boucan, ny la maladie, tout cela ne m'a semble que ieu a comparaison de
la fumee & de la malice du Sorcier."--Relation, 1634, 201 (Cramoisy). ]

Le Jeune, a man of excellent observation, already knew his red associates
well enough to understand that their rudeness did not of necessity imply
ill-will. The rest of the party, in their turn fared no better. They
rallied and bantered each other incessantly, with as little forbearance,
and as little malice, as a troop of unbridled schoolboys. [ 1 ] No one
took offence. To have done so would have been to bring upon one's self
genuine contumely. This motley household was a model of harmony.
True, they showed no tenderness or consideration towards the sick and
disabled; but for the rest, each shared with all in weal or woe: the
famine of one was the famine of the whole, and the smallest portion of
food was distributed in fair and equal partition. Upbraidings and
complaints were unheard; they bore each other's foibles with wondrous
equanimity; and while persecuting Le Jeune with constant importunity for
tobacco, and for everything else he had, they never begged among
themselves.

[ 1 "Leur vie se passe a manger, a ire, et a railler les vns des autres,
et de tous les peuples qu'ils cognoissent; ils n'ont rien de serieux,
sinon par fois l'exterieur, faisans parmy nous les graues et les retenus,
mais entr'eux sont de vrais badins, de vrais enfans, qui ne demandent
qu'a rire."--Relation, 1634, 30. ]

When the fire burned well and food was abundant, their conversation,
such as it was, was incessant. They used no oaths, for their language
supplied none,--doubtless because their mythology had no beings
sufficiently distinct to swear by. Their expletives were foul words,
of which they had a superabundance, and which men, women, and children