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Seigneurie Notre-Dame-des-Anges, Summer of 1637 The Jesuits, who learned the Huron and Montagnais languages with great difficulty, are busy writing everything they already know. They have been doing nothing else for the past few months and have nearly stopped exploring the land. One afternoon, I overheard Father Paul Le Jeune say to Father Jean de Brébeuf: – Ah ! my friend, if you and I came to pass away, the little we know of the Huron and Montagnais would be lost... I approached and, after asking for permission to speak, I made them the following proposition: – Fathers, if you wish, I will gladly learn the languages of the land. I am not less intelligent than the other truchements. If you take me on as a hired man, I am ready to follow you in your explorations. I will be your interpreter and your coq. I am talented enough, you know! Deep inside me, I was burning with the desire of travelling to the Land of the Hurons, like Monsieur Jean Nicolet, who wants to find the route to China at all costs. I even know that he is carrying with him a fabulous damask robe from China, full of flowers and birds in all colours. Should he come upon a Chinese mandarin, he is sure to please and the King of France will be proud of him. They thought about it for a few days and then, they asked my father to let me go live with them for three years, promising that, after that time, I would be free to choose the life I wanted. It is normal that at 15, I finally start thinking about my future. Lake Huron, Summer of 1639 I have been travelling for two years with Fathers Le Jeune and Brébeuf, and I have learned many things. Thanks to the Fathers' lessons, my writing is much better than before. They recommend I take notes, which I rarely do, because we have precious little parchment. I write using pieces of charred wood and birch bark, of which I made a good supply. This way, I will always remember the sites I visited and everything I saw there. I am working very hard. Since I've grown to be a man, I have to do my share of paddling and carrying the birch bark canoe in the portages. Our native guides are afraid that our boots might damage the canoe and they insist that we walk barefoot in the water, on rocks and on boulders; there are many when we reach rapids and we must make our way through the trees and bush. We put on our shoes when we have to climb large boulders. We always keep the canoe above our heads in order to avoid damaging it. We return to the river when the canoes can float without any danger of being pierced. The peoples of Canada have called the watercourses "paths that walk". I like this expression very much. I kept the promise I made to the Fathers that I would become their cook. During our trips, I am responsible for the supplies. Since we always travel in freshwater, we never run out of water, of which we need to drink large quantities because of the salted, or smoked meats we eat every day. We often eat fish that we catch in nets and I gril them on the wood fires we light when it doesn't rain. We often eat only two meals a day. Me, I'm always hungry and, if I had to, I would eat the fish raw! Québec, Fall of 1641 I don't want to brag, but I have become a very good interpreter. I speak Huron and Montagnais and I can manage Algonquin very well. I visited nearly all the regions that were explored since the arrival of Monsieur de Champlain in the colony. We have navigated the St. Lawrence all the way to the Great Lakes, missioned to Trois-Rivières, stopped several times on the island of Montréal, travelled by canoe on the Rivière des Prairies and on the Lac des Deux Montagnes. On April 11, 1640, I injured my arm. It is still not completely cured. I am resting for a little while and thinking of my future. There are several projects in the air. French adventurers want to find the route to China and Japan at all costs and they believe that the Mississippi will lead them there. These voyages are dangerous and very costly to the colony. Our Governor, Monsieur de Montmagny, does not encourage them yet. We will see. I must say that the missionary expeditions are better seen, since we mission mostly in the Huron lands. The Hurons are not as nomadic than the other peoples and they are easier to visit. The Jesuits are trying to teach them about our God and invite them to come and live among the French. The missionaries believe that, if young Frenchmen married Huron women, Canada would be populated more rapidly. The King of France and Monsieur de Montmagny think the same. We have also visited the small trading outposts settled by voyageurs and a few families. For example, we have gone several times to Trois-Rivières, at the mouth of the Saint-Maurice River. I liked that place very much. If one day I have to choose where I will settle, it will certainly be Trois-Rivières. Québec, spring of 1642 My contract with the Jesuits has ended. Father Le Jeune has returned to France. He was replaced by Father Barthélémy Vimont. Monsieur de Montmagny asked to see me and he hired me to be a soldier, interpreter and emissary. This means that I have work for many years and that my study of languages will serve me well. The first of three ships full of colonists who want to establish another town in New France arrived in Québec in early July 1641. They will stay in Québec through the fall and winter. After that, if Monsieur de Montmagny so wishes, they will leave for Montréal. The group is led by a very devout Frenchman, Monsieur Paul de Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve, and by Mademoiselle Jeanne Mance. They will go to the island of Montréal. To fullfil the wishes of those who financed the expedition, it seems that the new outpost, which will be established in 1642, will be consecrated to the Holy Virgin. The future town should be named Ville-Marie. |
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Last update: August 17, 2001 © Museum of New France – Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation |
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