The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 6: Quebec, 1633-1634
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 6: Quebec, 1633-1634
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
Cest animal a les pieds tortus, & les iette en dehors, ses piquerons
ont cette qualité, s'ils piquẽt vn chien ou quelque persõne, ils
entrent incessamment, s'insinuans ou glissans petit à petit, & s'en
allans ressortir par [157] la partie opposée à leur entrée; par exemple
s'attachans au dos de la main, ils la transperceront & sortiront par
le dedans. I'ay souuent veu les chiens tous herissez de ses pointes
entrées desia à demy quand leurs Maistres les retiroient. Voulant
considerer le premier qu'on apporta en la Cabane où ie demeurois auec
les Sauuages, ie l'empoignay par la queuë, & le tiray vers moy, tous
ceux qui me regardoient se mirent à rire, voyans cõme ie procedois; &
de faict quoy que i'eusse tasché de le prendre dextremẽt, si est-ce que
quantité de ces petites lances s'attacherent à mes mains, car il n'y a
aiguille si pointuë, ie les retiray aussi tost, & les iettay dans le
feu.
This animal has crooked feet, which it turns outward. Its quills
have this peculiarity: if they stick into a dog or person they
keep on penetrating, insinuating themselves or slipping in, little
by little, and coming out [157] opposite where they entered. For
example, if they stick into the back of the hand they will go
through it, and come out on the inside. I have often seen dogs
bristling with these quills, already thrust half-way into them when
their Masters draw them out. Wishing to examine the first one that
was brought into the Cabin where I was staying with the Savages,
I caught it by the tail and drew it toward me. All those who were
looking on began to laugh at the way I went at it; and, in fact,
although I had tried to take hold of it adroitly, nevertheless a
number of these little spears stuck into my hand, for there is no
needle so sharp. I immediately drew them out, and threw them into
the fire.
L'Ours au Printemps se prend à l'attrape, l'Hiuer ils le trouuẽt dans
des arbres creux où il se retire, passans plusieurs mois sans manger,
& cependant il ne laisse pas d'estre fort gras, ils couppent l'arbre
pour faire sortir la proye qu'ils assomment sur la neige, où bien à la
sortie de son giste.
Bears are taken in a trap, in the Spring. In the Winter they are
found in hollow trees, to which they withdraw, passing several
months without eating, and yet they continue to be very fat. They
fell a tree, to make their prey emerge, which they kill upon the
snow, or as it is coming from its abode.
Ils prennent les Lieures au lacet, ou les tuent auec leurs arcs ou
matras; i'ay desia remarqué autrefois que ces animaux sont blancs
pendant les neiges, & gris en autre temps, ie les trouue vn peu plus
hauts & plus pattus que ceux de France. Ils tuent les [158] Marthes &
les Escurieux en mesme façon; voila les chasses d'animaux terrestres
que i'ay veu.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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