1637 J THE NEW CHAPEL. HI 



The new mission-house was about seventy feet 

 in length. No sooner had the savage workmen 

 secured the bark covering on its top and sides 

 than the priests took possession, and began their 

 preparations for a notable ceremony. At the 

 farther end they made an altar, and hung such 

 decorations as they had on the rough walls of 

 bark throughout half the length of the structure. 

 This formed their chapel. On the altar was a 

 crucifix, with vessels and ornaments of shining 

 metal; while above hung several pictures, — among 

 them a painting of Christ, and another of the Vir- 

 gin, both of life-size. There was also a repre- 

 sentation of the Last Judgment, wherein dragons 

 and serpents might be seen feasting on the entrails 

 of the wicked, while demons scourged them into 

 the flames of Hell. The entrance was adorned with 

 a quantity of tinsel, together with green boughs 

 skilfully disposed.^ 



Never before were such splendors seen in the 

 land of the Hurons. Crowds gathered from afar, 

 and gazed in awe and admiration at the marvels 

 of the sanctuary. A woman came from a distant 

 town to behold it, and, tremulous between curiosity 

 and fear, thrust her head into the mysterious recess, 

 declaring that she would see it, though the look 

 should cost her life.^ 



1 "Nostre Chapelle estoit extraordinairement bien ornee, . . . nous 

 auions dresse vn portique entortille de feiiillage, mesle d'oripeau, en vn 

 mot nous auions estalle tout ce que vostre R. nous a enuoie de beau," etc., 

 etc. — Le Mercier, Relation des Hurons, 1637, 175, 176. — In his Relation 

 of the next year he recurs to the subject, and describes the pictures dis- 

 played on this memorable occasion. — Relation des Hurons, 1638, 33. 



'i Ibid., 1637, 176. 



