Voyages of Peter Esprit Radisson | Page 3

entitled, "The Second Voyage,
made in the Upper Country of the Irokoits." He landed in Canada, from
his return voyage from France, on the 17th of May, 1654, and on the
15th set off to see his relatives at Three Rivers. He mentions that "in
my absence peace was made betweene the French and the Iroquoits,
which was the reson I stayed not long in a place. The yeare before the
ffrench began a new plantation in the upper country of the Iroquoits,
which is distant from the Low Iroquoits country some four score
leagues, wher I was prisoner and been in the warrs of that country.... At
that very time the Reverend Fathers Jesuits embarked themselves for a
second time to dwell there and teach Christian doctrine. I offered
myself to them and was, as their custome is, kindly accepted. I prepare
meselfe for the journey, which was to be in June, 1657." Charlevoix
[Footnote: _Charlevoix's History of New France_, Shea's ed., Vol. II. p.
256.] says: "In 1651 occurred the almost complete destruction of the
Huron nation. Peace was concluded in 1653. Father Le Moyne went in
1654, to ratify the treaty of peace, to Onondaga, and told the Indians
there he wished to have his cabin in their canton. His offer was
accepted, and a site marked out of which he took possession. He left
Quebec July 2, 1654, and returned September 11. In 1655 Fathers
Chaumont and Dablon were sent to Onondaga, and arrived there
November 5, and began at once to build a chapel. [Footnote:
_Charlevoix's Hist. of New France_, Shea's ed., Vol. II. p. 263.]
"Father Dablon, having spent some months in the service of the mission
at Onondaga, was sent back to Montreal, 30 March, 1656, for
reinforcements. He returned with Father Francis le Mercier and other
help. They set out from Quebec 7 May, 1656, with a force composed of
four nations: French, Onondagas, Senecas, and a few Hurons. About
fifty men composed the party. Sieur Dupuys, an officer of the garrison,
was appointed commandant of the proposed settlement at Onondaga.
On their arrival they at once proceeded to erect a fort, or block-house,
for their defence.

"While these things were passing at Onondaga, the Hurons on the Isle
Orleans, where they had taken refuge from the Iroquois, no longer
deeming themselves secure, sought an asylum in Quebec, and in a
moment of resentment at having been abandoned by the French, they
sent secretly to propose to the Mohawks to receive them into their
canton so as to form only one people with them. They had no sooner
taken this step than they repented; but the Mohawks took them at their
word, and seeing that they endeavored to withdraw their proposition,
resorted to secret measures to compel them to adhere to it." [Footnote:
_Ibid._, Vol. II. p.278.] The different families of the Hurons held a
council, and "the Attignenonhac or Cord family resolved to stay with
the French; the Arendarrhonon, or Rock, to go to Onondaga; and the
Attignaonanton, or Bear, to join the Mohawks." [Footnote: _Relation
Nouvelle France_, 1657 and _Charlevoix_, Shea's ed., Vol. II. p 280.]
"In 1657 Onondagas had arrived at Montreal to receive the Hurons and
take them to their canton, as agreed upon the year previous." [Footnote:
_Charlevoix_, Shea's ed., Vol. III. p. 13.] Some Frenchmen and two
Jesuits were to accompany them. One of the former was Radisson, who
had volunteered; and the two Jesuits were Fathers Paul Ragueneau and
Joseph Inbert Duperon. The party started on their journey in July, 1657.
The relation of this, the writer's second voyage, is taken up entirely
with the narrative of their journey to Onondaga, his residence at the
mission, and its abandonment on the night of the 20th of March, 1658.
On his way thither he was present at the massacre of the Hurons by the
Iroquois, in August, 1657. His account of the events of 1657 and 1658,
concerning the mission, will be found to give fuller details than those
of Charlevoix, [Footnote: Ibid., Vol. III. p. 13.] and the Jesuit relations
written for those years by Father Ragueneau. Radisson, in concluding
his second narrative, says: "About the last of March we ended our great
and incredible dangers. About fourteen nights after we went downe to
the Three Rivers, where most of us stayed. A month after, my brother
and I resolves to travell and see countreys. Wee find a good opportunity
in our voyage. We proceeded three years; during that time we had the
happiness to see very faire countreys." He says of the third voyage:
"Now followeth the Auxoticiat, or Auxotacicae, voyage into the great
and filthy lake of the hurrons upper sea of the East and bay of the
North." He mentions that "about the