Capt. Charles +Barbadoes +Basse, caught for oil +Bayly, Capt. Charles. (See Baily, + Capt. Charles.) +Bear Family. (See Attignaonantons.) +Bear, White, the eating of makes men + sick +Bears, abundance of +Beavers +Beef Indians +Bellinzany, Monsieur +Berger, Captain +Bersiamites +Blackberries +Boats of Oriniack skins +Bond, Captain +Bordeaux +Boston +Bouchard, Jean +Bouchard-Darval family +Bradley, Myrick +Bridgar, Captain +Brother. (_See_ Chouart, Medard.) +Brough, defined +Buffes +Button's Bay +Button, Sir Thomas + +C. + +Cadis, The +Cagamite, defined +Camseau +Canada +Cape de Magdelaine +Cape Henry +Caper, the ship +Carr, George +Carr, Sir Robert +Carriboucks +Cartaret, Sir George +Carteret, Col. George. (_See_ Cartwright, + Col. George.) +Cartwright, Col. George +Cass, Governor +Casson, Dollier de +Castors +Castors, skins used for bottles; sold + by Indians for corn; a source of + profit to the fathers +Cayuga village +Charles II. +Charlevoix +Chaudiere +Chaumont, Father +Chisedeck +Christinos, The +Chouart, Jean Baptiste +Chouart, Marie Antoinette +Chouart, Medard; arrives in Canada; + marries; a donne at Lake + Huron; becomes a trader; + called Sieur des Groseilliers; + children of; travels with Radisson; + called Des Groseilliers and + spoken of as a brother of Radisson +Citrulles +Clarke, J. V. H. +Colbert, Monsieur +Cole, Captain +Colleton, Sir Peter +Colonial Documents of New York +Copper, abundance of +Copper wire used by Indians +Cord family. (See Attignenonhacs.) +Cows, wild +Cruelties of Indians + + +D. + +Dab-fish +Dablon, Father +D'Argenson, Viscount +De Frontinac, Count +De la Barre, Governor +Delheure, Monsieur +Denier, Monsieur +De Seignelay, Marquis +Des Groseilliers, --, nephew of Radisson + --(See Chouart, + Medard.) +D'Estrees, Jean, Count +De Witt +Dollard, Adam +Doric Rock +Dress of Indians. (See Indian Costume.) +Drums of Indians +Du Chefneau, Monsieur +Ducks, abundance of +Duhamel, Rev. Joseph Thomas +Duperon, Joseph Inbert +Dupuys, Sieur + + +E. + +Eagle, the ship +Ehriehronoms +Elends +Elks +Ellis's manuscripts +England +Eressaronoms +Eruata, defined +Escotecke +Escouteck +Eslan +Esquimos + + +F. + +Fire Indians +Fishes of large size +Fort Albany +Fort Bourbon +Fort Charles +Fort Orange +Fort Richelieu +Foucault, Nicolai Joseph +France +French, the, break the treaty, and + come into a collision in Hudson's + Bay + + +G. + +Gailliards +Gazer, Captain +Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian + Families +Gien, a musical instrument +Gillam, Captain Zachariah +Gillam, --, son of Captain Zachariah +Goats +Godfrey, Marguerite +Godfry, John Baptista +Gooseberries +Gorst, Thomas +Grapes +Green Point +Groseilliers. (See Chouart, Medard.) +Guillam. (See Gillam.) +Guinea, visited by Radisson +Guitar + + +H. + +Hallow Isle +Happy Return, the ship +Hayes River +Hayes, Sir James +Hayes, the sloop, captured +Hight of St. Louis +Holland +Hollanders +Horiniac, defined +Huattochronoms +Hudson's Bay +Hudson's Bay Company +Hudson's Bay trade +Hudson's Straits +Huron Islands +Hurons +Hurons, massacred by Iroquois, + number of + + +I. + +Indian amusements +Indian costumes +Indian council, described +Indian cruelties. (See Cruelties of + Indians.) +Indians, designated by their footmarks, +Indians, eat human flesh, +Indians, food of +Indians, funeral rites +Indians, luggage described +Indians, manner of cooking their meat +Indians, manner of sweating +Indians, their musical instruments +Indians, Nations of the North, + nations of the South +Indians, pierce their ears and noses +Indians, treachery of +Ireland +Iroquois + join the Mohawks; massacre the Hurons +Isle D'Ane +Isle D'Eluticosty +Isle of Cape Breton +Isle of Montreal +Isle of Orleans +Isle of Richelieu +Isle of Sand +Isle Perse +Isles of Toniata +Italy compared to America + +J. + +Jacques, Father +Jalot, Jean +Jaluck +James II +James Bay +Jesuits + + +K. + +Kakivvakiona River +Kawirinagaw River +Kechechewan River +Keweena River +Kinoncheripirini +Kionontateronons +Kirke, Sir David +Kirke, Sir John +Kirke, Sir Lewis +Kischeripirini +Knisteneaux. (See Christinos.) +Konkhaderichonons +Kotakoaveteny + + +L. + +La Hontan +Lake Assiniboin +Lake Champlaine +Lake Huron +Lake of Castors +Lake of the Stinkings +Lake Ontario +Lake St. Francis +Lake St. Louis +Lake St. Peter +Lake Superior +Le Gardeur, Noel +Le Mercier, Father Francis +Lichen, _tripe des roche_ +London +Longpoint +Long Sault, massacre at +Louis XIV +Low Iroquois country +Lyddel, Governor William + + +M. + +Maesoochy Nadone +Maingonis +Malhonmines +Malhonniners +Manatte (See Manhattan and + New Netherland.) +Manhattan +Mantoneck +Marie, Monsieur +Maringoines +Martin, Abraham +Massacre of Hurons +Massacre at Long Sault +Matouchkarini +Matonenocks +Maverick, Samuel +Medicine-bag +Menada +Mesnard, Father +Messipi +Mile Island +Minisigons +Minutes relating to Hudson's Bay + Company +Mission, Jesuit, at Lake Superior +Mitchitamon +Mohawks +Montignes +Montmorency River +Montreal +Mont Royal +Moose. (_See_ Castors and Elends.) +Moose River +Mountaignaies +Musquetos. (_See_ Maringoines.) + + +N. + +Nadone +Nadoneceronon +Nadoneceronons (_See_ Nation of Beefe.) +Nadoucenako +Nadouceronons +Nantucket +Nasaonakouetons +Nation of Beefe (_See_ Nadoneceronons.) +Nation of the Sault +Nations of the North +Nations of the South +Neill, Rev. E. D. +Nelson's Harbor +Nelson's River +Nenosavern River +Neosavern River +Nephew of Radisson. (_See_ Des Groseilliers.) +New Amsterdam +New England +New Netherland +New York +New York Colonial MSS. +Nicolls, Col. Richard +Niel, Genevieve +Nipisiriniens +Nojottaga +Noncet, Father Joseph +Nonsuch, the ship +Nontageya. (_See_ Onondaga.) + + +O. + +Oats, Nation of +O'Callaghan, Dr. +Octanacks +Ohcrokonanechronons +Oiongoiconon. (_See_ Cayuga.) +Ojibways +Okinotoname +Oldmixon +Oneida village +Oneronoms +Onondagas +Onondaga village; number + of Indians in that vicinity; + mission +Ontorahronons +Orignal +Orijonots +Orimha, defined +Orinal +Orinha +Oriniacke; + defined; how cooked +Ormeaux, Sieur des +Orturbi +Oscovarahronoms +Oslar, Captain +Ottanaks +Otters +Ouachegami +Ouendack +Ougmarahronoms +Ouncisagay +Ountchatarounongha +Outimagami +Outlaw, Captain +Ovaouchkairing +Ovasovarin +Oxford +Oyongoironons + + +P. + +Pacoiquis +Paris +Parkman, Francis +Pasnoestigons +Pauabickhomesibs +Peace of Utrecht +Peerce Island +Pepys, Samuel +Perse, L'Isle +Pictured Rocks +Pierce, Captain +Piffings +Plains of Abraham, named after Abraham + Martin +Point Comfort +Point of St. Louis +Poirier, Marie +Pontonatemick +Porcelaine +Porpoises, white +Portall of St Peter +Port Nelson +Port Royal +Preston, Lord +Prince Rupert, the ship +Prince Rupert +Pumpkins + + +Q. + +Quebec; + the Governor of, sends letter + to Captain Baily +Quinipigousek + + +R. + +Radisson, Claude Volant de St. + Cloude +Radisson, Etienne +Radisson, Etienne Volant +Radisson, Francois +Radisson, Jean Francois +Radisson, Marguerite +Radisson, Nicholas +Radisson, Peter Esprit, emigrates to + Canada; birth of; marriage; + children of; trade with Indians; + makes notes of his wanderings; + title of first narrative; taken captive + and escapes; embarks for +Holland and France, title of +second narrative, returns to Canada, +joins Jesuits, spends three +years in travelling, third voyage, +visits Lake Superior, offers +to visit Hudson's Bay, meets +English Commissioners, lawsuit +against, visits Nantucket, +taken to Spain, in England, +accused of trying to counterfeit +coin, originated the Hudson's +Bay Settlement, visits Prince +Rupert, difficulty with Hudson's +Bay Company, goes to Port Nelson, +to France and England, +with Hudson's Bay Company (1685), +narrative of, described, +owners of, first voyage, +goes fowling, superstition of, +captured by Indians, +treatment of, taught to sing, +dressed by Indians, wrestles +with an Indian, adopted, +taken on a journey, meets an +Algonquin and escapes, recaptured, +tortured, parents +protect him, foster-father, +goes with the natives on the +war-path, journey described, +meets a strange animal, captures +prisoners, kills prisoners, +divides booty, meets foster-friends, +visits Fort Orange, +refuses to escape, repents the +refusal, escapes, +reaches Menada, sails for Amsterdam +and reaches Rochelle, +second voyage, has Iroquois +guides, enters Lake St. Francis, +treachery of Iroquois, +reaches a great river, searched +by Indians, meets old friends, +his boat driven from shore, +witnesses birth of an Indian +child, meets Jesuits, +treachery of Indians, builds a +ship, gives feast to Indians, +escapes, reaches Lake Ontario, +reaches Hight of St. Louis, +and rests at Three Rivers, +prepares to start upon another voyage, +warned by an Indian, +assaulted by Indians, some +of the party return, fights +Indians, meets Indians from +Hudson's Bay, made much of, +describes the country, +gives battle, rests for the winter, +resumes his journey, +forced to stop a year, calls a +council, starts south, assaulted +by Iroquois, arrives at +Quebec, fourth narrative, +proposes to make another voyage, +assaulted by Iroquois, attacks +Indian fort, Indians escape, +attacks another fort, +burial of Indians, kills his prisoners, +reaches Lake of Castors, +Lake Superior, finds +much copper, compares the +country with Turkey, names +the Pictured Rocks, visits +Huron Islands, meets Christinos, +builds fort, remains +twelve days, distributes +presents, calls council, +rests for the winter, famine, +eats his dogs, visited by +Nadoneseronons, builds fort, +council; feast; +leaves with the nation of Sault; +accident; sick; helped by +an Indian; meets Christinos; +voyages among the Islands; +meets Nation of the Beefe; +shows the Indians a Biblical +image; hears of a river at +the north; at River of the Sturgeon; +meets Iroquois; arrives +at the Sault; visits +place of massacre; arrives at +Port Royal; wronged; his +brother goes to France; goes to +Isle d'Eluticosty; and then to +Cape Breton; threatened by +the French; enters Hudson's +Straits; receives grant for fishing; +goes to England; unsuccessful +attempt to leave that country; +vindicates himself; his +marriage; his pension; +brings his family to Canada; +voyage to Guinea; in France; +in England; in France; +back to Canada; sails for +Quebec and reaches Accadia; +mutiny on the ship; enters Hudson's +Straits; visited by Indians; +gives presents; meets English; +arrival of a New England +ship; disputes their claim; +loses winter provisions; visits +the ships, but conceals the arrival of +one from the other; returns +to his house; hinders the spies +sent by Bridgar; Sends provisions +to Bridgar; acts as Spy; +visited by Gillam; +words with Gillam; takes +Gillam's fort and ship; surprised +by Bridgar's men; letter +to Bridgar; visit to Bridgar, +who breaks his promise; +Bridgar held a prisoner; +goes to Bridgar's house; sends +a message to Indians; freshet; +visits Bridgar, and finds +men sick; helps Bridgar to +depart; Indian council; +Bridgar makes trouble; weighs +anchor; gives the bark to +Bridgar; is driven ashore; +finds a fine harbor; arrives at +Quebec; restores ship to the +New England merchants; letter +from Colbert; goes to France; +complaints against; not +proven; dissembles; French +and English desire his co-operation, +but he joins the English; +presented to the King; sails +from England; arrives at Hayes +River; meets the Governor at +Port Nelson; meets savages; +meets his nephew; conference +with his nephew; collects +beaver skins; savages +complain of the Governor; conciliates +the savages; divides +his party; makes an inventory +of his stores; finds tobacco +scattered, as an omen; sends +savages away; nephew explains +why he killed two Englishmen; +loads ship with beaver skins; +consults his nephew; +places his affairs in the hands of his +nephew and the Governor; +leave-taking with the Indians; + goes aboard ship, meets his + foster-father, advises the Governor + to change his policy, + counsel on ship-board, disagrees + with Governor, sails for + and arrives in England, gives + account of his voyage to the king, + and goes before the Hudson + Bay Company, who refuse to give + him his due, + + +Radisson, Pierre, son of Peter +Ragueneau, Father Paul +Raynbault, Father +Rensselaerswyck +Rice +River of Canada +River of Richelieu +River of the Medows +River of the Sturgeon +River Ovamasis +River Saguenay +River St. Lawrence +Rochelle +Rock family of Indians +Roquay +Rupert, Prince +Rupert's River + +S. + +Sable Island +Sacgnes. (_See_ River Saguenay.) +Sacquenes +Saegne. (_See_ River Saguenay.) +Sagahigavirini +Sagamite, defined +Sagard-Theodat +Sagnes River +Sagnitaovigama +Sagseggons +Saguenes +Saint Peter's +Salt, Indian name for +Salt, Nation of. (_See_ Nation of the Sault) +Sanoutin Country +Sault, Company of +Sault, Indians of the. (_See_ Nation of the Sault) +Sault of Columest +Schoolcraft +Sea-serpents +Seneca village +Senecas, the +Shea, J. G. +Signelay. (_See_ De Seignelay, Marquis.) +Sioux +Sioux of the Rocks +Skinchiohronoms +Sloane, Sir Hans +Socoquis +Sononteeonon. (_See_ Seneca.) +Sonontueronons +Sorel, Sieur +Spain +Squerells +Stags +Stairing haires +Stannard, Captain +Straits of New Foundland +Sturgeons + +T. + +Tabittee Indians +Tadousac +Tanguay, Abbe Cyprian +Tatanga +Tatarga +Tatousac River +Three Rivers +Titascons +Tiviseimi +Tobacco Scattered on the land, an omen of trouble +Tobaga +Tontataratonhronoms +Touret, Elie Godefroy +Tourne Sol, how made +Trade-standard with Indians +Trees painted +Trinivoick +Trips, _tripe des roche_ +Tsonnontonan. (_See_ Seneca village.) +Turkey in Europe compared to America +Turkeys +Turquois stone + +U. +Utrecht, Peace of + +V. + +Vimont, Father +Virginia + +W. + +Wampum + +Y. + +York, Duke of +York, _alias_ Fort Bourbon +Young, Sieur Ecuyer + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Voyages of Peter Esprit Radisson +by Peter Esprit Radisson + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGES OF PETER ESPRIT RADISSON *** + +This file should be named 6913.txt or 6913.zip + +Produced by Karl Hagen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, +and the online Distributed Proofing team. +This file was produced from images generously made available +by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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