Girard0012
doc. 12 — 24 December 1836 - 18 July 1837.
— Travel Journal of Jean-Baptiste-François Pompallier and his missionaries, written by Pierre Bataillon
Partial translation by Fr Charles Girard SM
[62] 24 [February] In the morning the rudder taken off 48 days before was put back on the Delphine.
[69] 3 [March] Head wind. — Father Bret definitely has a high fever.
[70] 4 Head wind. — The sick one, the same. Father Chanel has special responsibility for him.
[76] 10 Favorable wind. — Father Servant experiences a crisis and a kind of suffocation.
[79] 13 Favorable wind. — The sick seem to get worse.
[80] 14 Favorable wind. — The sick, the same.
[81] 15 Favorable wind. — At 7° latitude north. — An agent to induce vomiting gives relief to Father Servant whose illness had been diagnosed as an inflammation of the throat and tonsillitis.
[85] 19 Palm Sunday. — We celebrate the holy mysteries, after which Holy Viaticum is brought to Father Bret.
[86] 20 Father Bret suddenly gets worse. — New leeches and mustard poultices are applied, but in vain; he looses consciousness and falls into a death agony. — The bishop administers Extreme Unction, and around 7:30 in the evening, we have a new protector in heaven. ... The great heat of the equator forces us to bring his remains up on the bridge without delay, next to which we spend the night in prayer, 2 by 2, in turn.
[87] 21 We celebrate the holy mysteries for the repose of the soul of our dear friend and, because of the heat, the bishop does not delay in conducting the burial ceremony. — He addresses us in a few very moving words. — All day long the flag of mourning remains hoisted.
