travels in North America. 63 



tKelefs famous in the Annals of Canada ; and it looks as if tke 

 Iroquois had attempted it twice, contrary to their Cullom, only to 

 difplay the Valour and Intrepidity of two Amazons. 



In 1 6go, thefe Savages being informed that Madam Fercheres 

 r> n Aci- wâs almoft alone in her P'ort, approached it 

 Gallant ABions ^i^j^^ut being feen, and attempted to fcale 

 xift^o Canadian Pallifadoes : Some Mufket Shot that were 

 L'^^^^^' fired to good Purpoie, upon the firft Noife 



they made, difperfed them ; but they foon returned, and they 

 were again repulfed ; and what fuprifed them the more was, that 

 they faw only a Woman, and her they faw every where. This 

 was Madam de Vercheres, who kept up as good a Countenance 

 as if fhe had had a numerous Garrifon. The Hope which the Be-» 

 fiegers had conceived at firft, to take a Place eafily, which they 

 knew was without Men, made them return feveral Times to the 

 Charge ; but the Lady with the Help of the Women with her , 

 always beat them off. She fought in this Manner two Days, , 

 with fuch Bravery and Prefence of Mind, as would have done 

 Honour to an old W^arrior ; and at lafr Ihe obliged the Enemy 

 to retire, for Fear of having their Retreat cut off, greatly 

 aihamed of being forced to fly before a Woman. 



Two Years af'ter another Party of the fame Nation, much 

 more numerous than the other, appeared in Sight of the fame 

 Eort, whilft all the Inhabitants were abroad ^ and the greateâ; 

 Part employed in the Fields. The Iroquois finding them thus 

 difperfed, without any Sufpicion of an Enemy, feized them all 

 one after another, then marched tovv^ards the Fort, The Daugh- 

 ther of the Lord, who was at moft but fourteen Years old, was 

 about two hundred Paces off' the Fort. At the firft Cry ihe heard, 

 {he ran to get in : The Savages purfued her, and one of them 

 came up with her jufl as Ihe got to the Door; but having feized 

 her by a Handkerchief that was about her Neck^ fhe let it flip 

 from her, and fo got in, and fhut to the Gate* 



There was nobody in the Fort but a young Soldier and a 

 Company of Women ; who, at the Sight of their Hufbands whom 

 the Savages w^ere binding and carrying away Prifoners, fent 

 forth moll lamentable Cries. The young Lady loft neither her 

 Judgment nor Courage. She began by pulling off her Cap, 

 fhe tied up her Hair, put on a Hat and a Jacket, and locked up 

 all the Women, whofe Cries and Tears could but encourage 

 the Enemy. Then fhe fired a Cannon and fome Mufket Shot, 

 and fhewing herfelf with her Soldier fometimes in one Redoubt, 

 and fometimes in another, changing frequently their Drefs, and 

 iiring to good Purpofe whenever Ihe faw the Iroquois approach the 

 Pallifade, the Savages fancied there were many People in the 

 Fort) and when the Chevalier de Cri/ay, upon hearing the firing, 



