r792' A%a\ia^ a tale. iSf 



contiguous to the grounds they inhabited. She was surpri- 

 sed by a French soldier, who did not trouble himself to in. 

 quire, whether Ihe was a wife or 'a maiden. Besides, he 

 found himself little disposed to respect the rights of a Huronr 

 hultand. The Ihrieks of the young savage, in defending 

 herself, brought to the same place the baron of St. Castins^ 

 an officer in the troops of Canada. He had no difficulty to 

 oblige the soldier to depart : But the person he so opportune- 

 ly saved had so many engaging charms, that the soldier ap- 

 peared excusable to him. Being himself tempted to sue 

 for the reward of the good office he had just rendered, he 

 pleaded his cause in a more gentle and insinuating manner 

 than the soldier, but did not succeed better. " The friend 

 that is before my eyes, hinders my seemg thee," said the 

 Huron woman to him. This is the savage phrase for ex- 

 prefsing that a woman has a hulband, and that Ihe cannot 

 be wanting in fidelity to him. This phrase is not a vain 

 form •, it contains a peremptory refusal j it is common to all 

 the women of those barbarous nations j and its force, the 

 neigbourhood of tiie Europeans, and their example, were 

 never able to diminiffi. 



St. Castins, to whom the language and customs of the 

 Hurons were familiar, saw immediately that he mu^t drop 

 ail pretensions ; and this persuasion recalled all his gene- 

 rosity. He therefore made no other advances, tlian to 

 accompany the beautiful savage, whom chance alone had 

 directed into the wood, and who was afraid of new rcn- 

 conters. As they pafsed on, he received all pofsiblc 

 marks of gratitude, except that which he at first requested. 

 Some time after, St. Castins being insulted by a brother 

 officer, killed him in a duel. This officer was nephew 

 to the governor general of tlie colony, and the governor 

 was as aSaolute as vindictive. St. Castins had no othci 

 rcsourtc than to betake himself to flight. It was presu- 



