Loup-Garou, the werewolf, is found in
French Canadian folklore .The Loup-Garou is not always a wolf or dog, but may
also take the form of a calf, a pig, a cat or even an owl.
In 1767 a terrible
creature was reported as stalking through the streets of New France. The
Gazette de Québec published an article saying that a werewolf , a Loup Garou, was in the
area. This was not the werewolf we normally associate with changing on the full
moon.These creatures had to transform every night for101 nights. If a Loup-Garou attacks you, the advice is to throw rocks at it or stab
it with a knife because if you manage to draw blood, the curse will be
broken and the monster will revert to its human form.
The loup-garou had apparently been stalking the area for
years. The Gazette’s first report had been published in June, the werewolf had
been seen outside the walls of Quebec City. It was disguised as a beggar, to confuse its prey.
The most recent sighting suggested the creature was heading in the direction of
Montreal. The newspaper warned its readers to be careful. “It is recommended to
the Public to be as cautious of him as it would be of a ravenous Wolf.”
The Gazette reported that the people of New France organised to fight
the Loup Garou in the autumn of 1767. In
October, they set their dogs upon the werewolf over and over again, seriously
injuring the “monster.” On November 3, the newspaper reported that “he received
such a furious Blow… that it was thought they were entirely delivered from this
fatal Animal… as it soon Time after retired to its Hole, to the great
Satisfaction of the Public.”
A few weeks later, the Loup Garou was back. In early
December, the Gazette reported, “This Beast is not entirely destroyed, but
begins again to show itself more furious than ever and makes terrible [havoc]
wherever he goes.” The paper gave a chilling warning: “Beware then of the Wiles
of this malicious Beast, and take good Care of falling into its Claws.”
From
The Quebec Gazette, July 14, 1766 and December 10, 1767.
“One
learns of Saint-Roch, near Cape Mouraska (Kamouraska) there is a werewolf
running coasts as a beggar, who, with the talent to persuade it ignores and
promising what he can not keep, was the one to get what he wants. It is said
that this animal, with the help of his two hind feet, arrived at Quebec on the
17th and last he returned the next 18, intending to follow his mission till
Montreal. This beast is said to be in its kind as dangerous as the one that
appeared last year in the Gévauclan *, which is why we urge the public to be
wary as a ravening wolf.
Kamouraska,
December 2, we learn that a werewolf , traveling the province for several
years, and did a lot of damage in the district of Quebec, received considerable
number of attacks last October by various animals that had been armed and
unleashed against the monster, and in particular the three following November,
he received a furious blow with a small lean animal, which is believed to be
fully delivered from this fatal animal, as he remained some time retired to his
den, to the great satisfaction of the public.”
After this
it seems to have disappeared. Perhaps transformed back to a human? It was thought
that the werewolf story or perhaps the Loup-Garou itself arrived on the ships
with the early French settlers. It could, of course, have simply been a wolf .What
do you think?
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