Then many Indians collected in the woods and began a loud talk which they
could hear on board the ships and which lasted half an hour. Then two of
their leaders came towards the shore, holding their hands upward joined
together, and meanwhile carrying their hats under their upper garments and
showing great reverence. Looking upward they sometimes cried, "Jesus,
Jesus," or "Jesus Maria." Then the captain asked them whether anything ill
had happened, and they said in French, "Nenni est il bon," meaning that it
was not good. Then they said that their god Cudraigny had spoken in
Hochelaga (Montreal) and had sent these three men to show to them that
there was so much snow and ice in the country that he who went there would
die. This made the Frenchmen laugh, saying in reply that their god
Cudraigny was but a fool and a noddy and knew not what he said. "Tell
him," said a Frenchman, "that Christ will defend them from all cold, if
they will believe in him." The Indians then asked the captain if he had
spoken with Jesus. He answered No; but that his priests had, and they had
promised fair weather. Hearing this, they thanked the captain and told the
other Indians in the woods, who all came rushing out, seeming to be very
glad. Giving great shouts, they began to sing and dance as they had done
before. They also began to bring to the ships great stores of fish and of
bread made of millet, casting it into the French boats so thickly that it
seemed to fall from heaven. Then the Frenchmen went on shore, and the
people came clustering about them, bringing children in their arms to be
touched, as if to hallow them. Then the captain in return arranged the
women in order and gave them beads made of tin, and other trifles, and
gave knives to the men. All that night the Indians made great fires and
danced and sang along the shore. But when the Frenchmen had finally
reached the mouth of the Ottawa and had begun to ascend it, under Vignan's
guidance, they had reasons to remember the threats of the god Cudraigny.

Ascending the Ottawa in canoes, past cataracts, boulders, and precipices,