The Sport is not there as in those Countries from whence we came; but on the Contrary, very poor, and we found Nothing but some very lean Wild Goats, and even those very rarely, because the Wolves, which are very numerous there, make great Havock of them, taking and devouring great Numbers after this Manner.
When the Wolves have discover’d a Herd of Wild Goats, they rouse and set them a running. The Wild Goats never fail to take to the first Lake they meet with. The hunting Wolves, who are used to that, guard the Banks carefully, moving along the Edges of them. The poor Goats being pierc’d by the Cold of the Lake, grow weary and so get out, or else the River swelling forces them out with its Waves, quite benumm’d, so that they are easily taken by their Enemies, who devour them. We frequently saw those Wolves watching along the Side of the Lake, and kept off to avoid frightning them, to the End the Wild Goats might not quit their Sanctuary, that we might catch some of them, as it sometimes fell out.
The 28th, we arriv’d among the _Poutouatannis_, which is half Way to _Micilimaquinay_, where we purchas’d some _Indian_ Corn for the rest of our Voyage. We left there on the last of the month, and we arrived on the 10th of May at the said place of _Michilimackinac_. We found no News there from _Montreal_, and were forc’d to stay some Time to wait an Opportunity to go down the River; No Man daring to venture, because of the War with the _Iroquois_.
[Sidenote: Hurons _and_ Outahouacs _Nations_.]
There are some _French_ Men in that Place, and four _Jesuits_, who have a House well built with Timber, inclosed with Stakes and Palisades. There are also some _Hurons_ and _Outahouacs_, two Neighbouring Nations, whom those Fathers take Care to instruct, not without very much Trouble, those People being downright Libertines, and there are very often none but a few Women in their Churches. Those Fathers have each of them the Charge of instructing a Nation, and to that Effect have translated the Prayers into the Language peculiar to each of them, as also all other Things relating to the Catholick Faith and Religion.
They offer’d Father _Anastasius_ and Monsieur _Cavelier_ a Room, which they accepted of, and we took up our Lodging in a little Hovel some Travellers had made. There we continued the rest of _May_ and Part of _June_, till after the Feast of _Whitsontide_. The Natives of the Country about, till the Land and sow _Indian_ Corn, Melons and Gourds, but they do not thrive so well as in the Country we came from. However they live on them, and besides they have Fish they catch in the Lake, for Flesh is very scarce among them.