1638-40.] MISSIONARY EXCURSIONS ' 131 



ble, — an act performed with all tact and courtesy, 

 and rarely taken in dudgeon. Having thus win- 

 nowed their company, they catechized those that 

 remained, as opportunity offered. In the intervals, 

 the guests squatted by the fire and smoked their 

 pipes. 



As among the Spartan vii'tues of the Hurons 

 that of thieving was especially conspicuous, it was 

 necessary that one or more of the Fathers should 

 remain on guard at the house all day. The rest 

 went forth on their missionary labors, baptizing 

 and instructing, as we have seen. To each priest 

 who could speak Huron ^ was assigned a certain 

 number of houses, — in some instances, as many as 

 forty; and as these often had -Bye or six fires, with 

 two families to each, his spiritual flock was as 

 numerous as it Avas intractable. It was his care to 

 see that none of the number died without baptism, 

 and by every means in his power to commend the 

 doctrines of his faith to the acceptance of those m 

 health. 



At dinner, which was at two o'clock, grace was 

 said in Huron, — for the benefit of the Indians 

 present, — and a chapter of the Bible was read 

 aloud during the meal. At four or ^ye, according 

 to the season, the Indians were dismissed, the door 

 closed, and the evening spent in writing, reading, 

 studying the language, devotion, and conversation 

 on the affau's of the mission. 



The local missions here referred to embraced 



1 At the end of the year 1638, there were seven priests who spoke 

 Huron, and three who had begun to learn it. 



