The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 7: Quebec, Hurons, Cape Breton, 1634-1635 — John Shaqi
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
XXIII. The first installment (chaps. i.-ix.) of Le Jeune's _Relation_
of 1634, written to the provincial at Paris, was given in Vol. VI. of
our series. In the concluding portion herewith presented, the superior
of the Quebec mission continues his account of the Montagnais. He
describes their clothing and ornaments; then their language, which,
though deficient in expressions for abstract ideas, he praises for its
fullness and richness in vocabulary and grammatical forms. He offers
to the provincial numerous reasons why he made so little progress in
learning the tongue while he wintered among them--his own defective
memory; the malice of a medicine man, whom he had opposed; the perfidy
of the interpreter Pierre, who refused to teach him; his sufferings
from hunger and illness; and the inherent difficulties of the language
itself. All these points are elaborated, with many details, the result
being a vivid picture of savage life, and of the hardships, danger,
and suffering endured by this heroic missionary while wandering with
the savages through the forests and mountains along the southern shore
of the River St. Lawrence. At last, after almost six months of this
wretched life, and many hair-breadth escapes from death, Le Jeune, ill
and exhausted, reaches his humble home, the mission house on the St.
Charles. In the closing chapter he recounts, in the form of a journal,
the events of the summer of 1634 at Quebec; the arrival of the French
fleet, with Father Buteux and the colonists of Sieur Robert Giffard;
the departure of Brébeuf, Daniel, and Davost for the Huron mission,
and their hardships on the voyage; the foundation of new settlements
above Quebec,--at St. Croix island (not to be confounded with the site
of De Monts's colony), and Three Rivers. He announces his intention to
go, with Buteux, to Three Rivers; and closes with an appeal for more
missionaries, who shall be competent to learn the Indian dialects.
XXIV. In this letter to Cardinal Richelieu (dated August 1, 1635), Le
Jeune congratulates him on his efforts to root out the Huguenot heresy;
thanks him for his kindness, and for evidences of affection for the
Jesuit mission in Canada; and urges the great man to aid the Company
of New France in their colonizing enterprise, for on their success
depends that of the mission. The cardinal is reminded how many poor
French families might be provided with homes if sent to the New World,
where land is abundant; he is also informed that some savages have been
converted to the faith.
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