obliged to undergo those inconceivable fatigues of former times, when we had to carry both canoes and baggage on our shoulders in order to avoid the waterfalls and impetuous floods which are unnavigable. 10

The Onnontaeronnon Iroquois invite us of their own accord, and solicit our coming by presents; they have assigned a place to us, and have described it to us as the finest spot in all those regions. It will be a thousand times more so than they think, if God complete this work, and if the guardian Angels of the peoples to be converted aid us in this project. For, in truth, that spot would be the heart of a land destined to become holy, since it has been ransomed with the blood of the Son of [156] God, and since it is time he were worshiped there. For this purpose we ask for laborers, and we expect them by the first ship that sails.

CHAPITRE DERNIER.

RECUEIL TIRÉ DE DIVERSES LETTRES APPORTÉES DE

LA NOUUELLE FRANCE.

L

E païs des Hurons, qui nourriffoit trente à trente

cinq mille ames, dans l'estenduë de dix-sept à

dix-huit lieuës seulement, ayant esté pillé, ruiné, brusé: ceux qui sont échappez de ce grand naufrage, se sont retirez en diuerses Nations. Vn bon nombre s'est venu ietter entre les bras des Frãçois, & notamment des Peres de nostre Compagnie, qui les ont fi fortement secourus, qu'on écrit, [157] qu'ils auoient, cét Eté dernier, enuiron trois cens arpens de terre, ensemencé de leurs bleds d'Inde, c'est à dire, qu'il a fallu abbattre trois cens arpēs de bois: pour faire cette grande explanade, tres-vtile à cette nouuelle Colonie, qui a maintenãt dequoy se nourrir: mais non pas encor dequoy se couurir. 11 est vray, que Dieu qui a soin des petits oyseaux, ne les a pas mis en oubly: car des personnes de pieté, & de vertu, leurs ayans enuoyé, par aumosnes, quelques couuertures, on les a diuisées en quatre: pour couurir quatre petits orphelins de chacune. D'autres souhaittans de faire porter leurs noms, à quelques nouueaux conuertis, leur ont fait tenir quelques presens, qui ont seruy d'habits, au pere, & à la mere, & quelquefois à tous leurs enfans.

[158] l'ay leu ce qui suit, dans vne lettre, écrite par vne bonne Mere Vrsuline. Nous auons appris,

CHAPTER THE LAST.

EXTRACTS FROM VARIOUS LETTERS BROUGHT FROM

NEW FRANCE.

THE

HE country of the Hurons, which sustained from

thirty to thirty-five thousand souls within a

stretch of territory of only seventeen or eighteen leagues, having been pillaged, laid waste, and burned, those who escaped this general wreck took refuge among various Nations. A large number came and threw themselves into the arms of the French, and especially of the Fathers of our Society. The latter gave them such substantial aid that, as we learn by letter, [157] they had this last Summer about three hundred arpents of land planted with their Indian corn,- that is, it was necessary to fell three hundred arpents of timber in order to make that great esplanade, a work of much utility to this new Colony, which has now the means of feeding itself, but not yet the means of providing itself with clothing. It is true, God, who cares for the little birds, has not forgotten it; for certain persons of piety and virtue sent it, out of charity, some blankets, which were cut into quarters, that with each blanket four little orphans might be clothed. Others, wishing to have their names borne by some new converts, have caused presents to be given them, which have served to clothe the father, the mother, and sometimes even all their children.

[158] I read the following in a letter written by a que nostre Seminariste Huronne, qui fut prise, il y a enuiron dix ans, par les Iroquois: estoit mariée en leur pays. Qu'elle estoit la maistresse dans sa cabane, composée de plusieurs familles. Qu'elle prioit Dieu tous les iours, & qu'elle le faisoit prier par d'autres : ce qui paroist d'autant plus estonnant, qu'elle n'auoit qu'enuiron treize, ou quatorze ans, quand elle fut enleuée par ces Barbares. Nous auons sa soeur en noftre maison, qui est vne ieune vefue, d'vne modestie rauissante, fort addonnée à l'oraison: elle en fait tous les iours autant que les Religieuses: elle est dans vne presence de Dieu, quasi continuelle: & son esprit est si éclairé, & fi remply de lumieres, [159] & de raisons, pour l'exercice de la vertu: qu'on void bien qu'elle est gouuernée, par vn Esprit plus haut, & plus sublime, que l'esprit humain.

Les pere, & mere, de l'vne de nos Seminaristes (que la pauureté, nous contraint, de tenir en vn fort petit nombre) estans venus voir leur fille, âgée d'enuiron dix ans, luy dirent, que la paix se faisant auec les Iroquois, ceux qu'il auoit connu en ce pays-là, où il auoit esté captif, l'inuitoient d'y aller demeurer, auec toute sa famille: & là-deffus, ils luy demanderent, si elle ne seroit pas bien aise d'estre de la partie, & de fuiure son pere, & sa mere.

Comment donc, répondit-elle, n'estes-vous point honteux, de vouloir quitter le pays de la priere, pour aller en vn lieu, où vous serez en danger, de [160] perdre la Foy? Ne sçauez-vous pas bien, que les Iroquois ne croyent pas en Dieu, & qu'eftans parmy eux, vous viuerez comme eux? Allez, si vous voulez, en ce miserable pays: mais ie ne vous suiuray pas, ie ne quitteray iamais les filles saintes, si vous m'abandonnez. Ses good Ursuline Mother: We learned that our Huron Seminarist, who was captured about ten years ago by the Iroquois, was married in their country; that she was the mistress in her cabin, which contained several families; that she prayed to God every day; and that she induced others to pray to him. This appears the more wonderful, as she was only about thirteen or fourteen years old when she was carried away by those Barbarians. We have in our house her sister, who is a young widow of charming modesty, and greatly given to prayer. She prays every day, as long as do the Nuns themselves; she lives almost constantly in the presence of God; and her soul is so illuminated, and so filled with light [159] and with motives for the exercise of virtue, that, plainly, she is governed by a Spirit more exalted and sublime than that of man.

“ The father and mother of one of our Seminarists (our poverty compels us to maintain them in very small numbers) came to see their daughter, who was about ten years old. They told her that, as peace was being made with the Iroquois, those whom her father had known in that country, where he had been a captive, were inviting him to go and dwell there with all his family; and, thereupon, they asked her whether she would not like to be one of the party and follow her father and mother. • What?' she rejoined; ‘are you not ashamed to wish to leave the country of prayer, and go to a place where you will be in danger of [160] losing the Faith? Are you not well aware that the Iroquois do not believe in God, and that, being among them, you will live as they do? Go, if you will, to that wretched country, but I shall not follow you; I will never leave the holy

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