C 97 ) 



On Sunday the 22d> we came to an anchor in 

 the traverle of the Ifle of Orleans, where we went 

 afhore whilft we waited the return of the tide. I 

 found the country here pleafant, the lands good, 

 and the planters in tolerable good circum (lances. 

 They have the character of being fomething addict- 

 ed to witchcraft, and they are applied to, in order 

 to know what is to happen, or what pafies in dif- 

 tant places. As for inftance, when the fhips ex- 

 pected from France are later than ordinary, they 

 are confulted for intelligence concerning them, and 

 it has been afferted that their anfwers have been 

 fometimes pretty juft ; that is to fay, that having 

 guefled once or twice right enough, and having for 

 their own diverfion made it be believed that they 

 fpoke from certain knowledge, it has been imagin- 

 ed that they confulted with the devil. 



When James Cartier difcovered this ifland he 

 found it entirely covered with vines, from whence 

 he called it the Ifle of Bacchus. This navigator 

 was of Brittany after him came certain Normans, 

 who grubbed up the vines, and in the place of Bac- 

 chus fubftituted Pomona and Ceres. In effect, it 

 produces good wheat and excellent fruits. They 

 begin alfo to cultivate tobacco on it, which is far 

 from being bad. At length on Monday the 23d, 

 the Camel anchored before Quebec, whither I had 

 gone two hours before in a canoe of bark. I have 

 a voyage of a thoufand leagues to make in thefe 

 frail vehicles, I muft therefore accuflom myfelf to 

 them by degrees. And now, Madam, thefe are the 

 circumftances of my voyage, which I have been 

 able to recollect ; they are, as you fee, trifles, which 

 at moft might be good enough to amufe perfons, 

 who have nothing to do on board fhip. I jfhall, 

 perhaps, afterwards have fomething more interefl- 



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