268 VILLEMARIE. [1643-45. 



male colonists were equally fervent; and sometimes 

 as many as fifteen or sixteen persons would kneel 

 at once before the cross, with the same charitable 

 petition.^ The ardor of their zeal may be inferred 

 from the fact, that these pious expeditions consumed 

 the greater part of the day, when time and labor 

 were of a value past reckoning to the little colony. 

 Besides theh pilgrimages, they used other means 

 and very efficient ones, to attract and gain over the 

 Indians. They housed, fed, and clothed them at 

 every opportunity ; and though they were subsist- 

 ing chiefly on provisions brought at great cost from 

 France, there was always a portion for the hungry 

 savages who from time to time encamped near their 

 fort. If they could persuade any of them to be 

 nursed, they were consigned to the tender care of 

 Mademoiselle Mance; and if a party went to war, 

 their women and children were taken in charge till 

 their return. As this attention to thek bodies had 

 for its object the profit of their souls, it was ac- 

 companied with incessant catechizing. This, with 

 the other influences of the place, had its effect; 

 and some notable conversions were made. Among 

 them was that of the renowned chief, Tessouat, 

 or Le Borgne, as the French called him, — a crafty 

 and intractable savage, whom, to their own sur- 

 prise, they succeeded in taming and winning to the 

 Faith.^ He was christened with the name of Paul, 



1 Marguerite Bourgeoys, Ecrits Autographes, MS., extracts in Faillon, 

 I. 458. 



2 Vimont, Relation, 1643, 54, 55. Tessouat was chief of Allumette 

 Island, in the Ottawa. His predecessoi*, of the same name, was Cliam- 

 plain's host in 1613. — See " Pioneers of France," Cliap. XII. 



