1638-40.] THE CANNIBALS AT ST. JOSEPH. 137 



As the town of Ihonatiria, where the Jesuits had 

 made their first abode, was ruined by the pestilence, 

 the mission established there, and known by the 

 name of St. Joseph, was removed, in the summer 

 of 1638, to Teanaustaye, a large town at the foot 

 of a range of hills near the southern borders of 

 the Huron territory. The Hurons, this year, had 

 liad unwonted successes in their war with the Iro- 

 quois, and had taken, at various times, nearly a 

 hundred prisoners. Many of these were brought 

 to the seat of the new mission of St. Joseph, and 

 put to death with frightful tortures, though not 

 before several had been converted and baptized. 

 The torture was followed, in spite of the remon- 

 strances of the priests, by those cannibal feasts 

 customary with the Hurons on such occasions. 

 Once, when the Fathers had been strenuous in 

 their denunciations, a hand of the victim, duly 

 prepared, was flung in at their door, as an invi- 

 tation to join in the festivity. As the owner of 

 the severed member had been baptized, they dug 

 a hole in then* chapel, and buried it with solemn 

 rites of sepulture.^ 



were children. Very many died soon after baptism. Of the whole num- 

 ber, less than twenty were baptized in health, — a number much below 

 that of the preceding year. 



The following is a curious case of precocious piety. It is that of a 

 ehild at St. Joseph. " EUe n'a que deux ans, et fait joliraent le signe de 

 la croix, et prend elle-meme de Teau be'nite ; et une fois se mit a crier, 

 sortant de la Chapelle, a cause que sa mere qui la portoit ne lui avoit 

 donne le loisir d'en prendre. II I'a fallu reporter en prendre." — Lettres 

 de Gamier, MSS. 



' Lalemant, Relation des Hurons, 1639, 70. 



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