the Indian girls, the Hospital nuns to nurse the sick. The writer then praises the good conduct of the French colonists, and their lively interest in the religious services held by the missionaries. A vivid and ingenuous description is given of the fireworks with which was celebrated the feast of "the glorious Patriarch, Saint Joseph," whereat the simple savages were filled with astonishment and delight. The new governor avails himself of this opportunity to warn the natives that "the French are more powerful than the demons, and command the fire." The peace and good order prevailing in the colony are largely ascribed to the piety and ability of the governor, who is a firm friend of the missionaries, and treats the Indians with the utmost kindness.

Le Jeune then enters upon his customary recital of the conversions and baptisms that have occurred during the year,—the latter numbering over three hundred, counting those in the Huron country. Again, too, he urges strongly the importance-not only for their conversion, but for the civilization and development of the country-of rendering the nomadic tribes stationary. He devotes much space to an account of the debates upon religious doctrines, held between the missionaries and the Indians, and the instruction which the latter thus receive. Prominent among the natives is a chief named Makheabichtichiou, who shows many signs of conversion, and whom the missionaries hope soon to receive into the fold of the church. The other savages have at least become more friendly and attentive, though but few are willing to give up their old superstitions and customs. The Fathers find, however, great consolation and encouragement in the Indian children who

attend the mission school; "neither snow, nor wind, nor cold prevents them from coming," and they are apt and interested pupils. Much to his surprise, the superior finds that "it is incomparably easier to tame and instruct the little girls than the boys." With both, but especially with the girls, a strong incentive to progress is found in the example of the French children, who are taught in the same school, and of whom the Indian youth are fond.

The missionaries have to meet many difficulties,the sale of liquor to the Indians, slyly practiced by certain Frenchmen; the slanders and misrepresentations of disaffected savages; the jealousy of the medicine men, with whom they are in frequent and hostile collision; and the constant rage and opposition of the devil, whose kingdom they have so resolutely invaded. But they have great faith that, in the strength of God, they will eventually overcome all these enemies, and cause New France to become a province of his kingdom.

MADISON, WIs., November, 1897.

R. G. T.

XXVII-XXVIII

Two LETTERS BY JEAN DE BRÉBEUF, TO THE

GENERAL OF THE ORDER

XXVII. - Ihonatiria [1636, ca.]

XXVIII. Ihonatiria, May 20, 1637

SOURCE: We follow Father Martin's apographs (now in the Archives of St. Mary's College, Montreal) of the original Latin ex MSS. Soc. Jes.

Epistola P. Joannis de Brébeuf ad R. P. Mutium Vitelleschi, Præpositum Generalem

Societatis Jesu, Romæ.

A.

R.P.

P.C.

Plane ut intelligeret Va P. ea quæ sunt hujus sedis quam hic fiximus apud Hurones Novæ Franciæ feu Canadiæ populos, hujus et præcedentis anni relationes ad eam mittendæ fuissent; verum quia existimo [a] R. P. N. Pli curatum iri ut mittantur, dicam tantum non eniguam [sc. exiguam] esse spem magnæ aliquando frugis animarum in hac missione percipienda[e]. oppidatim vivunt Hurones et non palantes more ferarum aut etiam plurimorum aliorum barbarorum habent omnino viginti oppida quorum aliqua funt fortissimis moenibus ligneis septa. Mutant aliquando sedes nempe cum ligna ad focum non amplius suppetunt aut cum terra jamdudum culta, ægre suos fructus suos [sc. suis] præstat. Colunt enim agros, ex quibus colligunt triticum Indicum, fabas quas aliqui vocant Turricas [sc. Turcicas], cucurbitas, easque plurimas et optimas ac præterea tabacum. Universa regio aut venatione aut piscatione abundat, atque adeo habent Hurones apud se unde vitam si non laute, ut [sc. at] sufficienter et salubriter sustineant;

Letter of Father Jean de Brébeuf to the Very Reverend Father Mutius Vitelleschi, General

of the Society of Jesus, at Rome.

ERY REVEREND FATHER,

VERY

The peace of Christ.

In order that Your Paternity might have full knowledge of matters pertaining to this house which we have established among the Huron peoples of New France or Canada, relations of this and the preceding years should have been sent to you; but, because I think that Our Reverend Father Provincial will see that these are sent, I will merely say that we have good hope of some day reaping a large harvest of souls at this mission. The Hurons live in towns, not wandering about after the manner of wild animals, or even like many other savages. They have in all twenty towns, some of which are enclosed by very strong wooden walls. They change their abode sometimes-certainly when there is no longer sufficient wood for their fires, or when the land, long tilled, produces scanty crops. For they

cultivate the fields, from which they gather Indian corn,—the grain which some call Turkish,'— abundance of excellent pumpkins, and also tobacco. All this region abounds in game and fish; and so the Hurons have at hand the means of supplying a living, if not luxurious, yet adequate and healthful; and they sell to others. They are not so uncivilized as not to be endowed with excellent sense and judg