6o An Hijiorical Journal of 



grow here, and by that which is already cultivated, are very 

 good. The Inhabitants are, notwithftanding, poor enough 

 and many would be reduced to the greateft Indigence, if the 

 Trade with the Savages, their Neighbours, did not help them a 

 little. But is it not this Trade that hinders them from mend- 

 ing their Circumftances, by making them lazy ? 



The Savages I fpeak of, are the Ahenaquis^ amongft which 

 Of the Aben ^here are fome Algonquins^ and alfo Sokokis and 

 auis Vil ^^hingansy better known by the Name of the 



H . ^ ^i^' Wohes. This Natio© was formerly fettled 



upon the River of Manhatte, in Ne^ Torky and it appears that 

 they were antient Inhabitants of that Country. The Abenaquis 

 came to ^t, François from the Southern Parts of Nenjo France^ 

 which are neareft Ne^ England. Their firft Station, upon leav- 

 ing their Country to come to live amongft us, was a little River 

 that difcharges itfelf into the River 5*/. Laurence, almo|l over- 

 againft Syllery ; that is to fay, about a League and a half 

 above ^ebec, on the South Side. They feated themfelves in the 

 Neighbourhood of a Fall, which was called the Fall de la Cha\t^ 

 diere^ (the Kettle.) They are now fttuated on tlie Bank of the 

 Riveras/. François, two Leagues from its Mouth, in the Lake 4^/. 

 Pierre, The Place is very pleafant ; but the Misfortune is, that 

 thefe People do not enjoy the Pleafures of a fine Situation, and 

 the Cabins of the Savages, efpecially of the Ahenaquis, do not 

 adorn a Country. The Village is well peopled, and is inha- 

 bited only by Chriftians, This Nation is docible, and were at 

 all Times well afteded to the French (a) ; but the MilTionary 

 has no lefs Trouble on their Account, than his Brother of Beck^ 

 ancourt, and for the fame Reafons. 



I was treated here with Maple Juice : This is the Seafon in 

 Cif M /,/ which it is drawn. It is delicious, of won- 

 Jui e derful Coolnefs, and very wholefome. The 



J^^^^* manner of drawing it is very eafy. When 



the Sap begins to rife, they make a Jag or Notch in the Trunk 

 of the Maple, and by the Means of a bit of Wood which they 

 fix in it, the Water runs as by a Spout : This Water is received 

 into a Veffel, which they fet under it. To' make it run plenti- 

 fully, there muft be much Snow upon the Ground, the Night 

 muft be frofry, the Sky clear, and the Wind not too cold. Our 

 Maples would have perhaps the fame Virtue, if we had in France 

 as much Snow as in Canada, and if it lafted as long. By Degrees, 

 as the Sap thickens, it runs lefs, and after fome Time it ftops en- 

 tirely. It is eafy to judge, that after fuch a Bleeding, the Tree 

 is not the more healthy : They affirm, however, that it can bear 

 this many Years together. They would do SStcr perhaps, to 

 (4) Father Jojepb Auhery, 



let 



