d'icy bas) empesche que Dieu ne soit conneu & adoré de ces peuples. Et si quelqu'vn trouue estrange que ie parle en cette sorte, qu'il vienne, qu'il ouure les yeux, qu'ils voyent ces peuples crier apres le pain de la parole de Dieu, & s'il n'est touché de compassion, & s'il ne crie plus haut que moy, ie me condam[ne]ray à vn perpetuel silence. The money with which they will buy their food, wood, bark house, and other necessaries, is little beads or tubes of glass, knives, awls, blankets, kettles, hatchets, and similar things; this is the money they must carry with them. If peace is negotiated between the Hurons and Hiroquois, I foresee a splendid opening for the Gospel. [33 i.e., 335] We can say then with joy and with sadness, _messis, quidem multa operarii vero pauci_, for we shall see few persons who understand these languages. I learn that in the 25 or 30 leagues of country which the Hurons occupy,--others estimate it at much less,--there are more than thirty thousand souls. The neutral nation is much more populous, the Hiroquois largely so, and the Algonquains have a country of very great extent. I would like to have now only five or six of our Fathers in each of these nations; and yet I would not dare to ask for them, although for one that we desire ten would volunteer, all ready to die in these countries. But I learn that all we have in France for this mission is little; how then shall we take the children, especially those of these populous nations, to maintain and instruct them? Alas, must it be that the goods of this world are a barrier to the blessings of Heaven? Oh, that we had only the crumbs of bread that fall from the tables of the rich of the world, to give to these little children! I do not [336] complain, I ask nothing from any one whomsoever; but I cannot restrain my emotion when I see that dirt (for what else is wealth here below?) prevents these people from knowing and adoring God. And if any one thinks it strange that I speak in this way, let him come, let him open his eyes, let him see these people crying for the bread of the word of God; and, if he is not touched with compassion, and if he does not cry louder than I do, I will condemn myself to perpetual silence.