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From Tadoussac, 16 July 1647
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On July 11th, guided by Montagnais oarsmen whom he had met up with in Tadoussac, missionnary Jean de Quen decided to proceed further North, where members of the Porcupine tribe live. The have already been converted to the catholic religion. Five days later, after having encountered « ten jumps or ten portages », as he told our reporter, he and his guides happened upon a veritable inner sea. « It is so large, he insists, that you can barely see its shores. It seems round in shape. Its waters run deep and are teeming with fish, such as pike, salmon, trout, goldfish, white fish, carp, and many other such species. It is surrounded by flat country leading to a lofty mountain range, four or five leagues off. It feeds on the water of fifteen rivers or so, which serve as fishing trails for those smaller nations that come fishing here and gather to trade and sustain the goodwill they have for each other." The missionary will stay three days there, before returning. Having already returned to Tadoussac, one of the montagnais oarsmen has made it clear that this inner sea is none other than lake Piékouagami. If we persist in the custom we have adopted to give saints' names to all the places we "discover", there is good reason to believe that this lake will soon be called "Saint-Jean"! ! |
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Last update: September 7, 2001 © Museum of New France – Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation |
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