We Knewed The Isle Of Murder
Againe Because Of The Woman That Runn'd Away Was With Us.
Shee had reason
to know it, though all covered with snow.
The ffathers some dayes before
our departur caused her to come to the fort to deliver her out of the hands
of her ennemy, because she was a Christian. In short time after her
arrivall att Quebecq [she] was marry'd, and died in childbed.
Six weeks being expired we came to the hight of St Louis, 3 leagues from
mont royal, the first habitation of the ffrench. We went all that hight
without making carriages, trusting to the depth of the watter, & passed it
by God's providence, that have made us that passage free; ffor if we had
come there the day before we could not possibly passe (by the report of the
ffrench), by reason that underneath the water was mighty swift, the river
was frozen and covered with ice, and could not have turned back, for the
streame could bring us against our will under the ice. It was our lott to
come after the ice was melted. The french inquire who is there with
astonishment, thinking that it should be the charge of the Iroquoits. We
thanked God for our deliverance.
Heere we had time to rest ourselves awhile att ease, which was not
permitted by the way. About the last of March we ended our great paines and
incredible dangers. About 14 nights after we went downe the 3 rivers, where
most of us stayed. A month after my brother and I resolves to travell and
see countreys. We find a good opportunity. In our voyage wee proceeded
three yeares. During that time we had the happinesse to see very faire
countryes.
The ende of the second voyage made in the Upper Country of the Iroquoits.
Now followeth the Auxoticiat Voyage into the Great and filthy Lake of the
Hurrons, Upper Sea of the East, and Bay of the North.
Being come to the 3 rivers, where I found my brother who the yeare before
came back from the lake of the Hurrons with other french, both weare upon
the point of resolution to make a journey a purpose for to discover the
great lakes that they heard the wild men speak off; yea, have seene before,
ffor my brother made severall journeys when the ffathers lived about the
lake of the hurrons, which was upon the border of the sea. So my brother
seeing me back from those 2 dangerous voyages, so much by the cruelties of
the barbars as for the difficulties of the wayes, for this reason he
thought I was fitter & more faithfull for the discovery that he was to
make. He plainly told me his minde. I knowing it, longed to see myselfe in
a boat. There weare severall companies of wild men Expected from severall
places, because they promissed the yeare before, & [to] take the advantage
of the Spring (this for to deceive the Iroquoits, who are allwayes in wait
for to destroy them), and of the rivers which is by reason of the melting
of the great snows, which is onely that time, ffor otherwise no possibility
to come that way because for the swift streams that runs in summer, and in
other places the want of watter, so that no boat can come through. We soone
see the performance of those people, ffor a company came to the 3 rivers
where we weare. They tould us that another company was arrived att Mont
Royal, and that 2 more weare to come shortly, the one to the Three Rivers,
the other to Saegne, [Footnote: Saegne, Sacgnes, Sacquenes, or the River
Saguenay.] a river of Tudousack, who arrived within 2 dayes after. They
divided themselves because of the scant of provision; ffor if they weare
together they could not have victualls enough. Many goes and comes to
Quebecq for to know the resolution of mr. Governor, who together with the
ffathers thought fitt to send a company of ffrench to bring backe, if
possible, those wildmen the next yeare, or others, being that it is the
best manna of the countrey by which the inhabitants doe subsist, and makes
the ffrench vessells to come there and goe back loaden with merchandises
for the traffique of furriers who comes from the remotest parts of the
north of America.
As soone as the resolution was made, many undertakes the voyage; for where
that there is lucre there are people enough to be had. The best and ablest
men for that businesse weare chosen. They make them goe up the 3 rivers
with the band that came with the Sacques. There take those that weare most
capable for the purpose. Two ffathers weare chosen to conduct that company,
and endeavoured to convert some of those foraigners of the remotest country
to the Christian faith. We no sooner heard their designe, but saw the
effects of the buisnesse, which effected in us much gladnesse for the
pleasure we could doe to one another, & so abler to oppose an ennemy if by
fortune we should meet with any that would doe us hurt or hinder us in our
way.
About the midle of June we began to take leave of our company and venter
our lives for the common good. We find 2 and 30 men, some inhabitants, some
Gailliards that desired but doe well. What fairer bastion then a good
tongue, especially when one sees his owne chimney smoak, or when we can
kiss our owne wives or kisse our neighbour's wife with ease and delight? It
is a strange thing when victualls are wanting, worke whole nights & dayes,
lye downe on the bare ground, & not allwayes that hap, the breech in the
watter, the feare in the buttocks, to have the belly empty, the wearinesse
in the bones, and drowsinesse of the body by the bad weather that you are
to suffer, having nothing to keepe you from such calamity.
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