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1651 - 52] RELA TION OF 163 1 -52 251
package that he was carrying with him. Wert thou
under my authority, or one of my nation, I would
make thee feel the displeasure thou hast occasioned
to the whole country." [84] This poor man, instead
of excusing himself, uttered his own condemnation,—
Savages not easily resisting the truth when
they recognize it, although they do not always follow
it. "It is true," he made answer before all the
assembly; " I have no sense, to have treated so badly
a person to whom I myself am under great obligations.
By his prayers he restored me to health when
I had fallen ill, watching all night at my side and
driving away by his orisons the Demon that wished
to deprive me of life. When he saw that I was
weak, he was not content with carrying his own baggage
or packet in the places where we had to walk,
but he also burdened himself with mine. He obtains
from him who made all things everything that he
wishes : when the water in our course was too low,
he asked for rain to swell the streams, and he was
immediately heard and ourselves much aided. When
we were on the point of dying from hunger, he
prayed for us and he who is the master of ; the animals
gave us meat, more than we needed for the rest
of our journey. He himself did not eat of it, ordi-
narily, when it was fresh, but would catch with his
line, toward night, some little fish, [85] with which
he contented himself, leaving us the good pieces.
When the water was not deep enough, and our Canoe
was in danger of touching bottom, he would get out,
in order to lighten us, and would walk, for six whole
days, through thickets and among frightful rocks.
In these toils he did not eat ; but he would be found
at nightfall fresher, gayer, and happier than we.