f 272 ) 



year 1688. " The lives of all the Chriftkns of 

 this miffion are very extraordinary, and the whole 

 village would be taken for a monaftery. As they 

 have quitted the allurements of their native country, 

 entirely to make fure of their falvation, they are all 

 led to the practice of the mo ft perfect resignation, 

 and they preferve amongft them fuch excellent rules 

 for their fanctirication that nothing can be added to 

 them." 



This village was at firft placed in the meadow d& 

 la Madeleire, about a league lower than the Fall of 

 St. Lewis on the fouth-fide. But the foil being 

 found improper for the culture of maiz, it was 

 tranfported to a place oppofite to the Fall itfelf, from 

 whence it has taken the name it ftill bears, though 

 it has been carried from thence a few years ago a 

 league higher up. I have already obferved, that its 

 fituation is charming, that the church, and the 

 houfe of the mifiionaries, are two of the fineft edi- 

 fices in this country, which makes me imagine* 

 that they have taken fuch good meafures as not to 

 be obliged to make a new tranfmigration. 



On my arrival here, I had laid my account with 

 departing immediately after the feftivals *, but no- 

 thing is more fubjecl to difappointments of all kinds 

 than this manner of travelling. I am, therefore, 

 ftill uncertain as to the day of my departure ; and 

 as in fuch voyages as mine, advantage is to be ta- 

 ken of every occurrence, I (hall now make the beft 

 ufe I can of this prefent delay. 1 have fpent my 

 time in the company of fome old miffionaries, who 

 have lived a long time among the Indians, and I 

 fhall now, Madam, give you an account of what 

 I have heard from them concerning the different 

 nations inhabiting this immenfe continent. 



The 



