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
amiscou_, mon frere le Capitaine, nous t'apporterons la chair d'vn
Castor, & me firent bien entendre qu'elle ne seroit point bouquanée,
ils sçauẽt bien que les François n'ayment point leur bouquan, c'est de
la chair seichée à la fumée, ils n'ont point d'autre sel que la fumée
pour conseruer leur viande.
The 6th of August, monsieur Emery de Caën coming to see us in our
little house, distant a good half-league from the fort, remained to
dine with us. While we were at the table, two families of Savages,
men, women, and little children, approached the spot where we were.
The outside door of our house being open, all is open, the English
having broken the others; that is why these simple people were in
the room, where we were, before we were aware of it. They wanted
to ask me to keep some of their baggage for them. I noticed their
patience, for, although they had [54] started on a long journey
which they were going to make, nevertheless they did not interrupt
us once during the dinner, nor afterwards while they saw me with
our Captain. They sat down in one place or another, and I had a
piece of bread, of which they are very fond, given to each of them.
At last, monsieur de Caën having departed, one of them approached
me and said: _Ania Kir Capitana?_ "My brother, art thou Captain?"
They were asking for the superior of the house. They call their
Captain "Sagamore," but by associating with the Europeans they have
come to use the word _Capitana_. Our Brother answered them, _eoco_;
that is to say, "yes." Thereupon he made a speech to me, saying
that they were going hunting or fishing for Beavers, and that I
should keep their baggage; that they would return when the leaves
fell from the trees. They asked me very [55] often if thieves ever
came into our house, and very carefully scrutinized the places
where their baggage might be best concealed. I answered that
everything was safe in our house, and having shown them a little
room which could be locked, they seemed very happy, placing therein
three or four packages covered very neatly with the bark of trees,
telling me that they contained great riches. I do not know what is
there; but, at the best, all their riches are only poverty. Their
gold and silver, their diamonds and pearls, are little white grains
of porcelain which do not seem to amount to much. Having piled up
their baggage, they asked me for a knife, and I gave them one;
then they asked me for some string to tie to an iron arrow-point
or dart, with barbed teeth. They throw these [56] darts against
the Beavers, and hold the end of the string, letting it go to the
bottom of the water where the wounded Beaver dives; and, when it
has lost blood and become weak; they draw it back by this string,
of which they never let go until they have their prey. Having
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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