Travels in North America. 105 



trcmely brave and dexterous, they might be rendered very fér- 

 viceable for War, for the Sea, and for the Arts ; and I believe it 

 would be for the Good of the State to promote their Increafe 



more than has hitherto been done, Men are the principal 



Riches of a Sovereign ; and Canada, though it could be of no 

 other Ufe to France, but for this Purpofe, would ftill be, if it was 

 well peopled, one of the moft important of our Colonies. 



/ am, &c. 



LETTER X. 



0/* />^^ Iroquois Village, Of the V a-ll of .hovi^ ; andof the 

 different People 'who inhabit Canada. 



Madam, Fall of St. Louis, Mî)^ 21. 



THIS Village was at firll placed by St. Magdalen's Mea- 

 dow, about a League lower than the Fall of St. Louis, to- 

 wards the South. The Lands not being found fit for producing 

 Maiz, it was removed over-againft the Fall itfelf, from whence 

 it took the Name it flill bears, though it has been removed again 

 a few Years ago a League ftill higher. I have already faid that 

 its Situation is charming, that the Church and the Houfe of the 

 Miflionaries are two of the fineft Buildings in the Country 

 from which we may conclude, that efFedlual Meafures have been 

 taken not to be obliged to make more Removals. I reckoned, 

 when I came here, to go away immediately after the Eafer Ho- 

 lidays ; but nothing is more fubjedl to Difappointments of all 

 Kinds, than thefe Sort of Journies. I am yet uncertain of the 

 Day of my Departure ; and as we muft make Advantage of 

 every Thing, when v/e make fuch Excuriions as mine, I have 

 endeavoured to make Ufe of this Delay : I have pafTed the 

 Time in converfing with fome antient Miffionaries, who have 

 lived a long Time with the Savages, and have had from them 

 many Particulars concerning various People who inhabit this 

 vail Continent ; which. Madam, I fhall now communicate to 

 you. 



The firll Land of America that we meet with coming fromi 



f^r ^1 7 1 L' France to Canada, is the Ifiand of Ne^a: found- 

 Uf the Inhabi' . . r .1 i /i . 1 



tayits of New largeit that we know. It 



foundland. ' could never be known for Certainty, whe- 

 ther It had any Native Inhabitants : Its Bar- 

 rennefs, fuppofmg it every where as real as it is thought to be, 

 is not a fafficient Proof that it has had no Native Inhabitants ; 



P for 



