68 THE FRENCH, ENGLISH, AND INDIANS. [1609-1700. 



was fruitful of misery to the youthful colony. 

 The passes were beset by ambushed war-parties. 

 The routes between Quebec and Montreal were 

 watched with tiger-like vigilance. Bloodthirsty 

 warriors prowled about the outskirts of the settle- 

 ments. Again and again the miserable people, 

 driven within the palisades of their forts, looked 

 forth upon wasted harvests and blazing roofs. The 

 Island of Montreal was swept with fire and steel. 

 The fur-trade was interrupted, since for months 

 together all communication was cut off with the 

 friendly tribes of the west. Agriculture was 

 checked ; the fields lay fallow, and frequent fam- 

 ine was the necessary result.^ The name of the 

 Iroquois became a by-word of horror through the 

 colony, and to the sufi'ering Canadians they seemed 

 troops of incarnate fiends. Revolting rites and 

 monstrous superstitions were imputed to them ; 

 and, among the rest, it was currently believed that 

 they cherished the custom of immolating young 

 children, burning them, and drinking the ashes 

 mixed with water to increase their bravery.^ Yet 

 the wildest imaginations could scarcely exceed the 

 truth. At the attack of Montreal, they placed 

 infants over the embers, and forced the wretched 

 mothers to turn the spit ; ^ and those who fell 

 within their clutches endured torments too hideous 

 for description. Their ferocity was equalled only 

 by their courage and address. 



1 Vimont, Golden, Gharlevoix, passim. 



2 Vimont seems to believe the story. — Rel. de la N. F. 1640, 195. 



3 Charlevoix, I. 549. 



