Tooker] ETHNOGRAPHY OF THE HURON 27 



trips had to be made for each. Where the rapids were not too swift, 

 the Indians got into the water (sometimes it came to their necks) and 

 hauled and guided their canoes by hand, a procedure that could be 

 dangerous ( JR 8 : 77-79 ; cf. S 58, 62-63) . The trip took at least 3 or 

 4 weeks (JR8:89; 10:89; 15:161; 16:231; 18:11, 17). 



Even this route was not without its hazards: the tribes along the 

 rivers might cause difficulties. The Island Indians, Algonquin and 

 other tribes between Quebec and Pluronia did not want the Huron to 

 trade with the French as they themselves wished to be the intermedi- 

 aries ( JR 6 : 19 ; 9 : 275 ; cf. JR 10 : 77) . Each year, for example, the 

 inhabitants of an island 150 leagues above Three Rivers blocked the 

 passage of the Huron, who usually gave them gifts in order to continue 

 ( JR 9 : 275) . The Honqueronons [Kicliesperini, an Algonquin band] 

 did not allow passage of one canoe alone or two together during the 

 trading season. In order to get corn and flour cheaper, for which they 

 bartered furs, they made them wait for other canoes and pass as a 

 fleet (S 255). Further, on at least one trip, some Montagnais a 

 league or two from Quebec tried to get the Indians to give them a por- 

 tion of corn and meal for passage and entry into their territory 

 (S 268) . On such trips, the Huron also traded with groups along the 

 way (S 63-66). 



Iroquois could also be expected to ambush the Huron on this trip 

 (JR 18: 33; 22: 307; 23: 35, 247; 24: 271-273; 25: 21, 25; 26: 31 ff.; 

 27 : 37, 63 ; 28 : 45 ; 29 : 247 ; 33 : 69 ; S 261) . In the summer of 1647, 

 the Huron did not go to Quebec because they feared Iroquois would 

 attack them along the way ( JR 33 : 69) . 



The allies of the French, the Huron and their allies, were at a dis- 

 advantage in this struggle, as the French did not trade guns for furs 

 as did other Europeans ( JR 24 : 271-273 ; cf . JR 10 : 51 ) . [The French 

 did however give guns to their neophytes — a policy that at least won 

 converts (JR 25: 27).] The Dutch did trade guns [as well as axes, 

 kettles, and blankets ( JR 26 : 183) ] to the Iroquois, particularly to the 

 Mohawk ( JR 21 : 119 ; 22 : 307 ; 24 : 271 ; 26 : 183 ; 34 : 123 ; cf . JR 21 : 

 269-271 ; 27 : 71) . By about 1643, the Iroquois had 300 guns ( JR 24 : 

 271) . In contrast, by 1649, the Huron had very few ( JR 34 : 137) .^* 

 The English and Flemish were also accused by the Jesuits of inciting 

 some Indians against the Huron and the French ( JR 17 : 121-123, 223) . 

 The Seneca Iroquois eventually defeated the Huron forcing them, in 

 1649, to flee to the woods, lakes, rivers, and islands and compelling- 

 many to take refuge with neighboring nations, particularly the Tobac- 

 co Nation ( JR 34 : 197, 203, 223 ) . ( The account of this defeat is given 

 in JR 34.) [It might have been that the Iroquois wished to control 



2^ The Jesuits may have underestlmatocl the French trade in guns and overestimated the 

 Dutch trade to the Iroquois (Hunt 1940: 165-175). 



