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at, and wishing to let him see he entertained a respect 
for him as a Frenchman, rather than a Catholic priest, 
gave him to understand at once, that there was not 
the slightest prospect of success for him. A private 
hint of the kind was not, however, considered suffi¬ 
ciently respectful. He therefore assembled his wives 
and family, in order to make a public harangue on the 
occasion, to convince the priest that nothing he could 
say would induce him to altar his mode of living, or 
renounce his ancient customs. 
“ I pity thy folly,” said he, “ in wishing, that at my 
age, I should sacrifice my happiness and the pleasures 
which surround me in my donac to thy will. I pity 
thee too, for being deprived of that which soothes the 
cares of life. You will permit me to live with one 
woman ;—but if the possession of one woman be a 
good, why is the possession of a numerous seraglio an 
evil, when peace and harmony prevail amongst those 
who compose it? Dost thou see any symptoms of 
jealousy, or seeds of hatred amongst us? No; all 
my women are good ; they all endeavour to render 
me happy; and I am more their slave than their 
master. 
“ But if thy maxims be so useful and necessary, 
why do not thy countrymen at the Fort follow them ? 
They ought to know much better than I, the merit 
and value of thy words. Believe me, my good friend, 
I will not deceive thee : it is impossible for me to 
change my customs : I will never quit them but with 
my life. I, however, give thee leave to exercise thy 
