From the Author's NOTE. THE following is probably the oldest of the Indian legends of Canada, the main incidents in connection with it having been related by Donnacanna to Jacques Cartier on the latter's first ascent of the St. Lawrence in 1535. It has been charmingly told in French by the late J. C. Tache, Esq., of Ottawa, and the present version is, in a great measure, an adapting of the tale as given by him in "Les soirees Canadiennes." The story is carefully preserved among the traditions of both the Micmac and ...
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From the Author's NOTE. THE following is probably the oldest of the Indian legends of Canada, the main incidents in connection with it having been related by Donnacanna to Jacques Cartier on the latter's first ascent of the St. Lawrence in 1535. It has been charmingly told in French by the late J. C. Tache, Esq., of Ottawa, and the present version is, in a great measure, an adapting of the tale as given by him in "Les soirees Canadiennes." The story is carefully preserved among the traditions of both the Micmac and Malechite tribes through whose aged men it has been handed down from father to son, and it may be noted that, while about half a century ago Mr. Tache received it from an old chief of the former nation it was recently told the writer, substantially as here recounted, by Paul Bryiere the well-known Malechite guide of the Bic Region. The closeness with which the details corresponded was such as not to warrant any variation from those given in Mr. Tache's narrative - and coming as they do through widely different channels present an instance of the faithfulness shown by Indians in transmitting to their posterity the important events in their people's history."
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