( I 3° ) 



the wind. Under fhelter of this parapet, they 

 fleep as tranquilly on thefe branches, covered with 

 a wretched coverlet of fkin, as in the beft bed in 

 s the world j it is true the miffionaries had much 

 difficulty to accuftom themfeives to this way of 

 life, but fatigue and neceffity foan compelled them 

 to it. The cafe is not entirely the fame with 

 refpect to the fmoke, which almoft continually 

 fills the upper part of the cabbin in fuch a manner* 

 that one cannot Hand upright in it, without .having 

 one's head in a thick cloud of it. This is no man- 

 ner of grievance to an Indian who is from his in- 

 fancy accuftomed to fit or lie, all the time they 

 are within doors ; but it is really a fevere punilh- 

 ment to a Frenchman, who cannot bear fuch a 

 Hate of inaction. 



Befides the wind, which as I have already re- 

 marked, enters on all fides, blows with fuch a 

 piercing cold, that one fide freezes whilft you are 

 choaked and roafted on the other. And often you 

 cannot fee two or three feet from you, you weep 

 almoft your eyes out, and fometimes you are 

 obliged to lie flat on your face, and almoft with 

 your mouth clofe to the ground, to fetch a little 

 breath : the fhorteft way would be to go out, but 

 for mod of the time this is impoflible ; fometimes 

 becaufe it fnows fo thick as to darken the day> 

 and at other times on account of a wind fo pierce- 

 ing that it almoft peels the fkin off one's face, and 

 fplits the trees in the forefts. Notwithstanding 

 a miffionary is obliged to fay his office, to cele- 

 brate mafs, and to perform all the other* functions 

 of his miniftry. To all thefe inconveniencies we 

 muft add one more, which though it may appear 

 very fmall at firft, is really very confiderable, and 



