1642] RELA TION OF 1642 209
what I am able to tell you about it. About thirty-
five persons of condition have joined together to
labor for the conversion [128] of the poor Savages of
New France, and to endeavor to gather a goodly
number of them on the Island of Mont-real, which
they have chosen as a suitable place for their object.
Their intention is to have houses built, in which to
lodge them ; to till the soil, in order to feed them ;
to establish Seminaries for their instruction, and a
Hostel- Dieu for succoring their sick. All these
Gentlemen and Ladies met together one Thursday,
toward the end of the month of February of this
year, 1642, at ten o'clock in the morning, in the
Church of Nostre Dame at Paris, before the Altar of
the Blessed Virgin. There a Priest among their
number said holy Mass, and gave communion to the
associates who had not taken Orders ; those who had,
said Mass at the Altars around that of the Blessed
Virgin. There, all together, they consecrated the
Island of Mont-real to the Holy Family of Our Lord,
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, under the special
protection of the Blessed Virgin. They also conse-
crated themselves, and joined in a participation of
prayers and good works ; so that, being animated by
one and the same spirit, they may labor more sincere-
ly for the glory of God and for the [129] salvation of
those poor peoples, and that the prayers that they
may say for their conversion, and for the sanctifica-
tion of each of the said Associates, may be more
agreeable to the divine Majesty. We all hope that
your Reverence will take part in this work, and will
go in person to help those poor Infidels and to make
them know their Creator."
These Gentlemen will permit me to tell them, by
210 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.22
ables a fa diuine Majefte, nous efperons tous que
voftre Reuerence embraffera cet ouurage, & qu'elle
ira en perfonne aider ces pauures Infidelles, pour
leur faire connoiftre leur Createur.
Ces Meffieurs me permettront de leur dire en paf-
fant, qu'on ne mene perfonne a Iefus-Chrift que par
la Croix; que les deffeins qu'on entreprend pour fa
gloire en ce pays, fe concoiuent dedans les d^penfes
& dedans les peines, fe pourfuiuent dedans les contra-
rietez, s'acheuent dedans la patience, & fe couron-
nent dedans la gloire.
La precipitation dans cet affaire ne vaut rien ; le
zele y eft excellent, la bonne conduite extremement
requife, & la patience mettra la derniere main a ce
grand ouurage.
Le quinzieme d'Odtobre de l'annee derniere 1641.
iour dedie a la memoire de Saindte Terefe, vnique-
ment aimee & amante de la Saindte Famille, Mon-
fieur le Gouuerneur, le R. P. Vimont & plufieurs
[130] autres perfonnes bien verfees en la connoiffance
du pays, arriuerent au lieu qu'on a choifi pour la
premiere demeure qui fe doit faire dedans cette belle
Ifle, que i'appellerois volontiers 1' I fie -Sain die, puis
que tant d'Ames d'elite l'ont fi faindtement confacree
a la Saindte Famille.
Le dix-feptieme de May de la pref ente annee 1642.
Monfieur le Gouuerneur mit le fieur de Maifon-neufue
en poffeffion de cette Ifle, au nom de Meffieurs de
Mont-real, pour y commencer les premiers baftimens :
le R. P. Vimont fit chanter le Vcni Creator; dift la
faindte Meffe, expofa le Saindt Sacrement, pour
impetrer du Ciel vn heureux commencement a c6t
ouurage: Ton met incontinent apres les hommes
1642] RELATION OF 1642 211
the way, that no one is brought to Jesus Christ
except through the Cross; that the plans that are
formed for his glory in this country are conceived in
expense and in trouble, are carried out amid difficul-
ties, are completed by patience, and are crowned in
glory.
Precipitation in such matters is useless, zeal is
excellent, good management is greatly needed, and
patience will put the finishing touch to this great
work.
On the fifteenth of October of last year, 1641, the
day dedicated to the memory of Saint Theresa, —
greatly beloved by and a great lover of the Holy
Family, — Monsieur the Governor, Reverend Father
Vimont, and several [130] other persons, well versed
in knowledge of the country, arrived on the spot
chosen for the first dwelling to be erected on this
beautiful Island, which I would readily call the Holy
Isle, as so many elect Souls have so piously conse-
crated it to the Holy Family.
On the seventeenth of May of the present year,
1642, Monsieur the Governor placed the sieur de
Maison-neufve in possession of the Island, in the name
of the Gentlemen of Mont-real, in order to commence
the first buildings thereon. Reverend Father Vi-
mont had the Veni Creator chanted, said holy Mass,
and exposed the Blessed Sacrament, to obtain from
Heaven a happy beginning for the undertaking.
Immediately afterwards, the men were set to work,
and a redout was made of strong palisades for pro-
tection against enemies.
On the twenty-eighth of July, a small party of
Algonquins, who were passing that way, stopped
there for several days. The Captain brought his
212 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol.22
en befongne: on fait vn reduit de gros pieux, pour
fe tenir a couuert contre les ennemis.
Le vingt-huidtieme de Iuillet vne petite efcoiiade
d'Algoquins paffant en ce quartier la, s'y arrefterent
quelques iours: vn Capitaine prefenta fon fils au
Baptefme age d'enuiron quatre ans: le Pere Iofeph
Poncet le fit Chreftien, & le fieur de Maifon-neufue
& Mademoifelle Mance le nommerent Iofeph, au nom
de Meffieurs [131] & de Mef -dames de Noftre Dame
de Mont-real. Voila le premier fruit que cette Ifle
a porte pour le Paradis, ce ne fera pas le dernier,
Crefcat in mille millia.
Le quinzieme d'Aouft on folemnifa la premiere
Fefte de cette Ifle-Saindte, le iour de la glorieufe &
triomphante Affomption de la Saindte Vierge. Le
beau tabernacle que ces Meffieurs ont enuoy6, fut
mis fur l'Autel d'vne Chapelle, qui pour n'eftre
encor baftie que d'ecorce, n'en eft pas moins riche.
Les bonnes Ames qui s'y rencontrerent, fe commu-
nierent. On mit fur l'Autel les noms de ceux qui
fouftiennent les deffeins de Dieu en la Nouuelle
France, & chacun s'efforca de bannir 1' ingratitude de
fon cceur, & de fe ioindre auec les Ames faindtes,
qui nous font vnies par des chaifnes plus pretieufes
que Tor & que les diamans, chanta le Tc Deum en
action de graces, de ce que Dieu nous faifoit la grace
de voir le premier iour d'honneur & de gloire; en vn
mot, la premiere grande Fefte de Noftre Dame de
Mont-real, le tonnerre des canons fit retentir toute
l'lfle, & les Demons, quoy qu'accouftumez aux fou-
dres, furent epouuantez d'vn bruit qui parloit de l'a-
mour que nous [132] portons a la grande Maiftreffe,
ie ne doute quafi pas que les Anges tutelaires des
1642 J RELA TION OF 1642 213
son, aged about four years, to be Baptized. Father
Joseph Poncet made him a Christian, and the sieur
de Maison-neufve and Mademoiselle Mance named
him Joseph on behalf of the Gentlemen [131] and
Ladies of Nostre Dame de Mont-real. This is the
first fruit that this Island has borne for Paradise ; it
will not be the last. Crescat in mille millia.
On the fifteenth of August was celebrated the first
Festival of this Holy Isle, the day of the glorious
and triumphant Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.
The fine tabernacle sent out by the Gentlemen was
placed upon the Altar of a Chapel which, as yet, is
built only of bark, but which is none the less valu-
able. The good Souls who were there received com-
munion. The names of those who are carrying out
God's designs in New France, were laid upon the
Altar. All endeavored to banish ingratitude from
their hearts, and to unite with those pious Souls who
are joined to us by chains more precious than gold
and diamonds. The Te Deum was sung in thanks-
giving to God for granting us the grace of seeing the
first day of honor and of glory, — in a word, the first
great Festival of Our Lady of Mont-real. The thun-
der of the cannons caused the whole Island to reecho,
and the Demons, although accustomed to thunder-
bolts, were frightened by a voice which spoke of the
love that we [132] bear to the great Mistress. I have
no doubt that the tutelary Angels of the Savages
and of these countries must have marked down that
day in the annals of Paradise. After the instruction
given to the Savages, there was a fine Procession after
Vespers, in which those good people took part, —
quite astonished at seeing so pious a ceremony, at
which we did not omit to pray to God for the King,
214 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.22
Sauuages & de ces contrees, n'ayent marque ce iour
dans les faftes du Paradis. Apres rinftruction faite
aux Sauuages, fe fit vne belle Proceffion apres les
Vefpres, en laquelle ces bonnes gens affifteret, bien
etonnez de voir vne fi faindte ceremonie, ou on
n'oublia pas a prier Dieu pour la perfonne du Roy, de
la Reyne, de leurs petits Princes, & de tout leur
Empire; ce que les Sauuages firent auec beaucoup
d'affedtion. Et ainfi nous vnifmes nos vceux auec
tous ceux de la France.
Apres la Fefhe on fut vifiter les grands bois qui
couurent cette Ifle ; & eftans amenez a la montagne
dont elle tire fon nom, deux des principaux Sauuages
de la troupe, s'arreftans fur le fommet, nous dirent
qu'ils eftoient de la nation de ceux qui auoient autre-
fois habite cette Ifle : puis en etendant leurs mains
vers les collines qui font a 1' Orient & au Sud de la
montagne; Voila, faifoient-ils, les endroits ou il y
auoit des Bourgades remplies de tres-grande quantite
de Sauuages ; les Hurons, qui pour lors nous eftoient
ennemis, ont chaffe nos Anceftres de cette contree,
les vns [133] fe retirerent vers le pays des Abnaqui-
ois, les autres au pays des Hiroquois, & vne partie
vers les Hurons mefmes, & s'vniffans auec eux; &
voila comme cette Ifle s'eft rendue deferte. Mon
grand-pere, difoit vn vieillard, a cultiue la terre en
celieu-cy: les bleds d'Inde y venoient tres-bien, le
Soleil y eft tres-bon : & prenant de la terre auec fes
mains; Regardez, difoit il, la bonte de la terre, elle
eft tres-excellente. On ne s'oublia pas la deffus de
les inuiter, & de les preffer de retourner en leur
pays, & de leur declarer le deffein des Capitaines,
qui enuoyent icy du monde pour les fecourir, leur
1642] RELA TION OF 1642 215
for the Queen, for their little Princes, and for the
whole of their Empire. This the Savages did with
much affection. And thus did we unite our desires
with all those of France.
After the Festival, we visited the great forest which
covers this Island ; and when we had been led to the
mountain from which it takes its name, two of the
chief Savages of the band stopped on its summit, and
told us that they belonged to the nation of those who
had formerly dwelt on this Island. Then, stretch-
ing out their hands towards the hills that lie to the
East and South of the mountain, " There," said they,
' ' are the places where stood Villages filled with great
numbers of Savages. The Hurons, who then were
our enemies, drove our Forefathers from this coun-
try. Some [133] went towards the country of the
Abnaquiois, others towards the country of the Hiro-
quois, some to the Hurons themselves, and joined
them. And that is how this Island became deserted. ' '
" My grandfather," said an aged man, " tilled the
soil on this spot. Maize grew very well on it, for
the Sun is very strong there." And, taking in his
hands some earth, he said: " See the richness of the
soil; it is excellent." Thereupon we did not fail to
invite and urge them to return to their country, and
to inform them of the plans of the Captains who send
people here to succor them, promising that assistance
would be given them to build their little houses, and
to till the soil, of which work they have lost the
habit. One of them, named Atcheast, the father of
little Joseph, — who seems a peaceable man, and
who has a wife as staid as himself, — assured us that
he would return in the Spring with all his family.
The others were equally willing, but were afraid to
216 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 22
promettant qu'on les aideroit a baftir de petites
demeures, & a defricher la terre dont ils ont perdu
l'habitude. S'eftans quafi rendus errans de feden-
taires qu'ils eftoient, ils promirent qu'ils traitteroient
de c£t affaire en leur pays. L'vn d'eux nomme
Atcheaft, pere du petit Iofeph, homme qui paroift
paifible, & qui a fait rencontre d'vne femme aufG
pof6e que luy, aifeura qu'il retourneroit au Prin-
temps auec toute fa famille. Les autres eftoient
dans la mefme volonte, mais ils n'oferent iamais
donner parole de s'arrefter icy pour def richer la
terre, la [334 i.e., 134] crainte des Hiroquois leurs
ennemis, leur donne trop de terreur; non pas qu'ils
ne foient affeurez aupres de nos habitations, mais ils
n'oferoient s'ecarter pour leur chaffe ou pour leur
pefche. Les ennemis peuuet aifement venir aux
aguets, & dreffer des embufches a ceux qui s'ecartent
tant foit peu des lieux de defenfe: fi bien que i'ay de
la peine a croire qu'il y ait iamais grand nombre de
Sauuages a Nofkre Dame de Mont-real, que les Hiro-
quois ne foient domtez, ou que nous n'ayons la paix
auec eux. II faut efperer que cela fe pourra faire,
nonobftant les difficultez prefentes. On follicitera
tant le Ciel en l'vne & l'autre France, qu'en fin le
Dieu du Ciel & de la terre, donnera fa benedidtion a
cette pauure terre, Et videbit omnis caro falutare fuum.
Amen, Amen.
1642] RELA TION OF 1642 217
give their word that they would settle here to till the
soil, as the [334 i.e., 134] dread of their enemies,
the Hiroquois, caused them too much terror. Not
that they do not feel secure near our houses, but they
would be afraid to leave them for the purpose of
fishing or hunting. Their enemies can easily lie in
wait for them and prepare ambushes for those who
wander any distance from the defended places. So
that I have some difficulty in believing that there
will ever be a very large number of Savages at Nostre
Dame de Mont-real, until either the Hiroquois are
subjugated, or we make peace with them. Let us
hope that this may come to pass, in spite of present
difficulties. So many prayers will be addressed to
Heaven in either France, that at length the God of
Heaven and earth will grant his blessing to this poor
country. Et videbit omnis caro salutare suum. Amen,
Amen.
218 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.22
[135] CHAPITRE X.
DE LA MISSION DE SAINCTE-CROIX A TADOUSSAC.
POVR faire porter de bons fruits a cette nouuelle
vigne, il faudroit dreffer vne Maifon a Tadouf-
fac, ou deux Peres de noftre Compagnie def-
cendroient au Printemps, & n'en fortiroient qu'a
1'Automne, ils feroient autant de bien aux Francois
qui font la tout l'Efte, qu'aux Sauuages; ils rallie-
roient quelques petites Nations qui font eparfes ca
& la dans les terres qui ne demandent pas mieux que
d'eftre inftruites. Cette Maifon ne nuiroit pas au
deffein de Meffieurs de la Nouuelle France, pour
plufieurs raif ons ; joint que les Sauuages de Tadou-
fac, ceux du Sagne, les Berfiamites, les Papinachi&e-
khi prient auec inftance qu'on la faffe baftir; affeu-
rans que les peuples plus eloignez y aborderoient de
tous coftez pour y eftre inftruits; & par mefme
moyen, pour iouyr du commerce des Francois. Mais
venons [136] au fujet de ce Difcours.
On a desja remarque, que les nouueaux Chreftiens
de Saindt Iofeph ont donne" les premieres atteintes
aux Sauuages de Tadoufac. Au commencement qu'ils
leur parlerent de Dieu, ils furent mocquez & baffoiiez
comme des gens qui n'auoient point d'efprit d'auoir
quitte leurs anciennes facons de faire; ces bons
Neophytes fouffrans auec patience, & auec vne douce
humility.
Les iniures & les affronts qu'on leur faifoit, tou-
1642] RELA TION OF 1642 219
[135] CHAPTER X.
OF THE MISSION OF THE HOLY CROSS AT TADOUSSAC.
IN order that this new vine may bear good fruit, a
House should be erected at Tadoussac, to which
two Fathers of our Society would go down in
the Spring, and return only in the Autumn. They
would do as much good to the French, who are there
all Summer, as to the Savages. They would collect
together some small Nations that are scattered here
and there throughout the country, and who ask noth-
ing better than to receive instruction. Such a House
would not interfere with the plans of the Gentlemen
of New France, for many reasons. Moreover, the
Savages of Tadousac, those of the Sagne, the
Bersiamites, and the Papinachiwekhi, earnestly beg
that it be built, — asserting that the more distant
tribes will come in from all sides to receive instruc-
tion, and, by the same means, to trade with the
French. But let us come [136] to the subject of this
Relation.
It has already been mentioned that the new Chris-
tians of Saint Joseph made the first attempts at con-
verting the Savages of Tadousac. At first, when they
spoke of God, they were jeered and scoffed at, as
people who had no sense, for having given up their
old customs, — these good Neophytes enduring pa-
tiently, and with sweet humility, the insults and
affronts offered to them.
220 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.22
cherent le coeur des Infideles d'autant plus fortement,
qu'ils ne defifterent point de leurs exercices, nonob-
ftant tous les rebuts qu'ils fouffroient de leurs Com-
patriotes. La Foy a du pouuoir, quand elle fait ren-
contre d'vn bon cceur. Ces Barbares admirans petit
a petit la beaute de noftre creance, vindrent prier a
Kebec qu'on leur enuoyaft quelqu'vn pour les in-
ftruire: on leur accorda vn Pere l'annee paffee; ils
ont recharge au Printemps, & le Pere lean de Quen,
qui a connoiilance de la langue Montagnefe, leur a
efte donne : efcoutons ce qu'il nous dira de fon voy-
age. Les Sauuages, dit-il, temoignerent vne ioye
vniuerfelle a mon arriuee, [137] ils me drefferent
vne cabane a part, qui feruit de Chapelle & de mai-
fon tout enfemble. I'y celebrois tous les iours la
faindte Meffe, ou tous les Chreftiens affiftoient. I'y
faifois l'eau benifte; tous les Dimanches i'y ay bap-
tife" quelques Catechumenes auec les ceremonies de
l'Eglife. I'y affemblois les hommes & les femmes,
& les enfans par diuerfes bandes a part, pour les
inftruire. II s'y trouua cinquante Chreftiens, qui fe
confefferent a la Pentecofte. Les fatigues qu'on
fouffre parmy ces peuples, font adoucies par les doux
fruits qu'on recueille de la femence qu'on iette dans
leur cceur.
Ces bones gens voulas faire quelque diftindtio entre
les iours comuns, & les iours qu'on refpedte, comme
ils parlent, s'affembloient les Feftes & les Dimanches
apres le difner dans leur Chapelle d'ecorces, pour
reciter tout haut leur Chapelet auec le Pere ; & apres
auoir rendu ce petit tribut a Noftre Dame, ils chan-
toient vn Hymne en fon honneur, compofe - en leur
langue. Si quelqu'vn, pour quelque empefchement,
1642] RELA TION OF 1642 221
This conduct touched the hearts of the Infidels,
all the more because the Christians did not desist
from their exercises, in spite of all the rebuffs that
they experienced from their Countrymen. Faith is
powerful, when it encounters a good heart. These
Barbarians began little by little to admire the beauty
of our creed, and came to Kebec to ask that some one
be sent to instruct them ; a Father was given to them
last year. They returned to the charge in the
Spring, and Father Jean de Quen, who understands
the Montagnais language, was sent to them. Let us
hear what he tells us of his journey. " The Sav-
ages," he says, "manifested universal joy at my
arrival. [137] They put up a cabin for me, apart
from the others, which served at once as a Chapel
and as a house. Every day I said therein holy Mass,
which was attended by all the Christians, and sprin-
kled the holy water; and every Sunday I baptized
in it some Catechumens, with the rites of the Church.
I assembled the men, women, and children therein
in separate groups, for instruction. There were fifty
Christians there, who confessed their sins at Pente-
cost. The hardships that one has to undergo among
these peoples are mitigated by the sweet fruit
obtained from the seed sown in their hearts."
These good people — who desired to establish a
distinction between the ordinary days and the days
to be respected, as they say — used to meet after
dinner on Festivals and on Sundays, in their bark
Chapel, to recite aloud the Rosary with the Father.
After rendering this slight tribute to Our Lady, they
would sing a Hymn in her honor, composed in their
own language. If any one were prevented, for any
222 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.22
ne pouuoit affifter au diuin Sacrifice, il reparoit cette
perte fi toft qu'il eftoit libre, par vne priere qu'il
venoit faire [138] en cette petite Eglife, oil il recitoit
fon Chapelet a deux genoux deuant que d'en fortir.
Le Pere leur difant qu'a la verity c' eftoit chofe
bien agreable a Dieu d'entendre tous les iours la
fainc5te Meffe; neantmoins qu'il ne fe fafchoit pas
quand on s'en abfentoit les iours de trauail: l'vn
d'entr'eux prenant la parole, luy dift; Mon Pere,
ne nous dy point que Dieu n'eft pas fafche fi nous
n'affiftons point a la faindte Meffe ; dy-nous feulement
qu'il agr£e que nous nous y trouuions; cela fuffit
pour nous y faire venir; les pareifeux fe pourroient
preualoir de la moitie de ton difcours.
Les prieres fe font le foir & le matin dans les ca-
banes, auec vne telle confolation de ces bonnes gens,
que quelques Sauuages du Saguene fe voulans em-
barquer pour retourner en leur pays, vinrent querir
le Pere d£s le poinct. du iour, pour les faire prier
Dieu deuant leur depart. II n'y a pas long-temps
que les Sauuages auoient encor de la honte de prier
Dieu publiquement, maintenant on ne rougit plus
pour fe mettre a genoux, pour ioindre les mains,
pour prier hautement; c'eft vn blafme de n'aimer
point la priere. Ce changement [139] donne bien de
la confolation a ceux qui ont veu l'horreur qu'auoient
ces Barbares de noftre faindte Foy, & les rifees qu'ils
fa[i]foient de ceux qui la prefchent. Le Diable ne
laiffe pas encor de donner des terreurs a quelques-
vns. Ce mal-heureux efprit leur auoit perfuade que
le Baptefme leur eftoit fatal; qu'ils ne pouuoient
quitter les couftumes de leurs Anceftres, fans quitter
la vie. Cette tromperie regne encor dans les cceurs
1642] RELA TION OF 1642 223
reason, from being present at the divine Sacrifice,
he made up for the omission as soon as he was free
to do so, by a prayer said [138] in this little Church,
where he recited the Rosary on his knees before
going out.
When the Father told them that, in truth, it was
very pleasing to God to hear holy Mass every day,
but that, nevertheless, he was not angry when any
one absented himself from it on working days, one
of them addressed him and said : ' ' My Father, do
not tell us that God is not angry if we are not present
at holy Mass; tell us only that he is pleased when
we are there. That is enough to make us come.
The sluggards may take advantage of the half of thy
discourse."
Prayers are said night and morning in the cabins,
with such consolation to these good people that when
some Savages of the Saguene were about to embark
to return to their own country, they came to find the
Father at break of day, to pray to God with them
previous to their departure. Not long ago the Sav-
ages were still ashamed to pray to God in public ;
now they are not ashamed to kneel down, to clasp
their hands, and to pray aloud. Not to love prayer
is considered blameworthy. Such a change [139]
gives great consolation to those who have seen the
abhorrence that these Barbarians had for our holy
Faith, and the jests that they directed at those who
preach it. The Devil still causes terror to some.
That evil spirit had persuaded them that Baptism
was fatal to them, and that they could not forsake
the customs of their Ancestors without giving up
their lives. This erroneous idea still prevails in the
224 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.22
de quelques-vns. Le Pere voiilant baptifer quelques
ieunes garcons de la trouppe qui eftoient bien
inftruits, & qui auoient defire ce Sacrement, [ils] fe
retirerent au poindt qu'on les vouloit faire Enfans de
Dieu. L'vn deux retourna bien toft apres incite par
fes camarades, qui le menacoient de l'Enfer. L'au-
tre fut plus endurcy. Ie fuis-mort, fait-il, fi ie me
fais baptifer; depuis que i'en ay eu la volonte, mon
ceil a commence a me faire mal (vne fluxion luy eftoit