The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 7: Quebec, Hurons, Cape Breton, 1634-1635
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 7: Quebec, Hurons, Cape Breton, 1634-1635
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
Le iour qui suiuit ces tempestes paroissant encor animé de vents,
mon hoste & l'Apostat s'en allerent à la chasse, vne heure apres
leur depart le [318] Soleil paroist beau, l'air serein, les vents
s'appaisent, les vagues cessent, la mer se calme, en vn mot il abonit
pour parler en matelot, me voila bien en peine de vouloir suiure mes
Sauuages à la trace pour les appeller, c'estoit mettre vn tortuë apres
des leuriers, ie iette les yeux au Ciel comme au lieu de refuge les
abbaissant vers la terre ie vy mes gens courir comme des cerfs sur
l'orée du bois, tirans vers moy, aussi-tost ie me leue portant nostre
petit bagage vers la riuiere, mon hoste arriuant _eco, eco, pousitau,
pousitau_, viste, viste, embarquons nous, embarquons nous, plustost
fait qu'il n'est dit, le vent & la marée nous fauorisent, nous allons
à rames & à voile, nostre petit vaisseau d'escorce fendant les ondes
d'vne vitesse incomparable, nous arriuasmes en fin sur les dix heures
du soir à la pointe de la grande Isle d'Orleans, il n'y auoit plus que
deux lieuës iusques à nostre petite maison, mes gens n'auoient point
mangé tout le iour, ie leur donne courage, nous nous [319] efforçons
de passer outre, mais le courant de la marée qui descendoit encor
estant fort rapide, il fallut attendre le flot pour trauerser la grande
riuiere, nous entrasmes cependant dans vne anse de terre, & nous nous
endormismes sur le sable aupres d'vn bon feu que nous allumasmes.
The day after these tempests being still rather windy, my host
and the Apostate went hunting. An hour after their departure the
[318] Sun shone out brightly, the air became clear, the winds died
away, the waves fell, the sea became calm,--in a word, it mended,
as the sailors say. Then I was in great perplexity about following
my Savages to call them back, for it would have been like a turtle
pursuing a greyhound. I turned my eyes to Heaven as to a place of
refuge; and, when I lowered them, I saw my people running like deer
along the edge of the wood straight toward me. I immediately arose,
and started for the river, bearing our little baggage. When my host
arrived, _eco, eco, pousitau, pousitau_, "Quick, quick, let us
embark, let us embark!" No sooner said than done; the wind and tide
favored us, we glided on with paddle and sail, our little bark ship
cutting the waves with incomparable swiftness. We at last arrived
about ten o'clock in the evening at the end of the great Island of
Orleans, from which our little house was not more than two leagues
distant. My people had eaten nothing all day; I encouraged them. We
[319] tried to go on, but the current of the tide, which was still
ebbing, being very rapid, we had to await the flood to cross the
great river. Therefore we went into a little cove, and slept upon
the sand, near a good fire that we lighted.
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