54 Hijioric al Journal of 



upon, as one of tlie moft important in Ne^ France. After fomc 

 Years, the Savages being tired of being continually harrafîed by 

 the Iroquois, from whom the French themfelves had Trouble 

 enough to defend themfelves, and having no longer the Liberty of 

 the Palles, v/here thefe proud Enemies laid wait for them conti- 

 nually, and not being fafe even in Sight of, and under the Can- 

 non of our Fort, they forebore to bring hither their Peltry or 

 Skins. The Jefuits with all their new Converts retired three 

 Leagues lower, upon fome Lands that were given them by the 

 Abbot de la Madeleine, one of the Members of the Society of 

 the hundred AiTociates, formed by the Cardinal de Richliêuj from 

 whence this Place took the Name of Cape de la Madeleine, which' 

 it bears to this Day (a). 



The MiiTion which was tranfported hither, did not fubiifl a 

 Of Gate Ma- ^^^^ Time. This was partly the Effe6l of 

 ^eleme Ficklenefs of the Savages, but principally 



the Confequence of the Wars and Difeafes 

 which have almofl entirely deftroyed this rifing Church. There 

 are Hill in the Neighbourhood a Company of Algonquins, the 

 greateft Part of whom were baptized in their Infancy, but have 

 Î10V/ no regular Exercife of Religion. The Gentlemen of the 

 tVeJt'India Company, who have now the Beaver Trade, have in 

 vain endeavoured to draw them to Checoutime, where they have 

 already re- united feveral Families of the fame Nation, and of 

 the Nation of the Mountains, under the Dire£lion of a Jefuit 

 Miillonary. Others wanted to unite them with the Abenaquts of 

 St, François. All their Anfvver to thefe Invitations was, that 

 they could not refolve to quit a Place where the Bones of their 

 Fathers reil. But fome People believe, and not v/ithout Foun- 

 dation, that this Refufal proceeds lefs from themfelves, than 

 from fome People to whom their Neighbourhood is advantage- 

 ous ; and who, v/ithout Doubt, do not fufficiently confider that 

 they facrifiCe the Salvation of thefe Savages to a little Interefr. 



1 have juft been informed, Madam, that in a few Days I Ihall 

 have an Opportunity of fending this Letter to ^ebec, from 

 whence it may go early to France by the Ifle RoyaL I fhall fill it 



up with vv^hat concerns the Huntings of the Savages. The 



hunting of the Beaver, as I have before obferved, was not their 

 principal Concern, till they faw the Value which the French fet 

 upon the Skin of this Animal. Before this, the hunting of the 

 Bear held the iirll Place, and was performed with the greateft 

 Superfcition. This is what is obferved at this Day in this 

 Chace, amongft thofe who are not Chrijlians, 



(a) Befides the Iron Mines, which are very iplentiM zt Cape Madeleine, 

 here have been difcovered fome Years ago, feveral Springs of Mineral 

 Waters. . 



It 



