Travels in North America. 27:^ 



As to what they fay, that in making a Settlement at the 

 Streight, we fhould bring the Fur Trade of the North nearer to 

 the Englijh ; there is no Perfon in Caiiada who does not own that 

 we fhall never fucceed in hindering the Savages from carrying- 

 their Merchandize to them, in whatfoever Place we make our Set- 

 tlements, and whatever Precautions we take, if they do not iind 

 the fame Advantages with us as they find at 'Ne^xiTork.—! could 

 fay many Things to you. Madam, on this Subjeél ; but thefe 

 Difcuflions would carry m& too far. We ,will talk of this fome 

 Day at our Leifure. 



The 7th of June^ which was the Day after my Arrival at the 

 ^ '1 r- 1 Fort, M. de Tonti, who is the Commandant, 

 Sa^TeNatilTa't ^^^^^^^^ the Chiefs of the three Villages Î 

 theffrlofl^etYCÀt ^^^^ before mentioned, to communicate to 

 f^-heXm-Z'/ J them the Orders he had jull received from the 

 Mzrquis de FaudreuiL They heard him pa- 

 tiently, without interrupting him ; and when he had finiihed, 

 the Huron Orator told him in few Words, that they were going 

 to deliberate on what he had propofed to them, and they would 

 return him an Anfwer in a Ihort Time. — It is the Cuftom of 

 thefe People, never to give an Anfwer Qire(£lly, when it concerns 

 a Matter of fome Importance. Two Days after, they re-af- 

 fembled in a greater Number at the Commandant's, v>^ho deiired 

 me to be prefent at this Council with the Officers of the Gàrri- 

 fon. Safieratjt^ who is called by our Fre?ich People, the King cf 

 the Huronsy and who is actually the hereditary Chief of the Tî- 

 §nnontatez, who are the true Hiirons^ was prefent that Day : Bujt ' 

 as he is ftill under Age, he only came for Form : His Uncle, 

 who governs for him, and who is called the P.egenfj v/as Spokef- 

 man, as being the Orator of the Nation : And the Honour of 

 fpeaking for all, is commonly given by Preference to the Hurons^ 

 when there are any in a Council. At the firft Sight of thefe A f- 

 femblies, one is apt to form a mean Idea of them. — Imagine 

 that you fee. Madam, a Dozen of Savages alm^oil naked, their 

 Hair fet in as many different Forms, and all ridiculous ; fome 

 with lac'd Hats on, and every one a Pipe in his Mouth, and look- 

 ing like People that have no Thought at all. It is much if any 

 one drops a Word in a Qiiarter of an Hour, and if they anfwer 

 him by fo much as a Monoiyiiable : Neither is there any Marks of 

 Dillindlion, nor Precedency in their Seats. But w^eare quite of 

 another Opinion, v/hen we fee the Refult of their Deliberations- 

 Two Points were confidered here, which the Governor had 

 much at Heart. The iiril vv^as, to make the three Villages be 

 contented without any more Brandy, the Sale of which had beexi 

 entirely prohibited by the Council of the Marine. The fécond 

 was, to engage ail the Nations to unite with thti Freîich to rle- 



ilray 



