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
Le 24e estant allé dire la Messe à l'habitation de nos François, vn
Capitaine des Sauuages vint voir le sieur Emery de Caen, & luy dict
que les Algonquains estãs allez à la guerre contre les Hiroquois vn de
leurs hommes auoit esté tué, & l'autre pris prisonnier. Ce qui auoit
tellement espouuanté les Montagnaits, qu'ils s'en reuenoyent tous de la
chasse du castor, & de l'ours, pour se cabaner pres du fort, crainte
d'estre surpris de leurs ennemis. Ils se vouloyent r'assembler pour
estre plus forts: mais ils craignoient la faim en quittant leur chasse.
Ils demanderent donc [15] si on ne les secoureroit pas de viures au
cas qu'ils demeurassent ensemble. La response fut qu'on ne vouloit riẽ
donner à credit cette année là; ce à quoy ils s'attendoyent. On me
racõta vne generosité de ce capitaine, estant enuoié pour espion vers
les Hiroquois, il rencontra l'espion des ennemis: se voians teste à
teste, l'Hiroquois se croiant plus fort que le mõtagnaits, lui dit, Ne
faisõs point tuer nos gens; mais luitons ensemble, & voions qui pourra
emporter son cõpagnon. La proposition acceptée, ce capitaine qui pour
lors estoit espiõ des Montagnaits, fatigua si fort son homme, que
l'ayant terrassé, il le lia, le chargea sur son dos comme vn fagot, &
l'emporta vers ses gens. Voila ce qu'on me dict de luy.
On the 24th, having gone to say Mass at the French settlement, a
Captain of the Savages came to see sieur Emery de Caen, and told
him that, the Algonquains having gone to war against the Hiroquois,
one of their men had been killed and the other taken prisoner.
This had so frightened the Montagnaits, that they all returned
from the hunt for beavers and bears, to camp near our fort, for
fear of being surprised by their enemies. They wanted to unite,
that they might be stronger; but they feared famine in abandoning
the chase. They asked us therefore [15] if we would supply them
with food, in the event of their remaining together. The answer
was that we would not give anything on credit that year; this was
what they were relying upon. I was told about an act of generosity
on the part of this captain. Having been sent as a spy upon the
Hiroquois, he encountered the spy of the enemy, and seeing each
other face to face, the Hiroquois, believing himself stronger than
the montagnaits savage, said to him: "Do not let us have our people
killed, but let us wrestle and see which can carry his companion
away." The proposal being accepted, this captain, who at that time
was the spy of the Montagnaits, so tired out his man that, having
thrown him down, he bound him, loaded him upon his back like a
piece of wood, and carried him away to his people. This was what
they told me about him.[27]
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