Travels in North America. 241 



Bark, fixed up like the Umbrello of a Window, and they never 

 Ihut cîofe. Thefe Cabins have neither Chimnies nor Windows, 

 but they leave an Opening in the Middle of the Roof, by which 

 Part of the Smoke goes out, which they are obliged to fhut when 

 it rains or fnows ; and then they mult put out the Fire, if they 

 will not be blinded with the Smoke. 



The Savages fortify themfelves better than they lodge : We 

 The Mann'^r of ^^^^ Villages pretty well palifiadoed with 

 f tif in ^^^tbem where they always take Care to 



jor ijying em- j^iake a good Provifion of Water and 

 J^"^^^' Stones. The PaliiTadoes are even double, 



and fometimes treble, and have commonly Battlements at the 

 laft Enclofure* The Polls they are compofed of are interwoven 

 with Branches of Trees, that leave no Place open. This was 

 fufficient to fupport a long Siege, before thefe People knew the 

 Ufe of Fire Arms. Every Village has a pretty large open Place, 

 but it is feldom of a regular Figure. 



Formerly the Iroquois built their Cabins much better than the 

 other Nations, and than they do themfelves at prefent : They 

 fometimes wrought Figures in Relievo on their Cabins, tho' the 

 Work was very rude ; but fin ce in feveral Incurfions their Ene- 

 mies have burnt almofl all their Villages, they have not taken the 

 Pains to re-eftablifh them in their firft State. But if thefe People take 

 fo little Pains to procure the Conveniencies of Life in the Places of 

 their ordinary Refidence, what can we think of their Encamp-* 

 ings in their Travels, and their Winter Quarters. An antient 

 Miffionary (a)y who to lay himfelf under a Neceffity of leani* 

 ing the Language of the Mo7itagnais, would accompany them 

 in their Hunting during the Winter, has given us an Account 

 of it, which I lhall transcribe almofl Word for Word. 



Thefe Savages inhabit a Country very wild and uncultivated A 



Ofthei Winter much as that which they chufe fo^ 



J ^^r in r their Hunting. You muft march a long Time 

 ^^r^* before you come to it, and you mull carry on 



your Back all you W5.nt for five or fix Months, through Ways 

 fometimes fo frightful, that one can't conceive how the wild 

 Creatures can come here. If they had not the Precaution to fur- 

 nifh themfelves with the Bark of Trees, they would have no- 

 thing to defend them from the Snow and Rain during the Jour- 

 ney. As foon as they arrive at the Place propofed, they accom- 

 modate themfelves a little better ; but thisfconfifls only in not 

 being expofed continually to ail the Injuries of the Air. 



Every Body is employed for this End ; and the MilTion^ries, 

 who at firil had no Body to ferve them, and for whoM 



(a ) Father Paul le Jetmc* 



the 



