30 jin Eijtorical Journal of 



fiiigs an Air, whicli is far from being melodious to any one but 

 a Savage born, and pronounces fome Words which have no ^reat 

 Meaning- Sometimes it is a Song of War, fometimes a Song of 

 Death, ibmetimes an Attack or a Surprize ; for as thefe People 

 drink nothing but Water, they have no drinking Songs, and they 

 have not yet thought of fing^ing their Amours. Whiift they 

 iing, all the Company never ceafè to beat Time by drawing 

 frora the Bottom of their Breaft an 7/^, which never varies. The ^ 

 Connoifleurs fay th€y always keep Time exaélly. I refer it to them. 

 V/hen one has ended, another takes his Place : And this conti- 

 nues till the AfTembly returns them Thanks ; which would faon 

 happen, vv^ithoiit a little Complaifance, which it is good to have 

 for this People. It is in Facl a very tirefome and difagreeable 

 Mufick, at lead to judge by what I have heard. Throats of 

 Iron, always in one Tone ; Airs Vv^hich have alv/ays fomething 

 £erce, or mournful. But their Voice is quite different when 

 they fmg at Church. As for the Vv^omen, their Voices have a 

 farprizing Sweetnefs ; they have alfo a good deal of Tafte and 

 Inclination forMuiick. 



Upon thefe Occafions, the Speech is the bell Thing. They 

 explain in few Words, and generally very ingenioufly, the Occa- 

 fion of the Feaft ; to which they never fail to give fome high 

 Mo lives. The Praifes of the Founder are never forgotten ; and 

 they take the Opportunity of the Prefence of fome Perfons 

 (efpecially when they fpeak before the Governor-General t)r the 

 Intendant) to alk fome Favour, or to make fome Reprefentation. 



The Orator of the Hurons^ on that Day, faid fuch witty Things, 

 that v/e fui|3e£ted that the Interpreter (who was the MiiTionary 

 himfelf) had lent him his Wit and Politenefs with his Voice ; 

 but he proteiled that he had added nothing of his own ; and v/e 

 believed him, becaufe he is known to be one of the moil open 

 and iincere Men in the W^orld. (a) 



Before I had taken this little Journey, I had made feveral Ex- 

 Cur£ons about this City \ but as the Earth was every where co- 

 vered with Snow, fiVe or iix Feet deep, I could thereby learn 

 nothing of the Nature of tlie Soil ; but I have been over it 

 formerly in all Seafons, and I can affure you that it is very rare 

 to fee Lands more fruitful, or of a better Quality. I applied 

 mr^îtlî very diligently this Winter, to inform myfeif of the Ad- 

 vantages which might be made of this Colony, and I will com- 

 municate to you the Fruit of my Labours. Canada does not 



enrich France ; this is a Complaint as old as the Country, and 

 it is not without Foundation. It has no rich Inhabitants : This 

 is alfo true. Is this the Fault of the Country, or is it not owing 

 alfo to the firfl Settlers ? I fhall endeavour to make you able to 

 deqde this Point. 



fa) Father Petei-'Dani Richer, 



The i 



