AZAKIA:

A CANADIAN STORY.

HE ancient inhabitants of Ca nada were, ftrictly fpeaking, all favages. Nothing proves this better than the deniny of fome Frenchmen, who first arrived in this part of the world. They were eaten by the people whom they pretended to humanize and polish.

foreft that lay contiguous to the
grounds they inhabited. She was
urprised by a French foldier, who
did not trouble himself to en-
quire, whether he was a wife or a
maiden. Befides, he found himself
was
little difpofed to refpect the right of

a Huron hufband. The fhrieks of
the young favage, in defending her-
felf, brought to the fame place the
baron of St. Caftins, an officer in
the troops of Canada. He had no
difficulty to oblige the foldier to de-
part; but the perfon he had fo op-

New attempts were more fuccefsful. The favages were driven into the inner parts of the continent;portunely faved, had fo many entreaties of peace, always ill obferved, were concluded with them; but the French found means to create in them wants, which made their yoke neceffary to them. Their brandy and tobacco easily effected what their arms might have operated with greater difficulty. Confidence foon became mutual, and the forests of Canada were frequented with as much freedom by the new inmates as by the natives.

gaging charms, that the foldier appeared excufable to him. Being himself tempted to fue for the reward of the good office he had just ren-. dered, he pleaded his caufe in a more gentle and infinuating manner than the foldier, but did not fucceed better.

"The friend that is before my eyes, hinders my feeing thee," faid the Huron woman to him. This is the favage phrase for expreffing, that a woman has a husband, and that the cannot be wanting in fidelity to him. This phrafe is not a vain form; it contains a peremptory refufal; it is common to all the women of those barbarous nations ; and its force, the neighbourhood of the Europeans, and their example, were never able to diminish.

St. Cafting, to whom the language and customs of the Hurons were familiar, faw immediately that he must drop all pretenfions: and this perfuafion recalled all his generofity.

Thefe forests were often reforted to by the married and unmarried favage women, whom the meeting of Frenchmen put into no terrors. These women, for the most part, are handfome, and certainly their beauty owes nothing to the embellifhments of art: much lefs has it any influence on their conduct. Their character is naturally mild and flexible, their humour gay they laugh in the most agreeable and winning manner. They have a ftrong propenfity to love; a pro-He therefore made no other adpenfity which a maiden in this country may yield to, and always indulge without fcruple, and without fearing the leaft reproach. It is not fo with a married woman: the must be entirely devoted to him the has married; and, what is not lets worthy of notice, the punctually fulfils the duty.

vances, than to accompany the beautiful favage, whom chance alone had directed into the wood, and who was afraid of new rencontres. As they paffed on, he received all poffible marks of gratitude, except that which he at firft requested.

Some time after, St. Caftins being infulted by a brother officer, kütled An heroine of this class, and whohim in a duel. This officer was ne. was born among the Hurons, onephew to the general-governor of the day happened to wander in a colony, and the governor was as VOL. XXIV. abfolute

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abfolute as vindictive. St. Caftins had no other refource than to betake himfelf to flight. It was prefumed that he had retired among the Engfish of New York; which indeed was very probable; but, perfuaded that he fhould find an equally fafe afylum among the Hurons, he gave them the preference.

1 he defire of again feeing Azakia, (which was the name of the favage he had rescued,) contributed greatly to determine him in that choice. She knew immediately her deliverer. Nothing could equal her joy at this unexpected vifi, and the declared it as ingenuously as before the had refifted his attacks. The favage, whofe wife he was, and whofe name was Ouabi, gave St. Caftins the fame reception, who acquainted him of the motive of his flight." May the great fpirit be praised for having brought thee among us," replied the Huron!" This body," added he, laying his hand on his bofom, will ferve thee as a fhelter for defence; and this head-breaking hatchet will put to flight, or ftrike dead, thy enemies. My hut fhall be thine, thou fhalt always fee the bright ftar of the day appear and leave us, without any thing being wanting to thee, or any thing being able to hurt thee. St. Caftins declared to him, that he abfolutely defired to live as they did, that is, to bear a part in their labours, and their wars; to abide by their customs; in short, to become a Huron; a refolution which redoubled Quabi's joy. This favage held the first rank among his people -he was their grand chief-a dig. nity which his courage and fervices had merited for him. There were other chiefs under him, and he offered one of the places to St. Caftins, who accepted of the rank only of a private warrior.

The Hurons were then at war with the Iroquois, and were intent on forming fome enterprife against them. St. Caflins would fain make

one in the expedition, and fought
as a true Huron; but was dange
roufly wounded. He was brought
back with great difficulty to Ouabi's
houfe, on a kind of litter. At this
fight, Azakia appeared overwhelmed
with grief; but instead of vain la-
mentation, the exerted all poffible
care and affiduity to be of service to
him. Though. fhe had several flaves
at command, fhe depended only on
herfelf, for what might contribute
to the relief of her guest. Her acti-
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vity equalled her folicitude.
would have faid that it was a lover
watching over the precious life of
her beloved. Few could help draw-
ing the most flattering confequences
on fuch an occafion; and this was
what St. Caftins did. His defires
and his hopes revived with his
ftrength. One only point difcon-
certed his views, which was the
fervices and attentions of Ouabi.
Could he deceive him, without ad-
ding ingratitude to perfidy?" But,”
faid St. Caftins, arguing the cafe
with himfelf, the good-natured
Ouabi is but a favage, and he cannot
be fo fcrupulous herein, as many of
our good folks in Europe." This
reafon, which was no reason, in fact,
appeared very folid to the amorous
Frenchman. He renewed his tender
advances, and was furprifed to meet
"Stop! Cela-
with new refusals.
rio," (which was the favage name
that was given to St. Caftins );

ftop," faid Azakia to him; "the fhivers of the rod which I have broken with Ouabi, have not yet been reduced to ashes. A part remains ftill in his power, and another in mine. As long as they laft, I am his, and cannot be thine." Thefe words, fpoken in a peremptory manner, quite difconcerted St. Castins. He dared not infift upon the matter farther, and fell into a melancholy reverie. Azakia was deeply affected "What can I do?" faid by it. the to him; "I cannot become thy companion, but by ceafing to be the

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companion of Ouabi; and I cannot | quit Ouabi, without caufing in him the fame forrow thou feeleft in thy. self. Anfwer me, has he deferved it?""No!" cried out Celario, "no! he deferves to be entirely preferred before me; but I mult abandon his dwelling. It is only by ceafing to fee Azakia that I can cease to be ungrateful to Ouabi." Thefe words chilled with palenefs the young favage's face: her tears flowed almoft at the fame inftant, and fhe did not endeavour to conceal them."Ah! ungrateful Celario!" cried the, with fobs, and preffing his hands between her own; is it true, ungrateful Celario! that thou haft a mind to quit thofe to whom thou art more dear than the light of the bright ftar of the day? What have we done to thee that thou shouldft leave us? Is any thing wanting to thee? Doft thou not fee me continually by thy fide, as the flares that await but the beck to obey? Why wilt thou have Azakia die of grief? Thou can't not leave her without taking with thee her foul it is thine, as her body is Ouabi's." The entrance of Ouabi ftopped the answer of St. Caftins. Azakia fill continued weeping, without reftraining herfelf, without even hiding for a moment the caufe. "Friend," faid he to the Huron, "thou ftill feeft Celario; thou feeft him; thou may'it speak to, and hear him; but he will foon difappear from before thine eyes: he is going to feek after other friends." "Other friends!" cried the favage, almoft as much alarmed as Azakia herself; "and what, dear Celario, what in-tainly would not have taken, which duces thee to tear thyfelf from our arms? Haft thou received here any injury, any damage? Anfwer me: thou knoweft my authority in thefe parts, I fwear to thee, by the great Spirit, that thou fhalt be fatisfied and revenged."

fubject for complaint; and the true motive of his refolution ought to be abfolutely unknown to Ouabi. There was a neceffity of pretending fome trivial and common reafons, which the good Ouabi found very ridicu lous. "Let us fpeak of other things," added he; to morrow [ fet out on expedition against the Iroquois and this evening, I give to our warriors the customary feast. Partake of this amusemen', dear Celario." "I am equally willing to partake of your dangers and labours," faid St. Caftins, interrupting him; "I fhall accompany you in this new expedition." Thy ftrength would betray thy courage,' replied the Huron chief; "It is no great matter to know how to face death; thou shouldst be able to deal death among the enemy; thou fhould't be able to purfue the enemy if they are put to flight; and thou fhouldst be able to fly thy felf, if they be an overmatch. Such were at all times our warlike maxims. Think now,therefore, only of getting thyself cured, and taking care of this habitation during my abfence, which I confide to thee." It was in vain for St. Caftins to make a reply. The warriors foon affemble, and the feast begins. It is fcarce over, when the troops march off, and St. Caftins remains more than ever expofed to the charms of Azakia.

This question greatly embarraffed St. Caftins. He had no reasonable

It is certain that this young favage loved her guest, and loved him with a love purely ideal, without doubting that it was fuch a love. She even took a refolution, which others, who loved as she did, cer

was to procure for St. Caftins the opportunity of obtaining from another what herself had obftinately refufed him. The charms of the rival the gave herself, were well calculated to attract his regards. She was but eighteen years old, was very hanfome, and which was not lefs neceffary, was ftill a virgin.

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