The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 5: Quebec, 1632-1633 — John Shaqi
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
Vn autre assistant aux Litanies que disoient quelques François, &
entendant qu'on disoit souuent ces paroles, _ora pro nobis_, comme il
ne les entendoit pas bien prononcer, il croyoit qu'on disoit, _carocana
ouabis_, c'est à dire du pain blanc, il s'estonnoit que si souuent on
reïterast ces paroles, _carocana ouabis_, du pain blãc, du pain blanc,
&c. Ils croyent que le tonnerre est vn oyseau, & vn Sauuage demandoit
vn iour à vn François si on n'en prenoit point en France, luy ayant dit
qu'ouy il le supplia de [52] luy en apporter vn, mais fort petit; il
craignoit qu'il ne l'espouuantast s'il eust esté grand.
Another who was present at the Litanies repeated by some Frenchmen,
hearing the frequent use of the words _ora pro nobis_, and not
hearing the pronunciation distinctly, thought they said _carocana
ouabis_, that is to say, "white bread;" he was astonished that they
should so often repeat the words _carocana ouabis_, "white bread,
white bread," etc. They believe that the thunder is a bird, and a
Savage one day asked a Frenchman if they did not capture them in
France; having told him yes, he begged him to [52] bring him one,
but a very little one; he feared that it would frighten him if it
were large.
Voicy vne chose qui m'a consolé, vn certain Sauuage nommé la Nasse,
qui demeuroit auprés de nos Peres, & cultiuoit la terre; voyant que
les Anglois le molestoient, s'estoit retiré dans des Isles où il auoit
continué à cultiuer la terre; entendant que nous estions de retour,
nous est venu voir, & nous a promis qu'il reuiendra à se cabaner aupres
de nous, qu'il nous donnera son petit fils; ce sera nostre premier
pensionnaire, nous luy apprendrons à lire, & à escrire; ce bon homme
dit que les Sauuages ne font pas bien, qu'il veut estre nostre frere, &
viure comme nous; madame Hebert nous a dit qu'il y a long temps qu'il
souhaittoit nostre retour.
Here is something that has consoled me: A certain Savage named la
Nasse, who lived near our Fathers and cultivated the land, seeing
that the English molested him, withdrew to the Islands, where he
continued to cultivate the land; hearing that we had returned, he
came to see us and has promised that he will come back and build
his cabin near us, and that he will give us his little boy. This
will be our first pupil; we shall teach him to read and write. This
good man told us that the Savages do not act right; that he wished
to be our brother, and live as we do. Madame Hebert told us that he
has wished for our return for a long time.
Plusieurs Sauuages nous demandent des nouuelles du R. Pere Lallemant,
[53] du Pere Masse, & du Pere Brebeuf, qu'ils appellent fort bien par
leur nom, & s'enquestent s'ils ne retourneront point l'année qui vient:
ces bonnes gens ont confiance en nous, en voicy vn exemple.
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