In a message dated 1/14/2003 8:20:37 AM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: << sabottier - wooden shoe maker >> AH, yes - there was Louis Guertin of La Fleche, clambering aboard ship to take his part in le Gran Recrue of 1653! His name is often given as "Louis Guertin dit le sabotier" - that was his occupation. (I gather there is some question just how good these soldier/settlers were at the skills they claimed. To be accepted, they each had to have a useful trade - but I wonder if anyone tested their competence before waving them aboard. I think it was more important that they be able to shoot straight.) The Guertin group dialogue is sometimes enlived by questions from newcomers to the effect that: "was Louis Guertin really a saboteur???? What did he do?" Alas - no deeds of sabotage and derring-do for Louis that we know of - he was recorded as simply a maker of wooden work shoes. Of course, I don't think there is any real record of his having made even one sabot. . . Oh, oh - one more detail to research!!! Thanks, Jack, for the glossary - and salut to all, Ginny Crawford