The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 5: Quebec, 1632-1633
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 5: Quebec, 1632-1633
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
When the Father reached the cabin, they did not know what welcome
to give him. There are no greetings here; they say neither "good
day" nor [88] "good evening." Their manifestations of rejoicing,
or expressions of thanks, consist of this aspiration: "Ho! ho!
ho! ho!" etc. They greet people here by actions. Immediately each
begins his work; one puts water, or rather snow, in a kettle;
another places it on the fire; another throws in large pieces of
Venison, not washing them for fear of losing the grease. This being
half cooked, it is withdrawn in order to put in some more. While so
engaged, one of the sons-in-law of la Nasse returns from the hunt,
bringing two Beavers; he tears them to pieces at once, and throws
them into the kettle, in proof of his joy at seeing the Father.
Another gives him a young and very tender Beaver, with the request
that he should be most careful not to give the bones to the dogs,
otherwise they believe [89] they will take no more Beavers. They
burn these bones very carefully. If a dog should eat them, there
would be no more good hunting. The Father told me that he was
astonished at their waste of meat. This is a great misfortune for
these miserable people, for they have nothing but feasts when they
have plenty, and are generally dying of hunger the next day. They
went a distance of three leagues from there to get a Moose they
had killed, to give the meat of it to the Father, with a thousand
excuses, saying, in short, that perhaps we might not find it good.
They pressed the Father to remain with them a few days, saying that
they had seen wood which had been gnawed, an infallible sign that
they would find more Elk.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account