The term "ex-voto" is applied to this eighteenth-century painting on wood and is used to describe an inscription, painting or other object placed in a church in order to give thanks to God for his mercy in response to a promise made during a time of testing or danger. This painting in the chapel of the HÖtel-Dieu de QuÄbec is an expression of thanks placed there by a group of thirty people who narrowly escaped death. It is a reminder of how dangerous maritime travel was at the time. The primary threat to travellers during voyage of two months or more was contagious disease which spread and took a heavy toll amongst those crowded below decks. In 1659, for example, there were eighteen victims among the 107 passengers being transported to Quebec City aboard the Saint-AndrÄ; sometimes, the death rate was much higher. Following his voyage on Le Rubis in 1741, one priest wrote: "We only threw four men overboard. This was considered good for a voyage of eighty-five days." The other great danger was shipwreck. Storms on the high seas were always a menace, but even more dangerous were the St. Lawrence River and Gulf, especially off Anticosti Island which was known as the "graveyard of the Gulf." Sailing to Quebec City was a dangerous venture because of the winds and currents which carried vessels away from the channels and drove them to destruction on the sand bars and rocks.
Courtesy: MusÄe des Augustines de l'HÖtel-Dieu de QuÄbec
