1649-50.] OCCUPATIONS OF THE PRIESTS. 401 



the work of famine. Before spring, about half of 

 their number were dead. 



Meanwhile, though the cold was intense and the 

 snow several feet deep, yet not an hour was free 

 from the danger of the Iroquois ; and, from sunset 

 to daybreak, under the cold moon or in the driving 

 snow^-storm, the French sentries walked their rounds 

 along the ramparts. 



The priests rose before dawn, and spent the time 

 till sunrise in their private devotions. Then the 

 bell of their chapel rang, and the Indians came in 

 crow^ds at the call ; for misery had softened their 

 hearts, and nearly all on the island were now Chris- 

 tian. There was a mass, followed by a prayer 

 and a few words of exhortation ; then the hearers 

 dispersed to make room for others. Thus the 

 little chapel was filled ten or twelve times, until all 

 had had thek turn. Meanwhile other priests were 

 hearing confessions and giving advice and encour- 

 agement in private, according to the needs of each 

 applicant. This lasted till nine o'clock, when all 

 the Indians returned to their village, and the priests 

 presently followed, to give what assistance they 

 could. Their cassocks were worn out, and they 



leur eust donne plus de luraiere qii'ils n'en auoient dans I'infidelite, ne 

 creiissent pas commettre aiiciin peche de manger leurs ennemis, aussi pen 

 qu'il y en a de les tuer, toutefois ie puis dire auec verite, qu'ils n'ont pas 

 moins d'horreur de manger de leurs oompatriotes, qu'on pent auoir en 

 France de manger de la chair humaine. Mais la necessite n'a plus de 

 loy, et des dents fameliques ne discernent plus ce qu'elles mangent. Les 

 meres se sont repeues de leurs enfans, des fieres de leurs freres, et des 

 enfans ne reconnoissoient plus en vn cadaure mort, celuy lequel lors qull 

 viuoit, ils appelloient leur Pere." — Ragueneau Relation des Hiirons, 

 1650, 4. Compare Bressani, Relation Ahr€g€e, 283. 



34* 



