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
Voila le sieur de Caën qui a creu que i'auois enuoyé des Castors
vers les estrangers; i'ay enuoyé vers ce quartier là quelques peaux
d'Orignac, non pour traitter, mais pour coupper les bras à nos ennemis.
Tu scais que les Hiroquois ont de grãds bras, si ie ne leur couppois,
il y a longtemps que nous seriõs tous pris: i'enuoye des presents aux
nations qui [233 i.e., 133] leur sont voisines, afin qu'elles ne se
ioignent pas auec eux; ce n'est pas pour offenser les François, mais
pour nous conseruer.
"It was sieur de Caën, who believed that I had sent Beavers to the
foreigners; I sent to those quarters a few Moose skins, not in
trade, but to cut off the arms of our enemies. Thou knowest that
the Hiroquois have long arms; if I had not cut them, we should have
been taken by them long ago. I send presents to tribes who [233
i.e., 133] are their neighbors, to the end that they should not
unite with them; it is not to offend the French, but to preserve
ourselves.
Tu dis que nous voulons aller à l'Anglois, ie m'en vay dire à mes gẽs
qu'on n'y aille point: ie te promets que ny moy, ny ceux qui ont de
l'esprit n'iront pas: que s'il y a quelque ieune homme qui fasse vn
sault iusques là sans estre veu, ie n'y sçaurois que faire, tu scais
bien qu'on ne peut pas tenir la ieunesse. Ie le difendray à tous,
si quelqu'vn y va, il n'a point d'esprit: tu peux tout, mets des
chalouppes aux auenuës, & prends les Castors de ceux qui iront.
"Thou sayest that we wish to go to the English; I will tell my
men that they should not go there. I promise thee that neither I
myself, nor they who have any sense, will do that; but if there is
some young man who jumps over there without being seen, I shall not
know what to do; thou knowest well that youth cannot be restrained.
I shall forbid every one from going there. Any one who does so has
no sense. Thou canst do everything, place thy boats in the way and
capture the Beavers of those who attempt to go.
Tu nous dis que les Peres viuront parmy nous, & nous instruiront,
ce bon-heur sera pour nos enfans, nous qui sommes desia vieux, nous
mourrons ignorans, ce bien n'arriuera pas sitost que nous voudrions.
"Thou sayest that the Fathers will live among us, and will teach
us. This good fortune will be for our children; we, who are already
old, shall die ignorant. This blessing will not come as soon as we
should like to have 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