[199] After this famine, we had some good days. The snow, which had been only too deep to be cold, but too shallow to take the Moose, having greatly increased toward the end of January, our Hunters captured some Moose, which they dried. Now either on account of my lack of moderation, or because this meat, dried as hard as wood and as dirty as the street, did not agree with my stomach, I fell sick in the very beginning of February. So behold me obliged to remain all the time lying upon the cold ground; this did not tend to cure me of the severe cramps that tormented me and compelled me to go out at all hours of the day and night, plunging me every time in snow up to my knees and sometimes almost up to my waist, especially when we had first begun our encampment in any one place. These severe attacks lasted about eight or ten days, and were accompanied by a pain in the stomach, and a weakness in the heart, which spread through my whole body. I recovered from this sickness, but not entirely, for I was [200] only dragging myself around at mid-Lent, when I was again seized with this disease. I tell the following in order to show how little help may be expected from the Savages when a person is sick. Being very thirsty one day, I asked for a little water; they said there was none, and that they would give me some melted snow if I wanted it. As this drink was bad for my disease, I made my host understand that I had seen a lake not far from there, and that I would like very much to have some of that water. He pretended not to hear, because the road was somewhat bad; and it happened thus not only this time, but at any place where the river or brook was a little distance from our cabin. We had to drink this snow melted in a kettle whose copper was less thick than the dirt; if any one wishes to know how bitter this drink is, let him take some from a kettle just out of the smoke and taste it. Quant à la nourriture, ils partagent le malade comme les autres; s'ils prennent de la chair fresche, ils luy en donnent sa part s'il en veut, s'il ne la mange, [201] pour lors on ne se met pas en peine de luy en garder vn petit morceau quand il voudra manger, on luy donnera de ce qu'il y aura pour lors en la cabane, c'est à dire du boucan & non pas du meilleur: car ils le reseruent pour les festins, si bien qu'vn pauure malade est contraint bien souuent de manger parmy eux, ce qui luy feroit horreur dans la santé mesme s'il estoit auec nos François. Vne ame bien alterée de la soif du Fils de Dieu, ie veux dire des souffrances, trouueroit icy dequoy se rassasier.