The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 2: Acadia, 1612-1614
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 2: Acadia, 1612-1614
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
[67] Monsieur de Biancourt restrained himself, and not otherwise
showing any ill-will toward Meteourmite, learned from him that
there was a route by which they could pass; that in order not to
miss it, he would let us have some of his own people in our barque;
that, besides, if we would come to his wigwam he would try to
satisfy us. We trusted him, and thought we might have to repent
it; for we traversed such perilous heights and narrow passes that
we never expected to escape from them. In fact, in two places some
of our men cried out in distress that we were all lost. But, thank
God, they cried too soon.
Arrivés, Monsieur de Biancourt se mit en armes, pour en cet arroy
aller veoir Meteourmite. Il le trouva en son hault appareil de majesté
sauvagesque, seul dans une cabane bien nattée le haut et bas, et
quelques quarante puissans jeunes hommes à l'entour de la cabane, en
forme de corps de garde, chacun son pavois, son arc et flesches à terre
au devant de soy. Ces gens ne sont point niais, nullement, et qu'on
nous en croye.
When we arrived, Monsieur de Biancourt armed himself, and thus
arrayed proceeded to pay a visit to Meteourmite. He found him in
the royal apparel of savage majesty, alone in a wigwam that was
well matted above and below, and about forty powerful young men
stationed around it like a body-guard, each one with his shield,
his bow and arrows upon the ground in front of him. These people
are by no means simpletons, and you may believe us when we say so.
Pour moy, je receus, ce jour là, la plus grande part des caresses;
car, comme j'estois sans armes, les plus honorables, laissans les
soldats, se prindrent à moy avec mille significations d'amitié. Ils me
conduysirent en la plus grande cabane de toutes; [68] elle contenoit
bien 80 ames. Les places prinses, je me jettay à genoux, et ayant faict
le signe de la croix, recitay mon _Pater_, _Ave_, _Credo_, et quelques
oraisons; puis, ayant faict pause, mes hostes, comme s'ils m'eussent
bien entendu, m'applaudirent en leur façon, s'escriant _Ho! ho! ho!_
Ie leur donnay quelques croix et quelques images, leur en donnant à
apprehender ce que je pouvois. Eux les baysoient fort volontiers,
faisoyent le signe de la Croix, et, chacun pour soy, s'efforçoyent à me
presenter ses enfans, à ce que je les benisse et leur donnasse quelque
chose. Ainsy se passa cette visite, et une autre que je fis depuis.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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