VOLUME VL

The years 1633-34 présent the Indian problem under nearly ail its difficult aspects. How to inspire the Montagnais and the Algonquins with a taste for sedentary life, in order to educate them and improve their condition ; or if this is found impossible, what can be done to obtain the

same results notwithstanding their nomadic habits? Father Le Jeune tried earnestly and cleverly to solve the question. It is plain that he understood it in the main ■points, and would hâve corne to some practical resuit — not to say a perfect success — had it not been for the false notions on that subject which prevailed amongst the patrons or benefactors in France, concerned in the missions of Canada. It is true that a long expérience in this matter has shown us the impossibility of modifying the roaming Indian, but at the commencement of the colony Father Le Jeune had no means of comparison and he showed himself more compétent than any man of his day to deal in a reasonable way with this insurmountable obstacle. Next he explains his views in regard to the Huron tribes, quite a différent sort of Savages from those of Tadoussac and Québec, on account of their commercial organization and their sedentary character. This, of course, induced the above mentioned "patrons" to turn their attention to Upper Canada and to neglect the roving bands of the lower Province, but to no better advantage, for it had the effect to send the missionaries too far away from the base of opérations, which was Québec, and in a few months it brought the fighting Iroquois to the Huron villages. A third considération was the Iroquois themselves, a powerful foe standing on the westward route, and which could only be subdued by the use of troops ; but the Hundred Partners never attended to this part of their duty, and left the Jesuits, in fact the whole colony, without any help against the invaders.^

2 This volume contains a mass of information upon the life and customs of the Indians. It is one of the most remarkable of the séries.