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This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est fllmA au taux da rAductton indiquA ci-dessoua. 10X 14X 1IX 22X aBX 30X 1 12X IfX aox MX 32X lis u lifter n* - 10* Tlw Mpy flMMd MTO Imm dmh rapfOduoMi imiucs to th# 9MMfMlty of: Library DIviaion Provincial ArsMvat of Britidi CohimMa Tho I mn n ippo oHm horo aro tho boM qMoNty DoaalMo rnntlilorinii tho emidltlmi and looibliltv of tfio OflQNUN oopy MM in Icooplfi0 wHn tno fNininf oontffMt ipoolficotloiw^ Original copkM In printod papor eovars ara f .imad baglnnlni wMi tha ffont ctovac ^^*id anding on tho laat paga wMi a printad or iHustratad Impraa- alon, or tho book covar «vlian appropriata. AH otiMr original eopioo ara fMmad baglnning on tho firat pogo with o printad or Nlustratad Impras- alon. and anding on tho loat paga with a printad or nhiotratad Improaalon. Tho loot roeordod frama on ooch mleroficho •hM contain tlia symbol — ^ (maaning "CON- TINUED"), or tho symbol ▼ (moaning "END"). L'axamplairo fHmA f ut roprodult grioo A la gin4raalt* da: Library Diviiion Provincial Archival of Britith Cdumbia Laa imagaa aulvantaa ont ttA roprodultos avac la piiia grand soin. eompto tonu do la condition ot do lo nottotA do roRomploiro fHrnO. ot on eonf ormltA ovoe los conditions du contrat da filmaga. Laa aKamplairas originoHx dont la couvortura wt papiar ast ImprimAa sont flimAs on commandant par la pramiar plat at an tarminant salt par la darnlOra paga qui comporto uno omprointo d'improssion ou dlNustrotion. solt por lo second plat, salon lo cos. Tous los autras aKamplairas originouK sont fHmAs an common^ant par la pramMra paga qui comporto uno omprointo d'improssion ou d'illustrotion ot on torminant par la dtrMn paga qui comporto unr talla amprainta. Un das symbolos suhronts apparaftra sur la damMra imaga da chaqua microflcho, colon la cas: la symbolo -^ signifio "A SUIVRE". la symbolo V signifio "FIN". Mops, plotos, chorts. etc.. moy bo fHmod ot difforont reduction rotioo. Those too lorgo to bo antirahr includad in ono oxposuro oro filmed beginning in tho upper left bond comer, left to right end top to bottom, os meny frames es ro«|uired. This following diogroms illustrete the method: Los certes, plenches. tableaux, etc., pouvent Atro fiimAe A dee taux da rAduction diff Aronts. Lorsque lo documem est trop grand pour Atre roprodult en un soul clichA, 11 est filmA A pertir do Tongie supArieur geuche, do gauche A droite. ot do hout en bos. en prenent lo nombre d'imeges nAcoss^ire. Los diagrammes suivsnts Ulustrent la mAthode. ita lure. 1 2 3 ] 1 2 3 4 5 6 1^ ; H' ;:;■- ; .u 'M* [ hM ■'.! TH£ NORTH-WEST-AMERICA MISSION, t^^^^^^^^^V^^^*0t0^^^^0*^^^^^^^ I ;•* At the Quarterly Meeting in the village of -— — , in March 1856, the Bev. Joseph Good- win stated that he purposed to give lectures on the subject of the North- West-America Mission of the Church Missionary Society, rather than to have the subject in the usual conversational way. > ; : • Hitherto (he began) our conversations have referred to the proceedings of the Church Missionary Society in dense populations, and chiefly in tropical countries, with the exception of New Zealand. We have taken you to India — that beautiful, rich, and fruitful region, where the population is so great, that the numbers in the valley of the Gan- ges alone exceed the whole people of North and South America. We have visited the teeming multitudes in Western Africa, and have seen the glowing sun and rich vegetation of India and Africa, producing abundance of food for the inhabitants. We now turn to a totally different scene — to the cold and icy regions of that vast space of our globe to the North-west of Canada, contained between the North Pacific and the North Atlantic Oceans, where, in some parts, for seven or eight months of the year the ground is covered with deep snow^ where the frost reaches down to 1 aoificN.W.H'stcry ueot. 2^:li}ji/\NO\Al. LIBRARY \/|OTeR(A, B. ■. w ^ a depth of fifteen feet below the ground ; where the rivers and lakes become frozen masses ; and where a poor, scanty, starving population of Red Indians, the remnants of *erhapB strong jircum- llovring ith the at the id that y, with md in* visit of een the tlement iver, in )f some e oppo- ; indus- rist-mill Br case, 5sionary >s them- lich had > one of houses, superior ad lost, learance peopled 'er than reaping ours, in ppy fire- of God. , as the jpecially ■ on occasion of the administration of the Lord's Supper, when upwards of 220 met together around the table of the Lord. There one might and still may often see the streaming eye and the moving lips, telling thus tacitly of a hidden emotion of the heart, known to Him " to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid." Not only are they devout in the great congregation, but they are no less, so in their private homes, where it is no unusual thing to witness the inmates of the lonely cottage bending at domestic worship, while the father pours out his simple, earnest prayers to a Cove- nant God in Christ. Nor is it less satisfactory to hear, as we frequently do from the Mission- aries, of the resigned and peaceful manner in which many of them meet death — yea, even triumphantly, rejoicing in the full assurance of a hope full of immortality. The converts also gave proof of that sure result of having received the grace of God, by their deep interest in the spiritual welfare of those around them. One we have already named as having been ordained to preach the Gospel. Another native youth, named James Settee, trained in the Mission-school, has followed in his footsteps. Thus both Budd and Settee, as ordained Missionaries, are preaching the glad tidings of peace and love to their own countrymen : besides which many are employed as Native Catechists and Teachers. Pigwys is still alive, and we lately heard of him as having accompanied the Bishop of Rupert's Land, Dr. Anderson, from the Indian settlement to Mani- toba (now called Fairford), a distance of 300 miles, where the old chief addressed the Indians of his own tribe, the Saulteaux, in a most affect- ing and touching manner, on the vital points of Christian doctrine and practice. 20 We purpose to retarn to this subject at our next Lecture, and intend to point out to you the expansive nature of the work, which has radiated from the Red River settlement to six or seven dis- tant places, where similar labours are going on. Thus God, in His all-wise and benevolent dealings with our fallen race, has made use of the instrumentality of this Society to gather from amongst a people so low in the scale of humanity — so outcast, and so undervalued — a people to His own glory. . A i . ■- r . f k t BED RIVER SEXIEEHENX .Ajm cax.o7n: -■ ; » T. C. Johns, Printer, New-street-sqware, Fleet-street. E.G. ; at our fou. the adiated ^en dis- ngon. evolent use of gather icale of ued — a >;■:■ TLEMENT fapUton. age ^Udii. St. E.C. THE HORTH-WEST AMERICA MISSION. No. II. At the Quarterly Meeting (for June 1856) of the Church Missionary Association, in the village of , the Rev. Joseph Goodwin resumed the subject of the Mission in Rupert's Land, continued from the last lecture, as follows— I trust that you will all remember the re- marks made in our last lecture (see pages 3, 4, and 5, in Tract No. 17) on the pecu- liarity of Missionary work in the cold and deso- late regions of North- West America. I must again refer to the Map (see page 24) in order that we may observe how the work has ex- panded. In our last lecture we confined our- selves to the Red-River Station : we now wish you to observe the map, and look for the following places, where the Church Missionary Society has Stations at present — 1. White-dog, or Islington. - 2. Manitoba, or Fairfbrd. " ■ -- a Fort Pelly. ' > rj:^; 4. Cumberland. , ' . 5. Nepowewin. 6. English River. Then go to the borders of the great Hudson's Bay, and observe — 7. York, with its out-stations of Churchill, Severn, &c. . . .. V. . ^ , •■ . , ^■. . .-..■; : ■■■ .. (%i.\»y V >'.! 8. Moose Fort, with its out-stations of Al- bany, Kinoogoomisee, &c. 9. Fort George. We will endeavour to trace some part of the progress ot the work at these stations, although it is impossible, in so short a space as we have allotted for a lecture, to enter very fully into details. A glance at the Map will, however, show, that God has so blessed the efforts of the Society, that it has brought the Gospel of love and peace to bear upon many places which sat in darkness and the region of death. You will remember that I told you of the two Red Indians, Messrs. Budd and Settee, who had been stirred up by the Spirit of God, and finally set apart and ordained, to carry the Gospel to their heathen countrymen. We will go back in Mr. Budd's history to the year 1841, when he was sent (as a Cate- chist) to commence a station amongst the Swampy Cree Indians on the Saskatchewan Kiver, in the neighbourhood of Cumberland- house, one of the trading posts of the HudsonV Bay Company (see the Map). The whole country was uninviting, and a difficulty arose as to the best location, which was at length fixed at a place called, by the English, the Pas. There the message of peace and love told on his countrymen ; for, though some opposed, others listened with attention, and received the truth . in the love of it ; and so rapid was the spread of the Gospel, that in two years, when a Mis- sionary (Mr. Smithurst) went to visit that place and people, Mr. Budd was able to present a large number of candidates for Christian bap- tism: of these the Missionary could con- scientiously admit 75 — a great number in a Al- f the ough have into irever, f the love which of the Settee, : God, ry the iory to . Cate- st the ;;hewan erland- idson's- whole ise as to Sxed at There on his , others e truth spread a Mis- at place esent a in bap- d con- er in a population so thin and Scattered. Two years afterwards, the Rev. J. Hunter was sent there by the Society, and found additional candidates, many of whom he baptized. While this was going on at Cumberland, the work was also taking root elsewhere, par- ticularly at Manitoba (since called Fairford, see the map) where the Rev. Abraham Cowley commenced his labour of love in 1842. He found the Indians here to be very different from those he had left at Red River : they belong to the Ojibwa or Saulteaux, a very hardened and diffi- cult tribe to deal with. Many were their objec- tions to the message and the messenger. " Your words will interfere with our hunting" — " Your coming is like the lighting down of a strange bird." And one noted conjurer frowned upon every attempt to reach his countrymen, being convinced that his craft was in danger ; while scenes of savage life were continually before the Missionary. On one occasion a scalp had been brought from the plains, and he then witnessed their heathenish delight in the fall of an enemy. It appears that a party of warriors had slain a Sioux Indian in battle, and had brought away a portion of the skin of the head, with the hair upon it, as a trophy of victory. This was sent round amongst the Indians, who, as they received it in turn, erected it on a pole, and danced around it, to their war- song, in the wildest glee. The Missionary had also to see continually their dread of each other, and espe- cially of their Medicine-man, from constant fear of poison which, if it did not take away life, would render it a burden by loading it with fearful maladies to the end of their days. The Missionary found it most difficult to obtain e a patient hearing. When invited to attend the means of grace, a message has been returned, that if the black coat would pay for the time, they would attend ; and when induced to assem- ble, by dint of great perseverance, they would, instead of listening, talk over their own matters, as they do in their own tents, light and smoke their pipes, and fill the place with their filthy odours. To reprove them would only drive them away, and all had to be borne in faith and hope that' the word which God had sent should not return unto Him void, but that it should accom- plish that which Me pleased, and prosper in the thing whereunto He had sent it. While Mr. Cowley was thus seeking to preach the Gospel to the adults, efforts were made to induce the Indians to allow their children to be taught day by day by Mrs. Cowley ; but as soon as some learnt the first elements of reading, the parents removed them away. The Missionary tried to remedy this by endeavouring to get the entire charge of the children from their friends, in order to form a kind of boarding- school ; but, although he offered to feed, and clothe, and take every care of the children, the parents refused to give them up. One said, " Our teaching is better than yours : we teach them to hunt, and when they are able to kill, the skins will bring them something; but we do not see any benefit from your teaching." Another said, speaking of the Missionary, " He wants to get children, and cannot get them. I really pity him : what does he want to do with them ? " He was told that he wished to get the children to educate them, and make them wise, like the clerks of the Hudson 's-Bay Company, that he might teach them the knowledge of the . af'SMs Almighty God^ and the way to heaven, &r.; "but," said he, "1 hear that every thing is afraid of those who have learnt to pray"— meaning that, by praying, they would lose the art and power of conjuring, and, on this account, he could not give his children. For a year and a half efforts were quietly and perseveringly made for obtaining children, when it happened that an Indian lost his wife by death, leaving seven children, who, finding it difHcult to sustain them, was induced to place two of them in the Mis- sionary school, where they learned to read quickly, and to speak English: they also acquired a good knowledge of domestic matters. This made so great an impression that many Indians gladly placed their children under instruction : the school rapidly increased in numbers ; and it has flourished ever since: the children have ever been found intelligent, and have been quick in attaining the knowledge of the true God and of His Son Jesus Christ. It was no small difficulty for Mr. Cowley to maintain these children — to feed, clothe, and educate them, which had to be done by incessant hunting, fishing, and farming ; also in begging for food and clothing in the Red-River Colony. As soon as the difficulties of Mr. Cowley and of other stations were known in England, Ladies^ Working Parties laboured effectively for him and his brother Missionaries; and for many years past most valuable assistance has been regularly sent, year by year, in the way of warm and strong clothing, to all our stations in those desolate regions of Rupert's Land: and we would press upon our ladies the active con- tinuance of these benevolent labours. We rejoice to say, that many precious souls amongst these poor wild Indian children have been brought to Christ. The maxim of the world is, First civilize, and then bring the Gospel to bear upon the heathen ; but the condition of ihe Red Indians at our Missionary Stations, as weW as elsewhere, show that this is a false tnaxim. As soon as the Gospel conies, as the power of God unto salvation, all things become new ; and instead of the miserable Indian wig- wam, we now see at Fairfoid, Manitoba, a series of decent cottages, a mill, a school-house, church, cultivated grounds, and the evidences of civilized Christianity.* A branch station was established near the Hudson's-Bay Company'^s Station, called Fort Pelly (see the map) : there a Native Catechist has long laboured amidst trials, privations, and difficulties, yet not without success. The Indians are found in greater numbers, and are ap- proached with greater ease, than in the woody parts of the countries ; but alas ! men and means are wanting to go, enter in, and possess the land in this district. Yet the Catechist, Charles Pratt (who is an Indian) gives most encou- raging accounts of the readiness of his country- men to listen to the Gospel in these extensive prairies. . To proceed. Descending the romantic river Assiniboine, on which Fort Pelly Station is situated, in about eight or ten days, we come upon another Station of the Hudson's-Bay Company, called Portage la Prairie. The his- tory of some of the people that have taken up • See the Frontispiece— The Wilderness turned into a pleasant dwelling-place. I 9 their residence here is very interesting. They come from the banks of the Red River, where, at one spot, they seemed to have almost over- grown their resources. They are chiefly half- breeds (that is, European fathers and Indian mothers). Their attraction to Portage la Prairie was, that the land was free, timber {)lentiful, grass and pasturage abundant, and a ake abounding with fish. Many were, there- fore, induced to remove from their crowded locality on the Red River to this new and pro- mising place. Happily, these people had long enjoyed the privilege of Gospel ministrations, and jiot a few were true members of the church, which is the body of Christ. Unwilling to aban- don the means of grace, they applied to our old and laborious Missionary, the Rev. William Cockran, to aid them. They were too poor to maintain a Minister; but they hoped that Mr. Cockran, or some old Missionary, would take up the Portage as an out-station, and visit them as frequently as possible. Mr. Cockran visited the place from time to time — his indefatigable labours were crowned with ultimate success — the field became ripe for the harvest — a neat church raised its head amidst the sturdy oaks, inviting the people around to hear the Gospel — a house was prepared for a Missionary, and a mill to grind the corn for the people — a school opened for the children — and the blessed work of evangelization proceeded. One old Indian woman was brought to know the Lord Jesus, but she was soon afterwards called by death to enter into that rest that remaineth for the people of God : she died while a Missionary happened to be at Portage la Prairie, and her remains were buried by him, with the service of our Church, translated into their own Indian tongue, to the 10 i amazement and edification of the poor ignorant Indians. Eastward from the Red River there is a place called the Wanpissimoo, or White-dog, now called Islington on the Map, and descrihed by some as a naturally lovely spot. Here many Indians are found, and it was thought desirable to fix upon it as a Station for proclaiming the Gospel of the grace of God ; and a Native Clergyman is now stationed there, where some genuine conversions have taken place. We have now to glance at some other Sta- tions, and will refer to the English River (see the Map), to which Station the Rev. R. Hunt removed from Lac-la- Ronge in 1853, as more eligible, being on the boundary between Indian tribes, called the Crees and the Chepewyans. While retaining his hold of the former, amongst whom his labours had commenced, Mr. Hunt is at the same time enabled to extend a helping hand to the northern tribe, who are anxious for instruction. In this extremely try- ing climate, with very scanty supplies, and a fickle race of Indians, our Missionary has had to Struggle with great difliculties. To form some idea of the intense cold (the spirit ther- mometer often showing seventy degrees of frost) Mr. Hunt says, that in their house, which is far from substantial, and in a room with a great fire, *' the water troze in our glasses so quickly, that we broke the ice again and again in order to drink. If the plates are not taken hot from the fire, any thing put upon them in a semi- fluid state congeals. 'J'he knives and forks, also, must be put to the fire, before they can be used with comfort." Again, in his journal, 11 fnorant e IS a te-dog, scribed e many jsirable ng the K^ative some er Sta- er (see Hunt IS more Indian ewyans. imongst •• Hunt tend a A ho are lely try- I, and a las had 'o form it ther- of frost) k'hieh is a great quickly, n order lot from a semi- £s, also, can be journal, Jan. 22nd., he speaks of a " young calf frozen to death in the cow-house." Whether Mr. Hunt will be able to continue his labours in so diffi- cult a sphere is doubtful. He finds that the winter is so long and rigid, and the soil so ste- rile, that to rear potatos or food of any kind is very precarious : the supplies of fish are un- certain, and the Indians discouraged. Still, he has seen many come under the influence of Divine truth, and has spiritual encouragements. We will now introduce you to an acquaint- ance with the Stations that are on the shores of Hudson's Bay. This great bay (part of which is seen on the Map) is 900 miles long, by 600 at its greatest breadth, with a surround- ing coast of 3000 miles, of a rocky, rugged cha- racter. For a few months in the year it is open to a navigation encompassed with many dangers, arising from shoals, rocks, and drifting ice-bergs ; but the severity of the climate closes the bay for the rest of the year by fields of ice. It is on the shores of James' Bay, at the south- ern extremity of Hudson's Bay, that the Church Missionary Society has two Stations — Moose Fort, and Fort George ; and another Station higher up, on the west side of the great Hud- son's Bay, called York. This latter place is the principal depot of the northern department of the Hudson's- Bay Company, whence all the supplies for trade are issued, and all the returns collected and shipped for England. The sum- mer is short ; the three seasons of spring, sum- mer, and autumn, being contracted within the four months, June, July, August, and Septem- ber : the heat di'.ring the summer is extreme, and flies and mo'squitos prevail in millions. The 12 winkr sets in rapidly in September, and from October until tlie next April the thermometer seldom rises to the freezing point : it often falls from thirty to forty-nine degrees below zero of Fahrenheit. At this depot the permanent establishment of the Hudson's-Bay Company is Iprge ; besides which, brigades of boats are constan*;ly arriving during the summer months. To the Indians in that direction, it is the grand meeting-place or market : they come hither to trade, bringing the furs they have gathered, with which to obtain supplies for themselves and their families — as capotes, blankets, caps, files, knives, flints, &c., with powder and shot. It is, therefore, a post affording great opportunities of usefulness, and the presence of an experienced and discreet Missionary. Such a Missionary, the Kev. W. Mason, through the good providence of God, commenced his labours at this post in 1854. Moose Fort or Factory (see the Map) is about 700 miles distant from Montreal, in Canada East. It is the principal depot of the Hudson's-Bay Company on the southern shores of this great bay, and therefore, like York Fort, central to much usefulness. Con- nected with this post are numerous Stations, whither the Missionary, the Rev. J. Horden, pays periodical visits — such as Albany, to the north-west; Brunswick House, on the Moose River, in a south-western direction ; Kinoogoo- misee, more remote, in a southerly direction, &c. Truly, our Missionaries in these regions require earnest zeal, a strong mind, a cheerful disposition, and a robust constitution. Yet to one who loves souls, and desires the advance- ment of his Master^s glory, nothing can be more affecting, more deeply interesting, than the anxiety of these poor wanderers of the plain and forest for instruction. True, they see the Missionary but for a few days, and that after a long interval; but they are hungry for the bread he breaks to them, and eagerly do they feed upon the word of life. Earnestly do they strive to master the syllabic characters, that they may be able to read for themselves the word of God; and when the teacher is gone, have still left with them portions of that blessed book, out of which the Holy Spirit teaches those who, deprived of other means, use this the more earnestly. Mr. Horden has a lithographic press for the syllabic characters, which has been most valuable. Great is the amazement of the poor Indians in seeing this printing-press at work, multiplying copies of portions of the word of God, hymns and prayers, for their use. Mr. Horden states in one of his journals as follows — " I had intended to be absent from Moose for a considerable period this summer, but as yet have been pre- vented from taking more than one journey, which was made to Rupert's House. This, by the mercy of God, I am enabled to consider the most successful I have yet made, and which has convinced me more fully than ever that the syllabic system is that best calculated for the poor roving natives of this country : for although this summer was the first time I ever saw most of them, yet before I left, three-fourths oi the Indians could read their book intelligently." Mr. Horden has been enabled to print many portions of the Scriptures, and, in addition, about 1600 copies of books, in three dialects — Prayer- I. u book and Watts' Catechism, in the Cree, as spo- ken at Moose ; Watts'* Catechism, in the dialect of Big River, and a small portion of the Prayer- book, with some Hymns, in the Saulteaux. We will close this account of Mr. Ilorden^s labours with an account of his visit to one of his out- stations, Rupert's House, in June 1854 — " June 9 — We started at 7 a. m. Before us, as far as the eye could reach, lay an immense field of broken ice, but which, in most places, was firmly packied together. We entertained hopes of going through it, and thereby avoiding that most disagreeable rapid in the River. We consequently paddled about in all direc- tions, north, south, and east, wherever we saw open water. About noon, however, we perce.ved that we co'ild go no further, and, having arrived at the entrance of the Swampy Portage, we put ashore and commenced our tramp. A little before sunset we arrived at a spot which was tolerably dry; but in fact we had no reason to complain, never sinking above our knees in mud and water. We intended to re- main here for the night ; but, considering that it would be better to pass the worst of our journey to-night, I spoke to my companions to that effect : they agreed to it, and set off in single file. I had not walked an hour before I was in a state of profuse perspiration, for the walking was hor- rible, sinking at every step to the knees, and sometimes much deeper than that. About 10 p.m. th'-ee of us were left behind, the rest going forward to make a fire, and get things as com- fortable as possible, by the time I arrived at the place where we were to put up for the ni^ht. Shortly after, we reached a place which had been rendered dry by piles of willows being laid f 15 f upon it, sat down for nearly an hour. Here I had an opportunity of couvers'ing with one of my people upon the love of God as exemplified in the gift of His only-begotten Son : the poor fellow seemed quite amazed, listening with avidity. We then went on, and joined our com- panions at 11 p.m., and, being thoroughly goaUed to the waist, we rejoiced to find a fine fire blazing. After supper and thanking God for his assistance, we retired to rest, to rise again at half-past three, a.m." We turn now to Fort George, in James' Bay (see the map). The circumstances of this station are very different from those of Moose Factory : the op- portunities for usefulness are comparatively few, and the difficulties arising from scarcity of pro- visions, very great indeed. At Moose Factory there is a considerable number of persons, the Hudson's- Bay Company's servants and Indians, who have their home there, and present, on the whole, something of a permanent and settled material on which the Missionary may work ; but at Fort George the state of things is the reverse of this. The Company's servants are few, and during the winter season but few In- dians remain about the post. Our Missionary, the Rev. E. A. Watkins, in his journal for Lord's-day, January 15th, 1854, mentions how cheered he had been by having so many as eighteen individuals to form his congregation, the attendance of Indians on the previous Lord's-day consisting of four only; an occur- rence by no means rare during the long winter, when these poor wanderers are scattered in se;.rch of furs and provisions. 16 In commencing this station hopes were enter- tained that considerable opportunities would be presented of doing good to the Esquimaux. These, we regret to say, have not been realized. Mr. Watkins mentions, that during a residence of seventeen months he had not seen more than thirteen individuals of that race, inclusive of children. He had hoped to have been enabled, in the beginning of the year, to have proceeded northward to the post of Little Whale River, where a considerable number of Esquimaux are accustomed, at that season, to assemble. Such however, was the dearth of provisions at Fort George, that the master of that post was unable to furnish him with the supplies that were ne- cessary, and the journey was of necessity given up. An Esquimaux youth, named Peter, resides with Mr. Watkins, and is continually under his instruction, in the hope that he may prove an instrument of good to his countrymen. We introduce a few paragraphs from Mr. Watkins's journal. " Jmu 30, 1854— In the latter part of the morning I instructed the Esquimaux Peter in English, reading the Bible which I had given him. When he has read a verse in English I read the same in Esquimaux, by which plan we are both assisted. He is much delighted, after having read a passage, which he understands ver I imperfectly, to see the same translated into his own language, and to find that the meaning, which I have explained to him, is now clearly expressed in his native tongue. *' March 30 — While visiting an Indian, Peter Cox, this morning at his tent, which he put up last night, after returning from hunting, I was 81 ^ was 17 looking at his few books in the syllabic character, and found that he had written something on the inside of the cover of one which I gave to him about twelve months ago. Upon examination, I found it to be a prayer, which he said he wrote several months before he was baptized, which took place last November. The literal translation is as follows—* Our Father, help us. God, teach us Thy word. Be favourable to us when we ask for any thing which is good. I am a great sinner in having done wrong. Jesus, hear us, when we ask that we may live good lives. Make us to live a good life.' Consider- ing that this was written by a poor heathen, who had received but very little instruction at that time in the truths of Christianity, I think it affords a delightful evidence of the working of God's Holy Spirit upon his heart, convincing of sin, and giving a hungering and thirsting after righteousness. " June 2, 1854 — This morning three Indian women and three or four children arrived at the Fort, bringing geese which had been shot by a party of Indians who are now staying at a Bay a few miles distant. Ascertaining from them that, including children, the number of persons encamped at the Bay amounted to about forty, I thought that a very favourable opportunity was presented for the prosecution of Missionary work amongst them, and determined upon returning with the women in the afternoon. We com- menced crossing our noble river at three o'clock, and in due time landed upon the opposite bank, amidst immense blocks of ice, which still remain as evidences of the power of the winter^s frost, although the river has opened more than a week since. At seven o'clock we reached the canoe 18 which had heen left by the Indians in the morn- ing, after having had a very tedious walk of somewhat more than three hours. Finding the canoe too small to convey all the party across the Bay, some of us waited behind till another could be forwarded for our accommodation. The time was not, however, unprofitably spent, as it afforded me the opportunity of speaking of the love of the Saviour to a poor inland Indian woman, who had come to the coast a few weeks earlier than usual. I found that she could re- member the sweet text, * God so loved the world,* &c., which she had learnt from me last summer. I * began at the same Scripture,' and preached unto her Jesus, as the only ' name under heaven whereby we must be saved.' She remembered, also, the answer in Watts's Cate- chism — ' I have too often sinned against God, and deserved His anger' — which seemed pecu- liarly appropriate, as calling for remarks on the universality of sin, and its fearful consequences. She was deeply attentive to me whilst speaking, as well as I could with the imperfect knowledge of the language which I at present possess. Having with me a few of the printed copies of Watts's Catechism, I gave her one, and read some parts, accompanying them with a few remarks. The canoe at length arriving from the opposite side of the Bay, I was glad to take my seat, and accomplish the remaining part of the journey. We arrived amongst the Indians at about nine o'clock, and, having saluted some of them, I felt thankful to enter ray own tent ; and after partaking of supper, and joining in prayer with my Eskimo youth and some others who accompanied me, I was quite willing to prepare for rest. H at \i wF 19 ** June 3 — After breakfast I went to one of the Indian tents, with the hope of imparting religious instruction to its inmates, amounting in all to twenty-two. Seating myself amongst them, I said that my object in coming to pay the visit was to speak about God and His Son Jesus, being very anxioiis that they might be happy, both in the present world and in that which lies beyond the grave. Having mentioned my intention of remaining a few days to instruct them in reading and in religious truths, an old man, as spokesman of the company, expressed their pleasure at seeing me, and their wish to know more of what I could teach them. After a few more remarks, I commenced teaching the syllabic characters used for writing the Indian language, in which 1 drilled my class for a considerable time. Afterwards, I distributed amongst them a few copies of Watts's Cate- chism, which were printed by my brother Mis- sionary at Moose, and gave them instruction in that excellent little manual, making remarks of a practical character as we proceeded. After- wards copied down the names of a variety of articles in the tent, in order to assist me in acquiring the Cree ; for although I am now able, with some hesitation and stammering, to speak a little on religious subjects, yet a great deal remains to be acquired before I shall be in pos- session of a full knowledge of the language. Having spent an hour and a half with my attentive congregation, I left them, wishing to visit their neighbours in the adjoining tent, whom I found to number nineteen individuals. With them I passed the same length of time in a similar manner. Having dined, I again went to the first tent which I visited in the morning, intending to divide the afternoon between the two parties ; but very soon after I had com- menced, those from the other tent began to join our, number, so that I had a congregation of somewhat more than thirty individuals around me. Having drilled them in the syllabic cha- racters till they appeared tired, I read and com- mented upon rsalm xxv.; after which we knelt down and sought the blessing of God on the efforts made for the spiritual benefit of these poor people. Remaining afterwards to copy down a number of words in Cree, I consumed about two hours and a half in the tent ; after which I much enjoyed a walk, being cramped with sitting so long, Indian-like, upon the ground. **.7w7?e 15. — The class of Indians this after- noon numbered about twenty-five, the women and some of the youths having returned. After the English service this evening, 1 was informed that some inland Indians, who had arrived in the afternoon, whilst I was instructing those who are already here, have brought the mournful intelligence of the death through starvation of nine of their companions, all of whom were living together in one tent ! Those who related the sad news had visited the deserted tent, and found near to it the dead bodies of two women, which they wrapped up in the tenting, and buried in the snow, the ground being frozen too hard to allow of their digging graves. Being overcome by a superstitious fear, they could not look for the others who were missing, but there is no probability of their being still alive. Guns, kettles, snow-shoes, and the various articles of Indian necessity, were lying about, whilst rabbit snares, which were seen near the tent, and a I I fish-hook left in the water under the ice, were proofs of the efforts made by the poor creatures to obtain food. There was a small quantity of gunpowder left, but the shot being all consumed, its place was supplied by small pebbles, which the starvinff family had been necessitated to use, in the hope of killing a few birds. This family, together with the others of whom we were informed a few days since, make the num- ber of seventeen individuals belonging to this Fort who have died through starvation during the course of the past winter ! The subsistence of the Indians in this part of the country is at all times very precarious ; but at certain seasons of the year many of them are reduced to the most pitiable extremities. Even my own fa- mily, at such times, is so badly supplied with meat, that we do not know for two days together what food we can eat, although we have an abundance of ammunition at comniand for pro- curing wild fowl, if any could be obtained. The Indians must necessarily be in a much worse position, as they are too poor to purchase a large supply of powder and shot, and are of course entirely destitute of grain, of which, through the goodness of God, I have always a stock on hand. Their resources are so slight, that, with a very few exceptions, the whole pro- duce of their year's hunt does not enable them to obtain more than one article of clothing for each member of their respective families: in many instances, indeed, they cannot even do this. Such being their destitute condition, we cannot feel sufficiently grateful to those Christian friends who have so kindly supplied us with warm and valuable garments, for distribution amongst these distressed creatures. 2t2 *^Jvne 18 : Lord^s-day — My Indian service this morning was attended by about forty-five indi- viduals, several having arrived last night. The schoolroom being unpleasantly small for such a number, we held service this afternoon in the Company's fur store, which has been kindly placed at my disposal, at considerable inconve- nience to the postmaster. Though it presents an appearance very unlike a church, being half full of packing-cases, furs, guns, kettles, blan- kets, and various articles for trade, yet it is now sanctified by the offering up of prayer and praise. ^'June 19 — After having given an hour's in- struction to the Esquimaux youth, the remainder of the morning was spent as usual at the tents of the Indians. Mrs. Watkins, who accom- panied rne, supplied all the women and girls with thimbles and a few needles and pins, which had been kindly presented by Christian friends in England. We selected a large number cf those of each sex who were the most destitute of clothing, and had afterwards the pleasure of distributing to them many of the valuable gar- ments which have been placed at our disposal by the liberality of Christians in our native land. The goods were received last October, but we have reserved a considerable part of them for the benefit of these inland Indians, who visit the Fort only at this season of the year. The pleasure which some of the miserable creatures manifested was very great ; but we think it did not surpass that which we ourselves experienced in bestowing such suitable clothing on those who were all but entirely destitute of any protection from the inclemencies of our severe climate. We could not but regret that the friends who con- -^rv 23 tributed, a d, in many instances, made these garments, should be den5 i the grrxtifi cation of themselves bestowing them on ihe poor Indians. ^^June 28. — An inland Indian and his wife, who had tea in my kitchen this afternoon, afterwards very much interested me by their evident desire to obtain spiritual blessings in their souls. As they expect to leave the Fort to-morrow morn- ing, I addressed to them a few words of parting counsel, when I was much delighted to see the earnestness which each of them manifested on the subject of religion. They expressed their constant desire to know more of God, and to be with Him, but spoke of their sin as being very great, and as causing them to fear God would not love them. They also seemed much dis- tressed because they could not remember any prayers; but 1 endeavoured to comfort their minds by the assurance that God knew their hearts, and would be pleased with their earnest wishes to love Him and obey His command- ments. I said, too, that God would b^ar short prayers, mentioning several, such as, ' God have mercy on me ! ' ' Jesus, save me ! * * Take away sin from my heart ! ' * Keep me from hell ! ' « Take me to heaven ! ' This seemed much to encourage them, and they said they would say such prayers every day." What could sustain a Missionary under such discouragements, but a sense of the value of an immortal soul — more valuable than the whole world ? And to toil, so as to be instrumental in saving one of these poor, ignorant, perishing Esquimaux or Red Indians, is, in reality, a more honorable and useful life, than legislating for the temporal well-being of kingdoms. T. C.Johns, rrinter, "Vine Oiice Ct, Fleet St. ;.tA: