( 128 ) 



you fee villages furrounded with a good palifado, 

 and with redoubts, and they are very careful to 

 iay in a proper provifion of water and ftones. 

 Thefe palifadoes are double, and even fometimes 

 treble, and have generally battlements on the out- 

 ward circumvallation. The piles of which they 

 are compofed, are interwoven with branches of 

 trees, without any void fpace between. This fort 

 of fortification was fufficient to fuftain a long fiege 

 whilft the Indians were ignorant of the ufe of fire- 

 arms. Every village has a pretty large fquare, but 

 thefe are feidom regular. 



Formerly the Iroquois built their cabbins in a 

 better manner than the other nations, and even 

 than themfelves do at this day ; thefe were adorn- 

 ed with figures in relievo, but of very coarfe work- 

 manfhip •, and as almoft all their towns have been 

 fince burned in different expeditions, they have not 

 taken the trouble to rebuild them with their former 

 magnificence. Notwithftanding, if thefe nations 

 are fo little curious in procuring themfelves the 

 conveniencies of life, in the places of their ordi- 

 nary refidence, what may we think of their en- 

 campments on journeys, and in their wintering 

 places ? An ancient miftionary, who in order to 

 oblige himfelf to learn the language of the Mon- 

 tagnais, would needs follow them in one of their 

 winter huntings, gives a defcription of them, 

 which I am going to give you almoft word for 

 word. 



Thefe Indians inhabit a country extremely rude 

 and uncultivated, but not quite fo much fo, as 

 that which they make choice of to go a hunting in. 

 You mnft travel a long way, before you arrive at 

 it, and at the fame time, carry on your back every 



