OF A
T O
Undertaken by ORDER of the
F R E N C H K I N G.
C O N T A I N I N G
The GEOGRAPHICAL Description and Natural
History of that Country, particularly
T O G E T H E R W I T H
An Account of the C U S T O M S, C H A R A C T E R S,
R E L I G I O N, M A N N E R S and T R A D I T I O N S
of the original Inhabitants.
In a Series of Letters to the Duchess of LESDIGUIERES.
Translated from the French of P. DE CHARLEVOIX.
V O L. II.
L O N D O N:
Printed for R. and J. DODSLEY, in Pall-Mall.
MDCCLXI.
Journal of a Voyage to North-America
couching close to the ground, approached me as softly as possible. He was just going to fire, when I likewise began to think I saw somewhat, but without being able to distinguish what it was. As I could not doubt however that this must be some of my people I asked him whether he took me for a bear; he made no answer, and when I came up to him I found him quite speechless, and like a person seized with horror at the thoughts of what he was going to do. His comrades afterwards told me all that had happened.
The river St. Joseph is so commodious for the commerce of all parts of Canada, that it is no wonder it has always been much frequented by the Indians. Besides it waters an extreme fertile country, but this is not what there people esteem it most for. It is even great pity to give them good lands; which they either make no use of at all, or soon run out by sowing maize on them. The Mascoutins had not long since a Settlement on this river, but have returned back to their own country which is said to be still finer than this. The Poutewatamies have occupied successively several Posts here where they still are; their village is on the same side with the fort, a little below it and on a very fine spot of ground: that of the Miamis is on the other side of the river.
These Indians, who have from the earliest times applied themselves more than others to the study of medicine, make great account of the root ginseng, and are persuaded that this plant has the virtue of rendering women fruitful. I do not believe however that it is for this reason they have given it the name of Abesoatchenza which signifies a child; it owes this name at least amongst the Iroquois
H 2