He Puts The End To The Breast Of Him That
Tyed Him, And Killd Him In The Presence Of All His Camerades; But Without
Any More Adoe He Was Burnt Very Cruelly.
All the French though dead were
tyed to posts along the River side, and the 4 Algonquins.
As for the hurons
they were burnt at their discretion. Some neverthelesse escaped to bring
the certain newes how all passed. [Footnote: Frenchmen massacred at Long
Sault. See Introduction.] It was a terrible spectacle to us, for wee came
there 8 dayes after that defeat, which saved us without doubt. I beleeve
for certain that the Iroqoits lost many men, having to doe with such brave
and valiant souldiers as that company was. Wee visited that place and there
was a fine Fort; three were about the other two.
Wee went down the river without making any carriage, and wee adventured
very much. As Soon as wee were at the lower end many of our wildmen had a
mind to goe back and not to goe any further, thinking really that all the
French were killed. As for my Brother and I, wee did fear very much that
after such a thing the pride of the enemy would make them attempt anything
upon the habitations of mount Royall, which is but 30 leagues from thence.
Wee did advise them to make a ffort, or to put us in one of the enemies',
and to send immediately two very light boats, that could not be overtaken
if the enemy should discover them; and that being arrived at the
habitation, they should make them shoot the peeces of Ordnance, and that as
soon as the night should come wee would embarque our selves and should hear
the noise, or else wee should take councell of what wee should doe, and
stay for them at the height of the Isle of mount Royall; which was done
accordingly without any hazard, for all the enemies were gone dispairing of
our comeing down, and for what they had done and for what they had lost,
which by the report of some Hurons was more then four score men; and if the
French had had a Fort flanke & some water they had resisted the enemy
miraculously and forced them to leave them for want of powder and shott and
also of other provisions. They were furnished for the whole summer. Our two
boats did goe, but the rest were soe impatient that they resolved to follow
them, being willing to run the same hazard; and wee arrived the next
morning and were in sight when the peeces were shott off, with a great
deale of Joy to see so great a number of boats that did almost cover the
whole River.
Wee stayd 3 dayes at mont-Royall, and then wee went down to the three
Rivers. The wildmen did aske our advice whether it was best for them to goe
down further. We told them no, because of the dangers that they may meet
with at their returne, for the Irokoits could have notice of their comeing
down, and so come and lay in ambush for them, and it was in the latter
season, being about the end of August. Well, as soon as their businesse was
done, they went back again very well satisfyed and wee very ill satisfied
for our reception, which was very bad considering the service wee had done
to the countrey, which will at another time discourage those that by our
example would be willing to venture their lives for the benefit of the
countrey, seeing a Governor that would grow rich by the labours and hazards
of others.
Before I goe further I have a mind to let you know the fabulous beleafe of
those poore People, that you may see their ignorance concerning the soul's
immortality, being separated from the body. The kindred and the friends of
the deceased give notice to the others, who gather together and cry for the
dead, which gives warning to the young men to take the armes to give some
assistance and consolation to the deceased. Presently the corps is covered
with white skins very well tyed. Afterwards all the kindred come to the
cottage of the deceased and begin to mourn and lament. After they are weary
of making such musick the husbands or Friends of the deceased send their
wives for gifts to pacifie a little the Widdow and to dry her tears. Those
guifts are of skins and of what they can get, for at such a ceremony they
are very liberall. As soon as that is done and the night comes, all the
young men are desired to come and doe what they will to have done to them.
So that when darknesse has covered the whole face of the Earth they come
all singing with staves in their hands for their armes, and after they are
set round the cabbin, begin to knock and make such a noise that one would
thinke they have a mind to tear all in peeces, and that they are possessed
of some Devills. All this is done to expell and frighten the soule out of
that poor and miserable body that she might not trouble his carcase nor his
bones, and to make it depart the sooner to goe and see their Ancestors, and
to take possession of their immortall glory, which cannot be obtained but a
fortnight towards the setting of the sun. The first step that she makes is
of seven dayes, to begin her course, but there are many difficulties, ffor
it is through a very thick wood full of thorns, of stones and flints, which
[brings] great trouble to that poor soule. At last having overcome all
those dangers and toyles she comes to a River of about a Quarter of a mile
broad where there is a bridge made onely of one planke, being supported by
a beame pointed at one end, which is the reason that planke rises and falls
perpetually, having not any rest nor stay, and when the soule comes near
the side of that river, she meets with a man of extraordinary stature, who
is very leane and holds a dagger of very hard wood and very keen in his
hands, and speakes these words when he sees the petitioning soule come
near:
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