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
One night, when every one had sunk into a deep sleep, I began to
talk to this poor miserable Renegade. I showed him that while he
was in our house he had lacked for nothing of whatever we had,
and that he might have spent his life there peacefully; that in
forsaking God he had rushed into the life of a brute, which would
finally end in hell if he did not open his eyes; that eternity was
very long, and to be a companion of devils forever was a long term.
"I see clearly," he replied, "that I am not doing right; but my
misfortune is that I have not a mind strong enough to remain firm
in my determination; I believe all they tell me. When I was with
the English, I allowed myself to be influenced by their talk; when
I am with the Savages, I do as they do; [228] when I am with you,
it seems to me your belief is the true one. Would to God I had
died when I was sick in France, and I would now be saved. As long
as I have any relations, I will never do anything of any account;
for when I want to stay with you, my brothers tell me I will rot,
always staying in one place, and that is the reason I leave you to
follow them." I urged all the reasons and made him all the offers
I could to strengthen him; but his brother, the Sorcerer, who will
soon be with us, will upset all my plans, for he does whatever he
wills with this poor Apostate.
Le trentiesme iour d'Octobre nous sortismes de ceste malheureuse
Islete, & vinsmes aborder sur la nuict dans vne autre Isle qui
porte vn nom quasi aussi grand comme elle est, car elle n'a pas
demy lieuë de tour, & voicy comme nos Sauuages me dirẽt qu'elle se
nommoit, _Ca pacoucachtecho_k_hi_ _chachagou achigani_k_hi_, _Ca
pa_k_hitaouananioui_k_hi_, ie croy qu'ils forgent ces noms sur le
champ, ceste Isle n'est quasi qu'vn grand rocher affreux, comme elle
n'a point de fontaine d'eau douce nous fusmes contrains de [129 i.e.,
229] boire des eauës de pluyes fort sales que nous ramassions dans des
fondrieres, & sur des roches; on ietta le voile de nostre chalouppe sur
des perches quand nous y arriuasmes, & nous nous mismes à l'abry là
dessous, nostre lict estoit blanc & verd, c'est à dire qu'il y auoit
si peu de branches de pin dessous nous, que nous touchiõs la neige
en plusieurs endroits, laquelle auoit commencé depuis trois iours à
couurir la terre d'vn habit blanc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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