The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-30
FRENCH WOMAN AMONG HURONS
n Remarkable Narrative OF the Experiences
OF Mile. du Clos.


pm1s, oct. ls.--while examining recently
srne rare books | camo across one printed
q, l7s3 II IL entitled Les Arenfures de
Mons. dc Bsauchfns. Copitaine de Fiibusf ers
dane In NoureHe France. In the course
~ the narrative there IL mortised into II a
curious story telling Of the self-mposed exile
az Young French woman OF gentle birth
Nnon, IA tribe OF Canadian lndians-the
Uurons In these days. when women
are so lmpressvcly adjoining places which
we're formerly considered within the reach
only Of men Of super Tor executive ability. the
exploit OF Mile .du Clos may prove encouraging
ia those who are yearning for complete
domination by the so-caled gentler sex.
The Count de bonneville and Nile. du Clos,
each complete stranger TO the other ana
each the innocent victim OF a consp tracy.
met on board ship at Rochelle. France. as
prisoners in process Of deportation to Canada.
/ non arrival at Quebec Of single men ana
women forcbly expatrated 1t was the GUS
tom that they should marry without delay.
Neither one nor the other had much latitude
NJ selection. matron appointed for the
nurpose took charge OF the single women
and arbitrarily chose husbands for them.
small thin men were mated with leyiathans.
the bumped back with the tall and slender.
termagants with saints and women OF gentle
birth with ruflans. Such were the comona-
N
1t was not long after the ship had sailed
that Mile du Clos and de bonneville becnme
acuiaintcd. When she discovered the fate
that awaited her at Quebec. she vowed she
would die rather than have forced upon her
man not OF her own choice. She expressed
to De bonneville so convincinRly the horror
that such contingency caused her that he,
a man of generous instincts. devised a plan
of escape from the peril that confronted her.
H., god her n harSpl.
would he willing to acknowledge that they
we're man and wife. He told her that he was
promised employment as soon as they reached
Quebec, and as his pretended wife she should
share in his good fortune without claim on
his part to marital rights. Mile du Clos
gladly acquiesced in this plan. She asked
u, bonneville to put In writing the story
lie was to tell of their pretended marriage,
that she might commit 1t to memory and
not involve herself when questioned.
As it turned out. however. this was not
necessary, for when Dc bonneville explained
TO the chaplain of the ship that he and Mile.
du Clos were married couple. his statement
was accepted MS true. The priest promised
them protection and freedom from vexatious
perQuisitions.
Upon their arrival at Quebec delicate
situation developed. As man and wife they
were assigned to a single room in the quar-
tiers provided for those forcibly deported.
When De bonneville Joined Mile. du Clos in
their apartment he found her in tears. alarmed
at a propinquity she had not foreseen. De
bonneville fastened to assure her that he
had not invented the fable OF their pretended
marriage TO profit by it in the way she was
fearing. In fact. the noble and imposing
bearing of Mile. du Clos inspired him with
a respect that banished from his mind any
thought Of presuming upon the lamentable
condition to which she was reduced.
few days after their arrival at Quebec
De bonneville and his putative wife were
assigned to a small and distant fort where
he was to act as trader with the Indians while
she was to conduct the domestic AFFAIRS OF
.he post.
with the proceeds of money borrowed
on valuable diamond which De bonneville
had brought from France, he purchased
various accessories essential to him and his
companion on the long and arduous Journey
they were about to undertake. After many
perils they reached their destination.
Mile. du Clos. who had an inventive and
active mind, had no sooner arrived at the
fort than she established a bakery. The
bread she exchanged with the Indians for
furs. This developed a lucrative oommeroe
and established close and amicabie relations.
The enterprising character OF Nile. du Clos
Inspired her with more far reaching purpose
than the mere pursuit Of trade. Frequently
days journey distant from the post. Through
intercourse with the Indians she had learned
their language Gradually her visits to the
savages became more prolonged. She taught
them the use Of the various utensils she had
given them in bart er and how best to employ
them to SO ften the hardships Of their life.
She had the address to win their confidence
TO the extent that they placed In her care
two OF their young women. daughters OF the
principal chief. She brought these to the
post to instruct them in domestic duties.
for which they showed great aptitude,
In this manner Mile. uu CLOS paved the
way TO the successful accomplishment of the
object she had in view. The love and respect
she had aroused In the Indians were SO genuine
that when she returned to their villages after
an absence of six months. taking with her the
tNo young squaws whom she had trained.
she was irnplored to become the Sal game.
or chief Of the tribes Ihs Office me d sns ave
affection OF her spbjectst When 81 she wa, was
intelIigently to Improve their condition and
to contribute to their wealth by a well or
sHnIsd system Of b ;6s ar shs
and articles essential to the well being OF
her charges.
bonneville nor the great debt she owed him
for the delicate consideration he had shown
her. She could think of no better way Of
b BY contrbutins to his fortune; To this end
she presented him with great store Of val
liable furs. among them six white beaver
skins such q rarity that when they were sold
IN Paris they brought him large sum.
Through this bounty of Mile. du Clos he
was enabled to retire from the position of
trader at the fort with competency for that
time OF 100 900 francs. With a part of this
money he purchased large tract OF land.
y'hich he cultivated with success.
Two or three years later De Monncyille re-
him to visit her in hcr domnions, Upon his
acceptance of the invitation she sent guides
70 bring him to her by route far less arduops
than the one hy which they had originally
travelled on their journey to the fort. Ac-
companied by n young Frenchman; neigh
Dor, he arrived in due season Mt the village
OF his friend the Sakgame: He was aston
;hed Mt the e-iicnces OF thrift and civiliza-
ton he saw about him solidly built cabins.
cultivated fields. carpenter and black
smith shop. school. bakery and pottery.
On every hard were growing crops OF wheat.
corn veg At ,hIes and OH the sides OF the hills
tobacco, while young orchards Of apples
pears, plnms and other fruits offered promise
OF erelt future yield At the entrance to two
passes Ivy which alone the formid able on,
ernics Of the IIuronsthc Ironuois-couid
enter tho country forts were built. capable
of a long doferce and of shetering the entire
p0pu"'ion of the community.
4 "ri'ns or Mile. du Clos. sovereign of
tho 1ntin'l. the travellers were received with
tu'., l'uous acclamations. She met them
ai 'hr bond Of her people. her person deco
rtt,d with barbaTic splendOr: collars. brace