GARNIER—CHABANEL.
The Tobacco Missions ? St. Jean attacked ? Death of Garnier ? The Journey of Chabanel ? His Death ? Garreau and Grelon.
Late in the preceding autumn the Iroquois had taken the war-path in force. At the end of November, two escaped prisoners came to Isle2 St. Joseph with the news that a band of three hundred warriors3 was hovering4 in the Huron forests, doubtful whether to invade the island or to attack the towns of the Tobacco Nation in the valleys of the Blue Mountains. The Father Superior, Ragueneau, sent a runner thither5 in all haste, to warn the inhabitants of their danger.
There were at this time two missions in the Tobacco Nation, St. Jean and St. Matthias, [1]—the latter under the charge of the Jesuits Garreau and Grelon, and the former under that of Garnier and Chabanel. St. Jean, the principal seat of the 404 mission of the same name, was a town of five or six hundred families. Its population was, moreover, greatly augmented6 by the bands of fugitive7 Hurons who had taken refuge there. When the warriors were warned by Ragueneau's messenger of a probable attack from the Iroquois, they were far from being daunted8, but, confiding9 in their numbers, awaited the enemy in one of those fits of valor10 which characterize the unstable11 courage of the savage12. At St. Jean all was paint, feathers, and uproar,—singing, dancing, howling, and stamping. Quivers were filled, knives whetted13, and tomahawks sharpened; but when, after two days of eager expectancy14, the enemy did not appear, the warriors lost patience. Thinking, and probably with reason, that the Iroquois were afraid of them, they resolved to sally forth15, and take the offensive. With yelps16 and whoops17 they defiled18 into the forest, where the branches were gray and bare, and the ground thickly covered with snow. They pushed on rapidly till the following day, but could not discover their wary19 enemy, who had made a wide circuit, and was approaching the town from another quarter. By ill luck, the Iroquois captured a Tobacco Indian and his squaw, straggling in the forest not far from St. Jean; and the two prisoners, to propitiate20 them, told them the defenceless condition of the place, where none remained but women, children, and old men. The delighted Iroquois no longer hesitated, but silently and swiftly pushed on towards the town.
[1] The Indian name of St. Jean was Etarita; and that of St. Matthias, Ekarenniondi.
It was two o'clock in the afternoon of the seventh 405 of December. [2] Chabanel had left the place a day or two before, in obedience21 to a message from Ragueneau, and Garnier was here alone. He was making his rounds among the houses, visiting the sick and instructing his converts, when the horrible din1 of the war-whoop rose from the borders of the clearing, and, on the instant, the town was mad with terror. Children and girls rushed to and fro, blind with fright; women snatched their infants, and fled they knew not whither. Garnier ran to his chapel22, where a few of his converts had sought asylum23. He gave them his benediction24, exhorted25 them to hold fast to the Faith, and bade them fly while there was yet time. For himself, he hastened back to the houses, running from one to another, and giving absolution or baptism to all whom he found. An Iroquois met him, shot him with three balls through the body and thigh26, tore off his cassock, and rushed on in pursuit of the fugitives27. Garnier lay for a moment on the ground, as if stunned28; then, recovering his senses, he was seen to rise into a kneeling posture29. At a little distance from him lay a Huron, mortally wounded, but still showing signs of life. With the Heaven that awaited him glowing before his fading vision, the priest dragged himself towards the dying Indian, to give him absolution; but his strength failed, and he fell again to the earth. He rose once more, and again crept forward, when a party of Iroquois rushed upon him, split his head with two blows of a hatchet30, stripped him, and left his body 406 on the ground. [3] At this time the whole town was on fire. The invaders31, fearing that the absent warriors might return and take their revenge, hastened to finish their work, scattered32 firebrands everywhere, and threw children alive into the burning houses. They killed many of the fugitives, captured many more, and then made a hasty retreat through the forest with their prisoners, butchering such of them as lagged on the way. St. Jean lay a waste of smoking ruins thickly strewn with blackened corpses33 of the slain34.
[2] Bressani, Relation Abrégée, 264.
[3] The above particulars of Garnier's death rest on the evidence of a Christian35 Huron woman, named Marthe, who saw him shot down, and also saw his attempt to reach the dying Indian. She was herself struck down immediately after with a war-club, but remained alive, and escaped in the confusion. She died three months later, at Isle St. Joseph, from the effects of the injuries she had received, after reaffirming the truth of her story to Ragueneau, who was with her, and who questioned her on the subject. (Mémoires touchant la Mort et les Vertus des Pères Garnier, etc., MS.). Ragueneau also speaks of her in Relation des Hurons, 1650, 9.—The priests Grelon and Garreau found the body stripped naked, with three gunshot wounds in the abdomen36 and thigh, and two deep hatchet wounds in the head.
Towards evening, parties of fugitives reached St. Matthias, with tidings of the catastrophe37. The town was wild with alarm, and all stood on the watch, in expectation of an attack; but when, in the morning, scouts38 came in and reported the retreat of the Iroquois, Garreau and Grelon set out with a party of converts to visit the scene of havoc39. For a long time they looked in vain for the body of Garnier; but at length they found him lying where he had fallen,—so scorched40 and disfigured, that he was recognized with difficulty. The two priests wrapped his body in a part of their own 407 clothing; the Indian converts dug a grave on the spot where his church had stood; and here they buried him. Thus, at the age of forty-four, died Charles Garnier, the favorite child of wealthy and noble parents, nursed in Parisian luxury and ease, then living and dying, a more than willing exile, amid the hardships and horrors of the Huron wilderness41. His life and his death are his best eulogy42. Brébeuf was the lion of the Huron mission, and Garnier was the lamb; but the lamb was as fearless as the lion. [4]
[4] Garnier's devotion to the mission was absolute. He took little or no interest in the news from France, which, at intervals43 of from one to three years, found its way to the Huron towns. His companion Bressani says, that he would walk thirty or forty miles in the hottest summer day, to baptize some dying Indian, when the country was infested44 by the enemy. On similar errands, he would sometimes pass the night alone in the forest in the depth of winter. He was anxious to fall into the hands of the Iroquois, that he might preach the Faith to them even out of the midst of the fire. In one of his unpublished letters he writes, "Praised be our Lord, who punishes me for my sins by depriving me of this crown" (the crown of martyrdom). After the death of Brébeuf and Lalemant, he writes to his brother:—
"Hélas! Mon cher frère, si ma conscience ne me convainquait et ne me confondait de mon infidélité au service de notre bon maitre, je pourrais espérer quelque faveur approchante de celles qu'il a faites aux bienheureux martyrs45 avec qui j'avais le bien de converser46 souvent, étant dans les mêmes occasions et dangers qu'ils étaient, mais sa justice me fait craindre que je ne demeure toujours indigne d'une telle couronne."
He contented47 himself with the most wretched fare during the last years of famine, living in good measure on roots and acorns48; "although," says Ragueneau, "he had been the cherished son of a rich and noble house, on whom all the affection of his father had centred, and who had been nourished on food very different from that of swine."—Relation des Hurons, 1650, 12.
For his character, see Ragueneau, Bressani, Tanner, and Alegambe, who devotes many pages to the description of his religious traits; but the complexion49 of his mind is best reflected in his private letters.
When, on the following morning, the warriors of St. Jean returned from their rash and bootless 408 sally, and saw the ashes of their desolated50 homes and the ghastly relics51 of their murdered families, they seated themselves amid the ruin, silent and motionless as statues of bronze, with heads bowed down and eyes fixed52 on the ground. Thus they remained through half the day. Tears and wailing53 were for women; this was the mourning of warriors.
Garnier's colleague, Chabanel, had been recalled from St. Jean by an order from the Father Superior, who thought it needless to expose the life of more than one priest in a position of so much danger. He stopped on his way at St. Matthias, and on the morning of the seventh of December, the day of the attack, left that town with seven or eight Christian Hurons. The journey was rough and difficult. They proceeded through the forest about eighteen miles, and then encamped in the snow. The Indians fell asleep; but Chabanel, from an apprehension54 of danger, or some other cause, remained awake. About midnight he heard a strange sound in the distance,—a confusion of fierce voices, mingled55 with songs and outcries. It was the Iroquois on their retreat with their prisoners, some of whom were defiantly56 singing their war-songs, after the Indian custom. Chabanel waked his companions, who instantly took flight. He tried to follow, but could not keep pace with the light-footed savages57, who returned to St. Matthias, and told what had occurred. They said, however, that Chabanel had left them and taken an opposite direction, in order to reach Isle St. Joseph. 409 His brother priests were for some time ignorant of what had befallen him. At length a Huron Indian, who had been converted, but afterward58 apostatized, gave out that he had met him in the forest, and aided him with his canoe to cross a river which lay in his path. Some supposed that he had lost his way, and died of cold and hunger; but others were of a different opinion. Their suspicion was confirmed some time afterwards by the renegade Huron, who confessed that he had killed Chabanel and thrown his body into the river, after robbing him of his clothes, his hat, the blanket or mantle59 which was strapped60 to his shoulders, and the bag in which he carried his books and papers. He declared that his motive61 was hatred62 of the Faith, which had caused the ruin of the Hurons. [5] The priest had prepared himself for a worse fate. Before leaving Sainte Marie on the Wye, to go to his post in the Tobacco Nation, he had written to his brother to regard him as a victim destined63 to the fires of the Iroquois. [6] He added, that, though he was naturally timid, he was now wholly indifferent to danger; and he expressed the belief that only a superhuman power could have wrought64 such a change in him. [7]
[5] Mémoires touchant la Mort et les Vertus des Pères, etc., MS.
[6] Abrégé de la Vie du P. No?l Chabanel. MS.
[7] "Ie suis fort apprehensif de mon naturel; toutefois, maintenant que ie vay au plus grand danger et qu'il me semble que la mort n'est pas esloignée, ie ne sens plus de crainte. Cette disposition65 ne vient pas de moy."—Relation des Hurons, 1650, 18.
The following is the vow66 made by Chabanel, at a time when his disgust at the Indian mode of life beset67 him with temptations to ask to be recalled from the mission. It is translated from the Latin original:—
"My Lord Jesus Christ, who, in the admirable disposition of thy paternal68 providence69, hast willed that I, although most unworthy, should be a co-laborer with the holy Apostles in this vineyard of the Hurons,—I, No?l Chabanel, impelled71 by the desire of fulfilling thy holy will in advancing the conversion72 of the savages of this land to thy faith, do vow, in the presence of the most holy sacrament of thy precious body and blood, which is God's tabernacle among men, to remain perpetually attached to this mission of the Hurons, understanding all things according to the interpretation73 and disposal of the Superiors of the Society of Jesus. Therefore I entreat74 thee to receive me as the perpetual servant of this mission, and to render me worthy70 of so sublime75 a ministry76. Amen. This twentieth day of June, 1647."
410 Garreau and Grelon, in their mission of St. Matthias, were exposed to other dangers than those of the Iroquois. A report was spread, not only that they were magicians, but that they had a secret understanding with the enemy. A nocturnal council was called, and their death was decreed. In the morning, a furious crowd gathered before a lodge77 which they were about to enter, screeching78 and yelling after the manner of Indians when they compel a prisoner to run the gantlet. The two priests, giving no sign of fear, passed through the crowd and entered the lodge unharmed. Hatchets79 were brandished80 over them, but no one would be the first to strike. Their converts were amazed at their escape, and they themselves ascribed it to the interposition of a protecting Providence. The Huron missionaries81 were doubly in danger,—not more from the Iroquois than from the blind rage of those who should have been their friends. [8]
[8] Ragueneau, Relation des Hurons, 1650, 20.
One of these two missionaries, Garreau, was afterwards killed by the Iroquois, who shot him through the spine82, in 1656, near Montreal.—De Quen, Relation, 1656, 41.
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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unstable
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| adj.不稳定的，易变的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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whetted
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| v.（在石头上）磨（刀、斧等）( whet的过去式和过去分词 )；引起，刺激（食欲、欲望、兴趣等） | |
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expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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yelps
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| n.（因痛苦、气愤、兴奋等的）短而尖的叫声( yelp的名词复数 )v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的第三人称单数 ) | |
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whoops
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| int.呼喊声 | |
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defiled
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| v.玷污( defile的过去式和过去分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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propitiate
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| v.慰解，劝解 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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hatchet
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invaders
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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corpses
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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abdomen
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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wilderness
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eulogy
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| n.颂词；颂扬 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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infested
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| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
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martyrs
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| n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情） | |
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converser
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| 交谈，谈话； [计]对话，会话 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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acorns
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| n.橡子，栎实( acorn的名词复数 ) | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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desolated
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| adj.荒凉的，荒废的 | |
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relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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mantle
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strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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destined
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conversion
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| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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79
hatchets
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| n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 )；恶毒攻击；诽谤；休战 | |
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80
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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