Libr@rsi

1656 - 58] RELA TION OF 1656 -57 31
forests, be careful not to harm those who compose
this Embassy. And ye Trees [173] that are laden
with years, and that will soon be cast down to the
earth by old age, delay your fall, and involve not in
your ruin those who go to prevent the ruin of the
Provinces and of the Nations." He also addressed a
commendatory harangue
the provisions for the journey, praising their courage
and perseverance.
to the women who carried
On their arrival at the Village, after harangues and
compliments on both sides, they were taken into the
cabins assigned to them. There they were told at
first that, because of the Onnonhouaroia, which is a
kind of Carnival among those peoples, they could
not be offered anything to eat, and that an effort
would be made to shorten the ceremony on their
account. This was done soon afterward, the Elders
obtaining its postponement to another time.
The first day was passed in receiving the visits of
the old Huron Christians and the civilities of the
Onneiouthronnons, who frequently repeated this
' '
compliment to the French : O my Fathers, what
[174] trouble you have taken to come and see your
children !
" On the same day, they gave and received
various small presents of slight importance, such as
were only exchanged between individuals.
On the following day, which was set apart for the
solemn presents, the Father, who was the spokesman,
spread out twenty, giving an explanation of each
one, especially of the three finest. One of them was
given to adopt the Onneiouthronnons as the children
of Onnontio; and the two others, to instruct them
in the Faith. Thereupon, the Father explained our
mysteries to them, exhorting them to recognize the