As to the dogs, which I have mentioned as one of the discomforts of the Savages' houses, I do not know that I ought to blame them, for they have sometimes rendered me good [192] service. True, they exacted from me the same courtesy they gave, so that we reciprocally aided each other, illustrating the idea of _mutuum auxilium_. These poor beasts, not being able to live outdoors, came and lay down sometimes upon my shoulders, sometimes upon my feet, and as I only had one blanket to serve both as covering and mattress, I was not sorry for this protection, willingly restoring to them a part of the heat which I drew from them. It is true that, as they were large and numerous, they occasionally crowded and annoyed me so much, that in giving me a little heat they robbed me of my sleep, so that I very often drove them away. In doing this one night, there happened to me a little incident which caused some confusion and laughter; for, a Savage having thrown himself upon me while asleep, I thought it was a dog, and finding a club at hand, I hit him, crying out, _Aché, Aché_, the words they use to drive away the dogs. My man woke up greatly astonished, thinking that [193] all was lost; but having discovered whence came the blows, "Thou hast no sense," he said to me, "it is not a dog, it is I." At these words I do not know who was the more astonished of us two; I gently dropped my club, very sorry at having found it so near me. Retournons à nos chiens, ces animaux estans affamez, d'autant qu'ils n'auoient pas de quoy mãger non plus que nous, ne faisoient qu'aller & venir, roder par tout dans la cabane: or comme on est souuẽt couché aussi bien qu'assis dans ces maisons d'écorce, ils nous passoient souuent & sur la face & sur le ventre, & si souuent, & auec telle importunité, qu'estant las de crier & de les chasser, ie me couurois quelque fois la face, puis ie leur donnois liberté de passer par où ils voudroient: s'il arriuoit qu'on leur iettait vn os, aussitoit s'estoit de courre apres à qui l'auroit, culbutans tous ceux qu'ils rencontroient assis, s'ils ne se tenoient bien fermes; ils m'ont par fois renuersé & mon écuelle d'écorce, & tout ce qui estoit dedans sur ma sotane. Ie sousriois quand il y suruenoit quelque querelle parmy-eux lors que [194] nous disnions: car il n'y auoit celuy qui ne tint son plat à deux belles mains contre la terre, qui seruoit de table, de siege & de lict, & aux hommes & aux chiens: c'est de là que prouenoit la grãde incommodité que nous receuions de ces animaux, qui portoient le nez dans nos écuelles plustost que nous n'y portions la main. C'est assez dit des incommoditez des maisons des Sauuages, parlons de leurs viures.