An Account of the Customs and Manners of the Micmakis and Maricheets Savage Nations, Now Dependent on the Government of Cape-BretonMaillard, Antoine Simon
History
An Account of the Customs and Manners of the Micmakis and Maricheets Savage Nations, Now Dependent on the Government of Cape-Breton
Maillard, Antoine Simon
Malecite Indians; Micmac Indians; Nova Scotia -- Description and travel
Mons. _Delorme_, whom you possibly may have seen in Rochelle, where he
had a small employ in the marine-department, brought over his son here,
a very hopeful youth, who had even some tincture of polite education,
and was not above thirteen years old, and partly from indulgence, partly
from a view of making him useful to the government, by his learning, at
that age, perfectly the savage language, he suffered him to go amongst
the savages. The young _Delorme_ would, indeed, sometimes return home
just on a visit to his family; but always expressed such an impatience,
or rather pining to get back again to them, that, though reluctantly,
the father was obliged to yield to it. No representations in short,
after some years, could ever prevail on him to renounce his connexions,
and residence amongst the _Abenaquis_, where he is almost adored. He has
learned to excel them all, even in their own points of competition. He
out-does them all in their feats of activity, in running, leaping,
climbing mountains, swimming, shooting with the bow and arrow, managing
of canoes, snaring and killing birds and beasts, in patience of fatigue,
and even of hunger; in short, in all they most value themselves upon, or
to which they affix the idea of personal merit, the only merit that
commands consideration amongst them. They are not yet polished enough to
admire any other. By this means, however, he perfectly reigns amongst
them, with a power the greater, for the submission to it not only being
voluntary, but the effect of his acknowledged superiority, in those
points that with them alone constitute it. His personal advantages
likewise may not a little contribute thereto, being perfectly well-made,
finely featured, with a great deal of natural wit, as well as courage.
He dresses, whilst with the savages, exactly in their manner, ties his
hair up like them, wears a tomby-awk, or hatchet, travels with
_rackets_, (or Indian shoes) and, in short, represents to the life the
character of a compleat savage-warrior. When he comes to _Quebec_, or
_Louisbourg_, he resumes his European dress, without the least mark
appearing in his behaviour, of that wildness or rudeness one would
naturally suppose him to have contracted by so long a habit of them with
the savages. Nobody speaks purer French, or acquits himself better in
conversation. He takes up or lays down the savage character with equal
grace and ease. His friends have, at length, given over teazing him to
come and reside for good amongst them; they find it is to so little
purpose. The priests indeed complain bitterly, that he is not overloaded
with religion, from his entering so thoroughly into the spirit of the
savage-life; and his setting an example, by no means edifying, of a
licentious commerce with their women; besides, his giving no signs of
his over-respecting either their doctrine or spiritual authority. This
they pretend hurts them with their actual converts, as well as with
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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