Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

PREFACE TO VOL. XXXV

Following is a synopsis of the documents contained in the present volume:

LXXII. This is a letter from Ragueneau to the father general, dated in the Huron country, March 13, 1650. In it is depicted in vivid colors the distress and misery into which the Huron nation has been plunged. Since the last Relation, two more Jesuits have fallen at their posts,- Charles Garnier and Noël Chabanel. The little Huron church is scattered in every direction, the country being devastated by war, famine, and pestilence. So great is the famine that cannibalism prevails, and corpses are dug from the graves for food. In the midst of their afflictions, the people seek instruction and baptism from the missionaries, as never before. The latter-" as good shepherds, following their flock"- have abandoned their house of Ste. Marie, and established a new residence on St. Joseph (now Christian) Island, that they may minister to the Hurons who have fled thither. Here they make a fresh clearing in the forest, and build homes; and, besides, construct fortifications for defense, should the Iroquois attack them. Hardest of all is to clear the ground from stumps, and plant it with seed. They have brought supplies of food and live stock from Ste. Marie, and have aided their disciples with their reserves of Indian corn. Notwithstanding their hardships, all

connected with the mission are ready to lay down their lives for its sake; and they rejoice in their sufferings, regarding these as tokens of God's favor.

LXXIII. The Journal des Jésuites continues its record, through the year 1650. But few events of importance occur, until the coming of summer. In January, a cabin for the savages is erected at the hospital, by the French carpenters; but, upon occupying it, the cabin proved to be useless, on account of the smoke.” The moose-hunt of this

winter is unusually good.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"On St. Joseph's eve, there was a very cold bonfire that is to say, very simple, without fireworks or rockets." In consequence of the governor's illness, Lalemant starts the fire, "but with great repugnance." Late in April, the Jesuits decide to assign lands at Beauport to the fugitive Hurons; also, to erect, at their own expense, a new building for their mission at Three Rivers. May 11, the Iroquois make a raid upon a farm close to Quebec, and kill two men. At this time, the Jesuits exchange their land at Three Rivers nearly 500 arpents- for another tract of like size, that the former may be turned into common lands; this is done under constraint from the local authorities. Bressani sets out for the Huron country, on June 7, accompanying a large tradingfleet of canoes. A week later, a Huron from Three Rivers comes to Quebec, claiming that the Iroquois have sent him to negotiate a peace with the French. This story proving false, his own countrymen condemn him to death; "he was accordingly baptized on the 20th, and named Louys, without as yet knowing whether he were to live or to die." On the following day, he is put to death by the Hurons; and

charitable French women bury his corpse.

About

this time, the Jesuit superior makes the visitation at the hospital; but he "did not go in, or see the Accounts, having noticed that they had not much inclination for this."

This year, Lalemant excuses himself from the St. John's bonfire,-"not judging it proper to encourage this custom, which had not been practiced in the time of M. de Montmagny" (this last statement being apparently a lapsus memoriæ, to judge by the record of the Journal itself). The French fleet comes earlier than last year; the letters it brings are conveyed from Tadoussac to Quebec by a Jesuit and a habitant, arriving at the latter place July 5; the first ship reaches Quebec on the 10th. On the 28th, Ragueneau also arrives, with all his company. In August occur more Iroquois raids, several Frenchmen being captured or killed by them. Among the latter is Robert le Coq, a Jesuit donné.

On the returning vessels, this autumn, eight Fathers, with numerous brethren and donnés, are sent back to France. Among these are Jerome Lalemant, the superior, who is succeeded at Quebec by Ragueneau; the latter, therefore, continues the Journal after October 22. The new superior seldom mentions in its pages a church service or procession,- unlike Lalemant, who filled most of the Journal with minutiæ of all ecclesiastical affairs; Ragueneau notes, as a rule, only matters of general interest in the annals of the colony.

Several prominent habitants go down to Tadoussac, November 10, to engage in the seal-fishery, for which they have secured important concessions. The Jesuits' new church is consecrated December 24, and

« AnteriorContinuar »