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ELATION of what occurred in the Country
of the Hurons, in the year 1637 and 1638.
Chap. I. Of the persecutions that we suf-

fered in the year 1637.

Chap. II. General Assembly of the whole country,
where our death is under deliberation.
Chap. III. Special assistance of God to us in our
persecution.

Chap. IV. The Hurons baptized this year, 1638.
Chap. V. The Conversion of Joseph Chiwatenhwa,
a native of this village of Ossosane.

Chap. VI. The guidance of God respecting our new
Christian.

Chap. VII. Day of saint Joseph a solemn one
among the Hurons, on account of certain cir-

cumstances.

I

14

23

31

35

40

Chap. VIII. Our occupations during the entire winter, when these tribes are more sedentary. Chap. IX. The residence of saint Joseph at Ihonatiria.

47

52

60

Chap. X. Brief Journal of the things which could

not be entered in the preceding Chapters.

63

[1] Relation de ce qvi s'eft paffé en la Novvelle France en l'année 1638.

ON REVEREND PERE,

MON

Puis que nous ne pouuons auoir de treue pour la Relation de ce qui fe passe en ce nouueau monde, & qu'il en faut encor payer le tribut cette année, ie me comporteray enuers ceux qui la souhaittent, comme on fait en[uers] des eftomacs defia raffafiés, aufquels on ne prefente que peu de chofes, & encor bien delicates, de peur de les débaucher. On est desia si remply des façons de faire de nos Sauuages, & de nos petits trauaux en leur endroit, que i'apprehende le degouft; c'est pourquoy ie diray peu de beaucoup, omettant des chapitres entiers, de peur d'eftre accusé de longueur.

[1] Relation of what occurred in New France, in the year 1638.

Y REVEREND FATHER,

ΜΥ

Since we can have no truce in the Relation

of what takes place in this new world, and as the tribute must be paid again this year, I shall behave toward those who desire it as one does toward stomachs already sated, to which one offers only a few things, but very delicate ones, for fear of ruining them. People are already so full of the customs of our Savages, and of our little labors for them, that I fear disgust; hence I shall say little of many thingsomitting whole chapters, lest I be accused of tedious

ness.

[2] CHAPITRE I.

DES MOYENS QUE NOUS TENONS POUR PUBLIER &
AMPLIFIER LA FOY PARMY LES SAUUAGES.

L

A superstition, l'erreur, la barbarie, & en fuitte le peché, font icy comme dans leur empire, nous nous feruons de quatre grandes machines pour les renuerfer; Premierement nous faifons des courfes pour aller attaquer l'ennemy fur fes terres par fes propres armes, c'eft à dire, par la cognoiffance des langues Montagnefe, Algonquine, & Hurone. Quand les portes nous feront ouuertes dans d'autres nations encor plus efloignées, nous y entrerons fi Dieu nous prefte fecours. Or ie diray en paffant fur ce poinct, que plufieurs n'attendoient rien des vieilles fouches Sauuages. Toute l'efperance n'eftoit que dans la ieunesse; mais l'experience nous apprend qu'il n'y a bois fi fec que Dieu ne fasse reuerdir, quand il luy plaift. Nous commençons à voir dans les Hurons. [& p]army nos Montagnets & Algonquins, qu[elque]s familles profeffer publiquement la Foy, & frequenter les Sacremens auec vne deuotion & modestie qui n'a rien de Sauuage que l'habit. Cette baffe estime qu'on auoit de nos pauures Sauuages errans, le doit changer en des actions de grace & de benediction, comme nous verrons cy apres.

Secondement comme ces peuples font attaqués [3] de grandes maladies, nous procurons qu'on leur dreffe vn hofpital. On y trauaille maintenant fort

[2] CHAPTER I.

OF THE MEANS WE EMPLOY TO PUBLISH AND SPREAD THE FAITH AMONG THE SAVAGES.

S

UPERSTITION, error, barbarism, and conse

quently, sin, are as if in their empire here. We employ four great contrivances to overthrow them. First, we make expeditions to go and attack the enemy upon their own ground, with their own weapons, that is to say, by a knowledge of the Montagnais, Algonquin, and Huron tongues.] When the doors shall be opened to us in nations still more remote, we will enter there if God lend us his help. Now I will say upon this point, in passing, that many did not expect anything from the old Savage stocks, all hope being placed only in the young; but experience teaches us that there is no wood so dry that God cannot make it become green again, when it pleases him. We begin to see in the Huron country, and among the Montagnais and Algonquins, a few families publicly professing the Faith and frequenting the Sacraments, with a devotion and modesty which have nothing of the Savage except the dress. This low opinion that people had of our poor wandering Savages must be changed into thanksgivings and blessings, as we shall see hereafter.

Secondly, as these peoples are attacked [3] by serious diseases, we are obtaining for them the erection. of a hospital. The men are now hard at work thereon, so far as the conditions of the country allow.