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Fr. Vincent de Paul >> Memoir
We found a new plantation made by the Indians, that is to say, some
tracts of cultivated land, some animals and some frames of houses.
The Indians received us with great joy, especially when they learned
that we were two priests who came to visit them; but in nearing their
habitations we were exposed to great danger from the horns of a bull
that was ferocious and was in the habit of rushing at passers by. God
delivered us from this peril also, although the animal in question
was quite near to us.
These Indians set before us for our supper, tea, milk, butter,
potatoes and some fruit that resembled small apples (petites pommes).
We were hungry and tired. We ate with good appetites, and were
anxious to retire for the night. But what beds! Appropriate truly for
a Trappist. They were made of grass and of branches of trees thrown
on the ground. And what a house! It had no chimney and scarcely any
roof, so that we were all night exposed to the snow and rain which
was falling. My companion who was suffering from lung complaint was
injured by this, while for my part, I shivered all night and could
not get warm, although quite near to a fire that had been kindled in
the centre of the cabin.
The next morning we rose before daybreak and baptized several Micmac
children, (for these Indians were of the same nation as those of Nova
Scotia) and confessed others. After that we prepared to re-cross the
lake, which was not easy, as the sea was still very high.
Another time that I started on a mission to this same Cape (Breton)
the Indians who conducted me in a canoe perceived three monstrous
fish called _maraches_, and they were frightened, as these fish
are very dangerous. Their teeth are made like gardiners' knives, for
cutting and boring, or like razors slightly bent. They are extremely
voracious, and often follow boats, attacking them with violence. Bark
canoes cannot resist them, they rend them open with their teeth, so
that they sink to the bottom, which is why the Indians have such a
terror of them. Happily for us these fish did not follow us, we
arrived, thank God, in good health.
Tracadie was usually my starting place when I left for the Indian
mission of Cape Breton. I had from eighteen to twenty leagues to
journey by water, making long circuits and paddling round twelve or
fifteen little islands, and passing near many others. Nevertheless it
only takes one day to make the journey in a bark canoe, that is if
the wind be not contrary. The Micmacs of the Cape (Breton) knowing
that I was on the road and would soon arrive at the mission
[Footnote: This place is called "Mission" or "The Mission of the Bras
d'or," because it is there that the missionaries are accustomed to
confess, baptize and administer the Sacraments to the Indians, and to
those who present themselves to receive them. It is a pretty little
island on which they have built a nice chapel, and a house
sufficiently commodious for the priest.] would all gather there to
the number of five or six hundred. On the occasion referred to above,
three canoes came to meet us. (I was then accompanied by another
missionary). This was to do honor to us, to show respect and
gratitude. When we approached near to the island two of these canoes
were sent on ahead to announce to the king that we would arrive
immediately, The king had all his braves armed (for they all have
guns) and the moment we landed he commanded them to fire, after which
he formed them into two lines and made them kneel to receive our
benediction; they then rose and we passed between them. They
accompanied us to the church where we chanted the _Te Deum_, or
rather it was chanted by themselves in thanksgiving for our arrival.
This is about the ordinary ceremony to honor the arrival of a
missionary. When the mission was opened, after having implored the
light of the Holy Spirit, they all confessed, and a great number
received Holy Communion. I made the Stations of the Cross partly in
their own Micmac language. I know that they understood me by the
signs that they made, as well as by their devout appearance in
following the procession. Afterwards each one came to make the
Stations himself the best way he could. This went on for six days,
during which time I left the pictures of the Stations in the church.
I put a high indulgence on their crosses, crucifixes, beads, &c., by
virtue of a power that I received from Rome since I came on this
mission. Some Indians had given bad example and had openly sinned;
these made public reparation, promising to correct themselves and
praying the king, who was present in the church, to punish them, if
they again fell into the same fault. I was obliged to leave, and had
not time to erect fourteen large crosses which I had intended to
place in the middle of the island to serve as a Calvary. They,
themselves, made three crosses, probably by this time they have set
them up (as I instructed them how to do) before leaving.
The Cape Breton Indians are the best of all the Micmacs, they are
sober, obedient to their priests, exact in the observance of the
smallest articles of religion (if indeed there be any small). It is
true that they are ignorant, but this is pardonable in them because of
the difficulty of their language. One day I had given Communion to an
old squaw who was ill. They were all alarmed as she was not fasting
when she received; they thought that both the priest and the squaw had
been guilty of great disrespect to the Blessed Sacrament. In order to
quiet them, I said to them in Micmac: "_Kijidou_," which means: "Be
easy, there is no harm in that, it is permitted, I know what I have to
do." Immediately they looked at each other and smiled, their
consciences at rest. The missionary who was with me once said to them:
"I want you to make me a road in the woods one or two miles long." The
next day, very early in the morning, one or two hundred Indians, each
armed with a hatchet, began to cut down the trees, and at the close of
the day the road was finished. This incident alone will serve to
illustrate their good will and devotion.
During the five years and a half in which I worked at the holy
ministry in this second mission, I had consolations and God delivered
me from many dangers besides those of which I have spoken. One winter
when I went to one of the three Acadian parishes to hold a mission
there, I fell between two large cakes of very thick ice; this was on
the sea, for every winter in this part of the world the water freezes
sufficiently to allow a man and even a horse and sleigh to pass over
it. A young man with whom I was travelling, came to my assistance,
and by his help, but more by the help of God, I drew myself out. I
was safe, but very wet and benumbed with cold. Some days after I was
seized with a violent sore throat, which I attributed to the accident
that had happened to me a short time previously. Many times I have
been on foot and on horseback night and day, going on sick calls in
the most severe weather. I have walked upon the frozen sea on one
day, and have passed the same place on the day following and seen
that it would not then bear me, and should I have attempted to cross
it then, I would have perished. When the navigation was open, almost
all the journeys rendered necessary, by the wants of my people, I
made by sea, sometimes going in a boat, sometimes in a larger vessel.
Besides the general risk that one always runs on this perfidious
element, I have often experienced bad weather and long and perilous
passages, but the Lord has preserved me in the midst of the waters. I
must not omit to mention a most critical moment when Monseigneur
Plessis, Bishop of Quebec, with several other priests and myself were
in danger of losing our lives in 1815, while going by sea to
Chezzetcook, a parish situated twenty-one miles from Halifax, and of
which I have already spoken. Monseigneur, two priests and myself,
were in the same boat, we had just quitted a long boat that had
brought us from the town to the harbor. We were about landing, but
had still some breakers to avoid. Two totally unexperienced young
Englishmen who were rowing us led us suddenly into grave danger. The
sea rose very high, and we found ourselves crossing the breakers, so
that we momentarily expected to have our boat upset and ourselves
sent head over heels into the midst of the waters. All who saw us, or
knew of our situation, thought that we ran the greatest risk; but we
held on, thanks to Providence, who arranges all, and nothing was lost
but my hat, which was struck by a breaker and carried into the sea.
Not only has divine Providence often delivered me in like dangers
that I can call to mind, but also we were protected in the tempest
which we experienced in the beginning of December, 1823, when we were
coming from America to France. If I have been exposed to danger on
the sea, I have also on land, but God made the elements; He dwells
therein, He is their master. I have fallen three times from the back
of a horse, at great risk of being killed or of breaking a limb, and
I have twice been robbed by thieves who broke into the house in which
I usually resided; they took the little money I had, my clothes,
etc., but I was absent from home when they executed their evil deed.
God permitted it, may His holy name be blessed!
There are in the parish of Tracadie and its environs twenty or
thirty-six families of negroes, of whom the greater number are
Protestants. Besides being heretics they are rascals, given to all
kinds of vice. I have often visited them, and upon every occasion
that offered, tried to instruct them in spite of the danger that I
ran of being ill-treated and perhaps killed by them, for there are
some among them who are bad at heart and capable of evil deeds. I had
some experience of this when I lived near them.
Recently one of these negroes, remarkable among the others for his
age and his pretended learning, fell ill. I went to see him thinking
that my visit would not displease him. There were a number of blacks
round his bed, who were singing hymns and praying. They offered me a
chair. I seated myself near the sick man and commenced to speak to
him of death, of judgment and of the truth faith, of the only true
religion in which we can save ourselves. Finally I said to him that
he would be dammed if he died in his false belief. At these words the
other negroes turned on me with fury; by their animated features, by
their eyes flashing with anger, and by their horrible cries, I knew
that I was not safe with them, and that I could do no good there, so
I left the house. They followed me, crying out against the priests. A
young ecclesiastic who accompanied me was very frightened, and I
myself expected to be assaulted by them. There was one in particular
more enraged than the others, and who screamed most loudly. He said
that if a hundred or a thousand priests should speak to him of
religion he would not believe one of them. I returned there some days
afterwards with another priest who was conversant with English (for
the sick man could not speak French). After some hours conversation
with the missionary, the sick man asked him if he would come to him
again when he sent for him. Soon after this I left the country, but I
have reason to think that he sent for me. I do not know what is the
result for his soul, whether he is converted or whether he remains in
error, for the above incident occurred just before my return to France.
During the five years and a half that I have spent at Tracadie,
which is in Nova Scotia, I have had the consolation of seeing four or
five families of these Protestant negroes embrace the Catholic
religion. Many other persons also of different nations and sects have
changed their faith, to the great edification of the children of the
true Church.
It has been found necessary to build new churches and to enlarge
others, to enable them to hold their congregations, which have so
increased in number, either by conversions, by the multiplying of the
old Catholic families, or by the number of strangers who came every
day to settle in this country, and who bring the true faith with
them. For some time I was the only missionary there, and obliged to
traverse forty or fifty leagues by land and by sea. I found every
where colonies who were Catholic, as well as many persons who were
not. If some zealous priests would go to carry spiritual help to all
these people who are in a measure abandoned, they would perform a
great act of charity and win much merit; but they must be prepared to
suffer many miseries, hunger, cold, persecution, poverty, &c, and to
risk their lives often both on land and sea. The principal
nourishment of the people of the country consists of potatoes and
salt meat, water or spruce beer (biere de Pruche) is their ordinary
drink. They love rum which is common enough, and is not expensive--
but on the other hand it is dangerous and unhealthful to soul and
body. A very small quantity of this liquor will make a man lose his
reason, and quite inebriate him. It is this unhappy and deadly drink
that ruins the Indians in this country as in all others.
The climate of Nova Scotia and of Cape Breton is very cold during
the winter (which lasts six months), and sometimes very hot in
summer. From time to time we hear of persons having their hands and
feet frozen, and even parts of their faces. I myself have seen many
who were obliged to have their hands or feet amputated, they having
mortified from the effects of the cold. Another danger that one has
to face is that of being surrounded by the snow when it is drifted by
the wind, as sometimes happens on the Alps, on the side of Mont Cenis
and Simplon. This is what is called a "snow storm." In these eddies
of snow one cannot see the road on which to travel, not even a house
fifteen feet distant The snow, driven with force by the wind, fills
your eyes, nostrils and mouth, and prevents you from breathing, so
that you are really in danger of perishing. Every winter a tremendous
quantity of snow falls, so that one is obliged to use snow-shoes in
order to travel. In spite of all these drawbacks it is a healthy
country, and one which produces all necessary grain and vegetables,
such as wheat, bearded wheat, rye, kidney beans, beans, turnips,
cabbage, potatoes, &c, and even good fruit, such as apples, pears and
plums. As to the fruit, in some townships it is very good, in others
it is small, while as to vegetables, potatoes succeed the best. These
latter are very fine in Nova Scotia and in Cape Breton.
A proof of the country not being a bad one is, that every one lives
well there. Strictly speaking, there are no poor, for one never sees
a beggar. It has been remarked that those who work well, and are
rather industrious, live in comfort, without being exactly rich.
Again, the people have fish at their doors, for living as they do
near the sea and the lakes, they can have all kinds, such as herring,
mackerel, salmon, eels and codfish in abundance. It is true that the
winter is long and severe, but there is plenty of wood with which to
keep warm.
A consideration that ought to overweigh all the troubles and dangers
which have been mentioned, is the great work that may be here done
for religion among so many souls that are abandoned and given over to
ignorance for want of priests to instruct them. More particularly
among the Indian people, who deserve that we should try to save them,
because of their good faith and fine natural character. It occurred
to me to group them into villages as soon as I got to know them well;
for that purpose I have bought a large tract of land near the sea,
there to form a religious establishment which will serve to civilize
them and to make them still better Christians. They will establish
themselves near us, and we will be at hand to see them and to
instruct them. I have built a house on this land, hoping that the
Government or some charitable and generous soul will assist in
erecting a chapel and some other buildings, that we shall need, in
order to carry out our project, and to effect the good that we hope
for. My Superior consents, and encourages me to return to America for
this laudable undertaking, and in order to work for the salvation of
those Indians who know not God, such as the Esquimaux. These latter
are a barbarous and cannibalistic people. Recently they made a
descent on some European fisherman in the woods that they inhabit,
which are not far from the banks of Newfoundland, a little to the
north. The Indians having let fly several arrows at the fishermen,
the latter replied by some shots from their guns. One of the Indians
was killed, the others saved themselves by flight. Our fishermen
seized a squaw who remained near the dead body of the Indian;
probably they had lived together, and she regarded him as her
husband. She was taken to St John's Newfoundland, and the Governor
having been notified gave orders to the merchants of the town to
allow this Indian woman such wearing material as pleased her. It was
noticed that she fancied everything of the most gaudy description.
The colors, red in particular, pleased and delighted her,
consequently the material she chose was principally red. They
prepared something for her to eat and offered her food which had been
cooked; she, however, scorned that, and seized upon a raw fowl which
she devoured without removing the feathers. A Frenchman who was there
and saw her, told me that her nails and teeth were extremely long.
Instead of keeping her among civilized beings, she was taken to the
woods where she had been found. This was probably by order of the
Governor. It is very difficult to civilize this kind of Indian. They
are very fierce, and their language, which is not the same as that of
the Micmacs, seems to present great difficulties. Still these souls
have been created by God and bought by Jesus Christ, and the more
abandoned, and the further from the religion of heaven they seem to
be, so much the more do they call for our compassion. We have
succeeded in civilizing many barbarous nations and in rendering them
Christian and Catholic, we may equally, with the help of God, bring
others to the knowledge of the true religion, and since pretended
philosophers have abandoned the faith, it must, according to the
divine oracle, go to other men. If this faith is extinguished for
many, who have deserved the misfortune in closing their eyes to its
light, it goes to others who will render themselves worthy by
allowing this divine truth to enlighten them. Thus faith is never
lost, if it leaves us, it is our own fault.
To return to our Micmacs of Nova Scotia,--it does one good to reflect
on what they were formerly and what they are now. Formerly they were
ferocious idolaters, now they are gentle and they know the true God.
If the Government had chosen to help us we could have done for the
Esquimaux what the early missionaries did for the people of which we
speak; and even these latter for whom we have worked would, without
doubt, have become much more civilized. We would have ventured to
promise to make of them, not only well instructed and perfect
Christians, but also good laborers and good workmen, in a word, good
citizens who would be useful to society and not a burden to the State
as they have hitherto been. The way in which they have profited by the
few lessons that they have received from us on agriculture is a proof
of the success that we should have had. We have worked with them and
our example has encouraged them. It is well that they know how to farm
a little, for instance, how to plant potatoes, for the country is
beginning to be populous, and they do not find enough game to subsist
upon, and there are times when they cannot fish. It is then charitable
as well as necessary to teach them to gain their livelihood in some
other way. But all that is only a small part of the good that we
propose to do; to work efficaciously at the saving of their souls, to
render them humble, sober, industrious, charitable, &c., from
religious principles which is the way by which we hope to complete and
perfect the good work. Not having succeeded so far in making an
establishment of any consequence, by reason of want of means, we have
contented ourselves with forming a little school for girls, more
especially for the young Micmac squaws. This school is taught by three
excellent women, natives of the place, who live as religious of the
third order of La Trappe, until such time as they can establish a
house of the first order. They have already gone through a year of
novitiate at the convent of the Ladies of the Congregation of
Montreal, in Canada, which congregation was founded by Sister
Bourgeoys, as one reads in the history of the discovery of that great
country. These three women are stationed in the parish of Pomquete,
one of the three parishes with which I am especially charged, and of
which mention has been made at the beginning of this narrative. It is
a good little parish, composed of French people, born most of them at
St Malo, Dinan or Grandville. When I left these poor people in order
to return to France, they were inconsolable, fearing they would have
no priest. They called a meeting to discuss what they should do in the
event of so sad a situation. Many were resolved to follow me with the
hope of bringing me back, or of returning with another priest. All
were agreed to pay the passage of the missionary who should come to
them, as well as to undertake to supply all that might be necessary
for food or raiment while he should be with them. One man named
Dominique Phillippar, born in Paris, and a resident of Pomquett for
about thirty years, was chosen for an important errand. He was to
accompany me to France, and to entreat the Reverend Father Abbot, my
Superior, that I or some other member of our Order might return with
him. In case that could not be managed, we were by his recommendation
and through his instrumentality to address ourselves to the Bishop,
asking for some zealous priests who were willing to consecrate
themselves to the North American missions, and to minister to people
who had no spiritual help. His place was secured in the ship that took
me to France, but as he had not arrived from his parish when we set
sail, he lost his passage, the ship having sailed a day earlier than
was expected. Doubtless the good man experienced poignant regret. He
was ready to journey almost two thousand leagues (including going and
coming) in order to get a priest. This fact illustrates the faith and
zeal for religion existing in the Catholics of these countries. I hope
that God who is often satisfied with our good will and who permitted
this event, will inspire some good ecclesiastics with the desire of
going to the aid of these poor souls who so well deserve assistance.
When we arrived in America we found most Catholics well disposed.
Their religion was obscured, but they seemed to be impressed with the
first invitations or instructions that we gave them; of this they gave
exterior proof, such as building churches, erecting crosses on the
roadside, establishing Calvaries, and making the way of the cross, a
devotion which touches the heart and bears excellent fruit. I, myself,
have often been witness of the good effect produced by the Stations,
and it is not long since one of my parishoners who was given over to
drunkenness was completely converted after assisting at this devotion.
He threw himself at my feet dissolved in tears, made his confession,
and since that time he has always been extremely sober and filled with
the fear of God. I often make the Stations in the different places
where I go to hold missions, and as I have remarked a change for the
better in the manners and in the amusements, the dancing, vanities,
&c, of the people, I attribute it to the grace attached to the
devotion of the way of the cross.
Those who have resolved to go over to those countries will do well
to procure the faculty for establishing this precious devotion
everywhere.
_Ut in nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur caelestium, terrestrium et
infernorum. Ad Philippenses, 2 10_.
"At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, whether in heaven, or on
earth, or in hell."
[Footnote: The Procession of the most Holy Sacrament made by the
Indians of Cape Breton and the Bras d'Or has not been mentioned in
these pages, as it took place since this narrative was written.]
* * * * *
TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.
The foregoing very imperfect translation of Father Vincent de Paul's
quaint narrative, is published at the request of the leading clergy
of Antigonish County, that section of Eastern Nova Scotia in which
the holy Trappist so long lived and labored.
The original from which the translation was made, was printed in
France in the year 1824, and, as far as is known, is the only copy in
Canada. It was for many years lying _perdu_ in the old convent
of the Trappistine Sisters, in Tracadie, Nova Scotia, where it was
discovered in the autumn of 1883. It is interspersed with corrections
and footnotes in the pious monk's own handwriting and was printed at
a private press, in the Trappist Monastery at Bellefontaine, France.