Le Jeune ends his report by describing some aboriginal superstitions. A piece of burned leather is rubbed upon a sick man’s head, to drive away the [Page 2] manitou. The Iroquois sometimes use the calcined bones of a newly born infant, sacrificed by them, for charms, especially to secure success in battle.
This piece is interesting because the people are actually interested in learning about native american culture
This made us smile, and greatly [Page 19] edified us, seeing the tenderness of their consciences.
This piece seems to have a weird back and forth. Sometimes the Native Americans are savages, but then other times the people actually seem to admire them. Then there are parts like this where they seem to be spoken of almost as children.
They showed their devotion by often visiting the most holy Sacrament, by saying their rosary several times a day, by singing spiritual canticles, which have succeeded their barbarous songs, — in short, by fasting throughout the sacred forty days, for those who could do so
Huge focus on religious tradition
in slay-ing some of the people, in some towns
Why is this mentioned so casually???
In respect of vs they are a people poore, and for want of skill and iudgement in the knowledge and vse of our things,
This piece sides more with pieces that see natives as uncivilized and almost without any knowledge about anything
onlie
are these errors or is this how writing was supposed back in this time period?
& aprons of the same rounde about their middles; all els naked
I think the use of the word apron sticks out to me as funny. I'm sure it is not the way a native american would describe it, but I know the writer is putting things into terms that people recognize
without the holy sacrament
appeal to Christians' desire to fulfill religious traditions
like sheep
Could be alluding to Biblical significance of sheep- God takes care of His sheep (His children) and these Spaniards who call themselves Christians are treating these people terribly
as if dealing with sheep in the slaughter house
This is not just an issue of fighting over land, but really social justice- settlers aren't looking at the natives as real adult people with needs, goals, and intelligent minds
From that time onward
big contrast with many other pieces about this time period- native american actions seen as in defense not just as a group of people who desire to be violent
others concealed their wives and children
The phrasing of this line creates for the reader a sense of fear and distress that may have been present in the Native Americans at this time. It is interesting how often he references specifically women and children a lot. It is much more powerful than if he had talked about men because of the almost "innocence" that people see women and children as having.