CHAPTER Y. 



1633, 1634. 

 THE HURON MISSION. 



Plans of Conversion. — Aims and Motives. — Indian Diplomacy, 



— HuRONS AT Quebec. — Councils. — The Jesuit Chapel. — 

 Le Borgne. — The Jesuits Thwarted. — Their Perseverance. 



— The Journey to the Hurons. — Jean de Brebeuf. — The 

 Mission Begun. 



Le Jeune had learned the difficulties of the 

 Algonquin mission. To imagine that he recoiled 

 or faltered would be an injustice to his Order; 

 but on two points he had gained convictions : 

 first, that little progress could be made in con- 

 verting these wandering hordes till they could be 

 settled in fixed abodes ; and, secondly, that their 

 scanty numbers, their geographical position, and 

 their slight influence in the politics of the wilder- 

 ness offered no flattering promise that their conver- 

 sion would be fruitful in further triumphs of the 

 Faith. It was to another quarter that the Jesuits 

 looked most earnestly. By the vast lakes of the 

 West dwelt numerous stationary populations, and 

 particularly the Hurons, on the lake which bears 



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