( m ) 



that they could not think of abandoning a place 

 where the hones of their forefathers were depofited 

 but fome believe, and not without grounds, that 

 this opposition is lefs owing to them, than to fome 

 perfons who reap advantages from their nearnefs to 

 them, and who, certainly do not reflect to what a 

 contemptible confideration they poftpone the falva- 

 tion of thofe Indians. 



I have been juft told, that fome days hence there 

 will be an opportunity of fending this letter to Que- 

 bec, from whence it may foon reach France by way 

 of the Royal Ifland. A 1 will fill up the remaining 

 Ipace with what relates to the huntings of the In- 

 dians \ that of the beaver, as I have already re- 

 marked, was not confldered as a principal object, 

 till they faw the value we fet upon the fpoils of this 

 animal. Before this, the bear held the firft rank 

 with them, and here too fuperftition had the great- 

 er!: mare. The following is what is practifed at this 

 day, among thofe who are not Chriftians, in the 

 hunting of this animal. 



It is always fome war- chief who fixes the time of 

 it, and who takes care to invite the hunters. This 

 invitation, which is made with great ceremony, is 

 followed by a faft of ten days continuance, during 

 which it is unlawful to tafte fo much as a drop of 

 water ; and I muft tell your Grace, by the way, 

 that what the Indians call rafting, is wholly abftain- 

 ing from every fort of food or drink ; nay more, 

 in fpite of the extreme weaknefs to which they are 

 of neceffity reduced by fo fevere a faft, they are 

 always finging the live long day. The reafon of this 

 faft, is to induce the fpirits to difcover the place 

 where a great, number of bears may be found. Se- 

 veral even go a great way farther to obtain this 

 j grace. 



