They will tell me that the Gentlemen of the Company of New France have taken it upon themselves to do this; I answer that they are discharging their duty perfectly, although at very [58] great expense;[4] but even if they should bring over three times as many people as they have promised, they would but slightly relieve Old France, and would people only a little Canton of the New. Nevertheless, in time they will make some progress; and as soon as, through the clearing of the land, they can obtain from it what is necessary for life, thousands of useful things will be found in the country which will also be profitable to France. But it seems necessary that a great extent of forest should be converted into tillable land, before introducing many families, otherwise famine might consume them. Ie m'estens trop sur vn point, qui sẽble éloigné de mon sujet, quoy qu'il y soit tres-conforme; car si ie voyois icy quelques villes ou bourgades, recueillir suffisamment des fruicts de [59] la terre pour leurs besoins, nos Sauuages errans se rangeroiẽt bien-tost à leur abry, & se faisans sedẽtaires à nostre exemple, notamment si on leur rendoit quelque assistance, on les pourroit aisément instruire en la Foy. Pour les peuples stables qui sont bien auant dans les terres, on iroit en grand nombre les secourir, & auec d'autant plus d'authorité & moins de crainte qu'on se sentiroit appuyé de ces Villes ou Bourgades. Plus la puissance de nos François aura d'éclat en ces Contrées, & plus aisément feront-ils receuoir leur creance à ces Barbares, qui se menent autant & plus par les sens que par la raison. I enlarge upon a point which seems remote from my subject, although it is closely related thereto; for if I could see here a number of towns or villages, gathering enough of the fruits of [59] the earth for their needs, our wandering Savages would soon range themselves under their protection; and, being rendered sedentary by our example, especially if they were to be given some help, they could easily be instructed in the Faith. As to the stationary tribes farther back in the interior, we would go in great numbers to succor them; and would have much more authority, and less fear, if we felt that we had the support of these Towns or Villages. The more imposing the power of our French people is made in these Countries, the more easily they can make their belief received by these Barbarians, who are influenced even more through the senses, than through reason. [60] CHAPITRE IV. RAMAS DE DIUERSES CHOSES DRESSÉ EN FORME DE IOURNAL. TOVT ce qui se dira en ce Chapitre, n'est qu'vn mélange qui n'aura pas beaucoup de suitte, ny de liaison, sinon peut-estre du temps auquel les choses sont arriuées: encore ne se suiura-il que de loin à loin. [60] CHAPTER IV. A COLLECTION OF VARIOUS MATTERS PREPARED IN THE FORM OF A JOURNAL.