travels in North America. 215 



tire Difcourfe, without forgetting any Thing, or even without 

 Hefitation. Their Narration is clear and exadl ; and though 

 they ufe many Allegories, and other Figures, it is animated, and 

 has all the plealing Turns which their Language affords. 



They have a true and folid Judgment, and go direftly to the 

 Mark in View, without flopping^ without wandering, and with- 

 out being put on a wrong Scents They readily conceive all that 

 is within the Compafs of their Knowledge ; but to put them in 

 a Way of fucceeding in the Arts, without which they have 

 lived hitherto, as they have not the leaft Idea of them, it would 

 require a great deal of Labour ; and the more fo, as they have 

 the higheft Contempt for every Thing which they do not find 

 necefTary, t^af is to fay^ for what we value moft. It would alfo 

 be no fmall Difficulty to make them capable of Reftraint and 

 Application in Things merely fpeculative, or which they Ihould 

 look upon as ufelefs. As to what relates to their own Concerns, 

 they negleél nothing, nor do any Thing precipitately : And 

 though they are fo flow in taking their Refolutions, yet they are 

 as warm and adive in putting them in Execution. This is ob^ 

 ferved efpecially of the Hurons and the Ircquois. They are not 

 only ready at Repartee, but alfo witty. 



An Outaouaisy named John le Blanc, a bad ChriJIian, and a 

 great Drunkard, being afked by Comte de Frontenac, what he 

 thought Brandy was made of, which he loved fo well, faid it was 

 an Extra6l of Tongues and Hearts ; for (added he) when I have 

 drank it, I fear nothing, and I talk to Admiration. 



The greateft Part of them have truly a Noblenefs and an 



CT-v ' . r Equality of Soul, to v;hich we feldcm ar- 

 cf Soul nve, with all the Helps we can obtain from 



* Philofophy and Religion. Always Mailers 



of themfelves, in the moll fudden Misfortunes, we can't per- 

 ceive the leaft Alteration in their Countenances. A Prifoner, 

 %vho knows in what his Captivity will end, or, which is perhaps 

 more furprifing, who is ftill uncertain of his Fate, does not lofe 

 on this Account a Quarter of an Hour's Sleep : Even the £ril: 

 Emotions do not find them at a Fault. 



A Huron Captain was one Day infulted and Uruck by a young 

 Man. Thofe who were prefent, would have punifhed this Au« 

 dacioufnefs on the Spot. Let him alone, (faid the Captain) 



Did not you feel the Earth tremble ? He is fiifficiently informed of 

 " his F oily r 



Their Conftancy in fuifering Pain, is beyond all Exprefîion. 

 Their Con (Î a c ^ y<^ung Woman ihall be a whole Day in 

 in fufferin Pain^ Labour, without making one Cry : If ihe 

 ^ * ihewed the leaf! Weaknefs, they would efteem 

 her unworthy to be a Mother ; becaufe, as they fay, fhe could 



only 



