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1651-52] RELATION OF 1651-52 213
baggage, and even the boat, in order to go and find
some other river, or make one's way around these
rapids and Torrents ; and it is often necessary to go
on for several leagues, loaded down like mules, and
climbing mountains and descending into valleys,
amid a thousand difficulties and a thousand fears,
and among rocks or amid thickets known only to
unclean animals. At last, by dint of pain and labor,
this Lake is found, appearing of an oval shape, and
fifty leagues in extent, or thereabout. It is swollen
by ten rivers, which fill its basin and serve as highways
to many little Nations—which are scattered in
those great forests, and come to trade with the Sav-
ages who [58] dwell, for a part of the year, on the
shores of this Lake. The latter empties its waters
through four or five channels, which, after running
separately four or five leagues, unite to make a single
river that we call the Sagn6, which comes to discharge
its waters into the great river saint Lawrence
at Tadoussac. But let us come to the details of our
journey. I embarked for that Mission on the i6th
of May, in a company of twelve Canoes that were
going on a trading trip—that is to say, for the
exchange of merchandise — to the tribes of that
beautiful Lake. Every morning and every evening,
without fail, I held public prayers, at which all the
Savages were present.
" On the 19th of May, Whitsuntide, the Christians
erected an altar for me, each one bringing his treas-
ures for its adornment; and when it was decked out
with all our possessions, it was still very poor,
although it produced perhaps more effect than those
brilliants which sparkle with gold and azure light