/ .. - % J: '■ ,;} ■■ hs^ar-Y C. . / ••^•/- l^-/U ^ ^ y j <*£ •' 4- ‘T/J '/"(, & ' '* %,^ a ' J/ ■ . A z 0 fU-. ctf yd %- / j- j" •'"YwC^f ^.:.4u { W: /Wu-J/J, ‘ j| ^ y &u. • A><5 Av*v 1C-A. . NEW VOYAGES T O North-America. CONTAINING An Account of the feveral Nations of that vaft Con- tinent,* their Cuftoms, Commerce, and Way of Naviga¬ tion upon the Lakes and Rivers; the feveral Attempts of the EngliJJj and French to difpoflefsone another; with the Reafons of the Mifcarriageof the former; and the various Adventures between the French , and the Iroyuefe Confe¬ derates of England, from 1683 to 1694. A Geographical Defcription of Canada, and a Natural Hiftory of the Country, with Remarks upon their Government, and the Intereif of the Englijb and French in their Commerce- Alfo a Dialogue between the Author and a General of the Savages, giving a full View of the Religion and ftrange Opi¬ nions of thofe People: With an Account of the Author’s Retreat to Portugal and Denmark , and his Remarks on thofe Courts. . To which is added, A'DICTION ARY of the Algonkine Language, which is generally fpoke in North-America. Illuftrated with Twenty-Three Maps and Cuts. Written in French By the Baton LA HO NT AN, Lord Lieutenant of the French Colony at Placentia in Newfoundl and , at that Time in England. _ Done inco Enzlilb. The S econd Edition. In Two VOLUMES. A great Part of which never Printed in the Original. __ V O L. I. LONDON: Printed for J. and J. Bonwickf., R. Wilkin, S. Birt, T. Ward, E. Wicksteed; and J. Osborn. M,DCC,XXXV. To His Grace WILLIAM Duke of Devonjhire , Lord Steward ofHerMajefl/s Houfiold , Lord Lieutenant of the County of Der¬ by, Chief fujlice in Eyre of all Her Majejlys For efts, Chaces , Parks, &c. Trent-North 5 One of the Lords of Her Majejly s Mojl Honourable Privy Council , and Knight of the Mojt Noble Order of the Garter . My Lord, S ince I had the Honour to prefent the King of Denmark with the firft Part ot this Book, I prefume to make a Pre¬ fent of the Latter to your Grace. In making the firft Dedication, I had no other Inducement, than a due Regard to the Benefits I receiv'd from His Majefty’s Favour $ and the fame Motive with refe¬ rence to your Grace, has prompted me A 2 to The Dedication. to make this Acknowledgement of the undeferved Favours you kindly vouch- fafed me. I did not dare to launch out into the Praife of His Danijh Majefty, who has a juft Title to all forts of Encomiums j By reafon that the little French I had, has been forgot among a fort of People, that take Panegyricks to be Affronts. ’Tis with the fame View, My Lord, that I decline the Pleafure of publifhing thofe diftinguifhing Qualities, that place Your Lordfhip at the Head of the moft accom- plifh’d Grandees of the World, and the moft zealous Patriots of their Country. I am, with all Gratitude and Veneration , My Lord, Tour Grace’s Mojl Humble Jnd Mojl Obedient Servant , Lafiontan. THE THE PREFACE. H Aving flatter'd my flelf with the vain Hopes of retrieving the King c/" France'./ Favour, hejore the Declaration of this War ; I was fo far from thinking to pat theje Letters and Memoirs to the Frefs ; that I de- fignd to have committed 'em to the Flames, if that Monarch had done me the Honour of re in¬ flating me in my former Places, with the good leave of MeJJietirs de Pontchartrain, * the Father and the Son. 'Twas * the one Chan- with that View that I neglected to ‘Infif!othTsf- put 'em in fuch a Drefs as might cmury of state: now be wifh'd for, for the Satisfac - of ’ em tion of the Reader that gives him- felf the trouble to perufe ’em. Between the fifteenth and fixteenth Tear of my Age I went to Canada, and there took care to keep up a conflant Correfpondence by Letters with an old Relation, who had requir'd of me a Nar¬ rative of the Occurrences of that Country, upon the Account af the yearly Affiance he gave me. fiis theje very Letters that make the greatefl Fart oj the fir(l Volume. They contain an Account of all that pafs'd between the Englifh, the French, the Iroquefe, and the other Savage Nations , A 3 from \ The Preface. from the Tear 1683, to 1604. Together with a great many curious Remarks, that may be of ufe to thofe who have any Knowledge of the Englifh or French Colonies. The whole is writ with a great deal of Fide¬ lity ; for I reprefent things juft as they are. I neither fatter nor Jpare any Perfon * call'd ky whatjoever \ I attribute to the * Iro- New-York,” quele, the Glory they have furcha- Mah*k. fed on Jeveral Occafons, tho' at the fame time i hate that rajcally People, as much as Horns and Law-Suits. Notwithflanding the Veneration I have for the Clergy, I impute to them all the Mifchief the Iroqueie have done to the French Colonies, in the Courfe of a War that had never been under taken x if it had not been for the Counfels of thefe pious Church-Men. The Reader is defir d to take notice that the Towns of New-York, are known to the French hy their old Names only, and for that reafon I was oblig'd to make ufe of the fame in my Letters , as well as my Maps. They give the Name of New-York to all that Country, that reaches from the Source of its River to the Mouth, that is, to the IJland, upon which there Jlands a City call'din the time of ‘the Dutch, Manathe, and now by the Englifh, New-York. In like man¬ ner the Plantation of Albany, that lies towards the Head of the River , is call’d by the French, Orange. Farther ; I would not have the Reader to take it ami/s, that the Thoughts of the Savages are ft forth in European Drefs. TheOccaJion # The Preface. of that Choice proceeded f ran the Relation 1 cot - re [ponded with ; for that honeft Gentleman ri¬ diculed the Metaphorical Harangue of the* Grangnla; and intreated me not *fJ eLetttr to make a literal ft ranjlation of a Lan¬ guage that was Jo fluff d with Fictions and Ja- %age Hyperboles. ‘Pis for this Reafou that all the Dijcourfes and Arguments of thofe Nations , are here accommodated to the European Style and way of Speaking ; for having comply d with my Friend's Requeft, I contented my Jelf in keep¬ ing only a Copy of the Letters I writ to, him , during my Pilgrimage in the Country oj thefe naked Philofophers. 'twill not be improper to acquaint the Reader by the bye, that thofe who know my Faults , do as little Juftice to thej'e People, as they do to me, in alledging I am a Savage my Jelf and that that makes me [peak fo favourably of my Felhw-Sa- vages. fhefe Obfervators do me a great deal of Honour, as long as they do not explain themjelves , fo as to make me direftly of the fame Char after with that which is tack'd to the Word Savage by the Europeans in their way of thinking: For in Jaying only that I am of the fame femper with the Savages, they give me, without Deftgn, the Char after of the honeflefi Man in the World. 'Pis an uncontefed [ruth, that the Nations which are not debauch'd by the Neighbourhood of the Europeans, are Strangers to the Meajures of Meum and Tuum, and to all Laws, f udges, and Priefls. Phis cant be call'd in Quefidn, [wee all travellers that have vifted thofe Countries , A 4 vouch The Preface. vouch for its ‘truth \ and a great many of different Projejfon f, have given the IVor Id repeated Affhr- ances that ’tis fo. Now this being granted , we ' ought not to Jcrupk to believe, that theje are fuch wife and reafonable People. I take it., a Man muft be quite blind', who does not fee that the Property of Goods (1 do not J'peak of the in- grojftng of Women) is the only Source of all the Diforders that perplex the European Societies. Upon that Conftderation ’twill be eafy to perceive, that 1 have not /poke wide in defcribing that Wifdom and AcuteneJ’s which floines through the Words and Allions of theje poor Americans. If all the World had Accefs to the Books of Voyages, that are found in fome well-flock!d Libraries, they would fnd in above a hundred Dejcriptions of Canada, an Infinity of Difcoarfes and Argu¬ ments offer'd by the Savages, which are incom¬ parably flronger, and more nervous than thoje I have inferted in my Memoirs. As for Juch as doubt of the In ft inB and won¬ derful Capacity of Beavers, they need only to cafl their Eyes upon the Great Map of America, drawn by the Sieur de Fer, and grav’d at Paris in the Tear i6p8. Where they will meet with feveral furprizing things, relating to theje Animals. While my Book was a Printing in Holland, I was in England; and as foon as it appear’d, feveral Engliili Gentlemen oj a diflinguifhing Me¬ rit, who underfland the French as well as their Mother Tongue , gave me to know, that they would be glad toj'ee a more ample Relation of the Manners The Preface. Manners and Cufioms of the People of that Con¬ tinent, whom we call by the Name of Savages. Phis oblig’d me to communicate to thefe Gentle¬ men, the Subfiance of the J'everal Conferences I had in that Country with a certain Huron, whom the French call Rat. While 1 flay’d at that American’.* Village, I imployd my time very agreeably in making a cateful Collect ion of all his Arguments and Opinions } and as foon as I re¬ turn d from my Voyage upon the Lakes oj Canada, Ifbew’d my Manufcript to Count Frontenac, who was Jo pleas’d with it, that he took the Pains to affijl me in digefling the Dialogues, and bringing them into the Order they now appear in : For before that, they were abrupt Conferen¬ ces without Connexion. Upon the Sollicitationof thefe Englifh Gentlemen, I have put thefe Dia¬ logues into the Hands of the Perfon who tranjlat- ed my Letters and Memoirs; And if it had not been for their preffing In fiances, they had never J'een the Light \ for there are but few in the World that will judge impartially, and without Prepojfeffion, of fbme things contain’d in ’em. I have likewtfi intrlifted the farm Pranfator \ with fome Remarks that I made in Portugal, and Denmark, when I fed thither from New¬ found-Land. Phere the Reader will meet with a Defcription of Lisbon and Copenhagen, and of the capital City oj Arragon. Po the Pranfation of my firft Volume, I have added an exalt Map <>/" Newfound-Land, which was not in the Original. I have likewif cor¬ rected alrnofl all the Cuts of the Holland Im- prejfion, The Preface. preffon, for the Dutch Gravers had murdered ’em, by not under (landing their Explications, ‘which were all in French. They have grav’d Women for Men , and Men for Women \ naked PerJ'onsfor thofe that are cloath’d, and e contra. Ms for the Maps, the Reader will fnd ’em very exact ; and I have taken care to have the 'Traits of my Voyages more nicely delineated , than in the Original. I under (land by Letters from Paris, that the two McJJieurs de Pontchartrain endeavour by all means to be reveng’d upon mefor the Mffront they fay I have given ’em in pub lifting fome trifling Stories in my Book, that ought to have been con¬ ceal d. I am likewife inform’d, that I have rea- fon to be apprehenflve op the Refentment of feve- ral Ecclefiafiicks, who pretend I have injulted God in cenfuring their Conduit. But finee I ex- felted nothing lefs than the furious Refentment both of the one and the other, when i put this Book to the Prefs ; I had time enough to arm my fe If from Top to Toe, in order to made Head againfi ’em. ’Pis my Comfort, that lhave writ nothing but what I make good by authentick Proofs ; be¬ fit des, that I could not have find lefs of ’em than I have done', for if I had not tied my felf up to the dir ell Thread of my Difcourje, I could have made Digreffions, in which the Conduit both of the one and the other, would have appear’d to be prejudicial to the Repofe of the Society, and the publtck Good. / had Provocation enough to have treated ’em in that manner\ bat my Letters be¬ ing addrtfs’d to an ohl bigot ted Relation of mine. The Preface.' who fed upon Devotion , and dreaded the Influence of the Court ; he fill befeech'd me to write nothing to him that might djoblige the Clergy or the Courtier s y for fear of the intercepting op my Let¬ ters. However , I have Advice from Paris, that Jo me pedants are Jet at IVork to leijh me in writ¬ ing , and fo I muf prepare to fand the Brunt of a Shower of Affronts , that will he pour'd upon me in a few Days. But ’tis no matter ; I am fo good a Conjurer , that I can ward off 'any Storm from the Side of Paris. I laugh at their 'Threats j and fnce I can't make ufe of my Swordy I'll wage War with my ‘Ben. ffhis I only mention by the hye y in this my Pre¬ face to the Reader , whom I pray the Heavens to crown with Brojyerityy in prejerving him from having any Bufnefs to adjufl with moff of the Minijlers of Staley and Priefs ; for let them be never fo faulty , they'll fill be faid to be in the Righty till Juch time as Anarchy be introduc'd amongft usy as well as the Americans, among whom the forryef Fellow thinks himfelf a better Many than a Chancellor of France. ‘Thefe People are happy in being fcreen’d from the Fricks and Shifts of Miniflersy who are always Maflers where-ever they come. I envy the State of a poor Savage , who tramples upon Laws y and pays Ho¬ mage to no Scepter. I wijh / could Jfetid the ref of my Life in his Hut y and fo be no longer expos'd to the Chagrin of bending the Knee to a Set of Meiiy that (dcrifce the publick Good to their private Interefy and are born to plague honefl Men. The two Minijlers of State / have to The Preface. to do with y have been folUcited in vain, by the Dutchefs of Lude, Cardinal Bouillon, Count Guifcar, Mr. de Quiros, and Count d’ Avaux: Nothing could prevaily tho’ all that is laid to my Chargey conjijls only in not bearing the Affronts of a Governory whom they protect ; at a Time when a hundred other Ojfficersy who live under the Imputation of Crimesy infinitely greater than tniney are excus'd for three Months Abfence from Court. Now the Reafon is , that they give lefs Quarter to thofe who have the Misfortune to dif- pleafe the two MeJJieurs de Poncbartrain, than to Juch as a£i contrary to the King's Orders. But cffter all my Misfortunesy I have this to folace me y that I enjoy in England a fort of Li¬ berty y that is not met with elfewhere: For one may jujlly fay y that of all the Countries inhabit¬ ed by civiliz’d People , this alone affords the great- efl Perfection of Liberty. Nay y I do not except the Liberty of the Mindy for lam convive dy that, the Englifh maintain it with a great deal of fen¬ der nefs : So true it is , that all Degrees of Slavery are abhorr’d by this People , who Jhew their WiJ- dom in the Precautions they take to prevent their finking into a fatal Servitude. the THE CONTENTS. VOL. I. LETTER I. Dated at Quebec, Nov. 8. 1683. 1 C ontaining a Defcription of the Pajfage from France to Canada ; with fome Re¬ marks upon the Coajts, Channels, Stc. and the Variation of the Needle. p. 1. L E T T E R II. Dated at the Canton oiBeaupre, May 1. 1684. Containing a Defcription of the Plantations of Canada, and the manner in which they were frfl form’d : Ns alfo an Account of the TranJ- portation of Whores from France to that Country ; together with a View of its Climate and Soil. p. 7. LET- The Contents. LETTER HI. Dated at Quebec , May 15. 1684. Containing an ample Defcription of the City of Quebec, and of the IJlandof St. Laurence. p. 11. LETTER IV. Dated at Monreal , June 14. 1684. Containing a brief Defcription of the Habit at tom of the Savages in the Neighbourhood of Que¬ bec ; of the River of St. Laurence, as far up as Monreal; of a curious may of fijhing Eels ; and of the Cities of Trois Rivieres, and Mon¬ real : together with an Account of the Con¬ duit of the Forefl-Rangers or Pedlars . p. 16. letter V. Dated at Monreal , June 18. 1684. In which is contain'd a fhort Account of the Iro- quefe, with a View of the War and Peace they made with the French, and of the means by which it was brought about. p. 22. letter VI. Dated at Monreal , June 20. 1684, Being an ample Defcription of the Canows made of Birch Barky in which the Canadans per¬ form The Contents. form all their Voyages \ with an Account of the manner in which they aye made and ma¬ nag’d. p. 0.6. LETTER VII. Dated at Monreal, Novemb. i. 1684.' Defcribing the River of St. Laurence, from Monreal to the frji great Lake of Canada, with the Water-falls , Cataracts, and Naviga¬ tion of that River : As alfo Fort Frontenac, and the Advantages that accrue from it. to¬ gether with a circumjlantial Account of the Expedition of Mr. de la Barre, the Governor Genera !, againfl the Iroquefe; the Speeches he made , the Replies he receiv’d, and the fnal Accommodation of the Difference. p. i<). LETTER VIII. Dated at Monreal, June 28. 1685. Reprefenting the Fortifications of Monreal, and the indijcreet Zeal of the Friefls, who are Lords of that town: With a Defcription of Chambli, and of the Commerce of the Savages upon the great Lakes. ' p. 45. LETTER IX. Dated at Boucherville , 061 . 2. i68j. Being an Account of the Commerce and Trade of Monreal: Of the Arrival of the Marquis of Denonville The Contents. Penonville with fome Troops, and of the re¬ calling of Mr. de la Barre. With a carious Defcription of certain Licenfes for trading in Beaver-Shins in the remote Countries, p.ji- LETTER X. Dated at Boucherville , July 8. 1< 586 . Relating the Arrival of Mr. de Champigni, in the room of Mr. de Meules, who is recall’d to France \ the Arrival of the froops that came along with him , the Curiofty of the Rackets , and the way of hunting Elks ; with a Defcrip¬ tion of that Animal. p. 55. LETTER XI. Dated at Boucherville, May 28. 1687. Being a curious Defcription of the Hunting of divers Animals. p. 60. LETTER XII. Dated at St. Helens , over again Sk'Monreal, June 8 . 1687. The Chevalier de Vaudreuil arrives in Canada with fome Troops. Both the R : egular Troops and the Militia are pofled at St. Helens, in a Readinefs to march againfl the Iroquefe. p. ( 58 . L E T- — A.Vap Jnuvn uponStaa-skins by v Giiac/itarc'-S u’ho ^ live mem know v‘L atitudesofalUplocej markdtn it. by pointing to Srefpectiye places rfj heavens that one or t'other corresponded to. fi/by thus meant I could adjufbjL at: to half a.J)ejvecMe mom.- havino firfi recor d, fimn 'em a computation of v defiances in 'tas.ous each ofu’teh I compute to be ^Lonf french Leagues . rtfmon \aagpanx 140 n Sauttur Huron! JlijntoJl aC.JMLJ Voi.l.pJ-B. rk.D.aUOu, HoulW-tf* lAHUaAUR.rf « afcar.ua, w «,i'TAHUCLAi'K in with mejm* accovi -dinj if 4 u.Tlra.ufit tUatjMozeerrxie^Jhtvtd^me up any Harks of T-ruO . \e\sjpeopU drew Id i yitcorelinj tv my compuhtCan fetch afifidl mufh he ,Jo fiat lonj fiom the prow the 77row tv the sttrn AJMap j/VloKG- RlYXR and of Jam e others that Jail into that (mail part ofy Great River of JViiififipi with is here laid doum . Cthc small-pricks -that arc run along /^vmJSlifCi 1 im akinac anA backto it by another uxiy is y CourjeIjt/erAin my Ibyage T'he Jtlower Ac luces 3yT mark* A- in fbmcJLtvcrs represent y.Places -that I stop A at with outgoing higher up 'T'hc Crojps'k Jhew y L an A carnagesfrom ontPl to anoth HZamant/hgovan fort lU S* •/ 2 &*(\LO\Xfnt JLanA Carnage of Click akou^^ oT^it\^ K S.ofAiencontreJ i*£°Aoniatinoni ^ V. ^ $df Y Jiuntin 43 Court «iY <2-2^4 ^ Mifrioui'ii V& • A»^rt< Vvclh-. w. • \.;-a t u , f- ’ 'Villages m » ‘ -* 1 *•77 | ' .. UI\ z 8y\ • ovals Mouth ofy CrricttLake Ltfi^INlPOTAI.S &_ cities and. Towns t t Tench SC Lnyltjh 7 hllayes a 6 'VillaoeS of -the Savayej ^ A-JawyerittMfh. by y Irotjutfe I Ti^ie Sorts -withaCrof? about'em are abandon’d \tfyfhe Countries for Reaver Xittle Tort of St C-ei which hindersy to come down to Jv^rtr huntin a . that: I know of \ ^Waterfalls and Catar tny Stivers I* T.™d Carriages from one place . ^ aC h°^t.$mS£acharidib Machadibi V 3 .des ChaUur ./7 I.de*Hif ce . u \ Ifiramtchi -P.* Chedaboucktv^^^ SibouXton COT J,\a ^ & \Sorel *- gjr ChatnbliT f ^ ,akeLof SlXouij ^ M^/^CliamplainL . 'w*/' erf Sr. aixdjT ^ jfy ^(T? Oth ; riatian^r lonntre <~5*4££***i r§ v Irotju* ft i ^ ***<>* x La b il a n - d* T t AS\ Bay § V 'kl u or E S K I 2&A TJX A t Bav of Si A£oft«* a * Laurence T-a-n^ ^S»" Jf.rUjr K n ‘irrni ur/ J 13 rioh W Madal*na I > V ■■■Sefirts 3. ~ 4 nn and the Variation oj the Needle. SIR, I Am furpriz’d to find that a Voyage to the Nett World is fo formidable to thofe who are oblig d to undertake it; forlfolemnly proteft, that tis far from being what the World com- monly takes it for. ’Tis true, the Paffage is in fome meafure long ; but then the Hopes of viewing an unknown Country, atones for the Tedioufneft » i?n ^ a S e - When we broke ground from Rochelle \ acquainted you with the Reafons that mov Mr. le Fevre de la Barre, Governor-General of Canada , to fend the Sieur Mahu , a Canadefe , to France % and at the fame time gave you to know B " ' r.hi 2 , Some New P oyciges that he had refolv’d upon the utter■ Deftruftion of the Iroquefe, who are a very warlike and favage People Thefe Barbarians befriend the Eaghjb, upon the account of the Succours they receive from ’em •, but they are Enemies to us, upon the Apprehenfion of being deftroy’d by us fome time or other. The General I fpoke of but now, expect¬ ed that the King would fend him feven or eigh hundred Men ; but when we fet out from Rochelle, the Seafon was fo far advanc’d, that our three Com* panies of Marines were reckon’d a fufficient I met with nothing in our Paflage that was dil- agreeable, abating for a Storm that alarm d us for fome Days, upon the Precipice ot.the Bank of New- found-Land , where the Waves fwell prodigioufly, even when the Winds are low. In that Storm our Frigate receiv’d fome rudeShocks from the Seajbut in regard that fuch Accidents are ulual in that Voy¬ age, they made no Impreffion upon the old fea- fon’d Sailors. As for my part, I could not pre¬ tend to that Pitch of Indifference *, for having ne¬ ver made fuch a Voyage before, I was fo alarm’d in feeincr the Waves mount up to the Clouds, that I made more Vows to Neptune , than the brave Ido- men mis did in his Return from the Wars of Troy. After we made the Bank, the Waves iunk, and the Wind dwindled, and the Sea became fo fmooth and eafy, that we could not work our Ship. You can fcarce imagine what Quantities of Cod-fifh werecatch’d there by our Seamen, intheSpace ofa Quarter of an Hour ; for though we had thirty-two fathom Water, yet the Hook was no fooner at the Bottom, than the Fifh was catch’d •, fo that they had nothing to do but to throw in, and take up without Interruption: But after all, fuch is the Mil- fortune of this Fifhery, th2t it does not fucceed but upon certain Banks.; which are commonly paft over to North- America. % over v/ 1 thouf flopping. However, as we were plen¬ tifully entertain’d at the Coftofthefe Fifhes, fo iudi of em as continued in the Sea, madefuffici- ent Reprifals upon the Corpfeof a Captain, and of feveral ooldiers, who dy’d of the Scurvy, ^nd were thrown over board three or four Days after. In the mean time the Wind veering to the Weft- North-Weft,we were oblig’d to lye by for five or iix Days ; but after that, it chop’d to the North, and fo we happily made Cape Rafe, tho’ indeed our rilots were at a Jofs to know where we were by realon that they could not take the Latitude’ for ten or twelve Days before. You may eafily ima- gine, that ’twas with great Joy that we heard one of our Sailors cafl from theTop-Maft, Land, Land, -j^, * , when he approach’d to Maltha , tiiy efa Tn, For you muft know that when the Pilots reckon they approach to Land, they ufc the Precaution of lending up Sailors to the Top- Mali, in order to fome Difcovery; and thefe Sai¬ lors are reliev’d every two Hours till Night comes at which time they furl their Sails if the Land is not yet defcry’U: So that in the Night-time they Icarce make any way. From this it appears how important it is to know the Coaft, before you ap¬ proach to it; nay, the Pafiengers put fuch a Va- me upon the Difcovery, that they prefent the firft Difcovcrer with fome Piftoles. In the mean time you 11 be pleas’d to obferve, that the Needle of the Compafs, which naturally points to the North turns upon the Bank of Newfound-Land, twenty- three Degrees towards the North-Weft ; that is- it points there a Degree nearer to the Weft, than North-North-Weft. This Remark we made by our Compafs of Variation. We defery’d the Cape about Noon ; and in order to confirm the Difcovery, ftood in upon it with all Sails aloft. At laft, being aftbr’d that ’twas the B 2 Pro- 4 Some New Voyages Promontory we look’d for, an univerfal Joy waS foread throughout the Ship, and the Fate o» t e Wretches that we had thrown over-board, was quite forgot. Then the Sailors fet about the Chriftening of thofe who had never made the Voyage before * and indeed they had done it fooner, if it had not been for the Death of our above-mention’d Compa¬ nions. The Chriflening I fpeak of, is an imperti¬ nent Ceremony, pradtis’d by Sea-faring Men, whole Humours are as llrange and extravagant, as the Element itlelf, upon which they foohfhly trult themfelves. By vertue of a Cuftom of old Itand- ing, they profane the Sacrament of Baptifm in an unaccountable Manner. Upon that Occafion, the old Sailors being blacken’d all over, and difguis’d with Rags and Ropes, force the greener Sort that have never pafs’d fome certain Degrees of Lati¬ tude before, to fall down on their Knees, and to fwear upon a Book of Sea Charts, that upon all Occafions they will practife upon others, the lame Ceremony that is then made ufe of towards therm After the adminiftring of this ridiculous Oath, they throw fifty Buckets full of Water upon their Head,Belly, andThighs, and indeed, all over their Bodies, without any regard to Times or Seafons. This Piece of Folly is chiefly practis’d under the .Equator, under the Tropicks, under the Polar Circles, upon the Bank of Newfound-Land and in the Streights of Gibraltar, the Sund, andth t Darda¬ nelles. As for Perlons of Note or Charadler, they are exempted from the Ceremony, at the Lxpence of five or fix Bottles of Brandy for the Ship’s Crew. Three or four Days after the Performance of this Solemnity, we difcover’d Cape Raye, and fo made up to St. Laurence Bay , in the Mouth of which we were becalm’d for a little while ; and during that Calm, we had a clearer and pleafanter Day, than any we had feen injdK^Paflag^ It look’d as if * Efpadon, a Tifh be¬ tween io and if Foot long, being four Foot in Circumference , and having in its Snout a fort of Saw which is four Foot long , four Inches broad , and Lines thick . to North- America. 5 that Day had been vouchfaf’d us by way of Recom- pence for the Rains, Foggs, and high Winds, that we encounter’d by the Way. There we faw an Engagement between a Whale and a * Sword Filh, at the Dif- tance of a Gun-lhot from our Frigate. We were perfectly charm’d when we faw the Sword- Fifhjump out of the Water in order to dart its Spear into the Body of the Whale, when oblig¬ ed to take Breath. This enter¬ taining Show lafted at lead two Hours, fometimes to the Starboard, and fometimes to the Larboard of the Ship. The Sailors, among whom Super- ftition prevails as much as among the Egyptians , took this for a Prefage of fome mighty Storm ; but the Prophecy ended in two or three Days of con¬ trary Winds, during which time we travers’d be¬ tween the Ifland of Newfound Land, and that of Cape Breton. Two Days after we came in Sight of the Ifland of Fowls, by the Help of a North-Eaft Wind; which drove us from the Mou h of St Laurence Bay, to the Iflc of Anticofti, upon the Bank of which, we thought to have been caft away, by nearing it too much. In the Mouth of that River we fell into a fecond Calm, which was follow’d by a contrary Wind, that oblig’d us to lye by for ,omc Days. At laft we made Fadouffac, by gra¬ dual Approaches, and there came to an Anchor. Phis I\iver is four Leagues broad where we then rode, and twenty two at its Mouth ; but it contra&s itfelf gradually, as it approaches to its Source. Two Lays alter, the^Vindflanding Eaft, we weigh’dAn- chor-, and being favour’d by the Tyde, got fafe through the Channel of the Red Ifland, in which the Currents are apt to turn a Veil'd on one Side as well as at the Iiland of Coudrefs, which lies fome ® 3 Leagues 6 Some ISew Voyages Leagues higher. But upon the Coaft of the luff Ifland, we had certainly ftruck upon the Rocks, if we had not drop’d an Anchor. Had the Ship been call away at that Place, we might eafily havefav’d our felves: But it prov’d fo, that we were mor; afraid than hurt. Next Morning we weighed with a FrefhGale from the Eaft, and the next Day after came to an Anchor over againft Cape Tourmente , where we had not above two Leagues over, tho’ 31 the fame time ’tis a dangerous Place to thofe who are unacquainted with the Channel. From thence we hadbiitfeven Leagues failing to the Port of Que¬ bec, where we now ride at Anchor. In our Paflage from the red Iiland to this Place, we faw fuch Floats of Ice, and fo much Snow upon the Land, that we were upon the Point of turning back for France , tho’ we were not then ab.ove thirty Leagues off our defired Port. We were afraid of being ftop’d by the Ice, ' and fo loft •, but thank God we ’fcap’d. Wchave receiv’d advice, that the Governor has mark’d out Quarters for our Troops in fome Vil¬ lages or Cantons adjacent to this City -, fo that I am oblig’d to prepare to go afhoar, and therefore niuft make an end of this Letter. I cannot as yet give you any Account of the Country, excepting that ’tis already mortally cold. As to the River, l mean to give you a more ample Defcription of it, when I ccme to know it better. We are inform¬ ed that Mr. de la Salle is juft return’d from his Travels, which he undertook upon the Dilcovery of a great River that falls into the Gulf of Mexico \ and that he imbarques To-morrow for France. He is perfe&ly well acquainted with Canada, and for that reafon you ought to vifit him, if you go to Paris this Winter. I am, SIR, Tours , &c. - mr-mm* let - to North- America. 7 LETTER II. Dated at the Canton of Beaupre y May 2. 1684. Containing a Defcription of the Plantations of Canada, and the manner in win cdo they were firji form'd: As alfo an Account of thcfranf- port at ion of Whores from France to that Country ; together with a View of its Climate and Soil. S I R, A S foon as we landed laft Year, Mr.de la Barre lodg’d our three Companies in fome Cantons or Quarters in the Neighbourhood of Quebec. The Planters call thefe places Cotes , which in France fignifies no more than the Sea-Coaft; tho’ in this Country where the Names of Town and Village are unknown, that Word is made ufe of to exprefs a Seignory or Manor, the Houfes of which lie at the Diftance of two or three hundred Paces one from another, and are feated on the Brink of the River of St. Laurence. In earned, Sir, the Boors of thofe Manors ljve with more Eafe and Conveni- ency, than an Infinity of the Gentlemen in France. I am out indeed in calling ’em Boors, for that Name is as little known here as in Spain whether it be that they pay noTaxes, and enjoy the Liberty of Hunting and Fifhing ; or that the Eafmefsof their Life, puts ’em upon a Level with ihe Nobi. lity. The pooreft of them have four f drpent$o{Gxo\in<\ in Front, t A r pent is a spot and thirty or forty in Depth: The °f GrounJ containing whole Country bcingacontinued Poreltol lofty 1 rees, the Stumps teen root long B 4 of 8 Some hew Voyage* of which muft be grub’d up, before they can make ufe of a Plough. ’Tistrue, this is a troublefome and chargeable Task at firft ; but in a fhort Time after they make up their Lodes •, for when the Vir- gin Ground, is capable of receiving Seed, it yields an Increafe to the Rate of an hundred-fold. Corn is there {own in May, and reap’d about the middle of September. Inftead ofthreffiing the SHeafs in the Field, they convey ’em to Barns, where they lie till the coldeft Seafon of the Winter, at which time the Grain is more eafily difcngag’d from the Far. Jn this Country they likewife fow Peafe, which are much efteem’d in France. All forts of Grain are very cheap here, as well as Butchers Meat and Fowl. The Price of Wood is almoft nothing, in companion with the Charge of its Car¬ riage, which after all is very inconfiderable. Moft of the Inhabitants are a free fort of People that remov’d hither from France, and brought with ’em but little Money to let up withal: The reft are thofe who were Soldiers about thirty or forty Years ago, at which time the Regiment of Carig- pan was broke, and they exchang’d a Military Poll, for the Trade of Agriculture. Neither the one nor the other pay’d any thing for the Grounds they poflefs, no more than the Officers of thefe Troops, who mark’d out to themfelves, certain Portions or unmanur’d and woody Lands ; for this vaft Con¬ tinent is nothing elfe than one continued Foreft. The Governors General allow’d the Officers three or four Leagues of Ground in Front, with as much Pepth as they pleas’d ; and at the fame Time the Officers gave the Soldiers as much Ground as they pleas’d, upon the Condition of the Payment of a Crown per Arpent, by way of Fief. After the Reform of thefe Troops, feveral Ships were fent hither from France, with a Cargoe of Women of an ordinary Reputation, pnder the Di¬ rection to North- America. p region of fome old ftale Nuns, who rang’d them )n three Clafies. The Veftal Virgins were heap’d up, (it I may fo fpeak) one above another, in three different Apartments, where the Bride¬ grooms fingled out their Brides, juft as a Butcher does an Ewe from amongft a Flock of Sheep. In ihefe three Seraglio's , there was fuch Variety and Change of Diet, as could fatisfy the moft whimfi- cal Appetites; for here was fome big, fome little, fome fair, fome brown, fome fat and feme meagre. In fine, there was fuch Accommodation, that every one might be fitted to his Mind : And in¬ deed the Market had fuch a Run, that in fifteen Days time, they were all difpos’d of. I am told, that the fa teft went off belt, upon the Appre- henfion that thde being lefs active, would keep truer to their Ingagements, and hold out better againft the nipping Cold of the Winter: But af¬ ter all, a great many of the He-Adventurers found themfelves miftaken in their Meafurcs. However, let that be as it will, it affords a very curious Re-, mark ; namely. That in fome Parts of the World, to which the vicious European Women are tranf- ported, the Mob of thofe Countries does ferioufly believe, that their Sins are fo defac’d by the ridi¬ culous Chriftening I took notice of before, that they are look’d upon ever after as Ladies of Vir¬ tue, of Honour, and of untarnilh’d Condudt of Life. The Sparks that wanted to be married, made their Add relies to the above-mentioned Governeffes, to whom they were oblig’d to give an Account of their Gpods and Eftates, before they were allow’d to make their Choice in the three Seraglio's. After the Choice was determin'd, the Marriage was concluded upon the Spot, in the Prefence of a Prieft, and a publick Notary; and the next Day the Governor-General beftow’d up¬ on the married Couple, a Bull, a Cow, a Hog, a Sow, t o Som New Voyages Sow, a Cock, a Hen, two Barrels of fait Meat, and eleven Crowns ; together with a certain ★ Homs. Coat of Arms call’d by the Greeks * Kifetjet. The Officers having a nicer Tafte than the Soldiers, made their Application to the Daughters of the ancient Gentlemen of the Country, or thofe of the richer fort of Inhabitants; for you know, that Canada has been poffefs’d by the French above an hundred Years. In this Country every one lives in a good and a welUfurniffi’d Houfe; and mod of theHoufesare of Wood, and two Stories high. Their Chimnies are very large, by reafon of the prodigious Fires they make to guard themfelves from the Cold, which is there beyond all meafure, from the Month qf December , to that of April During that Space of time, the River is always frozen over, not- withdanding the Flowing and Ebbing of the Sea; and the Snow upon the Ground, is three or four foot deep; which is very ftrange in a Country that lies in the Latitude of forty-leven Degrees, and feme odd Minutes. Mod People impute the extraordinary Snow to the number of Mountains, with which this vad Continent is replenidi’d. Whatever is in that matter, I mud take notice of one thing, that feems very drange, namely, that ^be Summer Days are longer here than at Paris . The Weather is then fo clear and ferene, that in three Weeks time you fhall not fee a Cloud in the Horizon . I hope to go to [Quebec with the fird Op¬ portunity ; for I have Orders to be in a Readinefs io^mbarque within fifteen Days for Monreal , which is the City of this Country, that lies farthed up Cowards the Head of the River. I am. to North- America. 11 LETTER III. Dated at Quebec May 15. 1684. Containing an ample Defcription of the City of Quebec, and of the If and of Orleans. SIR, B Efore I fet out for Monreal, I had the Curio- fity to view the Ifland of Orleans , which is feven Leagues in length, and three in Breadth: It extends from over-againft Cape Tourmente, to within a League and a half of Quebec , at which Place the River divides itfelf into two Branches. The Ships fail through the South Channel; for the North Channel is fo foul with Shelves and Rocks, that the fmall Boats can only pafs that way. The Ifland belongs to a General Farmer of France, who would make out of it a thoufand Crowns of yearly Rent, ifhimfelfhad the Management of it. s Tis furrounded with Plantations, that produce all forts of Grain. Quebec is the Metropolitan of N ew-France, being almoft a League in Circumference; it lies in the Latitude of 47 Degrees, and 12 Minutes. The Longitude of this Place is uncertain, as well as that of feveral other Countries, with the Leave of the Geographers, that reckon you up 1200 Leagues from Rochelle to Quebec, without taking the Pains to meafure the Courle: However, I am fure that it lies but at too great aDiftance from France , for the Ships that are bound hither; for their Paflage com¬ monly lafts for two Months and a half, whereas the homeward bound Ships may in 30 or 40 Days failing, eafily make the Belle Ifle, which is the ‘ ’ fureft i i Some New P oy%g es fureft and mart ufual Land, that a Ship makes upon a long Voyage. The Reafon of this Diffe¬ rence, is, that the Winds are Eafterly for ioo Days of the Year, and Wefterly for 260. Quebec is divided into the upper and the lower Ci¬ ty. The Merchants live in the latter, for the Con¬ veniency of the Harbour ; upon which they have built very fine Houfes, three Story high, of a fort of Stone that’s as hard as Marble. The upper or high City is full as populous, and as well adorn’d as the lower. Both Cities are commanded by a Caftle, that ftands upon the higheft Ground. 1 his Caftle is the Refidence of the Governors, and affords them not only convenient Apartments, but the nobleft and molt extenfive Profpeft in the World. Quebec wants two eflential things, namely, a Key and Fortifications; though both the one and the other might be eafily made, confidering the Conveniency of Stones lying upon the Spot. ’Tis incompafs’d with feveral Springs, of the befl frefh Water in the World, which the Inhabitants draw out of Wells; for they are fo ignorant cf the Hydroftaticks, that not one of ’em knows how to convey the Water to certain Bafins, . in order to raife either flat or fpouting Fountains. Thofe who live on the River-fide, in the lower City, are not half fo much pinch’d with the Cold, as the Inhabitants of the Upper ; befides that the former have a peculiar Conveniency of tranfport- ingin Boars, Corn, Wood, and other Neceflaries, to the very Doors of their Houfes: But as the latter are more expos’d to the Injuries of the Cold, fo they enjoy the Benefit and Pleafure of a cooler Summer. The way which leads from the one City to the other, is pretty broad, and adorn’d with Houfes on each fide •, only ’tis a little fteep. Quebec ftands upon a very uneven Ground ; and its Houfes are not uniform. The Intendant lives in a Bottom, to North- America. ij Bottom, at fome fmall Diftance from the Side of a little River, which by joyning the River of St. Laurence , coops up the City in a right Angle. His Houfe is the Palace in which the Sovereign Coun¬ cil affembles four times a Week ; and on one fide of which, we fee great Magazines of Ammuni¬ tion and Provifions. There are fix Churches in the High City: The Cathedral confifts of a Bifhop, and twelve Prebendaries, who live in common in the Chapter-Houfe, the Magnificence and Archi¬ tecture of which is truly wonderful. Thefe poor Priefts are a very good fort of People ; they con¬ tent themfelves with bare Neceffaries, and meddle with nothing but the Affairs of the Church, where the Service is perform’d after the Roman way. The fecond Church is that of the Jefuits, which ftands in the Center of the City •, and is a fair, ftately, and well lighted Edifice. The great Altar of the Je¬ fuits Church, is adorn’d with four great Cylindrical Columns of one Stone -, the Stone being a fort of Canada Porphyry, and black as Jet, without either Spots or Veins. Thefe Fathers have very conve¬ nient and large Apartments, beautify’d with plea- fant Gardens, and feveral Rows of Trees, which are fo thick and bufhy, that in Summer one might take their Walks for an Ice-Houfe: And indeed we may fay without ftretching, that there is Ice not far from ’em, for the good Fathers are never without a Refervein two or three Places, for the cooling of their Drink. Their College is fo fmall, that at the belt they have fcarce fifty Scholars at a Time The third Church is that of the Recoiled?, who, through the Intercefiion of Count Frontenac , obtain’d Leave of the King to build a little Cha¬ pel (which I call a Church ;) notwithftanding the Remonftrances of Mr. de Laval our Bifhop, who, in Concert with the Jefuits, us’d his utmoft Efforts for ten Years together to hinder it. Before the building 14 Some New Voyages building of this Chapel, they liv’d in a little Ho- fpital that the Bilhop had order’d to be built for ’em ; and fome of ’em continue there ftill. The fourth Church is that of the Urfelines, which has been burn’d down two or three times, and ftill re¬ built to Advantage. The fifth is that of the Hofpital-Order, who take a particular Care of the Sick, tho’themfelves are poor, and but ill lodg’d. The Sovereign Council is held at Que- t See the bee. It confifts of twelve Counfellors of Explication 4 Capaly de fpada, who are the fuprcam ™ e ' Judicature, and decide all Caufes with¬ out Appeal. The Intendant claims a R ight of be¬ ing Prefident to the Council ; but in the Juftice- Hall the Governor-General places himfelf fo as to face him, the Judges being feton both Sides of them •, fo that one would think they are bothPre- fidents. While Monfieur de Frontenac was in Ca¬ nada, he laugh’d at the pretended Precedency of the Intendants •, nay, he ufed the Members of that Afiembly as roughly as Cromwell did the Parlia¬ ment of England. At this Court every one pleads his own Caufe, for Sollicitors or Barrifters never appear there ; by which means it comes to pafs, that Law-Suits are quickly brought to a Period, without demanding Court Fees or any other Charges from the contending Parties. The Judges, who have but four hundred Livres a Year from the King, have a Difpenfation of not wearing the Robe and the Cap. Befides this Tribunal, we have in this Country a Lieutenant-General, both Civil and Military, an Attorney-General, the Great Provoft, and a Chief Juftice in Eyre. The way of travelling in the Winter, whether in Town or Country, is that of Sledges drawn by Horfes ; who are fo infenfible of the Cold, that I have feen fifty or fixry of’em in January and Fe¬ bruary ftand in the Snow up to their Breaft, in the mrdft ? to North- America. \ 5 midft of a Wood, without ever offering to go near their Owner’s Houfe. In the Winter-time they travel irom Quebec to Monreal upon the Ice, the River being then frozen over; and upon that Oc- cafion thefe Sledges will run you fifteen Leaguesa Day. Others have their Sledges drawn by two MaftifF Dogs, but then they are longer by the Way. As for their way of travelling in Summer, I fhall tranfmit you an Account of it, when I come to be better inform’d. I am told that the People of this Country will go a thoufand Leagues in Canoes of Bark •, a Defcription of which you may expeft, as foon as I have made ufe of ’em. The Ealterly Windsprevail here commonly in theSpring and Autumn ; and the Weflerly have the Afcem dant in Winter and Summer. Adieu, Sir: I mull now make an end of my Letter, for my Matter begins to run fhort. All I can fay, is, that as foon as I am better inftrufted in what relates to the Commerce, and the Civil and Ecclefialtical Go¬ vernment of the Country, I’ll tranfmit you fuch exaft Memoirs of the fame, as fhall give you full Satisfaction. Thefe you may expert with the firft Opportunity; for in all Appearance our Troops will return after the Conclufion of the Campaign that we are now going to make in the Country of the Iroquefe , under the Command of Monfieur dt la Barre. In feven or eight Days time I mean to imbark for Monreal ; and in the mean time am going to make a Progrefs to the Villages of Salieri, of Sant de la Chaudiere, and of Lorete , which are inhabited by the Abenakis and the Hurons. Thefe Places are not above three or four Leagues off; Jo that I may return with Eafe next Week. As for the Manners of the People, I cannot pretend to defcribe ’em fo focn ; for a juft Obfervation and Knowledge of thefe things cannot be com- pafs’d without Time* I have been this Winter at hunting 16 Some tiew Voyages liunting with thirty or forty young Algonkins , who were well-made clever Fellows. My Defign in accompanying them, was, to learn their Lan¬ guage, which is mightily efteem’d in this Coun¬ try •, for all the other Nations for a thoufand Leagues round (excepting the Iroquefe and the Hurons) underftand it perfe< 5 tly well •, flay, all their refpedtive Tongues come as ne£r to this, as the Portuguese does to the Spani/h. I have already made my-felf Matter of fome Words with a great deal of Facility ; and they being mightily pleafed in feeing a Stranger ftudy their Tongue, take all imaginable Pains to inftruft me. I am, SIR, Yours, Sic. LETTER IV. Dated at Montreal, June 14. 1684. Containing a brief Defcription of the Habitationi of the Savages in the Neighbourhood of Que¬ bec: Of the River of St. Lawrence, &c. as far up as Monreal .* Of a curious way of fifh- ingEels ; and of the Cities o/'Trois Riviere^ and Monreal: “Together with an * Coureurs de Account of the ConduSl of the * Fo- Boi s. See the Ex- n r> J r> jr plication Table. re fl Angers or Pedlars. SIR, B Efore my Departure from Quebec, I vifited the adjacent Villages inhabited by the Savages. The Village of Lorete is peopled by two hundred Families* to North- America. \? fnilies of Huron s, who were converted to Chriftia- nity by the Jcfuits, though with a great deal of Reludtancy. The Villages of Sillery , and of Sant de la Cbaudiere , are compos’d of three hundred fami¬ lies of Abenakts , who are likewife Chriftians, and among whom the Jefuics have fettled Miflionaries. I return’d to Quebec time enough, and imbarqued under the Conduit of a Matter, that would rather have had a Lading of Goods, than of Soldiers. The North-Eaft Winds wafted us in fiveorfix days to Irois Ri vieres , which is the Name of a fmall City,feated at the diflance ofthirty Leagues from hence. That City derives its Name from three Rivers, that fpring from one Channel, and after continuing their Divifioil foi* fome Space, re-unite into a joint Stream, that falls in-* to the River of St. Laurence , about half a quarter of a League below the Town. Had we fail’d all Night, the Tides would have carry’d us thither* in twoDays time, but in regard that the River is full of Rocks and Shelves, we durft not venture upon it in the dark; fo. We came to an Anchor every Night, which did not at all difpleafe me j for in the courle of thirty Leagues, (notwithftanding the Darknefs of the Night) it gave me an Opportunity of viewing an infinite number* of Habitations on each Side of the River, which are Hot above a Musket-Shot diflant one from another. The Inhabitants that are fettled between Quebec and fifteen Leagues higher, diverted me very agree¬ ably with the fifhing of Eels. At low Water they ftretch out Hurdles to the lowed Water- Mark j and that Space of Ground being then dry by the Retreat of the Water, is cover’d over, and fhut up by the Hurdles. Between the Hurdles they place at certain Diftances Inftfuments call’d Ruches , from the Refemblancc they bear to a Bee-hive 5 be- fides Baskets and little Nets belag’d upon a Pole, which they call llouteux , and Bouts de Qtiievres. Then they let all ftand in this fafhion for three Months in C thd i 8 Some New Voyages the Spring, and two in the Autumn. Now as of¬ ten as the Tide comes in, the Eels looking out for (hallow Places, and making towards the Shoar, croud jn among the Hurdles, which hinder cm afterwards to retire with the Ebb-water; upon that they are forc'd to bury themfelves in the abovepientioned Engines, which are fometimes fo over-cram’d, that they break. When ’tis low Water, the Inhabitants take out ttrele Eels, which are certainly the bigged, and the longed in the World. They fait them up in Barrels, where they’ll keep a whole Year without fpoiling : And indeed they give an admirable Relilh in all Sauces ; nay, there’s nothing that the Coun¬ cil of Quebec defires more, than that this Filherv Ihould be equally plentiful in all Years. Trdis'R.ivieres is a little paltry Town, featedin the Latitude of forty-fix Degrees ; ’tis not fortified neither with Stone, nor Pales. Th e River to which it owes its Name, takes its Rile an hundred Leagues to the North-Wed, from the greated Ridge of Moun¬ tains in the Univerfe. The Algonkins who are at prefent an Erratick Sort of Savages, and, like the Arabs , have no fettled Abode ; that People, I lay, leldom draggle far from the Banks of this River, upon which they have excellent Beaver-hunting. In former times th tlroqttefe cut olf three fourths of that Nation ; but they have not dar’d to renew their In- curfions, fince the French have peopled the Coun¬ tries that lie higher up upon the River of St. Lau¬ rence. lead’d 'Trots Rivieres a little Town,with refe¬ rence to the Paucity of the Inhabitants; though at the lame time they are very rich, and live in dately Houles- The King has made it the Refidence of a Governor, who u'ould die for Hunger, if he did not trade with the Natives for Beavers, when his fmall Allowance is out : Befides, a Man that would live there, mud be of the like Temper with a Dog, or at lead he mud take Pleafure in Icratch- ing to North- America. \g ing his Skin, for the Fleas are there more nume" rous than the Grains o( Sand. I am inform’d, that the Natives of this Plate make the beft Soldiers in the Country. Three Leagues higher we enter’d Sc Peter s Lake, which is fix Leagues long, and had Difficulty enough in croffing it ; for the frequent Calms oblig’d us to caft Anchor feveral times. It receives three or four Rivers that abound with Fifh - } upon the Mouth of v\hich, I defcry’d with my Telefcope very fine Houfes. Towards the Evening we fail’d out of that Lake with a frefh Eafterly Gale; and though we hoifted up all our Sails, the Current run fo ftrong againft us, that ’twas three Hours before we could make Sorel, which was two fmall Leagues off Sorel is a Canton of four Leagues in Front, in the Neighbourhood of which, a certain River conveys the Waters of Champlain Lake, to the Ri¬ ver of St. Laurence, after having form’d a Water-fall cf two Leagues at Cb ambit. Though we reckon buc eight Leagues from Sorel to Monreal , yet we fpent three Days in failing between ’em ; by reafon partly of flack Winds, and partly of the Strength of the Currents. In this Courfe we law nothing but Iflands ; and both Sides of the River all along, from r Quebec to this Place, arefo replenilh’d with Inhabi¬ tants, that one may juftly call ’em two continued Villages of fixty Leagues in Length. This Place, which goes by the Name of Villemarie, or Monreal , lies in the Latitude of forty five De¬ grees, and fome Minutes; being feated in an ifland ofthe fame Name, which is about five Leagus broad* aed fourteen Leagues long; The Directors of the Seminary of St. Sulpitius at Paris , are the Proprietors of the Ifland, and have theNomination ofa Bailiff, and feveral other Magiftrates ; nay, in former Times they had the Privilege of nominating a Governor. This little Town lies all open without any Fortification C 2 either zo Some "Sew Voyages either of Stone or Wood: But its Situation is fo ad¬ vantageous, notwithftanding that it ftands upon an uneven and fandy Ground, that it might eafily be made an impregnable Poft. 1 he River of St. Lau- rence , which runs juft by the Houles, on one Side of this Town, is not navigable further, by Realon of its Rapidity ; for about half a Quarter of a League higher, ’tis full of rapid Falls, Eddies, L c. Mr. Perot the Governor of the Town, who has but a thoufand Crowns a Year Salary j has mide fhift to get fifty thoufand in a few Years, by tra¬ ding with the Savages in Skins and Furs. The Bailiff of the Town gets but little by his Place, no more than his Officers; So that the Merchants are the only Perfons that make Money here ; for the Savages that frequent the great Lakes of Canada , come down hither almoft every Year with a prodigious Quantity of Beavers Skins, to be given in Exchange for Arms, Kettles, Axes, Knives, and a Thoufand fuch Things, upon which the Mer¬ chants clear two hundred per Cent. Commonly the Governor-General comes hither about the Time of their coming down, in order to fhare the Profi , and receive Prefents from that People. The Ped- lers call’d Coureurs de Bois , export from hence every Year feveral Canows full of Merchandife, which they difpofe of among all the Savage Nations of the Continent, by way of Exchange for Beaver Skins. Seven or eight Days ago, I faw twenty five or thirty of thefe Canows return with heavy Car¬ goes j each Canow was manag’d by two or three Men, and carry *d twenty hundred Weight, i. e. for¬ ty Packs of Beaver Skins, which are worth and hun¬ dred Crowns a piece. Thefe Canows had been a Year and eighteen Months out. You would be amaz’d if you faw how lewd thefe Pedlers are when they return ; how they feaft and game, and how prodigal they are, not only in their Cloaths, but upon to Attr/AAmcrica. 2 1 upon Women. Such of’em as are married, have the Wifdom to retire to their own Houles; but the Batchelors act juft as our Eaft-India- Men, and Pi¬ rates are wont to do ; for they lavilh, eat, drink, and play all away as long as the Goods hold out; and when thefe are gone, they e’en fell their Em¬ broidery, their Lace, and their Cloaths. This done, they are forc’d to go upon a new Voyage for Subfiftance. The Directors of the Seminary of St. Sulpitius , take care to lend Miffionaries hither from Time to Time, who live under the Direction of a Superior, that is very much relpeited in the Country. They have Apartments allotted for ’em in a ftately, great, and pleafant Houle, built of Eree-ftone. This Houfe is built after the Model of that of St. Sul- pice at Paris ; and the Altar ftands by itfelf, juft like that at Paris. Their Seignoriesor Cantons that lie on the South-fide of the llland, produce a con- fiderable Revenue ; for the Plantations are good, and the Inhabitants are rich in Corn, Cattle, Fow’l, and a thoufand other Commodities, for which they find a Mercat in the City : But the North Part of the I(land lies wafte. Thele Directors would never luffer the Jefuits or Recolledxs to dilplay their Banners here ; though ’tis conjetftur’d, that at the long run they’ll be forc’d to confent to it. At the Diftance of a League from the Town, I faw at the Foot of a Mountain, a Plantation of Iroquefe Cliri- ftians, who are inftru&ed by two Priefts of the Or¬ der of Sulpitius ; and I’m inform’d of a larger and more populous Plantation on t’other Side of the Rb ver, at the Diftance of two Leagues from hence, which is took Care of by Father Bruy as the Jefuit. I hope to fet out from hence, as loon as Mr. de la Bar re receives Advice from France ; for he defigns to leave Quebec upon the Arrival of the firft Ship. I refolve to go to Fort Frontenac , upon the Lake that C 3 goes H SomeNew Voyages goes by the fame Name. If I may credit thofe who have been formerly in Adtion againft the Iroquefe , I {hall be able upon my Return from this Campaign, to inform you of fome Things that will feem as {{range to you, as they will be diiagreeable to my- felf. I am. S 1 R, Tours , &c. letter V. Dated at Monreal ’, June 18, 1684- In which is contain'd a port Account of the Iro- quefe, with a View of the War and \Peace they made with the French, and of the Means by which it was brought about, S J fl, " y U I Wrote to you but four Days ago, and did not think to have heard from you lo foon ; but this Morn- in g I met with a very agreeable Surprifal, in receive- inr* a Packet addrefs’d to me by your Brother. You may be fure I was infinitely well pleas d, in being oiven to underftand what haspafs’d in Europe fince I left it. The Knowledge of the Affairs of Europe is comfortable to one that’s doom’d to another World, fuch as this is, and I cannot but acknowledge my- felf infinitely indebted to you, for the Exa&nefs of your Intelligence. Inafmuch as you require of me an Account of the Irnquefe , and would have me to prefent you with a juft View of their Temper and Government; I would willingly latisfy and oblige you in that, or any other Point: But in Re- to North-Amzucu. 2 $ gard that I am oblig’d to fet out for Fort . Vrontemc the Day after To-morrow, I have not Time to in¬ form myfelf of Things, or to confult thofe who have been in the Country before: So that all I can do at prefent, is only to acquaint you with what I have learn’d this Winter, from Pcrlbns that have fojourn’d twenty Years among ’em. As foon as I have an Opportunity of inlarging my Knowledge upon that Head, by a more immediate Converlation with themfelves, you may allure yourfelf that I’ll impart it to you. In the mean time, be pleas’d to accept of what follows. Thefe Barbarians are drawn up in five Cantons, not unlike thole of the Sivijfes. Tho’ thefe Can¬ tons are all of one Nacion, and united in one joint Intereft, yet they go by different Names, viz. the Stfonoutouans , the. Goyogoans , the Onnotagues , the Onoynuts , and the Annies. Their Language is almofl the fame j and the five Villages or Plantations in which they live, lie at the Diltance of thirty Leagues one from another, being all feated near the South fide of the Lake of Ontario , or of Frontenac. Every Year the five Cantons lend Deputies to aflift at the Uni¬ on Feall, and to fmoak in the great Calumet , or Pipe of the five Nations. Each Village or Canton con¬ tains about fourteen thoufand Souls, i. e. iyoothat bear Arms, 2000 Superannuated Men, 4000 Wo¬ men, 2000 Maids, and 4000 Children : Tho’ indeed fome will tell you, that each Village has not above 10000 or 11000 Souls. There has been an Alliance of long Handing between thefe Nations and the Etiglifb , and by trading in Furrs to New-Torthey are fupply’d by the Englijlo with Arms, Ammuni¬ tion, and all other Necelfaries, at a cheaper ratethan the French can afford ’em at. They have no other Confideration for England or France, than what de¬ pends upon the Occafion they have for the Commo¬ dities of thefe two Nations; though after all they C 4 give 24 Some New Voyages give an Over-purchafe ; for they pay for them four times more than they are worth. They laugh at the Menaces of our Kings and Governors, for they have noNotion of Dependance, nay, the very Word is to them infupportable. They look upon them- felves as Sovereigns, accountable to none but God alone, whom they call ‘the great Spirit. They wa¬ ged War with us almoft always, from the fir ft Set¬ tlement of our Colonies in Canada^ to the firfl Years of the Count of Front enac's Government. McJJieurs de Courfelles , and de ‘Traci , both of ’em Governors- General, made Head againft the Agni'es upon the Champlain Lake, in Winter as well as in Sum¬ mer ; but they could not boaft of any great Suc- cels. They only burnt their Villages, and carry’d off fome hundred of their Children, of whom the above-mention’d Iorqttefe Chriftians arefprung. ’Tis true, they cut off ninety or an hundred Warriors; but in Compenfation for that, Ieveral Canadans , and ieveral Soldiers of the Regiment of Carignan , being unprovided againft the unlhfterable Cold of the Cli¬ mate, loft their I.imbs, and even their Life it (elf. Count Frontenac who l'ucceeded Mr. Courfelle , per¬ ceiving that the Barbarians had the Advantage of the Europeans , as to the waging of War in that Coun¬ try ; upon this Apprehenfion, I fay, he declin’d fuch fruitleis Expeditions, which were very chargeable to the King, and us’d all his Efforts to diipofe the Sa¬ vages to a fincere and lafting Peace. This judici¬ ous Governor had three things in view; The firft was to incourage the greateft part of the French In- habitants, who would have abdicated the Colony, and return’d to France , if the War had continued. His fecor.d Topick was, that the Conclufion of a Peace would difpofe an Infinity of People to mar¬ ry, and to grub up the Trees, upon which the Co-* lony would be better peopled and inlarg’d. The third Argument that diffuaded him from carrying on to North -Am erica. 25 on the \Var, was a Defign of purfuing the Dilcovcry of the Lakes , and of the Savages that live upon their Banks, in order to fettle a Commerce with ’em, and at the lame time to ingage them in our lnterefts, by good Alliances, in cafe of a Rupture with the Jroquefe. Upon the Confideration of thele Reafons, he fent fome Canadans by way of a formal Embalfy to the Jroquefe Villages, in order to acquaint them, that the King being inform’d that a groundlefs War was carry’d on againft them, had lent him from France to make Peace with ’em. At the fame time the Ambalfadors had Orders to ftipu- late all the Advantages they could obtain with refe¬ rence to the Commerce. The Ircquefe heard this Propofal with a great deal of Satisfa&ion ; for Charles II. King of England , had order’d his Gover¬ nor in New-Tork to reprefent to ’em, that if they continu’d to wage War with the French , they were ruin’d, and that they would find themfelves crulh’d by the numerous Forces that were ready to fail from France. In effect, they promis’d to the Am- balfadors that four hundred of their Number Ihould meet Count Frontenac , attended by an equal Number of his Men, at the Place where Fort Frontenac now Hands. Accordingly, lome Months after, both the one and the other met at the Place appointed, and fo a Peace was concluded. Mr. de la Salle was very ferviceable to this Governor, in giving him good and lealonable Advices, which I cannot now enter upon, being oblig’d to make lome Preparations for my Voyage. When the Campaign is over, you may expedt to hear from me. In the mean time, I am, SIR, Tours , &c. LET- 2 6 Some New Voyages LETTER VI. Dated at Moure al, June zo, 1684. Being an ample Defcription of the Canines made of Birch-bark , in which the Canadans per¬ form all their Voyages ; with an Account of : J the Manner in zvhicb they are made and ma¬ nag'd. SIR, I Thought to have let out as this Day * but in Regard that our Complement of great Canows is not yet brought up, our Voyage is put off for two Days. Having lo much Leiliire-time upon my Hands, I have a Mind to imploy it in prefenting you with a fhort View of thele flender Contrivances in which the Canadans perform all their Voyages: And this will furnifh you with an Idea of the Voiture of this Country. I law but now above an hundred Ca¬ nows, lbme great and lome little ; but confidering that the former are only proper for Martial Expedi¬ tions, and long Voyages, I (hall confine my De- f'eription to that fort. Even the great ones are of different Sizes; for they run from ten to twenty eight Foot long. Indeed the leaft of all hold but two Perlons let upon their Breech, as in a Coffin j and are apt to overlet,ifthe Paffengers move to one Side or t’other : But thofe of a larger Size will eafily afford Stowage for fourteen Perlonsj tho’ they are commonly mann’d only with three Men, when they are imploy’d in tranfporting Provifions and Merchandize; and even then they’ll carry twenty hundred Weight. The largeft Sort are lafe and Heady, Spvac?cs roivincjinagrcat Canotv anti standing ujartg/i t A cartons of 6irc/i 6arA ns it/j <9 Jeats to North' America. 27 fteadv, when they are made of the Bark cf the Birch-tree, which comes off with hot Water in the •Winter time. The greateft Trees afford the beft Barks for Canows; but oftentimes the Bark of one Tree is not fufficient. The Bottom of the Boat is all of one Piece, to which the Sides are fo artfully few’d by the Savages, that the whole Boat appears as one continu’d Bark. They are trimm’d and ftrengthen’d with Wicker Wreaths, and Ribs ofCe¬ dar-Wood, which are almoft as light as Cork; the Wreaths are as thick as a Crown-piece ; but the Bark has the Thicknefs of two Crowns, and the Ribs are as thick as three. On the two Sides of the Boat, there run from one End to the other two principal Head-bars, in which the Ends of the Ribs are inchas’d, and in which the Spars are made faff, that run acrofs the Boat and keep it compadt. Thefe Boats have twenty Inches in Depth, that is from the upper Edge to the Platform of the Ribs; their Length extends to twenty eight Foot, and the Width at the middle Rib is computed to be four Foot and a half. They are very convenient upon the Ac¬ count of their extream Lightnefs, and the drawing of very little Water; but at the fame time, their brittle and tender Fabrick, is an Argument of an equivalent Inconveniency ; for if they do but touch or grate upon Stone or Sand, the Cracks of the Bark fly open, upon which the YVater gets in, and fpoils the Provifions and Merchandize: Every Day there is fome new Chink or Seam to be gumm’d over. At Night they are always unloaded, and carried on Shoar where they are made faft with Tegs, left the Wind fhould blow ’em away : For they are fo light that two Men carry ’em upon their Shoulders with Eafe. This Conveniency of Lightnefs and eafy Carriage, renders ’em very ferviceable in the Rivers of Canada , which are full of Cataradfs, Water-falls, and Currents: For in thefe Rivers we are oblig’d either to tranfport V 18 Some New Voyages 'em over Land where fuch Obftrudtions happen, or elfe to tow ’em along where the Current is not over¬ rapid, and the Shoar is acceflible. Thefe Boats are of no Ufe for the Navigation of Lakes; for the Waves would fwallow ’em up, if they could not reach the Shoar when a Wind arifes. ’Tis true the Inhabitants venture in ’em for four or five Leagues from one Ifland to another ; but then ’tis always in calm Weather, and nothing is made Ufe of but Oars; for befides the Rifque of being over-fet, the Goods are in Danger of being damag’d by the Water, efpe- cially the Furs, which are the moft valuable Part of the Cargoe. When the Sealon ferves, they carry little Sails; but if the Wind be but a little brisk, tho’ they run right afore it, ’tis impoflible to make any Ufe of it without running the Rifque of Ship¬ wreck. If their Courfe lies dire&ly South, they cannot put up Sail without the Wind Hands at one of the eight Points, between North-weft and North- Eaft ; and if a Wind happens to fpring any where elfe, (uniefs it comes from the Land which they coaft along) they are oblig’d to put in to the Shoar with all poffible Expedition, and unload the Boat out of hand, till fuch Time as a Calm returns. As for the working of thefe Boats, the Canow- Men ply lometimes on their Knees, namely, when they run down the imall Water-falls ; fometimes ftanding, when they ftem a Current by fetting the Boat along with Poles; and fometimes fiuing, •viz. in fmooth and ftagnating Water. The Oars they make ufe of are made of Maple-wood, and their Form is reprefentcd in the annex’d Cut. The Blade of the Oar is twenty Inches long, fix Inches broad, and four Lines thick : The Handle is about three Foot long, and as big as a Pigeons Egg. When they have Occafion to run up againft rapid Currents, they make ufe of Poles made of Pine- wood ; and the fetting of the Boat along with thefe, is to AWZ’-America. 29 is what they call Piquer de fond. The Canows have neither Stern nor Prow, for they run to a Point at both Ends: Neither have they Keels, Nails or Pegs, in the whole Stru&ure. The Stcerfman, or he who Conns the Boat, rows without Interruption as well as the reft. The common Purchafe of fuch a Boat is eighty Crowns i but it does not lall: above five or fix Years. This Day I have receiv’d Advice, that Mr. de la Bane has rais’d the Militia in the Neighbourhood of GhteleC) and that the Governor of this Ifland has re¬ ceiv’d Orders to have that of the adjacent Cantons in Readinefs to march. I am, SIR , Tours , &c. LETTER VII. Dated at Monreal , Nov. 2, 1684. Describing the Courfe ofthe River ofSt. Lawrence, from Monreal to thefir ft great Lake ^'Cana¬ da ; with the Water-falls, Cataralls , and Navi- gat ion of that River : As alfo Fort Frontenac, and the Advantages that accrue from it. To¬ gether with a circumftantial Account of the Expedition of Mr. de’la Barre, the Governor- General again ft the Iroquefe ; the Speeches he made , the Replies he receiv'd , and the final Accommodation of the Difference . SIR, T Hank God I have finifh’d this Campaign, and I am now return’d in Safety to this Place. To prefent you with the Hiftory of our Campaign, be pleas’d 30 Some'New Voyages pleas’d to know that in two or three Days after the Date of my laft, I imbarqu’d on beard of a Ca¬ now that was work’d by three expert Canow Men. Every Canow contain’d two Soldiers; and we all row’d up againft the Current of the River till we arriv’d at Saut de St. Louis , about three Leagues above this Town, which is a little Water-fall, but lo rapid that our Watermen were forc’d to Hand in the Water up to their Middle, in order to drag the Canows againft the Stream for half a quarter of a League. We reimbarqu’d above this Pals, and row’d about twelve Leagues up the River, and thro’ the Lake of St. Louis , till we arriv’d at a Place call’d the Cafcades , where we were forc’d to turn out and carry our Boats and Baggage over Land, about half a quarter of a League. ’Tis true, we might have tow’d our Boats againft the Stream in this Place with lome Labour; but there was a Cataradt a little above it, which they call le Cataraide du Frou. I had taken up a Notion that the only Difficulty of failing up the River, confifted in the Trouble of Land-carriage: but when I came to be a Spectator of the Matter, I found that the Stemming of the Currents whether in towing of the Canows, or in letting them along with Poles, was equally labori¬ ous. About five or fix Leagues higher we came to the Water-falls call’d Sauts des Cedres , and du Buif- fou , where we were forc’d to tranlport our Boats five hundred paces over Land. Some Leagues above that, w’e enter’d the Lake of St.- Francis , which is faid to be twenty Leagues in Circumference ; and having crols’d it, met with as ftrong Currents as before, particularly at a Fall call’d Long Saut , where we had recourfe to Land-carriage for half a League. Then we were forc’d to drag up the Boats againft the rapid Stream ; and after a great deal of Fatigue came at laft to a Pafs call’d la Galete , from whence we had but twenty Leagues failing to Fort Fronte -> to North* America. 31 me. This Pals was the laft Difficulty we had to l'urmount; for above it the Water was as ftill as that of a Pool, and then our Watermen ply’d with their Oars inftead of Poles. The Maringouins , which we call Midges , are un- fufferably troublefome in all the Countries, of Cana¬ da. We were haunted w’ith fuch Clouds of ’em, that we thought to be eat up; and fmoaking being the only Artifice that could keep ’em off, the Remedy was worfe than the Dileafe: In the Night-time the People Ihelter themfelves from ’em in Bowers or Arbours, made after the following Manner. They drive into the Ground Stakes or little Branches of Trees, at a certain Diftance one from another, lb as to form a femicircular Figure; in which they put a Quilt and Bedcloaths, covering it above with a large Sheet that falls down to the Ground on all Tides, and fo hinders the Infecfts to enter. We landed at Fort Frontenac after twenty Days failing; and immediately upon our Arrival, Mr. Duta our Commander in chief, view’d the Fortifi¬ cations of the Place, and three large Barques that lay at Anchor in the Port. We repair’d the Fortifi¬ cations in a very little time, and fitted up the three Barques. This Fort was a Square, confining of large Curtains flanked with four little Baftions; thele Flanks had but two Battlements, and the Walls were fo low, that one might eafily climb upon ’em with¬ out a Ladder. After Mr. de la Salle concluded the Peace with the Iroquefe , the King bellow’d upon him and his Heirs the Property of this Place; but he was fo negligent, that inftead of enriching himfelf by the Commerce it might have afforded, he was confiderably out of Pocket upon it. To my Mind this Fort is fituated very advantageoufly for a Trade with the five Iroquefe Nations: For their Villages lye in the Neighbourhood of the Lake , upon which they may tranlport their Furs in Canows with more Bale, 3 2 Some New Voyages Eafe, than they can carry ’em over Land to Kew~ Tork. In time of War 1 take it to be indefenfible; for the Catara&s and Currents of the River are fuch, that fifty Iroquefe may there ftop five hundred French , without any other Arms but Stones. Do but con- fider, Sir, that for twenty Leagues together the River is fo rapid, that we dare not fet the Canow four Paces off the Shoar; Befides Canada being no¬ thing but a Foreft, as I intimated above, ’tis itn- poffible to travel there without falling every Foot into Ambufcades, efpecially upon the Banks of this River, which are lin’d with thick Woods, that ren¬ der ’em inacceflible. None but the Savages can skip from Rock to Rock, and fcour thro’ the Thickets, as if’twere an open Field. If we were capable of fuch Adventures, we might march five or fix hundred Men by Land to guard the Canows that carry the Frovifions; but at the fame time ’tis to be con- fider’d, that before they arriv’d at the Fort, they would confume more Provifions than the Canows can carry; not to mention that the Iroquefe would {fill out-number ’em. As to the Particulars relating to the Fort, I lhall take notice of ’em when I come to give a general Defcription of New-France. While we continued at Fort Frontenac , the Iroquefe who live at Ganeouffe and Quenti^ at the diftance of feven or eight Leagues from thence, threw in upon us Harts, Roe-bucks, Turkeys and Fifh; in Ex¬ change for Needles, Knives, Powder and Ball. To¬ wards the End of Augufl Mr. de la Barre join’d us; but he was dangeroufiy ill of a Fever, which rag’d in like manner among moft of his Militia; fo that only our three Companies were free from Sicknefs. This Fever was of the intermitting kind; and the convulfive Motions, Tremblings, and Frequency of the Pulle that attended the cold Fit, were fo violent, that moft of our fick Men dy’d in the fecond or third Fit. Their Blood was \Z> to North- America. 33 ofa blackifh brown Colour, and tainted with a fort of yellowim Serum, not unlike Pus or corrupt Mat¬ ter. Mr. de la Bar re’s Phyfician, who in mv Opinion knew as little of the true Caufes of Fevers as Hippo- crates or Galen, and a Hundred Thoufand befides • th,s mighty Phyfician, I fay, pretending to trace the Caufc of the Fever I now fpeak of, imputed it to the unfavourable Qualities of the Air and the Aliment. His Plea was, that the exceffive Heat of the Seafon, put the Vapours or Exhalations into an over-rapid Motion ; that the Air was fo over-rare- fy d, that we did not fuck in a fufficient Quantity of it; that the fmall Quantity we did receive, was load- ed with Infedts and impure Corpufculum’s, which the fatal NecelTity of Refpiration oblig’d us to fwal- low; and that by this means Nature was put into Diforder: He added, that the Ufe of Brandy and fait Meat fowr d the Blood; that this Sowrncfs occafion d a fort of Coagulation of the Chyle and Blood ; that the Coagulation hindred it to circulate thro’ the Heart with a due Degree of Celerity; and that thereupon there infued an extraordinary Fer¬ mentation, which is nothing elfe but a Fever. But after all, to my mind this Gentleman’s Syftem was too much upon the Iroquefe Strain ; for at that rate the Diftemper muft have feiz’d all without Diftinc- tion, whereas neither our Soldiers nor the Seafon’d Canadans were troubled with it; for it raged only among the Militia, who being unacquainted with the Way of fetting the Boats with Poles, were forc’d at every turn to get into the Water and drao- ’em up againft the rapid Stream: Now, the Waters of" that Country being naturally cold, and the Heat being excefTive, the Blood might thereupon freeze b y. wa y Hntiperijlafis , and lb occafion the Fever I fpeak of, purfuant to the common Maxim, Om¬ ni s repent in a mutatto e{t periculofa , i. e. All fuddeit Changes are of dangerous Confequence, » ' A. J 5 4 Some jSe 0IS W ' be ver y acceptable to Mr. de la Bane ; but at the fame time he was very much perplex’d ; for I’m perfuaded he repented oftner than once, of his entring upon an Expedi¬ tion that he forefiaw would prove fuccefslefs ; and to aggravate the Danger of his Enterprize, the Iro- quefe had at that time an Opportunity to fall upon us. In fine, after a mature Confideration of the Confequences, and of the Difficulties that flood in the Way, he fent back the Canow to Mr. Dnlhut , withOrders to difmifs the Foreft Rangers and Sava¬ ges immediately, where-ever he was, and by all means to avoid the approaching to his Troops. By good luck Mr. Dulhut had not yet reach’d Niagara , when he receiv’d thefe Orders j with which the Sa¬ vages that accompany’d him were fo diffatisfied, that they threw out all manner of Inve&ives againft the French Nation. As foon as Mr. de la Barre had difpatch’d this Canow, he fent Mr. le Moine to the Village of the Onnontagues , which lay about eighteen Leagues up the River. This Mr. le Moine was a Gentleman of Normandy, and highly eftcem’d by the Ircqucfe, who call’d to Atfr/^-America. 3 ? call d him Akoueffan , i. c. the Partridge. His Order 3 were, to endeavour by all means to bring along with him lome of the Old-ftanders of that Nation ; and accordingly he return’d in a few Days, accom- pany’d with one of their raoft confiderable Gran¬ dees, who had a Train of thirty young Warriors; and was diftinguilh’d by the Title of the Grangula. As foon as he debarqued, Mr. de la Barre fent him a Prelent of Bread and Wine, and of thirty Sal¬ mon-Trouts, which they filh’d in that Place in fuch Plenty, that they brought up a hundred at one Calt of a Net: At the fame time he gave the Grandee to underftand, that he congratulated his Arrival, and would be glad to have an Interview with him after he had refted himfelf for fome Days. You muft know that he had us’d the Precaution of lend¬ ing the Sick back to the Colony, that the Iroquefe might not perceive the Weaknels of his Forces; and to favour the Statagem, Mr. le Maine rep refen ted to the Grangula , that the Eody of the Army was left behind at Fort Frontenac , and that the Troops he law in our Camp, where the General’s Guards. But unhappily one of the Iroquefe that had a Smattering of the French Tongue, having ftroul’d in the Night¬ time towards our Tents, over-heard what we laid, and lb reveal d the Secret. Two Days after their Arrival, the Grangula gave notice to Mr. de la Barre thac he was ready for an Interview 5 and according¬ ly an Hour being appointed, the whole Company appear’d as the Figure represents it. The Grangula lat on the Baft fide, being plac’d at the Head of his Men, with his Pipe in his Mouth, and the great Calumet of Peace before him. He was very attentive to the following Harangue, pro- nounc d by our Interpreters; which you cannot well underftand, without a previous Explication of the Calumet , and the Colien that it mentions. D 2 The -6 Some New Voyages The Calumet of Peace is made of certain Stones, or of Marble, whether red, black, or white. The Pipe or Stalk is four or five Foot long; the Body of the Calumet is eight Inches long, and the Mouth or Head in which the Tobacco is lodgd, is three Inches in length ; its Figure approaches to that of a Hammer. The red Calumets are moft eiteemd. The Savages make ufe of’em for Negotiations and State Affairs, and elpecially in Voyages ; for when they have a Calumet in their Hand, they go^ where they will in Safety. The Calumet is trimm dwith yellow, white and green Feathers, and has the lame effedt among the Savages, that the Flag of Friend- fhip has amongft us; for to violate the Rights of this venerable Pipe, is among them a flaming Crime, that will draw down Mifchief upon their Nations. As for the Colters , they are certain Swathes of two or three Foot in length, and fix Inches in breadth; bein^ deck’d with little Beads made of a certain fort of shells that they find upon the Sea-fhoar, between New-Tork and Virginia. Thefe Beads are round, and as thick as a 'little Pea; but they are twice as long as a Grain of CornTheir Colour is either blue or white; and they are bor’d thro’ juft like Pearl, being run after the fame manner upon Strings that lye fideways one to another. Without the Inter - vention of thefe Colters , there s no Bufinefs to be negotiated with the Savages; for being altogether unacquainted with Writing, they make ufe of them for Contracts and Obligations. Sometimes they keep for an Age the Colters that they have receiv’d from their Neighbours ; and in regard that every Colter has its peculiar Mark, they learn from the old Perfons, the Circumftances of the Time and Place in which they were deliver’d ; but after that Age is over, they are made ufe of for new Treaties. to North- America. 37 Mr. de la Barrel Harangue , was to this Purpofe. c The King, my Matter, being inform’d that c the five Iroquefe Nations have for a long Time c madelnfra&ions upon the Meafures of Peace, or- 4 der’d me to come hither with a Guard, and to * fend Akoucffan to the Canton of the Onnotagups , * in order to an Interview with their principal Lea- 4 dcrs, in the Neighbourhood of my Camp. This 4 great Monarch means, that you and I fhould * fmoak together in the great Calumet of Peace, ‘ with the Provifo, that you ingage in the Name of ‘ the Tfonnontouans , Goyoguans , Onnotagues , Onnoy- 4 ow/cs, and Agnies , to make Reparation to hisSub- 4 jer% fort to, and to buy and fell where New-York - , we think fit. If your Allies are your Slaves or Children, you may e’en treat ’em as fuch, and rob ’em of the Liberty of entertaining any other Nation but your own. 'this Colier contains my Word. c We fell upon the Illinefe and the Oumamis, be- caufe they cut down the Trees of Peace that ferv’d for Limits or Boundaries to our Frontiers. They came to hunt Beavers upon our Lands • and con¬ trary to the Cuftom of all the Sava¬ ges, have carried off whole Stocks, t both Male and Female. They have ingag’d the Cbaouanons in their Inte- reft, and entertain’d ’em in their ^ Among the Savages, *tis a capital Crime to de¬ fer oy all the Beavers of a Settlement . Country. They fupply’d ’em with Fire-Arms, after the concerting of ill Defigns againft us. We have done lefs than the Englijh and the French , who without any Right, have ufurp’d the Grounds they are now poffefs’d of$ and of which they have dif- lodg’d feveral Nations, in order to make way for their building of Cities, Villages and Forts. SI his 4* Some New Voyages fthis Colier contains my Word. * I give you to know, Onnontio , that my Voice * is the Voice of the five Iroquefe Cantons. This is * their Anlwer, pray incline your Ear, and liften ‘ to what they reprefent, ‘The 2 'J'onontouansy Goyogouans , Ounotagues, ‘ Onnoyoutes , and Agnies declare, that ■* interring the ‘ t hey interr’d * theAxe at Cataracouy , ‘ in the Prefence of your Predecelfor, a ‘veace-y^nd ‘ in the very Center of the Fort; and the digging of c planted the Tree of Peace in the fame it up, imports < place, that it might be carefully pre- *fWir* r * t,tn * Serv’d; that ’twas then ftipulated, ‘ that the Fort Ihould be us’d as a Place c of Retreat for Merchants, and not a Refuge for Sol- 6 diers j and that inftead of Arms and Ammuni- < tion, it Ihould be made a Receptacle of only Bea- ‘ ver-Skins, and Merchandize Goods. Be it known ‘ to you, Onnontio , that for the future you ought ‘ to take Care, that fo great a Number of Martial- y Men as I now lee, being fhut up in fo fmall a Fort, * do not ftifle and choak the Tree of Peace. Since y it took Root lb eafily, it muft needs be of perni- ‘ cious Conlequence to ftop its Growth, and hin- ‘ der it to (hade both your Country and ours with ‘ its Leaves. I do allure you, in the Name of the ‘ five Nations, that our Warriors lhall dance the ‘ Calumet Dance under its Branches; chat they lhall ‘ reft in Tranquillity upon their 4; This Thrafe ‘ \ Matts, and will never dig up the figmf.es icepmg t to cut down the Tree of Peace, ‘ till fuch time as the Onnontio and the ‘ Corlar , do either jointly or feparately offer to in- c vade the Country, that the great Spirit has di£ e pos’d of in the favour of our Anceftcrs. 43 ■ V to North* America. J this Colier contains my Word ; the other compre¬ hends the Power granted to me by the five Na¬ tions. Then the Grangula addrefs’d himfelf to Mr. le Maine , and Ipoke to this Purpofe. * Akoueffan, take Heart, you are a Man of Senfe 5 * fpeak and explain my Meaning j be fure you * forget nothing, but declare all that thy Brethren ‘ and thy Friends reprefent to thy chief Onnontio , e by the Voice of the Grangula , who pays you all c Honour and Refpedf, and invites you to accept c of this Prefent of Beavers, and to aflifl: at his ‘ Feaft immediately. ‘ This other Prefent of Beavers is lent by the c five Nations to the Onnontio. As loon as the Grangula had done, Mr. le Moine and the Jefuits that were prelent, explain’d his An- fwer to Mr. de la Harre , who thereupon retir’d to his Tent and llorm’d and blufter’d, ’till fomebody came and reprelented to him, that, Iroca Progenies nefeit habere ntodos, i. e. fihe Iroquefe are always up¬ on Extreams. The Grangula danc’d after the Iroquefe manner, by way of Prelude to his Entertainment; after which he regal’d feveral of the French. Two Days after he and his. Martial Retinue return’d to their own Country, and our Army let out for Mon- real. As loon as the General was on board, toge¬ ther with the few healthy Men that remain’d, the Canows were dilpers’d, for the Militia ftraggled here and there, and every one made the bell of his way home. Our three Companies indeed kept together, becaufe all of us, both Officers and Soldiers, were carried in fiat-bottom’d Boats, made of Deal on purpole for our Ufe. However, I could have ttifh’d to have run down the Falls and Catara&s in 44 Some. New Voyages in the fame Canow that brought me up, for every body thought we Ihould have been caft away at thefe Palfes, which are full of Eddies and Rocksj and ’twas never heard before, that fuch Precipices were pafs’d with Deal Boats either upwards or downwards. But we were forc’d to run all Hazards, and had certainly been fwallow’d up in thole Moun¬ tains of Water, if we had not oblig’d fcveral Ca- nows to Ihoot the Cataradts at the head of our Boats, in order to fhew us the Way, at the fame time we had prepar’d our Soldiers for rowing and Ihieving upon Occafion. Do but confider, Sir, that the Currents run as fall as a Cannon Ball; and that one falfe Stroak of the Oar, would have run us unavoid¬ ably upon the Rocks; for we are oblig’d to fleer a Zig-zag Courfe purfuant to theThread of the Stream, which has fifty Windings. The Boats which are loaded, are fometimes loft in thole Places. But af¬ ter all, tho’ the Rilque we run be very great, yet by way of Compenlation, one has the Satisfaction of running a great Way in a little Time ; for we run from Galete to this Town in two Days time, notwithftanding that we crofs’d the two ftagnating Lakes I took notice of before. As foon as we landed, we receiv’d Advice that the Chevalier de Callieres was come to fupply the room of Mr. Perrot , the Governor of this Place. Mr. Perot , has had fevera! Scuffles with Mr. de Fron- tenac , and Mr.* la Barre ; of which you may ex¬ pert a farther Account, when I am better inform d. All the World blames our General for his bad Suc- cefs: ’Tis talk’d publickly, that his only Defign was to cover the fending of feveral Canows to traffick w'ith the Savages in thofe Lakes for Beaver-Skins. The People here, are very bufy in wafting over to Court a thoufand Calumnies againft him ; both the Clergy and the Gentlemen of the long Robe, w rite to his Difadvantage. Tho’ after ail, the whole . ; ' Charge J to North' America. 45 Charge is falle $ for the poor Man could do no more than he did. Juft now, I was inform’d that Mr. Hainaut, Mr. Mont or tier, and Mr. Duri who come down every Year to the Colony, in order to make a better Market than they can do in their own Country of MiJJHimakiuac , which lies on the Banks of the Lake of Hurons , at the Mouth of the Lake of the Illinefe. Their way of Trading is as follows. Upon their firft Arrival, they incamp at the Dis¬ tance of five or fix hundred Paces from the Town. The next Day is fpent in ranging their Canows, un¬ loading their Goods, and pitching their Tents, which are made of Birch Bark. The next Day after, they demand Audience of the Governor General; which is granted ’em that fame Day in a publick Place. Up¬ on this Occafion, each Nation makes a Ring for it- felf j the Savages fitupon the Ground with their Pipes in their Mouths, and the Governor is feated in an arm’d Chair; after which, there ftarts up an Orator or Speaker from one of thefe Nations, who makes an Harangue, importing, ‘ That his Brethren are * come to North -America. come to vifit the Governor General, and to renew * with him their wonted Friendlhip j That their ‘ chief View is, to promote the Intereft ofthe French^ fomc of whom being unacquainted with the way ‘ of 7 raffick, and being too weak for the tranlport- ‘ ing of Goods from the Lakes, would be unable to ‘ deal in Beaver-Skins, if his Brethren did nbt come * in Perlbn to deal with ’em in their own Colo- c nies: That they knew very well how acceptable * their Arrival is to the Inhabitants of Monreal , ih * regard of the Advantage they reap by it: That in ‘ regard the Bcaver-skinsare much valued in France , * and the French Goods given in Exchange are of an * inconfiderable Value, they mean to give the French * fufficient Proof of their Readinefs to furnifh ’em 1 with what they defire lb earneftly : That by way * of Preparation for another Year’s Cargo, they are * come to rake in Exchange, Fufees, Powder, and ‘ Ball, in order to hunt great numbers of Beavers, 5 or to gall the Iroquefe , in cafe they offer to dif- £ turb the French Settlements: And, in fine, That 4 in Confirmation of their Words, they throw a Pur- ‘ celian Colter with Come Beaver-skins, to the Kitcbi- * Okima (fo they call the Governor General) whole * Protedbion they lay claim to in cafe of any Rob- ‘ bery or Abufe committed upon ’em in the Town. The Spokefman having made an end of his Speech, returns to his Place, and takes up his Pipe; and then the Interpreter explains the Subftance of the Harangue to the Governor, who commonly gives a very civil Anfwer, efpecially if the Prelent be va¬ luable : In confideration of which, he likewifo make s them a Prelent of fiome trifling things. This done , the Savage riles up, and return to their Hutts to make fuitable Preparations for the enfuing Truck. The next Day the Savages make their Slaves carry the Skins to the Houles of the Merchants, who bar¬ gain with ’em for fuch Cloaths as they want. All the B Inhat \ ^ o Some New Voyages Inhabitants of Monreal are allow’d to traffick with ’em in any Commodity but Wine and Brandy ; theie two being excepted upon the Account that when the Savages have got what they wanted, and have any Skins left, they drink to Excefs, and then kill their Slaves; for when they are in drink, they quarrel and fight; and if they were not held by thole who are fober, wou’d certainly make Havock one of another. However, you rauft obferve, that none of em will touch either Gold or Silver. ’Tis a comical Sight, to fee ’em running from Shop to Shop, ftark naked, with their Bow and Arrow. The nicer fort or \\ o- men are wont to hold their Fans before their Eyes, to prevent their being frighted with the View of their ugly Parts. But thefe merry Companions, who know the brisk She-Merchants as well as we, are not wanting in making an Offer, which is lome- times accepted of, when the Prefent is of good Mettle. If we may credit the common Report, there are more than one or two of the Ladies of this Coun¬ try, whofe Conftancy and Vertue has held out a- cainft the Attacks of feveral Officers, and at the lame time vouchfaf’d a free Accefs to thefe nafty Le¬ chers *Tis prefum’d their Compliance was the Effect of Curiofity, rather than of any nice Relilh; for, in a Word, the Savages are neither brisk, nor conftant. But whatever is in the Matter, the Wo¬ men are the more excufable upon this Head, that fuch Opportunities are very unfrequent. As foon as the Savages have made an end ol their Truck, they take leave of the Governor, and fo re¬ turn home by the River of Outaou&s. To conclude, they did a great deal of Good both to the Poor and Rich} for you will readily apprehend, that every body turns Merchant upon fuch Occafions. I am, SIR, Tours , &c. let- to North ^America. 5* LETTER IX. Dated at Boucbervilte, Odob. 2. 1685. Being an Account of the Commerce and Trade of Monreal: Of the Arrival of the Marquis of Denonville with fome Troops ; and of the Re¬ calling of Mr. de la Barre. With a curious Defcription of certain LicenJ'es for Trading in Beaver-skins in the remote Countries. SIR, I Receiv’d your fecond Letter three Weeks ago, but could not fend a fpeedier Anfwer, by reafon that hone of our Ships have yet fet Sail for France. Since you want to know the Nature of the Trade of Mon- real, be pleas’d to take the following Account. Almoft all the Merchants of that City ad only on the Behalf of the Quebec Merchants, whofe Fadors they are. The Barques which carry thither dry Commodities, as well as Wine and Brandy, are but few in Number j but then they make feveral Voy¬ ages in one Year from the one City to the other. The Inhabitants of the Ifland of Monteal , and the adjacent Cantons, repair twice a Year to the City of Monreal , where they buy Commodities fifty per Cent. dearer than at Quebec. The Savages of the neigh¬ bouring Countries, whether fettled or erratick, car¬ ry thither the Skins of Beavers, Elks, Caribous, Foxes, and wild Cats j all which, they truck for Fu- fees. Powder, Lead, and other NecefTaries. There every one is allow’d to trade * and indeed ’tis the belt Place for the getting of an Eftate in a fhort T ime. All the Merchants have fuch a perfed good Underltanding one with another, that they all fell 51 Some New Voyages at the fame Price. But when the Inhabitants of* the Country find their Prices exorbitant, they raife their Commodities in Proportion. The Gentlemen that have a Charge of Children, efpecially Daugh¬ ters, are oblig’d to be good Husbands, in order to bear the Expence of the magnificent Cloaths with which they are fet off j for Pride, Vanity, and Lux¬ ury, reign as much in New France as in Old France. In my Opinion, ’twoulddo well, if the King would order Commodities to be rated at a reafonable Price, and prohibit the felling of Gold or Silver Broca- does. Fringes, and Ribbands, as well as Points and rich Laces. The Marquis of Denonville is come to fucceed Mr. de la Barre in the Quality of Governor-General •, for the King has recall’d Mr. de la Barre , upon the Accufations laid againft him by his Enemies. To be fure, you who are in France know setter than I, that M. de Denonville wasMaitre de Camp to the Queen s Regiment of Dragoons, which Place he fold to Mr. Murcey when the King beftow’d this Government upon him; and, that he brought with hjm fome Companies of Marines, befides his Lady and his Children ; for it feems the Danger and Inconveni- encies that attend fuch a long and troublefomc Voyage, made no Impreffion upon her. This Go¬ vernor flay’d at firfl fbme Weeks at ^ 'uebec, after which he came to Monreal , with 500 or 600 Men or Regular Troops, and lent back the Captains Hah naut , Muntortier , and du Kivo , with feveral other Officers. His Army is now in Winter Quarters all round Monreal. My Quarters are at a Place call d Boucherville , which lies at the diftanee of three I eagues from Monreal. I have been here fifteen Days, and in all appearance (hall live more happily than in the Town, abating for the Solitude j for at lead I fhall have no other Oppofition to encounter in the Cafe of Balls, Gaming, or Feafting, but the to TSorth- Am erica. 5 j zealous Freaks of a filly PrielE I am inform’d, that the Governor has given Orders to compleat the For¬ tifications oi Monveal ^ and is now ready to embarque for Quebec, where our Governors commonly pals the Winter. I he SavagesI Ipoke of in my laft, met the Iroquefe upon the great River of the Outaouas , who inform d em that the Englijh were making Prepara¬ tions to tranfportt-o their Villages in MiJJilimakmac better and cheaper Commodities than thoie they had from the French. This Piece of News did equally alarm the Gentlemen, the Pedlars call’d Coureurs de BotS) and the Merchants ; who, at that rate, would be confiderable Lofers ; for you mull know, that Canada lubfifts only upon the Trade of Skins or Furrs, three Fourths of which come from the People that live round the great Lakes: So that if the Enr- lijh Ihould put fuch a Defign in Execution, the whole Country would fuffer by it; efpecially con- fidering, that ’twould fink certain Licenfes; an Ac¬ count of which will be proper in this Place. Thele Licenfes are granted in Writing by the Go¬ vernors General, to poor Gentlemen and old Offi¬ cers who have a Charge of Children. They aredif- pos’d of by the King’s Orders; and the Defign of ’em is, to enable fuch Perfons to fend Commodities to thele Lakes. The Number of the Perlons thus impower’d, ought not to exceed twenty-five in one Year; but God knows how many more have private Licenfes. All other Perfons, of what Quality or Condition loever, are prohibited to go or fend to thele Lakes, without fuch Licenfes, under the Pain of Death. Each Licenle extends to the lading of two great Canows; and whoever procures a whole or a half Licenfe for himfelf, may either make Ufe of it himfelf, or fell it to the higheft Bidder. Com¬ monly they are brought at fix hundred Crowns a Piece. 1 hole who purchale ’em, are at no Trouble ip finding Pedlars or Foreft.Rangers to undertake E 3 the 54 Some New Voyages the long Voyages, which fetch the mod confiderable Gains, and commonly extend to a Year, and fome- times more. The Merchants put into the two Ca- nows ftipulated in the Licenfe, fix Men with a thou¬ fand Crowns-worth of Goods, which are rated to the Pedlars at fifteen per Cent, more than what they are fold for in ready Money in the Colony. When the Voyage is perform’d, this Sum of a thoufand Crowns commonly brings in feven hundred per Cent. clear Profit, and fometimcs more, fometimes lefs; for thefe Sparks call’d Coureurs de Bois bite the Sava¬ ges moft dexteroufly, and the lading of two Canows, computed at a thoufand Crowns, is a Purchafe for as many Beaver skins as will load four Canows: Now, four Canows will carry a hundred and fixty Packs of Skins, that is, forty a-pieoe; and reckon¬ ing each Pack to be worth fifty Crowns, the Value of the whole amounts to eight thoufand Crowns. As to the Repartition of this extravagant Profit, ’t:s made after the following Manner: In thefirft Place, the Merchant takes out of the whole Bulk fix hun¬ dred Crowns for the Purchafe of his Licenfe ; then a thoufand Crowns for the prime Coft of the ex¬ ported Commodities. After this, there remains 6400 Crowns of Surplufage, out of which the Mer¬ chant takes forty per Cent, for Bottomree, which a- mounts to 2560 Crowns ; and the Remainder is di¬ vided equally among the fix Coureurs de Bois , who get little more than 600 Crowms a-piece ; and indeed 1 muft fay ’tis fairly earn’d; for their Fatigue is in¬ conceivable. In the mean time, you muff remark, that over and above the foregoing Profit, the Mer¬ chant gets 25 per Cent, upon his Beaver-skins by car¬ rying them to the Office of the Farmers General, where the Price of four forts of Beaver-skins is fix’d- If the Merchant fells thefe Skins to any private Man in the Country for ready Money, he is paid in the current Money of the Country, which is of lefs Va¬ lue to North- Am erica. 5 5 lue than the Bills of Exchange that the Dire&or of that Office draws upon Rocbel or Paris ; for there they are paid in French Livres, which are twenty Sols, whereas a Canada Livre is but fifteen Sols. This Advantage of 25 per Cent, is call’d le Benefice j but take notice, that ’tis only to be had upon Bea¬ ver-skins ; for if you pay to a Quebec Merchant 400 Canada Livres in Silver, and take from him a Bill of Exchange upon his Correlpondent in France , his Correlpondent will pay no more than 300 French Livres, which is a juft Equivalent. This is the laft Intelligence I lhall give you for this Year, which has already brought in a very cold Autnmu. The Quebec Ships muft let Sail in the middle of November, purfuant to the wonted Cus¬ tom. I am, SIR, Tours, &e. LETTER X. Dated at Boucherville July 8. 1686. 4 Relating the Arrival of Mr. de Champigni, in the room of Mr. de Meules, who is recall'd to France; the Arrival of the Troops that came along with him, the Curiofity of the Rackets , and the way of hunting Elks ; with a Defcrip- t ion of that Animal. SIR, r T Hough I have not heard from you this Year, JL yet I will not flight this Opportunity of writ¬ ing to you. Some Ships from France are arriv’d at Quebec, and have brought oyer Mr. de Champigni E 4 Noroua, «6 Some lSe htf to North* America. 57 by the two Latchets, which run twice round about the Heel, and every Step they make upon the Snow, the Fore-part of the Foot finks into that Hole, as often as they raife their Heel. By the Help of this Contrivance they walk fafter upon the Snow, than one can do with Shoes upon a beaten Path: And indeed ’tis io neceflary for them, that ’twould be otherwile impofiible not only to hunt and range the W oods, but even to go to Church, notwith* (landing they are fo near j for commonly the Snow is three or four Foot deep in that Country during the Winter. Being oblig’d to march thirty or forty Leagues in the Woods, in Purfuit of the abovemen- tiontd Animals, I found that the Fatigue of the Journey equal’d the Pleafure of it. '1 he Ortgnal is a fort of Elk, not much different from that we find in Mufcovy. ’Tis as big as an Auvergne Moyle, and much of the fame Shape, abatmg for its Muzzle, its Tail, and its great flat Horns, which weigh lbmetimes goo, andfbmetimos 400 Weight, if we may credit thole who pretend to have weigh’d ’em. This Animal ufually reforts to planted Countries. Its Hair is long and brown; and the Skin is ftrong and hard, but not thick. The Flefh of the Ortgnal , efpecially that of the Female fort, eats delicioufly; and ’tis faid, that the far hind Foot of the Female kind, is a Cure for the Falling- Sicknefs; it neither runs nor skips, but its trot will almoft keep up with the running of a Hart. The Savages allure us, that in Summer ’twill trot three Days and three Nights without IntermifTion. This fort of Animals commonly gather into a Body to¬ wards the latter end of Autumn ; and the Herds are largeft in the Beginning of the Spring, at which time the fhe ones are in Rutting; but after their Heat is over, they all difperfe themielves. We hunted ’em in the following Manner: F i r ft of all, we went 40 Leagues to the Northward of the Riv r er of St. Laurence , 5 * Some New Voyages Laurence , where we found alittle Lake of three or four Leagues in Circumference, and upon the Banks of that Lake, we made Hutts for our felves of the Barks of Trees, having firft clear’d the Ground of the Snow that cover’d it. In our Journey thither, we kill’d as many Hares and Wood-hens, as we could eat. When we had fitted up our Hutts, the Savages went out upon the Difcovery of the Elks, fome to the Northward, and fome to the South, to the diftancc of two or three Leagues from the Hutts. As foon as they difcover’d any fre(h Foot-fteps, they de¬ tach’d one of their Number to give us notice, to the End, that the whole Company might have the Pleafiire of feeing the Chace. We trac’d thefe Foot- fteps fometimes for one, and fometimes for two Leagues, and then fell in with five, ten, fifteen or twenty Elks in a Body; which prefently betook themfelves to flight, whether a-part or in a Body, and funk into the Snow up to their Breaft. Where the Snow was hard and condenfated, or where the Froft following wet Weather had glaz’d it above, we came up with ’em after the Chace of a Quarter of ti League: But when the Snow was foft or juft fal¬ len, we were forc’d to purfue ’em three or four Leagues before we could catch ’em, unlefs the Dogs happen’d to flop ’em where the Snow was very deep. When we came up with them, the Savages fired upon ’em with Fufees. If the Elks be much inrag’d, they’ll fometimes turn upon the Savages, who co¬ ver themfelves with Boughs in order to keep off their Feet, with which they would crufh ’em to Pieces. As foon as they are kill’d, the Savages make new Hutts upon the Spot, with great Fires in the middle; while the Slaves are imploy’d in Flaying ’em, and ftretching out the Skins in the open Air. One of the Soldiers that accompany’d me, told me one Day, that to withftand the Violence of the Cold, one ought to have his Blood compos’d of Brandy, to North- America. 59 his Body of Brals, and his Eyes of Glals.* And I mult fay, he had fome ground for what he Ipoke, for we were forc’d to keep a Fire all round us, all the Night long. As long as the Flelh ofthefe Ani¬ mals lafts, the Savages feldom think of ftirring; but when ’tis all conliimed, they then looked out for a new Dilcovery. Thus they continue to hunt, till the Snow and the Ice are melted. As foon as the great Thaw commences; ’tis impoffible for ’em to travel far; lo that they content themlelves with the killing of Hares and Partridges, which are very numerous in the Woods. When the Rivers are clear of the Ice, they make Canows of the Elk- skins, which they fow together very eafily, covering the Scams with a fat fort of Earth inftead of Pitch. This Work is over in four or five Days time, after which they return home in the Canows with all their Baggage. This, Sir, was our Diverfion for three Months in the Woods. We took fifty-fix Elks, and might have killed twice as many, if we had hunted for the Benefit of the Skins. In the Summer Sealon, the Savages have two ways of killing ’em, both of which are equally troublelome. One confilts in hanging a Rope-gin between two Trees, upon a Pafs fur- rounded with Thorns; the other is compals’d by crawling like Snakes among the Trees and Thickets, and approaching to ’em upon the Leeward fide, lo that they may be Ihot with a Fufee. Harts and Caribou's are killed both in Summer and Winter, after the lame Manner with the Elks; excepting that the Caribou’s, which are a kind of wild Alfes, make an eafy Elcape when the Snow is hard, by vertue of their broad Feet; whereas the Elk links as fall as he riles. In fine, I am lb well pleas’d with the hunting of this Country, that I have refolv’d to jmploy all my Leifure-time upon thatEitercile. The Savages have promifed, that in three Months time l ■ / • _ 60 Some New Voyages 1 fhall fee other forts ®f Chaces, which will prove lefs fatigueing, and more agreeable. I am, SIR , Tours, &c. LETTER XJ. Dated at Boucherville , May 28. 1687. Being a curious Defcription of the Hunting oj divers Animals , SIR, Y OU complain that the laft Year you received but one of my Letters, dated July 8. and with the fame Breath allure me, that you writ two to me, neither of which is come to Hand. I re¬ ceived a Letter from you this Day, which is fo much the more acceptable, that I thought you had been dead, and that I find you continue to give Proof of your Remembrance of me. I find by your Letter, that you have an agreeable Relilh for the curious Elk-hunting in this Country, and that a further Ac¬ count of our other hunting Adventures, would meet with a welcome Reception. This Curiofity, indeed, is worthy of fo great a Huntfman as your felf- but at prefent I muft beg your Excufe as to the Beaver-hunting, for I know nothing of it yet but by Hearfay. In the Beginning of September , I fetout in a Ca- now upon feveral Rivers, Marfhes, and Pools, that difembogue in the Champlain Lake, being accom- pany’d with thirty or forty of the Savages that are very expert in Shooting and blunting, and perfectly well to North- America. 61 well acquainted with the proper. Places for finding Water-fowl, Deer, and other fallow Beafts. The firft Port we took up was upon the fide of a Marfh or Fen of four or five Leagues in Circumference ; and after we had fitted up our Hutts, the Savages made Hutts upon the Water in fevcral Places. Thefe Wa- ter-Hutts are made of the Branches and Leaves of Trees, and contain three or four Men: for a De¬ coy, they have the Skins of Geefe, Buftards, and Ducks, dry’d and fluff’d with Hay, the two Feet being made faff: with two Nails to a fmall piece of a light Plank, which floats round the Hutt. This Place being frequented by wonderful Numbers of Geefe, Ducks, Buftards, Teals, and an Infinity of other Fowl unknown to the Europeans ; when thefe Fowls fee the fluff’d Skins fwimming with the Heads erefted, as if they were alive, they repair to the fame Place, and fo give the Savages an Opportunity of fhooting ’em, eitheir Flying or upon the Water; after which the Savages get into their Canows and gather ’em up. They have likewife a Way of catch¬ ing ’em with Nets, ftretch’d upon the Surface of the Water at the Entries of the Rivers. In a Word, we eat nothing but Water-fowl for fifteen Days; after which we refblv’d to declare War againft the Turtle-Doves, which are fo numerous in Canada , that the Bi/hop has been forc’d to excommunicate ’em oftner than once, upon the Account of the Damage they do to the ProduCl of the Earth. With that View, weimbarqu’d and made towards a Meadow, in the Neighbourhood of which, the Trees were cover’d with that fort of Fowl, more than with Leaves; For juft then ’twas the Seafon in which they retire from the North Countries, and repair to the Southern Climates; and one would have thought, that all the Turtle-Doves upon Earth had chofe to pafs thro’ this Place. For the eighteen or twenty Days that we flay’d there, I firmly be¬ lieve 61 Some New Voyages lieve that a thoufand Men might have fed upon 'em heartily, without putting themfelves toany Trouble, You muft know, that through the middle of this Meadow there runs a Brook, upon which I and two young Savages fhot feveral Snipes, Rayles, and a certain fort of Fowl call’d Bateus de faux, which is as big as a Quail, and eats very delicioufly. In the fame Place we kill’d fbme Musk-Rats , or a fort of Animals which refemble a Rat in their Shape, and are as big as a Rabbet. The Skins of thefe Rats are very much valued, as differing but little from thofe of Beavers. Their Tefticles Imell f© ftrong of Musk, that no Civet or Antilope that Afia affords, can boaft of fuch a ftrong and fweet Smell. We fpy’d ’em in the Mornings and Even¬ ings, at which time they ufually appear upon the Water with their Nofe to the Windward, and be¬ tray themfelves to the Huntfmen, by the curling of the Water. The Pouteraux, which are an Amphi¬ bious fort of little Pole-Cats, are catch’d after the fame Manner. I was likewife entertain’d upon this occafion, with the killing of certain little Beafts, call’d Siffieurs , or Whiftlers, with Allufion to their wonted way of whittling or whizzing at the Mouth of their Holes in fair Weather. They are as big as Hares, but fomwhat fhorter, their Flefh is good for nothing, but their Skins are recommended by their Rarity. The Savages gave me an Opportuni¬ ty of hearing one of thefe Creatures whittle for an Hour together, after which they fhot it. To gra¬ tify the Curiofity I had to fee fuch Diverfity of Ani¬ mals, they made a diligent Search for the Holes or Dens of the Carcaioux , and having found fome at the diftance of two or three Leagues from the Fen upon which we were potted, they conduced me to the Place. At the Break of Day we planted out felves round the Holes, with our Bellies upon the Ground; and left fome Slaves to hold the Dogs a Musket- Musket-fhot behind us. As foon as thefe Animals perceiv’d Day-light, they came out of their Holes, which were immediately ftop’d up by the Savages, and upon that the Dogs fetch’d ’em up with Eafe. We faw but two of’em, which made a vigorous De¬ fence againft the Dogs, but were ftrangled after a Difpute of half an Hour. Thefe Animals are not unlike a Badger, only they are bigger, and more milchievous. Tho’ our Dogs Ihew’d a great deal of Courage in attacking the Cmrcaioux, they betray’d their Cowardice the next Day in a Rencounter with a Porcupine, which we fpy’d upon a little Tree. To obtain the Pleafure of feeing the Porcupine fall, we cut down the Tree; but neither the Dogs nor we durft go near it: The Dogs only bark’d and jump’d round it; for it darted its long and hard Hair, like fo many Bodkins, three or four Paces off. At laft we pelted it to Death, and put it upon the Fire to burn off its Darts ; after which we fcald- cd it like a Pig, took out the Intrails, and roafted it: But tho’ ’twas very fat, I could not relilh it fo well as to comply with the Affcrtion of the Natives, who alledge, that it eats as well as a Capon or a Partridge. After the Turtle-Doves had all pafs’d over the Place, in Queft of their Southern Retreats, the Sa¬ vages offer’d to fend fome of their Number with Canows to conduct me home, before the Rivers and Lakes were frozen over; for themfelves were to tarry out for the Elk-hunting; and they imagin’d that the Cold and Hardfhip attending that Exercife, had made me fick of it the Year before. Howe¬ ver, we had then a Month good before the Com¬ mencement of the Froft, and in that Interval of time, they proffer’d to entertain me with more di¬ verting Game than any I had feen before. They propos’d to go fifteen or fixteen Leagues further up the Country, affuring me, that they knew of acer- ^4 Some New Voyages tain Plaee that had the moft advantageous Situa¬ tion in the World, both for Pleafure and Profit, and that afforded great Plenty of Otters, of the Skins of which, they mean’d to make a great Cargoe. Accor¬ dingly we pull’d down our Hutts, and having im- barqu’d in our Canows, fail’d up the River, till we came to a little Lake of two Leagues in Circumfe¬ rence, at the End of which we faw another greater Lake, divided from this by an Ifthmus of 150 Paces in length. We pitch’d our Hutts at the Diftance of a League from that Ifthmus; and fome of the Sa¬ vages filh’d for Trouts, while the reft were imploy’d in laying Traps for the Otters upon the Brinks of the Lake. Thefe Traps are made of five Stakes plac’d in the Form of an oblong Quadrangle, fo as to make a little Chamber, the Door of which is kept up, and fupported by a Stake. To the middle of this Stake they tye a String which partes thro’ a little Fork, and has a Trout well fatten’d to the End of it. Now, when the Otter comes on Shoar, and fees this Bait, he puts above half his Body into that fatal Cage, in order to fwallow the Fifh ; but he no fooner touches, than the String to which ’tis made faft, pulls away the Stake that fupports the Door, upon which an heavy and loaded Door falls upon his Reins and quafhes him. During our Pil¬ grimage in that part of the Country, the Savages took above two hundred and fifty Canada Otters, the Skins of w*hich are infinitely prettier than thofe of Mufcovy or Sweden. The beft of ’em which are not worth two Crowns in this Place, are fold in France for four or five, and fometimes for ten, if they are black and very rough. As loon as the Sa¬ vages had fet their Traps, they gave Orders to their Slaves to go round the Lake every Morning, ir* or¬ der to take out the amphibious Animals. After that they conduced me to the above-mention’d Ifth¬ mus, where I was furpri2’d fo fee a fort of a Park to North- America. 6 j Or Fence made of Trees, fell’d one upon another, and interlac’d with Thorns and Branches; with a Quadrangular Inclofure of Stakes at the End of it, the Entry of which was very narrow. They gave me to know, that they ufed to hunt Harts in that Place, and promis’d to divert me with the Shew, as loon as the Inclofures were a little mended. In effedtj they carry’d me t wo or three Leagues off, upon fuch Roads as had nothing on either fide but Fens and Marfhcs; and after they had difpers’d thcmfelves, fome on one Hand and fome on the other, with a Dog for every Man, I faw a great many Harts run¬ ning to and again, in quell of Places of Safety. The Savage that 1 kept Company with, affur’d me, that he and I had no Occafion to walk very fall, becaufe lie had took the ftraightefb and the neareft Road. Before us we faw above ten Harts, which were forc’d to run back, rather than throw themfelves Into the Mar/h, of which they could never get clear. At lafl after walking a great Pace, and running how and then, we arriv’d at the Park, and found the Savages lying flat upon the Ground all round it, in order to fhut up the Entry of the Stake Inclofure as foon as the Harts enter’d. We found thirty-five Harts in the Place, and if the Park had been better fenc’d, we might have had above fixty; for the nimblell and lighted: of ’em, skip’d over before they came to enter the Inclofure. We kill’d a great many of’em, but fpar’d the Dams, becaufe they were great with Young. I ask’d of the Savages the Tongues and the Marrow of the Harts, which they gave me very readily. The Flefii Was very fat, but not delicious, excepting fome few Bits about the Ribs. But after all, this was not our* only Game ; for two Days after we went a Bear- huntihg, and the Savages who fpend three Parts of four of their Life in hunting In the Woods, are yery dexterous at that Exercife, clpecially in fing- F ling 66 Some New Voyages line out the Trunks of the Trees upon which the Bears neftle. I could not but admire their Know¬ ledge in that Point, when, as we were walking up and down in a Foreft, at the Diftance of an hundred Paces one from another, I heard one Savage ca to another. Here's a Bear. I ask d em how he knew there was a Bear upon the Tree which he knock d with his Axe; and they all reply d, that twas as eafily diftinguilh’d as the Print of an Elks Foot in the Snow. For five or fix 1 imes they never ml s ’ for after they had knock’d two or three Times upon the Trunk of the Tree, the Bear came out of its Hole, and was preiently (hot. The Canada Bears are extream black, but not mifchievous, for they never attack one, unlsfs they be wounded or r upon. They are fo fat, efpecially m the Autumn that they can fcarce walk: Thofe which we kill d were extream fat, but their Fat is good for nothing but to be burnt, whereas their Fleih, and, above all, their Feet, are very nice Victuals The Savages affirm, that no Fleih is fo delicious as that of Bears i and indeed, I think they are in the right of it. W hile we rang’d up and down in queft of Bears, we had the Pleafure of fpying fome Martins and, W1 upon the Branches of the Trees which the Savages ftot in the Head to preferve their Skin. But the mod comical thing I faw, was the Stupidity of the Wood-hens, which fit upon the Trees in who Flocks, and are kill’d one after another, without ever offering to ftir. Commonly the Savages Ihoo at them with Arrows, for they fay they are worth a Shoot of Powder, which is able to kill an Elk or an Hart. I have ply’d this fort of Fowh°g in the Neighbourhood of our Cantons or Habita tions in the Winter time, with the Help a Dog who found out the Trees by Scent, bark’d; upon which I approachd to the 1 re , and found the Fowls upon the Branches. to North- America. 67 the Thaw came, I went two or three Leagues fur-» ther up the Lake, in Company with fome Canadefe , «n purpofe to fee that Fowl flap with its Wings. Believe me. Sir, this Sight is one of the greateft Curiofities in the World; for their flapping makes a Noile much like that of a Drum all about, for thef Space of a Minute or thereabouts; then the Noile ceafes for half a quarter of an Hour, after which it begins again. By this Noile we were directed to the Place where the unfortunate Moor-hens fat, and found ’em upon rotten molly Trees. By flapping one Wing againft the other, they mean to call their Mates; and the humming Noife that enfues there¬ upon, may be heard half a quarter of a League off. This they do only in the Months of Aprils May t September and OiJober ; and, which is very remark¬ able, the Moor-hen never flaps in this manner, but upon one Tree. It begins at the break of Day* and gives over at nine o’Cloek in the Morning, till about an Hour before Sunfet that it flutters again, and continues lo to do till Night: I proteft to you, that I have frequently contented my felf with fee¬ ing and admiring the flapping of their Wings with¬ out offering to flioot at ’em. Befides the Pleafure of fo many different forts of Diverfion, I was likewife entertain’d in the Woods with the Company of the honeft old Gentlemen that liv’d in former Ages. Honeft Homer , the Amiable Anacreon , and my Dear Lucian , were my inlepa- rable Companions. Ariftotle too defir’d palfionately to go along with us, but my Canow was too little to hold his bulky Equipage of Peripatetick Syllo- gifms: So that he was e’en fain to trudge back to the Jefuits, w'ho vouchlaf’d him a very honourable Reception. I had a great deal of Reafion to rid my felf of that great Philolopher’s Company; for his ridiculous Jargon, and his fenfelefs Terms, would have frighted the Savages out of theif Wits. Fare- F * vrell^ <$s Some Nemo Voyages well Sir I am now arriv’d at once at the End df my Game and my Letter. 1 have heard no News from Quebec, where they continue to make mighty Preparations for fome confiderable Enterprize. i ime will difeover a great many things, an Account of which 1 mean to tranfmit to you by the Snips that are to leave this Harbour in the End of Autumn. 1 conclude with my ulual Compliment, Tours, &c. LETTER XII. Dated at St. Helens, over-againft Monreal, June 8. 1687. e to threlh ’em loundly j but I was leverely reprimanded for my Pains, and confin’d to my Tent for five or fix Days, where I only repented that 1 had not dealt my Blows in a double Meafure. Thefe Savages relented the Matter lo highly, that they ran prefently to their Hutts, and flew to their Fulees, in order to kill me. Nay, all that could be done was Icarce lufficient to appeafe ’em; for the Difpute came to that height, that they would have left us, if it had not been that our Men allur’d ’em 1 was * drunk, that all the French were * S-mong the sava- prohibited to give me either Wine gei ' Perfo ”f or Brandy, and that I Ihould cer- the Bottle *t- tainly be imprilon’d as loon as the tones for all crime:. Campaign were over. However, the poor Wretches, the Priloners, were carried to Que¬ bec ; from whence they are to be lent to the French Gallies. Much about that time, the Sieur de la Fore ft^ one of Mr. de la Salle's Officers, arriv’d at the Fort in a great Canow, being conduced thither by eight or ten Coureurs de hois. He gave Mr. de Denonville to underftand, that a Party of the Illtnefe and the Oumamis waited for the Ilurons and the Outaouas at the Lake of St. Claire , in order to join ’em, and to march with joint Forces to the River of the Tjfonontouans, that being the Place of their general Rendezvous. He added, that in the Lake of the Hurons near MiJJilimakinac , Mr. de la Duran- tais , aflifted by the Savages, our Allies, had taken an Eufclijh Company, conducted by fome Iroquefe , 74 Some New Voyages •who had fifty thoufand Crowns worth of Goods in their Canows, to be difposd of in Exchange with the Nations that dwell upon thefe Lakes; as alfo, that Mr. Dalbut had taken another Englifu Convoy, being aflifted by the Courcttr s de Eois, and the Sava¬ ges, who had lliar’d the former Capture ; and that he had kept the Englijh and Iroqueje as Prifoners, as •well as their Commander, who was call d Major Gregory. In fine, he reprefented to Mr. dc Dcnon- •ville, that ’twas high time for him to fet out from Fort Frontenac , if he mean’d to appear at the gene¬ ral Rendezvous, where the Auxiliary 1 roops font from the Lakes would arrive very lpeedily. The next Day, being the 3 d of July , the Sieur de la pored embarqued again for Niagara, and ireer d to t& North-fide of the Lake. At the fame time we embarqued, and ftood to the oppofite fide oft e Lake, being favour’d by the Calms which in that Month are very common. By good luck our whole Body arriv d almolt at one and the fame time in the River of the Tfonoutou- ons ; and upon that Occafion, the Savages, our Al¬ lies, who draw Prediftions from the molt trifling Accidents, fhew’d their wonted Superftition in take- ing this for an infallible Prefage of the utter Dc- ftrudion of the Iroqueje: Tho’ after all, they prov d falfe Prophets, as you will find by the Sequel of this Letter. The fame Night that we landed, wehawld our Canows and Boats out of the Water, and let a ftrong Guard upon ’em. This done, we built a fort of Stakes or Pales, where we left the Sieur Dorvillers with four hundred Men to guard our Shipping and Baggage. The next Day, a young Canadeje , call a Fontaine Marion , was unjuftly Ihot to Death. His Cale ftood thus: Having travel d frequently all over this Continent, he was perfedly well acquainted with the Country, and with the Savages of Canada, and after the doing of fevcral good Services to t. Rings Cr- to North- America. 75 King, defir’d Leave from the Governor General to continue his Travels, in order to carry on fome little Trade j but his Rcqueft was never granted. Upon that, he refolv’d to remove to New-England, the two Crowns being then in Peace. The Planters of New-England gave him a very welcome Recep¬ tion ; for he was an adtive Fellow, and one that un- derftood almoft all the Languages of the Savages. Upon this Confideration, he was employ’d to con¬ duct the two EngUJh Convoys I 1'poke of but now, and had the Misfortune to be taken along with them. Now, to my mind, the Ulage he met with from us ■was extream hard; for, u'e are in Peace with Eng¬ land ; and befides, that Crown lays Claim to the Property of the Lakes of Canada. The next Day we began our March towards the great Village of the l’fonontouans , without any other Provifions than ten Biskets a Man, which every one carry’d for himlelf We had but (even Leagues to march in a great Wood of tall Trees, upon a lmooth even Ground. The Coureurs de Bois , with a Party of the Savages, led the Van, and the reft of the Sava¬ ges brought up the Rear, our regular Troops and our Militia being polled in the Middle. The firft Day the Army march’d four Leagues, and the ad¬ vanc’d Guards made no Dilcovery. Thelecond Day our advanc’d Parties march’d up to the very Fields of the Village without perceiving any thing, tho’ they paft within a Piftol-lhot of five hundred Tfonnntouans , who lay flat upon the Ground, and fufler’d ’em to pals and repals without Moleftation. Upon their In¬ telligence we march’d up with equal Precipitation andConfufion, being buoy’d up with the Apprehen- tion that the Iroquefe had fled, and that at lead their Women, Children, and fuperanuated Perlons would fall into our Hands. When we arriv’d at the Bottom of the Hill, upon which the Ambulcade was plac’d, 3 t the Diftance of a quarter of a League from the Vil- lage, 7 6 Some New Voyages lage, they began to raile their wonted Cry, which was follow’d by the firing of fome Muskets. Had you but feen, Sir, what Diforder our Troops and Militia were in amidft the thick Trees, you would have joyn’d with me, in thinking that feveral thou¬ sands of Europeans are no more than a {ufficient Num¬ ber to make Head againft five hundred Barbarians. Our Batallions were divided into draggling Parties, who fell into the Right and Left, without knowing where they went. Inftead of firing upon the Iroquefe , we fir’d upon one another. ’Twas to no Purpole to call in the Soldiers of fuch and fuch a Batallion, for we could not fee thirty Paces off: In fine, we were fo diforder’d, that the Enemy were going to clofe in upon us with their Clubs in their Hands; when the Savages of our fide having rally’d, repuls’d the Ene¬ my, and purfu’d ’em to their Villages with fo much Fury, that they brought off the Heads of eighty, and wounded, a great many. In this Action we loft ten Savages, and a hundred French: We had twenty or two and twenty wounded, in which Number was the good Father Angeleran the Jefuit, who receiv d a Musket-ffiot in thole Parts which Origenc hofeto lop off, in order to qualify himfelf for inftru who had taken care to fow in it fome Bufhels of ^turkey- Wheat, which afforded a plentiful Crcp, that prov’d of great Ufe to me. The Garifon fur- G 2 rendred 84 Some 2 se-America. Ice. Thefe Savages chofe to march over Land to the Fort of Niagara , where they expe&ed to receive Intelligence before they enter’d the Country of the Iroquefe. They march’d ten Days, i. e. fifty Leagues, without feeing one Soul. But at laft their Scouts perceiv’d the Foot-fteps of fome Huntfmen, which they trac’d at a great Pace for a whole Night, the Snow being then a Foot deep. Towards the break of Day they return’d, and gave notice to their Fel¬ low-Adventurers, that they had difeover’d fix Hutts, with ten Men lodg’d in each of’em. Upon this Intelligence the whole Party made a halt, in or¬ der to paint their Faces, to prepare their Arms, and to concert proper Meafures. The Attack was fb form’d, that two Men made foftly up to the two Doors of the Hutts with their Clubs in their Hands, to knock down any one that offer’d to come out, while the reft were imploy’d in firing their Pieces. And the Acftion was crown’d with wonderful Suc- cels; for the Iroquefe being furpriz’d and fhut up in their bark Prifons, there were but two out of fixty- four that made their Efcape ^ and thefe two being naked and deftitute of Fire-Arms, could not but perifh in the Woods. Three of the Hurons indeed were kill’d upon the Spot, but to atone for that Lofs, the Aggreffors carry’d off fourteen Prifoners, and four Women. This done, they march’d back to my Fort with all poffible Expedition. Among the Captive Slaves, there were three who had made Part of the Number of the 1000 Iroquefe that thought to have furpriz’d us the Year before, when we were imploy’d in the great Land-Carriage at Niagara. They gave us to underftand, that the Fort of Niagara was block’d up by eight hundred Iroquefe , who mean’d to appear before my Poft without any Delay. This troubiefome Piece of News^gall’d me to the laft Degree, for fear of being reduc'd to Extremities; and with that View I was a G 3 very Some New Voyages verv nice Husband of what Corn I had left. I was not?pprehenfive of being attack’d by ’em, for the Savages never fight fairly, neither do they ever attempt to pull up Pallifadoes; but I was afra.d that they would ftarve us out by cramping our Huntfmen in their due Range. However, the rous continuing fifteen Days in my F themfelves, I us’d the Precaution of mgaging them to aflift my Huntfmen in providing Meat . But as foon as they took leave of me * n or . , G home, our Hunting was at an End, and the Gates "^Atteft finding that my Provifions were almoft out I refolv’d to go to Mtflilmakmac, to buy up Corn from the Hurons and the Outaouans Accor¬ dingly, having left fome Soldiers to guard the Fort in mv Abfence, I imbarq d with the reft of my Detachment on the firft of Aril, with a genr e South-Eaft Gale ; by the Help of which we: infenf- blv crofs’d the Bay of Sagmnan .^ h « 1 «“ fix H irs over, and in the middle of there are two little Hlands, which afford a very feafonable Shelter when a Wind arifes in the croffing over. Before you have crofs’d this Bay, the Coaft u all along full of Rocks and Shelves, one of which ith I faw was fix Leagues broad: ButaboveittheCo is clean and low, efpecially towards the Sand-River which lies half way between that Bay and a P call’d i Anfe du Connere. Now this laft Place is reckon’d thirty Leagues oft the Bay. Having; p ft that, we had but thirty Leagues more to lai 1 ; which we did without any Danger, but the Help of an Eaft-South-Eaft Gale, that fwcll di the \\ aves pro- dieioufly. In the Mouth of the llhnefe Lake met the Party of the Hurons that I mention u befor ; and four or five hundred Outaouas, who wer? bound hie after having fpent the Winter in hen«,ng of Beavers upon the River of Saguman. Both t£ey to North- America. 87 and we were forc’d to lye by in that Place for three or four Days, by reafon of the Ice: After which the Lake was clear’d, and we crofs’d it together. When the Hurons came alhoar, they confulted among themfelves how to difpofe of their Slaves: After which they made a Prefent of one of’em to Mr. de Jucbereau , who commanded in that Place} but the poor Wretch was prefently Ihot to Death. Another of ’em was prefented to the Outaouas , who granted him his Life, for fuch Reafons as you would eafily apprehend, if you were better acquaint¬ ed with the Policy and Cunning of that fort of Men, whom you now take for Beafts. I arriv’d in this Place on the 18 tb of April , and my Uneafinefs and Trouble took Date from the Day of my Arrival: For I found the Indian Corn lo fcarce by reafon of the preceding bad Harvefts, that I defpair’d of finding half fo much as I wanted. But after all, I am hopeful, that two Villages will fur- nifh me with almoft as much as I have Occafion for. Mr. Cavelier arriv’d here May 6, being accompany’d with his Nephew, Father Anafiafe the Recollet, a Pilot, one of the Savages, and fome few Frenchmen, which made a Sort of a party-colour’d R etinue. Thele Frenchmen were fome of thole that Mr. de la Salle had conduced upon the Dilcovery of MiJJifipi. They give out, that they are fent to Canada , in order to go to France , with fome Difpatches from Air. de la Salle to the King: But we fulpe< 5 t that he is dead, becaufe he does not return along with ’em. I (hall not fpend time in taking notice of their great Journey over Land; which by the Account they give, cannot be lefs than eight hundred Leaguej. MtJJilnnakinac , the Place I am now in, is certainly a Place of great Importance. It lies in the Latitude of forty-five Degrees, and thirty Minutes; but as for its Longitude, I have nothing to fay of it, for Reafons mention’d in my fecond Letter. ’Tis not G 4 above 88 Some 2 \eo Some New Voyages Outaouas and the Hurom have very pleafant Fields, in which they Tow Indian Corn, Peafe, and Beans, befides a fort of Citruls, and Melons, which differs much from ours, and of which I (hall take Occafion to fpeak in another Place. Sometimes, thefe Sava¬ ges fell their Corn very dear, efpecially when the Beaver-hunting happens not to take well: Upon which Occafion they make fufficient Reprifals upon us for the extravagant Price of our Commodities. As foon as I have bought up fixty Sacks of Corn, each of which may weigh fifty Pound, I am to march with my Detachment alone to St. Mary's Fort, in order to ingage the Sauteurs or the Inhabitants of Saut Saint Marie, to join the Outaouas ; after which we mean to march with joint Forces to the Country of the Iroquefe. Befides thefe, there’s a Party of a hundred Hurons ready to march, under the Com¬ mand of the great Leader Adario , whom the French call the Rat ; but they do not march our way. I fhall write to you with the firft Opportunity after my Return from this Expedition. Perhaps the Je- fuits will fond your Letters for me along with Mr. Denonville’s to Fort S t.Jofcpb, where 1 am to refide. I fhall expeCt their Arrival with the utmoft Impa¬ tience. In the mean time I fend you a Letter di¬ rected to Mr. de Seignelay , the Purport of which I have here fubjoin’d. ’Twill be a very frnfible Ob¬ ligation laid upon me, if you vouchfafe to believe that I always am. SIR, lours , £jV. LET- to North' America. 9 l the Letter directed to Mr. de Seignelay. Honoured Sir , I Am the Son of a Gentleman that fpent three hundred thoufand Crowns in deepening the Wa¬ ter of the two Gaves of Bearn: He had the good luck to compafs his End by conveying a great many Brooks to thefe two Rivers; and the Current of the Adour was by that means fo far ftrengthen’d, as to render the Bar of Bayonne paflable by a fifty Gun Ship, whereas in former times a Frigate of ten Guns durft not venture over it. ’Twas in Confideration of this great and fuccefsful Attempt, that his Majefty granted to my Father and his Heirs for ever, certain Duties and Taxes, amounting to the Sum of three thoufand Livres a Year. This Grant was confirm’d by an A and upon that Ap¬ prehension, ask’d ’em how they came to eat Ani¬ mals, into which their Souls might be transfus’d ; But they made Anfwer, that the Tranfmigration of Souls is always confin’d to the refpcdive Species lo that the Soul of a Man cannot enter into a Fowl* as that of a Fowl cannot be lodg’d in a Quadruped’ and fo on. The Okoros , of both Sexes, are fully as handlome and as clever, as this People. December the 4 tb, I took leave of this Village, ha¬ ving ten Soldiers on board of my Pirogue, befides the ten Oumamis , the four Outaouas , and the four EJfanapes Slaves, that I have mention’d fo often. Here ended the Credit and Authority of the Calutnet of Peace, for the Gnacfitares are not acquainted with that Symbol of Concord. The firft Day we had enough to do to run fix or feven Leagues, by rea¬ son °f the Bulrulhes with which the Lake is incum¬ ber’d. The two following Days we fail’d twenty Leagues. The 4 tb Day a Weft-North-Wcfl: Wind fur priz’d us with fuch a boifterous Violence, that we were forc’d to put alhoar, and lay two Days upon a fandy Ground, where we were in Danger of ftarv- jng for Hunger and Cold; for the Country was fo barren, that we could not find a Chip of Wood wherewith to warm our felves, or to drefs our Victu¬ als ; and as far as our Eye could reach, there was nothing to be feen but Fens cover’d with Reeds and Clay, and naked Fields. Having indur’d this Hardlhip we fet out again, and row’d to a little Ifland, upon which we incamp’d, but found nothing there but green Fields j however, to make fome Amends, we filh’d up great numbers of little Trouts, upon which we fed very heartily. At laft, after in Some New Voyages, failing fix Days more, we arriv’d at the Point or Lands-end of that I (land which you fee mark’d in my Map with a Flower-de-luce. ’Twas then the 19th Day of December , and we had not yet felt all the rigorous Hardlhips of the Cold. As loon as I had landed and fitted up my Tents or Huts, I de¬ tach’d my EJfanapes Slaves to the firft of the three Villages that lay before us; for I had avoided {top¬ ping at fome Villages in an Illand upon which we coafted in the Night-time. The Slaves return’d in a great Alarm, occafion’d by the unfavourable An- lwer they receiv’d from the Gnacjitares, who took us for Spaniards , and were angry with them for con¬ ducting us to their Country. I (hall not be minute in every Particular that happen’d, for fear of tiring your Patience. ’Tis fufiicient to acquaint you, that upon the Report of my Slaves I immediately em- barqu’d, and polled my {elf in another Illand that lay in the middle between the great Illand and the Continent; but 1 did not fuller the Ejfanapes to be in my Camp. In the mean time the Gnacfitares fent expeditious Couriers to the People that live eighty Leagues to the Southward of them, to defire they would fend fome of their Number to examine us; for that People were fuppos’d to be well acquainted with the Spaniards of New Mexico. The Length of the Journey did not dilcourage ’em, for they cameas chearfully as if it had been upon a National Con¬ cern; and after taking a View of our Cloaths, our Swords, our Fufees, our Air, Complexion, and manner of Speech, were forced to own that we were not true Spaniards. Thefe Confiderations, join’d to the Account I gave ’em of the Realbns upon which I undertook the Voyage, of the War wc were ingag’d in againft Spain , and of the Country to the Eaft ward that we poflefs’d ; thefe, I fay, had fo much Influ¬ ence, as to undeceh'e ’em. Then they invited me to encamp in their Illand, and brought me a fort of Grain to North- America. 1.23 Grain not unlike oar Lentils, that grows plentifully in that Country. I thank’d ’em for their Invitation, and told ’em that I would not be oblig’d to diftruft: them, nor give them any occafion to diftruft me. However, I crofs’d with my Savages and ten Sol¬ diers well arm’d ; and after breaking the Ice in cer¬ tain Places (for it had freez’d hard for ten or twelve Days) I landed within two Leagues of one of their Villages, to which I walk’d up by Land. ’Tis need- lefs to mention the Particulars of the Ceremony with which I was receiv’d, it being the fame with what I delcrib’d upon other Occafions; I fhall only take occafion to acquaint you, that my Prefents made a wonderful Impreflion upon the Minds of thele People, whom I (hall call a ralcally Rabble, tho’ at the fame time they are the politeft Nation I have yet ieen in this Country. Their Governor bears the Figure of a King more than any of the other Commanders of the Savages. He has an abfolute Dominion over all the Villages which are delcrib’d in my Map. In this and the other Illands I law large Parks, or Inclofures, flock’d with wild Beeves for the ufe of the People. I had an Interview for two Hours together with the Governor, or the Cacick ; and almoft our whole Conference related to the Spaniards of New Mexico , who, as he allur'd me, were not diftant from his Country above eighty lazous , each of which is three Leagues. I mull own indeed, I was as curious upon this Head as he was; and I wanted an Account of the Spaniards from him, as much as he did from me : In line, we reciprocally inform’d one another of a great many Particulars relating to that Head. He requefted me to accept of a great Houfe that was prepar’d for me; and his firft piece of Civility conlifted in calling in a great many Girls, and prelling me and my Retinue to ferve our lelves. Had this Temptation been thrown in our way at a more fealonable time, it had prov’d 124 Some New Voyages prov’d irrefiftable j but ’twas not an agreeable Mefs for Paflengers that were infeebled by Labour and Want. Sine Cerere & Baccho friget Venus. After he made us fuch a civil Proffer, the Savages, upon my Inftance, reprefented to him, that my Detach¬ ment expedted me at a certain Hour, and that if I flay’d longer, they would be in Pain for me. This Adventure happen’d on the 7th of “January. Two Days after, the Cacick came to fee me, and brought with him four hundred of his own Subje&s, and four Mozeemlek Savages, whom I took for Spa¬ niards. My Miftake was occafion’d by the great Dif¬ ference between thefe two American Nations; for, the Mozeemlek Savages were cloathed, they had a thick bufhy Beard, and their Hair hung down un¬ der their Ears j their Complexion was fwarthy, their Addrefs was civil and fubmiflive, their Mien grave, and their Carriage engaging. Upon thefe Confide- rations I could not imagine that they were Savages, tho’ after all I found my felf miftaken. Thefe four Slaves gave me a Defcription of their Country, which the Gnacfitares reprefented by way of a Map upon a Deer’s Skin ; as you fee it drawn in this Map. Their Villages ftand upon aRiver that fprings out ofaRidge of Mountains, from which the long River likewife derives its Source, there being a great many Brooks there which by a joint Confluence form the River. When the Gnacfitares have a mind to hunt wild Beeves, they fet out in Pirogues, which they make ufe of till they come to the Crofs mark’d thus (-j-) in the Map, at the Confluence of two little Rivers. The Hunting of the wild Bulls, with which all the Val¬ leys are cover’d in Summer, is fometimes the Occafi- on of a cruel War: For the other Crofs (-j-) which you fee in the Map is one of the Boundaries or Li¬ mits of Mozeemlek fand if either of thefe two Nations advances but a little beyond their Limits, it gives Rife to a bloody Engagement. The Mountains l to North* America, l2 5 fpoke of but now, are fix Leagues broad, and fo high that one muft caft an Infinity of Windings and Turnings before he can crofs ’em. Bears and wild Beads are their only Inhabitants. The Mozeemlek Nation is numerous and puiflant. The four Slaves of that Country inform’d me, that at the diftance of 150 Leagues from the Place where I then was, their principal River empties it felfinto a Salt Lake of three hundred Leagues in Circumfe¬ rence, the Mouth of which is about two Leagues broad: That the lower part of that River is adorn’d with fix noble Cities, furrounded with Stone cement¬ ed with fat Earth: That the Houfes of thefe Cities have no Roofs, but are open above like a Platform, as you fee ’em drawn in the Map: That befides the abovemention’d Cities, there were above an hundred Towns, great and fmall, round that fort of Sea, up¬ on which they navigate with fuch Boats as you fee drawn in the Map: That the People of that Country made Stuffs, Copper Axes, and feveral other Manu¬ factures, which the Outagamis and my other Inter¬ preters could not give me to underftand, as being al¬ together unacquainted with fuch things: That their Government was Defpotick, and lodg’d in the Hands of one great Head, to whom the reft paid a trem¬ bling Submiffion : That the People upon that Lake call themfelves tfahuglauky and are as numerous as the Leaves of Trees, (fuch is the Expreffion that the Savages ufes for an Hyperbole:) That the Mozeemlek People fupply the Cities or Towns of the Tabuglauk with great numbers of little Calves which they take upon the abovemention’d Mountains: and. That the 1 ‘uhuglauk make ufe of thefe Calves for feveral Ends; for, they not only eat their Flelh, but bring ’em up to Labour, and make Cloaths, Boots, of their Skins. They added, That ’twas their Mif- fortune to be took Prifeners by the Gnacfitares in the War which had lafted for eighteen Years - 3 but, that they 11 6 Some New Voyages they hoped a Peace would be fpeedily concluded, upon which the Prifoners would be exchang’d, pur- fuant to the ufual Cuftom. They glory’d in the Poffeflion of a greater Meafure of Reafon than the Gnac fit ares could pretend to, to whom they allow no more than the Figure of a Man ; for they look upon ’em as Beads otherwife. To my mind, f their Notion upon this Head is not fo very extravagant; for I ob- ferv’d fo much Honour and Politenefs in the Con. verfation of thefe four Slaves, that I thought I had to do with Europeans : But, after all, I mult confefs, that the Gnacfitares are the mod tradable Nation I met with among all the Savages. One of the four Mozeemtek Slaves had a reddifh fort of a Copper Me¬ dal hanging upon his Neck, the Figure of which is reprefented in the Map. I had it melted by Mr. de Ponti’s Gun-fmith, who underdood fomething of Metals; but it became thereupon heavier, and deep¬ er colour’d, and withal fomewhat tradable. I defir’d the Slaves to give me a circumdantial Account of thefe Medals ; and accordingly they gave me to un- derdand, that they are made by the Tabuglauk, who are excellent Artizans, and put a great Value upon fuch Medals. I could pump nothing farther out of ’em, with relation to the Country, Commerce and Cudoms of that remote Nation. All they could fay was, that the great River of that Nation runs all a- longWedward, and that the fait Lake into which it falls, is three hundred Leagues in Circumference, and thircy in Breadth, its Mouth dretching a great way to the Southward. I would fain have fatisfied my Curiofity in being an Eye-witnefs of the Manners and Cudoms of the lahuglauk ; but that being im- pradicable, I was forc’d to be indruded at fecond Hand by thefe Mozeemlek Slaves; who adiir’d me, upon the Faith of a Savage, that the 5 fabuglduk wear their Beards two Fingers breadth long ; that their Garments reach down to their Knees j that they co¬ ver to North- America. 127 ver their Heads with a /harp-pointed Cap; that they always wear a long Stick or Cane in their Hands, which is tipp’d, not unlike what we ufe in Europe ; that they wear a fort of Boots upon their Legs which reach up to the Knee; that their Women never fhew themfelves, which perhaps proceeds from the fame Principle that prevails in Italy and Spain ; and, in fine, that this People are always at War with the puiflant Nations that are feated in the Neighbour¬ hood of the Lake; but withal, that they never di£ quiet the ftrowling Nations that fall in their way, by reafon of their Weaknefs: An admirable Leflon for fome Princes in the World, who are lb much in¬ tent upon the making ufe of the ftrongeft Hand. This was all I could gather upon that Subjedh. My Curiofity prompted me to defire a more particular Account; but unluckily I wanted a good Interpre¬ ter ; and having to do with feveral Perfons that did not well underftand themfelves, I could make no¬ thing of their incoherent Fuftian. I prelented the poor miferable Slaves with fomething in proportion to the Cuftom of that Country, and endeavour’d to perfuade ’em to go with me to Canada , by making ’em fuch Offers as in their Efteem would appear like Mountains of Gold ; but the Love they had for their Country ftifled all Perfuafions; fb true it is, that Na¬ ture reduced to its juft Limits cares but little for Riches. In the mean time it began to thaw, and the Wind chop’d about to the South-weft; upon which I gave notice to the great Cacique of the Gnacfitares, that I had a mind to return to Canada. Upon that occafion I repeated my Prelents; in Compenlation of which, my Pirogues were flow’d with Beef as full as they could hold. This done, I embarqu’d, and crofs’d over from the little Ifiand to the Continent, where I fixed a great long Pole, with the Arms of France done upon a Plate of Lead. I fee out the 26th of January^ and li8 Some New Voyages and arrived fafe on the 5th of February in the Country of the F.JJanapes. We had much more Plealure in failing down the River, than we had in going up $ for we had the agreeable Diverfion of feeing feveral Huntfmen Ihooting the Water-Fowl, that are plen¬ tiful upon that River. You muft know, that the Stream of the Long River is all along very flack and eafy, abating for about three Leagues between the fourteenth and fifteenth Village; for there indeed its Current may be call’d rapid. The Channel is fo ftraight, that it Icarce winds at all from the Head to the Lake. ’Tis true ’tis not very pleafant j for mol? of its Banks have a dilmal Profpedt, and the Water it felf has an ugly Tafte;. but then its Ufefulnefs at- tones for luch Inconveniencies; for, ’tis navigable with the greateft Eafe, and will bear Barques of fifty Ton, till you come to that Place which is mark’d w th a Flower-de-luce in the Map, and where I put up the Poft that my Soldiers chriften’d la HontansLi¬ mit. March 2. I arriv’d in the MiJJifipi , which was then much deeper and more rapid than before, by reafon of the Rains and Land-floods. To fave the Labour of rowing ; we then left our Boats to the Current, and arriv’d on the 10th in the Ifland of Rencontres , which took its Name from the Defeat of 400 Iroquefe accompli fh’d there by 300 NadoueJJis. The Story of the Encounter is briefly this: A Party of 400 Iroquefe having a Mind to furprife a certain People in the Neighbourhood of the Otent as (of whom more anon) march’d to the Country of the Illinefe ., where they built Canows, and were furnifh’d with Provifions. After that they embarqu’d upon the Ri¬ ver Mijfifipf and were dilcover’d by another little Fleet that was failing down the other fide of the fame River. The Iroquefe crofs’dover immediately to that Ifland, which is fince call’d Aux Rencontres. 1 he Nadoueffis, i. e. the other little Fleet, being fufpici- ous of fome ill Defign, without knowing what Peo- to ISorth- America. 129 pie they were, (for they had no Knowledge of the Iroquefe but by Hear-fay) j upon this Sufpicion, I fay, they tugg d hard to come up with ’em. The two Armies polled themfelves upon the Point of the Ifland, where the two Crofles are put down in the Map; and as loon as the NadoueJJis came in fight, the Iroquefe cry’d out in the Illinefe Language, IVho arc ye? To which the NadoueJJis anfwer’d, Some body: And putting the like Queftion to the Iroquefe , receiv’d the lame Anfwer. Then the Iroquefe put this Quef¬ tion to cm, iVhere are you agoing? To hunt Beeves, reply^d the NadoueJJis. But pray , lays the NadoueJJis, what's,your Bufmefs ? ito hunt Men , reply’d the Iro- queje. Jis well) lays the NadoueJJis , we are Men, and Jo you need go no. fart her. Upon this Challenge the two Parties difembarqu’d, and the Leader of the NadoueJJis cut his Canows to pieces j and after repre- fenting to his Warriors that they behov’d either to conquer or die, march’d up to the Iroquefe-, who receiv’d ’em at firft Onfet with a Cloud of Arrows : But the NadoueJJis having ftood their firft Dilcharge, which kill d ’em eighty Men, fell in upon ’em with their Clubs in their Hands, before the others could charge again ; and fo routed ’em entirely. This En¬ gagement lafted for two Hours, and was fo hot, that two hundred and fixty Iroquefe fell upon the Spot, and the reft were all taken Prifoners. Some of the Iroquefe indeed attempted to make their Efcape after the A&ion was over; but the vidlorious General fent ten or twelve of his Men to purlue ’em in one of the Canows that he had taken $ and accordingly they were all overtaken and drown’d. The NadoueJJis having obtain’d this Vitftory, cut off the Nofcs and Ears of two of the clevereft Prifoners $ and lupplying ’em with Fufees, Powder, and Ball, gave ’em the liberty of returning to their own Country, in order to give their Country-men to underftand, that they ought not to employ Women to hunt after Men any longer. The 1JO Some New Voyages The 12th we arriv’d at the Village of the Otentas , where we took in a plentiful Provifion of Turkey Corn of which thefe people have great (tore. They inform’d us, that their River was pretty rapid, and took its Rife from the neighbouring Mountains ; and that the upper Part of it was adorn d with leveral Vil¬ lages inhabited by the People call’d Panimaha , Pane- a (fa, and Panetonka. But confidering that l was ftraitned for time, and that I faw no probability ol learning what 1 wanted to know with reference to the Spaniards , 1 took leave of’em the next Day, which was the 13th, and in four Days time, by the help of the Current and our Oars, made the River of the Mtjfouris. This done, we run up againft the Stream of that River, which was at lead as rapid as the Mtffipi was at that time; and arnv d on the 18th at the firft Village of the Mtjfouris where 1 only dop’d to make the People fome Prefents that procur’d me a hundred Turkeys, with which that People are wonderfully well dock’d. After that, we row’d hard againd the Stream, and landed next Ni^ht near the fecond Village. As foon as I arriv d, 1 detach’d a Serjeant with ten Soldiers to convoy the Oulagamis to the Village, while the red of my Crew were bufied in fitting up our Hutts and un¬ loading our Canows. It happen’d unluckily that neither the Soldiers nor the Outagams could make the Savages underdand ’em; and the latter were jud ready to fall upon ’em, when an old Fellow cry d out, that the Strangers were not without more com¬ pany, for that he had difcover’d our Hutts and Ca¬ nows. Upon this, the Soldiers and the Outagarms retir’d in a great Condernation, and advis’d me to keep a drong Guard all Night. About two a Clock in the Morning two Men approach’d to our little Camp, and call’d in Jlliuefe, that they wanted an Interview; upon which the Outagamis , being ex- treamly well latisfied that there was fome body a- 1 mong to North- America. j j \ mong ’em who could underftand what they faid re« ply d in Illinefe , that they Ihould be very welcome 3 S loon as the Sun appear’d in the Horizon. Never- tnelels, the Outagamis refented the former Affront lo much, that they importun’d me all Night lon, and let out ior Monreal , accompany’d with twelve Outaouas, who were divided into two Canows, and row’d very hard. _ The 23^, I overtook the Coureurs de Bois in the River Creufe, who had got the ftart of me for iome Days. Mr. Dulhut us’d his utmoft E-Forts to dilFuade me from going further with fo weak a Re¬ tinue. He would have had me to go down along with him j and remonftrated to me, that if my twelve Conductors perceiv’d either in the Land-car¬ riage or upon the Rivers, any thing that might call up an Apprehenfion of falling into the Hands of the Iroquefe , they would defert me and the Canows, and fly to the Woods to avoid the Enemy. I rejected his Advice, though I had like to have repented of my Refolution not long after; for according to his Prediction, my Canow-Men threaten’d to run away to the Forefts, at the Fall call’d Long Saut: And indeed if they had done it, I had follow’d ’em, up¬ on the Reflection, that of two Evils a Man ought to choole to North* America. 143 choofe the leaft; but this Storm blew over. In the great River of the Outaouas^ not far from the River of Lievre, I met Mr. de St. Helene at the Head of a Party of the Coureurs de Bois, who was bound for Hudfons Bay, in order to retake fome Forts that the Englijh had feiz’d upon. He acquainted me with the Prince of Orange's Expedition for England ; and gave me to underftand, that upon his Arrival, King James retir’d to France , and that the Prince was pro¬ claim’d King, which feem’d to prefage a bloody and (harp War in Europe. I allure you, Sir, this piece of News furpriz’d me extreamiy; and nt>t- withftanding that I had it from the Mouth of a Man, whofe Word I rely very much upon, yet I had all the Difficulty in the World to make myfelf believe, that a Revolution of fuch Importance could be ac- complilh’d in fo Ihort a Time, without the Effufion of Blood; efpecially confidering what a ftrid Alli¬ ance there was between our Court, and the Court of England , and how much ’twas the Intereft of both thcfe Monarchs to give mutual Affiftance to one another. July the 9 tb I arriv’d at Monreal , after venturing down feveral fearful Cataracts in the River of the Outaouas, and enduring the Hardlhips of fifteen or twenty Land-carriages, fome of which are above a League in Length. The Navigation is pretty fure from Mifiilimakinac to the River des Francois ; for in coafting along the Lake of Hurons, we meet with an Infinity of Ifiands, which ferve for a Shelter. But in going up that Ri¬ ver, there’s fome Difficulty; for it has five Cataracts which oblige us to turn out and carry all over-land for thirty, fifty, and a hundred Paces Having pafs’d that River, we enter’d the Lake of the Afe- picerinis , from whence we are forc’d to tranlport our Canows and Baggage two Leagues over-land, to another River which has fix or feven Water-falls that we commonly lhoot. From that River we have another 144 Some New Voyages another Land-carriage to the River Creufe , which falls with rapid Currents into the great River of the Outaouas , near a Place call'd Mataouan. We conti¬ nue our Courle upon this great River, till we come to the Point of the IHand o f Monreal, where ’tisloft in the great River of St. Laurence. Thefe two Ri¬ vers join one another with very gentle Streams, and quitting their fearful Channels, form the little Lake of St. Louis. I thought to have loft my Life at the Fall, call’d the Fall of St. Louis , about three Leagues from Mi ureal ; for ourCanow having overfet in the F.ddy, I was carry’d by the Current to the Foot of that Cataradt, from whence the Chevalier de Van- areuil drag’d me out by a great Chance. The Ca- nows and the Skins belonging to the fix Savages were loft; and one of the Savages was drown’d. This is the only time I was in danger, through the whole Courfe of my Voyages. As loon as I landed here, I repair’d with Diligence to a Tavern to refrelh my ielf^ and to make up the J.ofles I had fuftain’d by a neceflary Abftinence. The next Day I waited upon Mr. de Denonville , and Mr. de Champigni , to whom 1 gave an Account of my Voyages, and withal, gave in the News that a great Company of the Coureurs de Bois and Savages would arrive very ipeedily; which they did accordingly, after fifteen Days. The Rat 1 mention’d above, came down hither, and return’d home notwithftanding the Threats that were leveil’d againft him. By this Ad¬ venture, he Ihew’d that he laugh’d at their In¬ trigues. But now that 1 have mention’d his Name, 1 cannot forbear mentioning a malicious Stratagem that this cunning Savage made ufe of laft Year, to prevent the Conclufion of a Peace between Mr. de Denonville and the Iroquefe. \ , This Savage is the general and chief Counfellor of the Hurons ; he is a Man of forty Years of Age, and brave in his way. When he found himielf x prefs’d to North- America. 145 prefs’d arid importun’d by Mr. de Denonville, to en* ter into the Alliance concluded in the Year 1687, that I took notice of before j he at laft comply’d with his Defire, with this Referve, that the War fhould not be put to an End till the Iroquefe were totally routed. This Claulethe Governor promis’d to make good, and gave him Aflfurances to that pur- pofe on the 3 d of September, in the lame Year, which happen’d about two Days before I let out from Niagara , upon my Voyage to the great Lakes. This Savage-General relying upon Mr. de Denon - 'vilie's Promife, march’d from Mtjjilimakinac at the Head of an hundred Warriors, as I infinuated in my 14 tb Letter, in order to invade the Iroquefe Coun* try, and atchieve fome glorious Feats among ’em. In the mean time to carry on his Defign the more cautioully, he thought it proper to pafs by the way of Fort Frontenac , where he might receive lome In¬ telligence. Upon his Arrival at this Fort, the Go¬ vernor told him, that Mr. de Denonville was negotia¬ ting a Peace with the five Iroquefe Nations, whole EmbaflTadors and Hoftages he expe&ed in a Ihort time, in order to conclude and ratify the Peace, he having Orders to conduit ’em to Monreal: And that upon that Confideration, ’twas molt proper for him and his Warriors to return home, and to pals no further. The Savage-General was mightily furpris’d with this unexpected piece of News; efpecially con- fid ering that by the means of that Peace, he and his Nation would be given up as a Sacrifice for the Welfare of the French. When the Governor had made an End of his Remonftrance, the Rat ac¬ knowledg’d, that what he offer’d was very reafon- able, but withal, that inltead of following his Ad¬ vice, he would go and tarry for the Iroquefe Em-. baflfadors and Hoftages at the Cataraits, by which they were oblig’d to pals. He had not tarry’d there above five or fix Days, before the unhappy Depu- L ties >4 6 Some New Voyages ties arriv’d with a rain of forty young Men, who •were all eitheir kill'd or taken as they diiembarqued. The Priloners were no looner fetter’d, than this crafty General of the Hitrcus reprelented to ’em, that the French Governor had lent him notice to take up that Poll, in order to lie in wait for a Par¬ ty of fifty Warriors, that were to pafs that way at a* certain fet Time. The Iroquefe being much fur- pris’d with the Apprehenfion of the Perfidioufnels that he charg’d upon Mr. de Denonville, acquainted the Rat with the Defign upon which they came. Upon that the Rat counterfeited a lort of Rage and Fury ; and to play his Cards the better, flew out in Invedtives againft Mr. de Denonville , declaring, that fome time or other he would be reveng’d upon that Governor, for making him the Inftrument of the raoft barbarous Treachery that ever was adted. Then he fix’d his Eyes upon all the Priloners, among whom was the chief Embaflador call’d 'fhe- ganeforens , and Ipoke to this purpofe; Go } tny Bre¬ thren , though 1 am at IVar with you , yet I releafe you , and allow you to go home. >c tis the Governor of the French that put me upon this black Attion , which I Jhall never be able to digeft , unlefs your five Nations revenge themfelves, and make their jufi Reprifals. This was fufficient to convince the Iroquefe of the Sincerity of his Words j and they allur’d him upon the Spot, that if he had a Mind to make a feparate Peace, the five Nations would agree to it: Howe¬ ver, the Rat having loft one Man in this Adventure, kept an Iroquefe Slave to fupply the Place of the Man he had loft: And after furnilhing the Prifoners •with Guns, Powder, and Ball, in order to their re¬ turn homeward, march’d to Miffilimakinac , where he prefented the French Governor with the Slave that he brought off The poor Wretch was no looner deliver’d, than he was condemn’d to be Ihot; for at that time the French Garrilon did not know to North- America. 147 that Mr. de Denonville defign’d to dap up a Peace with the Iroquefe. The condemn’d Prifoner gave an Account of his Adventure, and that of the Am- bafladors; but the French thought that the fear of Death made the Fellow talk idly, and were con¬ firm’d in that Thought, by hearing the Rat and hia Men lay, that he was Light-headed ; Infbmnch, that the poor Fellow was put to Death, notwithftanding all the Reafbns he could offer. The fame Day that he was (hot, the Rat call’d an old Iroquefe Slave that had ferv’d him a long while, and told him, he had refolv’d to allow him the Liberty of returning to his own Country, and fpending the reft of his Days among his Friends and Country-men. At the fame time he gave him to know, that fince he had been an Eye-witnefs of the barbarous Ufage that his Country-man had met with from the French , not- withftanding what he offer’d in his own Defence, it behov’d him to acquaint his Countrymen with the Blacknefs of that AClion. The manumitted Slave obey’d his Orders fo punctually, thatfoon after the Iroquefe made an Incurfion, at a time when the Go¬ vernor did not dream of any fuch thing, for he had us’d the Precaution of giving the Iroquefe to under- ftand, that he difallow’d of the Rats Treachery; infomuch, that he had a mind to have him bang’d 5 and upon this ProlpeCt, expe&ed hourly ten or twelve Deputies to conclude the Peace he fo much defir’d. In effeCt the Deputies did come, but neither their Number nor their Defign was iuitable to what the Governor had promifed to himfelf. Twelve hun¬ dred Warriors landed at the Lands-end of the Ifland of Monreal, and burnt and fack’d all the Plantations in that Quarter: They malfacred Men, Women, and Children ; and Madam de Denonville , who was then at Monreal with her Husband, did not think herfelf fafe in that Place. A general Confirmation L a was / 148 Some New Voyages was fpread all about; for the Barbarians were not above three Leagues from Monreal. They burnc all the adjacent Settlements, and block’d up two Forts. Mr. de Denonville fent out a Detachment of a hundred Soldiers and fifty Savages to oppole ’em, being unwilling to fpare a greater Number out of the City : but all the Men of the Detachment were either taken or cut in pieces, excepting twelve Savages, one Soldier, and Mr. de Loitgueil who commanded the Party, and w'as carried oft’by the twelve Sava¬ ges after his Thigh was broke: The other Officers, namely, the Steurs de la Raberre, Denis , la Plante , and Villedene y were all taken Prifoners. In a Word, the Barbarians laid almoft the whole Ifland wafte, and loft only three Men, who having drank to Ex* cefs of the Wine they found in the Plantations, were decoy’d into a Fort by a Canadefe Cow-keeper, that had been their Slave for fome Years. As foon as the three unfortunate Iroquefe arriv’d in the Fort, they were thrown into a Cellar to deep themfelves fober: and, queftionlefs, as foon as they wak’d they repented of their exceffive Drinking. When they wak’d, they fell immediately a finging; and when the Garrilon offer’d to fetter ’em, and carry ’em to Monreal , they flew to fome Clubs that lay in the Cellar, and made fuch a vigorous and brave Defence, that the Garrifbn was forc’d to fhoot ’em upon the Spot. The Cow-keeper being brought before Mr. de Denonville , he told him, that the Breach made by the Rat's Contrivance was irrepar¬ able ; that the five Iroquefe Nations refented that Adventure with fo much Warmth, that ’twas im- poffible to difpofe ’em to a Peace in a ffiort Time ; that they were fo far from being angry with that Hu¬ ron for what he did, that they were willing to enter into a Treaty with him, owning that he and his Party had done nothing but what became a brave Man and a good Ally. Doubtlefs this fatal Incur- to Aor^-xAmerica. 149 fion was a great Surprifal to Mr. de Denonville, and afforded him a copious Field for Refle&ion. ’Twas already impoffible to continue the Poffeffion of Fort Froutenac; where they began to want Provifions, and which could not be relieved without expofing a great many Men to the Danger of the Pafles or Ca- tara&s, which I have mention’d fo often. There was a downright NeceiTity of calling out the Garri¬ son, and blowing up the Fort; but the Difficulty lay in finding a Man to carry Orders for that effedl to the Governor, for nobody durft undertake it, till the Sieur Peter de Arpentigni offer’d to go all alone through the Forefts; and accordingly he went, and did his Bufinefs fuccefsfully. The Orders were ex- tream welcome to Mr. de Valrenes , the Governor of the Fort for the time; who, upon the receiving of ’em, run a Mine under the four Baftions, which, with the Powder he put in, was reckon’d fufficient to blow it up. 1 his done, he embarqu’d, and came down the River through the Catara&s to Monreal , where he found Mr. de Denowville , and accompany’d him hither. T hat Officer did not only abdicate the Fort of Frontenac , but fct fire to the three great Barques that they us’d to ply with upon the Lake, both to awe the Iroquefe in time of War, and to con¬ vey Commodities to ’em in time of Peace. Mr. de Denon-ville a&ed a prudent Part in relinquifliing both this Fort and that of Niagara ; for, in earned thefe two Polls arc indefenfible, by reafon of the inacceffible Cataradb, upon which an Ambufcado of ten Iroquefe may repulle a thouland Frenchmen by the throwing of Stones. But after all I muft own, that the Welfare and Prdervation of our Colonies had an abfolute Dependance upon thefo two Forts, which feem’d to inlure the utter Deftru&ion of the Iroquefe; for they could notftir out of their Villages to Hunt, or to Filh, without running the Rilque of having their Throats cut by the Savages in Alliance L 3 with 150 Some New Voyages with us, who being then affur’d of a fafe Retreats would have made continual Incurfions into the Coun¬ try of thole Barbarians : And by this means the Ircr quefe being unprovided with Beaver-skins to be gi¬ ven in exchange for Guns, Powder, Ball, and Nets, would be ftarv’d to Death, or at leaft be oblig’d to depart their Country. In the end of September Mr. de Bonaventure , Cap¬ tain and Owner of a Merchant Ship, arriv’d in this Port, and brought the News of Mr. de Frontenac’s Reinftallment in the Place of Governor-General of Canada , and of the Re-calling of Mr. de Denonville , whom the Duke de Beauvilliers has recommended to the King, for the Place of Sub-Governor to the Princes his Grandfons. Some People are uneafy at the re-calling of this Governor; and ’tis faid, that the Reverend Fathers the Jefuits, fill under the Number of the Malecontents: For if we may credit the Reports of the Country, they contributed in a great meafure, to the re-calling of Mr. de Frontenac leven or eight Years ago, by ading in concert with the Intendant of Cbefneau , and l'upreme Council, and drawing up Accufations againft him which had the defired Effed ; though now the King (hews that he is undeceiv’d, by reinftating that Gentleman once more in this Government. In the mean time the Statefmen of the Country that are moft guilty, know not how to drefs this Kettle of Fifh; for they make no queftion but the New Governor will retain a juft Refentment of what’s paft. But the Gentler men, Merchants, and other Inhabitants, are mak¬ ing Preparations for fblemnizing his Arrival, which they exped with as much Impatience, as the fews do the Mejfias. The very Savages that live in the Skirts of the Colony, Ihew an uncommon Joy upon the Hopes of his Return: And indeed, we need not fhink it ftrange, for that Governor drew Efteem and Veneration, not only from the French , but from to Nort?j-A merica. i 51 all the Nations of this vaft Continent, who look’d upon him as their Guardian Angel. Mr de Denon- r villc begins to pack up his Baggage, and that in f- fedt, is all I can fay of him. ’Tis none of my Bu- finels to meddle with an Infinity of A flairs, that re¬ late to the Gentleman’s private Intereft. As to the Queftion, whether he has manag’d well or ill, du¬ ring the Courfe of his Government, or whether he was lov’d or hated, I know nothing of the Matter. I am at a Lofs to know whether he kept a good or lorry Table, for indeed I was never at it. Adieu. I make Account to fet out for Rocbel> when the Veffel that brings our new Governor, returns for France. I am, SIR , Tours , &c. LETTER XVIII. Dated at Quebec Nov. 15. 1685). Giving an Account of Mr. de Frontenac’j Arri¬ val^ his Reception , his Voyage to Monreal, and the repairing oj Fort Frontenac. SIR , T H E Intelligence you give me of the adjudging of the Lands of Labontan , would have drove me to defpair; if you had not allur’d me at the fame time, that I might recover it after a Century of Years, (if I had the Misfortune to live fo long) up¬ on the Condition of reimburfing to the Pofleflbr, the Sum that he pay’d for it, and of proving that I was actually in the King’s Service in the remote Parts of the World, when that Eftate was fold. Tofpeak to the Purpol’e, Mr. de Frontenac has ccuntcrmand- L 4 ed 15 *• Some New Voyages ed the Leave I had to go for France, and has offer’d me a free Accefs to his Pocket and his Table. All the Arguments I offer’d, have no Influence upon him, and fo I am bound to obey. This new Governor arriv’d at Quebec the i$th of Ottober. He came on fhore at eight a Clock at Night, and was receiv’d by the Supreme Council, and all the Inhabitants in Arms, with Flambeaux both in the City, and upon the Harbour, with a triple Difcharge of the great and fmall Guns, and Illuminations in all the Windows of the City. That fame N ight he was complimented by all the Compa¬ nies of the Town, and above all, by the Jefuits, who upon that Occafion made a very pathetick Speech, though the Heart had lefs Hand in it, than the Mouth. 1 he next Day he was vifited by all the Ladies, whofe inward Joy appear’d in their Counte¬ nances, as much as in their Words. Several Per- lons made Fire-works, while the Governor and his Retinue 1'ung tfe Deitm in the great Church. Thefe lolemn pemonftrations of Joy, increas’d from Day to Day, till the new Governor let out for Monreal-, and the Condud of the People upon this Head, af¬ forded fignal Proofs of the Satisfaction they had in his Return, and of their refting afTur’d, that his wife Conduct, and noble Spirit, would preferve the Re- pofe and F ranquillity that he always kept up, du¬ ring his firft ten Years Government. All the World ador d him, and ftyl’d him Redemptor Patrix ; to which Title he had a juft Claim, for all the Inhabi¬ tants of thefe Colonies agree, that when he came firft to Canada, he found all things in Confufion and Diftrds. At that time the Jroquefe had burnt all the Plantations and cut the Throats of feme thou- fands of the Prencb; the Farmer was knock’d on the Head in nis Field; the Traveller was murder’d up¬ on the Road, and the Merchant ruin’d for want of £°fIW*crce; ^]} the planters were pjnefy’d with Fa- to North-A merica. 15 3 mine, the War render’d the Country defolare; and, in a Word, New -France had infallibly perifli’d, it this Governor had not made that Peace with the Barbarians, that I fpoke of in my fifth Letter. The bringing of that Peace to bear, was an A&ion of greater Importance, than you can well imagine; for thefe Barbarians grounded all their Wars upon a perfonal Enmity, whereas the European Ruptures depend more upon Intereft than upon pure Revenge. Mr. de St. Valters the Bifhop of Quebec, arriv’d likewife on the 15th at the fame Port. He had im- barqu’d in the preceding Spring, on board of a Bark that he had hir’d to tranfport him to Acadia , to Newfound-land , and to the other Countries of his Diocefe. Mr. de Frontenac our Governor, fet out for Monreal in a Canow, four or five Days after his Arrival; and I had the Honour to accompany him. All Endeavours were us’d to difluade him from un¬ dertaking that Voyage, when the Seafon was fo cold, and fo far advanc’d : For, as I inform’d you before, the Ice is thicker and ftronger here in O£lob. than ’tis at Paris in January ; which, is very ftrange. Notwithftanding all the Remonftrances drawn from the Hardfhips and Inconveniencies of the Voyage, he flighted the Fatigues of the Water, and threw himfelf into a Canow in the fixty-eighth Year of his Age. Nay, he took the Abdication of Fort Fron¬ tenac fo much to Heart, that he had gone ftreight thither, if the Nobility, the Priefls, and the Inha¬ bitants of Mottreal ,]had not intreated him, with joint Supplications, not to expofe his Perfon to the Dan¬ ger of the Falls and Catara&s that lie in that Paf- lage. In the mean time fome Gentlemen of Canada , follow’d by a hundred Coureurs de Bois , under the Command of Mr. Mantet , ventur’d upon the Voyage, with intent to learn the State of the Fort. I acquainted you in my laft Letter, that Mr. de Val- yenes had blown up the Walls of the Fort, when he 15 4 S° me New Voyages he made his Retreat; but by good luck, the Da¬ mage was not fo great as ’twas took to be ; for the Party commanded by Mr. Mantet , have already rear’d up the ruinous Wall to the height of feme Fathoms, and will continue to Work upon the Re¬ pair of the Fort all this Winter. This News Mr. de Frontenac receiv’d laft Night, which was the fixth after his Return to this City. I had forgot to tell you, that he brought with him out of France , feme of thofe Iroquefe that Mr. de Denonville had lent to the Galleys, as I intimated in my thirteenth Letter; the reft having perilh’d in their Chains. Of all thefe unfortunate Barbarians that he has brought back, the moft confiderable is one that goes by the Name of Oreouahe. He was not us’d as a Galley Slave, in regard that he was the Leader of the Goyoguans , and the Governor has lodg’d him in the Caftle, in confidcration of the Efteem he fhews both for Mr. de Frontenac , and for the French Nation. Some flatter themlelves with the Hopes, that fome Accommodation with the five Iro¬ quefe Nations may be effected by his Mediation ; >and for that end Propofals of Peace are now in Agi¬ tation : But 1 have three good Reafons for predict¬ ing, that fuch a Defign will prove abortive. I have already laid thefe Reafons before Mr. de Frontenac , -who gave me to know, that after the Departure of the Ships, he would dilcourfo me upon that Head. I lhall not offer at the Particulars of his Interview, with Monfieur and Madam de Denonville j till fuch time as you and I have an Opportunity of talking under the Rofe. Some Officers accompany Mr. de Denonville and his Lady to France , in hopes of be¬ ing preferr’d. In all probability the Ships will let fail to Morrow, for we have now a fair and gentle Wefterly Gale; befides, that the Seafon for quitting this Port, is almoft Ipent. I am, SIR. Tours , &c. LET- to North- America. 1 5 5 LETTER XIX. Dated at Monreal, October 2. 1690. Relating the Attempts upon New-England and New-York 5 a fatal Embafy J'ent by the French to the Iroquefe; and an ill-concerted Enterprife of the Englilh and the Iroquele, in marching by Land to Attack the French Co¬ lony. SIR , A Bout fifteen Days fince, a Ship of Rocbel , laden with Wine and Brandy, arriv’d in this Har¬ bour ; and the Captain took care to convey a Let¬ ter from you to my Hands. As to your Defire of having a circumftantial Account of the Trade of Canada , I cannot fatisfy it at prefent, for I am not as yet fo thoroughly acquainted with all its Bran¬ ches. But I aflfure you, that ibme time or other I fhall fend you fuch Memoirs, as will give you Satis¬ faction upon that Head. In the mean time, I hope you’ll be contented with an Account of what pafs’d in this Country fince the Date of my laft. As foon as Mr. Denonvilli fet out from Quebec, upon his Return to France , Mr. de Fronteiiac took Poffeflion of the Fort, which is the common Refi- dence of our Governor-General; and order’d one of our beft Architects to make Preparations for re¬ building it as foon as he could. In the Beginning of this Year, Mr. d' Iberville at¬ tempted to pillage a fmall Village in Nezc-Tork, call d by the Iroquej'e Corlar-, which Name they likewile give to all dye Governors of that Engltjh Colony. This 156 Some New Voyages This Gentleman, who is a Canadefe , was attended by five hundred Coureurs de Bois , and the like num- ber of Savages; and the whole Party made the Ex¬ pedition over Snow and Ice, notwithftanding they had three hundred Leagues to march backward and forward, and that the Roads were very rugged and troublelome. Mr. d'Iberville met with wonderful Succefs, for after he had pillag’d, burnt, and fack’d that little Village, with the adjacent Cantons, he fell in with a Party of an hundred Iroquefe , and defeated ’em intirely. Much about the fame Mr. de Portneuf,, another Canada Gentleman, march’d out at the Head of three hundred Men, one half Savages, and the other half Coureurs de Bois , with intent to poffefs himfelf of a Fort belonging to the EngliJJj, call’d Kenebeki , which {lands upon the Sea-Coaft of New-England, towards the Frontiers of Acadia • The Garrilon of this Fort made a brave Defence; But there being great Quantities of Gra- nado’s and other Fire-works thrown in upon ’em, while the Savages (contrary to their Cuftom) fcal’d the Palifadoes on all Hands, the Governor was oblig’d to furrender upon Difcretion. *Tis faid, that in this Adlion the Coureurs de Bois did their Duty very bravely, but the Enterprize had prov’d fuccefslefs without the Afllftance of the Savages. ^ As foon as the Rivers were navigable, Mr. de Frontenac offer’d to fend me with Propofals of Peace to the Iroquefe. But I made Anfwer, that fince his Pocket and Table had been free to me during the Winter, I could not imagine that he had a Mind to be rid of me fo foon. Being oblig’d by this Re¬ ply to unfold my Meaning, I remonftrated to him, that the King of England having loft his Crown, and War being proclaim’d, the Governors of Ncw- England and NeW'Tork , would infallibly ufe their utmoft Efforts to excite thefe Banditto’s to redouble their Incurfio^s $ that for that end they- would fur- to North* America. 157 ni(h ’em with Ammunition gratis , and even joyn ’em in order to attack our Towns j and above all, that the Intrigue of the Rat had fo provok’d ’em, that, in my Opinion, ’twas impoflible toappeafe’em. Upon thele Confiderations, 1 humbly beleech’d him to have fome other Perlon in his View, in cafe he perfifted in his Defign of making a Trial of that Nature. The Chevalier Do was fingled out for this fatal Embaffy, being attended by one Colin , as In¬ terpreter of the Iroquefe Language, and two young Canadans. They let out in a Canow, and when they came in fight of the Village of the Onuontagues , were receiv’d with the honourable Salvo of feveral good Blows, and conduced with the fame Ceremo¬ ny to the Village. Such a Reception could not but be difagrceable to the Gentleman that came to make Offers of a Peace. The ancient Men being quickly affembled, thought it moft proper to fend ’em back with a favourable Anfwer, and in the mean time to ingage fome of the /Ignies and Onnoyotes , to lie in wait for ’em at the Catarads of the River, and there kill two, fending the third back to Quebec, and carrying the fourth to their Village, where there would be found fome EngltJJj that would Ihoot ’em, that is, that would give them the fame Ufage as the Rat did to their Ambaffadors: So true it is that that Adion flicks in their Stomachs. This Projed had adually been put in Execution, if it had not been for fome of the Planters of Neiv~Tork. who were then among the Barbarians , having come thither on purpofe to animate ’em againft us. Thele Planters knew fo well how to influence the Barba - riansy that were already bent upon Revenge; that a Company of young Barbarians burnt ’em all alive, excepting the Chevalier Ds, whom they tied Hind and Foot, and lent him bound to Bo/lon t with a Defign to pump out of him, a View of the Condi¬ tion of our Colonies and Forces. This piece of News 158 Some New Voyages News we receiv’d two Months after, by {ome Slaves that made their Efoape from the Iroquefe ; and Mr. dc Frontenac, when furpriz’d with fuch difmal News, declar’d, that out of twenty Captains that offer’d to execute that Commiffion, and would have taken the Imployment for an Honour, I was the only one that had been capable of foreleeing its bad Succefs. 'June the 34 th, I imbarqu’d for this Place in a fluggilh Brigantine, that the Captain of the Gover¬ nor s Guards had caus’d to be built the foregoing Winter. This venerable Veil'd had the Honour to lodge the Intcndant and his Lady; and all of us being in no hafte, {pent ten or twelve Days by the Way, and feafted like Kings every Night. Mr. de Frontenac mark’d out a Fort in his Paflage to the City of F 'O’.s Rivieres , which I fpoke of before. Fifteen -Days after our Arrival in this Place, a cer¬ tain Savage whole Name was Flak e, came and gave us notice, that he had difcover’d a Body of a thou- fand En&lijh) and five hundred Iroquefe that march’d up to attack us. Upon this Intelligence, all our Troops crofs’d over to the Meadow of Madelaine , oppolite to this City, and there incamp’d, in con¬ junction with three or four hundred Savages that were our Allies, in order to give the Enemy a warm Reception. Our Camp was no looner form’d, than Mr. de Frontenac detach’d two or three fmall Par¬ ties of the Savages to obferve the Enemy. Thele Parties came foon back, after having furpriz’d fbme flragling Iroquefe at hunting on the Confines of Champlaine Lake : The Prifoners inform’d us, that the Englijh being unable to encounter the Fatigues of the March, and unprovided with a fufficient Stock of Provifions, both they and the Iroquefe were return’d to their own Country. This Account be¬ ing confirm’d by other Savages, our Troops de¬ camp’d, and march’d back to this Place, from whence I was to North- America. 159 I was detach’d fome Days after to command a Par¬ ty that was to cover the Reapers of Fort Roland , which lies in this Ifland. When the Harveft was over I return’d to this Place, along with the Hurons and the Outaouas , who had come down from their own Country, in purfuit of their ufual Trade in Skins, an Account of which you had in my eighth Letter. Thefe Traders continued here in fifteen Days, and then march’d home. This, Sir, is a Summary of all our Occurrences of Moment fince the laft Year. About fifteen Days hence, I think to fet out for ^htebec, in Mr. de Fron- tenac’s Brigantine. I conclude with my ufual Com¬ pliment, SIR , Tours, &c. LETTER XX. Dated at Roche 1 , 'January 12, 1691.* Being a Relation of a Second and very important Expedition of the Englifh by Sea ; in which is contain’d a Letter written by the Englilh Ad¬ miral to Count Frontenac, with the Gover¬ nor’s verbal Anfwer. As alfo an Account of t.he Author’s Departure for France. SIR, I Am arriv’d at laft at Recbel , from whence I now tranfmit you a Relation of all that pafs’d in Canada , fince the Date of my laft Letter. In the {pace of a few Days after that Date, Mr. de Fron¬ tenac receiv’d Advice that a ftrong Fleet of Engltjh Ships 160 Some New Voyages Ships amounting to thirty-four Sail, was feen near 2 r adouJJac. Immediately he got on board of his Bri¬ gantine, and order’d all the Troops to imbarque in Canows and Boats, and to row Night and Day to prevent the Enemy; all which was happily put in Execution. At the fame time he gave Orders to Mr. de Callieres, to bring down as many of the Inhabi¬ tants as poffibly he could. We row’d with fuch Expedition, and Diligence, that we arriv’d the 3 d Day at Quebec. As loon as Mr. de Frontenac de- barqued, he view’d the weakeft Polls, and order’d ’em to be fortified without lols of time: He rais’d Batteries in fcveral Places, and though in that capi¬ tal City we had but twelve great Guns, and but little Ammunition, yet he feem’d to be relolutely bent upon an obftinate Refiftance to the Efforts of the Enemy’s Fleet, which in the mean time flood catching of Flies, at the diftance of two Leagues from Quebec. We took the Advantage of their flow Approaches, and work’d inceflantly to put our {elves in a Poftureof Defence. Our Troops, our Militia, and our confederate Savages, came up to us on all Hands. ’Tis certain, that if the Englifh Admiral had made his Delcent before our Arrival at Quebec , or even two Days after, he had carried the Place without flriking a Blow ; for at that time there was not two hundred French in the City, which lay open, and expos’d on all Hands. But inftead of doing that, he caft Anchor towards the Point of the Ifland of Orleans , and loft three Days in con¬ futing with theCapcainsof the Ships, before they came to a Relblution. He took the Sieur Joliet with his Lady and his Mother-in-Law, in a Bark in the River of St. Laurence. Three Merchant-men from France , and one laden with Beaver-Skins from Hudfon’s-Bay , enter’d the River of Saguenay, by the way of Fadouffac , where they fculk’d, and after hauling their Guns alhoar, rais’d very good Batte- to North- America. i6t lies. To be ffiort, the Officers of the Enemy’s Fleet came to a Resolution after the Jolsof three or four days in ufelefs Confultations, during which time we were'joyn’d on all hands by great numbers of Inhabitants and Soldiers. Purfuant to the Refo- lution of the Councils of War, the Engli/h Admiral, namely. Sir William Pbips , lent out his Sloop with a French Flag upon it’s Prow, which made up to the City with found of Trumpet. Upon this, Mr. de Froutenac fent out another with a French Officer to meet it, who found an Englijh Major in the Sloop, who gave him to underftand, that he had the Charge of a Letter from his Genera!, to the Go¬ vernor of Canada , and hop’d he might be allow’d to deliver it himfelf. Upon that the French Officer took him into his Sloop, and having blindfolded him, condu&ed him to the Governor's Chamber j where his Face being uncover’d, he delivered him a Letter, the Subftance of which was this. ‘ I Sir William Pbips , General of the Forces of * New-England, by Sea and Land, to Count Fran- ‘ tenac. Governor General of Quebec, by Orders * from, and in the name of William III and Mary c King and Queen of England j am come to make c my {elf Mafter of this Country. But in regard * that I have nothing fo much in view, as the pre- * venting of the Effufion of Blood, 1 require you ‘ to furrender at difcrction, your Cities, Caftles, * Forts, Towns, as well as your Perfbns ; alluring * you at the fame time, that you {hall meet with * all manner of good Ufage, Civility and Humanity, ‘ If you do not accept of this Propofal without 4 any Reftridtion, 1 will endeavour, by the Affift- * ance of Fleaven, on which I rely, and the Force 4 of my Arms, to make a Conqueft of ’em. I ex- 4 pedt a pofitive Anfwer in writing in the {pace of 4 an Hour, and in the mean time give you notice, M “ 4 that 1 61 Some New Voyages * that after the Commencement of Hoftilities, IfhalT * not entertain any thoughts of Accommodation. Sign’d, William Pbips. After the Interpreter had tranflated the Letter to Mr. de Frontenac, who was then furrounded with Of¬ ficers ; he order’d the Captain of his Guards to make a Gibbet before the Fort, in order to hang the poor Major, who in all appearance understood French ; for upon the pronouncing of this fatal Sen¬ tence, he was like to l'woon away. And indeed I muft fay, the Major had fome reafon to be affe&ed, for he had certainly been bang’d if the Bifhop and the Intendant, who to his good luck were then pre- fent, had not interceded on his behalf. Mr. de Fron¬ tenac pretended, that they were a Fleet of Pyrates, or of Perfons without Commiffion, for that the King of England was then in France. But at laft the Governor being appeas’d, order’d the Major to repair forthwith on board of his Admiral, againft w hom he could defend himfelf the better, for not being attack’d. At the fame time he declar’d, that he knew no other Fling of Great Britain than James II, that his rebellious Subjects were Pyrates, and that he dreaded neither their Force nor theirThrcats. This laid, he threw Admiral Phips s Letter in the Major’s Face, and then turn’d his Back upon him. Upon that the poor Ambaflador took freth Courage, and looking upon his Watch, took the liberty to ask Mr.de Frontenac , if he could not have his An- f w er in W r riting before the Hour elaps’d. But the Governor made anfwer with all the Haughtinefs and DilHain imaginable, that his Admiral deforv d no other Anfwer; than what flew from the Mouth of Cannons and Muskets. Thde W 7 ords were no fooner pronounc’d, than the Major was forc’d to take his Letter again, and being blind-folded, was recondudted to his Sloop, in which he row’d to¬ wards the Fleet with all Expedition. Tho to North- America. 163 The next day about two in the Afternoon, fixty Sloops were lent afhoar with ten or twelve hundred Men, who flood upon the Sand in very good or¬ der. After that the Sloops went back to the Ships, and brought afhoar the like Compliment of Men, which was afterwards joyn’d by a third Comple¬ ment of the fame number. As foon as thefe Troops were landed, they began to march towards the City with Drums beating and Colours flying. This Defcent was made over againfl the Ifle of Orleans , about a League and a half below Quebec ; but ’twas not I'o expeditious, but that our confederate Sava¬ ges, with two hundred Coureurs de Bois , and fifty Officers, had time to poll: themlelves in a Copfe of thick Brambles, which lay half a League off the Place of Landing. It being impoflible for fo fmall a Party to come to an open Battle with a numerous Enemy, they were forc’d to fight after the manner of the Savages, that is, to lay Ambufcadoes from Place to Place in the Copfe, which was a quarter of a League broad. This way of waging War prov’d wonderfully fuccefsful to us, for our Men being polled in the middle of the Copfe, we fuffer’d the Englijh to enter, and then fir’d upon ’em, ly¬ ing flat upon the Ground till they fir’d their Pieces j after which we fprung up, and drawing into Knots here and there, repeated our Fire with l'uch Succefs, that the Englijh Militia perceiving our Savages, fell into Confufion and Diforder, and their Battalions were broke; infomuch, that they betook themfelves to flight, crying out, Indians , Indians , and gave our Savages the Opportunity of making a bloody Slaughter among ’em, for we found three hundred Men left upon the Spot, without any other lofs on our fide than that of ten Coureurs de Bois i four Officers, and two Savages. The next day the Englijh landed four Pieces of brafs Cannon mounted like Field-pieces, and fought M 2 very 16 4 Some New Voyages very bravely, though they were very ill difciplin’d. ’Tis certain there was no want of Courage on their fide, and their want of Succels muft be imputed to their unacquaintcdnds.wich military Bifcipline, to their being infeebled by theLatigues of the Sea, and to the ill Conduct of Sir William Phips , who upon this Enterprife could not have done lels than he did, if he had been engaged by us to ftand ftill with his Hands in his Pockets. This day paft’d over more peaceably than the next, for then the Evglijb made a frefh Attempt to force their Paflage through the Ccpfe, by the help of their Artillery ; but they loft three or four hundred more in the Attempt, and were forc’d to retire with all diligence to the Landing-place : On our fide we loft Mr. de St. Helene , who dy’d of a Wound in hi3 Leg, and about forty French-rncn and Savages. This Viiftory ani¬ mated us fo much, that we purfued the Englijh to their Camp, and lay all Night flat upon the Ground juft by it, with a defign to attack it by break of Day: But they fav’d us the labour, for they em¬ barked about Midnight with fuch Confufion,that we kill’d fifty more of ’em, rather by Chance than by Dexterity, while they were getting into their Boat*. When Day came, w'e tranfported to Quebec their Tents and their Cannon, which they had left behind ’em ; the Savages being in the mean time employ’d in ftripping the Dead in the Wood. The fame day that the Defcent was made, Sir William Pbips weigh’d and came to an Anchor with four great Ships, at the diftance of a Musket-(hot from the lower City, where we had only one Batte¬ ry of fix or eight Pounders. There he Cannonadoed for twenty-four Hours fo handfomly, that the Fire of the great Guns equalled that of the fmall Arms. The Damage they did to the Roofs ol the Houles, amounted to five or fix Piftoles; for, as I inform d you in my firft Letter, the W ; alls of the Houfes are fo hard, that a Ball cannot pierce ’em. When to North- America. i <55 ♦ When Sir William P'.ups had made an end ofthefe glorious Exploits, he fent to demand of Mr. de Frontenac (ome English Prisoners in Exchange for the Sieur Joliet % with his Wife and his Mother,and fome Seamen ■, which was forthwith put in execution. This done, the Fleet weigh’d Anchor and (leered homeward. As loon as the three Merchant-men that lay (culking in the River of Saguenay , (aw the Fleet running below ladoufoc with full Sail before a wefterly Gale, they put their Guns aboard, and purfuing their Voyage with great Satisfaction, ar¬ rived at Quebec on the 12th of November. They had fcarce put their Cargoe on (hoar, when the bitter Cold covered the River with Ice, which damaged their Ships (o much, that they were forced to run ’em afhoar. This troublelorr.e Frod was as uneafy to me as to Mr. de Frontenac , for then I (aw that I was obliged to pads another Winter in Canada , and Mr. de Frontenac was at a lo(s to contrive a way of fending the King Advice of this Er.terpri(e: Bat by good luck, there came all of a fudden a Downfai of Rain, which was followed by a Thaw, and was e- qually acceptable to us both. Immediately the Go¬ vernor ordered an unrigged Frigat to be rigged and fitted out ; which was done accordingly with fuch Dilpatch, that the Ballad, Sails, Ropes, and Mads were all in order almod as (oon as the Orders were given out. When the Frigat was ready to fail, the Governor told me, that the making of France as (bon as ever I couid, would be a piece of important Service j and that I ought rather to perifli than to fuffer myfelfto be taken by the Enemy,or to put in at any Port whatfoever by the way. At the lame time he gave me a particular Letter to Mr. de Scignclay , the Purport of which was much to my Advantage. I put to Sea the 20th of November , the like of which was never feen in that Place before. At the Ide of Coudres we Tcap’d luckily* for there che M 3 North- f 1 66 Some New Voyages North-Eaft Wind blew fo hard upon us, that after we had drop’d Anchor, we thought to have been fplit in pieces in the Night-time. The reft of our Paffage was good enough, for we encountered but one Storm till we arrived at this Place. Indeed we met with contrary Winds about 150 Leagues off the Coaft of Francs, which obliged us to tra-' verfe, and lie by for a long time; and ’twas for this reafon that our Paffage was fo long. I hear you are now in Provence, and that Mr. de Seignelai is gone upon a Voyage to the other World, which is of a quite different nature from that I have juft performed. In earneft. Sir, his Death is the laft Misfortune to the Navy of France , to the Colo¬ nies eff the two America s, and to me in particular, fince Mr. de Frcntenacs recommendatory Letter is thereby rendered ufelels to me. I am, SIR, Tours, &c. LETTER XXI. Dated at Roche/, July 16, 1691. Containing a ‘Defer ipt ion of the Courts or Offi¬ ces of tie Minifiers of State, and a View of feme Services that are ill rewarded at Court. SIR, rip H E Letter you writ to me two Months ago came to my Hands at Paris, but I could not give you an Anfwer there, bccaufe I had not then done my Bufineis. Now that I am returned to Ro- chel, I have leifure-time enough to inform you of all that befell roe fince my Return to France. As loon as 1 arrived at Verfailles, 1 waited upon Mr. de Pont- ch art rain. to 'North- America. \ 6 y chattrain , who fucceeded Mr. de Seignelai . I repre- fented to him, that Mr. Front enac had given me a Letter to his Predeceflbr, in which he took notice of the Services 1 had done. I remonftrated to him, that my Eftate being leized upon, and there being feveral Law-fuits to be adjusted where my Prefence was necefiary, I hop’d his Majefty would give me leave to quit his Service. He made Anfwer, that he had been inform’d of the State of my Affairs,^ and that Lwas allow’d to purlue the Management of •’em till the Departure of the laft Ships that are bound this year for c Quebec^ to which Flace he meaned I fhould return. Having received this Anfwer, I went from Verfailles to Paris , where my Relations drew me into a Confultation of feveral Coumellors, who declar’d that my Affairs were fo perplex d, that in their Opinion, I could net have ’em adjufted in fo fhort a time. In the mean time, the Crown.s I was forc’d to lug out for this Confultation, turn’d my Stomach againft the going to Law with Persons that had fo much Intereft in the Parliament of Paris ; infomuch, that I w r as almoft in the mind of lofing my Right, rather than to enter upoh the Law-Suit. However, I did not fail to put in for a Provision upon my confifcated Eftate, by vertue of my being actu¬ ally in the Service. But the folliciting of that, coffc me fo much Trouble and Charges, that chough my powerful Adverfaries had not been able to prevent the obtaining of my Requeft, yet the Sum adjudged thereupon, would not be lufficient to anfwer the Charges I was at. MeJTieurs de Bragclone are very* honourable Gentlemen, as you know very well. I is true, they love Piftoles better than their Relation^, and upon that Principle contented themfelves in doing me the Honour of their good Advice; for their Generofity does not go much further ; and if i had no other Refuge than theirs, I (hould be but in a forry Condition, The Abbot of Ecouttes, w ho is M 4 ™ore 16 8 Some Kenv Voyages more liberal, tho’ not To rich as they, made me a Prefent of a hundred Louts d’ors, which I applied to the Payment oi the Fees, for being received into the Order of St. Lazarus. The Ceremony of that In- ftallment was performed in Mr. de Lowvois’s Cham¬ ber, and did not laft fo long as the telling of the Mo¬ ney. I was in hopes that this generous Abbot would have bellowed upon me fome fimpie Benefice that he might have thrown in my way, without injuring himfelf: But it feems, a Scruple of Confidence flood my Enemy. Upon the whole, Sir, I was e’en forc’d at laft to go to Vcrfailles to follicit for a Place, which is the mod cutting and vexatious Office in the World. Do but confider, Sir, that in thofe Royal Apartments Crowns fly, and no body knows where they go. One mufl patiently attend five or fix Hours a-day in Mr. de Pontchartrain’s Apart¬ ments, only to fhew himfelf every time that that Minifler goes out or comes in. He no looner appears, than every one crowds in to prefent Memorials clogged with fifty Reafons, which commonly fly off as light as the Wind. As foon as he receives thefe Petitions, he gives ’em to fbme Secretary or other that follows him ; and this Secretary carries ’em to Meffieurs de la “touche , de Began, and de Saluberri ; whole Footmen receive Pilloles from mofl of the Officers, who without that Expedient, would be in danger of catching cold at the Door of the Office of thefe Deputies. ’Tis from that Expedient alone, that their good or bad Defliny mufl flow. Pray undeceive yourfelf, as to your Notion of the Protection of great Lords: the Time is gone in which the Miniflers granted what¬ ever they asked for their Baflards, their Footmen, and their Vaffals. There is but two or three Prin¬ ces or Dukes, who being great Favourites, will med¬ dle in proteding thofe that have no immediate De- pendance upon ’em: And if thefe do it, ’tis very feldom; to North- America. 169 (eldom ; for you know that the Gentry of France is in no great Circumftances, and thefe great Lords have oftentimes poor Friends of their own, for whom they are oblig’d to ask Places, in order to their Subliftence. As the World goes now, the Mi¬ nifters are upon fuch a Foot, that they’ll refufe any thing to Perfons of thehigheft Dignity about Court, by replying, the King will have it fo, or the King will have it otherwile. And as for the Topic of Merit; that’s fuch a frightful Monfter, that it can have ho Reception in theMiniftcrs Offices, nay, moft of the Minifters are (truck with Horror when they think of it. ’Tis the Minifters, in effedt, that difpote of all Places, though it appears as if’twere the King. They do what they pleaie, without being accoun¬ table to him, for he puts all upon the Affection and Zeal they ought to have for his Service. They carry Extracts to him, in which the Merit of the Officers they mean to prefer, is cither fuppos’d or extoll’d. But the Memorials of thofe they do not like, are far from appearing. I’m fbrry I (hould be oblig’d to lay this Truth be¬ fore you; however, I mention no particular Mi- nifter, for they are not all of that Kidney. I know fome of’em that would (corn to do the lead: Injuf- tice to any Man whatfoever, and would not fuffer their Suiffes, or their Lackeys, or even their Depu¬ ties or Clerks, to intrigue for the Preferment of (uch and fuch Perfons by the means of Piftoles. Thcle dextrous Intriguers do by indirect means make more Officers than you have Hairs on your Head ; and ’tis for that Realon they are (aluted a League off, and dignify’d as lerioufly with the Title of Moufieur , as their Matters are with that of Motifs igneur or Grandeur. Thefe lad 't itles have been acquired by our Minifters and Secretaries of State, with as much Glory as by our Bifhops. We muft not think it ftrange therefore, that even our General Officers have l 7° Some New Voyages have the Words Monfeigneur and Grandeur fo fre¬ quently in their Mouths, provided it be accompany’d with that of your Excellency. I fvvear. Sir, I could find Matter for a Book of three hundred Pages in Folio, if I had a mind to be particular upon the In¬ trigues of the Officers and Minifters of State ; upon the means by which the Sollicitors compafs their ends, the notorious Knavery of a certain fort of People, and the Patience with which the Officers mull be fortified ; upon the Contempt that thofe meet with, who have no other Recommendation than Merit, and in a word, upon all the Inftances of Injuftice, that are pra&is’d without the King’s Knowledge. Let it be as it will, I mud acquaint you, that after a fruitlefs Sollicitation for what I thought I had fome Title to, in Confideration of my Services, I receiv’d this Anfwer, that the King would order Mr. de Frontenac to provide for me as handfomly as he could, when an Occafion offer’d : So that I was forc’d to reft fatisfy’d with my Anfwer, and refolve to continue a Captain for ever, for I know very well, that the Governor of Canada cannot prefer me to a higher Poft. Having left Verfailles , I came hither with all Ex¬ pedition, and then went to receive the Commands of the Intendant Rochefort . He acquainted me, that the Ship called Honore was fitting up, and that I might fail as foon as ’twas ready. He recom¬ mended tome the Chevalier de Meaupou, Madam Pontchartrains Nephew, who is to go along with me. This Gentleman having the Curiofity to fee Canada , is come hither from Paris , with a handfome Retinue. ’Tis in vain to fet forth to him the Tedi- oufnefs of the Paffage, the Inconveniencies of the Sea, and the Difagreeablenefs of the Country, for all thefe Arguments ferve only to inflame his Curi¬ ofity. The Count d’ Aunay is to convoy us to the Latitude of Cape Finefierre , at which Place he is to take to North- America. 17 i take leave of us, and return to Rochefort. We only flay for a fair Wind to put to Sea. I am, SIR, Tours, &c. LETTER XXII. Dated at Quebec Nov . 10. 1691. IVhich contains an Account of the Author s ‘Departure from Roch'el to Quebec, of his Voyage to the Mouth of the River St. Lau¬ rence, of a Rencounter he had with an Englifh Ship which he fought ; of thefirand- ing of his Ship ; of his failing through the River St. Laurence 5 of the News he receiv¬ ed , that a Tarty of the Englifh and Iroqucfe had defeated a Body of the French Troops. SIR , T W O Days after I wrote to you, we let fail from the Harbour of Rocbel, upon our great Voyage to Canada. On the 5th of Auguft we per¬ ceived a great Ship, which the Count of Aunay gave chafe to, who being a better Sailor, came up with her in three Hours time, whereupon fhe on a fud- den put up Genoefe Colours. Some Guns were fir’d upon the Prow, to oblige her to {trike; but the Cap¬ tain was fo obftinate, that Mr. d'Aunay was forc’d to give her a Broadfide, which kill’d four or five of the Seamen, whereupon the reft were oblig’d to put out their Long-boat, and carry to his Ship their Paflports and Bills of Lading. On the 10th, after they 17 2 Some New Voyages they had taken the Latitude, the Pilots thinking that they were even with Cape Ftmjler , Mr. d'Aunay Tent out his Long-boat, to acquaint me that he was then upon his Return home, upon which I wrote him a Letter of Thanks. Father Bechefer a Jefuit, who had been many Years Superior of the College of ghiebec, whither he was now going in the fame Capacity, was forc’d to throw himfelf into this Long-boat, in order to his Return into France, having found himfelf con¬ tinually indifpos’d, from the firft day we put to Sea. On the 23d of August we had a great Storm of Wind from the North-Weft,which lafted about twenty four Hours, being then a hundred Leagues offtheBank of Newfoundland. 'This Bank takes its Name from the If land o/Newfound-land, aMap of which is here annex'd. When the Storm was over, there fucceeded a Wind from the North-Eaft, which drove us in ten or twelve Hours, to the Mouth of the River of St. Laurence. On the 6th of September we difeover’d a Ship failing from the Coaft of Gafpe , which bore down upon us with a full Sail, We thought at firft that they were French coming from c Quebec, but their way of work¬ ing the Ship difcovered to us within an Hour after, that they were Enemies. After we knew them, we prepared to fight them, and they being about a League to the Windward of us, came quickly down upon us with full Sail, within Musket-fhot. Pre- fently they put up Englijh Colours, and gave us a Broad-fide ; and we put up our own Colours, and paid them home in their own Coin. The Fight lafted two Hours, and both fides fir’d continually one upon another, but the Sea being tempeftuous, we were obliged to Ihear off as Night came on, with¬ out fuffering any other Lofs than the wounding of two Seamen, and the receiving of twenty-eight or thirty Shot in our Marts, Sails, and Rigging. Two Days after we met Mr. Duta ,, Captain of the Ha¬ zardous , who was homeward bound for France , being to Norths America. 175 being a Convoy to ten or twelve Merchant Ships. He gave me Tome Refrelhments, and told me fome News of Canada , which were very acceptable. We purlu’d our Courfc in fpight of the South-Eaft Wind, which obliged us to tack about leveral ways, till we came to Portneuf, near to Tadouffac. In this Place we were flrandtd by the Fault of the Coaft- ing-Pilot, who being otftinate for calling Anchor near the Land, was like to have been the Caufe of a Shipwreck. At Midnight the Ship Was lb dalh’d againft the Sand, that I thought Ihe was fplit in pieces, but the Tide ebbing by degrees, Ihe was left lying upon the Coaft, without any apparent Da¬ mage. I prefently caus’d a Kedger to be dropt in the deep Water belag’d with feveral Ropes called Grelins EpJJes (fee the Explication stable ,) and the next Morning theTide returning, fet the Ship afloat, and then we haul’d it in with the Capftan. On the 13th we call Anchor near the Red Jfland, and the next Day being the 14th, we pafs’d that Chan¬ nel without danger, by the favour of a frelh Gale from the North-Eaft. On the 15 th we call Anchor at the Ijle of Hares : On the 16th we pafs’d the IJlc of Coudres: On the 17th we weather’d the Cape of ifcurmentc, and the next Day we anchored in this Port. From the Mouth of the River to this Place, we had the fineft Sunlhine Days that ever w'ere feen : During which time, I had both Leifure and Opportunity to view the Coalts on the right Hand and the left, w hile we tack’d about and about as the wind lerv’d. When I faw a great many Rivers on the South fide, I ask’d the Pilots why the Ships us’d to fleer their Courle on the North fide, w'here there is no Anchorage to be found, but at Papiuachefe i the feven Ifies, and Portneuf. They anfwer’d me, that the ordinary Bree¬ zes of the rough North-Weft Wind, which blows upon this River for three quarters of a year, were the i 74 Some i\ew voyages the true Caufe why they durft not go far from the North fide; and that no body could enfure a Ship that fhould fteer on the South fide, except it were in the Months of June, July , and Auguft. If it were not for that, I believe it would be more plea- fant, more eafy, and lefs dangerous to fail on the South, than on the North fide, becaufe one might caft Anchor every Night at the Entrance of thofe Rivers which discharge themfelves all along that Coaft, and would not be obliged to be veering a- bout continually Night and Day, as he is forc’d to do when he fteers his Courle on the North fide. This, Sir, is all I had to lay at prelent about our failing in this River, which I lhall have occafion to mention to you again. After our Ship caft Anchor before Quebec, I landed with the Chevalier Meaupott whom I conducted to theHouleofMr.B*0;tfmtc,who offer’d to him as well as to me, the Ule of his Table and Houfe. I am inform’d that 300 Englijh, and 200 Iroquefe , approached about two Months ago to the Ifle of Monreal: That the Governor of that Ifle tranfported 15 Companies from the other fide of the River, to watch their Motions: That a Detach¬ ment of the Enemy having furprized our Out- Guards, attack’d the whole Body of them, and our Camp at the fame time, with lo much Vigour and Courage, that they kill’d upon the Spot more than three hundred Soldiers,befides two Captains,fixLieu- tenants, and five Enfigns ; and that after this fatal Expedition, Mr. Valrenes , a Captain of the Ma¬ rines, fet out from Monreal , with a Detachment of French and Savages, to go to Fort Chamhli , (for fear the IrGquefe Ihould attack that Poft) who hav¬ ing met in their Paflfage a Party of Englifh and Tfo- quefe, attack’d them vigoroufly, and defeated them. All thefe different Adventures give me ground to conje&ure, that it will be much more difficult than to North- America. 175 than ’tis imagin’d, to make a good Peace with the five Nations of the Jroquefe. Mr. Frontenac has given the neceflary Orders to all the neighbouring Habi¬ tations, that they Ihould tranfport a great quantity of Stakes and Lime in the Winter time to the Neigh¬ bourhood of this City. Farewel, Sir, the laft Ships w'hich are to depart hence for France , will fail in three or four Days. I am. SIR , Tours, &c. LETTER XXIII. Dated at Nantz, OFlob. 25. 1692. Containing an Account of the taking offome Englilh Veffels , of defeating a Tarty of the Iroquefe of an Iroqucfc burnt alive at Que¬ bec ; of another Tarty ofthefe Barbarians, who having fur prized fome Coureurs dc Bois, were afterwards fur prized themfelves. Of the Trojeff of an Enterprize propos’d by Mr. Frontenac to the Author. Of the Author s Departure in a Frigat for France, and his flopping at Placentia, which was attack'd by an Englilh Fleet that came to take that Tojl from us. How the Englifh fail’d in their Defign , and the Author purfud his Voyage. SIR , HIS Letter comes from Brit any, and not from 1 Canada , from whence I parted fuddenly to re¬ turn into France , about two Months after I receiv’d your Letter, which I Could not then anfwer, for want of an Opportunity. You tell me, that you are fatisfy’d with the Defcription I have fent you of the River \y6 Some New Voyages River St. Laurence , and that you would be very glad to have as exabt an Account of the whole Coun¬ try of Canada. I can fcarce fatisfy your Defire at prefent, becaufe 1 have not yet had time to fort all my Memoirs, and therefore you mult not take it amil's, that 1 pray you to fufpend your Curiofity for fome time. In the mean time, here follows the Relation of fome things that happened in Canada , which may be acceptable to you. Immediately after the Ships parted from Quebec the laft Year, Mr. Frontenac ordered a Plan to be drawn of a Wall to encompafs the City, and hav¬ ing tranlported thither all the Materials neceflary for building fome Redoubts of Stone, he took care to fortify it during the Summer. Some Days ago a Gentleman of New-England call’d Nelfon , was brought Prifoner to Quebec, who was taken in the River of Kenebeki, upon theCoaft of Acadia, together with three Ships belonging to him, and becaufe he was a very gallant Man, Mr. Frontenac gave him a Lodging at his own Houfe, and treated him with all manner of Civility. About the beginning of this Year, this Governor gave the Command of a Party confifting of 150 Soldiers, to Chevalier Beatt- cour , with whom fifty of the Savages that were our Friends were joyn’d, in order to march on the Ice towards Fort Frontenac. About thirty or forty Leagues from Monreal , they met a Company of fix- ty Iroquefe , who were di(covered by the Foot-fteps of fome of their Hunters that had ltraggled out of their Cottages, and the next Day they were all fur- priz’d, and either had their Throats cut, or were made Priloners. The Sieur de la Plante , who liv’d in Slavery with thefe Wretches, had the good For¬ tune to be prefent in their Company when they were defeated, and he had certainly been kill’d with his Matters, if he had not cry’d out with all his Might, Spare me , lam a Frenchman: He was one of to North-A merica. 177 the four Officers, who had the Misfortune to be ta« ken in that fata] Incurfion, which thele Tygcrs made into Monreal, as I told you in my 17th Letter. The Chevalier Beaucour return’d again to the Colony with his Party, and brought along with him twelve Pri- foners of the Iroquefe , who were immediately con¬ duced to Quebec: After they arrived, Mr. Frontenac did very judicioufly condemn two of the wicked- eft of the Company, to be burnt alive with a flow Fire. This Sentence extremely terrified the Gover¬ nor’s Lady and the Jefuits ; the Lady us’d all manner of Supplication to procure a Moderation of the terrible Sentence, but the Judge was inexorable, and the Jefuits employ’d all their Eloquence in vain upon this Occafion. The Governor anlwered them, “ That it was ablolutely neceflary to make ‘' fome terrible Examples of Severity to frighten the Ci Iroquefe-, That fince thele Barbarians burnt almoft “ all the French , w ho had the Misfortune to fall in- “ to their Hands, they muft be treated after the ** fame manner, becaufe the Indulgence which had “ hitherto been (hewn them, feem’d to authorize tC them to invade our Plantations, and fb much the cc rather to do it, becaufe they run no other Hazard “ than that of being taken, and well kept at their “ Mafter’s Houfes ■, but when they fhould under- © i ' 9 * Some New Voyages On the 20 tb of November, i. e. a Month after our Fiftermen fet fail, while I was entertaining at Sup¬ per fome of the Inhabitants, he came mask’d into my Houfe, with his Servants, and broke the glaft Windows, Bottles, and Drinking-Glaffes, and threw down the Tables, Chairs, Chefts of Drawers, and every thing that came to Hand. Before I had time to get into my Chamber, and take my Piftols, this infolent Mob difappear’d very feafonably ; for I would have loaded my Piftols and purfu’d them, if my Guefts had not hindred me. Next Morning his Servants fell upon mine, who expe&ed nothing left than to be threlh’d to death with Clubs. This fe- cond Infult having provok’d my Patience to the laft Degree, I was meditating fome Revenge upon thefe Affaffins, when the Recollets came and remonftrated to me, that I muft diflemble my Refentment, to prevent any Innovation in the King’s Affairs. Then I refolv’d to fhut my felf up, and apply my fclf to Study, to divert the vexatious Thoughts, of not be¬ ing able to pull off my Mask. The third Trick which he play’d me, at the end of three Days, was this; he fent to arreft two Soldiers, whom I had imploy’d to cut down fome Graft in the Meadows, about half a League from the Garrifon: They were f'eiz’d while they were Mowing, bound and carried away Prifoners, under the pretence of being De- ferters, becaufe they had lain two Nights out of the Garrifon, without his leave; and, which would have prov’d yet more fatal to thefe innocent Men, he had certainly caus’d ’em to be knock’d on the Head, on purpofe to vex me, if the Recollets, and his own Mifs, had not earneftly interceded on their behalf. After this Accident, the Recollets advifed me to go and fee him, and to entreat him to put an end to all his Perfecutions, affuring him at the fame time, that I was entirely his Servant and Friend. Durus eft bis ferma. Whatever Rclu&ancy I had to yield to an Advice to North- America. 197 Advice fo contrary to Nature, which I muft confefs, ftruggled furioufly within me, yet I offer’d fo much Violence to myfelf, that I fubmitted to it. I was at his Houle, went into his Chamber, and being with him all alone, I {poke to him for a quarter of an Hour in the moft fubmiffive Terms, that any Slave could ufe. I am afham’d to make this Confeffion to you, for I blufh to myfelf every time I think of fo mean a Submiflion. However, inftead of his liftening to my Reafbns, and treating friendly with me, he fell into a moft furious Paffion, and loaded me with a Torrent of moft bitter Reproaches. In this Cafe, Sir, I preferr’d the Service of the King, before the Pun&ilio’s of Honour, for I did nothing but retir’d to my own Houfe, being well fatisfy’d that I was not affaffinated by his Domefticks : But the Diforder which this Affair produc’d, would re¬ quire a long Difcourfe. It will be more to the pur- pofe, to come to Matter of Fa8 Some New Voyages pearance moft agreeable to him, and fo much the rather, becaufe he was glad to diflemble his Refent- ments by the external Signs of Friendfhip. So we law and embrac’d one another with mutual Pro- teftations of forgetting all that had pafs’d between us. After this Reconciliation, I hadreafon to believe, that his Heart would not give the Lye to his Mouth, becaufe I thought he was not fo imprudent as to in¬ form the Court of fome Trifles, wherein be would appear to have proilituted his Honour; but I was deceiv’d, for he took the Pains to add afterwards to the verbal Procefs he had given in before our Ac¬ commodation, lome Falfehoods which he ought to have conceal’d. ’Tis ncedlefs to acquaint you, how by chance his Papers fell into my Hands ; that In¬ direction might prove a Difadvantage to fome Per- fons, whom Heaven blefs. I fhall only tell you, that after the Recollets had feen and read the Alle¬ gations contain’d in his Papers, they made no Scru¬ ple to advife me to take care of myfelf, and inge- nuoufly declar’d to me, that they never intended to meddle any more in that Affair, becaufe they per¬ ceiv’d that they had innocently contributed to do me a Prejudice, by reftoring Peace between him and me. This wholelome Advice made me perceive the Danger to which I fhould be expos’d, if I continued any longer at Placentia , infomuch, that the Fear I had of being fent to the Bafiile , after the Arrival of the Ships from France , tp^de me rcfolve to abandon all hopes of making my Fortune here, and to throw up my Places. After the Inhabitants were acquaint¬ ed with this News, all of ’em, except three or four, came running to my Houle, to aflfure me they were ready to fign my verbal Procefs, in cafe I would change my Resolution : But inflead of ac¬ cepting their Offer, I gave them to underftand, ha¬ ving thank’d them fir'll for their Good-will, that to North- America. 199 they would bring Mifchief upon themfelves, and be look’d upon at Court as leditious Perfons, and Difturbers of the publick Peace j fince by a deteftable Principle of Politicks, an inferior Perfon is always judg’d to be in the wrong, whatever Reafon he may have on his fide. Indeed, I would gladly have avoided this fatal Neceflity of throwing up my Places, which feem’d inlenfibly to lead me to fome great Fortune; but at lad the Con¬ finement in the Bajiile , made fuch a deep Impreflion upon my Mind, after I had ferioufly refleded upon the troublefome Circumftances of my Affairs, that I made no fcruple to embark in a little Veffel, which was the only one, and the lad that was to go to France. The Propofal I made to the Captain of preferring him with 1000 Crowns, was fo well receiv’d, that he engag’d to land me upon the Coad of Portugal for that Sum, upon Condition that J fhould keep the Secret. The bed of the Matter was, that my Enemy had ufed the Precaution of writing to the Governors of Belle Ifle, of the Ifle of Re, and of Rochelle , to feize me as foon as I lhould land. He reckon’d, and not without Reafon indeed, that this Veffel would put into one of thefe three Ports: But three hundred Pidoles, dexteroufly con¬ vey’d to the Hands of fome People, that arc not much accudom’d to finger Gold, have a wonderful Effedt ^ for that very Sum, which indeed I was loth to part with, fav’d me my Liberty, and perhaps my Liie. Purfuant to this Refolution, I imbarqu’dthe i\tb of the lad Month, notwithstanding the Rilque that one runs by Sailing in the Winter-time through fuch a Sea as lies between Newfound- Laud and France. *Tis needlefsto inform you, that I left at Placentia a great deal of Houfhold Furniture, which I could neither fell nor carry off ’Twill be more edify¬ ing for you to hear the Journal of our Voyage. We encounter’d three terrible Storms in our Paffagc, O 4 without 2 oo Seme TV "civ Voyages without any damage ; and in the laft of thefe, which jailed three Days, the Wind at North-Weft, we run a hundred and fifty Leagues without any Sail. This laft Storm was fo violent, that the Seamen inv? brac’d, and bid an eternal Adieu to one another; for every Minute they expedled to be funk without Relief As this Storm alarm’d us, fo the contrary Winds from the Eaft and North-Eaft, that fprung upon us a hundred Leagues to the Weftward of Cape Finifterre , occafion’d an equal Dread ; for we were oblig’d to traverfethe Sea for three or four and twenty Days, after which we defery’d the Cape by virtue of our frequent Tackings, and by a ftrange Accident, were attack’d by a Flujbiug Privateer, which could not board us, becaufe the Sea roll’d fo high, but contented herfelf with Firing upon us, and that with fo little effedt, that we did not lofe one Man. Our Mafts and Rigging indeed were fo da¬ mag’d, that after we were parted from the Priva¬ teer, by the help of the Night and a great Fog, we could Icarce make ufe our Sails : however we refitted with all poffible diligence, and the Captain of the Ship having then a fair pretence to luff out of the direfl Courfe, flood to the South-Eaft in the Night¬ time. This feign’d Courfe did not fecure us from the Privateer, which might happen to fleer the fame Courfe ; fo that in the Night-time we put ourfelvcs in a Readinefs to renew the Fight in the Day-time. In effedl, he did not purfue us, as we apprehended: flut about Noon we efcap’d yet more narrow ly, for we werepurfu’d by a Sallyman in fight of theCoaft for four Hours, and were within a Hair’s breadth pf being taken, before we got under the Cannon of the Fort of this City. Had we been catch’d, the Governor of Placentia would have had fome ground for the joyful Exclamation, Incidit in Syllani , &c. But thank God we were only frightned. 201 to North- America. As foon as we came to an Anchor, I paid down my 1000 Crowns to the Captain, who has reafon to look upon this A&ion, as one of the beft he ever did in his Life-time. The Long-boat was no fooner in the Water, than I went alhoar with all my Baggage ; and as foon as I came into this City, I procur’d Ammunition and Provifions for the Ship with that Expedition, that the Captain weigh’d Anchor the very next Day, and fo con¬ tinued his Courfe to France. As for the Memoirs of the Country of Canada, which you have fo often defir’d, I have addrefs’d ’em to the Kochel Merchant, who convey’d your Letters to me all the while I was in Canada. To thefe I have tack’d a fmall Catalogue of the moft necelfary Words of the Algonk'tn Language; which, as I have often told you, is the fineft and the moft univerfal Language in that Continent. If your Nephew con¬ tinues his Defign of undertaking a Voyage to that Country, I would advife him to learn thefe Words in the time of his Palfage, that fo he may be able to ftay five or fix Months with the Algonkins , and underftand what they fay. I have likewife fent you an Explication of the Sea-Terms, made ufe of in mv Letters. The making of this little Table, was a Diverfion to me in my Voyage ; for in perufing my Letters, I drew out iome Remarks which I de¬ fign to impart to you, if I find that the enfuing Memoirs give you Satisfaction. You will readily guefs, that from the Year 1683, to this very Day, 1 have renounc’d all manner of Ties to my Country. The curious Adventures that I have related to you in Writing fince that time, will undoubtedly afford an agreeable Diverfion to your Friends; provided they are not of the Num¬ ber of thofe uni'ufferable Devotees, who would ra¬ ther be crucifi’d, than fee an Ecclcfiaftick expos’d. Pray be io kind as to write to me to Lisbon, and inform 202 Some New Voyages inform me of what you hear, in reference to my Concern. You have fuch good Correfpondents at Paris, that you cannot mils of knowing how things go. 1 doubt not but my Adverfary feeds himfeif with the Hopes, that his ufual Prelents would pro¬ cure the apprehending of me in France, where he thinks I would be the Fool to land : But now to be fure he’ll fret his Heart out, for that he cannot gall me to his Wilhes. However, ’tis as much his In- tereft to follicit my Death, (purfuant to his unjuft: Charge againlt me) as ’tis my Glory to procure him a long Life. Upon this Foot, Sir, the longer he lives, the more Revenge I lhall have ; and confe- quently I lhall have an Opportunity of an eafy So¬ lace for the Lois of my Places, and the Dilgrace $ have met with from the King. I am, S I R, Tours , &c. MEMOIRS MEMOIRS O F North -America ; Containing a Geographical Defcription of that vaji Continent ; the Cujloms and Commerce of the Inhabitants, &c. SIR , I N my former Letters, I preferred you with a View of the Englijh and French Colonies, the Commerce of Canada , the Navigation upon the Rivers and Lakes of that Country, the Courfe of Sailing from Europe to North- America^ the feveral Attempts made by the Englijh to matter the French Colonies, the Incurfions of the French upon New- England, and upon the Iroquefe Country : In a Word, Sir, I have reveal’d a great many things, that for Reafons of State or Politicks, have been hi¬ therto conceal’d ; infomuch, that if you were capa¬ ble of making me a Sacrifice to your Refentment, ’tis now in your Power to ruin me at Court, by pro¬ ducing my Letters. All that I writ in the foregoing Letters, and the whole Subftance of the Memoirs I now lend you, is truth as plain as the Sun-fhine. I flatter no Man, and I l'pare no body. I fcorn to be partial; I beftow due Praife upon thofe who are in no Capacity to lerve 204 Some New Voyages ferve me, and I cenfure the Condud of others, that are capable of doing me an Injury by indirect Me¬ thods. I am not influenc’d by that Principle of In- tereft and Party-making, that is the Rule of fome Folks Words. I facrificeall to the Love of Truth, and write with no other View, than to give you a juft Reprefentation of things as they are. ’Tis beneath me to mince or alter the Matter of Fad, contain’d either in the Letters I lent you fome ten or twelve Years ago, or in thefe Memoirs. In the Courfe of my Voyages and Travels, I took care to keep parti¬ cular Journals of every thing ; but a minute Rela¬ tion of all Particulars, would be irklome to you, be- fides, that the Trouble of taking a Copy of the Journals, before I have an Opportunity of (hewing you the Original, would require more time than I can well fpare. In thefe Memoirs you’ll find as much as will ferve to form a perfect Idea of the vaft Continent of North -America. In the Courfe of our Correfpondence from the Year 1683, to this time, 1 fent you five and twenty Letters, of all which I have kept a Double very carefully. My only View in writing of thefe Letters, was to inform you of the moft eflential Things * for I was unwilling to perplex and confound your Thoughts, with an Infi¬ nity of uncommon things, that have happen’d in that Country. If you’ll confult my Maps, as you read the abovemention’d Letterss, you’ll find a juft Reprefentation of all the Places 1 have (poke of Thefe Maps are very particular, and I dare affure you, they are the corredeft yet extant. My Voyage upon the Long River, gave me an Opportunity of making that little Map, which I fent you from Mif- JUimakmac in 1699, with my fixteenth Letter. ’Tis true, it gives only a bare Deicription of that River, and the River of the Miffouris ; But it requir’d more time than I could fpare, to make it more complete, by a Knowledge of the adjacent Countries* which W 7 to North- Ariierica. 205 have hitherto been unknown to ail the World, as well as that great River, and which I would never have vifited, if I had not been fully inftrudted in every thing that related to it, and convoy’d by a good Guard. I have plac’d the Map of Canada at the Front of thefe Memoirs, and defire that Favour of you, that you would not fhew' it to any body un¬ der my Name. To the latter Part I have fubjoin’d an Explication of the Marine , and other difficult Terms, made ule of in my Letters, as well as in thefe Memoirs; which you’ll pleafe to confult, when you meet with a Word that you do not underftand. A jhort Befcription of Canada. You’ll think. Sir, that I advance a Paradox, when I acquaint you, that "Nevz-France, commonly call’d Canada , comprehends a greater Extent of Ground, than the half of Europe : But pray mind what Proof I have for that Aflertion. You know that Europe extends South and North, from the 35 to the 72 Degree of Latitude, or, if you will, from Cadiz to the North Cape on the Confines of Lapland ; and that its Longitude reaches from the 9 tb to the 94 tb Degree ; that is, from the River Oby , to the Weft Cape in TJlandia. But at the fame time, if we take the greateft Breadth of Europe , from Eaft to Weft, from the imaginary Canal, (for Inftance) between the Eanais and the Volga , to Binglebay in Ireland , it makes but 66 Degrees of Longitude, which con¬ tain more Leagues than the Degrees allotted to it towards the Polar Circle, tho’ thefe are more nu¬ merous, by reafon that the Degrees of Longitude are unequal : and fince we are wont to meafure Pro¬ vinces, Ifiands, and Kingdoms, by the fpace of Ground, I am of the Opinion, that we ought to make ule of the fame Standard, with refpedt to the four Parts of the World. The Geographers who par- 20 6 Some New Voyages cel out the Earth in their Clolets, according to their Fancy ; thefe Gentlemen, I fay, might have been aware of this Advance, if they had been more care¬ ful. But, to come to Canada. All the World knows, that Canada reaches from the 39 th to the 65th Degree of Latitude, that is, from the South-fide of the Lake Errie, to the North-fide of Hudfons Bay ; and from the 284^, to the 336^ Degree of Longitude, viz. from the River Mtjfijipi, to Cape Rafe in the Iflandof New- Found land. I af¬ firm therefore, that Europe has but 11 Degrees of Latitude, and 3 3 of Longitude, more than Canada, in which I comprehend the Ifland of New-Found - laud, Acadia , and all the other Countries that lie to the Northward of the River St. Laurence , which is the precended great Boundary that fevers the French Colonies from the Englijh. Were I to reckon in all the Countries that lie to the North-Weft of Canada , 1 fhould find it larger than Europe : But I confine myfelf to what is dilcover’d, known and own’d; I mean, to the Countries in which the French trade with the Natives for Beavers, and in which they have Forts, Magazines, Miffionaries, and fmall Settlements. ’Tis above a Century and a half fince Canada was difeover’d. John Verafan was the firft Difcoverer, though he got nothing by it, for the Savages eat him up. James Cartier was the next that went thither, but after Sailing with his Ship above Quebec, he re¬ turn’d to France with a forry Opinion of the Coun¬ try. At laft better Sailors were imploy’d in the Difi- covery, and trag’d the River of St. Laurence more narrowly : And about the Beginning of the laft Cen¬ tury, a Colony was fent thither from Rouen, which lettled there after a great deal of Oppofition from the Natives. At this Day the Colony is fo populous, that ’tis computed to contain 180000 Souls. I have already given youfome Account of that Country in my 3 to North- America. 207 my Letters, and therefore (hall now only point to the moll noted Places, and take notice of what may grati¬ fy your Curiofity beyond what you have yet heard. We are at a Lois to find the Head of the River of St. Laurence , for tho’ we have trac’d itfeven or eight hundred Leagues up, yet we could never reach its Source ; the rcmoteil Place that the Coureurs de Bois go to, being the Lake Lenemiptgon , which dilim- bogues into the Upper Lake , as the Upper Lake does into the Lake of Hurous, the Lake of Hurons into that of Eerie alias Conti , and that of Errie , into the Lake of Frontenac , which forms this laft great River, that runs for twenty Leagues with a pretty gentle Stream, and fweeps thro’ 30 more with a very rapid Current, till it reaches the City of Monreal • from whence it continues its Courle with fbme moderation to the City of Quebec ; and after that, fpreads out, and inlarges itfelf by degrees to its Mouth, which lies a hundred Leagues further. If we may credit the North-Country Savages, this River takes its Rile from the great Lake of the AJJinipouals , which they give out to be larger than any of the Lakes I men- tion’dbut now, being fituatedat the Diftanceof fifty or fixty Leagues from the Lake of Lenemipigon. The River of St. Laurence is 20 or 22 Leagues broad at its Mouth, in the middle of which there’s an Ifiand call’d Amicojli , which is twenty Leagues long. This Ifiand belongs to the Sieur Joliet a Canadan, who has built a little fortify’d Magazine upon it, to guard his Goods and his Family from the Incurfions of the EskimaiiXy of whom more anon. He deals with the other Savage Nations, namely, the Mantagnois , and the Papipanacbois in Arms and Ammunition, by way of Exchange for the Skins of Sea-Wolves or Sea- Calves, and fome other Furs. Over againft this Ifiand, to the Southward of it, we find the llle call’d L‘IJle Percie , which is a great Rock with a Palfage bor’d through it, in which the *o8 Some Nemo Voyages the Sloops can only pafs. In time of Peace the Bifcayans of France , and the Normans , us’d to fifh for Cod at this Place: For here that Fifh are very plentiful, and at the fame time larger, and more proper for drying than thofe of New-Foundland, But there are two great Inconveniences that attend the filhing upon this Ifland j one is, that the Ships ride in great Danger, unlefs they have good Anchors and ftrong Cables * another Inconvenience is, that this Place affords neither Gravel nof Flint-ftones to ftretch out the Fifh upon before the Sun, and that the Fifhermen are forc’d to make ule of a fort of Hurdles. There are other Fifhing-places befides this, which lie fome Leagues higher up upon the fame Side of the River. Such is that call’d Gafpe , where the Ships Crews fometimes trade in Skins with the Gafpe - Jiausy to the Prejudice of the Proprietors of this River. The other Places for Cod-fifh lie toward Monts notre dame , in the little Bays or Rivers that empty themfelves into the River cf St. Laurence. On the other fide of the River there lies the wide extended Country of Labrador , or of the Eskimaux , who are fuch a wild barbarous People, that no means •whatfoever, have hitherto been able to civilize ’em. One wou’d think that good old Homer had this Peo¬ ple in his View, when he fpeaks of the Cyclops $ for the Character of the one, fuits the other admira¬ bly well, as it appears from thefefour Verfes, in the ninth Book of his Odyffca , which are fo pretty, that I cannot forbear inferring them in this Place. T«7«v F '£t dy>(eii guMijofo/ bTS QiuiS'i;- A a A’ oty of tav ict'in yjnva. *Ev ffTiut y\ctifv(o7ert' 6‘fiirivu J'i itgrof II’«/• (cA&x**' ctAtjs.w. to North- America. 309 That is; this People do not perplex themfclves with voluminous Laws, and vexatious Suits; they delight only in the tops of Mountains, and deep Caves, and every one confines his Care to the Ma¬ nagement of his own Family, without troubling his Head about his Neighbour. The Danes were the fir ft Difcoverers of this Country, which is full or Ports, Havens and Bays, that the jQttebec Barques relort to in the Summer, in order to truck with the Savages for the Skins of Sea Calves. The Com¬ merce I fpcak of, is carried on after this Manner. As foon as the Quebec Barques come to an Anchor, thele Devils come on board of them in their little Canows made of the Skins of Sea-Calves, in the Form of a Weaver’s Shuttle, with a Hole in the middle of it, relembling that of a Purfe, in which they ftow themfelvcs with Ropes, fitting Iquat upon their Breech. Being fet in this fafhion, they row with little Slices, fometimesto the Right, andfome- times to the Left without bending their Body for fear of Ovcr-fctting. As foon as they are near the Barque, they hold up their Skins upon the End of the Oar, and at the fame time make a demand of fo many Knives, Pow'der, Ball, Fufees, Axes, Kettles, In fine, every one fhews what he has, and men¬ tions what he expects in exchange: And fo when the Bargain is concluded, they deliver and receive their Goods upon the End of a Stick. As thefe pi¬ tiful Fellows ufe the Precaution of not going on board of our Boats, lo we take Care not to luffer too great a number of Canows to furround us; for they have carry’d off oftner than once, fome of our fmall Velfels, at a Time when our Seamen were bulled in hauling in the Skins, and delivering out the other Goods. Here, we are oblig’d to be very vigilant in the Night-time, for they know how to make great Sloops, that will hold thirty or forty Men, and run as faft as the Wind : And ’tis for this P Reafon ZlO Some A lew Voyages Reafon that the Mahuins , who filh for Cod at Petit Nordy and the Spaniards who follow the fame Fiihery at Portocboua , are oblig’d to lit in long Barques to fcour the Coall and purfue ’em \ for almolt every Year they furprize fome of the Crew' on lhoar, and cut their Throats, and fometimes they carry off the VefTel. We are allur’d that their number of Warriours or Men that bear Arms, amounts to thirty thoufand ; but they are iuch cowardly Fel¬ lows that five hundred Clijlino’s from Hudfon s Bay> ufed to defeat five or fix thoufand of them. They are pollefs’d of a very large Country, extending from over againlt the Iflcs of Mingan to Hudfou’s Streight. They crofs over to the Ifland of New¬ found-Land every day, at the Streight of Belle Ifle, which is not above {even Leagues over} but they never come fo far as Placentia , for fear of meeting with other Savages there. Hudfon s Bay adjoins to this Perra of Lambrador , and extends from the $2d Degree and thirty Mi¬ nutes to the 63 of Latitude. The Original of its Name was this. Captain Henry Hudfon, an Englijb Man by Birth, obtain’d a Ship from the Dutch, in order to trace a Paffage to China through an imagi¬ nary Streight to the North-ward of North -America. He had firll form’d a Delign of going by the way of Nova Zembla ; but upon feeing the N emoirs of a Datiijb Pilot, who was a friend of his, he drop’d that Thought. This Pilot, namely, Frederick Anf- child , had fet out from Norway or Tjlandia , fomc Years before, with a Delign to find out a Pallage to Japan by Davis’s Streight, which is the Chimerical Streight I fpoke of. The firft Land he defery’d was Savage Bay, feated on the North fide of the Terra of Labrador } thenfweeping along the Coall, he en¬ ter’d a Streight, which about twenty or thirty Years afterwards, was chrillen’d Hudfon s Streight. After that, fleering to the Weflward, he came upon fome Coalts to North- America. 2 11 Coafts that run North and South; upon which he flood to the North, flattering himfelf with the hopes of finding an open Paflage to crofs the Sea of Jejfo ; but after lading to the Latitude of the Polar Cir¬ cle, and running the rifqueof perilhing upon the Ice, (I do not know how often,) without meeting with any Paflage or open Sea, he took up a Refolution of turning back; buttheSeafon was then fo far advanc’d, and the Ice fo cover’d up the Surface of the Water, that he was forc’d to put into Hudfon s Bay,and win¬ ter there in a Harbour, where feveral Savages fur- nilhed his Crew with Provilions and excellent Skins. As foon as the Sea was open, he return’d to Den¬ mark. Now, Captain Hudfon being afterwards ac¬ quainted with this Dane, undertook upon his Jour¬ nals to attempt a Paflage to Japan through the Streight of Davis ; but the Enterprise fail’d, as well as that of one Button , and fomc others. However, Hudfon put into the Bay that now goes by his name, where he receiv’d a great Quantity of Skins from the Savages; afeer that, he difeover’d New Holland , which is now call’d New 7ork> and fome other Countries retaining to Niw-England : upon the whole, ’tis not fair to call this Streight and this Bay, by the name of Hudfon ; in regard that the abovemen- tion’d Dane , Frederick Afchild , was the firft difeoverer of them; he being the firft European that defery'd the Countries of North -America, and chalk’d out the way to the others. Upon this Hudfon* s Journals, the Englijb made feveral Attempts to fettle a Commerce with the Americans. The great Quantity of Beaver- Skins and other F urs that he purchas'd of the Savages while he winter’d in the Bay, put the Notion into the Heads of fomc Englijb Merchants, who there¬ upon form’d a Company for the carrying on ot this New Commerce. With this View, they fitted out fome Ships under the Command of Captain Nelj'on y who loft fome of ’em in the Ice aot far from the P a Streight o 11 Some PJc'w Voyages Streight, having efcap’d narrowly himfelf. Howe¬ ver, he enter’d the Bay, and plac’d himfelf at the Mouth of a great River, which rifes towards the Lake of the Aftmpouals, and falls into the Bay at a Place where he built a Redoubt, and mounted feme Cannon upon it. In the Space of three or four Years after, the Engltfh made fome other little Forts near that River, which prov’d a coniiderable Baulk to the Commerce of the French, who found that the Savages who us’d to deal with ’em in Furs on the North fide of the upper Lake, were not then to be feen. It came to pafs in Procefs of Time, but how I cannot tell, that one RatiJJon , and one Grozileer, met, in that great Lake, lome Clijiino’ s, who pro¬ mis’d to condudt ’em to the Bottom of the Bay, where the Englijh had not yet penetrated. In ef¬ fect, the Clijiino’ s were as good as their Word; for they fhew’d ’em the Place they fpoke ofj belides feveral other Rivers upon which there was a fair Prolpedt of making fuch Settlements as would carry on a great Trade in Skins with feveral Savage Nations. Thefe two Frenchmen return’d to the Up¬ per Lake, the fame way that they went, and from thence made the beft of their way to Quebec, where they offer’d to the chief Merchants of the Place, to carry Ships to Hudfou’s Bay; but their Project was rejedted. In fine, having me with thisrepulfc, they went to France, in Hopes of a more favour¬ able Hearing at Court: But after the prefenting cf Memorial upon Memorial, and fpending a great deal of Money, they w r ere treated as whimlical Fellows. Upon that Occaiion the King of England’s Ambafiador did not lofe the Opportunity of per- fwading them to go to London, where they met with fuch a favourable Reception, that they got feveral Ships, which they carry’d to the Bay, not without difficulty, and built feveral Forts indifferent places, to North- America. 11^ that did great Service in promoting the Commerce. Then the Court of France repented, though too late, that they did not give ear to their Memorials j and finding no other Remedy, rcfolv’d to diflodge th cEnghJb at any rate. In effedt, they attack’d'em vigorously by Sea and Land, anddifpoflefs’d’emof all their Forts, excepting Fort Nelj'ou , where they could not expedt fuch an cafic Conquelt. Some Years after, the Englijb refolv’d to ufe their utrr.oft Efforts to retake theie Polls; -and their Refolution was crown’d with Succcl’s, tor they dillodg’d the French in their turn, and at this Day the French are making Preparations to repay ’em in their own Coin. That Country is fo cold for feven or eight Months of the Year, that the Sea freezes ten P'oot deep, the Trees and the very Stones fplit; the Snow is ten or twelve Foot deep upon the Ground, for above fix Months of the Year, and during that Seafon, no body can Itir out of Doors, without running the rifque of having their Nofe, Ears and Feet mortifi¬ ed by the Cold. The Palfage from Europe to that Country isfo difficult and dangerous, by Reafon of the Ice and the Currents, that one mull be reduc’d to the laft degree of mifery, or be blind to a foolifh heighth, that undertakes fuch a wretched Voyage. ’Tis now time to pafs from Hudfous Bay, to the Superior or Upper Lake . 1 is calicr to make this Voyage upon Paper, than to go actually through it • for you mull tail almoll a hundred Leagues up the River of Machakandibi , which is lb rapid and lull of Cataradls, that a light Canow work’d by fix Watermen, lhall not fail ’em under thirty or thirty five Days. At the Head of this River we meet with a little Lake of the fame Name, Iroin whence we are oblig’d to a Land-carriagc of feven Leagues, to get at the River of Michipikoton , which we run down in ten or twelve Days ; though at the fame P 3 time 1I 4 Some Isle'w Voyages time we have feveral Land-carriages upon it: For going down this River we pafs feveral Cataracts, where we are oblig’d cither to carry our Canows by Land, or to drag ’em back again. Thus we arrive at the Upper Lake , which is reckon’d to be five hundred Leagues in Circumference, including the windings of the Creeks, and little Gulphs. This little frelh-water Sea is calm enough from the be¬ ginning of May , to the End of September. The South Side is the fafeft for the Canows, by reafon of the many Bays, and little Rivers, where one may put in, in calc of a Storm. There is no fettled Savage Nation upon the Brinks of the Lake, that I know of. ’Tis true indeed, that in Summer, feveral Nor¬ thern Nations come to hunt and fiih in thefe Parts, and bring with ’em the Beaver-Skins they have got in the Winter, in order to truck with the Coureurs de BoiSy who do not fail to meet ’em there every Year. The Places where the Interview happens, are Bagouafcb, Lemiptfaki , and Chagouamigon. ’Tis fome Years fince Mr. Dulhut built a Fort of Pales or Stakes upon this Lake, where he had large Maga¬ zines of all Sorts of Goods. That Fort was call’d Camattijiigoyan , and did confiderable Dis-fervice to the Englijb Settlements in Hudfen’s Ray, by reafon that it fav’d feveral Nations the Trouble of tranf- porting their Skins to that Bay. Upon that Lake we find Copper Mines, the Metal of which is fo fine and plentiful, that there is not a feventh Part loll from the Ore. It has fome pretty large Iflands, which are replenish'd with Elks and wild AlTes ; but there’s fcarce any that goes to hunt upon ’em, by reafon ot the Danger of eroding over. In fine this Lake abounds with Sturgeons, Trouts, and white Pilh. The Climate is a 1 moil unfufferably cold for fix Months of the Year, and the Snow join’d to the Froll, commonly freezes the Water of the Lake for ten or twelve Leagues over. From to North'A merica. 215 From the Superiour or Upptr Lake , I fleer to that of Hurons, to which 1 allot four hundred Leagues in Li reunite re nee. Now to make this Lake, you mull fail down by the P all call’d Sant St. Mary, which I deferib’d in my fifteenth Letter. T his Lake is fitu- ated in a fine Climate, as you’ll perceive from the Map. The North bide of it is bell for the Naviga¬ tion of Canow's, by realonof the frequency ot Hies which afford flicker in bad Weather. The South Side is pic af an ter, and more convenient, tor the Hunting ot Deer, which are there very plentiful. The figure ot this Lake comes near to an cquilatcralT. ri— angle. Of all its Iflcs, that called Manitoaaltn , is the molt conlidcrable, being, above, twenty Leagues long, and ten broad. In former times, the Outawas of the Nations ot Talon and Sable dwelt in itj .but the Dread they were under, upon the account ot the Iroquefe, oblig’d both them and their Neighbours to retire to Mi{jilitnakiuac. T hat Part ot the Conti¬ nent that faces this ltland, is inhabited by the Nockes and the MiJJitagues , in two different Villa¬ ges, which are twenty Leagues, diilant, the one ironi the other. Towards the Fall end of this - Hand, we fall in with the River des Francois, which 1 took Notice of in my iixteenth Letter. Tis as broad as the Seine is at Parts , and runs not above tor- tv Leagues in length from its Source in the Lake Ntpicmni, to its Mouth. To the North-weft of this River there lies the Bay of Tor ant o, which t twenty, or five and twenty Leagues long, and W- tcen broad at its Mouth. This Bay receives a Ri¬ ver thatfprings from a little Lake ot the fame name, and forms feveral Cataradls that are equally im¬ practicable both upon the Afcent and ^feent. Up- on the Side of this River you 11 fee a Man 1 1 Head mark’d in my Map, which figmfies a large Village of the Hurols, that was deftroy’d by the ^ojueje. You may go from the Source of this River tojh^ ll6 Some New Voyages Lake Frentenac, by making a Land-carriage to the River of F’anaouate^ that falls into that Lake. Upon the South Side of the Bay ot 'Toronto, you fee the Fort call d tort Suppose, which I mention’d in my 3.$d Letter, and about thirty Leagues to the South- •ward of that, you find the Country of *Thtonontate , which being formerly inhabited by the Hurons, was entirely depopulated by the Iroquefe. Brom thence I pafs diredly to my Fort, with¬ out amufingyou with the different Landskips I met with in the Space ot thirty Leagues. That Fort I have fpoke fo otten of already, that without flop¬ ping there, I thall run diredly to the Bay of Saki- nac, reckoning it necdlefs at the lame time, to take any Notice of the many Shelves and Rocks that lye hid under the Water for two Leagues off the Coafl. This Bay is lixteen or feventeen Leagues long, and fix broad at its Mouth : In the middle of which we meet with two little Illands, that are very fcrvice- able to the Paflcngers} for if it were not for the Conveniency of putting in there, they would be ob¬ lig’d for the moft Part, rather to march quite round the Bay, than to run the Hazard of crofling diredly over in a Canow. The River of Sakinac falls into the bottom of the Bay. This R iver runs fixty Leagues ip Length, with a gentle Current, having only three little Catarads that one may lhoot without Dan¬ ger. ’ I is as broad as the Seine is at Seve Bridge. Once in two Years the Oataouas and the Hurons , are wont to hunt great Quantities of Beavers upon the Confines ot the River of Sakinac. Between the Ri¬ ver 1 now fpeak ot, and MiJJilimakinac , we meet with no Place that is worth our Regard. As for Mif- filtmakinac irfclt, I have already imparted to you all that I can fay of that Poll, which is of fo great Importance to our Commerce, and at the fame Time fent you a Draught of it. I lhall therefore purfuc my Coorfe to the Lake Errie, remembring that l deferib’d to North- America. 217 dcferib’d the Ilinefe Lake in my fixteenth Letter. The Lake Errie is juftly dignified with the illu- ftrious Name of Conti } for aifuredly ’tis the fineft Lake upon Earth. You may judge of the Goodncfs of the Climate, from the Latitudes of the Countries that furrour.d it. Its Circumference extends to two hundred and thirty Leagues j but it affords every where fuch a charming Profpcdt, that its Banks are deck’d with Oak-Trees, Elms, Chefnut-Trees,Wal¬ nut-Trees, Apple-Trees, Plum-Trees, and Vines which bear their fine Clufters up to the very 'fop of the Trees, upon a fort of Ground that lies as finooth as one’s Hand. Such Ornaments as thefe, are Ef¬ ficient to give rife to the molt agreeable Idea of a Landskip in the World. I cannot exprefs what vaft: Quantities of Deer and Turkeys are to be found in thefe Woods, and in the vaft Meads that lie upon the South Side of the Lake. At the Bottom of the Lake, we find wild Beeves upon the Banks of twopleafant Rivers that difemboguc into it, with¬ out Catarafts or rapid Currents It abounds with Sturgeon and white Fifh; but Trouts are very fcarce in it, as well as the other Fifh that we take in the Lakes of Hurons and Ilinefe. ’Tis clear of Shelves, Rocks, and Banks of Sand ; and has fourteen or fifteen Fathom Water. The Savages affurc us, that ’tis never difturb’d with high Winds, but in the onths of December , January , and February, and e- ven then but feldom, which indeed I am very apt to believe for we had but very fevyr Storms, when I winter’d in my Fort in 1688 , though the Fort lay open to the Lake of Hurons. The Banks of this Lake are commonly frequented by none but Warri- ours, whether the Iroquefe , the Ilinefe , the Ouinaviis, &c. and 'tis very dangerous to flop there. By this means it comes to pafs, that the Stags, Roc-Bucks and Turkeys run in great Bodies up and down the Ihoar, all round the Lake. In former times the F>- rieronot/s 3 i S Some New Voyages rierofiotiS) and the Andafiogueronom , liv’d upon the Confines of the Lake, but they were extirpated by the Iroquefe, as well as the other Nations mark’d in the Map. Upon the North Side of the Lake we defery a Point of Land, that lhoots fifteen Leagues into the Main; and about thirty Leagues beyond that to the Eaftward, we meet with a Imall River that takes its rife near the Bay of Gatiaraske , in the Lake of Frontenac ; and would afford a lhort palfage from the one Lake to the other, if ’twere not incumber’d with Catara&s. From thence to the Streight or Mouth of the Lake, you have thirty Leagues; the Streight being a League over, and fourteen Leagues long. Upon this Streight you fee Fort Suppofe mark’d in the Map, which is one of the Ferts that I men¬ tion'd in my 23 d Letter, From that Imaginary Fort to the River of Conde , we have twenty Leagues. The River of Conde runs fixty Leagues in Length without Cataracts, if we may credit the Savages, who allur'd me, that one may go from its Source to another River that falls into the Sea, without any other Land-carriage than one of a League in length, between the River and the other. I law only the Mouth of the firft River, where our Outaouas tried their Limbs, as I told you in my fifteenth Letter. The Ifiands that you fee mark’d in the Map at the Bottom of the Lake Errie y are replenilh’d with Roe- Bucks and with Fruit Trees which Nature has ge- neroufly provided, in order to entertain the Tur¬ keys, Pheafants and Deer with their Fruit. In fine, if there were a clear and free Palfage for Vef- fels from Quebec to this Lake, it might be made the fineft, the richeft, and the molt fertile Kingdom in the World; for over and above all the Beauties I have mention’d, there arc excellent Silver Mines a- bout twenty Leagues up the Country, upon a certain Hill, from whence the Savages brought us to North- America. 119 us great lumps, that have yielded that precious Me¬ tal with little wafte. From the Lake Errie , I ftecr my Courfe to that of FrontetiaCy which I could not forbear to fpeak ot in my feventh and feventeenth Letters. This Lake (as I intimated above) is aSo Leagues in Circumfe¬ rence, its figure is Oval, and its depth runs between twenty and twenty five Fathom. On the South Side it receives feveral little Rivers, particularly thofe of the -7 fonontoaansy of the Onnontagues , and ot the Fa- tnine ' on the North Side ’tis join d by the Rivers ot Ganaraske, and of’7 eonontate. Its tides are deck d w ith tall Trees, and the Ground is indifferent even and level, for it has nofteep Coafts. On the North Side we meet with feveral little Gulfs. You may go from this Lake to that of Harons, by going up the River Tanaouate , from whence you have a Land-car- riaerc of fix or eight Leagues to the River ot Toron¬ to, which falls into it. You may likewife have a Paffage from the Lake of Froutenac , to that ot Erne, through the Bay of Ganaraske, by making a Land- carriage from thence to a little River that s lull ot Catara&s. The Villages of the O /wont agues, Tfouou- touans.Goyogouans, and Onmyuutes, arc not fardiftant from the Lake of Front cnac. Thcfe Iroquefe Nations are very advantageoufly feated. They have a plca- fant and fertile Country j but they want Roe-Bucks and Turkeys, as well as fi ith, of which their Ri¬ vers are altogether deflitute; infomuch that they are forc’d to fifii in the Lake, and to broil or dry their Fifh with a Fire, in order to keep em and trani- port ’em to their Villages. They are in like Man¬ ner forc’d to range out of their own Territories, in queft of Beaver in the Winter-time, either towards Ganaraske, or to the Sides of the Lake of Toron¬ to, or elfe towards the great River of the Oataouas, where ’twould be an eafie Matter to cut all their Throats, by purfuing the Courfe I laid d°wn in my 0 Z o Some Mew Voyages Letters. I have already touch’d upon the Forts of Front enac and Niagara ; as well as upon the River of St. Laurence , which here takes leave of the Lakes, and purlucs a comparer Courfe to Monreal and (ghiebccy where its Waters mingling with thofe of the Sea, become fo brackilh, that they are not drinkable. It remains only to give you a Dcfcription of Acadia., and the Ifland oi Newfound-Land^ which are two Countries that differ widely from one another. The Coalt of Acadia extends from Kenebeki, one of the Frontiers of New-Englatid , to 1’IJle Percee, near the Mouth of the River of St. Laurence. This Sea- Coaft runs almoft three hundred Leagues in Length, and has upon it two great navigable Bays, namely, the Bay call’d Francoife , and the Bay des Cbaleurs. It has a great many little Rivers, the Mouths of which are deep, and clean enough for the greatcfl Ships. Thcfe Rivers would afford a plentiful Salmon- fifhery, if there were any Body to undertake it} and meft of ’em as well as the Gulphs that lie before ’em, furnifh fuch Cods as we take at the JJle Perch. For in the Summer time, that Sort of Filh make into the Coaft in Shoals, especially about the Iflands of Cape Brttoiiy and of St. John. ’Tis true, the latter has no Harbours, and the former has none that receive any Vcffcl above the Burden of a Barque; but if thcfe two Iflands were peopled, the Inhabitants might fit out Sloops to manage the Fifhery; and to¬ wards the latter End of Aiignji , when theFifh arc cur’d and ready, the Ships might come to an An¬ chor near the Land, and fo take ’em in. Two Gentlemen of the name of Amour of J®jiebec> have a Settlement for Beaver-hunting upon the River of St. John’, which is a very pleafant River, and a- dorn’d with Fields that are very fertile in Grain. ’Tis navigable for twelve Leagues up, from its Mouth. Between the point of Acadia , and the Ifiand to North- America. ill I {land of Cape Breton , there is a Channel or Streight about two Leagues in breadth, which is deep enough to carry the greatell Ships in France. I is call d the Pafs des Canceaux , and would be much more fre¬ quented than it is, if the Merchant-men bound to Canada , would fet out from France about the I $th of March \ tor then they might pafs that Way, being allur’d of a clear Palfage at allScafons of the Year, whereas the Channel of Cape de Raye, is of¬ tentimes cover’d with Ice in April.’ Anil by this Contrivance, the Ships would arrive at Quebec in the Beginning of May. Moll of the Countries of Jcadia abound with Corn, Peafe, Fruit and Pulfc; and have a plain Diftindion of the four Seafons of the Ycar, notwith- ltanding that ’tis cxtream cold for three Months in Winter. Several Places of Acadia, afford Mails as ftrong as thofe we have from Norway \ and if there were Occaiion, all forts of Ships might be built there: For if you’ll believe the Carpenters, the Oak of that Country is better than ours in Europe. In a Word, ’tis a very fine Country ; the Climate is in¬ different temperate, the Air is pure and wholeloinc, the Waters clear and light, and there’s good Accom¬ modation for Hunting, Shooting and Fifhing. The Animals that we meet with there moll commonly, are Beavers, Otters, and Sea-Calves, all of em be¬ ing very numerous. T. hole who love Meat arc in¬ debted to the Dodors, who perfuaded the Popes to Metamorphofc thele terreltial Animals into Piih, for they are allow’d to eat of ’em without Scruple in the Time of Lent. To be plain, the Knowledge I have of that Country, makes me forefee that the Englilb will be Mailers of it fome Time or other. I could give very plautible Realons for the Prophecy. They have already begun to ruin the Commerce that the French had with the Savages, and in a ihort Time, they’ll compafs its intirc Deltrudion. 1 he 1 French Ill Some New Voyages. French they will prize their Goods too high, though they arc not fo good as thole of the Englijh \ and yet the Englijh lell their Commodities cheaper. ’Twcre a Pity that we lhould tamely leave to the Englijh a Country, the Conqueit of which they have attempt¬ ed fo often in Conlideration of our fur-trade and Cod-filhing. ’Tis impolfible to hinder 'em to pof- fefs themlelves of the Settlements upon the Coaft of Madia , by reafen that they lye aft fuch a Difiance from one another; fo that they’ll certainly fucceed in fuch Enterprizes, as indeed they have done already. The French Governors, they a61 with the fame View, as many of thofe who are imploy’d in Polls beyond Sea. They look upon their Place as a Gold Mine given ’em, in order to enrich themfelves; fo that the publick Good, muft always march behind pri¬ vate Interefl. Mr. de Meneval fuffer’d the Etiglijb to poflefs themfelves of Port Royal , becaufc that Place was cover’d with nothing but Angle Paliflado’s But why was it not better fortify’d ? I can tell you the Reafon; he thought he had Time enough to fill his Pockets, before the Englijh would attack it. This Governor fucceeded to Mr. Perrot , who was broke with Difgrace, for having made it his chief Bufinefs to enrich himfelf; and after returning to France , went back again with feveral Ships laden with Goods, in order to let up for a private Merchant in that Country. While Mr. Perrot was Governor, he fuf¬ fer’d the Englijh to poflefs themfelves of feveral ad¬ vantageous Polls, without offering to Itir. His chief Bufinefs was to go in Barques from River to River, in order to traffick with the Savages: And after he was difgrac’d, he was not contented with a Com¬ merce upon the Coalls of Acadia , but would needs extend it to the Englijh Plantations; but it colt him dear, for fome Pirates fell in with him, and after feizing his Barques, duck’d himfelf, upon which he died immediately. The to North-kmenci- 223 The three principal Savage Nations that live upon the Coaftsof Acadia , are the Abenakis , the Mikemak, and the Canibas. There are fome other erratick Na¬ tions,who go and come from Acadia,toNew-Englattd and go by the names of Mahingans , Soccokis, and Ope- nango. The firtt three (having fix’d Habitations) are intircly inthe Intercfts of the French, and Imuftfay, that in time of War they gall the Englijh Colonies with their Incurfions fo much, that we ought to take Care to perpetuate a good Underftanding between them and us. The Baron of Saint Cajieins , a Gen¬ tleman of Oleron in Bearn , having liv'd among the Abenakis after the Savage Way, for above twenty Years, is fo much refped ed by the Savages, that they look upon him as their Tutelar God. He was for¬ merly an Officer of the Carignan Regiment in Ca¬ nada and upon the breaking of that Regiment, threw himfelf among the Savages, whofe Language he had learn’d. He married among ’em after their Fafhion, and prefer’d the Forrefts of Acadia to the Pyrenxan Mountains, that encompafs the Place of his Nativity: For the firll Years of his abode with the Savages he behav’d himfelf fo, as to draw an inex- preffible efteem from ’em. They made him their Great Chief or Leader, who is in a Manner the So¬ vereign of the Nation; and by degrees he has work’d himfelf into fuch a Fortune, which any Man but he would have made fuch Ufe of, as to draw out ot that Country above two or three hundred thoufand Crowns which he has now in his Pocket in good dry Gold. But all the Ufe he makes of it, is, to buy up Goods for Prefents to his Fellow-Sa¬ vages, who upon their Return from hunting, pre- fent him with Beaver Skins to a treble Value. The Governors General of Canada keep in with him, and the Governors of New-England are afraid ot him. He has feveral Daughters, who are, all ot