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
The sorcerer replied: "That is very good for you people;
but, for us, it is thus that we cure our sick." Alas! how ignorant
are they who do not know God, indeed even in natural things! To
end this story, we returned by water as we came, without baptizing
the child, believing that the disease was not mortal; the fever,
although very high, being intermittent.
A quelques iours de là ie le retournay voir, ses parents nous ayans
signifié qu'ils estoient bien aises que nous y allassions, i'y
rencontray encor vn sorcier qui le souffloit, mais [263 i.e., 163]
celuy cy n'entendoit pas si bien son mestier que l'autre, aussi est
il plus ieune, il me laissa voir ses beaux mysteres, il battoit son
tambour aux oreilles de ce pauure petit qui s'égorgeoit de pleurer,
il luy souffloit sur la teste auec vn sifflement qu'il faisoit bruire
entre ses dents: il tournoit son tambour deçà delà à ses costés,
derrière son dos, puis le ramenoit sur l'enfant; En vn mot il se tuoit
de bien faire, & ne faisoit rien qui vaille. Il n'entendoit rien à
faire le iongleur à comparaison de l'autre. C'est chose estrãge que
les Sauuages aient tãt de creance à ces charlatans! ie ne sçay comme
le mensonge est plus adoré que la verité! Bref ce petit enfant se
guerissant, son pere & sa mere nous sont venus voir, & l'õt apporté
auec eux, nous remercians par cette visite de la peine que nous auions
pris pour luy.
After a few days I returned to see him, his parents having made
known to us that they would be very glad if we should come. Again I
met a sorcerer who was blowing upon the body, but [263 i.e., 163]
this one did not understand his trade so well as the other; he was
also younger, and allowed me to see his beautiful mysteries. He
beat his tambourine in the ears of this poor little child, who was
almost choking with tears. He blew upon his head, with a whistling
sound made between his teeth; he turned his tambourine on this
side and that side of his ribs, behind his back, and then brought
it again over the child. In a word, he nearly killed himself with
exertion, but accomplished nothing of any account. He knew nothing
at all about playing the juggler, compared with the other. Strange
that the Savages have so much faith in these charlatans! I do not
know why falsehood is worshipped more than truth. In short, this
little child being cured, its father and mother came to see us and
brought it with them, thanking us by this visit for the trouble we
had taken for it.
[264 i.e., 164] I'en ay esté voir d'autres de puis au delà du grand
fleuue Sainct Laurens, où vne partie des Sauuages s'estoient cabanés.
Si ie continuë cet exercice les meres me tiendront biẽ tost pour
medecin des petits enfans, car elles me disent desia leurs maladies,
mais nous sommes appointés bien contraires: ils pensent seulement aux
corps, & nous à l'ame.
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