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Excerpts
from Various Writings
Famously, Father Brébeuf wrote a tip sheet for missionaries
coming into Huronia in 1637:
- You must love these Hurons, ransomed by the blood of the Son
of God, as brothers.
- You must never keep the Indians waiting at the time of embarking.
- Carry a tinder-box or a piece of burning-glass, or both, to
make fire for them during the day for smoking, and in the evening
when it is necessary to camp; these little services win their
hearts.
- Try to eat the little food they offer you, and eat all you can,
for you may not eat again for hours.
- Eat as soon as day breaks, for Indians when on the road, eat
only at the rising and the setting of the sun.
- Be prompt in embarking and disembarking and do not carry any
water or sand into the canoe.
- Be the least troublesome to the Indians.
- Do not ask many questions; silence is golden.
- Bear with their imperfections, and you must try always to appear
cheerful.
- Carry with you a half-gross of awls, two or three dozen little
folding knives (jambettes), and some plain and fancy beads with
which to buy fish or other commodities from the nations you meet,
in order to feast you Indian companions, and be sure to tell them
from the outset that here is something with which to buy fish.
- Always carry something during the portages.
- Do not be ceremonious with the Indians.
- Do not begin to paddle unless you intend always to paddle.
- The Indians will keep later that opinion of you which they have
formed during the trip.
- Always show any other Indians you meet on the way a cheerful
face and show that you readily accept
the fatigues of the journey.
Jerome Lalemant.
Jesuit Relations v. 17 ch. 7.
Of Various Obstacles and Difficulties:
"In short, there are weaknesses unimaginable except to those
who see them. But, after all, these are rational creatures, capable
of Paradise and of Hell, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ,
and of whom it is written, Et alias oves habeo quœ non sunt
ex hoc ovili, et illas oportet me adducere [other sheep have
I who are not of this fold; them also must I bring]. And for this
reason he sends to seek them in the hedges, and everywhere."
Jesuit Relations v. 38, ch.2.
Description of the Country of the Hurons:
THE Country of the Hurons is a part of new France, which is between
the 44th and 45th degrees of latitude, and in longitude about three-quarters
of an hour farther toward the West than Kebek, but more than six
whole hours from Rome. In the direction of the summer Sunset, it
has a lake of about 1200 miles in circumference, which we call "
the fresh-water sea," where the flow and ebb of tides can be
observed,—a rare thing away from the sea. It has innumerable
Islands,—and, among others, one zoo miles in circumference,
inhabited by some Barbarians, whom they call ondatauauat. At the
West, along the shores of this lake, was the nation which we called
" Tobacco, " because this plant was produced there in
abundance; this nation was not distant from us more than 35 or 40
miles. Southward, a little toward the West, came the neutral nation,
whose first villages were not more than 100 miles distant from the
Hurons; the territory of this nation extended through the space
of 150 miles. Thence, moving from the neutral nation a little toward
the East, one reached new Sweden, where also dwell the Andastogenronons,—who
are allied to our Hurons, and speak a language not very different
from theirs,—distant from us, in a direct route, about 500
miles. Beyond that same neutral nation, in a direction nearly South,
there is a lake 600 miles in circumference, called Herie, formed
by the fresh-water sea, which discharges into it,—and thence,
by means of a very high cataract, into a third lake, still greater
and more beautiful; it is called Ontario, or Beautiful lake, but
we were wont to call it the lake of St. Louis. The former of these
two lakes was at one time inhabited toward the South by certain
peoples whom we call the Cat nation; but they were forced to proceed
farther Inland, in order to escape the enemies whom they have toward
the West. This nation has various Territories, cultivates the fields,
and speaks a language similar to the Huron. The second lake—distant
from the Hurons, in a straight course, about 100 miles—is
nearly 250 miles in length, extending from the East to the West,
and about 50 in width, from the South to the North. It discharges
into a great river, which makes an arm of the one which we call
St. Lawrence. A little Inland thence from this lake of St. Louis,
reside the five Hiroquois nations, enemies to our Hurons, in a situation
almost parallel to the length of that lake. North of the Hurons
are many Algonquin nations, who do not cultivate the earth, but
live exclusively by hunting and fishing, and go even to the so-called
Northern sea, from which we reckoned ourselves distant about 1,000
miles, in a straight line. Our Barbarians traded with them every
year in Beaver skins, of which they have an enormous abundance.
The other nations known to us, which inhabit that lake, are also
Algonquin, and cultivate the soil, although but little. They are
at least as many as nine,—one of them being the nation of
the Sault, or cascade, more than 300 miles distant from us, through
which we hoped for a passage in order to reach other nations farther
on, who dwell along a lake larger than the fresh-water sea, which
takes its origin thence, and extends between the West and the north.
A Peninsula, or Strip of land, divides this lake from the one which
is called " lake of the Stinkards ", - people so named
by reason of having formerly inhabited the shores of the sea, which
they call Stinking water, and who have a language altogether unknown
to us.
Now, under the name of " Mission of the Hurons, " we
comprehended all these vast countries; and our design was, never
to stop in the seeking out of new Peoples, to whom we hoped that
a Colony in the country of the Hurons might be the key, had not
the inscrutable judgments of God otherwise disposed."
Jerome Lalemant, 1643,
Jesuit Relations v.26 ch.2.
Of the House and Mission of Sainte Marie:
"ALTHOUGH this House is not the usual residence of the
Fathers of our Society who are here in the Huron country, it is
nevertheless the place to which they repair from time to time, after
the work of the Missions, in which otherwise they could not live.
...
This House is not only an abode for ourselves, but it is also
the continual resort of all the neighboring tribes, and still more
of the Christians who come from all parts for various necessities,
— even with the object of dying there in greater peace of
mind, and in the true sentiments of the Faith. We have, therefore,
been compelled to establish a hospital there for the sick, a cemetery
for the dead, a Church for public devotions, a retreat for pilgrims,
and, finally, a place apart from the others, where the infidels
— who are only admitted by day, when passing that way —
can always hear some good words respecting their salvation. In these
countries, more than in any other spot on earth, it is necessary
to become all things to all men, in order to win them to Jesus Christ.
The hospital is so distinct from our dwelling that not only men
and children, but even women, can be admitted to it. God has given
us some good servants who are able to attend them in their sickness,
while we assist them for the good of their souls."
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