142 Auguft 1/49. 



the Indians not regarding any kind of wea* 

 ther ; lying in the Indian huts, which of- 

 ten fwarm with fleas and other vermin, 

 &c. The Jefuits undergo all thefe hard- 

 fhips for the fake of converting the Indians* 

 and likewife for political reafons. The 

 Jefuits are of great ufe to their king ; for 

 they are frequently able to perfuade the 

 Indians to break their treaty with the Eng- 

 lifhy to make war upon them, to bring 

 their furs to the French^ and not to permit 

 the Englifh to come amongft them. Bat 

 there is fome danger attending thefe at- 

 tempts ; for when the Indians are in li- 

 quor, they fometimes kill the miffionaries 

 \vho live with them ; calling them fpie?, 

 or excufing themfelves by faying that the 

 brandy had killed them. Thefe are ac- 

 cordingly the chief occupations of the Je* 

 fuits here. They do not go to vifit the 

 fick in the town, they do not hear the con- 

 feffions, and attend at no funerals. I have 

 never fecn them go in proceffions in re- 

 membrance of the Virgin Mary, and other 

 faints. They feldom go into a houfe in 

 order to get meat ; and though they be in- 

 vited, they do not like to flay, except they 

 be on a journey. Every body fees, that 

 they are, as it were, feledted from the 

 other people, on account of their fuperior 



