VOLUME V

With this volume begins the actual settlement of Canada, in other words the first few settlers who came for the purpose of tilling the soil arrived during the early summer of 1634. They were married people with children, ail from the province of Perche, inured to work in the field, experts at clearing the forest, and each man possessing besides a trade of his own, such as that of carpenter, mason, or harnessmaker. No immigrants of that class had yet been seen on the shores of the St. Lawrence. The little fort at Québec, in a dilapidated state, was handed over by the English to the agents of the Hundred Partners, July 13th, 1632, and the French were again in possession of Canada. Fathers Le Jeune and De Noue had arrived from France eight days before, much exhausted by a voyage of seventy-eight days. "The size of our cabins," says Father Le Jeune, "was such that we could not stand upright, kneel, or sit down ; and, what is worse, during the rain, the water fell at times upon my face. Father- De Noue's feet and hands were frozen. I had a pain in my head or breast and a keen thirst, because we ate nothing but salted food, and there was no fresh water upon our vessel."

The first sight of the Indians, at Tadoussac, caused him a deep astonishment. He had evidently quite a fanci-

1 This volume is equal in value to any of the three which hâve preceeded it, and that is high praise.

fui idea of them, and probably a poetical one, which soon vanished from his imagination. "It seemed to me that I was looking at those maskers who run about in France in Carnival time." Thèse Tadoussac people had recently gone against the Iroquois and they were in the act of torturing several prisoners of that nation brought back after the raid. This not only roused the feeling of the good missionary but also caused the Frenchmen to fear the vengeance of the Iroquois at some future moment. The father realizes the horror of his situation, and adds calmly: "I am hère like the pioneers who go ahead to dig the trenches ; after them come brave soldiers, who besiege and take the place." His letter shows his power of observation in ail that can be seen of Canada at that time. The Indians, he thinks, should be civilized a little at least before attempting to teach them religious duties ; the French themselves might learn how to make a living in this country before trying to dominate it. Ail the wise things he writes from the fîrst hour of his arrivai hère are worth reading. There is an excellent portrait of Father Le Jeune prefaced to the volume, and also other illustrations. The notes and explanations are abundant and valuable.