30

FIRST SETTLEMENT AT ONONDAGA,

27th. We coasted along the shores of the lake; they are rocks on one side and the other, of animmense height, now frightful, now pleasing to the sight. It is wonderful how large trees can findroot among so many rocks.

28th. Thunder, lightning and a deluge of rain oblige us to shelter ourselves under our canoe,which being inverted, serves us for a house.

29th and 30th July. A rain storm continues, which arrests us at the entrance of a great lake,called Ontario. We call it the Lake of the Iroquois , because they have their villages on the southside there. The Hurons are on the other shore, farther on in the interior. This lake is twentyleagues wide; its length about forty.

31st. St. Ignatius’day. The rain and storm force us to seek for lost roads. We cross longislands, carrying our baggage, provisions and canoe on our shoulders. The road seems long to apoor weary man.

On the first day of the month of August, some Iroquois fishermen having perceived us from adistance, get together to receive us. One of them runs towards us, advancing a half a league tocommunicate the earliest news and the state of the country. It is a Huron prisoner, and a goodChristian, whom I formerly instructed during a winter that I passed among the savages. This poorlad could not believe that it was he whom he never hoped to see again. We disembarked at a littlevillage of fishermen. They crowd as to who shall carry our bagage. But alas! they are apparentlyonly Huron squaws, and for the most part Christian women, formerly rich and at their ease, whomcaptivity has reduced to servitude. They requested me to pray to God , and I had the consolationto confess there at my leisure Hostagehtak, our antient host of the Petun Nation. His sentimentsand devotion drew tears from my eyes; he is the fruit of the labors of Father Charles Gamier, thatholy missionary whose death has been so precious before God .

The second day of August. We walked about twelve to fifteen leagues in the woods. We campwhere the day closes.

The 3d. At noon we find ourselves on the bank of a river, one hundred or one hundred andtwenty paces wide, beyond which there was a hamlet of fishermen. An Iroquois whom I at one timehad treated kindly at Montreal , put me across in his canoe, and through respect carried me on hisshoulders, being unwilling to suffer me to wet my feet. Every one received me with joy, and thesepoor people enriched me from their poverty. I was conducted to another village a league distant,where there was a young man of consideration who made a feast for me because I bore his father’sname, Ondessonk. The Chiefs came to harangue us, the one after the other. I baptized littleskeletons who awaited, perhaps, only this drop of the precious blood of Jesus Christ .

4th. They ask me why we are dressed in black 1 and I take occasion to speak to them of ourmysteries with great attention They bring me a little moribund whom I call Dominick. The timeis passed when they used to hide the little innocents from us. They took me for a great Medicine-man, having no other remedy for the sick but a pinch of sugar. We pursued our route—in themiddle of which we found our dinner waiting for us. The nephew of the first Chief of the country,who is to lodge me in his cabin, is deputed by his uncle to escort us, bringing us every delicacy thatthe season could alford, especially new corn bread, and ears (of corn) which we had roasted at thefire. We slept again that day by the beautiful light of the stars.

5th. We had to make four leagues before arriving at the principal Onondaga village. There isnothing but comers and goers on the road who come to salute me. One treats me as brother; anotheras uncle—never did I have such a number of relations. A quarter of a league from the village Ibegan a harangue, which gained me much credit. I named all the Chiefs; the families and personsof note in a drawling voice and with the tone of a chief. I told them that Peace walked along withme ; that I drove War afar off among the distant nations, and that Joy accompanied me. Two Chiefs