Brule Devoured at Cannibal Feast

Toanche was on of the Huron(a)s (Wendat) major cities ruled by the Bear tribe in the early 1600(a)s. The great French explorer, Etienne Brule, was sent by Samuel de Champlain to the region to learn the Huron language and customs in 1610. Later he acted as interpreter and organizer of the Huron fur trade with the French. The Huron were at war with the Iroquois to the south- namely, the Seneca, of the city of Ganatsekiagon at Pickering, Ontario, and with the nations on the south side of Lake Ontario. * Look at the write-up on here under "Pickering" for more history.

In his travels, Brule discovered Georgian Bay and all 5 great lakes. His distances travelled by canoe are staggering. He was the first white man to see the ancient site of Toronto (Teiaiagon) and to paddle down the Susquehannah R. to Chesapeake Bay.

• The Wendat raised dogs as culinary delicacies.

Cannibalism: In 1633, following what the Huron considered Brule(a)s betrayal of Champlain and for his suspected trading with the Seneca, Brule was tortured and eaten by the Bear tribe at Toanche where he made his home. He became the first and only white man to be devoured at a cannibal feast in Ontario. The ghastly event occured at this vanished city which was located just north of modern-day Penetanguishene.

A modern village called Toanche still exists to this day in the area.

And to learn about the capital city of the Hurons look under "Oro-Medonte" here to find "Cahiague: Huron City of Torture".