1636-46.] ' CONVERTS. 163 



enemies. God does the same." And he painted 

 Hell to the startled neophyte as a place where, 

 when he was hungry, he would get nothing to eat 

 but frogs and snakes, and, when thu'sty, nothing to 

 drink but flames.^ Pictures were found invaluable. 

 " These holy representations," pursues the Father 

 Superior, " are half the instruction that can be 

 given to the Indians. I wanted some pictures of 

 Hell and souls in perdition, and a few were sent us 

 on paper ; but they are too confused. The devils 

 and the men are so mixed up, that one can make 

 out nothing without particular attention. If three, 

 four, or five devils were painted tormenting a soul 

 with different punishments, — one applying fire, 

 another serpents, another tearing him with pincers, 

 and another holding him fast with a chain, — this 

 would have a good effect, especially if everything 

 were made distinct, and misery, rage, and despe- 

 ration appeared plainly in his face."^ 



The preparation of the convert for baptism was 

 often very slight. A dying Algonquin, who, though 



1 Le Jeune, Relation, 1637, 80-82 (Cramoisy). "Avoir faim et ne 

 manger que des serpens et des crapaux, avoir soif et ne boire que des 

 flammes." 



2 " Les heretiques sont grandement blasmables, de condamner et de 

 briser les images qui ont de si bons effets. Ces sainctes figures sont la 

 moitie de I'instruction qu'on peut donner aux Sauuages. I'auois desire 

 quelques portraits de Tenfer et de I'ame damnee ; on nous en a enuoye 

 quelques vns en papier, mais cela est trop confus. Les diables sont tene- 

 ment meslez auee les hommes, qu'on n'y peut rien recognoistre, qu'auec 

 vne particuliere attention. Qui depeindroit trois ou quatre ou cinq 

 demons, tourmentans vne ame de diuers supplices, I'vn luy appliquant 

 des feux, I'autre des serpens, I'autre la tenaillant, Fautre la tenant lies 

 auec des chaisnes, cela auroit vn bon efFet, notamment si tout estoit bien 

 distingue, et que la rage et la tristesse parussent bien en la face de cette 

 &me desesperee." — Relation, 1637, 32 (Cramoisy). 



