The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 8: Quebec, Hurons, Cape Breton, 1634-1636 — John Shaqi
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 8: Quebec, Hurons, Cape Breton, 1634-1636
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 8: Quebec, Hurons, Cape Breton, 1634-1636
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
Le Pere Buteux & moy entrans dans vne cabane, vne femme nous dit, qu'il
n'estoit resté qu'elle & sa compagne, de tous ceux auec lesquels elles
auoient hyuerné dans les bois. On a trouué des Chasseurs roides morts
sur la neige, tuez du froid & de la faim, entre autres, celuy qui auoit
pris le prisonnier Hiroquois duquel i'ay parlé cy dessus.
When Father Buteux and I entered a certain cabin, a woman told us
that no one remained but she and her companion, of all those with
whom they had wintered in the forest. Hunters had been found stiff
in death upon the snow, killed by cold and starvation,--among
others, the one who had taken prisoner the Hiroquois of whom I have
spoken above.
Vn Sauuage me dit dans ceste famine, que sa femme & sa belle sœur
estoient en deliberation de tuer leur propre frere: I'en demanday la
raison, nous craignons, fit-il, qu'il ne nous assomme pendant nostre
sommeil pour nous manger. Nous vous apportons, luy dis-je, tous les
iours vne partie de nos viures [77] pour vous secourir. Cela est vray,
respond-il, tu nous donne la vie, mais cét homme est à demy fol; il ne
mange point, il a quelque méchant dessein, nous le voulons preuenir, en
seras-tu marry? Ie me trouuay vn peu en peine, de consentir à sa mort,
ie ne pouuois: ie croyois d'ailleurs qu'ils auoient iuste occasion de
craindre. Nous luy donnasmes conseil de ne point laisser de haches ny
d'espees en sa cabane, sinon celle dont il auroit à faire, laquelle
il poseroit sous sa teste en dormant; il s'accorda à cela, & nous
donna ses haches & ses espees, pour les emporter en nostre chambrette.
A trois iours de là ce pauure miserable s'en alla à Kebec, où ayant
voulu tuer quelque François, Monsieur le Gouuerneur recognoissant sa
folie, le fit enchaisner pour le rendre aux premiers Sauuages qui [78]
viendroient.
A Savage told me, during this famine, that his wife and
sister-in-law contemplated killing their own brother; I asked him
why, "We are afraid," he replied, "that he will kill us during our
sleep, to eat us." "We supply you," said I, "a part of our food
every day [77] to help you." "That is true," he replied, "thou
givest us life; but this man is half-mad; he does not eat, he has
some evil design; we wish to prevent him, wilt thou be displeased
at that?" I found myself a little troubled; I could not consent to
his death, and yet I believed they had good cause for their fear.
We advised him not to leave any hatchets or javelins in his cabin,
except one which he would have to use, and he should place that
under his head when he was sleeping; he agreed to this, and gave
us his hatchets and javelins, to put them away in our little room.
Three days later, this poor wretch went to Kebec, where, having
tried to kill some Frenchman, Monsieur the Governor, seeing that
he was mad, had him put in chains, to surrender him to the first
Savages that [78] might come along.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account