Christian morality were also strongly urged by the missionaries, who
insisted that the convert should take but one wife, and not cast her off
without grave cause, and that he should renounce the gross license almost
universal among the Hurons. Murder, cannibalism, and several other
offences, were also forbidden. Yet, while laboring at the work of
conversion with an energy never surpassed, and battling against the
powers of darkness with the mettle of paladins, the Jesuits never had the
folly to assume towards the Indians a dictatorial or overbearing tone.
Gentleness, kindness, and patience were the rule of their intercourse.
[ 1 ] They studied the nature of the savage, and conformed themselves to
it with an admirable tact. Far from treating the Indian as an alien and
barbarian, they would fain have adopted him as a countryman; and they
proposed to the Hurons that a number of young Frenchmen should settle
among them, and marry their daughters in solemn form. The listeners were
gratified at an overture so flattering. "But what is the use," they
demanded, "of so much ceremony? If the Frenchmen want our women, they
are welcome to come and take them whenever they please, as they always
used to do." [ Le Mercier, Relation des Hurons, 1637, 160. ]

[ 1 The following passage from the "Divers Sentimens," before cited,
will illustrate this point. "Pour conuertir les Sauuages, il n'y faut
pas tant de science que de bonte et vertu bien solide. Les quatre
Elemens d'vn homme Apostolique en la Nouuelle France sont l'Affabilite,
l'Humilite, la Patience et vne Charite genereuse. Le zele trop ardent
brusle plus qu'il n'eschauffe, et gaste tout; il faut vne grande
magnanimite et condescendance, pour attirer peu a peu ces Sauuages.
Ils n'entendent pas bien nostre Theologie, mais ils entendent
parfaictement bien nostre humilite et nostre affabilite, et se laissent
gaigner."