It consists of a variety of figures of the savages, with whom the French, and missionaries of New France, have any intercourse. These figures, several of which represent entire families, are differently drest, each in the fashion of its nation. For tho' they go almost wholly naked at home, yet they have some kind of cloaths or covering for holidays, and which they make use of when they come to traffic with the Europeans. Among the rest are the figures of an Esquimaux man, and his wife carrying her child. Along with these figures was transmitted me a circumstantial account of the manners of each nation.
The dress of skins used by these Esquimaux, together with the account transmitted to me of their country, appearance, and particular customs, bore so strong a resemblance in my opinion to that of Madamoiselle le Blanc, as delivered by herself and others, that I immediately suspected her to be of that nation. The more to satisfy myself on this head, I resolved to try the force of nature in her, and after telling her that there had been sent me from Canada several sorts of figures which I intended to shew her, I produced the box containing the savage puppets. Upon opening the box, I fix'd my eyes stedfastly upon her to observe her behaviour, and what should first attract her attention, Tho' several
of
