in their situation as possible. I should have attributed the motives for
this partiality to their wishing that they might not influence others to
keep away, had I not known they were, like ourselves, unable to exert
such an influence. And therefore, I could not satisfy my own mind why
this difference was made. Many of the Indians were remarkably devoted to
the priests, believing every thing they were taught; and as it is
represented to be not only a high honor, but a real advantage to a
family, to have one of its members become a nun, Indian parents will
often pay large sums of money for the admission of their daughters into
a convent. The father of one of the squaws, I was told, paid to the
Superior nearly her weight in silver on her reception, although he was
obliged to sell nearly all his property to raise the money. This he did
voluntarily, because he thought himself overpaid by having the advantage
of her prayers, self-sacrifices, &c. for himself and the remainder of
his family. The squaws sometimes served to amuse us; for when we were
partially dispirited or gloomy, the Superior would occasionally send
them to dress themselves in their Indian garments, which usually excited
us to merriment.

Among the squaw nuns whom I particularly remember, was one of the Sainte
Hypolites, not the one who figured in a dreadful scene, described in
another part of this narrative, but a woman of a far more mild and
humane character.

Three or four days after my reception, the Superior sent me into the
cellar for coal; and after she had given me directions, I proceeded down
a staircase, with a lamp in my hand. I soon found myself upon the bare
earth, in a spacious place, so dark, that I could not at once
distinguish its form, or size, but I observed that it had very solid
stone walls, and was arched overhead, at no great elevation. Following