1648.] "donnI:s" of the mission. 365 



its service. There is probability in the conjecture, 

 that the profits of their trade with the Indians were 

 reaped, not for their own behoof, but for that of 

 the mission.^ It is difficult otherwise to explain 

 the confidence with which the Father Superior, in 

 a letter to the General of the Jesuits at Rome, 

 speaks of its resoui'ces. He says, " Though our 

 number is greatly increased, and though we still 

 hope for more men, and especially for more priests 

 of our Society, it is not necessary to increase the 

 pecuniary aid given us." ^ 



1 The Jesuits, even at this early period, were often and loudly charged 

 with sharing in the fur-trade. It is certain that this charge was not 

 wholly without foundation. Le Jeune, in the Relation of 1657, speaking 

 of the wampum, guns, powder, lead, hatchets, kettles, and other articles 

 which the missionaries were obliged to give to the Indians, at councils 

 and elsewhere, says that these must be bought from the traders Avith 

 beaver-skins, which are the money of the country ; and he adds, " Que 

 si vn lesuite en re9oit ou en recueille quelques-vns pour ayder aux frais 

 immenses qu'il faut faire dans ces Missions si eloignees, et pour gagner 

 ces peuples a lesus-Christ et les porter a la paix, il seroit a souhaiter que 

 ceux-la mesme qui deuroient faire ces despenses pour la conseruation du 

 pays, ne fussent pas du moins les premiers a condamner le zele de ces 

 Peres, et a les rendre par leurs discours plus noirs que leurs robes." — 

 Relation, 1657, 16. 



In the same year, Chaumon it, addressing a council of the Iroquois 

 during a period of truce, said, " Keep your beaver-skins, if you choose, 

 for the Dutch. Even such of them as may fall into our possession will 

 be employed for your service." — Ibid., 17. 



In 1636, Le Jeune thought it necessary to write a long letter of de- 

 fence against the charge; and in 1643, a declaration, appended to the 

 Relation of that year, and certifying that the Jesuits took no part in the 

 fur-trade, was drawn up and signed by twelve members of the Company 

 of New France. Its only meaning is, that the Jesuits were neither partners 

 nor rivals of the Company's monopoly. They certainly bought supplies 

 from its magazines witli furs which tliey obtained from the Indians. 



Their object evidently was to make the mission partially self- sup 

 porting. To impute mercenary motives to Gamier, Jogues, and their 

 co-laborers, is manifestly idle ; but, even in the highest flights of his 

 enthusiasm, the Jesuit never forgot his worldly wisdom. 



2 Lettre du P. Paul Ragiieneau au T. R. P. Vincent Carafa, General 



31* 



