
audiobook
A seasoned missionary recounts his six‑year sojourn among the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains, beginning with a vivid departure from Paris in 1902. His travelogue captures the clash of European refinement with the raw energy of early‑20th‑century America—ice‑cold meals, bustling riverboats, and the restless spirit of a continent still called “Babylone” by its newcomers. Through keen observation and modest humor, he paints a picture of frontier life that feels both immediate and timeless.
Interwoven with his personal narrative are detailed monographs of two very different Native peoples. The “Pieds‑Noirs,” a tribe clinging to ancient pagan rites, are presented alongside the “Cœurs d’Alène,” whose conversion to Christianity has forged a distinct identity. Drawing on missionary letters and firsthand experience, the author records their customs, beliefs, and daily struggles, offering a rare snapshot of cultures on the brink of disappearance. Listeners will gain a nuanced glimpse into the lives, languages, and landscapes that defined the American West at a pivotal moment.
Language
fr
Duration
~5 hours (329K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Véronique Le Bris, Laurent Vogel, Chuck Greif, Gallica and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2021-11-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1844–1922
A Jesuit missionary and travel writer, he spent years in the Rocky Mountains and turned those experiences into vivid accounts of frontier life and Indigenous communities. His work blends adventure, observation, and the missionary perspective of his time.
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