182 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 



those in any way connected with death. Father 

 Paul Le Jeune states that they were used " for 

 what winding-sheets and shrouds are in France." 

 And in giving accounts of funeral rites he says : 

 " When the friends have gazed upon the bodies to 

 their satisfaction they cover them up with handsome 

 beaver robes, quite new." And again : " These 

 bones are enclosed in caskets of bark covered with 

 new beaver skins." When the Iroquois, Onagan, 

 delivered two captives over to Father Ragueneau, 

 he said, lifting up a beaver robe, " Behold the 

 standard that you shall plant upon your fort, when 

 you shall see our canoes appear upon this great 

 river ; and, when we see this signal of your friend- 

 ship we shall land with confidence at your ports." 

 As presents, nothing approached in value the beaver 

 robe, not only on account of its actual worth, but 

 it seemed to be a sort of emblem. The Jesuit 

 priests, whose work in Canada during its early days 

 was so very remarkable, realised thoroughly the 

 sentimental value, both of these robes and the 

 single skins. These were apparently always accept- 

 able presents which carried with them some subtle 

 meaning. When disturbances occurred they gave 

 them as a seal of friendship. On one occasion when 

 there had been trouble with the Iroquois we find 

 that " in order to wipe out the blood, and implant 

 joy in every breast, leaving no trace of sadness any- 

 where, the Father presented four beaver skins to 

 the four Iroquois nations. One for each." The 



