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
On the 22nd, our Pierre having caught a Beaver, a Savage skinned
and our brother washed it. This woman, seeing that he let some of
the blood of the animal fall to the ground, cried out: "In truth,
this man has no [102] sense;" and turning to Pierre she said:
"Thou wilt take no more Beavers, for the blood of thine has been
spilled." It is one of their superstitions that you must not spill
the pure blood of the Beaver upon the ground, if you wish to have
good hunting, at least Pierre has told us so.
Le premier iour d'Auril le Capitaine des Algonquains nous vint voir,
& nous apporta de la chair d'Elan, ses gens en auoient tué dix, quoy
qu'vn Sauuage vous donne pour vn grand mercy, (c'est vn mot qu'ils
ont appris des François) il leur faut rendre quelqu'autre chose pour
vn autre grand'mercy, autrement vous serez tenu pour vn ingrat. Ils
reçoiuent assez volontiers sans donner: mais ils ne sçauent que c'est
de donner sans receuoir. Il est vray que si vous les voulez suiure
dãs les bois, ils vous nourriront sans vous riẽ demander, [103] s'ils
croient que vous n'ayez riē: Mais s'ils s'apperçoiuẽt que vous ayez
quelque chose, & qu'ils en ayẽt enuie, ils ne cesseront de vous presser
que vous ne leur ayez donné.
On the first day of April, the Captain of the Algonquains came to
see us, and brought us some Elk meat, his people having killed ten
of these animals. Although the Savages will give you something for
a "thank you," (this is a word they have learned from the French),
you must make them some return for another "thank you," otherwise
you will be looked upon as ungrateful. They are willing enough to
receive without giving; but they do not know what it is to give
without receiving. It is true that, if you will follow them into
the woods, they will feed you without asking anything of you, [103]
if they think that you have nothing. But if they see that you have
something, and they want it, they will not stop asking you for it
until you have given it.
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