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
Finally, after having instructed our good Joseph in the Sacrament
of Extreme Unction, we administered it to him; and on that very
day, Holy Saturday, his soul left the body and went to celebrate
[20] Easter in Heaven. One of his sons-in-law, when he saw him very
low, remained near him to see how we would bury him after death,
wishing us to give him his Castelogne [blanket] and his tobacco
pouch, for use in the other world; but, when he went to carry the
news of this death to the wife of the deceased, we buried the
latter according to the custom of the Catholic Church, showing
as much honor as we could in the funeral ceremonies. Monsieur de
Champlain, in order to give proof of the love and honor we bear
those who die in the Christian Faith, had his people leave their
work, and sent them to us to attend the services; we followed as
closely as possible the ceremonies of the Church, which was very
acceptable to the relatives of this new Christian. There was one
thing, however, which displeased them; when we came to put the body
in the grave, they noticed that there was a little water in the
bottom, caused by the snow melting just then and dropping into it;
this struck their imagination, and as they are [21] superstitious,
saddened them a little. It will not be difficult to combat such
errors, when we know their language well. These are, as far as I
know, the first adult Savages in these countries who have been
baptized and died firm in the faith.
Le troisiesme Sauuage baptisé cette année, estoit vn enfant âgé de
trois à quatre mois seulement, son Pere estant en cholere contre sa
femme, fille de nostre bon Ioseph, soit pource qu'elle le vouloit
quitter, ou qu'il estoit touché de quelque ialousie, il print l'enfant
& le ietta contre terre pour l'assommer: Vn de nos François suruenant
là dessus, & se souuenant que nous leurs auions recommandé de conferer
le Baptesme aux enfans qu'ils verroient en danger de mort, au cas
qu'ils ne nous peussent appeller, il prit de l'eauë & le baptiza: ce
pauure petit neantmoins ne mourut pas du coup, sa mere le reprit &
l'emporta auec soy dans les Isles quittant son mary, qui nous a dit
depuis qu'il croit que son fils est mort, sa mere estant tombée dans
vne maladie qu'il iuge mortelle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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