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
On the first of July, Father Brebœuf and Father Daniel left in a
bark to go to three Rivers, there to wait for the Hurons. This
bark was destined to begin a new settlement in that quarter.
Father Davost, who had come down from Tadoussac for the assistance
of our French, followed our Fathers three days later in company
with Monsieur the General, who wanted to meet these people at the
trading post.[11] They waited there some time for the Hurons, who
did not come down in so great numbers this year as usual; because
the Hiroquois, having been informed that five hundred men of this
nation were moving toward their country to make war upon them,
themselves went on ahead to the number of fifteen hundred, it is
said; and, having surprised those who were to surprise them, they
killed about two hundred of them, and took more than one hundred
prisoners, Louys Amantacha[12] being one of the number. They said
his father was put to death, but the report is now that he escaped
the hands of the enemy. We were told that these triumphant [327]
Hiroquois sent some Captains to the Hurons to treat for peace,
retaining the most prominent ones in their possession after having
cruelly massacred the others.
Cette perte a esté cause que les Hurons sont venus en petites trouppes,
au commencement ils ne sont descendus que sept Canots: Le Pere Brebœuf
en ayant eu nouuelle, les aborde, & fait tout ce qu'il peut pour les
engager à le receuoir, & ses compagnons, & les porter en leur pays,
ils s'y accordent volontiers. Là dessus [328] vn Capitaine Algonquain,
nommé la Perdrix, qui demeure en ville, fit vne harangue, par laquelle
il recommandoit qu'on n'embarquast aucun François: Voila les Hurons qui
doiuent passer par le pays de ce Capitaine, à leur retour entierement
refroidis: sur ces entrefaites arriue Monsieur du Plessis, tout cecy se
passoit en vn lieu nommé les trois Riuieres, trente lieuës plus haut
que Kebec; comme il desiroit ardemment que nos Peres penetrassent dans
ces nations, il fit assembler les Algonquains en Conseil, notamment
ce Capitaine, pour luy faire rendre raison de sa deffence; il en
apporte plusieurs, on luy satisfaict sur le chãp, il insistoit, comme
ie le conjecture, des lettres du Pere Brebœuf, sur le desordre qui
arriueroit, au cas que quelque François mourut aux Hurons; on luy
repart que les Peres n'estans point en son pays, la paix entre les
François, & ses Compatriotes, ne seroit point rompue, quoy qu'ils
mourussent d'vne mort naturelle ou violente. Voila les Algonquains
contents: mais les Hurons commencerent à s'excuser sur leur [329] petit
nombre, qui ne sçauroit passer tant de François sur la petitesse de
leurs Canots, & sur leurs maladies; en vn mot ils eussent bien voulu
embarquer quelques François bien armez, mais non pas de ces longues
robbes, qui ne portent point d'arquebuses. Monsieur du Plessis presse
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