%. ^y% o^. \t IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) ^. 1.0 ^'^ i I.I 1.25 1^1 ^ 1^ III. 21 2.2 2.0 U III 1.6 V] <^ /2 v: 'ew/ -el V ^>/ y /^ Photographic Sciences Corporation S ^\^ V heaven is goiie."' "This was the first hymn she had ever heard or learned ; and it is on this account that I introduce and sing this sweet hymn whenever I lecture * On the origin, history, traditions, migration, and customs of the Ojobwa nation.' We all knelt again by her bed side, and while clapping her hands, and endeavoring to shout for joy, she swooned away in death. The last words which she feebly uttered, were, ^ JeRi/s, Jesus.'' Her spirit then lied, her li[)s were cold, and those warm hands tiiat had so often and so faith- fully administered comfort and relief, were now stiff. I looked around the wigwam ; my father, sister, and brother sat near me, wringing their hands; they were filled with bitter grief, and appeared inconsolable. I then began to understand and appreciate fully her kindness and love. — Who, who can, or will, take the place of a mother? Who will pray for us when we are sick or in distress ? Her body was consigned to the grave without any parade. No NOTICES OF THE PRESS. church bell was tolled ; but the whistling wind sounded through the woods. I have often knelt down, at the head of her grave, and wished that the tinne would soon arrive when it might please God to relieve me from my tr« rubles and cares, and conduct me to the abode of my beloved parent. My sister Sarah, too, who has since died, is doubtless with my mother. O, how glorious the thought, that both are now in heaven! There is one spot where none will sigh for home. The flowers that blossom there will never fade; the crystal waters that wind along those verdant vales, will never cease to send up their heavenly music; the clusters hanging from the trees overshadowing its banks, will be immortal clusters; and the friends that meet, will meet for ever. " Little then did I think that I should have to pass through so many afflictions, and so many hardships. O, my mother, I am still in a cold, uncharitable^ miserable world ! But the thought that thou art happy and blessed, is truly sweet and encouraging. It is this fact, and my own hopes of future bliss, that buoys me up, and sustains me in the hours of conflict and despondency. Although many years have elapsed since her death, still I often weep with mingled joy and grief when I think of my dear mother. ' Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.' * I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salva- tion to every one that believeth.' The gospel is the only remedy for the miseries and sins of the world. " My mother and sister's cases are not the only ones that I could relate concerning the happy lives and deaths of those once degraded and benighted Indians. Many have already reached heaven ; and many more are now rejoicing on their road thither. Who will now say that the poor Indians cannot be converted ? The least that Christians could have done, was to send the gospel among them, after having dispossessed them of their lands; thus preparing them foi usefulness here, and happiness hereafter. Let no one say that I am ungrateful in speaking thus. It was t'ne duty of Christians to send us missionaries, and it is now their duty to send more of them. There are still NOTICES OF THE PRESS. inded head irrive Hibles loved ?d, is )ught, vhere there those venly 3vving Is that rough Lother, But sweet pes of I hours 5 have lingled Jlessed ned of salva- 5 only ?s that iths of have loicing poor [istians after )aring Let [t was it is re still 25,000 of my poor brethren in darkness, and without the gospel. Let the prayers of all the churches ascend to the Most High, in their behalf, that He who has power to de- liver, may save the poor Indian from misery, ignorance, and perdition." The first edition of this work, we undtT.itand, has been sold, and a second is in press. Kah-ge-ga-gah-bowh is a Wesleyan Missionary, and in tfie discharge of his duties as such, he has passed through many scenes of danger on the Irontier, that seem almost to partake of the romantic. — They are related with much simplicity and apparent truth- 1 ulness. — Littrary Register. uy KArr-GE-GA-cAii-nowri. — This moans, in English, *'peorge Copway," wliich is the naine of a young ItuHan chief of the Ojebwa nation, a convert to the Christian faith, missionary to his own p('0])b\ This young son of t!ie forest has recently published a book, or rather INIr. Harmstead puMislied it for him, of a most interesting character. It contains his own life, his- tory and travels, and a sketch of the present state of the Ojebwa nation, with their future prospects, &c. The incidents in his enrly history, an account of the customs of his people, their idea of spirits, omens, dreams and traditions, the conversion of his father and mother and her happy death, also of his sister, the Devil's spittle, (whiskey,) his first visit to Camp Meeting and remarkable conversion, the Missionary's first visit, &c., all possess ex- citing interest. This young missionary is now in this city, endeavor' •o5 jpeci rest in behalf of his jieopie, and we have no doubt but what, if ordinary facilities are alTonlf^d him, he will suc- ceed. We are confident he will, if he can once introduce the volume which we have noticed above; it is got up in a neat form, contains L58 I'imo pages, is highly recom- mended by Dr. Durbin, and soKl by Mr. Harmstead for fifty cents. — Christian Repository, R. HYMN. L. M. NUHGUHMOWIN. l. m. Hefiire Jt-lidvnh's awful tliroiiP, Je ho vah m nali suli innli bid, Ve iiatiniiK bow witli sacrcil joy j A yiiii uv. she iiah ba we yai^; Know that tlit; I.onl is fjod alone, Kuli kc luili zhiili ;riih slikee liili wik, lie c;un croatf, and he destroy. Ween iii.di a tiili Mini e doo vve. {fi« sovpreign power, without our aid. O izuli shke a wi" '/.<• win iiifi, .Minle us off-lay, and formed us uinn ; W'leii ke ^e o zhe e go iioii ; And when like wand'ring .sht-ep we Ma f^waii diish fio wnli iie she iiuiig, •tiay'd, \\ eeii ke j^ee be lae kah go uon. lie brou'.;lii us to liis fold again. Kr gull ooin be iiiili nrtli goo suh We'll rrowd thy gales with tliankt'iil N'f moo jc tje /i' win e noii ; soi'g.s, O nail iir gwah dull kiil; inig siih High as the heavens our yoiees rai«^e ; Uh keciig ka bah jie naiii dung ig. And earth, wilh her ten thousand tongues, A lie go (juog mou duh uh ke Shall fill thy courts with sounding Ta be .m ke guh gee (|ua win ; praise. A iie go (|ii(ig iiioii duh kee /.liig, 'I'lih chill ko zhuh wain je ga win. Wide as the world is thy command ; Vast as eieriiity iliy love ; Uh sin eeng tub e zhe zoong un. Firm as a roek thy truth simll stand, Mon duh ke ge ehe ta bwa win ; Wheji rolling years shall cease to Ah /.he kee e stuiuaii kee /he giik niuve. Ka yah be kc guh Muii o duowh. HYMN. c. M. NUHGUHMOWIN. c. m. Am I a soldier of the cross, A follower of the I.anib ? And sliall 1 fefir to own his cause, Or blush to speak his name ? Must I be carried to the skies, < )n tiowery bedp of ease ; While others fouuht to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas.' Are there no foes for me to t'ace ? Must I not stem tlie Hood? Is this vile world a t'riend to grace. To hell) me on to GikI .' Sure. 1 must fight, if I wouH reign ; liirrease iu\ coiiragi-, L|( ixiiy tlmnghts that rite, And see the t^anaaii that we love, With unl)eclouiieil eyes! \'h \ah muh irud suli knh ue fin, Me no tnh nnh kee ^iii ; K.ih wtM- kah te t'c knh sf noon, A peed' o i>ah nc gwiik. Kah ?e nig nie noo knh me ne, Mr nwah be go iwc niu' ; Mer a tnh go cwh ne !)<» win, Iva be shkuh ^a innh gnk. Ke rhe me suh we nah gwud cnh V. we de uh gah ming ; O mong e /he snh a nnh gom, (). lu /ah bun je ga bluing. \e t:ili /hah gwn nr mo «he wng, \\i\]i ah zlnili wnli o m; ; (.^ine null we ke elieo Kah /o wod, Oun dos e nnh ka gom. Oh knh slike to ynne o bun cw;) CIh' mull shkiiti wain diiii miiiig ; K'" dah piih gnh kah biin dah iiou ; (,^ua nah je wuiig nh kc ' Could we but climb where Moses stood, Ivtesh pin oon /ah lie ynng o Imn, And view the landscape o'er, ( (lood, Mo ses kah ooii /ah bid. Not Jordan's stream, noi dealli's told Kali ke dali be swam dnh /ee non Should fright us from the shore. Nc l»o win za nuh guk. C. M. HYMN. s. M. NT^HGUHMOWIN. s. m. lis w 0<1 ug, \h pin lan, h ; iwali suh And are we yet alive, And see each other's face? (ilory and praise to Jesus give I'or his redeeming grace I I'reserveil iiy power divine To t'ull salviition here, Again in Jisus's praise we join, And in his sight ajjpear. Wh.Tt troubles have, vre seen, Whiit conMieis have we pa«t, Fightings without, and fears within, $■11106 we assembled laat ! But out of all the Lord Ilath brought us by his love; And still he doth his help afford. And hides our life above. Tlien let us make our boast, f)f his redeeming power, Whicli saves us to the uttermost, Till we can sin no more: Let us take up the cross. Till we the erown obtain ; And g'adly reckon all things losS, So we may Jesus gain. Mee null w.ih nin go ding, Ke wall ban de she niiu ; Mah moo yidi wiih mah dnh Je :»i»8, Kah /hull wa ne me nung I (> muh slilvuh we zee win, Kee ujali mec ne goo yung ; Ke doon je wall bun de she min. Null ([ua uh muh de shuiig. Min zuh knh me e newh Ah lie me Z(! win un ; Kah be wah wah bun dull inun:- oon, Kee be kah kee zhe guk '. Zhuh wa ne me nung diish, Mah huh Ta ba lung a, Kee gee be wee doo kali go lum. Nun nonzh dush go noong ooin. Vh pa ne mo dah suh, () wee doo kah ga win ; Ka ne noo je mo e go yung, Wuh ween ga kuh ke nuh ; O dah pe nun dah suh, Kwli ah /he da \ ah tig ; Ohe noo pe nuh nung du -h Je K.14 E we de kah e zhod. HYiMN. L. M. NUHGUHiMOWIN. l. m. Je*U8, my all, to heaven ig pnue ; He w'hdin I fix tny hopes upon ; ill* iiiirk I see, Hud III purine Tlie narrow way till him I view. The way ihc lioly prophets went, The road th.it leads from hnnishnicnt ; The Kinf^'s iiighway of jiohncs* I'll go, for all his putlia are peace. TIiIh is the way I Innjr hnvi fionghf, And nionrMi;il hepau.^e I fonnd it riot; My ^Tief n burden Ion;; )ia..- been, J{e<;an:.'oo sa niu duh \ ali nun ; Che wee kee zhee tod nin je chog l?h pe ming wee e zhod. Ke mm duh wa uim suh Che nh no kee too non ; Oh mon oo ong wah me e shin, Qui yuk che 'num' uJi yon, Wuh wa zhe e shin snh, Che uh gall san' mo yon ; Che da kee zhee tah yon, Noo sa, I'll pee nuh qua shkoo non. Wee doo kuh we shin suh, Che uh kuh wah be yon, Kuh ya cue uh nuh me ah yon. Wee pe tnnh de ze yon. '■>.:. I , -^ I I ^ \i THE l/lFE, HISTORY, ANL TRAVELS or KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. (GEORGE COPWAYj A YOUNG INDIAN CHIEF OF THE O.IEBWA NATION, A CONVERT TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, AND A MIS- SIONARY TO HIS PEOPLE FOR TWELVE YEARS; WITH A Sketch of the Present State of the Objebwa Nation. IN REGARD TO CHRISTIANITY AND THEIK FUTURE PROSDECTS. ALSO, AN APPEAL; WITH ALL THE NAMES OF THE CiriEFS NOW LIVING, WHO HAVE BEEN CHRISTIANIZED, AND THE MISSIONARIES NOW LABORING AMONG THEM. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. KIXTH KHITIOX. PHILADELPHIA: JAMES HARMSTEAD, NO. 40 N. FOURTH ST, 1847. / £9- 7 .-' 26005S C 7 ' / d^p^^'L(S , Enteced acconling to Act of Congress, on the 9th daj of December, m«, BY GEORGE COPWAY. Lf. Uie Clefk'« OITice of the District Court of the Northern District of the Siuw of New York. ss f icember, 1W«, itrict of the Suu» TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH DOMINIONS, Tins BRIEF HISTORY OF A CHILD OF THE FOREST. AND OP HIS NATION, IS MOST RESrECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. M E CONTENTS. PAGF. PaEFAcr, 7 A Word to the Readek, i) CHAP. 1. Karlylil'e; Woods; Gods; Ojobwa Nation, &c. . 11 II. Customs; Father and Mother ; Reliuion olOjcbwaa 21 III. Spirits; Ojebwa Worship; Description, etc. . . .';o IV. Otnens ; Dreams ; Anecdote ; Devil's Spittle, . . .'iS V. Traditions; Indians andJews; Mijiration : Councils A '> VI. Description of Rice Lake; Rice; Fish; Vilhi^e, etc. t'.» V! I. Missionaries' first visit; Conversion; Camp meeting T.J VJll. My Mother's conversion and ha))py death ; (Jrief . /".^ IX. My Conversion ; Beauty of Nature ; Lake Superior ( 1 X. Kewavvenon Mission; Work Spread ; Old Anna . 117 XI. Travels to La Pointe; Ottawa Lake; Battle Grounds *; >> XII. Sent to School, 111., two years; New-York; Boston s; XIII. Return to Canada; Revivals; Christmas: New-Year VH XW. Wisconsin; Mississippi; Sufferings li'i XV. Travels to Canada; Presbyterian Missionaries, Tri- als; Paid by Government ; Journey to Toronto V2!j XVI. General Council; Speeches; Order; Documents, etc.; Manual Labor School; Plan, or Remedy for the preservation of the different tribes .... 132 XVII. Geoj^raphical Sketch of the Ojebwit Nation; Mis- sions; Presbyterians; Methodists; Baptists; Appeal to Christians in America 1 ! i 1. Chippewas on the River Thames 1 i.*) 2. Chit)pe\vas at Amherstburg , . M") 3. Chippmvas of St. Clair • • • . 14t) 4. Chippewas at Walpole Island • . 1 17 5. Chippewas of the River Credit •».••. 117 6. Chippewas of Alnwick ....•.•*. Ms 7. Chijipewas at Rice Lake , . lll> 8. Chippewas at Mud Lake M'* 9. Chippewas at Balsam Lake lOO 10. Chippewas of Rama l.'ij 11. Chippewas of Beausoliel Island, Matchadisk Bay, Lake Huron 1 •") 1 12. Chijjpmvfis of Snake Island, Lake Simcoe . . . I'll 13. Chippewas of Sau^(>enii- (Lake Huron) .... I.'i2 14. Chippewas of Big Bay, in Owen's Sound, Lake HiTon . . . . • \r,2 15. Chippewas and others, in the Township of Bedford \Chi % PREFACE. In presenting my life to the public, I do so with the greatest diffidence, and at the earnest solicitation of numerous friends. I am an Indian, and am well aware of the difficulties I have to encounter to win the favora- ble notice of the white man. Yet one great object prompts me to persevere, and that is, that I may, in connection with my life, present the present state and prospects of my poor countrymen — feeling that the friends of humanity may still labor and ri-.ect their benevolence to those who were once the lords of thclcM^d on which the v\ hite man lives — and assist in rescuing them from an untimely and unchristian grave. I have noticed some of our prominent chiefs now living ; the missionaries laboring amongst my people ; the extent of the missionary field ; and an appeal to all who feel interested in the welfare of the Indian race. If ever I see the day when my people shall become happy and prosperous, I shall then feel great and lasting pleasure, which will more than repay me for the pain, both of body and mind, which I have endured for tfie last twelve years. My motto is — " My poor People.'''' In all my crooked paths, I have endeavored to mean 7 } vm PIIF-FACE. well. I thank my friends for their kind gifts and wishes*. Yet still as much, and more, remains to be accomplishe(L Pray for us — tliat relii^ion and science may lead us on to intelligence and virtue; that we may imitate the good white man, who, like the eairle, builds its nest on the top of some high rock — scicncp; ihat we may edu- cate our children, and turn their minds to God. Help us, help us to live — and teach us to die a Christian's death, that our spirits may mingle with the blessed above. KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. •^^.^ nd wishes. jmplishecL lead us on nitate the ts nest on may edn- od. Help Christian's le blessed 30\VH. '■J ■j A WORD TO THE READER. It would be presumptuous in one, who has but recently been brought out of a wild and savage state j and who has since received but three years* schooling, to under- take, without any assistance, to publish to the world a work of any kind. It is but a few years since I began to speak the English language. An unexpected oppor- tunity occurred of submitting my manuscript to a friend, who has kindly corrected all seWows grammatical errors, leaving the unimportant ones wholly untouched, that my own style may be exhibited as truly as possible. The public and myself are indebted to him foi^is kind aid, and he has my most sincere thanks. The language, (except in a few short sentences,) the plan, and the arrangement are all my ownj and I am wholly responsible for all the statements, and the remaining defects. My work is now accomplished j and I am too well aware of the many faults which are still to be found therein. Little could I imagine, that I should have to contend with so mdtfy obstacles. All along, have I felt my great deficiency j and my inade- quacy for such an undertaking. I would fain hope, however, that the kind Reader will throw the mantle of charity over errors of every kind. I am a stranger in a 9 X A WORD TO THE Ul.ADKR. « Strange laud I And often, when the sun is sinking in the western sky, I think of my former home; my heart yearns for the loved of other days, and tears flow ]ike the summer rain. How the hea*"' the wanderer and pilgrim, after long years of absence, beats, and his eyes fill, as he catches a glance at the hills of his nativity, and reflects upon the time when he pressed the lips of a mother, or sister, now cold in death. Should I live, this painful pleasure will yet be mine. ^^ Blessed be the Lord^ who hath helipad me hitherto.''^ KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH, ALIAS GEORGE COPWAY. July 1847. 1 inking in my heart flow ^ike Icrer and his eyes nativity, he lips of Id I live, ised be the OWH, THE LIFE OF KAII-GE-GA-G\IM30Wn. CHAPTER I. The Christian will no doubt feci for my prjor people, when he hears the story of one brought from that unfortunate race called the Indians. The lover of humanity will be glad to see that that once powerful race can be made to enjoy the blessings of life. What was once impossible — or rather thought to be — is made possible through my experience. I have made many close observations of men, and tliinnjs around me ; but, I regret to say, that I do not thiidc I have made as good use of my opportunities as I might have done. It will be seen that I know but little — yet how pre- cious that little! — I would rather lose my right hand tlian be deprived of it. I loved the woods, and the chase. I had the nature for it, and gloried in nothing else. The mind for letters was in mo, but was asleep^ till the dawn of Christianity arose, and awoke the slumbers of the soul into energy and action. You will see that I served the ima lary my poor blind father. I was out early and late in quest of the favors of the Afon-e-doos (spirits,) who, it was said, were numerous — who fdled the air ! At early dawn I 12 THE LIFE OF watched the rising of the palace of the Great Spirit— Vic sun — wlio, it was said, made the world ! Early as I can recollect, I was taught that it was the gift of the many spirits to be a good hunter and warrior ; and much of my time i devoted in search of their favors. On the mountain top, or along the valley, or the water brook, I searched for some kind intimation from the spirits who made their residence in the noise of the waterfalls. I dreaded to hear the voice of the an[rry spirit in the gathering clouds. I looked with anxiety to catch a glimpse of the wings of the Great Spirit, who shrouded himself in rolling white and dark clouds — who, with his wings, fanned the eaiih, an(] laid low the tall pines and hemlock in his course — who rode in whirlwinds and tornadoes, and pl'icke I the trees from their woven roots — who chased c'her gods from his course — wlio drove the Bau Spirit from the surface of the earth, down to the dark caverns of the deep. Yet he was a kind spirit. My father taught me to call that spirit Kc-sha- mon-e-doo — Benevolent spirit — for his ancestors taught him no other name to give to that spirit who made the earth, with all its variety and smiling beauty. His benevolence I saw in the running of the streams, for the animals to quench their thirst and the fishes to live ; the fruit of the earth teemed wherever I looked. Every- thing I saw smilingly said Ke-sha-mon-e-doo nin-ge-oo- slie-ig — the Benevolent spirit made me. Where is he ? My father pointed to the sun. What is his will concerning me, and the rest of the India:i race ? This was a question that I found no one could ! KAII-GE-GA-GAII-BOWII. 13 reat Spirit — fit it was the ind warrior ; rch of their e valley, or 1 intimation n the noise spirit in the ' to catch a 10 shrouded lio, with his ill pines and rlwinds and heir woven ourse — who earth, down was a kind it Ke-sha- stors taught made the auty. His treains, for es to live ; ed. Every nin-go-oo- n. What the India.i one could i aniwer, until a beam from heaven shone on my pathway, Tiiich was very dark, when first I saw that there was a ti'up heaven — not in the far-setting sun, where the Indian anticipated a rest, a home for his spirit — but in the bo'',om of the Highest. I view my life like the mariner on the wide ocean, without a compass, in the dark night, as he watches the heavens for the north star, which his eye having discovered, he makes his way amidst surging seas, and tossed by angry billows into the very jaws of death, till he arrives safely anchored at port. I have been tossed with hope and fear in this life ; no star-'ight shone or. my way, until the men of God pointed me to a Star in the East, as it rose with all its splendor and glory. I* was the Star of ik'thlehem. I could now say in the language of the poet — " Once on the ra;j;ing seas I rode, Ttie storm was loud, the nijrht was dark; The ocean yawnt.'d, and rudely blowed The wind that tossed my foundering bark." Yes, I hope to sing some day in the realms of bliss — " It was my guide, my light, my all ! It bade my dark foreboding; cease; And throuj^h the storm and danger's thrall, It led me to the port of peace." I have not the happiness of being able to refer to written records in narrating the history of my fore- fathers ; but I can reveal to the world what has long been laid up in my memory ; so that when " I go the way of all the earth,'' the crooked and singular patlis which T have made in the world, may not only be a 14 THE LIFE OF warning to others, but may inspire them with a trust in God. And not only a warning and a trust, but also th?i the world may learn that there once lived such a man as Kah-ge-ga-gah-bo\vh, when they read his griefs and his joys. My parents were of the Ojebwa nation, who lived on the lake back of Cobourg, on the shores of Lake Ontario, Canada West. The lake was called Rice Lake, where there was a quantity of wild rice, and much game of different kinds, before the whites cleared away the woods, where the deer and the beai then resorted. My father and mother were taught the religion of their nation. My father became a medicine man in the early part of his life, and always had by him the implements or war, which generally distinguish our head men. He was a good hunter as any in the t:ibe. Very few brought more furs than he did in the spring. P^very spring they returned from their hunting grounds. The Ojebwas each olaimcd, and claim to this day, hunting grounds, rivers, lakes, and whole districts of country. No one hunted on each other's ground. My father had the northern fork of the river Trent, above Bellmont lake. My great-grandfather was the first who ventured to settle at Rice Lake, after the Ojebwa nation defeated the Hurons, who once inhabited all the lakes in West- ern Canada, and who had a large village just on the top of the hill of the Anderson farm, (which was afterwards occupied by the Ojebwas,) and which furnished a magnificent view of the lakes and surrounding coun- try. Lie was of the Crane tribe i i. e. had a crane for I t I i»>*,> KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BO\VH. 15 with a trust in trust, but also e lived such a ■ read his gricfe I, who lived on f Lake Ontario, ;e Lake, where much game of ared away the n resorted, religion of their nan in the early the implements )ur head men. [be. Very few pring. Every grounds. The s day, hunting 3ts of country. My fiUher had bove Bellmont ho ventured to ation defeated lakes in West- just on the top Was afterwards 1 furnished a unding coun- ad a crane for I totem — coat of arms — which now forms the totem of the villagers, excepting those who have since come amongst us from other villages by intermarriage, for there w^as a law that no one was to marry one of the same totem, for all considered each other as being related. He must have been a daring adventurer — a warrior — for no one would have ventured to go and settle down on the land from which they had just driven the Hurons, whom the Ojebwas conquered and reduced, unless he was a great hero. It is said that he lived about the islands of Rice Lake, secreting himself from the enemy for several years, until some others came and joined him, when they formed a settlement on one of the islands. He must have been a great hunter, for this w^as one of the princi- pal inducements that made him venture there, for there must have been abundance of game of every kind The Ojebwas are called, here and all around, Massis- suagays, because they came from Me-sey Sah-gieng, at the head of Lake Huron, as you go up to SaultSt. Marie falls. Here he lived in jeopardy — with his life in his hand — enduring the unpleasant idea that he lived in the land of bones — amidst the glocm^ which shrouded the once happy and populous village of the Hurons ; here their bones lay broad-cast around his wigwam ; where, among these woods once rang the war cry of the Hu- rons, echoing along the valley of the river Trent, but whose sinewed arms now laid low, with their badges and arms of war, in one common grave, near the resi- dence of Peter Anderson, iSq. g" a hillock, are now all that remain of this once powerful 16 THE LIFE OF nution. Their bones, gun barrels, tomahawks, war spears, large scalping knives, are yet to be found there. This must have taken place soon after the formation of the settlement in Quebec. The Crane tribe became the sole proprietors of this part of the Ojebwa land ; the descendants of this tribe will continue to wear the distinguishing sign ; except in a few instances, the chiefs are of this tribe. My grandfather lived here about this time, and held some friendly intercourse with the whites. My father here learned the manners, customs, and worship of the nation. He, and others, became acquainted with the early settlers, and have ever been friendly with the whites. And I know the day when he used to shake 'he hand of the white man, and, very friendly^ the white man would say, *' take some whiskey.'*^ When he saw any hungering for venison, he gave them to eat ; and some, in return for his kindness, have repaid him after they became good and great farmers. My mother was of the Eagle tribe ; she was a sensi- ble woman ; she was as good a hunter as any of the In- dians ; she could shoot the deer, and the ducks flying, as well as they. Nature had done a great deal for her, for she was active ; and she was much more cleanly than the majority of our women in those days. She lived to see the day when most of her children were given up to the Lord in Christian baptism ; while she experienced a change of heart, and the fulness of God in man, for she lived daily in the enjoyment of God's favors. I will speak more of her at a proper time, re- - specting her life and happy death, ^1 1 1 KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 17 mahawks, war be found there, the formation of prietors of this ints of this tribe ig sign ; except tribe. time, and held tes. My father 1 worship of the ainted with the iendly with the i used to shake ^y friendly, the hiskeyy When ave them to eat ; have repaid him ?rs. she was a sensi- as any of the In- he ducks flying, |rcat deal for her, !h more cleanly Lose days. She r children were |tism ; while she fulness of God ment of God's proper time, re- My father still lives ; he is from sixty-five to seventy vpars old, and is one of the chiefs of Rice Lake Indian Villan^e. He used to love fire-water before he wa^? con- verted to God, but now lives in the enjoyment of reli- gion, and he is happy without the deviPs spittal — whis- kiy. If Christianity had not come, and the grace of God had not taken possession of his heart, his head would soon have been laid low beneath the fallen leaves of the forest, and I, left, in my youthful days, an orphan. But to God be all the praise for his timely deliverance. The reader will see that I cannot boast of an exalted parentage, nor trace the past history to some renowned warrior in days of yore ; but let the above suffice. Mv fathers were those who en THE LIFE OF want of food. I will narrate a circumstance of our sufferings, when I come to speak of the actual condi- tion of our people, before Christianity was introduced among us, which, when I think of it, I cannot but bless God for his preserving kindness to us, in sparing us to hear his blessed word. Soon after being Christianized, my father and another Indian, by the name of Bipj John, and myself, went out hunting , my father left his family near the mission station, living in the wigwam. While we w^ere out on the hunting grounds, we found out that some Indians had gone before us on the route up the river, and every day we gained upon them : their tracks were fresh. The river and the lakes were frozen, and we had to walk on the ice. For some days together we did not fire a gun, for fear they w^ould hear it and go from us, where we could not find them. At length we found them by the banks of the river, they were Nah-doo- ways or Mohawks, from Bay Quinty ; they were seven of them, tall fellows. We shook hands with them : they received us kindly. My father had determined to take all they had, if w^e should overtake them. After they gave us a good dinner of boiled beaver, my father stepped across the fire and ripped open two packs of beaver furs, that were just by him. He said to them " We have only one custom among us, and that is well known to all ; this river, and all that is in it are mine : I have come up the river behind you, and you appear to have killed all before you. This is mine, and this is mine," he said, as he touched with the handle of his KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 23 tance of our actual condi- as introduced nnot but bless sparing us to }T and another myself, went ir the mission e were out on some Indians ;^er, and every s were fresh, nd we had to ir we did not id go from us, gth we found lere Nah-doo- 'y were seven with them : letermined to I them. After t^er, my father |two packs of said to them that is well it are mine : you appear |e, and this is landle of his tomahawk each of the packs of beaver, oUcr, and musk- ••at skins. I expected every moment to see my father k»aocked down with a tomahawk, but none dared touch him ; he counted the skins and then threw them across the fire-place to us. After this was done, the same thing took place with the guns ; only one was left them to use on their way home. He talked to them by signs, and bade them, as the sailors say, " weigh anchor and soon be under way ;" they left, and we took pos- session of the temporary wigwam they had built. We never saw them afterwards on our hunting grounds, though some of them hav^e been there since. My father was ever kind and alfectionate to me, par- ticularly after the death of my brother, which was occa- sioned by the going off of a giin, the load passing through the arm, and so fractured it that it soon mortified and caused his doalh. He believed in persuasion ; I know not that he ever used harsh means, but would talk to me for hours together. As soon as it was dark he would call me to his side and begin to talk, and tell me that the Great Spirit would bless me with a long life if I vshould love my friends, and particularly the aged He would always take me with him when going any where near, and I learned his movements, fori watched him going through the woods. Often would he tell me that when I should be a man that I must do so, and so, and do as he did, while fording the rivers, shooting the deer, trapping the beavjr, etc., etc. I always imitated liim while I was a hunter. My mother was also kind and afTectionate ; she seem- ed to be happy when she saw us enjoying ourselves by 24 THE LIFE OP her; often she would not eat much for days together ; bhe would leave all for us! She was an industrious "WQraan ; in the spring she made more sugar than any one else ; she was never idle while the season for ga- thering wild rice lasted. I was taught early to hunt the deer. It was a part of our father's duty to teach us how to handle the gun as well as the bow and arrow. I was early reminded to hunt for myself; a thirst to excel in hunting began to increase ; no pains were spared, no fatigue was too great, and at all seasons I found something to stimulate me to exertion, that I might become a good hunter. For years I followed my father, observed how he ap- proached the deer, the manner of getting it upon his shoulders to carry it home. The appearance of the sky, the sound oi Tne distant water-falls in the morning, the appearance of the clouds and the winds, were to be noticed. The step, and the gesture, in travelling in search of the deer, were to be observed. Many a lecture I received when the deer lay bleeding at the feet of my father ; he would give me an account of the nobleness of the hunter's deeds, and said that I should never be in want whenever there was any game, and diat many a poor aged man could be assisted by me. *' If you reverence the aged, many loill bs glad to hear of your name,^' were the words of my father. " The poor man will say to his children, ' my children, let us go to him, for he is a great hunter, and is kind to the poor, he will not turn us away empty.' The Great Spirit, who has given the aged a long life, will bless you. You must never laugh at any suffering object, for 1 KAil-GF.-GA-GAH-UOWII. 25 days together ; an industrious sugar than any season for ga- it was a part of ndle the gun as •ly reminded to unting began to ati:4ue was too ling to stimulate a good hunter, -ed how he ap- ;ing it upon his pearance of the in the morning, D winds, were to , in travelling in 1. leer lay bleeding me an account , and said that 1 le was any game, be assisted by loill be glad to s of my father. , ' my children, ', and is hind to :y.' The Great |g Ufe, will bless [fering object, for yru know not how soon you may be in the same conui- lion : never kill any gi^tne needlessly." Such was his hfiguage when we were alone in the woods. Ah ' the3 w(.'re lessons directed from heaven. In the spring but few deer were killed, because the) were not in good order, the venison being j)oor, and the skin so thin, that it was no object to kill them. T(» hunt deer in the summt^r was my great delight, which 1 did in the following manner: — During the day I looked for their tracks, as Iheycame on the shore of the lake or river during the night ; they came there to feed. li they came on the bank of the river, I lighted pitch pine, and the current of the river took the canoe along the shore. My lantern was so constructed that the light could not fall on one spot, but sweep along the shore. The deer could see the light, but were not alarmed by it, and continued feeding on the weeds. In this way, I have approached so close that I could have reached them wi'h my paddle. In this manner our forefathers shot them, not with a gun, as I did, but with the bow an d arrow. Bows were made stron<£ enouirh, -60 that o"J the arrows might pierce through them. Another mode of hunting on the lakes, preferred by some, is shooting without a light. Many were so expert,- and possessed such an accuracy in hearing, that they could shoot successfully in the dark, with no other guide than the noise of the deer in the water ; the position of th^ deer being well known, in this way, the darkest night. I will here relate an occurrence which took place in 1834. My father and I were hunting on the river Trent, in the night ; after we had shot two deer, and ^ THE LIKE OF ^ihile returning homewards, we hoard the noise of a deer's footsteps. The night was dark as pitch. ^Ve approached the deer. I asked my father at what part of the animal I shoiild aim. He replied, " at the head or neck.'' 1 poised my gun and fired ; hearing no noise, I concluded that my game was sure. I lighted some pitch pine and walked towards the spot from which the noise had come. The deer lay dead and bleeding. On examination I found thai 1 had shot it just below the ear. In the fall of the year, also, I was accustomed to hunt ; the meat was very fine, and the skins, (from which our moccasons were made,) were much thi(;kcr at this season. Those that could track the deer on fallen leaves and shoot one each day, were considered first rate hunters. The fall is the best time to determine the skill of the huntsman. Of all animals the bear is the most dangerous to hunt. I had heard so many stories about its cunning that I dreaded to meet one. One day a parly of us were going out to hunt the bear, just below Crooke's rapids. After we had made a temr '»'"^ry place to stay for several days, we marched in file ; after a while we halted, ea«di took a different direction. My father said, " my son you had better loiter behind the rest. Do not go far, for you may lose yourself." We parted — I took my course, and the rest theirs. I trembled for fear I should see what I was hunting for! I went only whore I least expected to see a bear, and every noise I heajd in the woods, I thought must be one. As I stood on an old mossy log, there was such a crack on the side of the hill that my heart leaped within me. As I turned 1 KAII-GE-GA-GAH-BOWII. 27 J the noise of dark as pitch, y father at what •cplied, " at the 1 tired ; hearini^ 3 was sure. I towards the spot deer lay dead 1 thai 1 had shot the year, also, I as very fine, and IS were made,) hose that could ot one each day, le fall is the best man. n could only crawl in and out of the wigwam. We parched beaver skins and old moccasons for food. On the ninth day none of the men were able to go abroad, except my father and uncle. On the tenth day, still being without food, those only who were able to walk about the wigwam were my father, my grand-mother, my sister, and myself. how distressing to see the starving Indians lying about the wigwam with hungry and eager looks ; the children would cry for something to eat. My poor mother would heave bitter aighs of despair^ the tears falling from her cheeks profusely as she kissed us. Wood, though plenty, could not be ob- tained, on account of the feebleness of our limbs. 36 THE LIFE OF My father, at times, would draw near the fire, and reheane some prayer to the gods. It appeared to him that there was no way of escape ; the men, women and children dying ; some of them were speechless. The wigwam was cold and dark, and covered with snow. On the eleventh day, just before daylight, my father fell into a sleep ; he soon awoke and said to me, " My son, the Great Spirit is about to bless us ; this night in my dream I saw a person coming from the east, walking on the tops of the trees. He told me that we should obtain two beavers this morninnj about nine o'clock. Put on your moccasons and go along with me to the river, and we will hunt the beaver, perhaps for the last time." I saw that his countenance beamed with delight; he was full of confidence. I put on my moccasons and curried my snow shoes, staggering along behind him, about half a mile. Having made a fire near the river, where there was an air hole, through which the beaver had cohie up during the nigh^, my fa- ther tied a gun to a stump, with the muzzle towards the air hole ; he also tied a string to the trigg':^r, and said "should }ou see the beaver rise, pull the string and you will kill it." I stood by the lire'wltl. he string in my hand. I soon heard a noise occasioned Ijy the blow of his tomakawk ; he had killed a beavtr, Pnd he brought it to me. As he laid it down, he said "then the Great Spirit w^ill not let us die here ;" adding, as before, "if you see the beaver rise, pull the string."" He left me, I soon saw the nose of one ; but I did not shoot. Presently another came up ; I pulled the trig- KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 37 r the fire, and )p'?are(l to him ' men, women ere speechless, covered with re daylight, my and said to me, bless us ; this rr from the east, old me that we ing about nine :> along with me 'cr, perhaps for enance beamed I put on my ocp, staggering rlaving made a lir hole, through he nigh^, my fa- /:zle towards the finrnrpr, and said ibe string and itl. he string in ned ly the blow beaver, Pnd he I, he said '' then ;re ;" adding, as pull the string."" B ; but I did not pulled the trig- I ger, and oflf the gun went. I could not see for some time for the smoke. My father ran towards me, took the ti'o beavers and laid them side by side ; then pointing to the sun, said, "Do you see the sun? Thf Great Spirit informed me that we should kill these twr about this time this morning. We will yet see our re- .atives at Rice Lake ; now let us go home and see if they are still alive." We hastened home, and arrived just in time to save them from death. Since which, we visited the same spot, the year after the missionaries came among us. My father, with feelings of gratitude, knelt down on the spot where we had nearly perished Glory to God ! But what have I done for him since ? Comparatively nothing. We were just at death's door, when Christianity rescued us. I have heard of many, who have perished in this way, far in the woods. In my travels to the west, I have met many whose families had perished, and who had themselves merely escaped starvation. May God forgive me, for niy ingratitude and indolence in his blessed cause! I will here introduce a favorite war song of ihe Ojeb- wa nation. It was accompanied by dancing, and an occasional war-whoop. At the end of each stanza, a warrior rehearsed some former victories, which inspired them with ardor for war. Unchristianized Indians are often like greedy lions after their prey ; yes, at times. they are indeed cruel and blood thirsty. I have niet with warriors, who, when they had killed their eneraii'S, cut open their breasts, took out their hearts, and drank their blood ; and all this was out of mere revenge. But to the IVar Songy which was first translated for Col 4 38 THE LIFE OF McKinncy, "Me Indian'' s friend, ^^ on the shore of Lake Superioi. *' On that day when our heroes hiy low — lay low — On that (lay when our heroes lay low, I foui^ht hy their side, and thought ere I died, Just vengeance to take on the foe — the foe — Just vengeance to take on the foe. "On that day when our chieftains lay dead — lay dead — On that (lay when our chieftains lay dead, I fought hand to hand, at the head of my band, And here, o)i. my breast^ have I bled — have I bled — And here, on my breast, have I bled. **Oar chiefs shall return no more — no more — Our chiefs shall return no more — And their brothers in war who can't show scar for scar, Like women their fates shall deplore — shall deplore — Like women, their fates shall deplore. 'Five winters in hunting we'll spend — we'll spend — Five winters in lumting we'll spend — Then our youths grown to men, to the war lead ae:ain, And our days like our fathers', we'll end — we'll end — And our days like our fathers', we'll end." CHAPTER IV. Our people believed much in omens. The barking of foxes and of wolves, the bleating of the deer, the screeching of ov;ls, bad luck in hunting, the flight of uncommon kinds of birds, the moaning noise of a par- cell 1 KA1I-GE-GA-GAII-B0\VII. 39 e shore of Lake ly low d, I — lay dead — land, J I bled— re — 1 scar for scar, ill deplore — e'll spend — ir lead again, —we'll end — is. The barking of the deer, the ing, the flight of g noise of a par- tridge, the noise of a chuck chnck she scy* were omi- nous of ill ; the two last were certain omens of death. Hut the sailing of an eagle to and fro, and the noise of a raven, were omens of good. Dreams, too, weiv much relied on by our nation. They thought the spirits revealed to them what they were to do, and wliat they should be, viz. good hun- I ters, warriors, and medicine men. I would last some- times two, and sometimes even four days. When fasting, we were to leave the wigwam early in the morning, and travel all day from one place to another, in search of the favor of the gods. I was taught to be- lieve that the gods would communicate with me, in the shape of birds, amimals, etc., etc. When I fell asleep in the woods, and dreamed some strange dream, I felt confident that it was Irom the spirits. I will now relate what I dreamed when I was but twelve years old, and also my father's interpretation of my dream. Myself and others were sleeping far from the wig- ^wam., near a large pine. I saw, in my dream, a person coming from the east ; he approached, walking on the air : he looked down upon me, and said, " Is this *To this bird I have i^iven its Indian name, because I have not been able to discover it among the collection of the various birds in the books and in the museums. It is about the size of the smaller kind of parrot. Tlit color of its ft^athers is like those of a jay, having sliort wings small and broad peak, with an upper and lower row of teeth, like a human being. In this last respect, it is ditierent from any other bird. It takes its name fiom the sound it utters, viz. chuik^ chuck. I hope that the celebrated ornithologist Audabon, to whom I intend to present a copy of my work, will throw some light upon this subject. 40 THE LIFE OF where you arc ?" I said " yes.'^ *' Do you see this pine ?'* ** Yes, I see it." " It is a great and high tree." I observed that the tree was lofty, reaching towards the heavens. Its branches extended overland and water, and its roots were very deep. " Look on it while 1 sing, yes, gaze upon the tree." He sang, and pointed to the tree ; it commenced waving its top ; the earth about its roots was heaved up, and the waters roared and tossed from one side of their beds to the other. As soon as he stopped singing, and let fall his bands, every thing became perfectly still and quiet. "Now," said he, "sing the words which I have sung." i commenced as follows : — " It is I who travel in the winds, It is I who whisper in the breeze, I shako the trees. « I shake the earth, I trouble the waters on every land.'* While singing, I heard the winds whistle, saw the tree waving its top, the earth heaving, heard the waters roaring, because they were all troubled and agitated. Then said he, "I am from the rising of the sun, I will come and see you again. You will not see me often ; but you will hear me speak." Thus spoke the spirit, and then turned away towards the road from which he had come. I told my father of ray dream, and after hearing all, he said, "My son, the god of the winds is kind to you ; the aged tree, I hope, may indicate long life ; the wind may indicate that you will travel much ; the water which you saw, and the winds, will carry your canoe safely through the waves." a KAH-GE-GA-GAII-DOWH. 41 )o you see this great and high lofty, reaching ended overland p. " Look on it He sang, and ving its top ; the and the waters heir beds to the ;, and let fall his still and quiet. ch I have sung." nd." whistle, saw the heard the waters ed and agitated. of the sun, I will ot see me often ; } spoke the spirit, id from which he dream, and after )d of the winds is nay indicate long will travel much; winds, will carry I relied much on my dream, for tlun I knew nn " better. But, however, little reliance can bo placed in dreams, yet may not the Great Spirit take this method, sometimes, to bring about some good result ? 'J'here was no such thing known amoP!^ our people as swearing, or profaning the name of the Great Spirit in vain. The whites first taught them to swear. I )•. often swore, When I knew not what I said. I have seen some white faces with black hearts, who took delight in teaching them to profane the name of God. merciless, heartless, and wicked white men, may a merciful God forgive you your enormous turpitude and recklessness I There was a custom among us, before Christianity visited us, that when the Ojebwas intended to take a general whiskey " sjTee," several young men were ap- pointed by the head chief to collect all tli(i fire arms, knives, war-clubs and other wenpons, and keep them in a secret place, till the Indians had complected their • frolic. This v.-as done to prevent them from murdering each other when intoxicaled. By this means many lives have been saved ; although many have been killed during their drunken figbis. They wouhJ walk very far for a dram of liquor. T once heard of an indi- vidual, whom I had seen many times, who wouM travel , all day for a single drink of fire-water. When he arrived at the trading post, he obtained and guzzled down a cup full of whiskey. When the poison had operated, he said, that he felt, as if his head was going down las throat; and added, " Whah! I wish my neck was a a 42 THE LIFE OF mile long, so that I might feel and hear the whiskey running all the way down !" A certain Indian once teased a Mrs. F. for whiskey, which he said was to cure his " big toe^^ that had been badly bruised the preceding night. Mrs. F. said, *' 1 am afraid you will drink it." He declared he would not drink it ; and after much pleading, she handed him some ; he took it, and looking first at his toe, and then at the liquor, alternately, all of a sudden he slipped the whiskey down his gullet, at the same time exclaiming, as he printed to his toe, "There, whiskey, go down to my poor big toe." One of our people, whv-^ had much resoluti >n, and was determined to seek religion, when he heard that the Methodist Indians were not to drink any more hre- water, remarked as follows : — " Will, if that is the case, Fll go to-night^ and bid my old fiiend whiskey a final farewell ^ He went, and drank and caroused with his rum-companions all night. On the following day, about noon, he came stageering towards his wigwam, singing out to all whom he met, " Me goes to Methodist ; me no drink little more ; me am Methodist.'''* He was true to his word, for he drank no more, and the Lord blessed him in the forgiveness of all his sins. For eighteen years he v^s a consistent Christian, and died last June, with the brightest hopes of immortal bliss. Oh ! the heights and depths of the goodness and mercy of God ! In view of these things, I have often exclaimed from the bottom of my heart, in the langungc of *' The 4 KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 43 ar the whiskey F. for whiskey, " that had been Irs. F. said, " I lared he would she handed him is toe, and then 1 he slipped the ime exclaiming, key, go down to resoluti 'n, and he heard that c any more hrn' >7ught, and bid He went, and anions all night. ame staggering whom hi :net, le more ; me am for he drank no forgiveness of v:is a consistent brightest hopes 1 depths of the exclaimed from iiigc of "The 1 Indian's Regret," and which is the language of all, who have been brought from darkness, to the marvelous light of the gospel : — " had our Indian fathers known What Prophets told of Christ and heaven ! For them, we drop a tear and mourn, But weep for joy, our sins forgiven.* CHAPTER V. The traditions handed down from father to son, were held very sacred ; one half of these are not known by the whit-* people, however far their researches may have extended. There is an unwillingness, on the part of the Indians to communicate many of their traditions. The only way to come at these is, to educate the Indians, so that they may be able to write out what they have heard, or may hear, and publish it. Should I be spared till next summer, I design to visit my people in the far west, and abide with them long enough to learn the rest of their traditions, with an account of their migration to this country. ]\Iy own belief is, that they came to this country, and fought with the original inhabitants ; and having overpower(Mj them, became the owners of the soil. I will not now give my reasons for this belief, as I expect at some future day to collect all the necessary information for this purpose, from histories and disco- veries, corroborated by those traditions. My readers will then be able to judge whether we are to be identi- -^ 44 THE LIFE OF fied with the dispersed and "lost tribes of Israel." Can it be possible, that, had we sprung from any of the Hebrew tribes, we should be so completely ignorant of a Messiah, a Sabbath, or a single vestige of the Leviti- cal Law ? But enough of this for the present. As far as I am able to learn, our nation has never been conquered ; and have maintained their ground wherever they have conquered. The Saxe tribe have tried their ingenuity, power and bravery, to drive them from the south shore of Lake Superior. The Hurons mustered their warriors against the aggressions made by the Ojcbwa nation. 'I'hcir war-canocs were once direct- ed against the Ojebwa nation, but they were obliged to turn back, and flee for protection, to the Shawnee na- tion. The sound of the war whoop which once rang all around the shores of Lake Huron, receded, and died away on the waters of Sandusky. The arms that once wielded the war-club, were strewed about their grounds, on account of broken treaties made in former days, and massacres at the mouth of French river. The Iroquois, who struck terror wherever their mere names were men- tioned, also tried to check our })rogress, after we had conquered the Hurons. Their war whoops resounded over the dismal regions of the conquered land ; but they too shared the same fate. They went as spies as far as La Pointe, on the south shore of Lake Superior ; but not with their armies any farther than Ke-wa-o-non, in the copper regions. Here they were massacred by hun- dreds, and fell in their canoes at one of the narrow passes, on their way to the Portage, about fourteen miles from the Bay of Aunce. After these fruitless attempts 1 KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 45 I of Israel." Can from any of the etely ignorant of ^e of the Leviti- resent. lation has never ed their ground Saxe tribe have ry, to drive them )r. The Hurons ressions made by ^^ere once direct- were obliged to he Shawnee na- lich once rang all ceded, and died J arms that once tut their grounds, ibrmer days, and . The Iraquois, ames were men- ss, after we had hoops resounded d land ; but they as spies as far as :e Superior ; but Ke-wa-o-non, in [issacred by hun- e of the narrow ut fourteen miles ruitless attempts to drive the Ojebwas from their land, they fought many battles with them in the regions now called Canada West ; but in these they suffered much, and were de- feated. It was then, probably, that the Hurons and Iraquois leagued together, hoping by their combined forces to conquer us. This accounts for the confederacy that existed when the whites came among them. The migration of the Ojebwas has been traced from the upper part of Lake Superior, and even several hun- dred miles above its head, along the shore of Lake Su- perior, down to Lake Huron, St. Clair, the foot of Lake Michigan, north of Lakes Erie and Ontario, and some distance down the St. Lawrence. They now inhabit a portion of land extending about two thousand miles east and west, and from two hun- dred and fifty to three hundred miles from north to south. They have in each village, a chief who governs them, besides a great number of war chiefs. Each village has a council of its own, made up of the different tribes. A tribe is a band of Indians whose sign or mark is the same ; for example, such as wear the sign of the crane, recognize each other as relatives ; and although each village may be composed of different tribes, yet they must be of the same nation. Councils of peace must be held by two nations. These councils are held in high esteem. When two nations are at war, if either sues for peace, they hand to each other some token, such as a belt of wampum (or beads,) or a calumet (a long pipe.) There was once a general council held, between the Hurons and the Ojebwas ; it was conducted in the fol- 46 THE LIFE OP lowing manner : — They came together near Sault St. Marie, and agreed upon a peace for five years. After the pipe of peace was prepared, the Ojebwaand Huron warriors arranged themselves in two lines, on each side of their chiefs, and said that they must ascertain whether the Great Spirit would approve of their proceedings. Two from each nation were chosen ; the Hurons held the pipe filled with tobacco, the Ojebwas, the steel, flint, and spunk. The steel was then struck against the flint, and if, on the first stroke, the spunk was ignited, so as to fire the tobacco, and thus enable the warrior to draw in, and to emit, a volume of smoke, then the evi- dence was complete that the Great Spirit approved of their plans and proceedings; and the whole assembly now would set up the most tremendous shout of joy. The two nations were successful in this. The shout was given, peace was secured, and these two powerful nations separated for their own homes. For three years no dark cloud hung over the two nations. The Ojebwas began to trade with the whites at Quebec. It usually required all the summer to journey from the shore of Lake Superior to that place and back again. These were tedious and perilous journeys ; but they were determined to obtain ^' the snake which spit fire, smoke 4ind death ;" this was their description of a gun to their brethren. It was during these journeys that forty of them were massacred by the Hurons, at the mouth of French River, without the least provocation ; plunder alone was their object. This, in «;onnection with similar acts, KAII-GE-GA-GAH BOWH. 47 near Sault St. e years. After bwaand Huron es, on each side ;certain whether ur proceedings, le Hurons held bwas, the steel, ruck against the nk was ignited, le the warrior to ^e, then the evi- rit approved of whole assembly IS shout of joy. ;his. The shout se two powerful For three years Ins. the whites at mrner to journey place and back IS journeys ; but si^ake which spit description of a y of them were outh of French pkinder alone with similar acts, occasioned that war which resulted in their complete extermination from Canada by our nation. The future state of the Ojebwas, was in the Far West. They described that state or country, as being full of game, and with trees loaded with fruit of every description. Wlien an Indian warrior died on the Held of battle, his soul, it was said, took its immediate flight to this paradise. The souls of those, however, who died in other circumstances, it was believed, departed from the grave, and journeyed in the ordinary way, although unseen by mortals, to this same land. There was a diiricult bridge near this land, over which the soul was to cross. A warrior, hunter, oi medicine man, would have no difficulty in crossing this briJge. Under this bridge was a rapid stream, and he who was not a good warrior, hunter or metlicine man, would either fall into the water, or lose his way, after having crossed, in some barren country, where there was no game, or fruit, although there might be, occa- sionally, a deer, or the like. O how barren ! How dismal ! A place whore distress, want, and despair would continue ! On the other hand, the favored warrior entered the fields of paradise, amidst the shouts and welcome of his fellow warriors, who had preceded him to this land of plenty. The deer, the moose, the elk, and all kinds of animals, fruits, flowers, and the singing of birds fill and charm the land. While the ever roHinj]j valleys are visited with dcliohtful and re- freshing winds. To kill, eat, and shoot, are their only employments. No sickness, no fatigue, no death, will 48 THE LIFE OF ever visit them. The valleys and the mountains are to be clothed with evergreens. No winter to chill the earth. A carnal heaven indeed ! A sensual paradise ! Oh ! the credulous and misguided Indian. » **Lo ! the poor Indian whose untutored mind, Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind ; Whose soul proud science never taught to stray Beyond the solar V/alk or milky way. Yet simple nature to his hopes has given, Beyond the cloud top'd hill, a humble heaven, Some safer world in depths of woods embrace, Some distant Island in the watery waste. Where slaves once more their native land behold, Nor fiends torment, nor Christian thirsts for gold." ' Pope. My father of^en spoke of that country, while I was young. He informed me, that if I should become a great warrior, a hunter, or a medicine man, I would have no difficulty in reaching that happy spot. Little then did he know of a heaven revealed in the gospel That heaven, where angels and pure spirits dwell, and where we shall see the blessed Jesus as he is, and, what is still a greater honor, be like him. " O for a thousand tongues to elng My great Redeemer's praise ! The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of his grace ! " My gracious Master, and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread throneh all the earth abroad The honors of thy Name. "Jesus! the Name that charmn our fears, That bids our sorrows cease ; Tia music in the sinner's ears, 'Tis life, and health, and peace." " Oh uh pa-gish kc che ingo' dwok, Necj uh ne she i\:.\i 'iaig, Che nuh nuh guh mu tuh wah wod Ning e zha Man e>dooin, " Ning e che Noo sa weej e shin, Che ween duh mah ga yon. O mah a ne gook kuh me gog A zhe wa be ze yun. " Jesus ! kah be 'non duh we 'nui i Kdh gall see beong wa 'nung ; Ka gait 'che me no ne kah 20, Kah noo je mo enung." runl tveel in wh< abul KAII-GE.GA-GAH-BO\VII. 49 j> mountains are to tter to chill the lensual paradise ! ian. ed mind, the wind ; ;M to stray y- iven, le heaven, s embrace, aste. iQ land behold, hirsts for gold.' / Pope. untry, while I was I should become cine man, I would .appy spot. Little \aled in the gospel . spirits dwell, and esus as he is, and, him. L-gish ke che ingo' dwok. ne sVie ri;.h 'vAig, Lh cuh mu tuh wah vrod Izha Mun e-dooin. che Noo 88 wepj c «hin, |en duh mah ga yon. le gocik kuh me gog rabe ze jun. J kah be 'non duh we 'nui^ lh see beeng wa 'riung-, Iche me no ne kah to, lo ie mo enung." When our warriors were dying, they told their chil- dren that they would soon reach the happy country. Their eyeballs, rolling in death, were turned towards the setting sun. O white man ! why did you not tell us before, that there was a better heaven than that of the Indian's? Did not the blessed Saviour command, " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature ?'' Reader, almost by the door of youi churches, my forefathers perished for the lack of the bread of life, while you have reached out your arms, and extended vour means for the relief of those in distant lands! O what a thought! Thousands have already perished, and thousands more will yet perish, unless converted to God. The thought of/?emA- ing! how insuffcrahle ! O how intolerable ! " O mercy, mercy, look down from above ; : Great Creator, on us, thy sad children, with love ; When beneath to their darkness the wicket! are driven. May our justified souls find a welcome in hoaven, j> •1 CHAPTER VI. Rice L\ke, that beautiful lake, extends ahout twen- ty-five miles, and is from two to three miles in breadth, running from northeast to southwest. It contains about twenty islands. Large quantities of wild rice abouinl in almost every part of the lake ; it resembles fields of wheat. As ducks of all kinds resort here in great abundance, to feed upon the rice, consequently, there 50 THE LIFE OF is much good game in the fall of the year. They fly in large flocks, and often appear like clouds. Some of the .slaiids just referred to, are beautiful ; for example, Sugar Island, with its beautiful edge of evergreens near the water ; Spoke Island, a place of fashionable summer resort. One of the largest of these islands, contains a!)out three hundred acres. In 1818, our people surrendered to the r)ri!i>li government a large part of their territory, for the sum ot ^750 ; reserving, as they had good reason to believe, all the islands. As they could neither read nor write, they were ignorant of the fact that these islands weri' included in the sale. They were repeatedly told bv those who purchased for the government, that the isleftids were not included in the articles of agreement. ]^ut since that time, some of us have learned to read, and \(< our utter astonishment, and to the everlasting disgract, of that pseudo Christian nation, we find that w^e havc^ been most grossly abused, deceived, and cheated. Appeals have been frequently made, but all in vain. Rice Lake contains quantities of the finest fish. Ii, the summer, great numbers of boats may be seen trow- ling for mascalounge, a s{)ecies of pike, some of which weigh about thirty pounds. Bass, eels, etc. are als( found in this lake. Since locks have been made on tla canal down to Crooke's rapids, much fiir can be pro- cured all around the lake, especially luuskrats — Shah- won-dase dab me koo mun. This is the spot on which I roamed during my earl;. days. Often have I gone with my birch bark canoi from island to island, in quest of ducks and fish. Tin plain on the south shore, is called Whortleberry Plain. KAII-fiE-GA-GAH-BOWII. 51 ear. They fly in ds. Some of the 111 ; for example, )f eA'ergreens near >hionable summer islands, contains 1 to the Briii>li )ry, ibr the sum ot ■eason to believe, ur read nor write, :hese islands werr epeatedly told bv nt, that the isbii(i> asreement. l^ut led to read, and i(' ,'erlastinp; disgrace, find that we have ?d, and cheated, jut all in vain, le finest fish. Ii. nay be seen trow- e, some of whicli eels, etc. are al.M been made on thi fiir can be pn>- muskrats — Sliali- d during my early ' birch bark canoi ks and fish. Tlu Whortleberry Plain. A steamboat runs from Gore's Landing to Peterboro once a day. The village of the Ojebwas is on the north ; the land gradually slopes towards the water. Its farms, church, school house, and council house can be seen at a con- siderable distance. It was here where the Rev. Jamks Evans, whose obituary was noticed in the tbilowing manner in the " Albany Evening Journal," December 22, 1846, first taught an Indian si^hool. " Suddenly, on the 23d of November, at Keelby, f^ngland, Rev. James Evans, for many years a Wes- leyan missionary in Canada, and the territory of the Hud- son Bay Company. On Sunday, the 22d, he preached twice, and on Monday evening 23d, spoke at a mission- ary meeting, with great fervency. He had complained of a slight indisposition, previous to the meeting; but after he had finished his address, he said that ' his in- disposition had been completely removed.' Soon after his head fell back, and life was gone." He was a missionary in every sense of the word. From Rice Lake, he went to Lake Superior, and after- wards to the Hudson Bay Territory, where he labored with much success. His precious life was spent in re- scuing the Ojebwa nation from misery and degradation. Fatigue and hunger were often his companions ; but the power of living faith was that on which his soul feasted. O thou man of God, enviable are thy labors, thy rest, and thy glory ! I, myself, still hold in sweet remembrance the sacred truths which thou didst teach • roe, even the commands of the Most High ! JMemory^ Hke an angel, will still hover over the sacred spot, where first you tau'jjht me the letters of the alphabet. 52 THE LIFE OF There are numerous lakes near Rice Lake ; about some of which the Ojcbwas reside ; particularly Mud, Schoogaug and Balsam Lakes. The country, in this vicinity, is rapidly increasing in population ; the whites are continually settling among us. The deer was plenty .1 few years ago, but now only a few can be found. The Ojcbwas are, at present, em})loyed in farming instead of hunting ; many of them have good and "Well cultivated farms. They not only raise grain enough for their own use, but often sell much to the whites. The Canadian Commissioners on Indian affairs, in their n^port to Parliament in 1845, remarked in relation to the Rice Lake Indians, as follows : '* These Indians are Methodists, and have either a resident missionary, or have been regularly visited by the missionary belong- ing to the Alnwick settlement. They have a school, and a school-master is supported by the Methodist Mis- sionary Society." CHAPTER VIL The missionaries fir.«t visited us on the island called Be-quah-qua-i/ojig^ in 1827, under the following circum- stances. My father and I went to Port Hope, to see our principal trader, John D. Smith, in order to obtain goods and whiskey^ about twelve miles from Rice Lake. Af^er my father had obtained the goods, he asked for whiskey. Mr. Smith said, "John, do you know that whiskey will yet kill you, if you do not stop drinking? H( KAH-GK-OA-GAH-BOWH. U-l ;e Lake ; about irticularly Mud, country, in this lion ; the whites deer was plenty n be found. The irming instead of 1 well cultivated gh for their own ndian affairs, in arked in relation ''These Indians ident missionary, lissionary belong- y have a school, e Methodist Mis- the island called following circum- >ort Hope, to see order to obtain from Rice Lake, ods, he asked for o you know that ot stop drinking? Why, all the Indians at Credit River, and at Grape U- larul, have abandoned drinking, and are now iMctho- dists. I cannot give you any whiskey." " Tah yah! ('dw exL'UmvdUon ofsurpris<',)t7 cannot bi\ I must have whiskey to carry home ; my people expect it," said my father. He wished to buy a barrel, but only obtained, after much pleading, about live gallons. My \\\[\\vr promised {o drink no more when the mission- aries should have come to Rice Lake. We reached home the same day about o.ie o'clock, arid the Indiaiis were awaiting our arrival, that they might have some fire-water. They assembled themselves *a)gether and beo;an to drink and to smoke. Many of them were sil- ting on the grass when the whiskey began to steal awny their brnins. One of our number suddenly ran in the crowd, and said, ^^ the black coats (missionaries) are comiiinf, and are on the other side of the point." Each looked at the other with perfect astonishment. My fatlur snid to our informer, "invite them to come over to us ;'' and to the one who was dealing out whiskey, " cover the keg with your blanket, and don't let the black coats see it." The whiskey was concealed, and then came the messengers of glad tiding of great joy. They were converted Indians, saved by grace, and had been sent to preach to us, and to invite us to attend a camp meet- ing near Cobourg. After shaking hands all around, one of them delivered a speech to the half drunken Indian^. He reterred to the day when they were without the gnod news of salvation. He spoke with great earnestness, -and the tears fell from his eyes. He said, "./^'.w .9 Christ, ' Kc'Sha-ziLon-e-doo 0-gwe-son^ (i. e., the Uenevoleiu 54 THK MFK OF Spirit's snn,j rnrnc down to the world, atid died to save tlie people ; all the Indians at the Credit River, and (Vnpe Island, arc now on their road to the ])lace where the Saviriiir has pjone. Jesus has left a book contain- injy his conrnriands and sayings to all the world ; you inll see ?7, nnl hear if read^ when you jro to Cobourg, for the l)lark eoats have it. They wish you to come i-nd hear it. To-morrow is the Sdbbath^ and on that day we do not hunt, or work, for it is the day which the (Jreat Spirit made for himself." lie described (he way that the Son of (loil was crucnhed. I ob- served some of them crying ; my mother heaved deep sighs ; the half drunken Indians were struck dumb, and hung their heads Not a word was uttered. The mis- sionaries said, " We will sino^ and then we will knvnl it own and praij to the Great Spirit " lie gave out the lb! lowing hymn : ♦' Jpsus ish pe minsj kah e zhod." *' Jpsus, my all, to heaven is gone." They stood up and sang. O what sweet melody was in their voices! The echo was so great that there ap- peareil to be a great many more singers than we could see. After the hymn, they prayed with the same fer- vency as they sung. Peter Wason prayed, and in his prayer said, "d Great Spirit! here are some of my own relatives; oper their eyes and save them!" After the prayer, they sai' they were going to Cobourg that evening ; and if any de- sired to go with them, they would have them do so. INfy father arose and took the keg of whiskey, steppec into one of the small canoes, and paddled some thirl* - feet from the sliorc ; here he poured out the wliiske} a ai L in ai hi di KAII-CK-GA-GAH-noWH. 65 and died to save edit River, and Ibe place where a book contain- the world ; you p;o to Cobour^, ,ish you to come )ath, and on that is the day which > lie described crucified. 1 ob- iher heaved deep struck dumb, an the effect of the power of gospel grace, that had spread aiauugst them. The shouts, praises, and prayers, of {\ithers, mothers, sons, and daughters, were heard from every quarter. Those who had ju.st appeared as vlead, arose, and shouted the praises of (iotl ! They clapped their hands, and exclaimed, ^' Jesus nimrc shah ion 71C mis^^^^ Jesus has blessed me. The feeling was so general and powerful, that the intluence was feh throughout the camp, both by the Indians and the whiles. This \vas one of the happiest seasons I ever f 1 to Credit River, :e singing, some )iind as if dead, jsent. ny were convert- alher ! 'ternoon, I heard ather's voice. I ) him, and foun gone. M 'This was the firsthyranshehad ever heard or learned; a\i.d it is on this account that I introduce and sing this sweet hymn whenever I lecture " On the origin, history, Vraditions, migration, and customs, of the Ojebwa na- tion." We all knelt again by her bed side, and while clapping her hands, and endeavoring to shout for joy she swooned away in death. The last words, which she feebly uttered, were, ^^ Jesus, Jesusy Her spirit then tied, her lips were cold, and those warm hands that had so often and so faiihfullv administered comfort and relief, were now stiif. I looked around the wig- wam ; my father, sister, and brother sat near me, wring- ing their hands ; they were filled with bitter giief, and appeared inconsolable. I then began to understand and appreciate fully her kindness and love. Who, who can, or wi'l, take the place of a mother) Who will pray tor us when we are sick or in distress? Her body was consigned to the grave without any parade. No church bell was tolled ; but the whistling wind sounded through the woods. 1 have often knelt down, at the head of her grave, and wished that the time would soon arrive when it might please God to relieve me from my troubles and cares, and conduct me to the abode of my beloved parent. My sister Sarah, too, who has since died, is doubtless with my mother. how glorious the thought, that l)oth are now in heaven ! There is one spot where none will sigh for home. The flowers that blossom there, will never fade ; the crystal waters that wind along those verdant vales, will never cease to send up their heavenly music ; the clusters hanging from the trees overshadowing its banks, will bo 60 THE LIFE OF immortal clusters ; and the friends that meet, will meet for ever. Little then did I think that I should have to pass through so many afflictions, and so many hardships. O my mother, I am still in a cold^ uncharitable misera- ble world! But the thought that thou art happy and blessed, is truly sweet and encouraging ! It is this fact, and ray own hopes of future bliss, that buoys me up, and sustains me in the hours of conflict and despon- dency. Although many years have elapsed, since her death, still, I often weep with mingled joy and grief when I think of my dear mother. " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." " I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto sal- vation to every one that believeth." The gospel is the only remedy for the miseries and sins of the world. My mother and sister's cases are not the only ones that I could relate conrorning the happy lives and deaths of those once degiad.jd and benighted Indians. Many have already reached heaven ; and many more are now rejoicing on their road thither. Who will now sa\ that the poor Indians cannot be converted } The least that Christians could have done, was to S( iidthe gospel among them, after having dispossessed them of their lands ; thus preparing them for usefulness here, and happiness hereafter. Let no one say that I am ungrate- ful in speaking thus. It was the duty of Christinns 10 send us missionaries ; and it is 7iow their duty to send more of them. There are still 25,000 of my poor bre- thren in darkness, and without the gospel. Let the prayers of all the churches ascend to the Most High, in KAH-GE-GA-GAII-BOWII. CI neet, will meet I have to pass kaiiy hardships. aritable misera- u art happy and It is this fact, t buoys me up, ict and despon- apsed, since her I joy and grief Blessed are the not ashamed of of God unto sal- The gospel is the )f the world. 3t the only ones lappy lives and lighted Indians, id many more are ^ho will now sa\ rlod ? The least S! ndihe gospel d them of their 'ulness here, and [lat I am u n grate - of Christians in heir duty to s.^nd of my poor bre- ospel. Let the ■he Most High, in thpir behalf, that He who has power to deliver, may save the poor Indian from misery, ignorance and perdi- tion. CHAPTER IX. In the summer following my raoiher's death (1830,) / was converted. The following are the circumstances connected with my conversion. My father and I at- tended a camp meeting near lUe town of Colbourne. On our way from Rice Lake, to the meelinj^', my father held me by the hand, as I accompanied him tluougli the woods. Several times he prayed with me, and en- couraged me to seek religion at this camp meeting. We had to walk thirty miles under a hot sun, in order to reach the place of destination. Multitudes of Indians, and a large concourse of whites from various places, were on the ground when we arrived. In tlu: evening, one of the white preachers (Wright, I believe was his name,) spoke ; his text was, "For the gr(!at day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand.'* He spoke in English, and as he closed each sentence, an Indian preacher gave its interpretation. Ho spoke of the plain and good road to heaven ; of the cliaracters that were walking in it ; he then spoke of the bad [jluce, rtie judgment, and the coming of a Saviour. I now began to feel as if I should die ; I fdt very sick in /j'i/ heart. Never had I felt so before ; I was lee p>y (ii> tressed, and knew not the cause. I resolved to go an(! 62 THE LIFE OF prostrate myself at the mourner's bench, as soon as an opportunity otTered. We were now invited to approach. I went to the bench and knelt down by the roots of a large tree. But how could I pray ? I did not under- stand how to pray ; and besides, 1 thought that the Great Spirit was too great to listLn to the words of ;i a poor Indian boy. What added to my misery was that it had rained in torrents about three quarters of an hour, and 1 was soaking wet. The thunder was appal- ling, and the lightning terrific. I then tried aguin (o pray, but I was not able. I did not know what word> to use. ]\Iy father then prayed with and for me. Many were praising God, all around me. The stoini now ceased, and nearly all the lights had been extin- guished by Ihe rain. I stdl groaned and agonized ovor my sins. I was so agitated and alarmed that 1 knew not which way to turn in order to get relief. I was like -diaoundcl bird, flutterini]: for its life. Presently ami siidilenly, I saw in my mind, something approaching: it was like a small but brilliant torch ; it appeared to pass through the leaves of the trees. My poor body became so enfeebled that I fell ; my heart trembh'.!. The small brilliant light came near to me, and fell upon my head, and then ran all over and through me, just ;v if water had been copiously poured out upon Uit., I knew not how long I had lain after my fall ; but win ii I recovered, my head was in a puddle of water, in d small ditch. I arose; and ! how happy I was! 1 felt us light as a feather. I clapped my hands, and ex- claimed in English, " Glonj to Jcsus.^^ I lookeii around for my father, and saw him. I told him that 1 KAII-GK- GA-GAH-BOWH. 63 nch, as soon as an ivitcd to approach, by the roots of a I did not undtr- Ihought that the the words of ;i to my misery wax, ree quarters of un .hunder was appal- len tried again Ui know what worcl> A-ilh and for me. . me. The stoini its had been extiii- and agonized over iirmed that 1 knew relief, I was lik<.' [fe. Presently ami hing approaching \\ ; it appeared (u 2s. My poor body ly heart tremble.!, me, and fell upou ihrough me, just ;v ed out upon Ui'.'. •my fall; but wIkh die of water, in a \y happy I was! 1 my hands, and e.\- Tesus.^^ I lookeil I told him that I nad found " Je.sus." He embraced me and kissed me; I threw myself into his arms. I felt as strong as a lion, yet as humble as a poor Indian boy saved by grace, by grace alone. During that night I did not sleep. The next morning, my cousin, (-leorge Shawney, ami myself, went out into the woods to sing and pray. As I looked at the trees, the hills, and the vallies, O how beautiful they all appeared! I looked upon them, as it were, with new eyes and new thoughts. Amidst the smiles of creation, the birds sang sweetly, as they Hew from tree to tree. We sang " Jesus the name that charms our fears." how sweet the recollections of that day ! '' Jesus all the day long was my joy and my song." Several hundred were converted during this meeting. Many of the Indians were reluctant to leave the camp ground when die meeting was broken up. When we reached our homes at Rice l^ake, every thing seemed to me as if it wore a dilfertnt aspect ; every thing was clothed with beauty. Before this, I had only begun to vSjjell and read. I now^ resumed my studies with a new and dif- ferent relish. Often, when alone, 1 prayed that God would help me to qualify myself to teach others how to read the word of God ; this circiunstance I had not told to any one. On Sabbath mornings I read a chapter in the New Testament, which had been tran.slated for my father, before we went to meeting. During this summer, one of our chiefs, John Sunday, with several others, departed from Rice Lake, for the west, with a design to preach to the Ojebwas. When they returned, they told u» that the Indians were very C4 THE LIFE OF eager to hear the word of God, and that many had been converted. John Sunday informed us of a certain In- (!ian, who was so much opposed to the meetings, that he confined his wife and children to one of th* islands, to prevent her attending them. But this poor woman was so anxious to obey God in attendance on worship, that she was in the habit of fording the river every night, and carrying; her children on her back. Her husband was f. ! T ids converted. He mentioned also an in- stance «! ;; Cndian who brought his medicine sack wUh him to the moi t^, but on being converted, he scattered its contents to the four winds of heaven. These sacks were held very sacred among the Indians. He spoke likewise of the conversion of many chiefs, and of the Hocks of children anxious to hear the word of God. He left such an impression on my mind, that ol\en, while alone, I prayed that Uod might send me to inslruc* the children in the truths of religion. I joined my father's class meeting ; and as often as possible I attended school during the period of two years. In June, 1834, our white missionary, Daniel JNIcMuUen, received a letter from the Rev. Wra. Case, in which it was stated that a letter had been sent to him by the Rev. John Clark, who was then the Superinten- dent of the missions on Lake Superior. The Superin- tendent requested that two native preachers and two native teachers should be sent to him. John Johnson and I were told that we were to accompany Brothers John Taunchey and Caubage to Lake Superior, to aid Brother Clark. Brother Caubage, and my cousin Johnson, took their KAH-GK-GA-GAH-BOWH. G5 t many had been of a certain In- le meetings, that e of th* islands, his poor woman ince on worship, iver every night, Her husband oned also an in- ?dicinc sack with ted, he scattered n. These sacks ians. He spoke hiefs, and of the rord of God. He hat oficn, while ae to inslruc* the and as often as e period of two issionary, Daniel Rev. Wra. Case, been sent to him 1 the Superinten- . The Siiperin- 2achers and two . John Johnson ompany Brothers Superior, to aid hnson, took their departure. John Taunchey hesitated about goinp, be- rause I was undecided, and my father felt unwilling at first to let me go. One (lay I determined to leave the village so as to avoid going to Lake Superior; I hunted along the River Trent, hoping that John Taunchey would be gon<- before my return; I felt very unwilling to go. I wa^ absent over two weeks ; they were the longest two weeks I had ever experienced. Yet Uie whole time I felt dis- satisfied ; something seemed to whisper to me, '' George, go home, and go to Lake Superior with your uncle John Taunchey." I returned to the village. Tlif :iist per- son I saw, informed me that my uncle was wait». g Wt me, and that my father had left it to me to decide whether to go or to stay. Here I was; the m' .sionaries came, and said, " George, your father h; left it with you to go or stay. It is your duty to go ; John is wait- in":, and to-day you must conclude." Our school mis- tress, Miss Pinney, came and reasoned with me. I recollected , too, that I had prayed that God might pre- pare me to be useful to my brethren ; and now, that I had some good reason to think that my prayers had been heard, ond still to r(>fuse to go, would perhaps be acting in opposition to the indications of God. I wept and prayed ;but ! that night of struggle ! I could not sleep. In the morninfr, I '^aid to my father, " I have conclu('ed to go; prepare me for my journey." That morning we were prepared; and on the 16lh of July, 1S34, about noon, we were on the shore. The canoe was ready ; many of the Indians prayed widi us on the beach. After shaking hands with my failier and the rest, we bid k „■,;»? '* 66 THE LIFE OF farewell to all we loved so tenderly. We went on board the steamboat Great liritain at Cobourg, and arrived at Toronto the next day. On the 19th of July, we saw atToronto, on the top of one of the houses, Mr. William Lyon McKenzie, who created so much trouble in Canada in the years 1837 and 1838. He was then in the height of his popularity. He was placed upon the top of a house by his friends, in company with another lawyer, with a large gold medal around his neck. There was a large concourse of his friends who had come from Hamilton for the express purpose of seeing and cheeiiiig him. On the 20th July, we left in the stage for Holland Lr^nding; here we rcmaincHl two days, lor the want of a conveyance to the Snake Island Mis- sion. At this island we tarried the whole of the Sabbath wilh the Indians ; and had some glorious meetings. They conveyed us to the Narrows Mission. In crossing from Narrows to Cold Water Mission, we were obliged to carry our trunks on our backs. About 11 o'clock we met two runaway horses on the road to Narrows. We caught them, tied our trunks on their backs, and lead them back to Cold Water. Thus w-e were relieved of our heavy loads. On Wednesday, the 26th July, we went from Cold Water Mission to Pane-ta-wa-go-shene, where we saw a great number of Ojebwas from Lake Superior, Ottowas, Menomenese, &c. Here we fell in with John Sunday, Frazer, and others, who w- ere engaged in instructing the Indians in this vicinity. An opportunity occurred now to go toSault St. Marie, where the Rev. John Clark resided. We were out of We went on Cobourg, and he 19th of July, the houses, Mr. so much trouble . He was then vas placed upon I company with around his neck, friends who had urpose of seeing y, we left in the nainod two days, lake Island Mis- (le of the Sabbath ^ meetings. They In crossing from were obliged to t 11 o'clock we 3 Narrows. We backs, and lead were relieved of went from Cold where we saw a uperior, Otto was, ith John Sunday, in instructing the o Sault St. Marie, We were out of 4 KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 67 provisions several times. J3y fishing and shooting gulls on our way, we were enabled to reach the Sault, where we met Brother Clark, John Caubage, and cousin John- son ; this took place, I believe, on the 24th of August. We stayed here about two weeks, preparing to go to the Aunce, the Ke-wa-we-non Mission. During our delay in this place, the Rev. Messrs. Chandler and Bourne (the latter a member of the Illinois Conference) arrived. Brother Chandler has since died. My cousin, II. P. Chase, was Brother Clark's interpreter. The In- dians were comfortable in their new houses. We held meeting with them several nights. Pali-we-ting with its iislierius. Thomas Shaw, a warm and open hearted half-bred Frenchman, was in the habit of scooping out of the rapids, twenty or thirty fme white fish, and boiling them for his friends. CHAPTER X. I NOW began to feel the responsibilities resting upon me. The thought of assuming the station of a teacher of the Indians, with so few capabilities, was enough to discourage more gifted men than myself. Fre(|uently did I enter the woods and pour out my soul to God, in agony and tears. I trembled at what was before me ; and said, *' who is able for these things .'"' But a stil small voice would answer, " My e;race is sufficient for you." Soolhino: words indeed, especially to an un- learned and feeble Red man — a mere worm of the dust. 68 TIIK LIFK OF Having provided every tliiiif]; necessary for our jour- ney, and a residence of ei^ht months at the Ka-wa-vve- non Mission, we started in company with liev. Mr. ChandU'r, uncle John Tauncliey, and the traders who intended to winter on the shores of Lake Suj)erior and do business with the Ojcbwas. We were more than three weeks on our journey — three huiuh'cd and fiffy miles. Ac one place we were weather-hound lor oru; week. Our French companions were the most wicrked of men. Tlu^y would gnash their teeth at each other, curse, swear, and fight among themselves. "^I'lie boat, oars, the winds, water, the teachers, etc., did not escape their execrations. I thought now that I understood what hdl was in a very clear manner. JNly very hair:? seemed to *' stand erect like quills upon a fretful porcu- pine," when they gave vent to their malevolence and passions. They would fight like beasts over theii cooking utensils, and even while their food was in theii mouths. I will just say here that I have often seen them cat boiled corn with tallow for butter. On our road, we saw the celebrated Pictured Rocks, Sand Banks, and Grand Island. On a point of the latter place we encamped. Every Sabbath I devoted about an liour in sighing and crying after hom^. What good can 1 do, wdien I reach the place of labor ? was ;i question that often occurred to my mind. Still we were going farther and farther from home. We were obliged, too, to do our own cooking, washing, and mending. At last, in September, we arrived at the Aunce Bay. Here, our house was no better than a wigwam ; ana KAH-OK-GA r.AH-BOWH. 69 sary for our jour- it the Ka-wa-we- y witli Rev. Mr. the Iriulns vvlio ake Superior and I were more than uuidrcd and fil'tv cr-bound for onii the most wicked elh at each other, 'Ives. Tlie boat, c, did not escape ihat I understood '. JNly very hairb on a fretful porcu- r mah'volence and )easts over theii : food was in their have often seen litter. I Pictured Rocks, 1 a point of tht abbath I devoted ter home. What ; of labor ? was u mind. Still we lome. We were g, washing, and t the Aunce Bav. a wigwam ; ana vet we had to occupy it as n dwcdling, a school house, n nic<'ting house, and a council room. VV^' commenced lal)oring among our poor people, and those? that had been christianized were exceedingly glad to see us. Ihothers Sunday and Frazer had ah'eady beefi among them jnore than a year. We l)egan to build (juite late in the fall, and although we removed a house from the other side of tlic bay, yet we experi- enced much inconvenience. W(i visitiui the Indians daily, for the purpose of conversing and praying with them. There were; about thirty, who had, for more than a year, professed to experience a change of heart. As my nncle was exp«M'ienced in conversing with the unconverted, I endeavored to })ursue his course in this respect. Each day we took a ditlerent direction in visiting the unconverted. We would sing, read the scriptures, and then pray with them. Sometimes they would be impudent, and even abusive, but this did not discourage us, or deter us from our duty, ily perse- vering, wo soon discovered that the Lord was about to bless our eflbrts. While my uncle was visiting some four or five wigwams, I was visiting as many others ; their wigwams being near us. Our inlluence, with God's blessing, was now felt among them. Singing and praying were their constant employment ; and some of hem seemed .o know nothing else but the enjoyment of the truth of the gospel, and that God can and does " Ibrgive sin." They became the happiest of beings ; their very souls were like an escaped bird, whose glad wings had saved it from danger and death. Brother Chandler preached twice every Sabbath, and "I 70 THE LIFE OF la ight school every other week. One Sabbath, in January, 1835, Brother Chandler preached from these words, " And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost."*^ He spoke with unusual liberty ; I caught some of the same fire with which the sermon was delivered ; and interpreted it with much ardor. O what a melting season it was! The anxious and expressive looks ot the Indians ; the tears streaming down their cheeks, all tended to add to the occasion. My readers, here was comfort ; here was one bright spot, at least, in my checkered life, that I never can forget. My poor brethren appeared to swallow every word of the sermon as I interpreted it. One John Southwind, who had been notoriously cruel and revengeful, was among the humblest and the happiest. He had been a great Con- jurer. On Sabbath evenings, every converted Indian would try to induce his relatives to embrace religion, and pray m the wigwams of their unconverted relatives. These happy scenes often made me forget home. Many of the unconverted, were very revengeful ; but we let then expend their vengeance on the air. One of thejn, Kah-be-wah-be-koJcay^ i. e. Spear Maker, threatened to tomahawk us, if we should come to his wigwam " with the white man's religion ;" " for,'' said he, " already some of my family are very sick and crazy." Notwithstanding this threat, we commenced our vists, and with no other weapon than a little calico bag containing our Testament and Hymn Book. When- ever he saw us near his wigwam (we were obliged to pass near his in visiling other wigwams,) he would m KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 71 3ne Sabbath, in icbed from these the Holy Ghost.'" ght some of the s delivered ; and what a melting {pressive looks ot 1 their cheeks, all eaders, here was , at least, in my Qfget. My poor ord of the sermon hwind, who had , was among the been a great Con- rted Indian would religion, and pray relatives. These jme. y revengeful ; but on the air. One e. Spear Maker, lould come to his eligion ;" " for,'' are very sick and , we commenced ban a little calico mn Book. When- e were obli<'ed to vams,) he would run out, and grumble and growl like a bear escaping from its den for life. In this way we continued our visits, and had opportunities to converse with the family, which resulted in the conversion of all his children. In the month of February, he himself came to us, and plead earnestly for our forgiveness. He had gone out to hunt the martin, with his youngest daughter, who was about ten years old. While her father was preparing a martin trap, or dead-fall, as it is sometimes called, the daughter slipped behind a tree, knelt in the snow, and prayed for her Aither. The Lord heard her prayer. The old man "felt sick in his heart," and every thing he looked at appeared to frown upon him, and to bid him '* go to the missionaries, and they will lell you how you can be cured." He returned home three days earlier than he had intended. Just after day-dawn, we heard a number of Indians praying. John Southwind came in and said to us, " Ke-ge-ke- ma-yC'icah , Kak-hc-wah-hc-koo-bay ke-chc-ah-koo-sey^^ ' i. e. your friend Spear Maker is very sick ; he wishes you to call at his wigwam and pray with him. This was i^ood news indeed ! We went at once, and prayed with him. He could not speak ; but sat sobbing and sighing over the fire. We conversed with him, and then left him ; but before breakfast he entered our house widi his large medicine sack containing little gods of almost every description. He stood belore us, and ;sai(i, ". Ih hay^ ait was ah yah mooky^* — here, take this. He cast the bag, or sack, down upon the floor, and wept and sobbed bitterly, saying, " I have done all I could against you. but you have been my friends. J 72 THE LIFE OF want you to pray for me, and to burn these gods, or throw them where I can never see them." Shortly after this interview, he obtained reHgion, and became truly happy in the Lord. There were many equally interesting conversions about this time. I must here mention what was often very amusing to the missionaries, and would often create a smile, if nothing more. When some of the Indians were under convidiony they would take some of their own medicines (herbs) to cure their " sickness," — fur so they termed convidion. An old medicine man once sent a message to us, slating that his daughter was d)iiig ; and that it was caused by our singing and praying before her so nuich ; he also added, that in the event of her death, he would have his revenge by killing us, and insisted uj)on it that we must come im- mediately, and endeavor to relieve her. We went, and after having prayed wiLh her for some lime, she revived, and expressed her confidence that the Holy S})irit had operated upon her heart. The old man soon became con- vinceu that his daughter was not d} ing, except unto bin; he, therefore, at once, became reconciled and de- lighted too. We now commenced traveling on snow slioes within fifteen or twenty miles around, where the Indians were hunting; praying, and preaching to them. The Lor^l owned and blessed our labors wherever we went. We held prayer meetings in the woods. All this time llu' Mah'je Mon-e-doo (Bad Spirit) was not asleep. In the spring the heathen party started in a body to visit their old iViend Spear Maker ^ for the purpose of uniting wiih di th. A di th mi it) ttiii KAII-GK-GA-GAH-BOWH. 73 -n these gods, or n." Shortly after ind became truly tinfy conversions n what was often md would often hen some of the would take some heir '' sickness," old medicine man that his daughter y our singing and idded, that in tlie 2. his revenge by e must come im- ■. We went, and ime, she revived. Holy Spirit had soon became con- ing, except unto cc. nciled and de- tiow shoes within ihu Indians were hem. The Lord er we went. We All this time llu' ot asleep. In tlio body to visit thtir )se of uniting widi him in dancing, and in their medicine worship ; but the old man had too much religion in him to gratify them. As soon as they discovered that they could not prevail upon the old man, they sent word to all, that they could excel us in worshiping the Great Spirit ; and that they intended to hold their regular spring Grand Medicine Worship. Every night we held meetings. They commenced with their paw-wnhs (singing,) and beating of the drums on the other side of the bay, and continued it for a whole week.. We kept up our usual meetings ; and at the end of the week, their drumming, sinj^ing, and dancing ceased. We continued our meet- ings for two months. The Chief of this place, was yet unconverted. During this spring. Brother Clark, our Superintendent, arrived from Sault St. Marie, with Brother William Her- kimer and family, and my cousin Johnson. I'hese were to take our places in the mission. We ha I now an excellent quarterly meeting. Brother Clark [) reached a sensible and warm sermon ; my cousin interpreted it. It was a blessed time; over twenty were baptized before the services began. There was a circumstance which rendered the occasion peculiarly interesting; an old In- dian woman of about eighty years, came crawling to the meeting, for she was unable to walk; her name was Anna. 'I'he year before, she had travelled three hun- dred and fifty miles in a canoe, to be baptized by Bro- ther Clark. She now lived about two miles from out mission, and on the Sabbath, was brought to meeting in a canoe. But on this Sabbath, the witul was so hi^V that no canoe could be launched. In the mornmg. w 74 Tiic lifp: of after the others had left, she starte.' 'or njecting, ind crawled over lojrs, through creeks hnd ciher oilTicjit places near the edges of rocks. Old Ann^ innJe her appearance in the house, to the astonishment as well as to the delight of all. She seated herself in front of tht preacher, and listened attentively to the words o!" eter- nal life. She united widi others in praising Co! for his mercy and goodness, especially to herself. She then partook of the body and blood of her Saviour. Sh<' spoke of the day in which she was in darkness: but now she knew, by experience, that the Lord had for- given her sins. She cared not for the water, mud or precipices^ if she could only crawl or creep to meelins, for she f( It well rewarded, because the Loru blessed lier. She did not, like some, fear to soil 'uer cloihes: neither was she a fair day visitor of meeting. Befor*. her conversion, she was a celebrated conjurer, and a dread to the nation ; every one was afraid to incuk her dis|>leasure. The last time I saw her, was in 1842, aiul she was still confidln;^; in the Lord. We were now to iu:company Brother Clark to St. Marie. We started uu fuesday afternoon at about throe o'clock, ill our lai'ge bailc canoe, which was about thirty- six feet long, five ft^et wide in the centre, and three tec. liigh. We paddled about nine miles. On the ntx: morning, we hoisted our sail liefore a fresh breeze an ; sailed at the rate of nine knots an hour. W^e reacliLii the point on the Sand Banks in the evening, havingprc- viously tarried three hours with the Indians at Gram; Island. The next day we sailed about six miles from the fii'iore ; ii was qidlo boisterous; and when in the trougli w b'" meeting ^ ind ;d Ciher o;iricj»t Anna in^Je her bmenl as well as ?lf" in front of the le words o!^ eter- lising Go! for his srsf-'lf. She thou er Saviour. Sin' in darkness : but [le Lord had for- le water, mud or creep to mettinLT, the Loru blessed soil her cloihes; meeting. 13efor<. 1 conjurer, and a fraid to incui her was in 18^2, aiul her Clark to St. oon at about thicc h was about thirty- itro, and three ft^' s. On the n( x: I. fresh breeze an : ur. We reacliti ening, having pre- Indians at Grani: six miles from tin hen in the trougli KAnM;r>GA-GAH.-BO\VH. to oi" (lie wave it was impossible for us to sen the land. We now came within a few miles of White-fish Poin'. On the following day we hoisted our sailagaiti, and had a tavorable wind ; we went down the Falls of St. Marie in handsome style, about twelve o'clock, }Vnub'/,'e- newh' (White Eagle) walked about Sault St. Mari Bn^lher Claik. and a more appropriate one could not have been eiven. Thr Kiiii KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWFT. 77 with the brethren, &sons. We were perintendent that va Lake : — Taun- id, as was suppos- eached La Pointe, supply for seven \Ia-mah-skah-wash A'e had a new ca- iT leaving, the first ut six miles above \ porcupine on the we cooked and ate iid-bound for seve- at the Ke-wa-we- nte. On entering •. The wind rose, id we were with- ourse by the wind. to pieces against li we espied just in akc Superior, bui on the present oc- t our bark canoe ve see any prospect gigantic waves con- The canoe still es, and then would rise on the top. The sail spread itself like a duck just ready to fly. It appeared at times that we must all perish. But God was with us. O how kind and merciful is that Being who has the winds and waves ill his hands! '* Lord / will praise thee," etc. It is religion alone that can support in the time of danger, Faith lays hold on God. Yes, let (/hfress, sic/t^ness, fnnl'^\ perils, and even death come, yet if in thy hands, O Lord, we are secure. Through a kind providence, we arrivcfl at last at Brotlier IL.'rkiiuer's, about ten o'clock, A. M. How we surprised them when they were told that we sailed all llie morning through the fog. Tliey at once saw the danger; l)ul we could talce no oMier course. We re- mained here but a few days. On Tuesday we left for La Pointe, one hundred and sixty ndles. Here wa; anotiicr tedious journey, for w^e were again wind-bound for three days; in consequence of this misfortune our provisions were exhausted. We went to Ah-too-nah- kun River on Friday evening;, and traveled all nidit to ren(di Porcupine Mountains, where we arrived at day- light. We stepped out of the canoe, took our blankc's, wrapped them around us, and lay on the solid rocks, where we slept about an hour and a half. Saturda\' morning arrived, and found us with nothing but half a pound of tea; we were now eighty-eight miles from La Pointe. We rowed all the morning, when a favorable *jreeze sprung up, which enabled us to gain fifty miles du- ring that day. After night-fall we toiled to reach La Pointe bv twelve o'clock on Saturday niirht; but we were so fatigued, sleepy, and hun.^rv, that it wa.5 impossible lo 7* '8 THE LIKi: OF continue rowing. Now and then a little land-bree/e would help us alonp; slowly, without rowing. At last we were obliged to give up rowing, as the oars were dragging in the water. I steered the boat as well as I could. We labored hard to keep awake. 1 thought of the tea ; I ehewed a moulhful of it and swallowed the juice ; but in a few minutes I suffered so much from a griping pain that I was alarmed. Oh I was miserable, sick, and hungry. I could not wake any of die i'ompany ; and when my pain ceased, I could scarcely keep myself awake. I now steered for the shore: it was about twelve o'clock. I threw my blanket around me, and left all hands sleeping in the boat. I threw up a little bank of sand for a pillow, and the soft wet sand was my bed. f was soon in the land of JVod, Sabbath morning came. I had dreamed that we were just about sitting down to a warm breakfast, whin Peter Marksman woke me, and said, " George, comf^, get up, hlackfasV"* (breakfast, be meant, he could speak but little English.) If it had not been die Sabbath, 1 might have been induced to retaliate. It was, indeed. a Uackfast^ dark enough ; nothing to eat, and only tea to drink for breakfast, dinner and supper! and yet, only about fifteen miles from La Pointe ; indeed, \u could see the place ; and had it not been that it was ib Sabbath, feeble as we were, we would have proceeded Here, then, we spent the Sabbath. I walked into thf woods, and all that I could think of while reading ni\ Bible, was home. I looked towards home^ and wept s: the thought of it. I said to myself, my father, if yo KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 79 little laml-bree/e rowing. At last as the oars were ? boat as well ars I kke. t thought of it anil swallowed suffered so much rmed. Oh I was lot wake any of the , I could scarcely ed for the shore: hrew my blanket ping in the boat, a pillow, and tlu' 50on in the land of dreamed that wp irm breakfast, whui , '^ George, comf, uit, he could speak jeen the Sabbath, I e. It was, indeed, o eat, and only tea supper! and yet, Pointe ; indeed, \u been that it was tb lid have proceeded I walked into tht while reading m) s home, and wept a; O my father, ifyo': knew my situation to-day, you would feel for me, and fly, if possible, to assist me ! I feel that your prayers ascend for me ; and then descend like gentle rains, into my soul. Home! home! however humble, it is still ho7iie. This day, however, is a glorious day for my soul ; but how insupportable for the body ! We had a prayer meeting in the evening, which is still as fresh in my grateful memory as if it had but just taken place. Monday morning, before the sun arose, we were on our way to La Pointe, where we arrived about ten o'clock. Mr. Warren, the trader at this place, supplied us with .some neces.saries. We breakfasted with him, and never did fish and potatoes taste half so sweet as now. We called on the Rev. Mr. Hall, and others of the Presbyterian Mission. How kindly they received and entertained us ; they compelled us to live in their fami- lies, while we remained in that place. We had now to prepare to depart for Ottawa Lake, where we had been appointed by Brother Clark to spend the winter, in teaching the Indians. O what a field of labor in all these regions! Indians, from every direction, congre- gate here every summer; tliose, too, who have never heard of a Saviour ! When will all my poor people " sit together in hea- venly places in Christ Jesus ?" When will they cease to offer up to the Bad Spirit all they possess ? Shall these also perish as did the Indians on the eastern coast ? The red men of the forest were then uncon- scious that the white man would at some future day spread his white sails on these waters, and claim their 80 THE LIFK OF native woods ; that a steamboat would make its appear- ance, like a monster from the deep, snorting fire and smoke y near their shores. God of mercy, save, save my poor people. We started for the Ottawa Lake about the ei<'hth of October, 1835. We had to carry our canoes, with the rest of our articles, over eight portages, or carrying I)laces, one of which was nine, and another five miles long. No langunge can convey an id»!a of the hard- ships and toil to v.hich we were exposed, before wc reached there ; for \\v. had to carry all our things over the carrying places ; and as it was too late in the fall, and on account of the disn<;reeableness of the weather, we were obliujed to rt;turn to J.a Pointe. The winter set in, an I we travelled one hundred and seventy rnile^ by land. It was on one of these carrvine: places tliat 1 carried the heavy load meniioaed on page 10. When we arrived at Ottawa Lake, the Indians wen glad to see us. The Chief, Moose Ogeed, Moose tail was particularly kind. IL're we laboured with succes.v though at the time many of thum were absent hunting I commenced a day-school with few scholars. DuriiiL the winter our provision gave out ; for seven weeks wt had nothing, except what we caught by spearing anu shooting ; but in the lacter part of the winter we coul. neither shoot rabbits, nor spear iish. What now wa- to be done, except to go to La Pointe, one hundred ar,' seventy mileSj and obtain some (lour. We ran nearh al] day through the woods, and the next day my fci: were blistered, occasioned by the strap of my snov shoes. The young man who accompanied me, sufferu (1' (ii ] make its appear- snorting fire and mercy, save, save ,boat the eighth of r canoes, with the tages, or carryint! another five mil* s ichja of the harcl- cposcd, before wc [ill our things over )0 late in the fall, ess of the weather inte. Tlie winter . and seventy rnili'> rrving places that 1 , page 10. ?, the Indians wen O'Tced, Moosa tail ouied with succes>. ore absent hunting ■ sch'-lars. DuriiiL or seven weeks Wi ;ht by spearing ani, It' winter we coul. What now wa- ,-, one hundred ar,' r. We ran nearl; next day my fet strap of my snov panied me, sni^cn^ 'T I KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 81 still more, for the blood was oozing out tlirough his raoccasons At the expiration of two days, at about cen o'clock in the morning, we were at Rev. Mr. Hall's, at La Pointe. Brother Hall could hardly credit the fact tliat we had walked one hundred and seventy miles in less than two days. On returning to the mission, we were one week on our journey. I had over seventy pounds of provisions to carry when I left, and my friend and companion, whom I hired, had eighty-five pounds. The Indians too were almost starving , but the spring 0{^cned just in time to save them. In their journey, down the river, we accompanied them, and had an opportunity to con- verse with them about religion. On our way, the In- dians pointed to the battle grounds of tlie Ojebwas and the Sioux. How dreadful and awful was their descrip- tion. The Chief, pointing to a certain spot, observed, *' There I killed two Sioux, about thirteen winters ago ; I cut open one of them ; and when I reflected that the Sioux had cut up my own cousin, but a year before, I took out his heart, cut a piece from it, and swallowed it whole. I scooped some of his blood, while warm, with my hand, and drank as many draughts as the num- ber of friends who had perished by their hands." As he spoke, the fierceness of the Indian gleamed from his countenance. Every half mile, trees were blazed (barked,) and notches made according to the number that had been killed. The Sioux and the Ojebwas have been at war from time immemorial. The neutral ground of these two nations, is full of game, such as deer, bears, elks, etc. We went down to the Me-no-me-nee Mills, on the is**^ m IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 IE MS 110 1.8 U 111.6 7] ^'>* o 7 /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 V V ^^ \ % V \ o^ % V <*^ 82 THE LIFE OF Chippewa River, where the whites were cuttinnr down pine trees. We then returned to Ottawa Lake, and afterwards, to La Pointe. During this winter I was with the Rev. Mr. Hall, at La Pointe, and assisted him in translating the Gospel of iSt. Luke, and the Acts of the Apostles, into the Ojebwa tongue. Although I have sat hour after hour in assist- ing him in his good work in the west, yet I can never never repay him for the kindness and atreotion shown to me. May God reward him for his labors of love, and for his Christian benevolence. He is like a pure and limpid stream which is ever nmning, and which never dries up. He is like a high rock on the sea shore, when the storms and waves have passed by, unchnng- ing and unchanged. He is in all respects die most suit- able man for this work, being devoted, hunible, kind, alTectionate, and benevolent, and is master of our lan- guage. T hope to see him once, if not many times more, that I may thank him again and again for his Christian goodness. May his holy and arduous life, and health, be precious in God's sight. Here I must m; ke a remark. In that country, we ought not to know each other as Presbyterinns, Method ists, or Baptists, but only as missionaries of the cross. We should labor with and for each other ; and do all the good we can. Our language should always be, *' come, brethren, let us labor side by side, hold up each otliers hands in the work, share each others trials and privations ; and spread the gospel of the blessed God." May many brother Halls be raised up for these stations; outcast red man may soon take his sta- I poor my eqi ha ho tire roc (Ire we eii; onl cou con of a KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 83 ting clown Lake, and Ir. Hall, at 2 Gospel of [he Ojebwa ,ir in assist- [ can never tion shown :)rs of love, like a pure , and which le sea shore, y, unchang- e most suit- mble, kind, of our Ian- times more, lis Christian , and heahh, country, we ins, Method of the cross, and do all always be, hold up each ers trials and lessed God." hcse stations; take his sta- tion among Christians of every civilized clime. Should these observations fall under the eye of dear brother Hall, he will, I am sure, forgive me for the warm and candid confessions of a sincere heart. ♦ CHAPTER xn. We spent part of the summer at La Pointe, waiting for our superintendent, Rev. John Clark, who intended to go by the way of Ottawa Lake down the Mississippi. He arrived the latter part of June, with his companions. We went in two canoes up Bal lUvcr, and thence over the Poriagcs, already named. \Ve divideil our provi- sions, bedding, etc., etc., so that each should carry an equal weight. In ascending Bad River we were nearly half of the time in the water, (hagginji; tho canoe up the stream. One day brother Clark stepped on a rock above the water, in the centre of the river, for the purpose of holding the canoe, while tho;:e that were exceedingly tired, might rest. As soon as ho had put his foot on llie rock, the canoe wheeled arouml with the current, which drew him into it, and carrieii him down the river. We wcTC alarmed for some time, and it was wiih the greatest elfbrts that we co'.dd save him. At times, we could only see his while hat above the water. At first, we could not render him the least assistance. The stream conveyed him near Uie shore, where he seiz(.'d the limb of a \rc<\ wliich enabled him to reach land. We hur- 84 THE LIFE OF ried to the spot where he landed, jumped out of the canoe, and ran after him, but before we could see him, we heard him cry out " wjAoo/;," and in a few moments saw him coming through the leaves, soaking wet. We were all thankful indeed to see him alive, and so cheer- ful too. On that day we would not permit him to carry but two loads or packs, the others carried three. Our wish was that he should not (d any time carry any thin^; but he insisted upon helping us, and to this we had to submit. This was one of those kind traits which en- deared him so much to all his fellow laborers. He has also shared the last morsel of bread with us. Often has he carried the canoe on his back ; and when we were discouraged and faint, he would encourage us by his cheerful countenance, and words of consolation. Our sinking hearts ha\ e often been made to beat with emo- tions of joy ; for duiinfif these journeys we had ample reasons and time for desponding. But according to our trials, did we enjoy the smiles of heaven. We were three days going over the Nine Mile Por- tage, where we spent the Sabbath. We had three loads each ; and the two canoes were also to be carried, each one taking his turn every half niik'. We were now completely jaded out; our bones ached, Tliis was the hardest journey that I ever made, with the ex- ception of the one which will hereafter be related. After severe toil and privations, we arrived at Otta- wa Lake, where Brother Clark met the chief and some of his warriors in council. He explained the object of our visit, viz. to live among them and teach them ; to which the chief assented. KAII-GE-GA-GAH-BOWII 85 )ut of the I see him, moments wet. We I so clieer- m to carry ree. Our any tiling; we had to which en- 1. He has Often has n we were us by his tion. Our with emo- lad ample cling to our Mile Por- had three be carried, We were led. This ilh the ex- ated. !d at Olta- \. and some object of them ; to Brother Clark now left Johnson, Marksman, and Uiv- self here, to do all the good we could. On departin*^, we accompanied him down the river for two days ; and on the first of August we bade each other farewell. That day, Peter and John were inconsolable bccaust; Brother Clark and the rest had left us for a whole year. I felt so " choked up" and deserted, that I talked but little during the day. After praying, as Brother Clark was parting with us, and our heads were resting on the canoe, he said, " Brethren, take courage; do all the g(od you can. Pray much ; trust in God ; tell the In- dians how the Saviour died; we will pray for you; good bye ; and may the Lord bless you and your labors." We returned to Ottawa Lake, and built a house, where we resided during the year. Qiute late in the fall, Johnson and Marksman left me, and went to La Pointe, where they remained all the winter. It is true, there were but few Indians here, but yet, too many for one teacher. They wished me to go with them, but I preferred, from a sense of duty, to spend the winter and spring in teaching, singing, and praying among the peo- ple here. In the spring an interesting conversion to(»k place; the convert committed the fourteenth chapter of St. John before he had learned the alphabet. This young man had been remarkably kind, and humane, be- fore his conversion ; he was more like a Chrislain tiian any unconverted man I ever saw. I never heard anv thing proceed from his mouth that was censurable. One Sabbaih morning, while we were in the woods, I was reading to him, " God so loved the world, that he 8 86 THE LIFE OF gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, might not perish, but have everlasting life." This was like an arrow in his heart ; he prayed, and wrestled with God, until the Lord spoke peace to hi;? soul. In the summer, when Johnson and Marksman arrived, John and I went down to Prairie Du Chien, on the Mississippi. On our way, we had to pass through the land of the vSioux, the enemies of the Ojebwas, and we knew not what v/ould be our fate. However, we pursued our course and ventured at their villa^^e. As soon as we approached, they raised the war-whoop and fired some ^uns over our heads, and the bullets either splashed in front of our canoe, or v;hizzed about our heads. Still, we ke})t on our course, and as soon as wc stepped from our canoe, they seized us, and kept us prisoners for nearly three days. When we told them (through an interpreter) that we were missionaries, they released us, and treated us kindly. On the third (iay we were on the water again, on our way to Prairie Du Chien, which place we reached, and there saw Brother Biunson, the Superintendent for that year. We ac- companied him to St. Peters, near the Falls of St. An- thony ; and the same summer, throu;:^li the kindness of J3rother Clark, we were sent to scliool near Jackson- ville, Illinois. To Brother Clnrk, under God, I owe all the education (little as it is) which I now possess. Befo.c this, I could neither speak nor read five words correctly. I')rothers Johnson, Marksman, and myseU', were placed under the care of the Rev. Jno. Mitchell, now an assistant at the Book Concern, in Cincinnati KAII-GK-GA-GAH-BOWII. 87 r belie vetb LSting life." )rayed, and ^ace to hii? lan arrived, Chien, on ass through c Ojebwas, However, leir village, war-whoop 1 the bullets ,izzcd about and as soon us, and kept ve told them )narl(S, they third day Prairie Du Isaw l^roiher We ac- of St. An- :indness of ir Jack.son- "jod, I owe nv possess. five words 11 nd myseU, . Mitchell, Cincinnati For two years we attended school at theEbenezer Semi- nary, about two miles north of Jacksonville. At this institution, I passed some of the happiest seasons of ray life. Many who were with me at this school, are now ministei-s of the Gospel, both among the whites and the Indians. The groves seemed vocal with the praises of God. The camp meetinji;, and the quarterly meetings, which I then attended, are still fresh in nn' memory. The remembrance of the many deliixhtful acMiiiaintances formed, die appointnumts filled, the interesting meetings I attended in dillerent parts, about Jacksonville, at Lyn- ville, Manchester, Rushville, and Versailes, will always hold a seat in my heart. It was here that I learned to read the word of God, and oilen, for hours together, upon my knees, in the groves, have I been Ihus en- gaged. O the sweet communion I then had with (jod! Among the many letters which I have since received from my school mates, I will trouble the reader only with the following : Mr. Sttrltno, Broini Co., III.') Feb ru; iry 8!li, ISl.'i. Dfau Buothkr Copway Willi pleasure I improve this privileire of answering your kind epistle, and takinii; a ''paper talk'' with you. Hy tho blessings of the good Lord, we are well. But 1 hear you pay '' What does he mean by wc ?"' — Only myself, my wife, ard l>oy ! Now if you will pardnii me this time for mariyin.; young, I will promise nev(M" to do so again. P'Ut 1 think you will not be severe in your censure, inasmuch as I liave a wor- thy i)iecedent in you. Brother Troy travelled thie(> years, and married Bioiher i?tratten"s daughter, of Pike county; and I, who aiul commenced tliree years after him, preached two years, mam anollier; so we, 'who had Ion'' l)eeii luotheji, be- 88 THE LIFE OF came Lrotii -law. Brother \V Piper was married since conference, to squire Baynoa' dau^^hler, near Columbus flarden Wallace married Miss Bronson, of Athens, one year since. Brother S. Spates is on a visit to his friends, and haa the at^ne; neitlier lie nor Reason is married, but have "good tlesires." I visited Brother (acorge, two weeks since. We have glorion- times in religion. O it v.ould liave done you good to have heard Dr. Akers tell liis expeiience, in our last quarterly nu ^'tin^^ In speaking of his sanctification he said, with a j)eculiar emphasis, while liis lips trembled and tears filled his eyes, '^ It wns the rcvchitinn of the Sun of God in me.''' But time would tail to tell of those '• Ebcnezer"' boys, who through faith, prcacli '"big sermons,'' exhort thousarids, '• who are valiant in fight,"' who slaughter many a sinner, and wear the marks ol' many a well fought field, although death lias done his work among us! Oin' faithful teacher, and a beloved schoolmate, Biolliers "^IVoy and Piper, are no more; they fell victims to fever just after conf ,'rence ; but they fell like martyrs; they died at their post. Brother Troy and I, at- tended Brother Piper's funeral (the sermon was preached by Brother Benymau) at Barry. It was a solemn time. While 1 stood by his cofiin, I thought of you all, and of Brother Hud- dlcstHHj who had gone before him. The day before I left, Father Stratten, Brother Troy, and I, walked out on the Missis- sippi bluffs, while the bright surface of the river refiected upon us the last rays of the setting sun. We talked of the happy days of other years, spent with kindred spirits now 6(.'attered over the world. His breast seemed warmed at the recollection. The flame of his zeal mounted high, and poim- ing to the briglit waters that rolled in the distance, he said, " I feel like preaching till the last sinner on the last tributary of that stream is converted to God." Alas! he had even then preached his last sermon. Peace to their memory. " They taught ufi how to live, and, how high the price of knowledge, taught us how to rfie." Sister Piper, and her two children, live at her own home in Barry; Sister Troy, with one child, lives with her father. You have, perhaps, read the obituaries of Brothers Benson, Otwell, Corey, Edmunson, and Hale — nairicJ since Columbus ns, one year uds, and has liave " good iiico. id liave done ionco, in our .'tification he rombled and Sou of God in nezer' boys, (il thousaMd.-', my a sinner, eld, although teacher, and ire no more ; but tliey fell oy and I, at- prcached by be. While 'l Brother Hud- before 1 left, m the Missis- ver reflected alked of the spirits now armed at the 1, and point- he said, ^'' I tributary of I even then ory. " They if knowledge, wo children, ith one child, he obituaries and Hale — KAII-GE-GA-GAH-BOWII. SO gone home. Brother N. W. Allen, married dorvn south, and John Mathers to Miss Julia Tucker. Brother IhnUleuburg is in S^jfirigfield. T believe M. has concluded not to marry, but to keep house for her father. Moses C. live.s and prosjjers iu Petevsburgh Circuit. March VMh. I commence ai'ain, not havinij time to finish when I commenced, f record wilh sorrow tln^ death of our child, ai^ed eight months. The aflliction ol one short week, carried him beyond the sorrows incident to mortality, to rest with God. O it was a trial to see him sink in death, and bear him to the grave. But now, thank Cod, " The storm that wrecks the winter .sky, No more disturbs iiis sweet ie[);)se, Thau Slimmer cveuiuj^'s latest siyh, That shuts the rose." The Lord ha? given us some tokens for good : we have soni« glorious prayer and class meetings. Thirteen joined on my la't rnuiid. I expect Brother Wallace with me at a protracted meeting next week; can you not come too? Well, Brother George, how do you get along in religion ? Tlii'-. is the subject all imporlant. Time, in its rapid roll, .still bears us on. The sun stood still in Oibeon, but time did not stand still. The sun went back ten deiirees on the dial of Ahaz, but time rolled on wilh unremitting speed. Mntaturn is written all around us. The little flower, so briglit, is nippec^ by the untimely frost of winter. The rainbow is beautitiil, but it passes away wilh the weeping cloud. And how so(^n th(^ fleeting years of time will be lost amid the miglity cycles of eternity. And yet, my brother, we know that on this inch of time hang everlasting things. Lord, help us to stamp every moment wilh improvement. Now, if (jod has entrusted to us the care of souls immortal, how should we pray and labor, lest we should lose a prize so dear ! Brother George. I shall never forget our band society, and "young men's"' piayer mee'ing; tlu^se were precious seasons Though I view my brethreii falling round me, the hope of im rnortalitv makes ''the valley of the shudovv" flame with the 8* 90 THE LIFE Op I r •j;lory of Ciod. Thank (Joel for reliuioii that can conquer death, aiul view the grave as but a subterranean passage to the skio» Goon — 1 expert to hail you in a better clime. Brother, I tliiiik I have cj-pcriniced that tlie blood of ChriU clecinseth from all sin. () i^donous trulli ! Have you not found it too ? It is by simple Fiiith. " Faifh has an eye no tears can dim ; A heart no griefs can stir ; She bears the cross, and looks to Him Who bore the cross for her." Go on, brotlier; the land of rest lie.< just across tlie rolling tide of Jordan, IVTetliinks I see a Troy- a lluddlestun, and I'iper, put fortii their hands from llie banks of glory, to beckon ns onward. Tliey look out for ns ; O k't us not disapf)oint llieni ! You know the north and sonlli talk of divi.-ion : thardc (I'od tlicy can't divide me, nor bre;dc those tics tliiit bind me to good brethren every v/horo, from whom "joy, nor grief, nor time, nor place, nor lite, nor death, can part."' I must close mv scattering letter, thouuh not half done. Hroiher come down, and I'll try and tell you the rest. We can go over to Ebenczer and have a meeting, Pitner is there now. He says that tlie Lord has tlie best market in the universe ; Christian duties are always good sale there, and then we are .sure to g(!t a '' back load" of grace. He says, '• the Lord has a great big two-story icarc-hovisc: the promise of the life that now is, that's the loivcr story ; and of that wliich is to come, this is the upper story. There,'"' says he, ''brethren, L'U not tell you any more, you "11 have to die to know the rest." My very best respects to your lady, and the litUe Copways. Yours, fraternal ly, William J. RuTLF.DnE. N. B. Dr. Vandevantcr, Brother Bond, and many others, still speak of your preaching at Versailc-^. Wo have some good times there now. Brodicrs Billy and Cabbie Patterson are married ; y(\=;, and Aciniila too. He preaches, and teache.H school. Brotlier Saxon still goes it with a rush. Tlie '' first year"' class of boys iu thisconfeiei:ce. arc now lirst rate; somo qucr death, .0 the skie» Brother,! '.anselh from 3 ] h is by \ tlio roUini; dlostnn, atul •y, to beckon )t disappoint isioii ; ihuTdc t bind nie to lor grief, nor It half done. St. We can is there now. 10 univerpe ; then we are he Lord has the life thai is to come, n-en, I'll not e'^t." G Copw^ys. lany others, have some lo Patterson landteaehe.H The "tirsl va'.o ; 8on\o KAII-GK-GA-GAH- BOWH. 91 of tliern could almost stride a mountain. sit, it would do you jTC'od to see Brother Billy Pipor throw his searing tiunuler- bolts and rivo the forest oak. or bury them in the smokitiij earth. See him rise in the fulness of his strenurth, and ex- claim, ''Man loll; licaven was robi'tl in silence, Karth iu lionoWj and Hell alone was glad."' Furowell. W. J. R. I attended several of the Conferences; the last of which was in Jiloomfield, in IS.'ilj, where I parted with some of my dearest friends and companions, for nine months. Still it was pleasant to reflect that tlie Con- ference bad appointed Brothers Spates, Iliuldleston, Johnson, and Peter Marksmnn, to labor a< (h<.^ head of the Mississippi. JJrolher Kavanaugh was appoiuU'd Superintendent of the Missions for that yenr. I was allowed to visit home in the fall, to see my friends. I travelled to Chicai^o free of expense ; I drove a pair of fine grey horses for an individual who was on bis road to that place. We slept in our wajrons every nin^bt. At Chicaf'jo* I embarked in a schooner for BiifRdo ; but {^ettinr, or both, of these dear friends see these remarks concerning their kindness, I hope they will excuse me for thus mentioning their names. I must thank them again for their goodness ; I often remember them in my closet and by the wayside. May God rew^ard them and all other friends. On Monday I left for Albany. When I reached Syracuse, I took the long-loolced for rail road. We were soon on our way, moving along like a streak of lightning. In the morning 1 arrived in Albany in lime for the morning boat for New York. I walked around this Dutch city; and as every thing appeared to be some- what new, I was interested, especially widi the vessels, &,c. As I wished to be economical, I left without any breakfiist. I was charmed with tlic steamboat. VVe passed down the Hudson ; the towns, villages, and the ." I con- irprise and ist — James the prayer my circuni- of my loss, sit the East lext (lay I ;al)bath. I vhicli I bad rough thick At Roches, by porceiv- cloak which n. Should c'se remarks excuse me thank them them in my ward them I reached [road. We a streak of lany in time Iked around I to be some- he vessels, Ivithout any Iboat. We ;s, and the KAII-GE-GA-GAII-BOWH. 93 Splendid scenery enchanted me. I had seen but very few such maj^niiicent scenes before. About noon, a plain looking man approached me : I discovered at once that he was of that class of men call- ed Quakers. He spoke of what they were doing for the Indians in New York. I was very much interested with his conversation. I fell glad antl proud to have the honor and pleasure of seeing and conversing with one of Peim's desce'idants — the friend of the poor In- dians. While conversing with him, the bell was rung for dinner ; he wished me to go down and eat ; I told him I was obliged to be saving, as I had but little money and was not accustomed to travelling. Upon saying this, he })ulled out a dinner ticket from his pocket and said, *' Friend^ thou must take this and come down to dinner." I had an exalted opinion of the Quakers before, but this kind act increased my feelings, and con- firmed all that I had ever heard of their generosity to my poor people. *' God bless the Quakers," said I, silently, as I descended to dinner. After dinner we finished our conversation. He said he was on his way to Philadelphia. God bless him, wherever he is. He has my kindest wishes. In the evening I arrived at New York, and went im- mediately to see Brother Mason, who directed me to go to Sister Luckey's in Broorue street, where I tarried during my stay. On the 25th of October, came that great jubilee of Methodism. In the morning I went with Dr. Bangs to meeting. He preached the centenary sermon, which was afterwards printed. In the evening I attended the 94 THE LIFE OF Allen street Station. Ob what a happy meeting* this was. Here I saw some of the greatest among them weep for joy. ^* Amen, halleluiah, glory to God," and similar ejaculations, rang through, and filled the house. In this vast assembly was a Nolitary Indian — George Copway ! Never can I forget that evening ! What- ever may be my future lot in this life, I will always thank God for the privilege of attending these services. May the Lord pour out his Spirit on all his churches. The next day I visited Newark, N. J., to see brother Abraham Hedenburg, with whom I had become acquainted in Illinois, at the house of his brother James. Here I met vvidi a great deal of kindness. Brother Bartine, of the Franklin Station, requested me to preach for him in the morning ; and Brother Ayers, of the Northern Station, invited me to preach for him in the evening. Brother Aycrs gave me about ^8.00 worth of books, which I had the pleasure of perusing during the winter. This was a favor — a distinguished favor indeed. I have seen that dear brother but once May the Lord be gracious to him. smce. My visit to Brother Hedenburg was delighful. I met many friends here, to whom I can never be thank- ful enough. May God visit them in great mercy. I saw them again last summer, and partook of their kind hospitalities. I feel more and more indebted to them ; especially to Brother Hedenburg. My next journey was to Boston. Dr. Bangs gave me a letter of introduction to a brother in that city. I remained about two weeks, looking at the Yankees and their city. Boston is much overrated ; there are a few very few pretty spots ; the rest is crooked and narrow. itinj; this )ng them od," and he house. — George ! What- •ill always I services, [lurches. BC brother \ become is brother kindness, [guested me her Ayers, ich for him bout $8.00 perusing stinguished r but once hghful. I • be thank- mercy. I their kind to them ; langs gave |at city. 1 mkees and are a few id narrow. KAH-GE-GA GAH-BOWH. 95 It is far behind New York, Philadelphia, and perhaps Baltimore, and New Orleans. I met with a few choice spirits — Brothers King, Rand, Wise, and Smith ; and on the Sabbath, I addressed the Sabbath School in Russel street. In the evening we had a delightful meeting. I remained with Brother H. Merrell's family during my sojourn, and I shall always recollect them with feelings of sincere gratitude. I visited several noted places while in that vicinr ;e, — the Monument on Bunker's (or rather Breed's) Hi , etc. ; I went also on the top of the State House when the sky was clear. It was from this point that I saw the works of the white man. The steeples, vessels arriving, and others spreading their sails for distant lands. The wharves were filled with merchandise. A few steamboats were running here and there, breathing out fire and smoke. On my left, I noticed several towns. The steam cars from Worcester rolled on from the west ; others were starting for Providence, and whizzed along the flats like a troop of runaway horses. Here were factories in diiTercnt directions. As I saw the prosperity of the white man, I said, while tears filled my eyes, " Happy art tliou, Israel, who is like unto thee, people saved by tJic Lord!'^ When I thought of the noble race of red men who once lived and roamed in all the land, and upon the waters as far as my eye could reach, the fol- lowing thoughts arose in my mind, which I have since pe nnc( Once more I see my fiuhers' land I'pon the beach, where oceans roar ; Where whiten'd bones bestrew the sand, Ol' some brave warrior of yore. j; li K. 96 THE LIFE OF The frroves, where once my fathers roam'd— The rivers, where the beaver dwelt — The lakes, where angry waters foam'd — Their charms, with my fathers, have fled. O ! tell me, ye " pale flices," tell, Where have my proud anccstorg gone 1 Whose smoke curled up from every dale, To what land have their free spiiits down 1 Whose wigwam stood where cities rise ; On whose war-paths the steam-horse flies; And shipp, like mon-e-doos in disguise. Approach the shore in endless lilcs. T HOW visited the Missionary Rooms of the American Board, whose invaluable labors are felt throughout the globe. I saw some articles, wrought by our people in the west, such ^s bead work, porcupine quills, mocca- sons, war clubs, etc. I thought, that if Brother Green had seen as much of war clubs as I had, (for I have seen them stained with l)lood and notched according to the number of individuals they had slainj he would conceal them from every eye. CHAPTER XIII. About the 4lh of November, I took my leave i)f Bos- ton, for the great commercial emporium, on my route homewards. My travelling companion was the Rev. E. Taylor, the sailor's friend. He was on his way to Philadelphia to preach. I should suppose that a better sailor's preacher cannot be found in the Union. I was KAII-GE-GA-GAII-BOWII. 97 American ighout the ■ people in Is, mocca- her Green for I have cording to he would re i^f Bos- Imy route the Kiv. Is way to \{ a better I was much pleased wilh his conversation. In one of his public addresses, I was told that he said, *' When I die, smother me not under the dust •, but bury me in the sea, where the sea-weed will be my winding' sheet, the coral my coflfin, and the sea shell my tomb stone." I heard an individual say of him, *' start him where you will, he will go to sea." I was now, once more, in the magnificent city of New York. I bought a few books at the Book Rooms. After surveying the beauties and curiosities of the ci*:y, I left in the steamboat Rochester for Albany. I spent one day in Albany, and attended a Methodist prayer meet- ing. The Rev. Mr. Seymour, the preacher in charge at the Division street Station, introduced me to Brother Page, who had the charge of the South Ferry street Church. At the latter churcli I was present at a delight- ful and soul-stirrini?' meetinoj. The following day I took the canal for Syracuse and Osw(^go. On my way from Schenectady to Uiica I preached twice onboard the boat; and even here I found some pious souls. I observed the tears falling from several eyes. *' The Lord be praised," was the language of my heart. When shall this poor heart feel fully and wholly alive to the unsurpassed favors of heaven ? I took a steamboat at Oswego, and arrived at K'uv;:^- ston, C. W., on the evening of Nov. 11. Here I l^nd to pay duties on the books which I had obtained in New York. The amount to be paid was S'32.50, and I had but $21. I went to Charles Oliver, Deputy Collector ; and as soon as T laid my circumstances before him, he 9 98 THE LIFE OF said, " pay the ^27, and I will advance you tlie balance; and as soon as you reach home, write to Mr. McCau- lay, the Inspector General, who lives in Toronto, and inform him who you are ; he will, doubtless, authorize me to refund you the money.'' I did so, and sin >r!ly after- wards received the whole amount. In this public way I would express my most hearty thanks to these genth- men for their acts of kindness towards an Indian stran<:!;('r. I arrived at Rice Lake on the 12lh day of IfJ^ovember, 1839, having been absent from home five years and four months. Never did I feel so rejoiced as when I stood on the top of a hill, and saw my village, seven miles across the lake. I gazed upon itvsi!h pure delight; and as I took a retrospective view of all the scenes which I liad passed through, I wondered at myself, and at the great goodness of God. I knelt down and "blessed and thanked Ilim who liveth for ever," for his unspeak- able goodness to a child of sin. While cros: ing the lake, I was in perfect ecstacies ; my heart leaped with joy ; and my thoughts and emotions were at my home long before my person. O l;ow tedious and tardy the boat seemed to be; I wished for wln'^s several times. But at last, I })]anted my toot upon the spot on wliich I had been reared from my infancy, and where some of the sweetest and happiest recolleclion.] of my life were centered. But " every sweet has it bitter." On en- quiring for some of my relatives, I was inlbrmed that they had left this, for a better life. Many of my old friends and acquaintances had gone to try the realities of another woild. Numbers were bathed in tears, and the wounds of their hearts were re-opened. My ov/n heart 5 I ; balance; , McCau- onto, ane. The Lord soon visited this Mission with a glorious revival ; many were converted, and others re- claimed. The tracts that I had received at the Book Rooms, and the books from the American Tract Society (N. Y.,) I distiibuted among those that could read, and they were duly ajipreciated. I believe that th(!se were the means which })repared their minds to relinquish the world, and place their hope in God. I wil no^ w sneak of Christmas and New Year. When Christmas arrived, we were invited to a centen ary tea party, in company widi the Rev. William Case, the well known friend of the Indians. The party met at Alderville, eight miles from the Mission. This was a season of much joy and happiness. The Chiefs reterred to the time when they were without the gospel. One of them said, *' Before I heard the gospel, when Christ- mas came, 1 began to thank the Great Spirit for the day 100 THE LIFE OF on which I could get plenty of whiskey. Brothers, you know how often I was dragged through the snow to my wigwam, where my wife and children were cold and hungry. Now, I drink tea instead of whiskey^ and have religion with it ; row my house is comfortable ; and my children are pious and happy. I expect to pur- sue a Christian course till I arrive in heaven. My fond hope is to meet these good missionaries in the land of bliss ; and not only these, but also the good John Wes- ley, with, however, we had often to sliovri away the snow, build a fire, and spread the bedding without any tent over it. We awoke one morning, and found the snow two inches deep on the bed clothes. We built a large fire, by which we warmed ourselves and boiled some coffee. Our bread was frozen ; but we thawed it, and made a meal. When this was over, ofT we started. By the way, 1 ought to have mentioned that I had a poney for Mrs. Copway and her sister, on which they could ride. Through the winter he lived on rushes, and browsed like a deer. The poor fellow had to give out, about two miles before we reached Rabbit River ; Mrs. Cop- way, therefore, had to walk this distance on the ice, wliich greatly fatigued her On Saturday night quite late, we arrived at the shanty of Chief Ilole-in-the-sky. In all our journeyings Mrs. C. was always ready and Willing to endure every hardship. She never murmured 10* 114 THE LIFE OF nor appeared discohtented. This often encouraged me, and afforded us much relief. I record with grati- tude, that God enabled her and her sister to bear up under the severest trials and hardships. We could have no earthly gain in view; the grace of God alone, there- fore, supported us by day and by night, in sickness, in perils, in storms, in fatigues, in despondency, and in .'olitary places. At Rabbit River we labored with con- siderable success ; but on account of the war raging be- tween the Sioux and the Ojebwas, these two missions, with that at Ottawa Lake, had to be abandoned. Note A. '^ 1st. The soil at the Credit is generally very poor, and, con- secfuently, the crops are lijzht, and this, in a prreat measure, dis- couraores our people from becoming good farmers. The situa- tion of the Credit Reserve is better calculated for commercial than agricultural purposes. " 2nd. We have learned, by experience, that living together in a village, whilst endeavoring to follow farming, is attended with many disadvantages, and loss of time ; it is therefore de- sirable, that all the Indians who wish to become planters should be settled on their own lots. '- 3rd. The evil example of many of the white people around our village, exposes our people to the temptation of drinking lire-water, and of commilting other vices. " 4th. We are of opinion, that, if we go and settle on a good tract of land, many of our young men, who are now spending their time in idleness, would be induced to become industrious, and attend to their farmi ng." / • Note B. " Government House, } " Kingston, 22nd July, 1841. S '' My Lord, — T liave the honor to ac knowledge the rece Pt ' of vour V despatch of the 1st instant, No. 393, on tht ; subject of KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 115 ou raged ih grati- bear up lid have 3, there- ness, in and in dth con- ging be- nissions, 1. and, con- isure, dis- rhe situa- inimercial toijether attended refore de- rs should e around drinking m a good spending lustrious, ■.,1 receipt lubjecl of tlie Indian Department in Canada. I beg to assure your Loid- ship that I have given the subject my attentive consideration, end I hope to be able to submit for your approval a scheme for the consolidation of the Department. At tlie same time tlio matter is attended with great ditficulty, arising from the petu- liarity of the duties which the officers of the Department have to perform, the extent of country comprised within their juris- diction, and, above all, from the system pursued with regard to the Indians, which, in my opinion, is of the most mistaken character. All my observation has completely satistiod me, that the direct interference of the Governnieut is only advan- tageous to the Indians who can still follow their accustomed pursuits, and that if they became settlers, they should bo com- pelled to fall into the ranks of die rest of Her Majesty's subjects, exercising the same independent control over their own property and their own actions^ and subject to tlie same general laws as other citizens. '' The attempt to combine a system of pupilage with the settle- ment of these people in civilized parts of the country, leads only to embarrassment to the Government, expense to the Crown, a waste of the resources of the Province, and an injury to the Indians themselves. Thus circumstanced, the Indian loses all the good qualities of his wild state, and acquires no- thing but the vices of civilization. He does not become a srood settler, he does not become an agriculturist or a mechanic. He does become a drunkard and a debauchee, and his ft?malos and family follow the same course. He occuj)ies valuable land,un- profitably to himself and injuriously to the country. Ho gives infinite trouble to the Government, and adds nothing either to ttie wealth, the industry, or the defence of the Province. '' I have, &c. (Signed,) "SYDENHAM." " The Right Honorable " Lord J. Russell." 116 THE LIFE OF CHAPTER XIV. In the spring we were out of provi.sions, and had to fish for a living for about three weeks. Brother Spates taught school, and cousin Johnson and myself visited the wigwams daily, for the purpose of singing and pray- ing, and reading the woid of God. They always re- ceived us kindly ; and soon their minds and hearts be- gan to feel serious, and they inclined strongly towards Christianity It was not long after that many of them professed to have made their peace with God, and ex- pressed their determination to obey the precepts of Jesus. Here we must acknowledge that God " made us glad according to the days wherein he hasafllictcd us." We had " not labored in vain, nor spent our slrenglh for nought," although we had to confess that we were un- ptolitable servants. While conversing wiili a chief upon the importance of true religion, he became much troubled, and admitted that his own religion was not as good an the religion of the Bible ; but, said he, " I will embrace your religion when I shall have returned from one more battle with the Sioux ; and I will then advise my people to embrace it too." What a struiigle this poor fellow had within ! His name was Bah-goo-na-ge-shig (Ilole- in-the-sky.) He had always been kind to me and mine; in the spiinu; he presented me about eighty pounds of sugar; observing at the same time, " I have brought this from the Sugar Bush to-day ; you will require some for) our family ; and I cheerfully give it." Biclher Brace and his family now arrived from Prairie d had to er Spates If visited md pray- ways re- earts be- ^' towards • of them , and ex- of Jesus. e us glad us." We englh for were un- hief upon troubled, good as embrace one more [\y people 3r fellow (Hole- nd mine; ounds of brought lire some u Prairie KAII-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 117 Du Chien. What tales of sufferings did they commu- nicate ! They had traveled six hundred miles in the midst of wi;iter ; and were exposed to all winds and weathers! But, thank God, now they were with us. Their clothes were almost in strings, and their children were in rags ! Expecting lo find enough to live on as soon as they arrived, they brought nothing with them. Thank heaven, we were just enabled to keep them and ourselves from starving. The Indians desired us to visit several other places, and establish ourselves there. The whole country seemed ripe for the Gospel. It was thought best that Brother Spates and myself should go down to St. Peters, by water, and obtain provision. We were four days going, and, on our arrival, a war party was just on the eve of departing for our mission, where they intended to mur- der all the Ojebwas they could find. I requested Brother Spates to accompany me back by land, to in- form the Indians of the intention of the Sioux. He said, " there would be too much risk in going before the War Party." But my wife and sister were there ; they, as well as my poor people, might be barbarously mur- dered. After repeated efforts to get some one to accom- pany me, but without success, I was determined to go alone. I trusted in the God of battles, and with his aid I was confident iliat I could prevent these merciless and blood-thirstv warriors from imbruincj their hands in the blood of my nation. I was ready for a start ; and went to chief Little Crow's village, lo tell him that I was going to the Rabbit River Mission. Not thinking, thst I was in earnest, or had courage enough, he said 118 THE LIFE OF ** Tell Holc-in-lhc-sky, I am coming to get his scalp.'* This took place three hours before they were ready to inarch. In the midst of jeers and war-whoops^ I left their mission house. They did not believe that I intend- ed to go farther than Fort Snelling. As soon as I was out of sight, I began to run as fast as I was able. I called at the Post Olhce, which was nine miles from the Crow Mission, got my papers and letters, and ran about seven miles over the j)rairie, wilhout stopping I bought a pony on the road, of a Frenchman, and having no saddle, I rode but three miles of the whole distance. 1 tied my pack on his back, and made him run all the afternoon. In the night I slept wilhout a fire. I was so anxious to get home, that I had no appetite for eat- ing, the first two days. I went at the rate of about seventy-five miles [ter day, and arrived home at noon, on the fourth day ; having walked two hundred and forty miles, forded eight large streams, and crossed the broad Mississippi twi(^e. My coat and pantaloons were in strips. I crossed the Mississippi just in front of our mission house, and, as soon as possible, I told the chi^f that the war party were now on their way to our mission, to kill them. I advised him to lead away the women and children, which they did, and the next day they all left, us. We, that is, my family, myself, and the other missionaries, w^ere now left to the mercy of the Sioux. But they did not come, although they sent spies. Brother Brace, Cousin Johnson, and I, now ventured to take our families down to St. Peters. We left in a large bark canoe, and had only one loaf of bread, two quarts of beans, and two quarts of molasses. Brother scalp." tady to s, I left intend- s I was ible. I L'S from ?md ran ping I 1 having listance. I all the 1 was for eat- )f about at noon, red and ssed the )ns were it of our le chtef mission, women they all \e other Sioux, spies, entured efl in a ad, two Brother KAII-GK-GA-GAII-BOWH. 119 Brace was so sick, that wc had to lift him in and out of the canoe. We saw tracts of the war party, on our way to St. Peters. They watched us on the river, as we heard afterwards. We encamped about one mile and a half this side of their watering place, during the night, and did not know that they knew this fart, as will be seen in the sequel. They came and held a council just across the river from our encampment ; they could see the light of our fire. The war chiefs agreed that four of the warriors should swim over to us and take us all prisoners. One was to take the canoe to the other side of the river, to bring over the rest of the party. They were to kill me and my Cousin Jolinson. But the chief said to them, '* If you kill those men, the Great .S})irit will be angry, nd he will send his white children to kill us, and our children." One of ihe warriors told the chief that he was a coward, and that he ought to have remained at home. To this the chief replied, "I am no coward ; and we will see who are cowards when we come in front of our enemies.'"' Thus they disputed, and even quarelled, among themselves, till day-light. The same morning, we left without breakfast, and on the morning following, we were beyond their reach. We saw where they had raised a number of logs, so that they might lie in ambush. I ought to mention, that w^e were perfectly ignorant of all their plans and actions, until we arrived at St. Peters. The chief, him- self, communicated to us what has been stated above, in the presence of his warriors. 120 TIIK LIFE OF This couiitr}', is, intU'cd, a dangerous place lor the Ojebvva Missionaries ; but not so for the whiles, lor the^ never pretend to interfere with them, in any way. Before Conference, and while I was obliged to be at their mission, for there was no oilier road for us to go, the Sioux tried to intimidate me by pointing their guns to my breast, and by flourishing their war clubs about my head ; they would say, *' I wish you had longer hair, so that I could take a good hold of it and scalp you." I cannot describe my y^r////^'i', on this occasion, better, than by (pioting, with a little alteration, from the immortal bard of i\von: — " 'I'hey were so terrible, that they shook my soul, and made my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature ; cold drops of sweat hung on my trembling llesh, my blood grew chilly, and I seemed to ficeze willi horror." I would often go and see them in th'^ir Tepees (wigwams ;) this was good policy. They frequently showed me some of the scalps of the Ojcbwas, and ibmced the scalping dance. What awful noises they made, u> they danced in their fantastic dresses, with their faces painted black. They jtMninded me much of his Satanic and li. ndish majesty, rejoicing over a damned spirit entering hell. During this summer, I accompanied brother Kava- naugh to Sandy Lake Mission, at the head of the Mis- sissippi I returned by the Falls of St. Anthony, while Brother Kavanaugh went by the way of Lake Superior, be having buFiness wi^h the American Fur Company. When I arrived, I learned that the elder son of Brother Kavanaugh had been drowned ; he fell from a ledge of rocks. Sister Kavanaugh felt deeply, this merciful y K AH-GK-GA-GAII-noWII. 121 for ihr us, ior y ^vay. o be at J to go, lir guns =5 about longer d sculp 3casion, Vom the )le, tbat knock irops of w cbilly, Id often his was e of the dance. in their They inajesty, Kava- Ihe Mis- } u Vf bile jupenor, >rapany. Brother ledge of lerciful y severe dispensation. Brother Kavanaugh now arrive*!; poor mail! he could not speak to me for some time. I met liiin some distance from his house ; he had heard of the circumstance, but hail not, as yet, been home. '' How unsearchahle are (iod's judgments ; and his ways past linding out." Yet, witlial, in such dark hours, many a Christain sees parental Love. Ah! we may often exclaim, in the language of good old Jacob, " All these things are against me," but wc may also say, (jod orders every thing lor the good of his own. That summ1erian Missionaries at La Pointe, the Rev. Messrs. \h\]\ and Wheeler, and tlu'ir amiable families. Their 11* 126 THE LIFE OF benevolence and Christian courtesy are above any praise that we can render ; but we would acknowledge that our hearts over/low with great gratitude whenever we recall them to mind. It was here that I became acquainted with the Rev. Mr. Boutwell. I preached for these beloved brethren several times, and we enjoyed sweet communion, and some thrilling seasons together. The Council of the Ojebwa nation assembled in this place about the first of October. The government agent, R. Stewart, of Detroit, treated with them for tlieir mineral regions, for which the government gave them a large amount in money. From this time, I shall (late the dissipation, misery, and ruin, of this part of our nation. 1. Because it induced speculators to visit them vearly to sell their goods at enormous prices ; and their whisk'ey, which inevitably ruins both body and soul . 2. Because it opens the door for all sorts of unprinci- pled men and vagabonds. The miners, too, many of whom are no better than pickpockets. 3. Because, in possessing so much money, without any correct views of econony, utility, or prudence, it becomes to them " the root of all evil" — a curse in- stead of a blessing. In these appropriations, the American Government have sirossly erred. What benefit can the many thou- sands of dollars, which are paid annually, be to the Indians, if they are not capable of exercising any judg- ment in relation to a proper use of money ? 'I'he fact IS, that, at the end of every year, they are sunk into KAH-GE-GA GAH-BOWH. 127 ove any owledge i^henever became preacht'tl I enjoyed together. »d in this k^ernment hem for lent gave le, I shall is part of isit them ces ; and ody and unprinci- many of without |idence, it curse in- Ivernment my thou- le to the my j^i'lp:- 'I'he fact lunk into deeper degradation. I would now ask, what are mil- hons of money without education ? I do not mean that an equivalent should not be given for lands ceded to the government. No ; but I do mean that this equiva- lent should be appropriated in such a way as to pro- duce the greatest benelits and the happiest results. If a ceiiain amount had been given in cash, another amount in cattle and farmer's utensils, anoth(U' in cloth- ing, another in houses and school houses, and the like ; and with these, if a tlnv mechanics, farmers and teachers, had been sent among them, the Indians might have be- come industrious, intelligent, and useful citizens. One- third of each annual payment would be sufficient to educate, and to supply all the wants of their children. It may be supposed by some, that the white people settled near them give them good advice, and urge upon them the propriety and necessity of appropriating their monies in the manner just suggested. Yet this is not only not the cose, but these very whites, at least a large majority of th(im, are continually laying plans by which they can extort from these unlettered and igno- rant Indians, whatever they possess. I write not at raiidom, on these matters. I am too well acquainted with them from painful observation and bitter experi- ence. I have been present at ten payments ; viz. at Sault St. Marie, IMackinaw, Green liay, Prairie Du Chien, and St. Peters. During these payments, quan- tities of whiskey were brought to the Intliaus, or tl-e Ihey were seduced to go elsewhere to purcha;se it Poor luUutored red men! you were deluded, anti maae drank by white nK^i, and then in 3 our hellioli and 128 THE LIFE OF drunkpn passions, you turned around and imbrued your hands in the blood of your own relatives and brethren. And were I to narrate some of the scenes which occurred among the white faces (with black hearts) on these occasions, it would sicken the heart ; nay, it would make mad the guilty, and appal the inno- cent. The very devil himself might shudder. It was now two years since I left Canada ; I received letters from there, from the Rev. Messrs. Stinson, Green, and Jones, requesting me to return home and labor with them. At first, I did not deem it advisable to go, because I felt under many obligations to those who had sent me to school for two years ; and had rendered me other kind services. But it was not untU after repeated solicitations had been made, and money to defray my traveling expenses had been remitted, that I consented. I obtained permission from my Superin- tendent, Rev. J. R. Goodrich, to depart. I left La Point e, Oct. 10th, in the schooner Algonquin for Sault St. Marie. From there we took a row boat for Mack- maw, and at M. took a steamboat for Buffalo ; we now proceeded onwards and arrived at Toronto on the 28th of October. My wife's parents and relatives, and very oiany dear friends were deliplited to see us again, after an absence of two years. We found them all well, and felt grateful to God for another expression of his abun- dant goodness and mercy. I spent much of my time in narrating the scenes we had witnessed, and a full account of ray mission. In about a month, I was sent to Credit River, (Mrs. C. remained behind in her father's family.) Here I KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 129 imbrued ves and e scenes h black e heart ; he inno- reccived Stinson, ome and idvisable to those and had not until :1 money tted, that Superin- 1 left La for Sault Dr Mack- we now the 28th and very ain, after .veil, and is abun- my time id a full er, (Mrs. Here I taught school till Christmas, when I began traveling witli Rev. Wm. Ryerson, on a missionary tour towards Montreal. We were absent about three months, and preached or spoke every day. W^e collected about a thousand dollars per month. The eloquence and piety of Brother R. seemed to be duly appreciated where- ever we went. He is the best platform speaker, that T ever heard in the Metliodist connexion. I had sup- posed, however, that he would be dull and monotonous ; but this was far, very far from the fact. Having returned from this tour, to Toronto, I was next appointed by the Missionary Society to labor at the Saugeeng Mission, in the place of the Rev. Thomas Williams. On this journey my wife accompanied me. The distance was one hundred and sixty miles ; and we reached there on the 12th of April, '43. On our way, we stopped at Goderich ; and from thence we took a canoe about sixty-five miles. I entered upon my duties as a missionary among the Christian Indians. I met with difficulties, for I could obtain nothing without money ; and even when a re- quest was made, it was not met by the Society. I could not be convinced that it was my duty to starve, and therefore concluded I must leave. My Indian bre- thren stepped forward at this time, and petitioned Go- vernor Metcalf, to afford me a living from the Gov<;rn- ment. Their request was granted, and I was paid by Government $400 per year, for three years. I should have continued here, but the next year my services were demanded among my relatives at Rice Lake. In the summer, I took Mrs. Copway to Toronto, and 130 THE LIFE OF left her at her father's, while I was absent at Montreal with the Rev. Mr. Jones. Here we waited on the Go- vernor General, and presented our views, and those of our people, respecting the formation of a Manual Labor School for the benefit of the Indians. The Governor expressed himself as favorably disposed, but was too sick to take an active part in it. But before this, the Canada Conference had appointed Rev. P. Jones and myself, to visit the Missions, and ascertain how much each Mission was willing to contribute for this object.* During this fall, Mr. Jones and family left for England. I returned to Toronto and took my family back to Saugceng Mission. While on our passage, in a schooner, our little son, who was about three years old, fell overboard ; we heard him fall into the water. I ran immediately to the side of the vessel and jumped into the lake. The schooner was sailing quite rapidly, ana had passed him about twenty yards. I swam as fast ay possible, and saw him sink. When I reac'ied the spot where he sank, I dove down about sevf n feet, seized hold of him, and brought him to the surfa':;e. As the waves were running high, it was with (he greatest diffi- culty that I could keep him above the water so that he could breathe ; and I was compelled at times to let him sink an instant, that I might breathe myself. I heard him cry, which was encouraging, tor I was fearful that he was dying. At one time I almost despaired of saving either of our lives. I was about giv^ing up all hope, wlien I saw the yawl boat near me, and I was *Tiie amount reported from the Indians alone, was $2,800 KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 131 Montreal I the Go- those of lal Labor Governor was too this, the ones and ow much s object.* England. f back to schooner, old, fell r. I ran inped into )idly, ana as fast ay 1 the spot et, seized As the itest diffi- o that he o let him I heard larful that aired of ng up all d I was told that I was just about sinking, when the captain res- cued us from a watery grave. The captain, and all on board, were so frightened, that ihey lost some time in concluding what to do. Had they luffed at once, and despatched the yawl, two or three minutes might have been saved. But, I ought not to com})lain ; our lives were spared, and thanks be to a kind ProvidenceJbr his timely deliverance. I then gave him up to God, and prayed that he might be preserved, and be devoted to the cause of Christ. We now resumed our labors at the Mission. While at this station there where many hopeful conversions. A remarkable circumstance is, that during the whole three years of my sojourn in this field of labor, I never knew but one single case in which fire-water was used. I must not omit noticing here, a very faithful teacher in my charge. Jacob Jackson ; his influence was of the best kind; he was also a very pleasant and interesting singer. It has been but a few years since these In- dians were converted. They now have good farms, dwellings, school houses, meeting houses, and a saw mill. How wonderful are the elTects of the gospel ! They also take delight in praying, and in singing the praises of God. Had the American Government adopted the same course towards', the La Pointe Indians, that the British Government adopted toward these, the same lasting blessings would have ensued. Is $2,800 132 THE LIFE OF CHAPTER XVI. C Of late, the General Councils of the Chrisiianized Ojebwas have been convened, and conuucted, in the safne manner as public and other business meetings arc conducted among the whites. The last General Coun- cil, which consisted of Ojebwas and Ottawas, was held at Saugeeng. The chiefs came from Lakes St. Clair, Huron, Ontario, and Simcoe, and from Rice and Mud Lakes. The object of this convention was to devise plans by which the tract of land now owned by the Saugeeng Indians^ could be held for the sole benefit of the Ojebwa Nation ; to petition the Government for aid in establishing a Manual Labor School ; lo ascertain the views and feelings of the chiefs in relaiion to forming one large settlement among themselves at Owen's Sound, there to live in future ; and to attend to other things of minor importance. There were forty-eight chiefs present, from Canada West alone. Chief Sawyer took the chair, and the writer had the honor of being Vice President. Chief John Jones, of Owen Sound, was selected to deliver the opening addres.s, in which he was to give an outline of the subjects to be discussed. The meeting was now called to order ; and after sing- ing, and an appropriate prayer by Chief John Sunday, Chief Jones arose; all was silent, and every eye was turned towards him. After rolling his small but piercing black eye over the vast assembly, he spoke as follows : " Brothers ! You have been called from all parts of KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWII. 133 tsuaiiizecl d, m the jtings arc ral Coun- was heUi St. Clair, and Mud to devise sd by the benefit of ent for aid ascertain forming Owen's to other brty-eight if iJ^awyer of being n Sound, in which liscussed. ~[tcr sing- Sunday, eye was ,t piercing follows : parts of Canada, and even from the north of Georgian Bay. You are from your homes, your wives, and your chil- dren. We might regret this, were it not for the circum- stances that require you here. "FelLw Chiefs and Brothers, I have pondered with (Jeep solicitude, our present condition ; and the future welfare of our children, as well as of ourselves. I have studied deeply and anxiously, in order to arrive at a true knowledge of the proper course to be pursued to secure to us and to our descendants, and even to others around us, the greatest amount of peace, health, happi- ness, and usefulness. The interests of the Oj(.'bwas and the Ottawas are near and dear to my heart ; for them, I have passed many sleepless nights, and have often suffered from an agitated mind. These nations, I am }»roud to say, are my brothers ; many of them, are bone of my bone, and tor them, if needs be, I could willingly, nay, cheerfully, sacrifice any thing. Brothers, you see my heart. [Here the speaker held out a piece oi white p(/jocr, emblematical of a pure heart.] ** Fellow Chiefs and Warriors ! I hare looked over your wigwams throughout Canada, and have arrived at the conclusion, that you are in a warm place ; your neighbors, the whites, are kindling fires all around yon [that is, clearing the lands.] One purpose for whicli you have been calh d together, is to devise somo plan by which wc can live together, and become a happy people, so that our dying fires may not go out [our nation may not become extinct,] but may be kindled in one place, which will prove a blessing to our children. '* Brothers! Some of you arc living on small parcels 12 134 THE LIFK OF of land, and others on Islands. We low offer you any portion of ihe land which wc owi? m this region ; that we may, the rest of our days, smoke the pipe of friend- ship ; live and die together ; and sec our cliildren play, and be reared on one spot. Wo ask no money of you. We love you ; and because we love you, and feel for your children, we propose this. '* Brothers! There are many other subjects which we think ought to come under your consideration besides those already stated. But the most important are : " 1. Whether it w-ould not be better for the whole Ojebwa Nation to reside on this, our territory. '* 2. W^ould it not be well to devise ways and means to establish Manual Labor Schools for the benefit of the nation. "3. Ought not a petition to be drawn up and presented to our Great Father [the Governor General,] for the purpose of fixing upon a definite time for the distribu- tion of the annual *' presents," and the small annuities of each tribe, '* 4. Is it not desirable to pi^iition the Governor General, to appoint a resident Indian interpreter, to assist the agent in Toronto. " 5. As we [the Christian part of our nation] have abandoned our former customs and ceremonies, ought we not to make our own laws, in order to give character and stability to our chiefs, as well as to empower them to treat with the Government under which we live, that they may, from time to time, present all our grievances and other matters to the General Government. KAII-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 135 : you any ion ; that of fricnd- Ircn play, y of you. i feel for !ts which sideration important the whole • 111(1 means efit of the presented ] for the dislribu- aiinuities iGovernor prcier, to ion] have es, ought K'haracler kver them |iive, that ^ievances "My Chiefs, Brothers, Warriors! This morninp;, [the speaker now pointed his finger towards heaven] look up, and see the blue sky ; there arc no clouds ; the sun is bright and clear. Our fathers taught us, that at such assemblies when the sky was without clouds, the (Ireat Spirit was smiling upon them. May he now preside over us, that we may make a long, smooth, and straiijht path for our chihlren. It is true, I seldom see you all ; but this morning, I shake hands widi you all in my heart. *' Brothers ! This is all I have to sny.'' On taking his scat eighty-four chiefs rcf^ponded *' //(//i .'" an exc:lamalion of great applause. Several ciiiefs s})oke, and highly approved of what had been })roposed ; and expressed their gratitude for the kind oiler of the lands. It was proposed to petition his Excellency the Governor, to grant and secure to the Indians, the whole of this territory. The following was drawn up by John Jones, Jacob Tackson, and David Wa-wa-nosh. The Pctilion of the Ojchwa Chiefs, in General ConnciL respecting the unccded lands north of Saugceng and Owen's Soundj Sunt bth, 1845. To our Groat Father Lord Metcalf, Governor General of BritiHb North America, and Captahi General of the same, &c., Stc. TliP OjEiiW.v CiiiKFs in Ocncrul Council assomlilod, hl'MCLv siuavlmh: ' Father — Your Petitioners havin;^ ceded a great portion of their once extensive territory about Saugceng and Owen's Sound, and a portion of it havinu; been restored to them sincethe treaty of 1836, by your Excellency's gracious commands; Father — Vour Petitioners are very anxious that the reserve ^low still known as the Indian Territory) be a perpetual reserve; 136 THE LIFE OF as a fiUare refuge for a general colonization of the Ojebwa Nation, comprir,ing the scattered Tribes in Canada West; Father — And that these lands may now and for ever be open- etl to all me Tribes ; that whenever any tribe is disposed to move, ikal they may have nothing to fear, but have access to any of the good lands to settle upon ; Father— You have settled your white children on those lands that once were our lathers ; we ask now to let us have the only icmaining land we have, to ourselves, unmolested ; Father — This is the prayer of your red children ; and feeling confident that you will give it every important consideration which it requires, your red children will listen to hear the answer of their Great Fatlier. And they, as in duty bound, will ever pray. i orty-seven names, besides that of the President, were attached to this petition. Never was I more delighted than with the appearance of this body. As I sat and looked at them, I contrasted their former (degraded) with their present (elevated) condition. The Gospel, I thought, had done all this. Ff any one had told me twenty years ago, that such would be their condition,! should have ridiculed the idea, and set the narrator down for a fool or a maniac. This assembly was not convened for the purpose " devising schemes of murder ; plans by which they could kill their enemies ; but to adopt measures by which peace, har- mony, and love, might be secured, and a '* smooth and straight pa*h" made for their children. I see nothing at present, to hinder them from increasing in knowledge, happiness, and usefulness, except the con- duct of the Government Agents, many of whom are inimical to our nation, and often prove a curse to her. Several other papers were drawn up, and signed by B Ojebwa 'est; rbe open- J to move, to any of on those s have the ted; .nd feelhig isideratuin I hear the bound, will President, ppearance contrasted elevated) e all this, ich would idea, and ic. This devising kill their face, har- '* smooth I see casing in the con- :hom are to her. signed by KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 137 the President, by order of the General Council. One of these I must be allowed to give, although it concerns myself: To ALL TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. Tn the GciiPral Council of the Ojebwa nation of Indians. We, the Chiefs, of tlie various Tribes of the Ojebwa Indians, do hereby appoint and authorizo our beloved brother, the Rev. George Cop way, as our agent for the Manual Labor School, to procure subscriptions for the samo^ believing that this will be one of the greatest nicMus, if estal>- lished, of raising our young men, to become like our whita brotheis; to learn industry, economy, and to gain knowledge, tliat we may Ix'come a happy and a pro.-perous people. Signed by order of the General Council. JOSEPH SAW VKR, [l. s.] President of the General Council of the Ojebwa Nation. Sai>gccngj July 4, 1845. I will also give an extract of my letter to the Rev. Mr. Wilkinson, who was then President of the Canada Conference, immediately after the close of the General Council. [Extract from Letter Book, Page If)!. 3 Saugeeng Mis-^ion, ^ July I J, 18-15. 5 To the President of the Conference, Rev. Mu. Wilkin.^on. * * * » * • The lato General Council, have appointed me their agent for the Manual Labor School. I shall be happy to receive any in- structions you may think proper to give, on my way down [to Montreal^ for I am anxious to see this going on. I remain yours, kc, GKOIUiK COP WAY. Missionary at Saugeeng. I give these, for the benefit and instruc'ion of those, 12« 138 THE LIFE OF who have been so kind as to insinuate, or assert, that I was not an authorized agent to forward the interests of my poor people. Those who have been the loudest and most active in this slander, have done the least, in rendering the Indians any essential service. Let them go on, with their gossippings, while I go on my way re- joicing in doing all I can for my poor people, indepen- dently of the Canada Conference. Neither have I any disposition to court the favor of this Conference. In- deed, my heart has often sickened at the divisions and subdivisions of the Canada Methodists. The speeches of Jones, Sunday, Taunchey, McCue, D. Sawyer, J. Younj^s, W. Ilerkermcr, were excellent. That of John Sund^iy, particularly, was uncommonly eloquent. His keen black eyes, flashing fire ; and his large braw^ny arms extended, gave great eiTcct to his speech. As a matter of course, there w^ere often difTer- «nces of opinion, as well as warm discussions, upon various subjects ; some would even feel that tlu-ir views were not fairly treated ; still, there were no unKind re- marks, no calling of hard names, no abuse, no ridi- cule, no insults, no threats, no intrigues, no blows, and no challenges to meet on Ihefi'ld nf honor (?). The individual who had the floor, was never interrupteil ; profound attention was given, and a death-like silence was observed. Occasionally, it is truf^, there was per- petrated a pleasant, and umoccni jeu d* esprit ; an ex- ample of which, I will give. During a protracted debate, in which Chief John Jones took a very active p:\rt, some facts were elicited, and some views were presented, wh.ich induced hitn to chiuige some of his foruier opinions, and vole on the KAH-GE-GA-GAH tjqWH. 139 t, that I J rests of loudest least, in jet them way re- ndepen- ve I any ce. In- ions and McCue, xcellent. ommnnly ; and his [ic\ to his en difier- ins, upon v\v views Kind re- no ridi- o blows, (?). The rrupled ; c silence was per- an ex- ief Jo\)n clieitecl, "(1 him to e on the other side. One of the speakers at the close of his re- marks, referred to this fact, and observed, very good humoredly " If he wishes to be like ajish worm without a head — capable of moving forwards or backwards, let him alone." I have often been asked the question, " What is the reason that the Indians are diminishing in numbers in the midst of their white neighbors?" To state all that might bo said in replying to tliis question, would re- quire almost a separate volume. But the following are a few of the principal reasons: 1. The introduction of King Alcohol among them. 2. The introduction of new diseases, produced by their intercourse with the whites ; and by adopting their intemperate habits. 3. Their inability to pursue that course of living, after abandoning their wigwams, which tends to health and old age. 4. Their spirits are broken down in consequence ol seeing that their race are becoming homeless, friendless, moneyless, and trodden down by the whites. 5. Their future prospects are gloomy and cheerless — enough to break down the noblest spirits. There are many other reasons which could be assigned for their diminution. But are not these suiri- cient of ihemsrlves to crush and exterminate even any white race, if not protected wild defended by friends and wholesome laws? Our people have been driven lie. a their homes, and have br">n cajoled out of the i\\v sa(.'rcd spots where the uoncs of their ancestors and children lie ; and where they themselves expected lo 110 THE LIFE OF lie, when released from the trials and troubles of life. Were it possible to reverse the order of things, by placing the whites in the same condition, how long would it be endured ? There is not a white man, who deserves the name of wa/i, that would not rather die than be deprived of his home, and driven from the graves of his relatives. " Oh shame, where is thy blush !'^ With all the wholesome and enlightened laws ; with all the advantages and privileges of the glorious Gospel, that shines so richly and brightly all around the white man ; the poor ignorant Indians are compelled, at the point of the bayonet, to forsake the sepulchres of those most dear to them, and to retire to a strange land, where there is no inhabitant to welcome them ! ! ! May the dav soon dawn, when Justice will take her seat upon the throne. If I did not think that there were some who are alive to the interests of my people, and often shed a tear for them ; if I did not think that I could discover a gleam of light and hope in the future, " I should of all men be most miserable." " Surely the bitterness of death " would be " past." I look then to the Gospel and to education as my only hope. I will now state, in a very brief manner, what I think ought to be done, by those whose benevolent feelings lead them to commiserate the condition of the Abori- gines of America. 1. Thcv should establish missions and hiqjh schools wherever the whites have frequent intercourse with them. Ii tl| tl oj KAH-GE-GA-GAII-BOWH. 141 bles of life. f things, by 1, how long e man, who •t rather die n from the bere is Ihy laws ; with ous Gospel, I the white lied, at the cs of those ange land, B ! ! ! May 3 her seat are alive a tear for r a gleam f all men of death" pel and to lat I think it feelings he Abori- h schools irse with H 2. They should use their influence, as soon as the Indians are well educated, and understand the laws of the land, to have them placed on the same footing as the whites. 3. They should try to procure for them a territorial or district government, so that they may represent their own nation. 4. They should obtain for them, deeds of their own lands ; and, if qualified, according to law, urge their right to vote. The Indians will be sure to waste and squander what- ever they may receive from the American or British Government, unless sojney at least, of the above sugges- tions, shall liave been put into practice. The Council was now dissolved. The President, Chief Sawyer, proceeded to His Excellency, the Gover- nor General, and presented the petitions, in the name of the General Council. These petitions, as we learned afterwards, were received with a simple nod ! of the head. mercy ! is this for ever to be our destiny ? Common humanity, at least, might have induced his Lordship to speak a few consolatory words, if nothing else. Our reception was both discouraging and chill- ing. When we have a press of our own, we shall, perhaps, be able to plead our own cause. Give us but the Bib/e, and the influence of a Press, and we ask no more. The General Council appointed me to go to Walpole, to present their address to the Walpole Island Indians, entreating them to embrace Christianity. I visited them in July. 142 THE LIFE OF CHAPTER XVII. A GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE OJEBWA, OR CHIPPEWAY, NATION. As the Ojebwa Nation are within the bounds of the two Governments — the American and the British — I will give a separate account of each. The number of our nation, according to Drake, in 1842, was thirty thou- sand ; and this is not far from the truth. The best work upon the Indians, however, is that deservedly popular book, by Col. Mc Kinney, of New York ; the undoubted friend of the red man. I will now speak of that part of the nation who oc- cupy places within the bounds of the United States. They inhabit all the northern part of Michigan, or the south shore of Lake Huron ; the whole northern part of Wisconsin Territory ; all the south shore of Lake Supe- rior, for eight hundred miles; the upper part of the Mis- sissippi, and Sandy, Leach, and Red Lakes. That part of our nation who live in the British posses- sions, occupy from Gononaque, below Kingston, through- out all western Canada ; the north of Lake Huron ; the north of Lake Superior ; the north of Lake Winepig ; the north of Red River Lake, about one hundred miles. The whole extent, therefore, occupied is over one thousand nine hundred miles east and west, and from two to three hundred miles north and south. There are over five thousand living under the British Government, and less than twenty-five thousand under KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 143 L, OR ; of the -I will of our { thou- he best ?rvedly k; the vho oc- States. or the part of Supe- leMis- posses- irough- in ; the nepig ; undred s over st, and British under the American Government. There are about five thou- sand of these who receive religious instructions ; mi^ sionaries of different denominations being sent from Canada and the United States. The Methodists were the first who preached to the Ojcbwas, or Massissaugas (as they are frequently called.) They commenced at Credit River, in Canada West, in 1824, and at Grape Island, in 1827, The conversion of some of the Ojeb- was commenced during those years. Native teachers were then sent to their brethren in the West, where the influence of Christianity is still felt. There are twenty- three Methodist Missionary Stations: six of which are in the States, and the remainder in Canada. There . are four Presbyterian Missions, all of which are in the States ; viz. La Pointe, Bad River, Leach Lake, and Red Lake. There are seven Episcopalian Mission Sta- tions; all of which are in Canada, except one, which is at Green Ba^. There are two Baptist Mission Sta- tions, one at Sault St. Marie, and the other at Green Bay. The Pvoman Catholics have their missionaries in nearly all the principal places in the west. Those who are not under religious instruction, al- though accessible, are wandering without the gospel. There is a field in the Territory of Wisconsin where missionaries should be sent. There are Indians all around the shores of Lake Superior who have, from time to time, called for missionarisis, and have not yet been supplied. The Hudson's Fiiy Company have, of • iate, adopted a plan which in j^y opinion does them much credit ; they employ Misrionaries to give instruc- tion to the Indians and their children in the principles 144 THE LIFE OF of Christianity. There are persons who once belonged to other nations, who now live in the territory of the Ojebwas. The present state of the christianized Ojebwas is such, that they are fully ripe for greater advancement in reli- gion, literature, and the arts and sciences. Multitudes have loft their wigwams, their woods, and the chase, and are now endeavoring to tread in the footsteps of "Worthy white men. The reasons for all this, are the fol- io wmg: 1. Their chiefs have seen the nece:'.s!ty of making a ** smooth, strait path for their childrei," by appropria- ting as much of their means as they could spare. 2. The rising generation are beginning to thirst for learning, and are cultivating a taste for improvement more than ever. 3. Native teachers pre now being trained to go to their brethren, and preach *^o them in their own language, Christ, and him crucified. By this means the nation must be elevated. '\ Our prospects as a nation, are br^coming brighter through missionary efforts. There are nir.ny in Wiscon- sin, and at Lake du Flambeau, who have r-'quested that missionaries be sent along the south shore of Lake Su- perior. The same may be said of those residing about Winepeg and Red Lakes. Much of the wesirrn part of Red Lake, is full of " the habitations of cruelty :■" for the Chippewas and Sioux are habitually destroving each other. I will here give extracts from the Report of the Con^- missioncrs, in 1812, to the Provincial Parliament, rela- KAII-GE-GA-GAII-BOWIl. 145 jlonged ^ of the is such, in reli- hitudes chase, eps of the fol- jking a )ropria- irst for veraent go to guage, nation righter V^iscon- ed (hat ke Sii- I about rn part uMy :- troviiiir I Con;- t, rela- live to the Mission Stations ; also subjoin the names of the villages with their condition, and the chiefs of each village, as far as I could ascertain them, which will show their progress, and their present state ; and also those who have abandoned the wigwam and the chase, and resort to farming for a living. 1. ClIIPPEWAS ON THE IllVfjR TlIAMES. The Chippewiis and Munsees occupy a tract of laml contain- ing about 9000 acres, in the Township of Caradoc, within the T^ondon District, a distance of about twenty-five miles f/om the Moravian village. It is oidy within ten years that the Cljippe- was have been reclainied Irom a waadciiu^; life, and scHlled in their present location. The Munsees have been settled since the year 1800, on land belonging to the Chippewas, wit!, the consent of tliat tribe. The present number of Chippewas is 378, and of Munsees 242. The Chippewas and Munsees are not collected in a village, but live on small farms scattered over their tract. Some of the Chippewas are settled on surveyed lots of twenty acres each. ^This trib^ occupies 70 log houses, and six wigwams; they po5- sess 25 barns. They have 450 acres under cultivuiion. 'i'heir ffttock consists of 30 oxen, 27 cows, 44 heifers, 82 horses and ■ colts, and 400 swine Their agricultural imi'lements include 9 ploughs, 9 harrows, 23 scythes and sickle-^, 19 ox chains, a fanning mill, 4 wagons and carts, 7 spades. &c ; they have a blacksmhh's forge, and two and a half setts of carpenter's tools. John Hi ley, Chuf. 2. The CmrPEWAs at Amherstburg. They all profess Christianity, and several of them are exam- ples of true piety. The nnijority are VVesleyan Methodists, find the others Koman Catholics. They have no place of worshij) of their own. They can command the means. The Method- ist minister, however, who ^s stationed in the town of Amherst- burg, visits those of his perbuasion every Sunday, and with tlie 13 146 THE LII'E OF aid of an Interpreter, preaches, reads, and expound* the Scrip- tures to them. They also have a general Prayer Meetin;,' among ihemftolves, once a fortnight, and they meet occasionally more privately for socual prayer; some of them maintain family wor- ship. The Roman Catholics attend cliapel at Amherstburg, *rhicii is about thiee miles from their settlement. There is at present no school among them, but they have expressed their desire to establish one, and would gladly avail themselves of instruction for tlnur children. When there was one, the attendance of the scliolars was very irregular, but their ability in ac(juiring knowledge was in no way inferior to that of the white children. 3. CniPPEWAs OF THE St. Clair. These Indians are among the first whom Sir John Colbomc endeavored to settle and civilize. Previously to 1830, they •were wandetlng heathen like their brethren elsewhere, scat- tered over the western part of the Upper Province; they were tlrimken and dissipated in their habits, and without either reli- gious or moral restraint. In 1830 and 31, a number of them were collected on a reserve in the Township of Sarriia, near the head of the River St. Clair, and containing 10,280 acres. A number of iionses were built for them, and an oliicer was^ appointed for their superintendence. Their conversion to Chris- i tianity and their progress in religious knowledge, and in the "' acquisition of sober, orderly; and industrious habits, have been, under the care of missionaries of the Wesleyan Methodist So- ciety, both rapid and uniform. From die formation of the mis- sion 221 adults and 239 children have been baptized and admitted inlo die ^Methodist community. The total number np to the year 1839— 10 does not appear to have exceeded 350. Since then their number has increaseil greatly by immigration, chiefly from tlie Saginaw Bay, in the State of IMichigan, and by the settlement of wandering Indians j and in 1842, as many as 741 received presents. The Indians of the River aux Sables have about sixty acres under improvement, and one log house. Those at Kettle Point have twenty acres of improved land and two log houses. The le Scrip- s, among ,ly more lily wor- 3rslburg, ley have dly avail Lure wa8 but their r to thai Colbomc 530, they lere, scat- hey were ilher roll- r of them riia, near 80 acres, icer was " to Chris- id in the vebeen, lodist So- the mis- ized and imber up ded 350. igration, ^gan, and as many Ixty acres mle Pohit les. Tlie KAII-GE-GA-GAH-BOWn. 147 land on the Upper Reserve was regularly surveyed and laid out into farms. Tlie chief, with the approval of the Superinten- dent, placed most of the present occupants on these lands, but It is not indispensable that hesliould be consulted, as the moni- bers of the tribe may choose any unoccupied spot ; when once in possession they are secure from intrusion, but repeated ill conduct or drunkenness would subject them to be e.vpe lied from the reserve of the chief. Wa-wa-nosh, Salt, 4. Chippfavas at Walpoi.f. Island. Chiefs. These Indians a-ii also known under the name of Cliippewaii ofChenaille Ecarte. The Chippew:uS who have long Inmted over the waste lands about the Cheiuiille Ecarte and Rear Creek, are a branch of the saitje nation which is settled in Sarnia, and share hi the same annuity. The Pottawataniies are recent immigrants from the United States. The settlement at Walpole Island was commenced at the close of the American war, when Col. M'Kie, called by the Indians '• White Elk."' collected and placed upon the island which lies at the junction of the River and Lake St. Clair, the scattered remains of some tribes of Chippewas who had beea engaired on the British side. Being left for many years with- out any interference or assistance on the part of the Govern- Tient, they became a prey to the profligate whites seUled on the frontier, who, by various frauds and in moments of intoxica- tion, obtained leases atid took possession of the most fertile and valuable part of the island. 5. Chippewas of the Rivek Credit. These Indians are the remnant of a tribe which formerly possessed a considerable portion of the Home and Gore Dis- tricts, of which in 1818, they surreuvlered the greater part, for an annuity of ,£532.10, reserving only certain small tracts at the River Credit, and at Sixteen and Twelve Mile Creeka. 148 Tlie LIFE OF They were ihe first liibe converted to Christianity in Upper Canada. Previous to the year 1823, they were wandering pagans. In that year, Messrs. Peter and Jolin Jones, the sons of a white sur- veyor and a Mississaga woman, having been converted to Chris- tianity, and achnitled members of the VVesleyan Methodist Church, became anxiotis to redeem tlieir countrymen from their degraded state of heathenism and destitution. They, accordingly, collected a considerable number together, and by rote anil fre([uent repetitions, taughi the iirst principles of Christianity to the adults, who were too fur advanced in years to learn to read and write. In this manner the Lord's Prayer, ihe Creed, and the Commandments, were committed to me- mory. As soon as the tribes were converted, they pei-ceived tlie evils attendant on their former .state of i;];tiorance and va- j^rancy. They began to work, which they never had done before; tljey recogiii/ed the advantage of cultivating the soil ; they totally gavp up drinking, to which they had been greatly addicted, and became sober, industrious, and consistent Christians. J. Savvveu, } r^,. r ^ p. JONKS, 3 •' J. Jones, War Chief 6. The Chippewas of Alnwick. These Indians were converted to Christianity in the years 1826--7. They were then pagans, wandering in the neighbor- hood of Bellville, Kingston, and Gananociue, and were known uniler the name of the Mississagas of the Bay of Qiiinte ; in those years, between 200 and 300 were received into the Wes- leyan Metliodist Church, and settled on Grape Island, in the Bay of Quinte, six miles from Bellville, where they commenced planting, and where schools were established by the missionary for their instruction. On this island they resided eleven years, rtubsisthig by agriculture and hunting. Their houses were erected partly by their own labor, and partly at the expense of the Methodist Missionary Society. The number, at length, amounted to tw^enty-three ; besides which, they had a commo- dious building for religious service and school, another room KAII-GE-GA-GAHBOWn. no 1 Upper ;ans. In 'hitesur- to Cliris- lethodist en from They, and by ;iple3 of in years Prayer, I to me- ei-ceived and va- 3 before; >y totally jted, and e years eighbor- kiiown lite ; in le Wes- in the menced ssionaiy n years, > were xpense leni^th, ommo- er rooni for an infant school, a hospital, smitherv: a shoomakt'r'h shop, and a building for joiners' and rabiiu-l work. 5, ' 5- (hirfft. SlMl-fiON, ) "^ G. CoMKGo, Ch. k M. Inter. 7. CmrPFAVAs at Rice Lakk. Those Indians belong to the same tril)e, the Mis»ls'«af]jas, or Chippewas of Rice Lake, who, in IHIH. surrendered llu* greater part of the tract now forming the Newcastle District, for an annuity of .€740. Tiiey luive all been reclaimed from their primitive wandering life, and settled in their present location* within the last ten or rwelve years. The Rice Laki; settlement is on the northern side of thelako. and at about twelve miles from Peterborough. The number of Indians is 114. They possess about 1550 acres of land, which are subdivided into 50 acre lots ; of this, 1 120 ;icres weregranlctl in April, 1834, to trustees, ''in trust, to hold the same for tliw benefit of the Indian tribes in the Province, aiid with a view to their conversion and civilization;'' and the remaining 430 havH been since purchased with their own funds. They have rather more land cleared than tlie Indians of Alnwick, about 4r»o acres; but the cultivation is uot so good. The village contains thirty houses, three barns, a school-house, and a chapel with a bell. The head chief of the tribe resiiles here. Forsometimo these Indians were under the charge of an officer aj^pnintedby the Indian Department, who assisted in their settlement; but at present they have no special Superintendent. Poi.DASIf, ^ Coi'WAV, > Chiefs. Cuow, ^ Chippewas at Mud Lake. The Mud Lake Indians are settled on a point of land on the Mud or Chemong Lake, sixteen miles north- west of Peterbo- rough. They are ninety-four in nundjcr, and pos.sess twenty dwelling houses, with three stables. Tiicy occupy a grant of 150 THE LIFE OF 1600 acres in the township of Smith, made to the New Eng- land Company for their benefit, in April, 1S37, of which about 200 acres are in cultivation. These Indians were for some time under the management of the late Mr. Scott, a^rent for the the New England Company, and belong Ic the Wesleyan Me- thodist Church. A chapel is in the course of erection at the village, where there is already a mission house and a school. NOGFE, ^ Iron, > Chiefs. McKuE, ) 9. CuiPPEWAS AT Balsam Lake. Tlie Balsam Lake Indians, ninety in number, are at present nettled within the Township of Bexley, on a point of land jut- ting out into Lake Balsam, which is the most northerly of the chain of lakes, running northwest across the back Townships of the district of New Castle The reserve which was irranted to them by the Crown, is 1206 acres in extent. Of this ihey have about 200 acres in cultivation. Their village contains twelve lionses, a barn, and a commodious school-house, in which divine service is performed by a resident iNIelhodist mis- sionary. But witliin the present year, (1843.) these Indians having become dissatified with the climate and the i|uality of the land atlhe Balsam Lake, have pnrcha-^cd six hun(h-ed acres on the banks of Lake Scugoij, to be paid out of their share of heir annuity, and are making i)reparations for removiiiir iVom their former settlement. Tl.icir improvements will be sold lor their benefit. Their reason for removing evinces dieir desiie to advance in the pursuit of agriculture. Crane, Chief. 10. CiiiPPEWAS OF Rama. Tho'^c Indians formerly occupietl the lands about Lake Sim- roe, Holland River, and the unsettled country intiie rear ofth*' Home nistiict. CJeneral Darliii:: re[iorted of them in lS2H.iliat thev had expressed a strong desire to be admitted to Chii'«li.'in- i\y, and to mlopt the habits of civili/eil life; and that in these roHpccls lliey might be classed with die Mlssi.«.sag;is of the May KAH-GK-GA-GAH-BOWH. 151 of Quinte and Rice Lake, but were then in a more savage state. In 18^0, Lieutenant-Governor Sir J. Colborne, collocled them on a tract of land on the northwest shore of Lake Simcoe, of 9800 acres in extent, where they cleared a road between tlial lake and Lake Huron. They consisted of three tribes of Chip- pevvas, under chiefs Yellowhead, Aisance, and Snake, and a band of Pottawataniies from Drurnmond Island; tlieir number was about 500, under the care of Mr. Anderson, now the Super- intendent at Manitoulin, who was appointed to take cliarue of their settlement arid civilizaiion; tliey made a rapid progie-^^s. The tribe under the chief Yellowiiead, now sctlk'd at Rama, were located at the Narrows on Lake Simcoe; Aisance's tribe, at present residing at Beausoleil, Matchadash Bay, was settled at Coldwaler at tlie other extremhy of the reserve, the distance between them being fourteen miles. Yki.i.owuf.ad, Na-naii-ge-skung, > Chiefs. Big Shillinge, c Sim- ofthr S.tliat !-li;in- these u liiiy 11. CmppEWAs of Beausoliel Island, M.vtchadasii Bay, Lakx Huron. Tliis bund, under the chief ''Aisance," is the same which wassettled by Sir John Colbonie, at Coldwater. Their present village, wliich is not very distant from the former settlement, was otdy commenced last year. It contains fourteen houses, and a bam; the number of the band is 232. They have about 100 acres under cultivation. The majority of these Indians are Roman Catholics. They have not as yet any place of worsliip, or school. In the former eettlement tliey were (K'casionally vi>ited by tiie Roman Culiio- lic priest, resident at reuelangui>}iene. Aisance, ") ,„ . . James Ka-da' "GE-quon, ^ -^ 12. CniPPKWAs OF S.NAKK Island, Lake Simcoe. Thi« bodv of In Chicft AlI-Y\II-BAN(-E, N 14 CiiTPPEWAs OF Bin Bay, in Owen's Sound, L.^^ke Huron. These Indians were formerly either wanderers in the Sau- geen tract, surrendered to Sir F. Head, or lived in scattered wigwams, on the shores of Big Bay. According to the agree- ment then made with them, it was proposal iliat they .should either repair to Manitoulin or to that part of their former terri- tory which lies north of Owen's sound; U])i>n which it was promisetl '• that houses should be built for them, and proper assistance given, to enable iheui to become civilized, and ly cuhivate land." John Jones, I'eti:u, I Chirfs, KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 153 irt for ih'in id occupj J a school spectablo Mission- is belong, roviiifj in issionary, 5tatC6tiiat ctor, that of them nparison , Chief. Q settled tallied a London nd Lake ic samo between ad, and eft luRON. le Sau- attered a;Gjree- .^hould 'T torri- it waa proper and to hirfs. 15. Chippewas and others, in the Township of Bedford. Within a few years past, some stragglers from the Rice Lake tribe have settled in the township of Bedford, about twenty-five miles north of the town of Kingston ; and recently, they have been joined by a band of eiiihty-one Indians from Lower Canada: belonging to the post of the Lake of Two Mountains. As the settlement is of recent formation, and the claim of these Indians upon the attention of the Department of Upper Canada has only been brought forward last year, they have not yet been visited by any officer of the Department, cind no account can be given of the settlement. By Instructions issued in 1843, they were transferred from the Roll of Lower Canada to that of the Upper Province, and, accordingly, received their presents for the first time in that Province. My beloved Reader — I am now about closing my narrative, and in doing this there are but a few things to say. Throughout the work, I have confined my re- marks chiefly to my own nation. ]5ut it must not be supposed, on this account, that I am forgetful of mv brethren of the other Indian nations. The prayers and benevokntefTorts of all Christendom should be directed towards all men every where. The go'^pel should be preached to every creature ; and the field is the wide WORLD. The Menomenees in Wisconsin, the Winehajroes and Potawatamies in Iowa, the warlike nations of the Sacs and Foxes, the Osages, Pawnees, ALmdans, Kan- sas, Creeks, Ornahas, Oloes, Dclawares, lowas, and a number of others elsewhere, must perish as did their brethren in the Eastern States, unless the white man send them the Gosptd, and the blessings of education. There is field enough for all denominations to labor in, widiout interfering with each other. It is loo late i(^ 154 THE LIFE OF the day to Tissert that the Indians cannot be raised up out of their degraded state, and educated for God and heaven. None need be discouraged since the Ojebwas in Western Canada have been converted. No lan- guage is adequate to portray the misery, wretchedness, and degradation in which we were, when the word of God was first brought and preached to us. It is not necessary to detail each and every wrong, that my poor people hav^e suffered at the hands of the white man. Enough has already been said in various parts of the work, to prove that they have been most grossly abused, peeled, and wronged. Nor shall I notice the personal wrongs that I myself have received ; and from those, too, of whom I had good reason to hope better things. I once thought, that there were some things that I could never forgive ; but the religion of Jesus, and the law of love, have taught me diff'erently. I do forgive them ; and may God forgive them and me too. I have sometuTies heard it said, that our forefathers were cruel to the forefathers of the whites. But was not this done throu^ih ignorance, or in self defense ? Had your fati'ers adopted the plan of the great philan- thropist, William Penn, neither fields, nor clubs, nor waters, would have been crimsoned with each other's blood. The white men have been like the greedy lion, pouncing upon and devouring its prey. Thej have driven us from our nation, our homes, and posses- sions ; compelled us to seek a j'efuge in Missouri, among strangers, and wild beasts; and will, perhaps, ioon compel us to scale the Rocky Mountains ; and, KAH-GE-GA-G \H-BOWH. 155 nor for aught I can tell, \v§ may yet be driven to the Pacific Ocean, there to find our graves. My only trust is, that there is a just God. Was it to perpetrate such acts that you have been exalted above all other nations ? Providence intended you for a blessing and not a curse to us. You have sent your missionaries to Burmah, China, the Sandwich Islands, and to almost every part of the world ; and shiill the Indians perish at your own door 7 Is it not well known that the Indians have a generous and magnanimous heart? I feel proud to mention in this connection, the names of a Pocahontas, Massasoit, Skenandoah, Logan, Kusic, Pushmataha, Philip, Te- cumseh, Osceola, Petalesharro, and thousands of others. Such names are an honor to the world ! Let a late Governor of Massachusetts* speak for our fathers, when they first beheld the trembling white man : — "Brothers! when our fathers came over the great waters, they were a small band. The red man stood upon the rock by the seaside, and saw our fathers. He might have pushed them into the water and drowned them. But he stretched out his arms to our fathers and said, * Welcome, white men I' Our fathers were hungry, and tlie red man gave them corn and venison. Our fathers were cold, and the red man wrapped them up in his bhinket. We are now numerous and power- ful, but we remember the kindness of the red man to our fathers." And what have we received since, in return ? Is it • Edward Everett, Esq. 156 THE LIFE OF for the deeds of a Pocahontas, a Massasoit, and a host of others, that we have been plundered and oppressed, and expelled from the hallowed graves of our ances- tors ? If help cannot be obtained from England and America, where else can we look ? Will you then, lend us a helping hand ; and make some amends for past injuries? It is often said, that the Indians are revengeful^ cruel and ungovernable But go to them with nothing but the Bible in your hands, and Love in your hearts, and you may live with them in perfect safety, share their morsel with them, and, like the celebrated Bartram, return to your homes unharmed. They very soon learn to venerate the Bible ; as a proof of this, I will give an instance, that came under my own eye : — While at the Rabbit River Mission, a chief from the west, visited me. Af (»r reading to him several chap- ters from the Bible, he saiJ, with much surprise, " Is this the book, that 1 hear so m'H*h about in /7?j/ country ?" I replied, yes ; and these are the words o( Ke-sha-jnon- e-doo (the Great Spirit.) " Will you not," said he, " o-ive me one ? I wish to show it to my people." I told him, not without you first promise that you will take care of it. He promised me that he would. I handed it to him ; he took it, and turned it over and over, and then exclaimed, '''Wonderful, wonde/fal! this is the book of the Great Spirit .'" He then wriipp: d it up in a silk handkerchief, and the handkerchief in three or four folds of cloth. 1 heard, afterwards, from the trader, that the book was still kept sacred. O, if my poor brother could but read and understand that "Is try?" \-mo7i- 1 he, " I 1 will d. I atul ,ful ! PP 'i L'f in from 0, if that KAH-GE-GA -GAH-BOWH. 157 blessed volume, how soon would his dumb idols be "cast down to the moles and to the bats!" Will no one go and tell him and his nation, of the boundless, beseeching, bleeding, dying love of a Saviour; and jrge upon them the importance of such a preparation of heart, as will enable them " to give up their account with joy ?" The Great Spirit is no respecter of persons ; He has made of one blood all the nations of the earth ; He loves all his children alike ; and his highest attri- butes are love, mercy and justice. If this be so, — and who dare doubt it ? — will He not stretch out his hand and help them, and avenge their wrongs ? 'Mf offences must come," let it be recollected, that li^oe is denounced against them *' from wJiojn they come." I again propose that the territories of the Indians, in the British dominions, be annexed to that Cjovernment, and those in the American dominions to the Federal Union. And, finally, in the language of that excellen't, magnanimous, and benevolent friend of the poor children of the forest, Col. Thomas McKenney, I would say, " I have already referred, in the commencement of this proposal to annex the Indian territory to our Union, to those good men, who, in the character of missiona- ries, have kept side by sidt' with the Indians in so many of their aflliclions and micralions. I will anain refer to them, and implore them by all the lost lahor of the past, and by the hopes of the future; by the critical con- dition of the pacific relations that exi>t between the Indians and us ; and by the sacredness of the cause in which they are engaged, to look well and earnestly into 14 J 58 THE LIFK OF this subject, and learn from the past what must attend upon their labors in the future, if the change I propose, or some other change equivalent to it, be not brought about. And, seeing, as they must see, that the plan I propose, or some other, is indispensable to the success they seek to command, I implore them to take up the sub- ject in all its bearings, and by the instrumentalities which they have at command, manufacture, collect, and embody public opinion, in regard to what may be de- ten r»>ef' » be done; and by memorial, and personal ageii iH:8. 'ring this opinion to bear upon Congress, with \i om *t - '^e the power is vested, to redeem, dis- enthrall, and save, and bless, the remnants of this abo- riginal race. And I make the same appeal to all the good, of all religious persuasions, both in the Church and out of it, and politicians of all parties, to second this attempt, feeble as I know it to be, to save the Indians, and consolidate, and perpetuate peace between 'em and us, and, by so doing, ward off the terrible retribu- tion which must soonei or later, unless it be averted, fall upon this nation/' ] I- HYMN. L. M. NUHGUHMOWIN. l. m. '•Ho! everyone that thirsts, draw niph:" Kiih ke nuh kah -hkah l>ai\ c;wa yuig, ('Tis Guo invites Jlie fallen race ;) Me no Mini e ^\^n^ pe e zl djj; " Mercy and free sjiivation bny ; \Va ne puzli o diih pf nidi nuMik Buy wine, and milk, and gospel grace. 'Ncwh o ziiuh wain je ga win a. " Come to the living waters, come I Sinners, oiiey your Maker's call : Return, ye weary wanderer's, home ! And iind my grace is free fur all. " See from the Rock a fountain rise I For you in liealing streams it rolls ; Money ye need not bring:, nor prit-e, Ye laboring, burden'd, sin-sick st)uls. Pe me ne quaig pa me je wung ! Pc e zhali y(M)k, ain do me naiir ; Wa ne piizli, pe nah ze kuh wik, Wa lie puzh, zlmli wu ne me mag. Nuh ! nh sin eeng oon je je wun, - Nwah je niwali hah wnh ne go jnii; ; Wa nc puzh, pe nah ze kuli monk, Kuh ke null gwa Uuh gain dull inaig. <* Why seek ye that which is not bread, Tab neesh nah un do na nh maig Nor can your liungrv souls sustain? Niu'' ood a nah huh dull se iumiu? r\.. _-i. . . 1 .. .1 1 ..;_ .... i-.,,.,l . T>' . 1.. 1 __. „l,..l. ,.1.|.., .1.. On ashes, husks, and air ye feed ; Ve spend your Utile all in vain. *' Hearken to me with earnest care, And freely eat substantial food ; Tlie sweeine<8 of my mercy share, A nd taste that 1 alone am good. *• Your willing ear and heart incline. My words believingly receive ; Quickeu'd your souls by faith divine, An everlasting life shall live." HYMN. L. M. Sinners, obey the gospel word ; JJaste to the Supper of my Lord ; lie wise to know your gracious dayj All things are ready, come away I Pill! •; kuh ya niee zhuh shko shun, P. Ku). -la c go ya goon go. P( dn d"n we shiir wa wa ne, iiue je yook twh ne me»' je mim ; Ke k.iin diili inook nia iiuain dab gwuk, N'"jn a luh o ne she she yuii. Ta bwa Uih wc sliig iinih y;ili luiin. iig (inin ; ; da be n Nooiig ooin wee da be me null goog, tsli pe niiiig ke je chah go wog, Ka o(>n je tub gwu she no wod. NUHGUHMOWIN. l. m. Ma je e zhe wa be ze yaiir, Noon dnh mook, me nwan je mo win ; Ne bwah kog che ge kaiii dub maig, Lh aooj ka gtK) kee gee zhe sing. Ready the Father is to own Kee zhee tab, we oo jee me naig And kiss his late-returning son : jgh pe ming a yod Koo se wah ; Ready your loving Saviour stands, Kee zhee tah nwah je mo e naig, And spreads for you his bleeding handa. Ke zhee be ne ka tah go wah. Ready the Spirit of his Love, Just now the stony to remove ; To apply and witness with the blood. And wash and seal the sons of (iod. Ke zhee tah wun O je chah gwun, Wee t; ko nung muli yah nah duk ; Wu ge kain dub moo ne «aig ewh Zbub wa uc me iiai;; Koo se wah. Ready for you the angels wait, An gel nug kah pee zhee tah wug, To lriuni|iii in ycnir blest csuile : Pab liee e na gwub isli pc iiiiuf,' ; Tuning their harps, they long to praise Me nwa wa die ga wiig a peech The wonders of redeeming grace. Ke che moo je gam dull mo wcxi. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Is ready, with their shining liost : All heaven is ready to resound, •' The dead's alive I the lost is found Wa yoo sc mind. Wa gwe se mind. Hull ya Bab ne zid O je clioe, Kuh ke nuh moo je gain tluh moog. Me kah goo yaig we ne she uni^. I HYMN. 6-7's. Wtary souls that wander wide From the central point of blisA, Turn to Jesus crncined, Ply to those dear wounds of his : Sink into the purple Hood : Rise into the life of God. Find in Christ the way of pence, Peace, unspeakable, unknown : By his pain he gives us ease, Life by his expiring groan : Rise, exalted by his full ; Find in Christ your all is all. O believe the record true, Gotl to you his Son hath given I Ye may now bo happy too : Find on earth the life of heaven Live the life of heaven above, All the Ufe of glorious h)ve. This the universal bliss, Bliss for every soul design'd ; God's original promise this, God's great gift to all mankind ; Blest in Christ this moment be ! Ble«t to all eternit> ! NUHGUHMOWIN. 6-7»t, Ka che uh ya ko ze yaig. Ewh puh bah wuh ne she naig, Jc sus pe nah ze kuh wik, Kee null wah kee oon je na ; O me quecm ing uh yah mook, Me no pe mah ue ze win. Me kuh mook, ewh ma nwuh mook, Je sus kah be o zhe tood ; Kee pe ge wee suh gain dung, Ke doon je pe man de ze min : Ah pe je go kuh ke nuh Me kuh mook wah uh yah inaig. Ta bwa ya ne mik e suh O gwe sun kee mee ne naig I Ke one me no uh yah yook, F3wh pe zhuh wa ne me naig : Iph pe ming a yah muh guk, Ke zhuh wa ne me go wah. Kuh ke nuh ain duh che wind Ah no we zhuh wain je ga; Kah e ke do go biili nan, I'e e zhe, zliuli wain je ga ; Noong oom zhuh wain dah go zig Kuh ya Jush e go moo zhug ! HYMN. 4-6's & 2-8's. NUHGQHMOWIN. 4-6'3. Stung by the scorpion sin, My poor expiring soul The balmy sound drinks in, And is at once made whole: See there my Lord upon the tree I I hear, I feel, he died for me. O unexampled love ! O all-redeeming grace I How swiftly didst thou move To save a fallen race I What shall I do to make it known What thou for all mankind htxst done ! O for a trumpet-voice, On all the world to call I To bid their hearts rejoice In him who died for all ! For all my Lord was criK-ified; For all, for all my Saviour died ! Muh je uh ye ee wish, Ka gall na se go yon, Ning ee e zhe me kon Nwah je mo e go yon; Wah bull mik owh Ta ba ning a Uh goo jing e mah me te goong : Uh Ma nwa ning a yun I Oh Wah doo kah ga yun I Ke gee wa wee be tah Noo jo mo e wa yun I Tall iieen ka e zhe che go yon, Min ze che ke ka ne me quuh * Oh pa gish kuh ke nuh Uh keeiig ka da bwa waig ! Noong oom uh yoo yom bon Che ween duh mah ga yon; Owh Ta ba ning a kuh ke nuh, Kuh ke nuh go kee oon je nu '. 6-7»i