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
Pierre Pastedechouan has told us that his grandmother used to
take pleasure in relating to him the astonishment of the Natives,
when they saw for the first time a French ship arrive upon their
shores. They thought it was a moving Island; they did not know what
to say of the great sails which made it go; their astonishment
was redoubled in seeing a number of men on deck. The women [41]
at once began to prepare houses for them, as is their custom when
new guests arrive, and four canoes of Savages ventured to board
these vessels. They invited the Frenchmen to come into the houses
which had been made ready for them, but neither side understood the
other. They were given a barrel of bread or biscuit. Having brought
it on shore they examined it; and, finding no taste in it, threw
it into the water. In a word, they were as much astonished as was
the King of Calecut, in olden times, when he saw the first European
ship nearing his shores; for, having sent some one to investigate
the character and appearance of the men brought by that great
house of wood, the messengers reported to their master that these
men were prodigious and horrible; that they were dressed in [42]
iron, ate bones, and drank blood. They had seen them covered with
their cuirasses, eating biscuits, and drinking wine. Our Savages
said the Frenchmen drank blood and ate wood, thus naming the wine
and the biscuits.
Or comme ils ne pouuoient entendre de quelle nation estoient nos gens,
ils leurs donnerent vn nom, qui est tousiours demeuré depuis aux
François _ouemich-tigouchiou_, c'est à dire vn homme qui trauaille en
bois, ou qui est en vn canot ou vaisseau de bois: ils voyoient nostre
nauire fait de bois, leurs petits canots n'estans bastis que d'escorce.
Now as they were unable to understand to what nation our people
belonged, they gave them the name which has since always clung to
the French, _ouemich-tigouchiou_; that is to say, a man who works
in wood, or who is in a canoe or vessel of wood. They saw our
ships, which were made of wood, their little canoes being made only
of bark.
Le 20. de Nouembre nostre Sauuage, c'est ainsi que i'appelleray ce
bon Manitougache, surnommé la Nasse, se mit à faire vne cabane de
bois dans le bastiment que nous ont bruslé les Anglois tout auprés
[43] de nostre petite maison, il fit luy-mesme de la planche auec vne
hache, couppant certains arbres aisez à refendre: il alla brusler vne
vieille challouppe qu'il auoit veu échoüée & abandonnée dans vne Isle,
& du clou qu'il en retira, il se fit auec ses planches vne petite
maisonnette ou cabane assez passable; les autres Sauuages la venoient
voir, & nos François aussi, loüans son inuention. Ie luy donnay vn
nom de Iesus en papier pour le mettre dedãs en quelque endroit, il
l'attacha au plꝰ beau lieu.
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