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
All the Savages were present during the entire ceremony. When it
came to lowering him into the grave, his mother placed his cradle
therein, with a few other things, according to their custom; and
soon after she drew some of her milk in a little [25] bark ladle,
which she burned immediately. I asked why this was done, and a
woman answered me that she was giving drink to the child, whose
soul was drinking this milk. I instructed her upon this point,
but I still speak the language so poorly that I scarcely made her
understand me.
Apres l'enterrement nous fismes le festin des morts, donnans à manger
de la farine de bled d'Inde, meslée de quelques pruneaux à ces bonnes
gens, pour les induire à nous appeller quand eux ou leurs enfans seront
malades. Bref ils s'en retournerent auec fort grande satisfaction,
comme ils firent paroistre pour lors, & particulierement deux iours
apres.
After the burial we had the funeral feast, giving some Indian
cornmeal mixed with prunes to these simple people, to induce them
to call upon us when they or their children were sick. In short,
they went away very much pleased, as they showed us then, and more
particularly two days later.
Le Pere Buteux retournant de dire la Messe de l'habitation, comme il
visitoit les Cabanes des Sauuages, il rencontra le corps mort du petit
Iean Baptiste qu'on enueloppoit comme l'autre, ses parents, quoy que
malades, luy promirent de l'apporter chés nous. On m'a desia fait
recit (dit la mere) de l'honneur & du bon traictement que vous faictes
à nos enfans, mais ie ne [26] veux point qu'on deueloppe le mien. Là
dessus le Pere du premier trespassé luy dist, on ne fait point de mal à
l'enfant on ne luy oste point ses robbes, on regarde seulement s'il est
dedans le pacquet, & si nous ne sommes point trompeurs, elle acquiesça
& presenta son fils pour estre porté dans nostre Chapelle, dans
laquelle le Pere Buteux nous l'amena en la compagnie de ses parens &
des autres Sauuages; nous l'enterrasmes auec les mesmes ceremonies que
l'autre, & eux luy donnerent aussi ses petits meubles pour passer en
l'autre monde, nous fismes encores le festin qu'ils font à la mort de
leurs gens, bien ioyeux de voir ce peuple s'affectionner petit à petit,
aux sainctes actions de l'Eglise Chrestienne & Catholique.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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