The Ffrench That Weare In The
Wood, Seeing The Evident Danger Where Their Countrymen Layd, Encouraged The
Ottanaks, Who Tooke Their Armes Againe And Followed The Enemy, Who Not
Feared That Way Arrived Before The Ffrench Weare Apprehended, By Good
Looke.
One of the Iroquoits, thinking his boat would be seene, goes quickly and
putts it out of sight, & discovers himselfe, which warned the ffrench to
hinder them to goe further uppon that score.
Our wildmen made a stand and
fell uppon them stoutly. The combat begins a new; they see the ffrench that
weare uppon the watter come neere, which renforced them to take their boats
with all hast, and leave their booty behind. The few boats that the french
had brought made that could enter but the 60 ffrench, who weare enough. The
wildmen neverthelesse did not goe without their prey, which was of three
men's heads that they killed att the first fight; but they left Eleven of
theirs in the place, besides many more that weare wounded. They went
straight to their countrey, which did a great service to the retourne of
our wildmen, and mett with non all their journey, as we heard afterwards.
They went away the next day, and we stayed att home att rest that yeare. My
brother and I considered whether we should discover what we have seene or
no; and because we had not a full and whole discovery, which was that we
have not ben in the bay of the north, not knowing anything but by report of
the wild Christinos, we would make no mention of it for feare that those
wild men should tell us a fibbe. We would have made a discovery of it
ourselves and have an assurance, before we should discover anything of it.
The ende of the Auxotacicac voyage, which is the third voyage.
[Fourth Voyage of Peter Esprit Radisson]
The spring following we weare in hopes to meet with some company, having
ben so fortunat the yeare before. Now during the winter, whether it was
that my brother revealed to his wife what we had seene in our voyage and
what we further intended, or how it came to passe, it was knowne; so much
that the ffather Jesuits weare desirous to find out a way how they might
gett downe the castors from the bay of the north by the Sacgnes, and so
make themselves masters of that trade. They resolved to make a tryall as
soone as the ice would permitt them. So to discover our intentions they
weare very earnest with me to ingage myselfe in that voyage, to the end
that my brother would give over his, which I uterly denied them, knowing
that they could never bring it about, because I heard the wild men say that
although the way be easy, the wildmen that are feed att their doors would
have hindred them, because they make a livelyhood of that trade.
In my last voyage I tooke notice of that that goes to three lands, which is
first from the people of the north to another nation, that the ffrench call
Squerells, and another nation that they call porquepicque, and from them to
the Montignes & Algonquins that live in or about Quebucque; but the
greatest hinderance is the scant of watter and the horrid torrents and want
of victuals, being no way to carry more then can serve 14 dayes' or 3
weeks' navigation on that river. Neverthelesse the ffathers are gone with
the Governor's son of the three rivers and 6 other ffrench and 12 wildmen.
During that time we made our proposition to the governor of Quebuc that we
weare willing to venture our lives for the good of the countrey, and goe to
travell to the remotest countreys with 2 hurrons that made their escape
from the Iroquoits. They wished nothing more then to bee in those parts
where their wives and families weare, about the Lake of the stairing haire;
to that intent would stay untill august to see if any body would come from
thence. My brother and I weare of one minde; and for more assurance my
brother went to Mont royall to bring those two men along. He came backe,
being in danger. The Governor gives him leave, conditionaly that he must
carry two of his servants along with him and give them the moitie of the
profit. My brother was vexed att such an unreasonable a demand, to take
inexperted men to their ruine. All our knowledge and desir depended onely
of this last voyage, besides that the governor should compare 2 of his
servants to us, that have ventured our lives so many years and maintained
the countrey with our generosity in the presence of all; neither was there
one that had the courage to undertake what wee have done. We made the
governor a slight answer, and tould him for our part we knewed what we
weare, Discoverers before governors. If the wild men came downe, the way
for them as for us, and that we should be glad to have the honnour of his
company, but not of that of his servants, and that we weare both masters
and servants. The Governor was much displeased att this, & commanded us not
to go without his leave. We desired the ffathers to Speake to him about it.
Our addresses were slight because of the shame was putt uppon them the
yeare before of their retourne, besids, they stayed for an opportunity to
goe there themselves; ffor their designe is to further the Christian faith
to the greatest glory of God, and indeed are charitable to all those that
are in distresse and needy, especially to those that are worthy or
industrious in their way of honesty. This is the truth, lett who he will
speak otherwise, ffor this realy I know meselfe by experience. I hope I
offend non to tell the truth. We are forced to goe back without doeing any
thing.
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