As we went backe uppon our stepps
for to gett any thing to fill our bellyes, we weare glad to gett the boans
and carcasses of the beasts that we killed.
And happy was he that could
gett what the other did throw away after it had ben boyled 3 or foure times
to gett the substance out of it. We contrived an other plott, to reduce to
powder those boanes, the rest of crows and doggs. So putt all that together
halfe foot within grounde, and so makes a fire uppon it, We covered all
that very well with earth, soe seeling the heat, and boyled them againe and
gave more froth then before; in the next place, the skins that weare
reserved to make us shoose, cloath, and stokins, yea, most of the skins of
our cottages, the castors' skins, where the children beshit them above a
hundred times. We burned the haire on the coals; the rest goes downe
throats, eating heartily these things most abhorred. We went so eagerly to
it that our gumms did bleede like one newly wounded. The wood was our food
the rest of sorrowfull time. Finaly we became the very Image of death. We
mistook ourselves very often, taking the living for the dead and the dead
for the living. We wanted strength to draw the living out of the cabans, or
if we did when we could, it was to putt them four paces in the snow. Att
the end the wrath of God begins to appease itselfe, and pityes his poore
creatures. If I should expresse all that befell us in that strange
accidents, a great volume would not centaine it. Here are above 500 dead,
men, women, and children. It's time to come out of such miseryes. Our
bodyes are not able to hold out any further.
After the storme, calme comes. But stormes favoured us, being that calme
kills us. Here comes a wind and raine that putts a new life in us. The snow
sails, the forest cleers itselfe, att which sight those that had strings
left in their bowes takes courage to use it. The weather continued so 3
dayes that we needed no racketts more, for the snow hardned much. The small
staggs are [as] if they weare stakes in it after they made 7 or 8 capers.
It's an easy matter for us to take them and cutt their throats with our
knives. Now we see ourselves a litle fournished, but yett have not payed,
ffor it cost many their lives. Our gutts became very straight by our long
fasting, that they could not centaine the quantity that some putt in them.
I cannot omitt the pleasant thoughts of some of them wildmen. Seeing my
brother allwayes in the same condition, they said that some Devill brought
him wherewithall to eate; but if they had seene his body they should be of
another oppinion.
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