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Tous les autres exemplaires origineux sont fiimte en commen^ent par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustretion et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboies suivants apparattra sur la dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon Ie ces: Ie symbols — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE ', Ie symbols V signifie "FIN". Les csrtes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre flimte A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA. II est film* i partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bes. en prenant Ie nombre d'images n^icessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent ia mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 1 3 4 5 6 '■ ^ ■cyg THE liET IN THE BAY; OR, Sournal of a Fisit TO ...■. MOOSE AND ALBANY. ■.•■■, ■ • ' I ( • » I . . • • tl BT THE BISHOP OF RUPERT'S LAND. ■ I at 1 / /' /lU' i 1 f ! ^ I' ^ ) LONDON : THOMAS HATCHAKD, 187, PICCADILLY. 1854. '^^ • a M ^HKr i-c ^.r-fP ■^ r LOJs'DdN .'.• ; • •• * ^ * • _» - G. *J..«A^.VH:K,>^AVOd- eXREKTv STRAND. i .4 3 S'O Kl TO AN ESTEEMED CHRISTIAN LADY, AND A BELOVED BROTHER, ^W 0axratibe OF A VISIT TO OUR EASTERN MISS IONS, t FOSTERED BY THEIR LIBERALITY, IS GRATEFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. m'. \ii Ii ajoi an a a cc muc knoi the ton3 pros and diffe wen perl at i fric'i the Ii des( and r HE FACE. It might, at first sight, appear that the narrative of a journey of two thousand four hundred miles, involving an absence from home of nearly sixteen weeks, through a country but rarely visited, must necessarily contain much of stirring incident. To those, however, who know anything of the solitariness of this wide territory, the difficulty will rather appear to be to vary the mono- tony of the detail of each passing day. Yet the scenes presented to the eye, the general method of travelling, and especially the first dawn of religious life, are so diflFerent from anything in other lands, that few days were altogether barren of some occurrences, trifling, perhaj)s, in themselves, but possessing interest to many at a distance, and especially to those kind Christian friends who trace with pleasure the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom in Rupert's Land. In order to clothe the account with full interest, descriptions ought to be given of the trees of the forest and its flowers, of the rocks and waterfalls, of the b 3 i VI PREFACE. varied birds and insects, as well as of the Indian roam- ing in his wild and untutored state, and of the Indian in his tent or cottage, the subject of Divine grace. For this it would be necessary to have the skill of the painter, the knowledge of the botanist and geologist, and an ac(juaintance with the various branches of natJiral history ; now these 1 possess not — of these subjects 1 know but little, and often do I feel how much these accomjdishments might benefit those engaged in Mis- sionary labours. I am more and more sensible that no gift is in vain, if sanctified and consecrated to God's service. And here I would press upon all preparing for the work, not to neglect any branch within their reach, as they know not to what profit it may be tuiucd in after life. Hut these are, after all, only outward [)ictures, and our great concern is with that which is within. Often do I wish that I could sketch the Indian, with his bold and manly tread, as he walks over his native plains, or steps into his light canoe. Besides this, however, I should like to picture him also when a change has passed over the whole man, when he wonders at his former i)lindness and folly, and now delights in sounds before distasteful. For the inward acts upon the outward, and 1 always think that in the eye we can discern some indication of the changed emotions of the heart. In those only just emerging from a state of barbarism, this is very marked, nor can I imagine any example 'Cry i m f9m PREFACE. Vll nn roam- e Indian e grace. 11 of the ;cologist, if natural Libjects 1 ih these in Mis- I that no io God's reparing lin their may be res, and Often his bold ains, or i^ever, I ; passed former 5 before ird, and ti some rt. In barism, xamplc more striking than two brothers, the one of whom 1 met on the way, still in his natural condition, and the other of wliom I saw soon after my return, talking re- garding the education of his children, and the progress of the Gospel around. Could I place the portraits of the two before the reader, no stronger proof could be adchiced of tlu; advantages of civilization, and the change which even outwardly the Gospel effects. Very different is the })resent narrative from tlie last transmitted home. The previous one was merely inci- dental, the detail of the month of suffering with which it pleased God to visit us. This is an account of what will be my life-long labour, for a journey similar to this, more or less distant, would be necessary almost every summer, at least in two out of three years. In each of these narratives many individuals, not very closely connected with the subject, have been mentioned by uamc, and for this, perhaps, some excuse ought to be offered. It has been a great delight to me to think of them, and to carry about with me the consciousness that I have their sympathy and prayers in my lonely wanderings ; solitude was less solitary when I could pass, in imagination, over intervening distance, and place them by my side. And I thought it might tend to awaken sympathy in the breast of others, and to multiply the links which bind together the Church of Christ, however parted. That man is, in my opinion, the happiest who has the greatest number of points of T Vlll IMIKFACE. contact witli his f'ellow-crcaturcs ; his own sympathies are the HveHest, aiul he is the most hkcly to kindle in others a reciproeal sympathy. Blessed hy God with a larjj;er circle of Christian friends, I would not hanish them from my mind here, hut the recollection of past intercourse with them, and the thought of their work and lahour of love, in many distant spheres, are still my t'^mnanions in tlic wilderness. To the charge, that there is much of self in the journal, 1 must plead guilty. But of whom could I speak save of myself and crew, where, along three hmidred miles, we only met a single Indian in his canoe? It is the record of my own work, and the object is to place myself hefore the reader in the midst of my people. I cannot give it the interest which thr journals of my brethren of Colombo and Cape Town possess. I have nothing of the grandeur of Eastern scenery, none of the relics of a remote antiquity, none of the beauties of tropical vegetation. I have here nothing great, no cases of ripe and advanced believers — it is Christianity only in the bud. I have no cities along my path, there is not even what one may call a village ; indeed, the only spots where a few were con- gregated were at the extremity of the journey along the Bay. There the Net is cast, and gathering in, I doubt not, some immortal souls. At Islington, too, I still hope, that God may plant a light which may spread around. My endeavour, is not to over-colour anything which I ft PR K FACE. IX npatliies indic in I witli a ; banish of past eir work still mv f in the m could ng three 1 in his and the he midsl hich the 36 Town ' Eastern ty, none ftve here believers no cities lay call a rere cou- dong the , I doubt till hope, 1 around, which I have witnessed, but to lead tlie reader to travel over my path, and, if he feels a measure of my own happiness in bcarinj:; of tlie simple faith of the children of the desert, if he has his lieart more drawn out in prayer, that God might make this wilderness to hud and blossom as the rose, my object is •j;ained, and a more abundant harvest of souls may await me, if I live to repeat the journey. D. R. /u'tl /til rr. Ajinl-M)tfi, is:i:t. '*'^* It is riplit to state that the>c sliects have beeii carried tliroiif^h the press under the disadvantages which must always attend a work printed without tiie Author's final corrections. Many passages also, which might pi rhaps have been improved or corrected in point of style, have been left unaltered, as these serve to exhibit the Journal in its true hght, of rough notes v.ritten during a tour in a birch-bark caiu)C. « -A %• i Fund Dioci to hi; ' sailfc also t until the e: in th . diocei Th< fieverf ^ Us th tnaiiy beyon I lLlupcrt*s Hanti Bioccsan JFunti. No appeal has liltherto been made for a Diocesan ' Fund for the educational and religious benefit of the Diocese of Bupert's Land. The Bishop's appointment to his See took place only a short time before he set •sail for the distant field of his labours. It was difficult also to foresee what might be the calls for such a Fund until the Bishop should ascertain by actual observation the extent and encouragement of the work before him, in the evangelization of the vast country forming his . diocese. The -Church Missionary Society also supports several missions established among the Indians, as well "" as the church and minister at the Grand llapids, and many of the schools in the Red River settlement. But beyond the work which that Society can undertake, # !■ xu RUPERT S LAND DIOCESAN FUND. [I the Bishop has it in his power to open communica- tions with many distant locaUties frequented hy the Indians, which communications will be of little avail without a fund at his disposal, for sending Christian visitors to them, and encouraging them to prepare buildings for native teachers or for schools. Many such efforts must be in the first instance tentative, and may require the personal visits of the Bishop ; and the expensiveness of travelling in that country will suffi- ciently appear from the published Journal of the Bishoj) to Moose Fort. If such efforts succeed, the schools and the native teachers may, in a few years, derive their sup- port from native converts, or, if directed to the remaining heathen population, may be transferred to the Church Missionary Society. But, in the meantime, the Bishop finds it best on many accounts to take measures upon his own responsibility. One obvious advantage of such a proceeding is, that the Bishop can urge with more effect upon the native converts the principle of self- support when he has only a limited fund to draw upon instead of the resources of a large Society. For these reasons the Bishop has already contributed largely out of his private means, and has undertaken heavy pecu- niary responsibiUties, while the endowment of the RUPERT S LAND DIOCESAN FUND. XIU k Bishopric is barely sufficient for the ordinary expenses of his family. Many other works, such as the building of churches, trauslational labours, and the education of native divinity students, not only press heavily upon the private resources of the Bishop, but might be en- larged with advantage if there were a Diocesan Fund at his disposal. Several friends in England have already sent the Bishop pecuniary aid, and have expressed their willingness to make further collections for such an object. The present appeal is, therefore, put forth for the formation of a Rupert's Land Diocesan Fund. The Fund will be entirely at the disposal of the Bishop, but the Subscribers will be furnished annually with a statement of the expenditure. Contributions to this Fund will be received" either at the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, 79, Pall Mall, or at the Church ;Missionary Society, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, in which case the remittances must be specifically designated, " For the lluperVs Land Diocesan Fund,'" or by the Treasurer of the Fund, T. D. Anderson, Esq., Everton, Liverpool. Start frot day — I Second S day— C Fourtli S Sunday Stay at J — Arri\ Ordinat Iti CONTENTS. PAUE 39 CHAPTER I. Start from Lower Fort — Reach Fort Alexander — First Sun- day — Islington — Baptisms at English River CHAPTER II. Second Sunday — Lac Seul — Height of Land — Third Sun- day — Osnaburgh — Arrival at Martin's Falls CHAPTER III. Fourth Sunday — The Albany River — Arrival at Albany- Sunday there — Sail along the Bay to Moose . CHAPTER IV. Stay at Moose — Baptismal Sunday — Confirmation Sunday — Arrival of the Prince Albert — Sacramental Sunday — Ordinations 107 84 ft! l nl !,!h"' iM ill! 1 >« XVI CONTENTS. * i CHAPTER V. Departure from Moose. — Sunday at Al})any — Ascent of the Albany River — Detention by snow at Martin's Falls . 171 If. CHAPTER VI. ( I : h Queen's Hill— Osnaburgh and Lac Seul— Storms and snow — Changed scene at English River — Arrival at home . 20(1 171 . 2O0 ■-}■!<■' Start fro 5<) I-- Tin flt.\htifts roittt Htfttf.ttl tJttts + -•'-i /.../.■ / \ I (X KS i: <» K i: r r I', irr's i,a>' d , . , /■■ V s ,.. M.V.. » ''\-- ■^ \l . 1 11 I II 1 II y^ '-^ri-M,.„,.,„ ,^^^^_^ y •v' / f 11 V M i O i: ' ) 7^ s*\>''''''**"'" <^'' ^ ^^•'I'l.l.Sloil /-' >- -' / ,' l>i-i.|- l,.il<.- :>/ <\ '■••• u,:4 ^---^ l.l:.K.i„„,. ^^ ■»• I ill I ^ A ,,■ will'- t/,itirlilll , w :...■„ I. ■ r'- ^'*' .( I,.. I _-*, '< ,^- A' \4- / / ^' r '"'/,, ^j '■•''""'i.iiMrTfir~''-,''"o. J '"//./.. /V„„,, //„„,„ /" X ,,„.i/."A'^^ //,7i /../.■ , '■■l.'vy.i..l H(.>l>'' ,y p I V VN 7*x..,...,M.. . ■ \,,,":«.v H""«'' t iW / -/- • 1 /„.■ I- G v;,v /;, "//'/,,_, /v„ 113 no 105 ■• ''• , •. 1 i. ' '. - 1'."' ■ ' z \ r. •^- ■ :'- \ '^ /'t\ ''''V '^ ' - '-^'V ' ■ ) /''^■'i ^,;<,lll<^'''' V~.f- ~--r i ' J~,«l.' ''"'■ ■ 1 ■ I'lliilnlill \^-^-_J*-' . _ t . - , - .. — _ — -^- — lOI) '.l."> /: ll„t M*' vo: '■■■ / NoT«""' .-Ml""// /• '' -v » 'v •••■ ,*;»": .»^' n ( f ll.i.ilhlll ' ■! ..A \\ \ \ V. II V >• o S ^ I » .•iA \ ^' />(//*'"" ) N Y.»UK -■-■N ^ -r^ " ■ '' /<«? , -'■■"■l. 7< 1,,,., I<'l'\ ^ - V) ..■A „.'l"' (/."' .,,"" ,».•' „, '' %"■ l..'J'' .'.(> I'l lIllnlKl t^^<;^ iv.>j«v|' * •^ • |.„,i w ilii.iiii ^ / 1.. sciMuiiouV-"- ^ v.,,..,,,^,,, „ ji, I ^_ 1 '' Miisrni M. :m> KO / UahJiniil . ISl I'lriiiilillx- 2 THE NET IN THE DAY. h h\ Black, of the Upper For!, who knew well the delight with which they woiilil be hailed before leaving. I heard from them with much grief of the death of the esteemed and valued missionary, Mr. Weitbrecht, called very suddenly hence, but we doubt not that to him it was a call to sudden glory. This grief was qualified by the good tidings that a bishop was about to be consecrated for Sierra Leone, making the third in Africa, our own two at Cape Town and Sierra Leone, and Bishop Payne, of the American Church, at Cape Pal- mas. To these we may almost indeed add a fourth, as the congregations in Egypt and Abyssinia fall under the spiritual jurisdiction of our own bishop at Jerusalem, and it is strange to notice, in connexion with this, that the first bishop of that see should have died and been interred at Cairo. O that we might, ere long, see an opening for another on tlie eastern coast at Rabba, where Dr. Krapf has so assiduously laboured, or hear again of a bishop of Hippo in the north, as in the days of old ! I found many up at the Lower Fort to say farewell, and to see me off. After some little time had been spent in getting the supplies from the store, and other preliminaries, the canoe was at last launched into the water. It had been decorated, by the kindness of one of my scholars, with such colours as could be pro- cured. It bore a mitre painted on the stern, and on the reverse side a representation of the union flag. At the bow there was, perhaps not in very strict keeping with the above, a rose and a duck : for the latter I might have substituted the dove with the olive-branch, THE NET IN THE BAY. hnd I known of it in time, but it was done to surprise me, and the more familiar object was naturally enough selected. We passed very quickly down to the Indian set- tlement, where I had promised to breakfast, and see some persons on business. We were very deep in the water, although, after all, we had left behind som.e bags of flour and [)cmmican. This of course somewhat retarded our progress, but it was necessary to carry supplies for the homeward journey, as no grain or other provision could be furnished along this comparatively unfrequented route, and for the same reason my own personal luggage was reduced within as small a compass as possible. A tin box, containing my robes and a few articles of clothing, a waterproof leathern bag with some other ne- cessaries, and a very small box with papers, letters, and two or three books ; this was all that I could carry for so a long a journey. The buffalo-robe and blankets for my bedding were spread out in the centre of the canoe, and with a pillow at my back, formed my seat for the day. The canoe itself was a large one, a canoe du nord, as it is called, measuring twenty-nine and a half feet sur la planche — more than thirty feet all over. It had been built for me during the winter at Lac La Pluie, under the superintendence of Mr. W. Sinclair, chief factor there. I spent upwards of an hour at the parsonage with Mr. and Mrs. Cochran ; saw their son and my own pupils under his care in their asylum, to which they h«d fled for refuge from the waters. I was rejoiced to find them in good health, good order, and good spirits. Saw an invalid, apparently far gone in consumption, Samuel b2 I If. ^;- i 4 THE NET IN THE BAY. Tate, who formerly superintended the mission farm at the settlement. Arranged for a supply of pemmicau for him during my absence, but scarcely thought that I should ever see him again on earth. After joining in prayer with Mr. Cochran and family, we parted, and I left our kind friends. My good sister had accom- panied me so far on my way, and I left her with more pain than usual, feeling that more anxiety than on any previous occasion would devolve on her, from the late flood and the dilapidated state of my own buildings. She is, however, willing to encounter all, and when she saw that the hand of God seemed to beckon me to- wards Moose, she never for a moment sought to stay me. Many followed me to the canoe ; on the bank, Pigwys, the chief, and some of the otlier Indians, were assembled, to 'iliake me by the baud and give me their best wishes, when I jumped in and took my seat, and we proceeded rapidly on our way. The mouth of the river was soon reached. As we opened upon the lake, the heat was very intense, the sun beating upon our heads with great violence. There was every appearance of thunder all around. I had ex- pected to meet Governor Colvile on his return from the Council of Rupert's Land, which had been held at Nor- way House. We missed each other, as it turned out, by very little, as he must have entered the river by the northern branch, while I left it by the southern : he reached the Lower Fort that evening. We passed the mouth of Brokenhead llivcr, but did not call in, as I was anxious to press on for Fort Alexander, fearing a change of weather. There is a school at Brokenhead »?^ THE NET IN THE BAY. 5 River, supported entirely by the Rev. W. Cockran ; it has now eleven children, and a school-room nearly built. I wished much to visit it, but found it impracticable. As I passed, I was reading " Ryle's Sermons to Children," and felt the desire that something of this stamp might be translated into the Indian tongue, their simplicity and plainness seem so calculated for useful- ness. But, alas ! they are still too advanced for the poor Indian — the bread must be broken into much smaller crumbs for them. I thought of and prayed for the little ones, when looking in the direction of the school. that there may be children of the living God among them! I was reading, during the rest of the day, an interest- ing lecture on New Zealand, by a young missionary and friend, the Rev. Ralph Barker. The substance of the lecture I had heard him deliver before his departure for New Zealand, when he was giving me some temporary assistance at All Saints' Church, Derby ; but the lecture, in its printed form, had only just reached me, and I perused it with deep pleasure. The words of the ener- getic bishop of that diocese, which he there quotes, struck me much : " The solitude of this country is one of its greatest charms — the solemnity of its forests." This I shall now feel for the next month increasingly. I was glad that we had held on our way, for as the sun declined, the north wind increased, and we found it impossible to round the Point du Grand Marais, afid enter the river Winnipeg. "We had, therefore, to turn backwards a little, and chose a bay with a stony beach of a few yards breadth, and above us a wooded bank. r5i 'I i1 I THE NET IN THE BAY. I Here we had our first encampment — our first evening worship. We then retired to rest, grateful for having crossed so much of the lake. Soon after we came to our resting-place ; a boat passed in the opposite direction, in full sail for the Red River, and encamped a little dis- tance beyond. It proved afterwards to be that of Mr. R. Mackenzie, chief factor, on his way from Fort Alex- ander to the settlement, where he is now going to take up his residence. Singularly enough, we had once met before under almost the same circumstances, on the lake, when I was making for the mouth of the Sascat- chewan, on my way to Cumberland, in 1850, and he had just come from that river, and was going to Norway House ; on that occasion we crossed each other, and encamped not far apart. June 29th. — The wind continued high during the night; the tent was on the beach, and the breakers came up close to it. To me it was delightful, reminding one of the sea- side at home. How different to hear the same sound in one's own house during the month of May ! The naturalness of the plashing noise on this occasion, made all the difference. During the night I once or twice got up to be sure that the water had not really entered the tent ; I was, perhaps, the more wake- ful from the painful associations of the previous month ; but it was not this alone, for the wind from its present quarter generally raises the water of the lake many feet, and the men expected that it might enter during the night. All, however, remained tight, and the morning was lovely, though the white waves were visible beyond the Point du Marais, plainly showing that it was impossible THE NET IN THE BAY. to proceed. This gave me a quiet day, and such a rest was no little pleasure after the uninterrupted business and some little anxiety, of the last few months. I had, too, a companion along with me, whose name might almost have induced one to attempt a narrative in Homeric verse, Mr. Hector ./Eneas Mackenzie, who had asked permission to go with me to visit his father, at Lac Seul. From him I heard much of the scenes of Bear Lake, and the Coppermine River. He was one of Dr. Rae's late expedition to the north in search of Sir John Franklin, and wintered with him at Fort Confi- dence. Very different the degree of cold which they experienced, 72° below zero, from the intense heat of yesterday. I had, besides, a pleasant crew. My own personal attendant among them was one accustomed to the route over the plains to St. Peter's, by Pembince ; this journey he has accomplished very frequently and rapidly, and is one of the best travellers in the country. From him I heard much of that route, its dangers and difficulties. His father had been one of the Dease and Simpson Ex- pedition in 1836-9, so I gathered up a little of the occurrences of that earlier trip to the Artie regions. All my men are Protestants, including one of Canadian birth, who speaks French as his native tongue. All knelt with me on the shore this morning, after we had sung a hymn, and read the 1 9th Psalm, and bowed be- fore that God whose arm is still over us, and whose glory the heavens are still declaring. The wind remained in the same quarter all the day, ,so we kept in our shelter. I occupied myself with an ! ;J ^ i, }• 8 THE NET IN THE BAY. v Il Ogibwa grammar and a little German, and the time passed rapidly on. A few Indians were at no great dis- tance from us, and from them we obtained some stur- geon and catfish, which added a little to our supplies. They had a nice encampment on the other side of the bay- and had caught as many as thirty sturgeon in one day in a seine net. June 30. — We started soon after three o'clock, the wind having fallen. After rounding the Point du Grand Marais, it again increased, and, with difficulty, we passed within the Red Deer Islands, and ran in upon a sandy bank, for breakfast. During this time it again mode- rated, and we made the mouth of the Winnipeg River, though it was siill a head wind. We soon reached Fort Alexander, about a mile and a half up, where the Hud- son Bay Company's flag was quickly raised in honour of our arrival. Mr. Isbister, who was in charge, was absent, having missed me the morning of my leaving the Red River. He had gone from the Lower Fort by canoe, in hopes of seeing me, while I had driven down by land to be in time for our early start. I saw, how- ever, Mrs. I. and their family. I heard from all a favourable account of the leading Indian, the brother of the late chief, Sheesheepens ; the latter I knew well, and had formed a good opinion of him. The brother took me to his grave, near to the coffin of his father, which was elevated on a stage. The survivor has only one son, and he promised to give him up for education. I had some conversation with him, and undertook, if they could secure twenty children, to provide a teacher. His grand-daughter was in his THE NET IN THE BAY. 9 arms, his daughter having married a baptized Indian. The baptism of mother and child, and the marriage of the parents, are mentioned by the Rev. R. James, in the narrative of his visit to IsHngton, in May, 1851.* I was much more pleased than I expected with the place ; I hear that potatoes, wheat, and barley, can be grown here, of good quality. Macdonald, one of the Com- pany's servants, to whom I spoke on the subject, does not doubt that the Indians might cultivate to some ex- tent. We had passed a large num.ber of them assembled together at a point below the fort, on our way up, who had been engaged in a Metawin feast. How sad that this should still go on, when they are so near all the privileges of the Gospel at the Red River I I saw a number of children, amply sufficient for a large school. Sheesheepens (the Little Duck) is to give me a definite answer on my return ; of him and his family I have good hope, and should they ultimately be brought in, the device of the duck on the canoe would appear almost emblematic and significant.! Immediately after leaving the fort the scenery be- comes pretty, and improves as you advance. We soon came to a lightening place, round a ledge of rocks, and, afterwards, two portages were made. To me, noticing it for the first time, the extreme ease with which two men carried the canoe across, was surprising ; they rest it on their shoulders, but relieve themselves of a part of the weight by holding with their extended arms a string passed over the top of it. While this was going * Church Missionary Intelligencer, vol. iii., p. G6. t Tdx &v yivono fidtnis ivvSicj. rivi. — iEsch.Sep. Cont. Theb.398. /■■: I', ;1 it I 1 ' ^ . m ^ ■ til I 1 11 ? 1 I m .1 f L ^1;^} . '* ' H" i •i(', "^ 10 THE NET IN THE BAY. il li^ 1 M on, the others were carrying over the pieces, more than twenty in all, with the paddles and tackling, each having for the most part, his accustomed load, and vying with each other in speed. Their pace is generally a gentle trot, which they esteem easier for themselves. We then drew up for the night on a beautiful granite rock, but my own tent was by a bed of roses, with a carpet of grass. We did not encamp till after eight, having had a long rest at midday at the fort. It was an exquisite evening, and the water silvery around us. Juli/ Ist. — We are now entered upon another moiith ; the Miskwi-minigisis, the raspberry, or redberry moon, that from which we had passed being the strawberry, or heartberry, moon, Otei-mini-gisis. On rising, I found that a mist was going up from the river to water the '.Tth ; this was in itself refreshing after the late heat. We soon came to the Silver Falls, which are surpass- ingly beautiful, and made two portages. We break- fasted at a lovely spot, the mosquitoes were rather more numerous here ; as yet they had been comparatively in- Tiocent, but now they began to force more on our recol- lection the closing words of Horace, " Non missura cutem, nisi plena cruoris, hirudo." We passed one fall and then came to the two of the Great and Little Bonnet, after which we reached the Lac du Bonnet. We made seven portages during the day ; how laborious for the men ! The longest, Le Grand Bonnet, was between half and three-quarters of a mile, and was made at midday, with the sun directly over our heads. While waiting for the men, I contemplated imT THE NET IN THE BAY. 11 lone of the falls for a long time, very beautiful it ap- (peared to the eye, but, as one gazed at the volume of water and the granite rock, one could not separate from it the idea of danger. One wonders at first to find that poetry seems scarcely associated with this scenery, one feels the country not to be poetical, yet the question occurs, Why not? In natural objects the river Win* nipeg often presents scenes which equal those of the Rhine, yet what is it which clothes the one with in- terest, which the other lacks ? Is it that human ele- jments are necessary for the creation of poetry? that we must have man and society in some shape, or if not these, the remains of man ? something to tell that life has once been there, the ruined chapel, or the old castle walls ? An exception to this may be found in the Songs of the Wilderness, written by the Bishop of Quebec, to beguile his solitary journey to these parts ; but the Bishop himself acknowledges the paucity of materials, and has increased the difficulty to any who came after, having exhausted the few subjects which present them- selves, the rose, the falls, the water-fowl, the voyageur, and the Indian. In the .vening it was full moon ; this adds much to the beauty of any spot. Its effect in increasing natural beauties, we had experienced some years ago in visiting Baden ; it seemed to invest with double beauty the am- phitheatre of hills, in which the town lies embosomed, and, with the music around as the day declined, the scene remains imprinted on the memory almost as one of enchantment. Here we had something of a similar pleasure, though with none of the objects and associa- ^f 1 12 THE NET IN THE BAY. (I i tions, which cluster around almost every spot in the Old World, nor any melody except the scanty music of the birds; bat the delight was the extreme stillness of' nature, which rather turned the mind inwards or up- wards to God. We had the noise of the cataract on the ear all night. We had still the oaks with us, but shall soon lose them, and only have the fir, pine, and poplar. We saw during the day some gier falcon and owls. Some ripe straw* berries were brought to me at the portages by the men. We had only seen one stray Indian fishing since leaviiig Fort Alexander . July 2nd. — We passed along a small lake with some picturesque islands. On leaving it we had two routes practicable ; the one chosen was that by the Pinawa River, as having two portages less than the other, and also as having less of current against us. (The name Pinawa, is derived from a verb, which means it is slow, calm, or gentle.) The two first falls on this route were pretty but small, not above twenty feet wide, and per- haps, twelve high. The third was a continuous sur cession of cascades, and altogether a long portage. We had then a beautiful gorge, not above six feet wide, through which the water passed over the solid rock. The luggage was removed, and the canoe taken up with great care by the men, some tracking with a line, others pushing it up from behind. It was one of our pleasantest days and very exciting. The course of the river was very meandering and narrow throughout, in some places a mere opening between rocks ; all this made the scenery extremely pretty. •in. ) THE NET IN THE BAY. 13 Our encampment for the night was m keeping with [the day. It was at what might be called the Trosachs, la defile where three diiferent channels met, falling down lover a ledge of rocks. "We were perched up on a high rock, and all around a circle of wood ; the water was bubbling into the basin beneath. There was a slight appearance of approaching rain, but it happily kept off, not a drop has yet fallen since we left. Being so sur- rounded by trees, we had a great number of mosquitoes buzzing around ; we tried to smoke them out of the tent, but in vain, and all suffered much ; some of the men declared they had not slept more than half an hour. It was a spot to be remembered for the beauty of the [scene, had it not been so full of our tormentors. Juli/ 'Srd. — As my slumber was a little more disturbed Ithan usual, I awoke the men myself, and we made an [ early start. We had one small portage, and then fell [into the White River from the Pinawa. Made another portage, and breakfasted at its extremity ; we have now seven to look forward to. After making two beautiful I portages, we reached the largest and noblest fall, the Slave Fall, so called from a Sioux woman who had been carried off by one of the Saulteaux, and is said to have escaped and drowned herself here ; another account re- I presents her to have been thrown in. I passed to view it from a nearer point, through a tangled wilderness of roses, wild pea, raspberries, and strawberries. At many of the portages we had seen large beds of the orange I tiger lily, with columbine, Solomon's seal, and other wild flowers. The scenery is here very noble, the river broad, and ?^' i i' I A'l 14 THE NET IN THE BAY. i (i I II M I V: only in places contracted, where it draws near to a it is thus like a succession of lakes. We kept our course I onwards until very late, but were at last obliged to put in. The sun set very brilliantly, a rainbow had given | warning in the morning, yet there had been no rain, and it still looked as settled as ever. We had not been I long ashore, before we saw the curling smoke on the opposite side, where we descried some Indian tents, The air was so clear that though it was like a broad lake, the call of our men was heard across, and almost | directly the shrill voice of the Indian sounded in reply. A canoe soon made for our side, and the Indians brought ] us five sturgeons, after which they sat round the fire to chat with the men. On finding out who my companion I was, there was a general shout of recognition, as they all traded with his father, and had of course seen him ! often as a boy. On returning after many years, changed! in appearance, having been within the Arctic circle, their wonder and admiration were much raised. Many an | Indian interjection was uttered, and they seemed scarcely able to satisfy their eyes, as they gazed upon him. We were still a considerable distance from IsHngton, much more than a Sabbath day's journey, and I deter- mined, therefore, to give up all idea of reaching it even I for a later service, and to enjoy a quiet Sabbath here. July 4th. — Sunday. — A lovely morning of great heat, After breakfast we prepared for service ; a large oil cloth was stretched across the trees behind, so as to form I a partial shelter from the rays of the sun. Here we were ten in number — my eight men, my companion and myself. Robes were of course dispensed with in our THE NET IN THE BAY. 15 open air services. All I could do was to make my tra- velling attire a little more episcopal with apron and bands. The men also were in their best capotes, so that the reverence due to the day was marked, as far as our circumstances would admit. Some of the Indians had come over, and remained close to us throughout, gazing in wonder ; it almost reminded one of the court of the Gentiles. At the commencement of service we were disturbed by the dogs in the tents opposite, bark- ing after their masters, but after a time this ceased, and, on my looking around during the lessons, I saw two dogs which had swum across the whole width, and, lying down at their master's feet, now perfectly con- tented. "What a noble temple ! In front, an amphitheatre of wood and rock ; with the exquisite foreground of still water, of which there was a large expanse, larger than many of the smaller English lakes. "VVe were ourselves on a rocky eminence, under a thickly wooded bank. Our singing was good — almost every voice joined. We sang, " Frequent the day of God returns," and " Jesus shall reign where'er the sun." All joined in the responses, and this made a delightful service, very happy and heavenly. I preached from Romans x. 17, 18 : **So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." The latter verse we had had in the Psalms for the day. I dwelt on the manner in which faith grows by hearing, in natural things as well as in grace, and on the word of God as the food of faith. V ].{l a;.! i"i ■i V'i -^ ■ m \ \'i a n 16 THE NET IN THE BAY. I pressed upon my men the necessity of their kbour and co-operation : they could often spenk to the ear more than I could. I also begged them to tell the Indians that we had all the service in which we had joined in their own tongue, that the Prayer Book was now completed, and many hymns appended to it, be- sides which, we had the greater part of the Gospels. I asked them especially to bless God for the un numbered mercies of the week, and to pray for the good work. What myriads of creatures tenanting the water around ? what swarms of insects in the air over- head ? what thousands of animals that roam over this vast country ! Now surely it was the wish of that great and good God who upheld all, that it should be trodden also by the foot of His redeemed peojile — that the spi- ritual seed should multiply therein, and cover the land .' Let us pray that the Indian might worship with us, not alone in the outer court, but brought within the fold, uniting with us in heart and voice. I expressed my wish that our little canoe should be called the Rose, the emblem which she bears on the bow. With the profusion of that flower scattered all around I had been much struck, yet there is the absence of the delicacy and rich fragrance of our own graceful varieties ; and it occurred to me, that such is the Indian still — roaming over the land, and numerous in particular spots, yet still the wild rose. O may we not hope to introduce the beauty and bloom of the flower, when cul- tivated and placed in the '* garden enclosed?" may we not hope that they may yet become as the rose of Sharon or Damascus of old, bearing the bud, and blossom, and I i !" -'' It m i' i. if THE NET IN THE DAY. 17 full flower of abundant grace ! May the little trip of the "swift messenger" hasten on this blessed consum- mation, that ** the wilderness and solitary place may be glad for it, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose." After service we parted into groups. I gave my own men some tracts and books. H. A. INIackenzie read some passages, in Ogibwa, to the Indians ; James M'Kay read to me some hymns with which he was familiar, from Dr. O'Meara's Prayer Book, and, after leaving me, 1 heard him soon singing with the Indians, one of the hymns which we had sung in their own tongue. I heard .also a little girl say her alphabet and read ; she was one of the children who had received some teaching at the White Dog. While I wrote and filled up my journal, these varied sounds were going on around : the hymn in Ogibwa, some hymns of our own, and the reading in groups. Among the females, who had come over and remained near us during service, one was mentioned to me as ill, with the request that I would see her, and, if possible, prescribe. It was, I fear, a case of internal abscess of the breast, and I felt I could do nothing to- wards her cure ; a little food was given her, being all that was in my power. We also heard that a little girl lay dead in their encampment over the water. So much need have they here, as everywhere else (if they but knew their need), of comfort, and the visits of the minister of God. I had full evening service, about half-past five o'clock, with my own little party and three or four Indians near us. Having the two beautiful psalms in the service, c }^^ y\ in ., r I !• 'F^l t h4 i ; i'l' li (ivlj. w iV' »\ m 18 THE NET IN THE BAY. r I "The Saviour on the Cross," and "The Shepherd Saviour," I took the latter and lectured on it. For profit and growth in grace and scriptural knowledge, this, in my opinion, is the most useful employment of a double service : to preach on the one occasion a direct textual sermon, and on the other to lecture or expound. More of scripture is thus brought successively before the congregation. It was a refreshing subject to look at the good Shepherd, as guiding us even in the wilderness. After service I went over in one of their small canoes to visit the encampment, and to bid farewell to them all. There were two or three tents. I entered the largest, and there found the son of Wassacheese, sitting in soli- tary state. I was about to sit down where I saw some articles expanded, and where at first I thought he had prepared a seat for me, but I found, on a second look, that these were the idols of the chambers of imagery, the instruments of his art as conjuror, and the feast spread out for the spirits. I asked him to explain his magic art, which he stud he would if I would give him sf ne flour. I gave him instead a little tobacco, and then heard his tale. He showed me, as a special favour, that which gave him his power — a bag with some red- dish powder in it , he allowed me to handle and smell this mysterious stuff, and pointed out two little dolls or images, which, he said, gave him authority over the souls of others ; it was for their support that flour and water were placed in small birch-rind saucers in front. I said I hoped he would, ere long, give all this up ; that I had baptized already Jummia, as noted a conjuror as himself, now John Sumner, at Fairford, and I hoped THE NET IN THE BAY. 19 he would soon follow his example. He said he might, if in his power, but that it was a trust delegated to him by others, and therefore he could not relinquish it at will, and spoke on in a rambling and mysterioijs strain. He acknowledged that he was continually the victim of fear ; he dreaded the influence which others might have over him even at a distance ; a like influence he imagined he could exert over others, by means of his conjura- tions. I told him that we knew not what fear was, and, through the interpreter, besought him not to reject the ofi'er of the Gospel. It was a sickening sight, and proves how low man may fall, when left to grope in the dark. What a debasing picture ! to see him, otherwise a good- looking man, sitting on the left side of his little altar, pride and fear apparently his predominant passions ! The altar was raised a little on some Indian matting, and on it, ranged in order, the bags and images, and all the instruments of his craft. O, what is man without the grace of God ! I then left him with some sadness, and turned to the females outside, endeavouring to arrest their attention, by telling them that it was to the benevolence of a Christian lady in a far distant land, that they were in- debted for the offer of instruction at Ishngton, and that on her account I was peculiarly anxious that females should be taught and embrace the Gospel. I saw very many children ; one little child, who had been at tiie school, showed by her manner, in her eye and counte- nance, that education had done something for her. When I asked her bv what name she was known, siie said at once, Elizabeth ; she was then absent from the c 2 V'r Mf .pi I '■' 'J! k ii ;^ 'v'V m i ,j 't I f'' Ml ■i! n mmmmmmm 20 THE NET IN THE BAY. school for a little, but was to be returned, they said, in winter. On my way back we saw the ground where the conjuror professed that they wanted to sow and culti- vate ; it was indeed a very small garden (kitigan) for agricultural purposes, and I rather fear that he had re- tired hither, and artfully professed a desire to plough and settle, that he might be removed from the sight of religion, and establish himself at a distance from Is- Hngton. We then paddled back, the remembrance of the con- juror and his arts being the only r«;;nful incidents in the day. It recalled to mind a powerful sermon, by the Rev. H. Melvill, on the Ephesians burning their books of magic. When will such a day arrive in our own land, when those who " use curious arts will come and con- fess and show thtir deeds." Their natural fears, re- garding the state after death, and the confidence which they repose in the European, betrayed themselves in their earnest desire that we should undertake the inter- ment of the dead^child, which they were willing should take place either on the spot or at Isli\ti.';ion. I repre sented the difficulty of removing the l-cr'y to such a distance, and recommended them to select a spot at hand, assuring them that we would readily have given them any assistance in our power, had it not been that we must start at an early hour on tho morrow. As the sun declined the mosquitoes again canie out in clouds : we tried the effect of a little gunpowder in my tent, but in vain, and there was httle sleep for myself or any of the men. Jidi/ 5th. — Arose early, at four o'clock ; a little cloud THE NET IN THE BAY. 21 was rising opposite the sun, which the men said must be watched. It mounted very rapidly, and soon ended in a heavy but short thunder-storm. On its clearing off we started, a little before six, and proceeded on our way, delighted to find it cooler than for many days. We reached the large falls called Les Chutes de Jacob, where the Indians came up with us, and assisted us across. We kept onwards and made another portage, the last but one, and passed the mouth of the English river. This would have been our direct route to Lac Seul, but we kept onwards to reach Islington, our course in this way forming a sort of delta. The scenery was here very pretty, increasingly so as we neared White Dog. We were in great hopes of reaching it this evening, and from the last portage, where the water was bejiutifully still, we started, paddling at a very rapid rate. We kept on until after three o'clock, when the darkness compelled us to look round. Heavy clouds were rising behind, but we hoped to keep ahead of the thunder-storm which was following close upon us, or that it might pass to the side. But it seemed to take, on a sudden, another course, and, as it were, to meet and encircle us. We had the choice of running to the side, where the ground seemed bad, or of crossing an opening which lay before us. We thought we could do this, but it proved rather a bold venture, as the wind caught us suddenly, and placed us in great jeopardy. The men paddled as for their lives, but the storm was so loud that they could not hear any word of command, nor could the guide pass any direction to the steersman. There was no direct swell or wave, but the canoe rocked and plunged, and ,? . \ I m !I ''^!^ i-:l n u i hi^lM mmm ■ms? .JJ_(..,..l JJWiJUi. 22 THE NET IN THE BAY. ii the paddles could not catch the water ; at times they struck the air, at others were too deep in the wave. They stretched the tarpawling over the canoe, and under it I lay, with my companion, as flat as possible ; but the wind managed to insert itself underneath, and caught it like a sail, so as nearly to capsize us. We then held it down as tightly as we could with our hands, and quietly awaited the issue of the storm, which was almost like a whirlwind. The men acted noblv, and exhibited great presence of mind ; to paddle in time, with mea- sured stroke, was vain, — it was a stroke at a venture as they could, the water reaching continually to the very gunwale of the canoe. The pitching was very great, and the fear was that the wind would overset us. We might have made the land when the storm was just coming on in its violence, but they feared to turn the bow ever so little, lest the storm should take us broadside, and the canoe become unmanageable. We had sometimes wished to sail hefore the wind, when the weather was calm through the previous week ; here we were indeed run- ning before it, but much faster than we desired. We kept as straight a course as we could, and flew over the boiling surface, and our delight was extreme when able to reach the shore. It was the only occasion, through- out the whole journey, on which I had the impression of danger, and the men acknowledged that they had themselves shared in the same feeling. The joy of the evening was in proportion to the peril of the afternoon ; the rain continued for a time, but all was forgotten when, standing beside the blazing fire under the tall pines and poplars, we talked over the deliverance and traced it THE NET IN THE BAY. 23 throughout, and then joined at prayers in ascribing praise and blessing to God for preserving us, for keeping us under the shadow of His wing, in the hollow of His hand, in the hour of danger, JvJy 6th. — I never enjoyed a night more ; no mos- quitoes, and, in consequence, after the fatigue and peril of the day, and as we had but a short distance to go, no arousing until six o'clock, when we found it a beautiful morning, with a cleared atmosphere. All were in spirits, the stroke of the paildle went on well, and after a few points we could discern the buildings in the distance. A little more brought us to the bank, where the good catechist was waiting to receive and welcome us. I do not wonder at Mr. James calling it pretty — it is so indeed ; a grassy slope and eminence, with beautiful and picturesque openings around ; more of the scenery of the Rhine than anything we had seen by the way. The details of the first formation of the Mission are already before the public, in the narrative of Mr. James.* That the Indian promised more at that time than he has since performed will not appear surprising to those who know the Indian character, and therefore all would stand prepared for some little disappointment in the car- rying out of the plan. Allowing for this, I see little more than might have been anticipated. It may not have answered every expectation, but I cannot think of giving it up. It is the only spot for the purpose on the route, and must always be a great rendezvous for the Indians. It is a beautiful position for a church, and a tower or spire here would itself be a kind of beacon, and might * Church Missionary Intelligencer, vol. iii. p. 62. i' H m 1 r !r( .';l: i ; u 24 THE NET IN THE BAY. serve to attract souls to the sound of the Gospel. If a few are gained here, the work will spread . It is on the high road to Canada, and that is a great advantage. It has the munificent support of that Christian lady, whose heart has been stirred up to care for the poor Indian — it has her fervent prayers, and those of many Christian friends at home. I found the Rat Portage chief here ; he had been awaiting my arrival for some days, and was on the point of leaving. He will not join the new way him- self, but will encourage the Indians to settle and culti. vate. He expressed his sorrow, that the Indians had promised too much last vear, and feared lest we should relinquish it in consequence. I told him that we should still proceed on though with few ; that I hoped yet to see a church and a spire, and trusted he would aid in building it. He left soon after with his son ; he is a fine looking man, with a good and mascu- line manner. He had his flag flying on my arrival at his tent below. I saw afterwards Wassacheese and an old Indian, and talked with them for some time, but I am most hopeful of Littleboy, who is not here at present, but whom we shall see by the way. The following is the touching account of him given me by our catechist. On paying him a vi:>it the other day at his encampment some way off, and speaking in his tent, Philip had said that he would tell them something of God's word, and then pray ; that, although with those who never prayed, he must pray ; that he would not think it safe to pass a night without prayer; and that God was indeed good THE NET IN THE BAY. 25 who preserved those who prayed not to him. A little after this, Philip overheard the wife of Gwiwisens (Lit- tleboy) saying to her husband, " We must really think of this way, and be baptized soon, as the time is very short !" Such was their conversation, and from it I look forward with much pleasant anticipation to seeing them. I determined to remain a full day hero, and to start on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning. This will give me time to confer with Philip Kennedy, whose labours have been very praiseworthy. My hope is to build a church soon, and to offer to take the wood of the old Roma.* Catholic building at a valuation.* Twice already has the place been attempted by the Roman Catholics and Wesleyans ; this would make me more anxious to give it a fair trial. Philip must have laboured much to get the house ready ; an additional room had been prepared for my reception. It is this which often causes me pain, the fear that I give trouble in my visits. Thus Mr. Hunter had carried out jome improvements just before my arrival at Cumberland, in 18.50; Mr. Cowley had just finished a new room in the winter of that year, and here much time and labour had been given to the completion of an apartment. I was glad of the opportunity of ex- amining my things, fearing some damage from the rain yesterday. I found that the wet had got into the box containing my robes, so that they had to be spread out and dried. A few of my papers had also suffered a lit- tle, but all was soon set to rights and repacked. While * This wood has since been purchased from the R. C. Bishop at Red River. i i ' ; I ■-(', i ff^; m >: M t 26 THE NET IN THE BAY. w ' 1 i-Pl it U occupied in my room, I heard the children, through the wall, singing the airs of Helmsley and Aston Sandford, and I felt at once as if I were at the Red River, among those who pray to God and love the Saviour. I wrote home, giving the account of our safe arrival, as I was anxious to leave the letters with Philip to be forwarded to the Red River. This consumed some little time, and I then went to hear the children read and sing. They sang Bedford, the Old Hundredth, St. Augustine, and others, to Salteaux words — the hymns at the end of Dr. O'Meara's Prayer Book. We then mustered^for evening prayers, and we sang the 23rd Psalm to Bedford. I did not think when lecturing on it on Sunday, that I should hear it so soon from the lips of Indian children. The translation of the verse, " Though I walk through the valley," &c., is very sim pie and happy : — " Neboowen nengah kuhbekaun Kah nengah kootunseen, Jesus 00 shahwanjegawen Nengah wahsashkahgoon." And the last verse is equally expressive : — *' Mahnedoo ne shahwanemek Akoo bemahdezyaun ; Kagate, nengah buhmeetahwah Peenesh koo nebooyaun." The version of the Advent Hymn, " Lo ! He comes," is not inferior, the first stanza ending very beautifully, " Hallelujah ! Oogemah pe tuhgweshen." m\ J ' ■/ THE NET IN THE BAY. 27 I am glad that the word "hallelujah" is thus re- tt.ined, and rendered familiar to the Indian ear. I hope ilso that the word '* Jehovah," which occurs at the com- lencement of the 2'^rd Psalm, will take root in the game way ; they are words which ought to be iricorpo- rated into every tongue. We then sang a h;,mn in Inglish, and joined in prayer in that tongue, closing nth the Lord's prayer and the benediction, in Salteaux, irhich I could just pronounce, the children following md taking Up the words of the former. It was a pleasing jcene, and gave me a lively hope that a good work was rooting here, the fruits of which might appear at the last day. I do not feel anxious to encourage them in immediate profession or promise. The one couple so jften referred to in Mr. James's journal, "Wassacheese md his wife, have applied for marriage and baptism, md, as they have been anxious for a year, I scarcely feel justified in declining. The other case will meet us by the way, perhaps the more hopeful, Littleboy with his Iwife ; they have a fine family of sons ; may their pro- geny become the nucleus of a future church. vh'lj/ 7th. — After a delightful night's rest under a jroof, I arose for the morning'^? work. Held morning 3rayers, and then, in presence of those assembled, bap- [tized Wassacheese and his wife, by the names of Abra- Iham and Sarah, with James as their surname, after him Iwho laid the foundation of the mission. I also united Itliem together in marriage, I spoke to them after- jwards in private, urging them to build and farm, and pave a settled habitation. By this they may gain an [influence over other members of their family, which is a .* : H 1^ » '■ I < , ^', 28 THE NET IN THE BAY. n •ill \ ,.. II large one. I spoke next to the five girls of their kind benefactress over the sea, and asked them if they had any message to send by me. They sent their thanks and promised to pray for her. Distributed among them some Sunday clothing, with a handkerchief and comb each, in the name of their kind friend. I next saw the| seven boys, and gave them some clothing, with a red | belt for Sunday vvcar. I then conversed with the catechist regarding the| affairs of the station. Its distance from the settlement, and inability to support itsolf by fishing, have led to a I much larger outlay than could have been anticipated; but all would be abundantly repaid, if it might become ultimatelv a centre of light and civilization. It was now i arranged to take Philip with me as far as the encamp- ment on English River, where we expect to find the' Indian party awaiting us. We therefore prepared to start soon after midday, taking some refreshment at a very early hour, so as to secure a long afternoon. AVe started soon after one o'clock ; Philip Kennedy in one canoe, with three of Littleboy's sons, and another] Indian to paddle him. The scenery was beautiful around, indeed the situation of Islington is just what would be chosen at home for a romantic country-seat; the walks cut through the woods would be picturesque, and the boating in every direction would afford constant 1 amusement and variety. We soon arrived at one portage, and that a long and tangled one. It would have required the sappers and] miners to clear a pathway, and open up sufficient room for my large canoe. One of our men preceded with an THE NET IN THE BAY. 29 xe, cutting to the right and left, both the overtopping ranclies and the smaller trees. One thought at once jof the highway of the Lord — of the method in which he path of the conqueror was opened of old, and the call |to the messengers of the cross, " Prepare ye the way of the Lord." The Lidians helped vigorously in car- rying our pieces, which expedited us greatly. At the farther extremity we entered upon a little river, with a very narrow channel. On getting to a wider spot, emerging into something of a small lake, the canoes being near, the men began, almost involuntarily, to race against each other, becoming as they proceeded, very eager in it. It was animating to us all ; for a time we kept up and had hopes of victory, but the Lidians on their own element at last prevailed. They were, how- ever, light with only five, while we were heavy with ten and a full cargo. We had soon the current with us, de- scending a tributary of the English River into that river itself, which we crossed, and arrived, about seven, p. m., at the encampment, where Littleboy was, with a large party around him. The cheerful old man soon descended the bank to welcome us ; I had seen him several times at the Red Kiver, but his good natured and lively countenance is always refreshing. He was at the time engaged in pre- paring a canoe for the settlement. We were soon ashore, when I at once proceeded to their tent, a very large one, roofed over with boughs, and bearing an ap- pearance of much comfort within. I entered with Phi- Hp, but the interview was not very satisfactory ; there was an air of constraint about the old man. r H ';■ ill; I 30 THE NET IN THE BAY. I ,i \ I very different from the spirit in which he had hitherto i spoken to Philij). Our only way of accounting for it was from the number assembled, and the fear of] speaking openly before those who still opposed Chris- tianity. Here were six or eight families all under one roof ; each hau a sort of allotted portion of the long tent. I spoke to them, after Philip had endeavoured to draw them out, and said how eagerly would they have received me, if bringing tidings regarding their bodies, that henceforth they could be fed and clothed without fear or want of any kind ; how much more gladly ought they to receive one, with tidings for their immortal souls. I then returned to my own rters, perhaps a little disappointed ; but I had not oeen long there, when David, one of the sons, followed, and begged me not to think anything of what had passed ; that he had been urging his father to accept the oifer, and embrace the present opportunity. I had, in consequence, another interview with them, when all was more open, and with- out disguise ; some of the others had left, and we were now more alone with those willing to listen. I wish I could describe the scene ; there was the old couple and their four sons ; in addition, there was an old Canadia:), Baptiste Cameron, a grey-haired old man, very shrivelled, and with but scanty clothing. He had been taken to Canada when young, and had the offer of education there, but had requested to be allowed to return to this territory, to bid farewell to his friends, and see once more his old haunts. It was then, he said, a line country, with abundance of the larger animals, and he THE NET IN THE BAY. 31 preferred remaining amidst plenty, with the excite- ment of a hunter's life, to returning to civilization. As life ebbed he had repented, when too late, of his choice. The old man was anxious about himself, and had freely given up to Philip the badges of his former faith as Ro- man Catholic, some relics and crosses which had been given him by the priests. There was, besides, a tall old man, who goes by the name of Rabbitskin, and who seemed disposed to embrace the truth. David now pressed the matter much on his father, and all took u different course ; he urged the shortness of life, and said that for himself he wisTied to be baptized, but would rather await my r turn, that he and his wife I might at the same time be married and baptized. We talked to them for some time, and prayed with them. 1 then determined to baptize on the morrow the three, the father and mother, and Rabbitskin, to leave David and his wife for my return, hoping to find them either here or at Islington. I was pleased to find that Mr. Mackenzie, of Rat Portage, had urged David to become a Christian, and also that Mr. Sinclair had addressed them on his way, advising them to settle and pray. July Sth. — Awoke very early, but found that PhiUp was stirring before me. I dressed, and we then went jdowutothe Indian tent; they were only just getting [up ; told the candidates for baptism to come to me in a j little time. The morning was rather threatening, with [liigh wind, and it almost disconcerted my plan of bap- itizing them, as in early times, by the river side. But, on hinting this to my men, they pointed at once to the lee side of the promontory where we were. I stepped Ri 1 < M H, { I r'l ; iii 5' • 11* 1 .)} 11 H 1 I 32 THE NET IN THE BAY. down, and there found it without a ripple, with a beau- tiful ledge of rock. I then assembled them, that we might have prayers, and, in presence of them all, pre- pared to administer the rite of baptism. The three had come over neatly dressed, partly in some clothing which I had brought them. Littleboy in a new capote, Rabbitskin in a new shirt and hand- kerchief. They stood by my side. We sang together, *' Come, let us join our cheerful songs." After which I read Acts x. 25, to the end, and th( a joined in prayer, especially for those to be baptized. I next ex- plained to my own party what was about to be done; that I had purposely read the chapter of Philip and the Eunuch, that they might see how similar Gods Church and people are in all times. The Eunuch's knowledge was probably not great, but the Spirit had touched his heart, and he was baptized on the river side, and went on his way rejoicing. So the knowledge of those before me might not be great, but they seemed to have a sense of sin and weakness, and a desire for the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. I then put the quostions to the candidates themselves in a short and sim])le form, whether they would give up the devil and all his works ; whether they believed in tho great and good God — in His having sent His Son to die for us — in His having given His Holy Spirit to put into our hearts new thoughts and desires. Pliilip then offered up a short prayer in Salteaux, giving the sub- stance of our baptismal prayers. After this, taking Littleboy by the right hand, I led him to the river's brink, and, with its water, baptized him Adam, in the ^f', f ,'!^: <;>■ THE NET IN THE BAY. 33 name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Next his wife, Elizabeth, and then taking the tall old man in the same way, I baptized him Philip. The two former will be henceforth Adam and Elizabeth Landon, after the 'J name of onr generous and large-hearted benefactress; the latter, Philip Kennedy, after our worthy catechist, to whose simple faith and earnestness some souls will, I doubt not, trace (under God) their everlasting happi- ness. Such was the simple, yet impressive, rite on the banks of the English River : do I err in calling it an apostolic and spiritual service ? What could be nearer to the circumstances in the Acts ? Here were two, with whom Philip had often talked of a Saviour ; their sons had joined him often in his canoe, and gone with him to Red River, and the one son urges the father, the wife irgcs the husband not to delay, but to seek now admis- sion to the fold. There is the rock on which we stand and the water of their own stream, with which I sprinkle their heads. Yet the vcrv stream bears a foreiain name, and is called by them the English River — telling whence come to them the life-giving tidings of the Gospel. Ap- plying this in a heavenly and spiritual sense, may we not pray that " all things may live whither the river Cometh V We have the river of the name here, and our remotest missionary, the Rev. R. Hunt, is on an English River in the north. Bearing the two in mind, may we not pray that, wherever conmierce leads our countrymen in this land, the river may not only carry the traffic of the country, but also that more precious freight, the enduring riches that fade not away ; that D 'AJr^iK I 'ii i :f|i '■', 1 m ;l ^1- 11 '>i' ■• A 1 I it 34 THE NET IN THE BAY. the rivers of the land may not only bear the name of Britam, but may possess something upon them to re- mind all of Britain's glory, the word and worship of the living God. Enjoyed afterwards our morning meal, and ordered some pemmican to be given to the Indians near us. I arranged, finally, all matters with Mr. Kennedy, and went to the large tent to say farewell. There I received the grateful thanks of poor old blind Baptiste Cameron, for the little supply sent to him ; he lay with but a scanty covering, a little rabbit-skin coverlet spread over him. I then inspected the canoe which was being built for Mr. Mowat, of the Red River, himself a very liberal contributor to this Mission ; he has already given thirty pounds towards it, and this by way of instalment on fifty pounds promised. His anxiety was that it should have been farther off, at the Three liivers : of the ad- vantage, or the contrary, of that position, we shall have better means of judging as we proceed. I then found my men ready for a start ; the wind had moderated, but it looked very moist, and we had only advanced a few miles, when rain compelled us to put ashore and raise our tent. Here we rested for the day, and I did not much regret it, as it gave the opportunity of reviewing the evening and morning's work in quiet and silence, and of completing the journal up to this point. Amongst those we had just left, one Indian was very desirous to iiave his child buried at Islington : the child was already interred, but he wished it in our keeping in death, as it had been partly under our training in BBTSESTTTTT" THE NET IN THE BAY. 35 life. I promised that it might be transferred there when the spot for a burying-ground was selected and fenced. I cannot but regard all this as settling the mission at Islington. It will give us several families for it ulti- mately, with, we may hope, in time, houses and farms there ; it will give many children for the school, and therefore I hardly look upon its continuance as a doubt- ful subject, yet all in dependence on the good hand of God. In addition to our own flock, there are some of Roman Catholic baptism ; these, as baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, we must accept. A few know something of the distinctive points of the two systems, and, convinced o^ their previous errors, have given up their crosses and relics, as in the case of Bap- tiste Cameron. To the children we would not yet say much on the subject, until they gain knowledge, and come forward at a futuio time for confirmation. I have told Philip to prepare a list for me of the baptized per- sons, marking those of each class, against my return, on which occasion I shall look forward with much interest to the baptism of David and his wife, and the two or- phan children who are under the guardianship of the old Pelican, now Philip Kennedy, and who are to be committed at once to our entire care. Is there not here a little to encourage hope ? A school at Fort Alexander, and a strong missionary station at Islington, would mark out the country as Christian ; they would be landmarks on the way from Canada, and at the entrance to the lake and the Red River. The Indian may still pass to his hunting: ground, but he would look to these as his d2 '. '■t 1 .;': mm I 1 :. II i II tfi M ' V i m m 36 THE NET IN THE BAY. centres of rest and peace ; he would leave his wife and children there, near the water of life and the ordinances of God : he would look for his autumn crop and harvest there, to add to the rice which he might find else- where. It would hecome his farm, his settlement, and village. Bearing on this, I have often wondered what is the Indian idea of an ot^na or village, and have obtained but httle satisfaction. In Canada they may understand the term, but not here. As illustration of the in- adequacy of their ideas of it, I may give the case of the son of Adam Landon, who visited the Red River lately for the first time. On seeing the old Salteaux school (now abandoned) below the Indian settlement, he thought it must be the mission station ; in passing and seeing the houses of the Indian village, he con- cluded this must be all ; but on seeing the spire of St. Andrew's, and the large population, the tower of the Middle Church (now St. Paul's), and still higher up my own buildings, the schools and Upper Church, his astonishment was unbounded. He was taken up higher still to the Upper Fort, where, from the walls, he could command a view of the country. He commenced count- ing the houses visible from that spot ; he declared that he counted up as far as one hundred, and then gave up in despair. This was, of course, before the late flood, which swept away so many of the dwelhngs of the French Canadians and other settlers. This may shoM how large the Red River, or, as I always feel we should call it, Selkirk, appears to their eyes ; how it is to them a very metropolis, as large as London might^appcar to THE NET IN THE BAY. 3; •1 ii one travelling from a village or country town in the north. We found the totem grc^ually more prevalent as we advanced. Adam Landon, to whom reference has often been made, was of the Sturgeon totem, while Philip Kennedy, the old Rabbitskin, was of the Pelican tribe, and another who had arrived belonged to the King- fishers. In the sequel, the Suckers and the Cranes will appear. These badges are used almost like the heraldic emblems on the shields of the Crusaders. In sketching their route, and marking it out for those who may be desirous of following them, they would represent a sturgeon on the bark, with smaller sturgeon around to mark out the whole family. I would only add, that the name English River was given because this was the original line of approach for the Hudson's Bay Company ; they passed by i*. from James's Bay, when there was opposition in the country, while those of the North- West Company came by the other route along the Canadian lakes. On this account the names along the latter to Lake Winnipeg are mostly of French origin. Perhaps the same reason may account also for the name of English River in the north, where Mr. Hunt now is, as it is the same with the Churchill River, and would form the direct line from York or Churchill to those penetrating the country. One curious link connecting distant points : I after- wards ascertained, that while we were enjoying our first Sunday services in tlie open air, the Rev. R. Hunt was similarly employed in the north with the few travelling with him. He mentions in his journal having met some I'/: V i': 'I mm mmm mm '11 { 38 THE NET IN THE BAY. wIjo knew the hymn tunes, having learned them at Red River from others. Thus the same melody was rising up from spots several hundred miles apart. Has not this in itself a hallowing and consecrating influence on the land ? ""■l ii n i ia m i fnim i inMi i i iSimmtt ■ MIIIILJPW ILL. CHAPTER II. " Rose of the wilderness — an emblem choice Be thou, the rose of Sharon to present : could this desert as the rose rejoice, Spread sacred bloom and breathe immortal scent !" SONGS OF THE WILDERNESS, BISHOP MOUNTAIN. Hi'] I ;j; •A Bill- 11' i t '■] n '\i HRt i^mS i ', }t ifll 'Sis *" : -f ■^1 .:' ■ ,1 I ;:■) Second Sunday— Lac Seul— Height of Land — Thu-d Sunday— Osnaburgh — Arrival at Martin's Falls. July 9th. — A doubtful morning, yet after breakfast we prepared to make a start, and were cheered at inter- vals by a little sunshine. Advanced to the first portage, which we found a perfect bush ; the two next rather shorter ; at their extremity we dined. Delighted to think no more portages for the day, all was plain sailing. We were now four canoes in all, the Landons having over- taken us. The eldest son of old Adam, and his boy, were in one small Indian canoe, his wife and another female in a second, and old Philip Kennedy in a third. Many eagles were seen during the day, and large flocks of pigeons. Regarding the former, my com- panion gave me some accounts from his own personal observation. In the neighbourhood of Peel's River, 40 THE NET IN THE BAY. I I the numbers of them are very great. At some spots on ihat river there are fish, which spring up at intervals and appear on the surface ; these the eagles devour, pouncing upon them from above. He also said that when out shooting, if the geese happened to fall at a little distance, or on th^ opposite side of the river, five or six eagles would in a moment collect around tlie prey to feast upon it. So true is it that " wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered to- gether." The dra2:on-flv, too, was numerous where we dined. I had noticed it on Sunday morning, in the little pools near the tent, but I had not fully understood its nature. I had watched it for some time toiling and labouring, 1 scarcely knew why ; this was while occupied in disen- gaging itself from its inqia case, the forepart was free, but the case still enveloped the hinder part of the body. At last it gained the day, and, emerging in its new life, " Positis noYus exuviis nitidusque juventa, ' it flew aloft into the air. The rocks are often covered with the old cases, from which they have escaped, the coflfius, as it were, from which they have passed to a resurrection life.* There was, also, a smaller fly of a similar descrip- * For a very accurate representation of such an escape' from the pupa case, and a description of the phenomena of the change in the dragon-fly, c[uote(l from Reaumur, the reader is referred to two very interesting vohunes on «« The Life of an Insect," pub- lished hy the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, espe- cially vol. 1. from p. 294—308. asjiUiyji iWH THE NET IN THE BAY. 41 tion, very numerous, witli six small feet and beautifully [loni; antcnnoe. We reached our destination with the clouds gathering around ; the fire was scarcely kindled, and the tent pitched, when heavy rain set in, and continued unin- terruptedly all night. Jvhj lOM. — Another variable morning, yet we left our encampment before breakfast. We were able to carry a little sail at intervals, almost the first time ; often had we cut a mast, but as often had to throw it away, the wind falling off; now we really raised the mast in its [)lace, after Homeric fashion, and went be- fore the wind. We had some heavy showers, but we made, notwithstanding, good progress. The three canoes were in company, with their little birchbark sails ; they carry a roll of the material with them, like a roll of carpeting, and of this they expand as much as suits their purpose, and they can pull it in according to their wishes. No other proof of living beings along the road, yet a few memorials of the dead. We passed two graves, or dead-lodges, as they sometimes call them. These are, at times, large, and full of bones and remains of the departed. The two we passed were such, one on each side of the river ; their shape was that of a triangular pyramid of wood, around the grave ; some *^imes they :re of this snape, at others, oblong. We made one remarkable portage, called the Skah- beechewun ; shortly before we had passed the spot where formerly stood a post of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany, called by the same name, and in which several at the Red river had spent their time of service. The fall \l |! N ' » I' n t ,■ 3 ^( h. ,l H f I St M ' I ^i' 42 THE NET IN THE BAY. is so called from the rapid raising and falling of the wave, which extends to some distance around it, and causes an unpleasant motion of the canoe. It has a pretty portage through a tangled bush ; we found a few strawberries, which were refreshing. We were soon off again, and made one of our best runs afterwards ; the men were in full force, the prospect of the Sabbath's rest gave them spirit ; the varied nature of the route the last few days had been a relief. We had had clouds and sunshine, some heavy showers, a rough sea, and then a glassy stillness, the sail for a few hours, and then the paddles. All too, knew their work by this time; Linklater was our active bowsman, behind him Caleb Anderson and Robert Peebles, were ready to watch the sail, and hoist it up if we could catch a breath of wind to help us onward ; behind them was my place and that of my companion ; next to us were James Mackay and James Wishart, my own immediate attendants ; they, with David Halero, were the three on whom, as the strongest and ablest, devolved the carrying of the canoe ; with the last-named sat Pierre Robillard, our Canadian, whose especial task was to look to, and gum, if neces- sary, our little bark each night ; and last, not least, was our steersman, old Jacob Daniel, who received from all the praise of the greatest knowledge of the route, the greatest skill in rapids and falls ; this praise he fully justified, though now in declining years. Reach after reach we now passed with fresh beauties ; at times we were land-locked, and no power of divina- tion could imagine how we were to find an outlet ; then we opened suddenly upon a little lake, then, perhaps, a THE NET IN THE BAY. 43 larrow river passage with abrupt rocks on either side. ?he men, when all paddling together, sometimes called jfor one of the boat songs, challenging the Canadian to [raise it, but his answer was generally ** Les avirons chantent assez ;" — the paddles make music enough ; and so it was ; when the water was deep and calm, there is a pleasing sound in the full well-measured stroke, which makes the canoe bound, as with a spring, over the surface, like a steed over a level plain. We saw this day higher ground, with more of gentle I hill and undulation. The wood too, was very varied; [at one time we had in view, willow, poplar, fir, pine, oak, cedar, juniper, and birch. On we passed iu search of an encampment, as we had now become somewhat fastidious. We wanted a nice spot for the approaching Sunday ; our bowsman scarcely seemed inclined to stop at all ; spot after spot was passed and rejected ; the sun was already below the horizon, but the sky was still gilded with his beams. At last one spot was selected as suitable for our Sabbath rest, and near half-an-hour, or more, after sundown, we brought up. Thankfulness filled every heart in looking back on the week, the deli- verance of the Monday, and the mercies of the other days. It had been a light week for the men from occa- sional rest, so that none were at all over done ; it had been refreshing to me from the interest of the baptisms. Where we landed there was a little moss covering parts of the rock ; among it the men eargerly selected each his couch, and my own tent backed the whole under a tree. It was a lovely cloudless night, and gave promise of a fine day. .1 1 ;i. ., T !;* i'H 41 THE NET IN THE DAY. July Wth. — Sunday. \V^c were not deceived In ouri expectation ; it was, indeed, a beautiful day, inort yileasant to the feelings than the previous Sunday, the heat being less intense, and tempered by a gentle breeze. Of the two scenes that of tlie last Sunday was, perhaps, rather the prettier, the view being more ex- tensive ; but though the area now before us was a little | smaller, and the foreground nearer, yet the position ot the encampment itself was much prettier. We were, too, more quiet ; the three canoes had come np ; Landnn and old Philip joined our service, the latter in his dean blue shirt and handkerchief, and the bright scarlet log. I gings which I had given him at the time of his baptism, They were the only individuals near us ; old Philip is remarkably still, and his voice you never hear ; he ap pears to be of a singularly quiet and guileless disposi- tion. Landon, his wife, and boy, and his wife's niece, are on their way to join her father, a great eanoe builder beyond '''■ i ;< 'I I ■ 46 THE NET IN THE BAY. Indians, to prevent one from passing through the land 1 1 During the afternoon I had a delightful ramble on the height above us, covered with a profusion of wild roses ; there was almost a garden on the top. Here, with the bright sun overhead, and the beauties of nature | so sweetly spread out at one's feet, I could scarcely re frain from singing, *' Let the wilderness and solitary place rejoice." I have a vague impression that there is I an anthem on these words and the adjoining verses o( the chapter; it seemed only to require the inspiration of the scene to have composed one ; I felt as if I coiilil sing on, verse by verse, to music of my own, in what j Tupper would have called "the ecstacy of being." In the evening we had service again on our rock, when I preached on thj subject of Prayer, as the mark of the true Israel of God ; considering why, when, aiiJ for what we ought to pray. The gentle breeze had now given way to an appearance of rain, but it kept off, and we closed our happy day. . t«alked with ^V. .an- don and P. Kennedy afterwards, through the inter prefer, and trust there may be the germ of life in thcni, the longing for better things, which may lead them onward. Juli/ Vlth. — TV'ewere off in good time ; much lielpcJ at intervals by favourable winds. Showers througliout the day. We made, however, rapid progress, and passed over four portages, and then the longest in this stage, p*^ the end of which we encamped in very lieavv rain, with deep meadow grass between us and the water. Juhj \\]th. — This morning the weather had a good deal improved. We were somewhat delayed, as the THE NET IN THE BAY. 47 jmen had to carry the luggage a long way through the grass and rushes ; one had to transport me the same distance ; to my weight, fortunately not very great, they had now become quite accustomed, as very often the canoe could not be brought quite up to the landing- place. We advanced, with help of the sailwind ; still heavy clouds around. We soon reached the spot called the *•' Three Rivers,*' where some had urged that the Station should be planted, instead of at White Dog. I did not, after seeing it, fee^ at all disposed to change, had it been possible. The situation here is pretty and riant ; it may have more ground adapted for cultivation, and would admit of a larger settlement, and may also command a better supply of fish ; but being off the main line of communication would be, with myself, an almost insuperable objection ; the outlay would be much larger. It is difficult enough at present to convey what is necessary from Red River, the centre of supplies ; if removed ^.uy farther it would be almost entirely beyond my own supervision. The Indians, too, })rcfer the other spot, and are much drawn to it. The old Indian, Philip, here left us, having attended us so far on our way. Often we had missed him for some hours, but we soon discerned him again, either perched upon a rock, or ste|tpiiig down with stately tread with his canoe into the water. Indeed, the co\uitry in so covered with water, that he could generally find out some shorter cut, and, as his bar' was no weight upon his slioulder, he did not mind walking with it over a neck of land, which would have been to us a long and heavy portage. He asked me at parting for a letter to his namesake at ;!'■: sr i;il ■f; vm 48 THE NET IN THE BAY. : e 1 Islington, that he might obtain some ammunition on Lis return, which I readily granted. One now remernbors, almost with a smile, how, on first coming up the country, we oftered the Indians money ; I had now learnt that this is to them jiractically useless. Thus the purse is left behind on starting for a journey, but instead of this you are obliged to carry a supply of more cumbrous articles, tobacco, powder and shot, with cotton and clothing, wherewith to repay any little ser vice rendered by the way. These constitute, in fact, tlie exchange of the country, and are the only acceptable gifts, The other Indians continued with us ; one docs not wonder that the young boy prefers this free life to school — very attractive to one who does not know the blessings of learning. They often brought us some young ducks, or other game. Their dogs, of which I imagined the Indians had sadly too many around their tents, were, I found, of more use than I was aware of, in scenting out the furs; yesterday, while we were rest- iu2 for dinner, they brouarht them three minks, and even this would, in itself, be something for them. We made our two last portages, not by any means heavy oni?s. Tliis completes the number of fourteen between Wahpahsemong (White Dog) and Lac Seul Fort, three before we entered the English River and eleven since. We soon after entered on the lake, somewhere al)()ut midday ; the weather had now become very beautiful, and we enjoyed the day's sail more than any of the pre- ceding. The views are pretty, the lake being hi every direction studded with islands tf picturesque appearance and outline. Whether the true name may be Lac Sal THE NET IN THE BAY. 49 or Lac Seul, seems yet an open question. Far rather would I have the latter, the solitary or lonely lake, and I imagine that a misunderstanding of the French may have led to the former name. From the Indian name, that of Lac Seul, would come at once, and this might easily be corrupted into Lac Sale, or, the Lake of Dirty "Water. I was little prepared for so beautiful a lake, or (" so large or so diversified. A little way on is the Manitoba, and then a run of a few hours will bring us to the Fort, our second stage. At dinner we found that our friends had abandoned one of their canoes, as being old and unsafe, and were advancing in a single one, in which were four indivi- duals, and four young dogs^, rather a large cargo. Two of the dogs were sitting erect in the front, and two behind, indeed, they understand jumping on shore, or taking their places at starting, as well as their masters, and seem to look around them as if enjoying the sail. We now offered to take their little boy into our canoe, as they were so heavy ; he seemed quite pleased with his imotion, and commenced using his paddle in his best style. Our evening encampment was the perfection of a resting-place, a rocky island, but beds nearly for each and all of us, of soft white moss, so that all had themselves to blame if they did not sleep as on beds of down. Not that a soft bed affords the rest necessary after a hard day's labour ; the men uni- ibrmly say that they get up from such unrefreshed, but when, as here, tbt hard rock is underneath the mossy covering, then the oack is well supported, and the whole Iramt; is invigorated by the repose. E m ' : I ^ •t '■' I 'li ! . * V ): I ill r,:i\ lii W ,50 TP i: NET IN THE BAY. M? F " ''? On the island, I noticed to the men, the mountain ash, which does not grow at the Red River, but which Mackay said was abundant on the Mississippi. It re- minded me of early days, and of its more common name in Scotland, the Rowan ; the berries were already formed, but colourless ; one can imagine their beauty on the trees amid the snow of winter, and the plentiful food which it must afford the birds.- July \Ath. — I was up before the dawn, and witnessed a glorious sunrise from the canoe. The wind was too scanty to fill the sails, and fell as the sun rose ; all were in good spirits at getting near the post. We passed through the JVIanitoba here, as on Manitoba Lake, a narrow pass connected in former times with their super- stitions, and called the Spirit's Pass. Near it an island was pointed out, where an Indian was hung for stabbing his master in charge of the post. Such occurrences are very rare, the Indians being for the most part much attached to those with whom they are connected. I only remember hearing of one other such case, the father of one of my own pupils, killed at Fort Kami)- hops, over the Rocky Mountains : the murder at Hannah Bay, to which reference will afterwards be made, was of quite a different nature. We breakfasted on one of the islands, which dot the surface of the lake. From it, one of the men counted, without any effort, thirty -nine visible to the eye. The total number on the lake must be very large ; reminding one of the Lake (towards Canada) of the Thousand Isles. * See the tree described in the Songs of the "Wilderness, p. 2J THE NET IN THE BAY. 51 Some, which lie across the more direct route, liave names given them, but old Pierre, who professed to know them all, after for a time enumerating them to us as we passed, was at last compelled to give in : we were half inchned to suspect that his powers of invention, rather than of memory, failed. From continued expectation, the fort seemed to re- cede in the distance. We threaded our way among the islands, changing our course at every turn. The paddling was very heavy from the intense heat ; we could scarcely catch a breath of air, but as we opened on each fresh islet, the cedars wafted their fragrance towards us. The Fort is so well concealed that one does not see it until within a few hundred yards of the house. \\e saw beforehand, where the old house had stood, the inmates of which had been almost starved out many years ago. Brought to the last extremity, they were about to draw lots for each other, when an Indian pro- videntially arrived with supplies. Nothing of the kind need now be feared. Mr. Mackenzie has a good garden, and raises a lars;e quantity of potatoes, besides other vegetables, turnips, cabbages, &c. Tliere are also eighteen or twenty head of domestic cattle, and all has thus a home look. We arrived before midday, and the flag was in a moment hoisted. Mr. Mackenzie was not himself at home, having left with his boats for Albany. From my being later in starting, he thought I might have gone by Lake Superior, and ^hould return this way. I hope, however, to meet him, e?i route. Mrs. Mac- kenzie was here, and it was pleasing to see the meeting •\t I ': £ 2 52 THE NET IN THE BAY. m ■M I of mother and son after a separation of thirteen years, She still felt as if she would have known him, although that length of time must have produced a great change at his age. I had one additional reason for survey- ing all at Lac Seul with interest, from hearing that Mr. Leith, I may say "my founder and benefactor," had been here for some years, before entering on his longer period of service at Cumberland.* The men had some idea of repairing the canoe here, as the necessary cedar wood could be had in abundance, indeed immense quantities of it are stacked up for burning; we at Red River should esteem it too valuable to apply it to such a purpose. "When I found that it might de- lay us two or three days, I determined to proceed at once ; I discovered that the votes were all on my side for going onwards next morning, and passing by the height of land to Osnaburgh. After dinner I addressed the Indians who happened to be around the Fort, through my interpreter ; they seem well-disposed, and not averse to listen to the Gos- pel ; they have been brought very low by want, and surely the Saviour is knocking very impressively at the door of their hearts. May they be brought in, if only at the eleventh hour. One old man who was anxious to see mc had not yet arrived ; his son spoke very nicely on his behalf. At evening prayers, I baptized seven * I was glad to find on my return, that a large portrait of him had arrived in safety from England. This it would be my hope to place hereafter in a college hall or lil)Tary, should 1 live to build one. I feel that his memory ought to live in the land. A legacy of Mr. Leith forms the endowment of the Bishopric. THE NET IN THE BAY. 53 children of those connected with the Fort, who had never before had the opportunity, and afterwards united in holy matrimony, the parents of three of them. At the time of their union, the couple had signed a contract in presence of the officer in charge, which was the only step in their power, and is admitted as legal evidence in the country. In the evening the old man arrived ; he is a sensible and rather superior Indian ; he says he will give the matter thought ; that he does not believe that there is a poorer country on the earth— that his countrymen go on plunging deeper and deeper in the dark — that they grope about in vain, that he would be glad to hear of this way, but that he cannot leave his hunting ground ; this, however, would not be necessary. He is very un- willing too to give up his medicinal art, which, he says, consists only in the knowledge of roots, not in anything of charms or conjuration. If we could believe his state- ment, we might be satisfied ; but it is very difficult to separate the things entirely, and to effect an actual divorce between the two offices, which, in the expressive- ness of the Greek tongue, are blended in a single word.* He says, that if a minister were placed among them, they would learn like other Indians, but not while they are only visited from time to time, at long intervals. The spot seems fertile, the potatoes extremely good, much better than those I left at home. The strawberries * The iaTp6fxavTis, or physician-prophet, JEsch. Eum. v. 62, and Supp. V; 278. See Blackie's iEschylus, vol. ii. p. 329, where he tnily ohservos that '* in savage tribes, the medicine-man is almost invariably the priest." ■■■/■■ 1 i ■f {l8£ift' '' '''^ *™ \i||, l . ■ , i- ' 'i ' "I . ■' ""^ ' ;' ■ " , .1 M iii'l: H i ^SP 54 THE NET IN THE BAY. • ,! lie at one's feet, quite thick, ripe, and ready for gatherinp;, and tlie size of some leads me to feel that, if cultivated, they would be much improved in character and flavour. White clover is also very abundant. There is a neat enclosed burying ground for Christians, and the Indians have a separate spot fenced in. One grave was pointed out to me with a deer cut out on a wooden tablet over it ; this is the ** totem" of the Indian interred there, the short epitaph over his tomo. JifJi/ liit/i. — I had been most comfortably accommo- dated in the Fort, but I awoke early, and called the men, and we were under weigh before the sun was much above the horizon. The morning was cloudless and beautiful as the preceding day, giving token of in- tense heat. Had a beautiful sail over the remainder of the lake, still studded with islands ; a fair wind all day, which wafted us on. The appearance of thunder in- creased towards evening, and after an unusual run of ten hours from breakfast-time, we rested at the Dancing Rocks, just in time to avoid the thunderstorm. We could thus imagine ourselves having a six o'clock dinner at home, and as we had a plentiful supply of white fish, and a good appetite from the lateness of the hour. Indeed, to tell the truth, we had met the Fort fisherman, soon after starting in the morning, and had possessed ourselves of the lion's share of his spoil ; not so bold a step either, for we knew it would have been freely given us, had he arrived before we left. My only loss in the evening and indeed throughout the day, was the society of my companion, whom I had left behind. Nor had we the little Indian craft to watch ; THE NET IN THE BAY. 55 all seemed more solitary, nor did we encounter a living being during the day. Juhj \idth. — The thunderstorm proved more severe than any we had yet had. It continued uninterruptedly — the bright flash — the loud roll at varying intervals, from seven at night until nearly daybreak, more than eight hours. The morning looked ominous and doubt- ful, and for some time after our start, we knew not what to expect; it eventually cleared off, and was a fine day. We had entered the channel connecting the two lakes, and willow and marsh, with the tall rushes on either side, gave little promise of good camping ground. In it we soon came to two narrow falls, called after some individual. Short's Falls, and some little way beyond arrived at two, called by the In- dians, the Cat or Lynx Falls ; up the former of these we hauled from the abundance of water, of the latter we made a portage. We passed another at the Pancake Rocks, and then entered the narrow ten-mile creek. It I is an extraordinary passage, like the most shaded and • crooked lane at home, with a little water trickling along I it. We had to keep on the look out and brush away I the willows ; and the turns were so sharp, that the canoe was continually brought up. At times tnere was some larger wood, the branches meeting overhead. " Qua pinus ingens, albaque populus, Umbram hospitalem cousociare amant, Ra^iis, et obliquo laborat Lympha fugax trepidare rivo." At other times, a large fallen tree lying right across the current, blocked the way and caused a little delay. Mr. IF I - ^s: • -Mt • I \ i if- wmmmmmn .v; THE NET IN THE BAY. I IV'i f i ''11 « t IK' f Mackenzie's boats, which had preceded us, had in a measure o])eiied up some of the difficulties of the pass for us, but one saw how easily, as in the days of the rival companies, a few strokes of the axe might effect- ually close up the way. We passed a little piece of water to which they had piveu the significant name of All Hands Lake, because all must pass through it going that route. We met in the narrows, an Indian with wile and child, he anxiously inquired whether we had seen Indians by the way, as he had just been to his beavertrap, and found the spoil abstracted. We had some portages, but small ones, and encamped for the night when 11 through the pass, with a high rocky hill on the left overhanging us. I expressed a wish to mount it before tea, in order to see the view. Two of the men readily gave me assistance, and on reaching the top we saw other summits rising beyond ; we did not, however, rest, till we had scaled the highest. From it we saw a great extent of country, Lac Seul lying quietly beneath. Osnaburgh Lake, to which we were approaching, was not visible from the hi^h intervening woods. As we descended, our own little encampment looked very pic- turesque from two or three hundred feet above ; the little rill like a thread, the white tent, the bright fire, and the column ot" curling smoke. We heard them hallooing to us for supper, but we surveyed all a])ove first, and then made a rapid descent, leaping from rock to rock. The spot selected seemed an especial favourite with the mosquitoes, and I anticipated the approach of night with some dread. I found, however, that my good at- tendant, Mackay, had given me up his mosquito curtain, : ^--»Jc »«fcjL3 Mi3 ( I THE NET IN THE HAY. 57 and placed it over my bedding. Of such things I am generally too regardless, but starting as I had now done, after the confus- ni of the flood, and when living away from my own home, the omission was less to be wondered at. Fortunately, however, the plague of flies was uot so great this year as in many others. To ourselves this was no common spot, and I was anxious that all should feel it at our evening prayers. We had now reached the boundify height, the margin from which the water flows in the two directions. We had finished the ascent, and were now to descend to- wards James's Bay ; the current would now be with us, and greater speed would mark our movements. This was pleasurable to us, but is it so always ? is it so in life ? Is it a joyful thing to all, to feel that middle life is upon them, that they have climbed the hill, and gained the summit ; that theirs is now only the decline, the swift and rapid current sweeping all to the grave? Yet why the difference? Ought it not to be a delight- ful thing to feel, that our face is towards Zion, and our feet drawing nearer to our eternal home. The height of land is an object of great interest in a country traversed in its whole extent ; it ought, perhaps, to be more regarded^' than it is in geographical instruc- tion. Attention is now indeed more drawn to physical geography, but in my earlier days, I only remember one who kept the physical features of the country promi- nently in view in public teaching — Professor Pillans of Edinburgh. Should these pages ever meet his eye, it may be a pleasure to him to feel that I thought of his training aud its advantages, when they were forced upon 'I s \- :r 58 THE NET IN THE BAY. I' ' ; H' ! me in crossing this distant and solitary height. It must, doubtless, be a gratitication to him in declining years, to find that the system, which he then pursued c()m|)ara- tivelv alone, has now become almost universal. The heights of land most immediately interesting to myself are that between Red Kiver and York, and this on the way to Albany, the one between Red River and Lake Superior, se- parating us from Canada, and a fourth between Red River and the United States, where to the north the wacers flow into Hudson's Bay and to the South into tho Father of Waters, the mighty Mississippi. Two others, of which I may know more hereafter, arc the ridge or backbone, separating the East Main from Labrador ; the boundary between this diocese and that of Newfoundland ; and the other at the Great Portage, or Portage La Loche, where the waters on the one side discharge themselves into the Hudson Bay, on the other, into the Arctic Ocean. I speak not of the Rocky Mountains, as form- ing the obvious and natural boundary between the At- lantic and Pacific. Our position has led thus to a digression ; but to re- turn to simj)ler narrative. I enjoyed, after all, a de- lightful night's rest. During the afternoon the mos- quitoes had been severe to a degree with me, and I had feared they might be still worse at night. The effect on my head and ears was almost like erysipelas ; all the in- teguments of the skin swollen and distended ; but once in my cage, I was quite free from attack. Towards morning it became chilly, and on getting up I was not surprised to find that there had been frost : the tent was quite hard and stiffened. Jiihj 17/ Ithick on the Ibis stage ; [luddy, but in these res [t brings yo jake. I hi Df the ])ort Ifarther thai and rushes, 10. It wa: }ut, finding Isisted him scaring the Advanced iwind was ag THE NET IN THE BAY. 59 Jvhj \7th.' — We left while the white frost was still thick on the ground, and soon made our last portage for fchis stage ; it was, too, our longest, very swampy and luddy, but not more so they said than usual, and only jln these respects sustained its eharacter and reputation. ft brings you to a creek at the upper end of Osnaburgh jftke. I had gone on as usual to see how the other end )f the portage looked, and should certainly have gone farther than was necessary, and walked into the reeds Mid rushes, had not one of the men come up and stopped le. It was next to impossible to discern any margin, )ut, finding where we were again to take canoe, I as- bisted him in lighting a fire, for the double pur[)ose of [scaring the mosquitoes, and of preparing breakfast. Advanced onwards on the lake, unable to sail, as the tvind was against us. It is so far like Lac Seul, in 3eing dotted with islands, but is far from being so 3retty ; it is much tamer, the wood not so prettily grouped, and much burnt. Its Indian name is, I find, ISwampy Lake, its French one, Lac de Sable, and now [the English name of Osnaburgh prevails, from what [date ur cause given I could not ascertain, perhaps of [the same origin as York and Albany on the coast. We had been rather struck at meeting so few Indians; Itowards afternoon we discerned some canoes, and [thought it might be worth while to paddle towards [them, and were more than repaid, as they had a good [Supply of ducks and dried fish, and were glad to receive linstead pemmican, ammunition, and hooks. There Iwere about five canoes drawn up on the beach, and, [perhaps, sixteen or twenty in their tents. Some time iiS i! .11 !•) . Ill ( \ '\ 'thy, m^. /» \'W. 1 ,1 ' ' '•' ''.I I I (■■ i IB m\ 1^ f '■ '* I j li '•I f 60 THE NET IN THE BAY. after leaving, a canoe followed us from among them; we pulled up to allow them to overtake us, tliinkin* we must have left something behind. It turned out, however, to be a young man, who begged to go with me to Moose, and assist by the way. I put it to the men, and, as they said he would be of use, I at once accepted him, and he stepped into the Rose, and began to paddle so eagerly that he deluged those near him with water, A little practice, however, soon brought him into a more measured stroke. I thought we should have been alone on the morrow, but this brings one Indian near us, I hope for good. He is the brother of the Indian whom we met by the way. We saw, during the day, the openhig by which Sir George Simpson entered the lake, when on his way from Norway House to Moose, some years ago. He left Lake Wiimipeg by the Poplar River, and passing through some intervening lakes, came out where we were. His guide on the occasion was my bowsman, Linklater : Sir George had himself recom- mended him to me for the office. We had now obtained a nice spot for our day of rest ; all felt how quickly the week had gone : may the sab- bath be like its predecessors in enjoyment to us all. July ISth, Sunday. — The sun had set behind a bank of clouds, and left us a little doubtful of the corning weather. The morning was fine, but suspicious, the clouds gathering towards the south. I took a delightful walk on the sandy beach to the side of the rocky point where the tent was pitched — a knger stretch of a walk than I could often enjoy on a r jcky island or a wooded landing-place. It reminded me of many a home beach, THE NET IN THE BAY. 61 ,■■■■',; n 1 ||p 1 Iti the :any a sandy shore in other lands ; it seemed pecu- liarly favourable to contemj)lation and quiet thought. |lt is not alone the aged priest in the Iliad of whom fit may be said, B^ 8 aKeujv Tra/ju, 62va. In his case, [the resounding deep was in accordance with his [agitated and disturbed spirit ; but here it was the [scarcely rippling surface of the lake — the gentle mur- [mur of the water on the sand, in harmony with the sacredness of the day. I returned, and soon assembled all for service. We commenced as usual in the air, but at the end of the Psalms we had to cliange, and continue it in my tent, which was of sufficien^^ size to contain us all, ten in num- ber. The thunder was now rolling around, and the rain heavy. We proceeded, notwithstanding, as far as the end of the second lesson, when I thought it better to desist and have a little break, as the voice could scarcely be heard from the down-i)our on the tent. We accord- ingly sat down, and employed the little interval in sacred music. We sang first — '* Though the morn may be serene, Not a threat'ning cloud be seen, Who can uudertake to say 'Twill be pleasant all the day ? Tempests suddenly may rise, Darkness overspread the skies, Lightnings flash and thunders roar, Ere a short liv'd day be o'er. ift nt * * * Dearest Saviour, call us soon To thy high eternal noon ; Never there shall tempests rise < 1 , (I J if Silt iM 'f-H t I. I ',; 1: 62 THE NET IN THE BAY. ^ ' To conce.il tliee from our eyes ; Satan shall no more deceive, We no more thy Sj)n'it grieve, But through cloudless, endless days, Sound, to golden harps, thy praise." And after it, Bishop Ileber's missionary hymn, " From (Greenland's icy mountains," which I had heard the men trying by themsehcs tlie previous day. It had now moderated, and we iinisliei! our service. Small was our cathedral to-dav, but 1 trust the spirit of prayer was with us. 1 was struck with the Indian, when we knelt down after tlic creed, falliiis; at once into the same posture. Even though an un- conscious worshipper, I wished him to be present, hoping for a blessing from the apostle's words, 1 Cur. xiv. 2.5, but I had given him no direction as to his be- haviour. May those words have their fnlf^ment in him ! I lectured on David's character, coupling the two views of the first lesson of last Sunday evening aiid this morning, David's conquest of Goliath, and David, overcome by sin, victorious over the Philistine, and con- victed by the message of Nathan. We then broke up, the rain having almost ceased. During the service itself, one could not but feel the force of the petition in the Litany, " From lightning and tempest, good Lord, deliver us," which we offered while the tlmnder was still playing around iis. An hour had scarcely passed ere all appearance of the storm had vanished, and I went again to mv beach, where, lying down on the sand, 1 read with great plea- '-': 'i * 1 THE NET IN THE BAY. 63 sure the little work of a dear friend and pupil, the Rev. J. ]\I. Rfindall,* entitled, " Jehovah, the Portion of his People." Often had we ramhled together on the sea- shore at home, and now these beautiful sermons from his pen were refreshing to me here — they were the words of a friend, though not from his lips. In the evening I continued our subject, and contem- plated David as a penitent believer — a growing saint — and upon his death-bed, from 2 Sam. xxiii. 1 — 5. There was now " the clear shining after rain," which the text so beautifully describes, and we held, therefore, our evening service in the open air. Jy/i/ \9th. — Started early to reach Osnaburgh House. The clouds were thick and heavy, but as the sun rose all were gradually wrapt up, and, on leaving our break- fast encampment, the heat was intense. We had there a noble island of firs, and in roaming among them I gazed vith admiration on the magnificeiit aisles find uaves formed by them. I could not but think that some combinations of them might fori.n a noble ca- thedral, had I them and the rich cedar-wood near me at the Red River. DoubtUss they muet have given the first ideas of what art has constructed for the worship of God. We arrived at Osoabiu'gh House about one o'clock, and were received bv Mr. M'Pherson, who was in charge of the Fort. It is on a sandy point (Point de Sable, the Canadians might well call It), with some neat buildings and pickets round, and a small burying ground * ronncrly Curate of Lowestoft, and now Vicar of Laiighani- liiUiops, Norfolk. i K I J ly. hi r i: ii ( \ I 1 ' 1- i 'M m^', : m I it i^ 'i jM :.l: '■' »ii >^ 64 THE NET IN THE BAY. N llll' fenced off. I asked to see his family, and in(juired whether all had heen baptized. He said he wished his youngest child to be baptized, and would prefer it now rather than on my return, as the little fellow had often such severe bleedings at the nose as to fill them with apprehension for his life. This is not unusual from the extreme heat of the summer ; on the hotter days some of my own men were affected by it two or three times a day. I performed the baptism, and also married Mr, M'Pherson to his wife ; they had never had the oppor- tunity, and, as the only substitute, they had signed tlie usual contract. His elder children, by a former wife, had been baptized, I think, by Mr. Barnley, the Wes- ley an minister, formerly at Moose. I felt very much in kneeling down with them and joining with them in prayer, and in hearing afterwards from Mr. M'Pherson the account of his desolate position. They never, he said, saw any one to speak to them of the word of God ; for his children there was no opi)ortunity of education, nor did his means admit of his sending them away from him to be brought up. The number of Indians con- nected with the Fort he stated to be sixty or seventy, perhaps fifty famihes — as many as eighty, he thought, at Lac Seul, taking debt (as they term it) or advances on their hunting trip. Of the tribe of Cran'^s he gave a favourable account, as anxious for a better way, ainl not unlikely to be brought in if approached. Some of his own men, who were anxious for baptism for their children, were absent, nearly all his hands being off with the boats, He wa? hirr'pelf engaged with those who remained in rebtiilulMg a largi.' store; the heat oi' TFE NET IN THE BAY. 05 the sun beating upon tliem had been so intense all the morniiiii:, that the young; men bad every now and then rushed into the water to cool themselves. I gave hopes of staying a little longer on my return, making it, if I could so arrange, my resting-place for the night, as one could not but feel an emotion of pity on seeing the family,, who were truly like sheep, not having a shq)herd. We were anxious to get on our way, and run at least one rapid, so we started soon after two o'clock. AVe were n;)w entering on the most excitino: and stirrini; part of our journey, to which we had been looking i'or- nard all the way as we toiled up hill. We soon came to one fall called liui^h's Fall ; there were many smaller rapids along which we were carried swiftly with tiie stream. At the fall itself we made a poitage, and I walked over with two of my lighter i)ackages. I had just diverged from the pathway to see the fall, when down shot the canoe into the very basin of the fall, as if sure to be ingulfed. All depended on good steering, the men at the bow and stern, and two strong padcllers, were all that remained in : on they went dij)ping and then rising on the breakers, at times hidden fiom the sight, and then re-Jippearing, yet all the while dex- terously avoiding the rocks (where one false stroke might have dashed the canoe to })ieces), and they were safe at the other end lor.i!; before the men had arrived with the heavier articles. This was our only j)ortage ; ^ve proceeded on with a noble current in oiu' favoin-. A\e passed many ripples, as the boatmen call them, or lapid eddies ; we crossed Deep and Shoal Lake, De.n-- 1 , 1 I ■ i J i' 1 :i '■1 ' ( •1 I I :':1 i Ifl ■ 1 1 '■\ I ■ I ■ ;;!! 66 THE NET IN THE BAY. tent's Lake, and thea took up our camping ground for the night. Below the first ripple we noticed, at a very favourable spot, a basket for catching tish, from which the Fort obtains good sup])lics. It is by such sputs that the Indians are continually found tenting in the summer months. I had calculated, before leavinj; Red Ri*er, on spend- ing the previous Sunday at Osnaburgh, so that I was not much behind my reckoning in reachiiig it on Mon- day. During the evening, I thought much of those whom I had just left : the condition of the Europeans at such posts is the problem which gives me much per- plexity. What can 1 do? How sup})ly their want! How meet their case as a part of those intrusted to me I Children growing up without sabbath worship — without trainin*! in the word of God. How sad! Yet to luul- tiply churches and ministers would be impossible. Xo Pastoral iVid Society could fully overtake them. Can they he promised an occasional visit, say for a month or two in a year? Even if this were attemyited, the o.l': season when our missionaries could well go long jour- neys, is the tunc when most of their people, as 1 now founi: are absent with the boats. This would, however be the problem for my successor, rather than myself My own especial work must be to occupy the Icadini: spots first, hoping that then some means may be devised by which the smaller spots and their neglected popula tion may be overtaken. Jvly 20th. — We started at half-past four a.m. The more we can accomplish in the cool, the better for lli( men. Made the longest portage in this stage betbre THE NET IN THE BAY. 67 breakfast : it is called the Smooth Stone. Here the caiioe, as well as the goodsj were carried : hy it, five falls were avoided. It emerges on a pretty spot ; a ll little creek or bay, with wooded knolls all around, and opening into a small lake, like Lowswater in Cumber- land compressed into a smaller compass. The bank to the very margin of the water was covered with the iris, or fleur-du-lis. Here Tom the Indian (the name by which we found he was called, though unbaptized) gave us a specimen of his knowledge of osteology. A small iVagment of a fish-bone was found, which he at once pronounced to be part of a sturgeon. Another still smaller piece of bone was shown him, which one of the men declared to be that of a rabbit : he laughed at the idea, and, without the least hesitation, pronounced it to belong to a musk rat. On such subjects, from their daily contact with them, there is no questioning their siii)erior intelligence. We soon reached the Coffee Islands — near them a rapid and portage, and afterwards a succession of ma- jestic falls, with a long carrying place. Indeed, from our breakfast encampment at the Smooth Stone commenced the finest scenery I have yet seen, rugged and grand aud broken. At this last postage we had seen fresh foot-])rints : in the morning we had found a paddle and net-pins, and a jjick-fish which had not been long left, leading us to suppose that Indians were near. We hoped, therefore, that we were on their spoor, as they would say in South Africa, and as the falls just j)assed arc great places for sturgeon, we expected to come in for a division of the spoil. Nor were we far wrong. F '> i' ,.i'; I r 1''^:^i i ''"1 1 f 41 iv« III! 08 rnr nkt in the bay. We ran one otlier beautiful ffill, at which I rem;uncd in the canoe, enjoying the motion and excitement much ; the men, all but the four necessary to guide her, walked round to lighten the canoe. After clearing it, we soon discerned an Indian tent, from which four men came ott' in two canoes. Two of them were fine, powerful, ekU'rly men, the others much younger. They had not been very successful, but brought us some dried sturgeon and a very little fresli, for which they got annnunition, &c,, in return. They had been to a distance, but had been frightened home. They reported that the Indians at Lake St. Anne's (between us and Lake Superior) had been fighfing together, and that twenty-two had been slain. Tliis we afterwards found to be an exaggeration, like all their war stories. The guilty parties had re treated in this direction, and, to avoid them, our friends had fled homewards. They were very j)Oorly clad, am! said that all the Indians in this district were very badly off. We had not left them long when the clouds gave token of hciivy rain ; indeed, at the last falls, the thunder had been rolling around, and adding its noise to the roar of the waters, but we thought it might pass off. The heavy droj)ping soon commenced, like lia.i- stones. We ])ulled cpiickly towards sliore, and taking shelter under the willows, raised the oil-cloth along the canoe by niea:!S of pules and paddles, and sr.pportin.; it at a little height so as to make a slo[)ing roof, we wtr; tliere comfortably protected, in something like the vino:i' of the Romans of old. Alter it had somewhat abated, we ran on for two hours, when it thickened again, am' THE NKT IN THE BAY. 69 mt the pealing came on afresh with redouhled violence. We encampeil, therefore, for the night, thiiiikiiil that, from our earlv start, we had made on the whole so good a (lav. The thunder was nearer to us than on Sundav, and now for some time we hav(> had it almost alternate (lays, as Mr. Cockran had told ns was the case the year of the previous flood in ISL"', Tiu- men, revertinp; to tiieir homes, did not forji;et to venund me that this was the first day of luiy-cwtting ui l{ed Kiver. Tlie time is there Hxed hy law, none UvUng allowed to g > out on tjie plains till the giw^u day, that all may have equal ad- vantage. IShould the weather he ns unjiropitinus with tliiMU, their first hivouac on the hay ground will be any- thing hut comfortable. Jif/j/ 2lst. — Started at early dawn. Sueet as is the breath of morn at any time, how doubly so to see a bright cloudless sunrise, after the darkness of the thunder storms of the ])revious day I Our course w.is along a succession of ripples, for miles, and swiftly were we borne along, until we reached a fall and portage, called by the not very poetical name of Cow Byres, called so, I believe, from the unvarying dirtiness of the portage ; the name reminded me, at once, of one of the falls of the Clyde, called Stone Byres, and carried me in thought to Corra Linn, and the beautiful scenery around Lanark. Scarcely had we left it when we came to another, which, as if to make the contrast more striking, was named Shakespcar Fall. We now wound round the base of a high hill, after being, apparently, under it, we went ofl', and after many a turn and bend, came close to its foot. The point of land 'f 1 : < m . I li. ( i i I i^ iJnl iii/: .'h 70 THE NET IN THE llAY. which we had thus rounded is, from its shape, called Spoon Point, we had then a continuance of ripjdes, aiul spun along witli great rapidity, with a fresh view every five minutes. We found here traces of heavers, a stick was j)ulled out of the water hv one of the men, curiously gnawed at either end, not cut or sawn ; on taking it up they all pronounced that a heaver had done it, hiit tiie actor we were not successful enough to find. To the hill itself, which is covered with trees and foliage to the very top, no name appeared to have been ever affixed. I found, from the whispering of the men, that some- thing was meditated, and one at last summoned up courage to tell me that it was the wish of all tl.nt the hill should henceforth bear my name, hut having alrcai'y a Bishop's Ilill, on the way to York, I thought it hotter to introduce variety. I therefore proposed that it should be called Rupert's Hill, and doubt not, from tlie tenacity with which they remember names, that it will long adhere to it, and pass from lip to hp. We passed on our right the opening which branches off towards Lake St. Anne's and Fort William, and then soon felt that we were beinc: drawn into an eddviiii; tall This current carried us to the Snakes, three very bcaiiti- fnl falls, with but a short space intervening. They are well worthy of remembrance ; we have seen notliin!? prettier hi scenery ; the middle one, ])erhaps, the highest, the first very long, extending over as much as a (luarter of a mile, and enclosins: one or two islands, The third comes down upon a beautiful quiet lake, like a home lake, bounded at the other end by a hill, which I am told we may reach to-ni2:ht. This fall has been THE NET IN THE HAY. 71 run by two of our men when the water was lower ; at present it is too full to admit of tliis. They tell the tale of an Indian who ran it and was upset, and broke his canoe ; notliiif: daunted however, and feeling; his pride wounded, he set to work at the foot, mended his eanoe, carried it up, and this time cleared tlie fall successfully. Were a name necessary to distinguish this one of the three, it might be called Perseverance Fall, hut to avoid a lik>' fate, we carried all three. The name seems to have been given very naturally from the tortuous serpentine course of the first. Below these falls, it is said to be a good place for sturgeon, which arc often speared as fast as the weapon can be used ; we made the attempt, but unsuc- cessfully. One perch was caught, another large one ran off, hook and all. We passed on, and, after rounding the hill, skirted the ridge of which it is the extremity. We entered the picturesrpie little Lake of ^Nliniska (Herry Lake), or, as in Arrowsmith's map, Miininiska, the reduplicative form signifying the abundance of wild fruit. Of this lake the ridge of hills forms the eastern boundary. To the eye they resembled much the undulations of the vine- clad banks of the Rhine, as they lav in the sun with the small brushwood down to the water's edge, I could almost imagine that 1 was looking upon the slopes, where we had seen the ripening graj)e. We were able to hoist sail witli a strong fair wind, and made the whole length of the lake in a few hours. 'Ihe range here terminated in by far the prettiest lull of the whole route, of the outhne of which we shall have every varied view on the morrow. m ! i i ,) ( i 1., [• :H;. ', :;■ i ■ ^ '1 1 II' I !' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 11.25 |5o ■^~ H^H ■tt I2ii 12.2 l!f lag ■— 6" % 0>. /'^^ # y Hiotographic Sdences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSSO (716) 873-4503 4.- iV ^ '^ <> o^ ^z^ . J • iff 1 ' ■ 1 M i 76 TIIK NET IN THE BAY. we were just in the surge, and it was a great risk to avoid the rocks in the way. It is marvellous how they remember tlie very stones on the route, and can calcu- late the depth of water on each side of them, so as to steer tiieir course accordingly. Thev call out to avoid a stone, from mere recollection, when there is no ap- pearance to betoken it, to the eye. They are, indeed, to them, as islands in a chart, and maj)ped out as care- fully in their memory. The channel here was very difficult ; our guide and steersman had been along this way before, and the others had to follow them impli- citly, but each decision as to our course had to be formed with the rapidity of lightning. One moment the word was "Paddle hard;" the next, "Stop her way ;" then, ** Haul her to the side ;" and then again all would paddle at full speed, with a dashing current. All was admirably done, and every stroke of the paddle furnished matter of discussion and much happiness over the fire at the rocky encampment below. It made all the difference having the labour and anxiety over this evening, instead of having it in anticipation for the morrow. Then came the stories of the past, connected with the scenes of the day, for the powers of imagination and memory seem to biighton here as elsewhere, as night approaches, and though there is the lack of public news, the tongue never ceases while the fire blazes cheerfully. One boy had been drowned in this very fall. His mother, with an infant in the cradle, had been with him m the canoe, it upset from the trunk of a tree, or other obstruction in the way, and all were thrown into the THE NET IN THE BAY. n water ; the mother and infant reached the land in safety, but the boy perished in the waters. At one of the other falls, they told of a bear seen two summers ago ; when the men gave chase to it over the portage, it at once took to the water, crossed right over and up the opposite bank, by which means it escaped its pursuers. We had also the story of an island, which we had passed, with a singular name. The tradition is, that some boats had on their way, some years ago, deposited some bar- rels of pork, as they thought, in safet}^ among the bushes, not doubting that they would recover it on their return. This is very often done in this country, and is called putting it en cache. In the interval, the trees on the island had caught fire, and their store was lost. The dismay of the poor crew, and the inconvenience to which they were thus put, may be imagined. The memorial of it is to this day the name. Pork Island. With these, and other such stories, the time passed on, and the hour of prayer was somewhat later than usual. July 2:ir(l. — The sun was as bright as on the pre- ceding day ; we had plain sailing the greater part of the morning across the Makukabahtun Lake ; it has but ail island or two, and is about eighteen miles in length. The banks were sandy and gravelly. The point at which we touched, after a long traverse, about noon, was very pretty, witli wild roses down to the very b(iaeh. It was termed Sutherland's Point, after one hi the Company's service, who on his way up the country with boats and property, was arrested by an early inter, and obliged to build a house and remain here, w 1 i '; 1 V [ i 1, . J '" i 1 1 '1 1 ' i I r i ^^ i! :1 ^ I 78 THE NET IN THE BAY. defending and supporting himself and party as he could "We passed the almost solitary island, called Favel's Island, about three o'clock, and rested upon it for some time ; then, leaving the lake, we quickly passed two pleasant falls, the Gloucester Falls, which introduced us to the lake of the same name, on which there was formerly a company's post called Gloucester House. From it we ran a more difficult rapid called Robertson's Fall, near whicli we fell in with a teut of Indians, from whom we obtained some white fish. They wished for rice in exchange, and were surprised when we gave them flour and pem- mican. Indeed, berries and rice, with what they may hunt or fish, are the chief food of the Indians of this quarter ; even the crews of the boats along this line of posts are chiefly fed on the country rice. Pemmican is not often seen, and is too rich at first for the system. Tom we found was already a sufferer, not from want, but from too great abundance. He complained of unknown pains and heaviness, and was unal)le to sit up at his paddle. The cause was too obvious ; he had eaten too voraciously, the first few days, of stronger food than lit- was used to, and so disordered his stomach. A swift current bore us onwards to what is called the long portage, a misnomer however here, though true at the time. It was given when the boats only went from Albany to Gloucester House, and it was the longest on that route : to us from Red River it seemed quite a short affair. It is a good portage, by which is meant cue clear of obstruction, and tolerably smooth and clean under foot. I crossed it, and on reail Ing the other end saw the canoe whirling down the rapid : it was 1 i THE NET IN THE BAY, 79 the le at [Voui t on jte a leant llean tlier I was shallow and rocky, and thoy had to pole c^own with all the luggage out. Tom did what he could in helping to get me wood, as we wanted a fire quickly to smoke out the sand flies, for whi(!h the ])lace is aotorious. They are about as bad, perhaps more insidious in their attack, than the mosquitoes. Jacob, who was at once our steersman and fisherman, asked me hero for a couple of hooks, and on obtaining them went immediately to work. With not more than two or tlirce throws of the line, he brought up two beautiful snlmon-trout, which made a delicious repast. This made our fourteenth portage from Osnahurgh, and brings us within twenty miles of Martin's Falls. J%ihj 2Uh. — Started in good time for our last day of portage work, in prospect of reaching the station, our fourth stage. A pleasant paddle down current brought us to the Mooswahkeeng Falls and Lake — the name Moo£3country Lake, as well as Moose River and Fort on the bay, would give sufficient proof that moose had formerly been abundant in this part of the territory. They seem to have been destroyed through the reck- lessness of those who hunted them, and hence the pre- sent poverty of the district. The men also pointed out the flower on which tliey browse, which still grows all around. The extremity of the fall brought us to the Long Kace, a circular rapid round an island, to avoid a ledge of rocks over which the water falls precipitously. I remained in to run the rapid, which I always did when ])ossible : the sensation to me was very pleasur- able, and, with the four trusty hands, I had no impres- sion of danger. A little below we came to the Dining I' ^ :1 m \\ i ; 1 •; m f; f^ h. i: H»t ' f t fflnMu '; ^JMJHJ i L ( 'F^^^^^H ( '^ ■i 1 > ^^^n , : l( . * I ( ^B''|i ' nh nH»ff< ', 80 THE NET IN THE BAY. Rocks, answering sufficiently to their nnmc, tlic whole portage being one of smooth rock. On the side the water boils as in a cauldron, having a very broken and rocky bed, and falling trom a considerable height. Of it our guide hacFhad rather too niucli experience, having once bien upset when running it. Two canoes were in company ; his own went right over, and with the force of the current he was carried a long way down, but was picked up by the other canoe at the lower end. lie sus- tained no material injury, but was bruised a good deal about the ribs, from i)eing dashed against the rocks when forced along beneath the water. It was a know ledge of these thinirs wiiieh made many anxious that I should have a second canoe. Had any {iccident haj)- pened to my owr I should have been put in extreme diihculty ; but to »iave had another, eiHciently manned, so as to keep up with us, would have doubled the ex- pense. The Big Fall, the last of any conserpicnce, was now in .'gilt, wheie all, therefore, carried most gladly. Thence we ran raj)idly down, with rapids and ripples at every turn, juissing over Bannock Falls, Flett's Fall, &c. Our only dillieultv was, that we were blind from excess of light, the sun shining on our faces, and caus- ing such a dazzling retU'ction trom the water, that the men at times could only guess their course, which, among rocks, was rather critical, AVe reached at last Martin's Falls, the Upper and Lower. Here we had only partially to lighten the canoe, and launch iier down backwards. It was then lloat.ed to an island in the centre : we ourselves crossed, where the water .vas wry Mr. I THE NET IN THE BAY, 81 impetuous and the footing slippery ; two of the men stood in the water hohUng a long pole, to give a tem- porary support to those passing over ; one then carried me across leaning on this as a banister. Their footing was, of course, surer than mine from practice ; but I trembled as I saw them carrying over some of the pieces, where the slightest slip of the foot might have been fatal. At last all was safely accomplished, and after leaving the island, on rounding one point, we dis- cerned the house. It is on a very high bank, and we were upon them almost before we were seen. Here we were kindly received by Mr. Ilackland, who exerted himself to his utmost in every possible way for our comfort. I found that, through the thoughtful kind- ness of Sir George Simpson and Mr. Miles, supplies were awaiting me. We had still a good stock on hand, I left therefore the greater part, to be available for our return ; indeed I have omitted to mention, that at each post on our way we had left both pemmican and flour, to lighten our canoe, as much as possible, of what would not be wanted until on our homeward journey. As my quarters were comfortable, and the services would be a great gain to those at the Fort, I determined to remain over tlie Sunday, instead of passing down fifty miles, '* secundojfitmine,'* this afternoon, and spend- ing it at a solitary spot. I had also great hopes that Mr. Mackenzie, of Lac Seul, whom I missed there, might arrive from Albany this evening wivh his boats. It is a neat small post, with a pretty view of tlie river, near the lower fall ; indeed, the noise of the two falls is G y JBM ■4 ji ■ ' ill i nil "T^ I i< 82 THE NET IN THE ^AY. like ft constant tin nder upon the oar. It seems almost a ])ity tiint the Ff rt should not have hcen somewhere higher up ; mniiv say tliat ahout the Jaheniet Lake would Jiave hcen practically more useful. As it is, the falls present a constant diiHculty, hoth in procuring wood and fish. One is certainly not safe alone in a canoe, and, even with two, a fatal accident occurred about two ycarii ago. jNIr. Wilson, then in charge, with one of his men, were upset ; he had himself a very nar- row escaf)e, hut the poor young man, Folster, whose brother 1 married at Lac Seul, perished; his body was picked up some time after, many miles down the Albany Iliver. It has naturally enough given Ilackland some apprehension, and caused a greater timidity in venturing upon the water. Here I again found the white clover, and many may wonder at the almost childish joy with which I notice it, but it does not grow at the Red Iliver, and my men scarcely knew what it was. Potatoes are tried, hut only attain a cer- tain maturity, the early night-frosts checking them, the leaves of some are already injured ; turnips, radishes, &c., grow better. I have still some hope that I may be in time for the small schooner from Albany to Moose ; if so, it will be most fortunate. Portages are now at an end. Sixty-two have been carried by the men ; a great amount of labour, which they undergo most cheerfully, and, if they slip or meet with any mischance, they only enjoy a laugh over it. One of my men had made even a larger number last year with the long portage brigade ; from the height of lar act div THE NET IN THE BAY. 83 land ill the north to York Factory, they had made ex- actly seventy-two. Those on the present route are divided as follow : — Red River to Islington Islingtoii to Lac Seul . Lac Seul to Osnaburgh Osnuburu;!; to Martin's Falls 21 II 10 17 I If eet it. last of ' H mm ma^mmmn^mm CHAPTER III. " That scndctli ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bul- rushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled." — Isaiah xviii. 2. |ti' [; ' Fourth Sunday — The Albany River — Arrival at Albany — Sunday there — Sail along the Bay to Moose. Sunday, July 25/A. — I arose and breakfasted early. It was a novelty to be in a house under cover, and sleep on a bed. Hackland had kindly given me up his room, where I would have enjoyed a good night's rest, but for " the ticking wood-worm." It was so loud and dis- tinct, that I thought a watch had been suspended im.- mediately behind my bed, the partition being very thin. When I inquired about it in the morning, I found to my surprise that it was nature's own timekeeper. After breakfast I prepared for morning service, which we had at ten o'clock in the fort-house. There were no Indians near — indeed I find that they only come here twice a year, and remain but a very short time. There are only two young men (Company's servants) here toge- ther with Ilackland ; the one is of Canadian birth, a Roman Catholic, the other of Protestant parentage. THE NET IN THE BAY. 85 1, a Id He was, however, unbaptized, and had never seen a clergyman, or witnessed the performance of divine ser- vice. It was our fourth Sunday, and had thus some variety as distinguished from the others ; the two first having been in the open air, the third in the tent, and now this within the walls of the Fort. I preached from John xiii. 34, or rather lectured from the chapter, on Christ as an example — Christ as acquainted with the secrets of all hearts — Christ as glorying the Father — and Christ as bequeathing to his followers a new com- mandment. In the afternoon one of the servants ran hastily into the room announcing the boats, and on looking up we saw the Lac Seul brigade coming round the point below. It was not long before they reached our bank. At a small and retired post, the arrival of these boats occa- sions no little stir ; it is all that connects them with the outer world, and the movements of the next year de- pend on the tidings they bring from head-quarters. I was glad that they came up in time to take part in the evening service. I was soon introduced to Mr. Mac- kenzie, who made a thousand apologies for not welcom- ing^' me at Lac Seul. Though considerably over the usual boundary of life, as mentioned by the Psalmist, yet he had encountered the fatigue of accomp&ning his brigade to Albany, and was now on his homeward route. I received by him a pleasing note from Mr. liorden, who had been waiting for me some time at Albany, and of whom Mr. Mackenzie gave me the most gratifying accounts Mr. Horden commended to me i *i^l iiBv *] -I 'I 1 r,l ip^'yi- w^^w wi^mi^ w^^i^mmm 80 THE NET IN THE BAY. 4' ) by letter one adult for baptism, who was in the boats, and whom I gladly accepted after some conversation. Along with him there will be the young man here al- ready referred to. There were also two children of one T\hom Mr. Ilorden considered a sincere believer, and who was on his way to settle with his family at Red River. The one child being dangerously ill, IMr. Horden had himself baptized on the eve of their departure from Albanv. The service was a little later owing to the arrival, but it gained both in number and interest. As the baptisms lengthened it, I endeavoured to abridge my sermon, and only preached shortly on 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, a parting text, speaking of — life as a contest, a labour against the current for the most part, only now and then with the stream ; life as a race, swift and rapid, and only to be gained by keeping the goal and termina- tion in view ; death, as a departure, a weighing of the anchor, a packing up of the goods, a dissolving of the body ;'^ judgment, as the bestowal of a crown, the Saviour's alone by merit, but through His mercy, that of every humble follower, all who love his appearing. The application : — the coufidmce of the apostle ; his great object of desire that all might gain the crown ; the thought of the mighty number who shall then re- ceive it. I felt much that portion of the baptismal service for adults, which speaks of the great necessity of that sacra- * This was partly from recollection of a sermon I had read, hy the Rev. J, Curaniiiig, D. D., in his ** Voices of the Day." — THE NET IN THE BAY. 87 re- for ;ra- liv ment where it may be had. Here were two, the one thirty years of age, the other nineteen, who had never had the o])portunity ; a third, the boy of three years old, who might have been taken off by death unbaptizcd, but for the presence of Mr. Horden at Albany. The passage quoted in both our baptismal services, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature," now seemed to acquire a new and peculiar force. I felt deeply and humblingly the privilege of looking back to Jerusalem, and hearing the Saviour's own commission, and being permitted to behold it carried out here in the remotest west. Thus closed the fourth happy Sunday. The rain which had set in soon after we reached the Fort the previous day had now passed off, and the moon gave token of a fine day. Should Mr. Ilorden have left Al- bany with the schooner before my arrival, I find that a boat and guide will be there in waiting for me. May the God, who has guided us each step of our way, with the tenderest care, carry us in safety through the re- maining portion of our journey. Juli/ 2(Sth. — We did not start eventually until after six o'clock, as I waited a little till the letters were made up for Albany and Moose. This I did very cheerfully, as our departure thus furnished an additional mail northwards, and our return will give them the opportu- nity of receiving their letters and jiarcels by the ship from England, which otherwise would not reach them till after the new year. I was glad to find that Mr, Mackenzie was the bearer of letters promoting Ilackland to the office of postmaster, which he well deserved for I • u > n A: ^^1 i 1 1 111 ^^^^ 88 THE NET IN THE BAY. PI his faithfulness and attention to the interests of the honourable company. It was especially for his letter acknowledging this, that I consented to wait. And now our speed was very different from anything we had as yet experienced, going with a rapid current. About ten miles on we took a hurried breakfast — for dinner we scarcely got out, but having prepared some- thing quickly on shore, partook of it in the canoe, while we dropped down stream, and so at supper-time. It was not a httle delightful to feel that we had gone ninety miles in the twelve hours, having reached the Six Islands, which is their mark for that distance. We had passed on our way many small rapids, and these added to the force of the current, the eye rested with pain on the banks as we flew along. The night being beautiful, we determined to hold on our course. The men were in high spirits, counting the portion of the way passed over in fractions as we advanced. The moon was nearly full, the stars very bright, and the sky cloudless. As the night wore on, the aurora borealis was unusually bright. We paddled on for a couple of hours, and then made ourselves comfort- able for the night in the canoe, stretching ourselves as we were. With the bowsman and steersman on the look out, we drifted on through the night ; but the sleep was infectious, and I believe they had napped, for about two we were suddenly brought up, and the canoe scraped a little. On looking out they found we had got ashore at Hungry Haul Bay, without any damage, and after a laugh over the adventure, we started again. About six in the morning, we arrived at the Forks, or THE NET IN THE BAY. 89 or junction of the two rivers ; the north branch by which we had come, and the south which goes off in the direc- tion of Lake St. Ann's. This was our half-way spot, and the distance, 150 miles, had been accomplished under twenty-four hours. Surely to-day life was a race down the stream. July 27th. — It is difficult to give the exact boundary between two days, when the route is, as in this instance, continued all night. Having thus accomplished about twenty-four hours' uninterrupted work, we refreshed ourselves on shore, and had breakfast, and then started with new vigour, feeling that Albany was almost within our reach. But we must not expect to go on quite so rapidly, as the current below the Falls is not quite so strong ; yet still we hope, if all be well, to reach our des- tination in the course of to-morrow afternoon. It is in- deed a noble river, prettier to my mind than the York River ; the banks are not so high, and the tracking by the side much better, which will be a great gain for the men on our return. The wood is not very large ; at the falls it was chiefly poplar and willows : here it was pine with a few cedars. We enjoyed much our morning prayers, singing " The spacious firmament on high," our minds being filled with the recollection of the past day and night, both alike declaring God's power and glory. We then once more got under weigh, How pleasant thus to glide over the surface of the stream ! The little Rose was indeed a swift messenger along this part of the route : could we thus go on our way through the country, how quickly might the good tidings be carried through the land 1 It ' If '*> ^kl • !! 90 THE NET IN THE BAY. was a little cooler, j)erhaps the ice may not yet be out of the bay. We had heard that the Moose schooner encountered much in her passage to Albany, only a fort- night ago. About ten miles run brought us to the site of the old Fort, Henley House, destroyed at last by fire, the birth- place of my old steersman, Jacob Daniel. Familiar thus with the river from childhood, he could calculate the stones, and count them up in every reach of the stream. There is no vestige of the old Fort; this is peculiar to the country ; the past leaves no impression here as else- where ; no stones, no ruins^ mark the spot where there were life and activity for a season, " the place thereof knoweth it no more." The buildinj.r is thrown down — in this case burnt — or it may be transported to another spot, and then all becomes wild again. The house has disapj)eared, the trees and brushwood grow up as before, and the only mark which the eye notices is, that the wood is a little lower than the surrounding thicket. And yet there has been some change since those days ; at first it was deemed a great undertaking to run up from Albany to this Fort ; then they advanced a little and made Gloucester House their depot, the boats from the interior meeting them there, and exchanging cargoes. Now they think little of running up to Lac Seul, and the year after the loss of one of the York ships in the straits, goods were even carried by boat from Albany to Lac la Pluie. About fifteen miles on we named from its shape and came resem to Hat Island, so blance to the old fashioned three-cornered hat. Soon after the Seine THE NET IN THE BAY. 91 Creek told that we had completed 200 miles ; and here for the first time from Martin's Falls, we saw Indians. One man came oiF in his canoe, but he had no supplies, and seemed badly off. It was however pleasant to see him, as " A link in nature's family Which makes U3 feel, in dreariest solitude, Affinity with all that breathe renew'd ; At once a thousand kind emotions start, And the blood warms and mantles round the heart."* We may however have missed some, as they would naturally be up the creeks, where they place their baskets to catch the fish, or even their large nets. He reports that there are many assembled at Albany ; may it be so. Eight or ten miles more brought us to the Chepai Scepee, the river of the dead, with the island of the same name about seven miles long. Here we took our evening repast, and then started as on the previous night. Our Indian Tom had continued unwell, but now he was able to rest, his services not being wanted. His cheerfulness had gc iie, and he looked very dejected, as indeed they all do, with very little the matter with them. The night was fine, but the moon a little misty, and a few clouds rising in the west. July 28th. — In the morning we found that we had reached ihe Fishing Creek by seven o'clock by dint of drifting and paddling ; this only leaves us fifty miles to effect. The next ten miles we accomplished by the watch in about thirty-five minutes, the current being * See James Montgomery's Greenland, where the lines refer to the solitary sea-fowl seen on the voyage. 'f>( \ l^^^H *■ / 1 "A \ \ K'^H 1 ji l^:H^ 1 \ i' ■ r !( I. Hi 92 THE NET IN THE BAY. Strong in our favour. From that we passed onwards to the Indian Stone, so named from an indented stone, said to resemble the outHne of the human body. The day was fair but cloudy, a great refreshment to all after the scorching days we had had, and in favour of the men, as thev thus felt the fatigue much less. We soon passed the Grand Rapids and came in sight of the Factory Island. Around it the water was very shallow ; there is a double course on either side of the island out to sea ; we kept the eastern, but soon came on a bar or shoal, which we had great difficulty in crossing, as it happened to be about low water. The tide comes up as high as this, and produces an effect. We at last found a way by which the Rose with her httle draught of wpter, could pass, assisted by the men, and we gra- dually wound round the island, until one of the men discerned the flag-staff, and a shout was raised that the Fort was ahead. We arrived before our approach was known. We found that the schooner had left, and that Mr. Wilson, the officer in charge, and Mr. Ilorden had gone to Moose in her. An open boat was left for me, and their best Indian guide to go along with my men, when the weather should permit. This evening the wind is directly against us — may it he otherwise on the morrow ! From Mrs. Wilson we received all kindness and hospitality in the absence of her husband. Looking back on the journey, what cause of thankful- ness and gratitude, to have been brought in health and safety — to have had uninterrupted peace and harmon)- on our way— to have seen, perhaps, a little spiritual stir- rmg beneath the surface, though but a faint glimmer of light 28th| we tide part been I who ifGol Marti was that had me, men, the n the iness ikful- and i THE NET IN THE BAY, 93 light. "What hlessmgs to receive from God from the 28th June, when we left Red River, to July 2Sth, when we were now resting on the margin of the sea, with a tide rolling in from the ocean. Yet the most hazardous part of the journey remains, that regarding which I had been the most warned by Sir ^eorge Simpson, and others who knew the coast. It is, however, only a short wav, if God bless us with favourable weather. We have from Martin's Falls travelled a distance equal to the whole length of England, and yet it is thought only a short run, a small river, compared to the other gigantic streams of this continent, or even of Rupert's Land. We met only one Indian over this distance of 300 miles. Oh ! if at an earlier period, the land teemed with a larger population, and if it yielded them a more abund- ant support from the larger animals of the chase, are they not now as " a people scattered and peeled ?" July 29th. — The wind still adverse, which will give me a day at this spot, which I do not much regret. After prayers with my own men, I had the Indians as- sembled : some are absent from the Fort, but upwards of fifty were brought together, men, women, and children. To see them with their books is novel to me ; these are little paper books, in which Mr. Horden writes out for them in the svllabic character, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer, with the opening versicles of the Prayer-book, and a few lead- ing texts containing the essence of the Gospel ; added to these are a few short hymns ; and these they copy out and multiply themselves. They keep and prize them much. They read to me the Ten Commandments with great ease, ■'8*1 I »,(. V ■ i P '( m ' u ■' .: k i i i' *> r \ .! r >3 94 THE NET IN THE BAY. and sang some hymns with their voices all hlendcd toge- ther. Tlic insertion of the liquid /, more frequently than in the other Indian dialects, has rather a pleasing cflfcct. I read to them a part of the commencement of the Prayer-book from Mr. Hunter's translation, and thcv at once turned to it in their hooks, and showed me, ** Ispec 00 mutche-napayoo," '* When the wicked man turneth away, &c." They said to mc at once of their own accord, that Mr. Ilorden talked their language well, and that they would like much to have him to teach them. Two Roman Catholic priests had been among them, and had only left by the scliooner. As Mr. Ilorden was still unordained, and could not baptize, a few had been induced to give up their children for bap- tism. This creates a little difficulty, but I think only a tem})orary one, as when they see that they are to be taught permanently for a portion of the year, they vvill, I think, feel but little tem[)tation to leave — on the con- trarv, everv motive to remain with us. I determined generally not to baptize any brought to me until after mv return from INIoose, when Mr. Ilor- den would be with me, that they might look the more to him as their pastor, and as they would form his own more immediate charge. One exception I made, which WAS a sweet little infant not quite two days old, the chiid of John and Susanna Wesley. Though apparently strong, I feared lest anything should happen to the child ere I returned, so I baptized her Mar}'^ Wesley. The name leads me to notice the work commenced here by the Wesleyan body, as this morning in itse)f had led me to appreciate the labours of the Rev. G. Barnley, i THE NET IN THE BAY. 95 sle y . here Id led Inley, I I who was for seveml years at Moose, and to whom re- ference will afterwards be made. Taking into account the shortness of time for which the Indians of Albany saw liim, it is wonderful that they still retain any re- membrance of what was taught them. The good work will, I doubt not, with God's blessing, go on well under Mr. Horden, whose ])rogrcss in less than a year is in- deed surprising. Again and again the Indians reiterated '•He talks our Cree well." From this short interview I feel much attached already to the simple-minded Indians of this spot. I hope that whatever arrange- ments I may make for Moose, I may be able to secure a part of the benefit of pastoral superintendence for Albany. In the evening I had two female pupils, Charlotte and Elizabeth, who were giving assistance in Mrs. Wilson's house. I endeavoured to teach them some prayers, and spoke to them on other subjects, using the Cumber- land translations. I tried to slip in the liquid / instead of the y, and then all is at once comprehended. Is there anything of the Esquimaux in this, as one ap- proaches their territory ? A very stormy and rainy evening ; what gratitude ought we to feel for being brought in safety hither be- fore the change of weather ! We are now waiting for a westerly wind, but this would be an adverse one for the JMoose ship, on which my future movements in some measure depend : so various are tlie wheels within the wheels in the providence of God, as regards our own wishes. We know not ourselves what we wish tor. \ery often our own wishes are opposed to each :.. >J!! :f ST' h' v\ \\ |i jj I r 96 THE NET IN THE BAY. Other, as in this uistance. Who could overrule all and cause all to work together for our good hut God ? Let us leave all without a wish or murmur in Ilis sovereign hand. July SOth. — A windy night and still a stormy morn- ing. During the day the wind hecame favourable, but far too strong for our small, open boat, and there is little ajjpearance of our departure. A messenger, how- ever, left for Moose this morning, who will take the intelligence that we are so far on our way. He had arrived from Moose the day before, having been sent for some business papers forgotten by the schooner. He travels on foot along the coast and through the wood, and then fires a gun, on his arrival at the Factory Island, as a signal, and they send over for him. The distance is about sixty or seventy miles in this way. By sea, our course will be about 100 or 120. I told my men that if the worst came to the worst, we must adopt the same route ; but I trust the storm m«iy soon give way. Grateful as we are for having escaped this weather on the Albany Kiver, how much more grateful ought we to be that we had not left for Moose, and been caught by it on the coast, where shelter is not to be had, and the line of shore is very da. gerous ! I saw the Indians again this morning, and baptized one little boy, the child of baptized Indians. I then talked with them for some time on religious matters. Had Isaac Ilardesty, who was left as my guide, and re- commended to me as one of the most intelligent Indians, to write in my presence, which he did with ease, I gave him a pencil instead of ink : this he said would do THE NET IN THE DAY. 97 for his children, the eldest of whom he was tcnchins^ to write, hut that for himself he preferred the ink, as more permanent and durahle. An Indian couple came in this afternoon, hushand and wife, with a little infant. Tiie mother had had her hreast severely frozen, and said she had stifTered much agony in consequence, and feared for the life of her hahe. They wished much that it might be bap- tized : I rather objected, on the ground that the pareius were not themselves hajitized, but told them to go to Ilardesty, and get what instruction they could, and I would consider the case, and ])robably admit the child to baptism, while they could wait until ]Mr. Ilorden could teach them more. They then asked me for some paper : this, I confess, I did not at first understand, though knowing well the Indian word, but not expect- ing such a request from them, I got them to repeat their demand. This, and the ])C!tition for ink above, are novel among Indians generally. July ^\st. — The wind still very high, so that I have determined to spend Sunday here, and, if God will, start on ]Monday for Moose. After our usual prayers I met the Indians, and had a most pleasant forenoon with them. They had gained a little more confidence, and ventured on some music. While I was with some others at one end of the room, the females commenced by themselves, what I soon found was the music of the anthem, " I will arise and go to my Father," as so often sung at home. It was very touching witii the female voices almost alone, especially the part, " N'ootah, N'ootah, ne wunne-tooto-wow keche kesik neshta kela," II \ 1 : u ^ tf». vu Mill 98 THE NET IN THE BAY. &c. " Father, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against thee," &c. I heard them sing it several times, and each time the same part affected me much. Finding that I hked it, they sang what I knew to be a chant, and, on looking over them, I found it was the Gloria Patri in their own tongue. These pieces of music they had only been taught recently by Mr. Horden during his stay. They are very fond of singing together, and I have no doubt that truth thus gets a more effec- tual and abiding lodgment in their hearts. I heard them say the Oeed, and portions of Scrip- ture, and pui some questions, to which they answered intelligently. For Hardisty, to whom I gave the pencil yesterday, I had drawn the numerals as far as twenty, that he might copy them. I saw them in his book this morning, and on my noticing them, he said, " Wela," (she) pointing to his wife Rebecca, " nela" (I), his own were on another part of the page. His wife writes quite as well as he does himself. He had got from one of my men the figures u[) as far as 100, and seemed to understand them all. The couple referred to as having arrived with their child were there, and again applied for baptism for themselves. It appears that they have some knowledge of Christianity, can read a little, and know something of the books. They will leave, probably, on ^londay, and may be a year away, as they live chiefly to the north towards Severn, somewhere beyond the Kay])iscow River. Under these circumstances I told them that I would baptize them and their little babe to-morrow, preferring to do so always if possible on God's own day. His had 100, ;limg iday, the scow mt 1 Itow, day. THE NET IN THE BAY. 09 I only hope that they may carry the light in the direc- tion in which they may move. The great novelty to me is to find Indians looking into a book, and that a book bearing on another world and their souls, and in their own tongue. Nor is this only while the eye is on them. I found, in the afternoon, the Indian, the candidate for baptism, busy conning over his book : he had the Commandments and the Lord's Prayei written out, and was occupied with them, looking happy and contented. Should I then deny him ? They have, some of them, a case for their little books, two bark boards, like the oaken boards of old binding; these, tied together with a leather thong, make the treasure. This they will carry sixty miles oiF, and there they will read it together. Is not this as of old, when a few leaves of the Bible were precious, and is not the very office of a scribe revived ? Mr. Horden is as yet the chief scribe over them, but many from among themselves are, as it were, scribes of the Lord. At evening prayers the numbers were very large ; they had flocked in from the hay-ground ready for the sabbath. All knelt down, and were very attentive, and could join heartily in the amen. August \st. — Sunday. — Held service with the Indians rather before seven o'clock. I sent some one to tell them that I was ready, and they assembled quickly in large numbers, more than sixty, including men, women, and children. It was a pleasing service, more than suf- ticient to repay one for all the toil of the journey, and I am led to anticipate that as many will be assembled at H 2 ■■^m iM ^:i * n i ^a ■I ,i, (' '^iWPT^W" tmmm 100 THE NET IN THE BAY. |i *' ■ Moose for the hay season, and that I shall, therefore, be fortunate in seeing many there. They sang many of their hymns, even the children taking part. They repeated the opening versicles — the Confession, the Belief, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer. All this was relieved by hymns, and these breaks I found necessary and useful to en- gage their attention. I then baptized the couple spoken of, with their infant child, to whom I gave the name of her kind benefactress, Mrs. Wilson. A delicate per- son, and with little twins of her own, she had nursed this poor babe when brought in by its suifering mother, an act of such extreme kindness that I must claim her indulgence for thus alluding to it. The parents were named James and Elizabeth Wilson. I had then three children brought to me, whose parents had been bap- tized uy Mr. Barnley ; they were baptized Richard, Stephen, and Nancy. I then put a few questions to those assembled, as far as I could, in Cree, to which they answered with some readiness. I afterwards offered up some of the prayers from the Cumberland translation, concluding with the apostolic benediction in their language. It has so far a good effect, as they saw me use the manuscript of the translation, which I told them was that of the Indians a long way off on the Sas- katchewan. It would almost say to them, " Other sheep there are which are not of this fold ; they, too, must be brought." I do not doubt that, even in this way, Christianity is enlarging their minds and the range of their ideas. After breakfast I had full Enghsh service in the Fort I ■^. THE NET IN THE BAY. 101 Fort for those connected with it, and my own men, and preached from the words, " How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Heb. ii. 3.) In some such room were the apostles and the little band of early dis- ciples assembled together, of whom we heard in the second lesson. (John xx.) May we have the like blessing, the manifestation of the Saviour's presence, and his own gracious words, " Peace be unto you." In the afternoon had our Indian service as before, in the carpenters' large room, benched round for the pur- pose, with even a larger number. We went through nearly the same prayers, and they produced a few fresh hymns. On these occasions, indeed, I was feeling my way, endeavouring to ascertain what they knew, and seeking to draw them out in the worship of God as far as my own knowledge of the tongue went. This was all that I could do, in the absence of Mr. Ilorden, as my own Indian was different in some points from that which they spoke. In the evening I had again English service in the Fort, when, after prayers, I lectured on the fourth psalm, one of those for the day. The weather now looked more favourable for our departure on the mor- row, so I arranged with Hardisty, our Indian pilot, to start early in the morning, should it prove fine. Au(just 2nd, Mingisis, the wortleberry month. — I was called early, and made all preparations, and we got under weigh before six o'clock. We were now in our open boat, instead of the canoe. Our Canadian was left with the latter at Albany, to make some repairs and improvements, and also Tom the Indian. The wind m m m i .n HWUBP •TTST! .iP.ipi, ,.Pi.. ^w? TBI" 102 THE NET IN THE BAY. Ml being fair, we soon hoisted sail. The channel is very difficult and very shoal, so we have to keep out a long way. The tide recedes very far along this coast, and we may, in consequence, be obliged to wait for it at some point. We made a very good run, and soon passed the Cock or Scarf Point. In the afternoon we la) rL'd to cook a little on a small island of stones, or rather a reef. Here I was pleased at finding some sea- weed of many different kinds. To myself the sea breeze was refreshing, not having been near it for three years. On two of my men the effect was very different, and their heads drooped at once. Our strongest, James M'Kay, was very soon prostrated from the effect of sea- sickness, and often wished himself back on one of the lakes, or safe out of the boat. We had some difficulty in passing some of the reefs of rocks, which run like promontories into the bay. At times we tried to pass within, over some neck, where we thought the water fuller, and got aground, and then had to row back and try farther out to sea. Towards evening the wind fell, or had it continued we should have made the North Bluff, close to Moose, before night. We, in fact, fairly grounded in pulling towards a spot, where we thought we might encamp for the night. The boat remained here a long distance from the shore ; seme of the men went towards it to endea- vour to pick up wood, but it was more than three- quarters of a mile off, and evidently would not do for camping ground from the distance. We determined therefore, to kindle a small fire on the rocks near the boat to boil our kettle, and to sleep where we were, and mmmt i***'*"**' • ■^1 THE NET IN THE BAY. 103 ,.• .1.1 fards the rom idea- ree- for ned the and await the turning of the tide. While this plan was being formed, the tide had receded an immense distance, and seemed almost a mile on the other side of us. It is this which constitutes the danger of the coast ; here we were with the boat nearly a mile from shore, and the sea as far beyond. In calm weather there is no danger in this, but if a storm had come on, and the tide rushed in with violence, we must have forfeited the boat, and all that we had with us, to save ourselves. We had seen several white whales during the day, and a few seals ; and at our resting-place the men shot a few birds. We took our evening meal and had prayers, and then stretched ourselves in the boat as well as we could ; indeed we had more room for the purpose than in the canoe in the Albany River. The men got some refreshment from lying down — " Placida laxarant membra quiete Subreraes fusi per dura sedilia nauta; ; but did not sleep very long, as before one o'clock the boat floated, and the bumping awoke us. They rowed oif at once, and though the wind was not now favour- able, we still made progress. About six in the morn- ing the schooner was seen in the distance, and about the same time we met a canoe with a number of Indian women steering in the direction of Albany. We soon passed the North Bluff, and entered the mouth of the Moose River, and got among the beacons, by which the Channel is marked out here as at Albany. August 3rd. — The morning was lovely, and in the river the sail was of some use, but the water was still 1| I! ¥. '^^K IZtST. ' I^IMIBV'vlVUV. wn 104 THE NET IN THE BAY. too slioal. We waited at one point for the tide, which we at last caught, and were carried up by it to the fac- tory. Some of the hay boats were passing up at the same time, and this gave it more animation ; they went up briskly with their little sails, but we were anxious that they should not gain upon us, and carry the tidings of our arrival. Thus had God brought us along the part of our journey, which we had most dreaded, in about thirty- two hours. We arrived about three o'clock, and very grateful I now felt that I had not been in sufficient time for the schooner, which had had a very rough and stormy passage, while ours had been full of enjoyment. Thus does God arrange for us, far better than we could provide for ourselves. Nothing could exceed the kindness with which we were welcomed by Mr. Miles, chief factor, and all con- nected with the Fort. All were down on the little jetty to receive us, and the first view of the place, the coujj d'ceil on landing, was very pleasing, more so than in any part of Rupert's Land I had yet visited. Every preparation had been made for my reception ; indeed I only felt that too much was done for me ; very gladly would I accept it for my office rather than for myself. Mr. Ilorden was at the time engaged with service, a weekly lecture held every Tuesday afternoon, found at work, as a bishop might wish to find all connected with him, but he soon joined our party. After being intro- duced to all the family at the Fort, and all the gentle- men connected with the company, I sallied forth with Mr. Ilorden to see the church and parsonage. Of the a^ j ii ; ■ 'kv i'i ;• a ! ■'W. ^ 1 \ ■'''-^• 1 ^1 1 1 IN } . A n I, \ :» m Red River to Moose . 1,200 261 ■1 1 106 THE NET IN THE BAY. The map which accompanies this little volume has been drawn for me by one of my late scholars. The outline is taken frcm the larger map of Arrowsmith. It will give some idea of my route, and the apparent short- ness of the red line which marks it out, will enable the reader to form some judgment of the wide extent of the diocese. Few names are inserted ; chiefly those of our churches and stations, and a few of the leading features of the country. The manner in which names are often crowded in maps of the territory leads, perhaps, to the impression of its being more thickly populated ; this sketch will show the soHtariness of its lakes, rivers, and scattered forts. ^ } $\ le has The th. It short- >le the of the of our atures often to the ; this s, and CHAPTER IV. " Large, England, is the debt Thou owest to heathendom ; All seas have seen thy red-cross flag In war triumphantly display'd ; Late only hast thou set that standard up On pagan shores in peace." ODE ON BISHOP HEBER, SOUTHEY. I r4^. Stay at Moose — Baptismal Sunday — Confirmation Sunday— Ar- rival of the Prince Albert — Sacramental Sundav — Ordinations. August 4th. — In the morning I was occupied with letters and other preparatory work. My wish was to get through as much as possible before the arrival of the ship. I looked over Mr. Horden's books in the sylla- bic character, and was astonished at what he had accom- plished in so short a time. In the forenoon Mr. Miles took me over the factory buildings. There was the old Fort still standing, which is, in some measure, what its name imports — a fort built for defence, with thick walls and loop-holes, and a communication all round outside upon the roof. This was the whole of the original building, shut in like an old castle with gates, and enclosing a kind of octagonal I f. :i it 108 THE NET IN THE BAY. area within. A portion of it is still occupied as a sale- room, but there is a large new store. The present fort buildings and dwelling-houses are all outside of it, and have a pleasing effect, not being within any stockade, but lying more irregularly along the bank of the river. This gives more of a village appearance, making it pret- tier than York, or most of the forts in the country, which are generally all of one type, a quadrangle enclosed with pickets. For a short description of it I would refer to a little work by one who, in a medical capacity, had visited both York and Moose, and who gives a lively and accurate account of some of the more prominent features of the country, likely to arrest the attention of a stranger.* Later in the day, I went with jNIr. Ilorden to see many of his flock. One cottage, at the extreme end, was occupied by two aged widows, and is quite a little model. God has spared them to a very advanced age, but they are still able to tread the way that leads to his house : they can make out the measured half mile from their cottage to the church, the one su])ported by a staff; but it is the very limit of their strength. In the evening we had prayers in the Fort, and were quite a large family party — those connected with the Fort and a few others around. This continued each morning and evening during my stay, except when I was occupied too late with the Indians. It was * " Narrative of Two Voyages to Hudson's Bay, by J. I?. Nevins, M.D., published by the Christian Knowledge Society, 1847." ■■«^** THE NET IN THE BAY. 109 held in a large hall up-stnirs, opening on the veran- dah. August i)th. — ^Writing again in the morning. The birth-day of a beloved brother, himself a noble benefac- tor to this conntry, and especially to this part of it. How strange that on this day I should write from this spot, to tell him of the good fruits of his gift and prayers ! Afterwards paid some visits with Mr. Horden to others of his people, and in the evening attended the Indian service. The little church was well filled with Indians : many had come in from the hay in the afternoon. At the commencement, while they were mustering, a short lesson in the alphabet was given to a few of those who were less advanced and anxious to be carried on. This is done on a board constructed for the purpose, the characters being cut out in white paper of a large size and affixed to it ; these are placed first in order, and then irregularlv. To these their attention is directed by a long pointer, and it is pleasing to hear even the aged, muttering their syllables with all the eager anxiety of childhood. This preparatory work occupied about a quarter of an hour, and is not to be despised at a mis- sionary station, as it paves the way for the elements of the doctrine of Christ. They then sang an Indian hymn, and joined in prayer, repeating after Mr. Horden the Confession, the Lord's Prayer, &c. He then ex- amined them in a short catechism, which he had pre- pared for the candidates for confirmation : it was in their character, and some of them read it with fluency : ' d 110 THE NET IN THE BAY. some could repeat it all by heart, when the questions were put to them. He then addressed them on the subject of my arrival, reminding them how often they had desired to see this day ; he also encouraged them to bless God, who had permitted me to come among them, and to pray for me. This he did off-hand without any interpreter, selecting his words as he went along, and conveying his meaning clearly and intelligibly to them. lie asked me to say a little, which 1 did, but of necessity, through an inter- preter, testifying my joy in seeing them, in hearing them pray to and praise God, which I could follow, though I could not speak their tongue myself. I told them of the other distant Indians whom I had seen, and said 1 could read to them many of the prayers and texts of the children there, the grace before and after meat, and the morning and evening prayers, which they learned. I told them that, beyond those Indians on the Saskatchewan, were some who understood their character ; that I had re- ceived a letter from an English River Indian in it, which I could not at the time read, but that now I thought I could 1; ake something of it. I gave notice that the infants, as yet unbaptized, should be brought on Sunday afternoon. All were very attentive, and as the darkness was now coming on, the effect in the little building was very striking. As I spoke, I felt deeply IIoAAoi fiiv Ovr\rQts yAwTTUi, fj.iu S ddavdroKTiu. In my own case, I have already encountered three different dialects, that of this district along the bay, • lt» '10> THE NET IN THE DAY. Ill that of the Saskatchewan, and the Ojihwa ; so that to speak all, one must almost hav a polyglot at command. What an engine of Satan the dispersion and separation of tongues, and yet how the Spirit would hind together and cement ! God's Book, what a link I what book is there as yet which has found its way into the three dialects? what hook, or any part of it, into 160 lan- guages ? — only the Book of God, the volume of life, the volume of eternity, the volume which gives men one pure tongue of spiritual praise, to prepare for the eter- nal adoration above. August 6t/i. — A cold and chilly morning, with the wind from the sea causing a fog. This is the trying feature of this place, the sudden change of temperature within a few hours. Saw Mr. Horden, and looked over with him the registers as kept by the Hudson's Bay Com- pany, and by Mr. Barnley. Those of the former stretch back a great way, and are neatly and accurately kept ; baptisms, marriages and burials, being then performed by the officer in charge, as was long the case in our own East Indian possessions ; those of Mr. Barnley extend over about eight years. I then examined Mr. Hord'^n in the Greek Testament, and arranged to read with him through the two Epistles to Timothy. This I had doue in the case of Mr. Budd, and I like to do it, when practicable, with all candidates for Ordination, as it ^ives opportunity for many useful and practical remarks. It will be remembered by those who read the Missionaiy Reports, that Mr. Horden was sent out by the Church Missionary Society, in 1852, as a Catechist, with the in- tention that, when they could send out a clergyman to ^ i.«i 112 THE NET IN THE BAY. ■*( d: 1. 5 [ !' carry on the work here, he should study with me at Red River, preparatory to ordination. This plan was of course formed in ignorance of the distance, and the difficulties of travelling in this part of the country. After reading the account of my journey hither, it will scarcely surprise any, that I did not wish to expose Mr. Horden, with wife and baby, to it ; and being satisfied, from the journals I had before received, and what I now saw of his work, as to his fitness, I resolved, if possible, to ordain him during my stay here, and thus save a large outlay and great loss of time. Saw the library lately established, numbering, as vet^ very few books, promised to write home on their behalf to some of our societies. It is a subiect which has been much upon my mind. If libraries of some extent could be established at some central posts, and the books circulated through the surrounding district, the good effect produced might be very great. It might be the means of self-improvement to young men cut off from all the advantages of society, and beguile the soli- tude of t^ese retired posts. Something has already been done towards this by gentlemen in the service ; I hear with pleasure that there is a library of more than 300 volumes at Fort Simpson, which is for the use of the Mackenzie River District generally. The addition of a few such in other parts of the country would be a great boon. York and Moose would seem to be suitable spots for their establishment. August 7th. — Continued the Greek Testament with Mr. Horden ; the remainder of th-* morning occupied with preparation for Sunday ; superintended a few THE NET IN THE BAY. 11.3 necessary translations, as that of the Baptismal Service into Indian. I feel, indeed, that if Convocation should ever be in active operation at home, or if a Synod of the North American Bishops should ever meet, with power to carry out some new regulations, it might be a question whether it would not be desirable to draw up a baptis- mal form, expressly adapted for the reception of adult heathens on the one hand, and their children on the other. Our own service, simple and beautiful as it is, for those who have made some advance in Christianity, is, perhaps, rather too difficult for the cases under con- templation. One is forced to alter and abridge it, in practice, at times. It has been translated, indeed, in full, in Ojibwa, in Dr. O'Meara's Prayer Book, and in Cree, in the Cumberland translation ; but where the ideas are only imperfectly understood, as here, there is a diffi- culty in conveying to the minds of natives some of the terms not familiar to their ear in their own tons-ue. This is felt in other quarters, and is one of the points referred to by the bishop and clergy who met together at Cape Town. In this, and other similar matters, I feel much the want of counsel and conference with my brethren, who min'ht be similarly sitr.ated. There was, in the afternoon, a very severe thunder- -torm, with very heavy rain. August Sth. — Sunday. — Arose early to prepare for the varied and intercstinc; services of the dav. The tirst bell rang at half-past six, a.m., to give notice of the ea rly Indi an service, w hicl 1 commenc edat seven. Lar (yp numbers were already assembled ; when we entered there ) • i, • ■ -f 1 !' i, _ I ' \ I r< ■ i ;«» I; !.■ i 114 THE NET IN THE BAY. were above eighty, which may have augmented to about 120. They commenced with a hymn to Luther's Hundreth Psalm; Mr. Horden then followed with the prayers, as far as he had translated them, and then we had another hymn to the air, " Martyrs." The music, from the intermingling of many female voices, was very pleasing. I was much struck with their devotional appearance ; all of them knelt, the greater part covered their faces with their hands. While singing, I looked around, and could not discern above half-a-dozen who were not joining. After this we had a p'ayer from some of the congregation in turn. I had purposely told Mr. Horden to proceed as usual in all points. This custom, arising from the Wesleyan habit of several years, cannot, of course, be continued, and will gradually fall into desuetude. Mr. Horden, on going there, had done wisely in not making any sudden change, which will be easily effected, now that he is invested with full authority, and has the services translated and the lan- guage at command. I was gLid of it in one respect, as affording me an opportunity of forming a juduM-ient regarding their earnestness and their mental pov^^ .-, It also led me to feel that they could carry on these diiu.s in their families. I cannot doubt that God is teaching them to pray, and, of their habits of prayer when alone, I had afterwards sufficient opportunity of judging. The service terminated about half-past eight ; I closed with some prayers in Crce, and the blessing. Soon after our return, a canoe was reported in the river, which caused some anxiety and speculation. It turned out to be Mr. Corcoran, chief trader, on his way '^ym _ \^m ,v, rmmm i. t m t W i.» ' m * .tM jmuHji 'i Bht THE NET IN THE BAY. 115 back from Canada, where he spent the winter in bad health ; Mrs. Corcoran had left Moose a few weeks before, to join him, but meeting him by the way had returned with him. They brought the melancholy tidings of the second great fire at Montreal, and the destruction of so large a portion of the city; On men- tioning it afterwards to one of my men, he at once said, "Our flood is nothing to that." The schooner, too, under charge of Captain Swanson, had arrived from Ru- pert's House the night before, in sufficient time to get to her anchorage for the Sunday, which added a few to our numbers. We had then our English service at eleven o'clock. For this the church is of sufficient size, as the numbers are smaller. I was much pleased to find that Mr- Miles had always kept up this service in the absence of a minister, by reading the morning prayers and a sermon. Such is the express order of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany, and in many cases it is punctually carried out ; in a few, like all general orders, it is overlooked. Not so here, and I take this opportunity of acknowledging it with gratitude. On this occasion, after morning service, Mr. Horden reading the lessons, I preached from Romans i. 9 — 12. Of my sermon, as being the fullest expression of my views and feelings at the time, I venture to subjoin an outline. In doing so I retain the direct form of address, as gaining thereby point and impressiveness, and ena- bling the reader to place himijelf, as it were, v.\ our little congregation. I 2 K 4 ', 1 'HI !•• ill ^■i 1 1 sly^' 1 Hbi ' \ . < 1 'A H!tt \ ' 1 n '^ i :'i:ln ;» > 1 w^ 116 THE NET IN THE BAY, OUTLINE OF SERMON. I n ■' ' < p.' It is nearly three years since my first arrival at Yoik ; my first text there would do here, *' We are come as far as to you also, in preaching the Gospel of Christ" (2 Cor. X. 14). My secord would also suit me now, " God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the howels of Jesus Christ" (Phil. i. 8). For surely the intensity of feeling does not diminish, but only gathers strength with time. If I then felt a yearn- ing for souls, now that I see with my eyes, and hear from those who see, I feel more still. When I see a post in the wilderness, without Sabbaths, without the means of grace or education for their children, surely the heart of the follower of Christ must beat with some- thing of the feeling of his Master, when He looked round and was moved with compassion for those who were as aheep not having a shepherd. Neither of these texts however would I take to-day, and what then shall I select as the nearest to my own state and feelings this morning in addressing you ? Brethren, the words of my text came ready to my hand, as if written with the finger of God for us to-day. Very humbly would I use them ; very faint and feeble are any emotions which fill our breast, compared with those which fired the heart of the great apostle. If he could say, " Unto me who am less than the least of all saints," at what an immeasurable distance must we adopt the words ? Yet still the ministry to be carried out is the same, souls are to be gathered out now as then, and if we look over this wide worlds manifold greater are the THE NET IN THE BAY. 117 numbers of believers now, than when St. Paul wrote these words. We bid you then welcome in the Lord : most of you we have seen in private, to-day we meet before God. May He grant that our meeting may not be in vain, that the little interval which we may spend together, may be a bright spot in our earthly existence, a season of refreshment from the presence of the Lord. I purpose, in dependence upon God, contemplating, I. The ministerial office, as here set forth. It is to " serve God in the Gospel of his son." What a high and blessed office to serve God ! — earthly honour rises in proportion to the rank of him whom, we serve — a prince or a monarch ; what then must it be to serve the King of kings ! But to serve Him in the Go'^nel, in mak- ing known the glad tidings — in publishing salvation — in preaching peace, how blessed ! Now this we may do : our happiness, our delight, is to save under God one soul ; to rescue a family — to plant salvation in a household — to introduce a fountain whence living waters may flow onwards until the world ends — how blessed I This we can do now : in heaven it will be impossible — a pleasure denied to angels, no longer the portion of the redeemed, only a joy on earth. Who then shall not engage in it ? Say not, ministers only ; it is their daily service, their life-long employment ; but all of you have opportunities. Oh ! be faithful stewards ; if you value the Gospel, if to your ear the sweetest sound is menwahchemoowin (good tidings), then, wherever God carry you, speak for Christ, and say, " Come thou with me, and I will do thee good, for the Lord hath spoken good." Are there not present some connected with Rupert's House, Fort Vm ■ \ r J li 118 THE NET IN THE BAY. I< > - if 1 8S :i ; SSif ^ 'if ( ;^ . iMnHI Hi f^^H i BMI «Hv , ( 1 1 1 ' 1 1 j , 1 ■■ George, or even more remote posts ? Tell all of this precious salvation. But I consider — II. The cause of ministerial longing — " To impart some spiritual gift," not temporal riches — not the things of earth — but something spiritual and eternal. It may, however, he asked, can man do this ? to which we answer, only as a channel and instru- ment ; for, take those dead as the clod of the valley, dry as the summer dust — behold them addressed by the minister of God, and made to feel in their souls ! Is there here no gift of the Spirit accompanying the mes- sage ? Take the Indians around this spot before they had ever heard of a Saviour, and take them now, — has there not been some effusion of the Spirit ? Reflect on the privileges which you have enjoyed in times past — was there not some gift of the Spirit? Thus have many of you been partakers of some spiritual gifts, but you desire them to be permanent, continued on this spot to yourselves and your children. How shall this be? For this have I especially come, and, as I journeyed along the many hundred miles, I have prayed that God might bless me and make me a blessing ; I have made request " if by any means I might have a prosperous journey to come unto you." I have longed above measure ** to see you, that I might impart unto you some spiritual gift." Now, remembering that God is the only author of all these gifts, let us examine a little in detail what gifts we may humbly expect. 1. Is there no spiritual gift, if I may leave him who has laboured efficiently, diligently, and successfully among you in a subordinate capacity, invested with full THE NET IN THE BAY. 119 authority as an ambassador of Christ, to execute every part of his high office, and to go forth to gather in the scattered sheep of the Lord ? 2. Is there to the eye of ftiith no spiritual gift in being permitted to place your little ones as in the very arms of the Saviour ; to hear His gracious words of invi- tation ; to dedicate, as I hope, twenty -five of them this afternoon to His blessed service, and many more during the present week ? 3. Is there no spiritual gift to be looked for when the young, just entering upon life, are brought before us to renew, in their own persons, the promise and vow made for them — in h . Ipless infancy ? My happiest hours, mi- nisterially, have been spent in preparing such, and now how great the pleasure of admitting those duly prepared to the holy rite ! 4. Is there no spiritual gift to be hoped for in par- taking once more of the supper of the Lord, a privilege from which you have been long debarred, but to which we would again invite you, ere we leave ? But you say, all partake of these good gifts. Yes, brethren, our offices are different, but our graces are the same, and this brings me to notice — III. The fruits of ministerial diligence. Mutual comfort. The joy of the minister and the joy of the people : " My joy is the joy of you all." Such the unvarying language of the apostle who, in the text, places himself with the Church at Rome, as if de- riving a fresh joy from their joy. Nor is the case otherwise now. Is not our joy yours, and yours ours ? Behold the infant brought to the Saviour, and notice ^l!" 11 '';-i I'-j 5 • ill 120 THE NET IN THE BAY. the parent's eye. Is there no emotion of thankfulness, as he prays that the child may not only be washed with water, but with the Spirit — that it may be registered, not only on earth, but in the Lamb's book of life above ? Behold the minister in private, by the sick bed, or in the family household. Is there no comfort diffused as he kneels by you and prays with you ; is not his joy increased by being instrumental in furthering yours ? Behold the minister noticing and training your children, expending upon them daily care and labour, and then, as they grow up, endeavouring to lead them to declare themselves on the Lord's side. Is there no rich comfort felt by you in thinking of your little ones, and tracing for them a brighter path than your own ? Behold again the minister with one to whom his words had been blessed. What joy to the convert who could say, "I was dead, but am alive again." What joy to the minister who can look upon him and say, " Thou owest unto me even thine ownself besides !" This is comfort : imagine it, then, not over one, but over many. Behold one in death. What comfort can equal that of the soul departing in peace, closing a life of faith by a calm and triumphant death ! What joy to the minister to behold in that hour the fruit of all his labours ! to see one more sealed, as he trusts with the seal of the Lamb, faUing asleep in Jesus ! In conclusion, the apostle had never seen Rome when he wrote these words. Imagine, then, his feelings, when permitted to visit it, and see face to face those for whose salvation he longed. Something of the kind is my joy ; the desires which I have long cherished are ful- THE NET IN THE BAY. 121 filled, and the sight of what I here behold more than rcpiys me for every toil. Eut to chasten what might be the exuberance of pre- sent feeling, let us remember what is the record of the effect of apostolic preaching. When the Gospel was proclaimed at Rome by the lips of an apostle, and with the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, we still find it said, in the closing chapter of the Acts, that " Some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not." Let this solemn view lead us to more fervent and earnest prayer, that many souls may here be gathered into the Gospel net ; that all so gathered in may be accepted at the last great day, to the praise and glory of God. In the afternoon I held the second Indian service at which the baptisms were to take place, Mr. Miles having kindly erected for us a temporary font. We had the " Ne gah wunnishkaa — I will arise," sung sweetly ; the prayers, as before ; the psalms, with the Gloria Patri, sung in tlieir own tongue. The opening prayers of the baptismal service were then offered up, after which they assembled round the font. In their case I accepted the parents as sponsors, and Mr., uwl Mrs. Horden on the part of the Church. I had at first expressed a desire for both parents to come up, but it was found impossible, as twenty-five children were to be baptized, and the mothers alone far more than filled the space. The church was even fuller than in the morning ; there could not have been less than 1.50. The heat was very great, almost more than one could support. I read, through an interpreter, the appointed passage. ]:i M " !■ ni i 3 « Hi' 'il I "i: (I iH 122 THE NET IN THE BAY. Mark x., and proposed the questions in something of a shorter form. When these were answered, I proceeded to baptize the children. Some were only infants, and were taken in my arms, and baptized in their sleep. Some were two or three, others as much as five or six years of age, and with them there was more difficulty, as they clung to their mothers. I did not think it ne- cessary, at the expense of a loud cry, to insist on taking them up one by one, so I baptized the elder ones as they stood. As it was, their voices were at times heard, for this was an unusual trifil for the shyness of an Indian child, but one's thoughts were too much ab- sorbed with the interest of the service to mind the almost inevitable noise. I repeated the words, " I bap- tize thee," and also, ** We receive this child," in Indian, having committed the words to memory. I know not that I ever baptized so many at once, certainly never with greater pleasure. We then sang a hymn, after which I said a few words — Prov. viii. 17 — " I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me," — on the Redeemer's love for such little ones exceeding that of the parent's fondest affection, and on the com- parative easiness of the way to heaven if entered upon early. I closed with the Collects, '* Lighten our dark- ness," and that of St. Chrysostom, in Indian, and pro- nounced the blessing. On coming out, we found them all resting on the grass, or standing about the church, and on asking Mr. Horden if this were usual, he said that he was in the habit of speaking to them individually, and shaking them by the hand after service. I said I would gladly n THE NET IN THE BAY. 123 conform to 8o good a custom, although he warned me that I should find it more laborious from the increased numbers. I persevered for a time, but was obliged to cut it somewhat short, selecting at times the heads of a family. The view was very pretty as we passed home- wards along the terrace : there was the schooner with her colours flying, and the flag of the Hudson's Bay Company "^t the top of the Fort flag-stafl"; on the church, too, the red cross flag of England, which Mr. Miles had placed there in honour of my arrival, and which was kept up during my stay. There were also the Indian tents on the sloping bank, and my own white tent for the men near the flag-staff". Added to all this, were the worshippers returning from the house of God in neat apparel. The good clothing of the Indians here rather astonished me, but I am aware that at this sea- son they appear to the best advantage, having just re- ceived payment for the furs brought in, or having taken some advance on the coming winter hunt. The women here invariably wear the long cap or hood, falling over their shoulders, and richly ornamented with beads, while the men have, generally, a good capote and embroidered leg- gings. The family prayers at the Fort closed the happy day, and left me nothing to desire. Jugust 9th. — Arose much refreshed by the day of God, and all its privileges. How much we might de- sire the arrival of the ship this week ! But the whole is in better hands than our own. I was rejoiced to find that they had thought of me, along the other route by way of Lake Superior, and that '■■■ ti I. ( J 124 THE NET IN THE BAY. several, especially Mr. Swnnston, chief trader at Michi- picoton had felt disappointed, that I had not gone that way. Had I to do it over again, I think 1 might go hy tlic one route and return hy the other ; but now I am under promise to return by the way I came. Even, however, had I gone by Lake Superior, I could scarcely have done all that might have been expected, as it would have taken me out of my own di<,cese, and I could only have visited as a stranger, or performed any occasional service with the permission of the Bishop of Toronto. Michipicoton, though a Company's fort, docs not fall within my jurisdiction, which terminates on this side of Fort William at the hei2;ht of land. In this respect 1 feel that my knowledp ^ geography ex- pands much with this tour, indeed the iciative position of these lakes and rivers only gradually dawns upon one, and requires actual survey of the land to become im- pressed upon the mind. I saw several of the candidates for confirmation connected with the European population ; visited and prayed with some of the aged who had offered them- selves, some of whom had been communicants before for many years, but were willing to give this token of their desire to be in full communion with us. The children, grandchildren, and other relatives of some here, I had confirmed at Red River, and thus each visit to a fresh spot multiplies the links, which connect one in thought and feeling with the country as a whole, of which Red River is the undoubted centre. I had given notice that I should see the Indian can- didates, as I had done at Cumberland ; this took place MJ TIIK NET IN THE HAY. 125 in Mr. Ilordcu's house in the evenirip:, where I saw them in little groups. There were the chief and his wife, Oolikichish, who disclaimed all favour as chief; very shrewd and intelligent, and eloquent in the expression of his thoughts. I asked him to repeat the Creed and Lord's Prayer, and then examined him on the Cate- chism which Mr. Ilorden had prepared, putting the questions out of their direct order, to make sure that it was not learned hy rote. I asked him ahout the soul Ai7.d hody, the effect of death, the ground of his own hope in death, whether he felt afraid of death, whether he felt anxious to receive the Lord's Supper. After he had answered all, he suddeul put the question, whether I was going to remove Mr. Ilorden, and was satisfied by my saying, that he should remain for the present. He then told me, as they had done at Albany, that Mr. Ilorden spoke Indian well. We had many others, in all upwards of twenty, many of them cases of deep interest, for seeing them thus they spoke pretty freely of their condition. I asked most of them what they prayed for, what they blessed God for, whether they prayed each night and morning. Of this I had satisfactory proof on my way home, as we heard one praying in an audible voice with his family in the tent. The whole examination was conducted without an interpreter, Mr. Horden being able to do all. This is his best praise — this his best testimonial for holy orders, he has their hearts and affections, and their eyes lurn to him at once. He tells me that he commenced by copying out long conversations, taken down in their tents : of these he obtained ;\ .'i I li ■I 126 THE NET IN THE BAY. i' 11^', the interpretation, and placed it interlineally ; long prayers, in the same way, as oflfered up by the Christian Indians, he copied out, and this he says is the secret of his rapid acquisition of the language. I found from him that the subject of the chiefs prayer yesterday was, blessing God that they at length saw me, and praying that God would bless myself and Mr. Horden through- out the day in teaching them ; that they wished their children taught, but did not know fully how to teach them. The result of the evening was very cheering, I am convinced that they use intercessory prayer, and that their conscience is very sensitive and tender. Many other cases might be specified, as Jacob Sailor and Isaac Hardisty my guide, both well instructed and promismg & ' and many of the females are as well informed as the males. August lOth. — Finished the First Epistle to Timothy with Mr. Horden, and fixed to-morrow for the com niencement of his examination for orders. The schooner went down to-day to take up her position, and watch for the ship, which cannot come in within some distance of the Fort. Should ihe Prince Albert arrive this week, how fortunate to human eye would it be ! It was interesting to me to hear much from day to day from Mr. Miles of jNIr. West, and the earlier days of the Red River iNIission. He had been with him at the Red River in 1822, was with him at York when he started to walk to Churchill, and went home with him in 1823. Mrs. Miles's sister too, now with us, INIrs. Spen- cer, interpreted for Mr. West, when he obtained the son of Withewekahpo (now James Hope) from his mother. In the evening, I saw Mr. Horden' s class of young THE NET IN THE BAY. 127 men connected with the factory ; for their benefit he gives up every Tuesday evening, and teaches them to read and write, besides carrying on their Bible in- struction. I examined such of them as were candidates for confirmation. August Wth. — Commenced Mr. Ilorden's examina- tion with a paper on the Articles in the morning, and one on Old Testament History in the afternoon. While he was thus occupied, I wrote many letters. I feel ashamed to think, how many petitions were contained in these letters, how much a colonial bishop has to beg for from friends and from public societies. May all kindly excuse it as done for others, and for my people's sake ; I scruple not to do so. Here I think of so many things which I might do for their comfort if I were at home at Red River, but which I have not with me, and T«hich I could never send across. Not wishing that they should be behind in any advantage or privilege, I am bold to ask for the diversion of some of the rills of Christian charity in the direction of INIoose, that those, whom I love much in the Lord, may share also in the kindness of Christian friends. After the close of his second paper, we again exa- mined some of the candidates for confirmation, a large class of younger Indians. I heard them repeat the whole of Mr. Hordeu's catechism, and was much grati- fied, especially with two young boys and one young woman. The little child of an Indian died this after- noon, a case of gradual decline of the system, but the poor father and mother came and were present among our little group. I think they feel with comfort ' M^; ? i ' ■''if ^:i 1 .1, \i i«i 'I m k -■T«-njl| , II l^llfM,:Fr-7V' ,J' 128 THE NET IN THE BAY. that their Uttle child is with God, and look forward to seeing it again at a future day. August 12th. — Examination continued; paper on evidences, and on New Testament History. In the fore- noon, the hurial of the little child took place. We assem- bled in church, and had a short service, with a hymn, bearing on the Resurrection. After this I walked from the church, followed by the mourners, to the Indian grave- yard ; here, through the interpreter, we had those touch- inir sentences, " Man that is born, &c." and God's own declaration, " Write from henceforth, &c." I spoke a few words by the open grave, saying that I was thankful that it was a child I had first to inter among them, and that the child of an Indian, as to them especially I was sent : the child too of baptized parents, who ought not therefore to sorrow as those without hope. I then spoke of our state, laden with many sins, yet enabled to look for pardon through a Saviour's blood, and to anticipate a joyful eternity above ; that our safety now is to be in spirit and disposition like little children, that, as regards heaven and eternity, we are all but babes. O may the grave find us all ready, when the earth is opened for us as for this little one ! I shook hands with the mourning parents as I left, and said a few words of comfort to them, Mrs. INIilcs, who was by my side, interpreting. There was a subdued stillness of voice and tread, as all returned along the pathway from the little grave-yard. I was grieved to find that there were two separate burying grounds, but this is universal at all the outposts, originating in the distinction between the heathen Indians and the THE NET IN THE BAY. 129 kd to T on fore- [ssem- ivran, from ;rave- Jouch- s own a few European population. The separation will, I hope, not long exist here : if, as we may expect, a stone church be built to accommodate the increasing Christian popula- tion, the churchyard would then be common to all pro fessing believers ; in it there would be no distinction, " neither Greek nor Jew, Barbarian, Scythifin, bond nor free, but Christ all and in all." That such may be the case, is evident from the answer to my question — where they buried the heathen Indians ? the reply was we have not any such. The rites of superstition, the drum of the conjuror, have now left this spot, find are no longer heard. O that it might be so all over the land ere long I I find there is no open defiance of God's word among the Indians, not one who refuses to worship and conform outwardly : all will be baptized Christians when I leave, and many, I trust, sincere and lowly believers, adorning the doctrine of their Saviour, and when absent at the hunt and chase, longing to return, and hear God's word. In the evening a large party again for examination, upwards of forty, not so striking a number, but some pleasing cases among them. I purposely asked one of them, what he did on the Sabbath when out hunting ' he said he rested and sung some hymns, and prayed by himself. On his truthfulness I could perfectly rely. It was a beautiful v/ind for the Prince Albert, if she is only clear of the ice. When walking along the bank the wind blew the smell of the hav towards usj : it is brought up from the marsh, cut in salt water there, and is then spread out in the large field between the Fort and church. To see the Indians tossing and cocking K 130 THE NET IN THE DAY. \f\ iS it, transported one quite to an English meadow. This gives eniplo3nnent to a large number; the cattle fed upon this hay, when taken to the interior, where the hay is different, are found to droop and pine at once. August \'MJi. — Finished the examination of Mr. Jlor- den, with a paper on Church Ilistorj', and a sermon to prepare in my presence. The result of .ill was very creditable to him, seeing he was taken in some measure off his guard and un})repared, expecting to go back with me to lied lliver and read with me there. I feel there- fore fully justified in carrying forward his ordination. It is a great satisfaction to me to think of leaving liim here. He is as yet quite in youth, only just of age for priest's orders. What a delightful prospect, a life to give to God, with full energy and devotedness of heart ! It was a relief both to Mr. llorden and myself, to have closed the examination before the arrival of the ship, as it will leave more time for the arrangement of other mat- ters during my stay. The papers are all put aside, and left to be examined by Mr. Watkins, for the satisfaction of his own mind, as he must act as chaplain to present. One advantage certainly Mr. llorden possesses, and which it seems only an act of justice to others to men- tion, that he has more time for study and self-improve- menf. than any of our other missionary clergy. The secular cares, which weigh down all at the lied Uivcr and the other out statioi-is, do not affect those vho may labour on this Bay or at York. The Indian has his employment from the Hudson's Bay Company, and not having any settlement, does not require to be directed and guided in the matters of daily lite ; he is not de- THE NET IN THE BAY. ir>i ' ia- fit pendent on the minister. In tliis way ^Ir. IlcirJen has had a measure of leisure to give to the education of those around him, and t' the acquisition of the language for which others have longed in vain. Where the mis- sionary has not only to farm himself, fur tlie support of his family and school, hut to assist his people, a'.ul teach them to raise crops — nut only to mal^e his own fall fish- ing, but to stir up his im^jrovident peojjle to lay in a suf- ficient stock, that they may not have to wander off in quest of food — this leaves scarcely time or sj)irits for laborious study. How varied too are the links which hind together God's church and people ! The more I travel abroad, the more I feel convinced, that between almost anv two individuals meeting as strangers, there is some link, if they could but discover it. Intercourse with 2,lv. llor- den and the necessary investigation into his puot life and history brought out much of interest. I heard much of the Bish.op of Fredcricton : both islv. and Vns. Uor- den had been members of his congregation, when at St. Thomas, Exeter, and s])oke much of his labours there as a parochial minister. I heard much too of liis per- sonal trials and aHiictiuns before leaving England, and many points of resemblance presented themselves to my own condition. I read in manuscript the outline of his beautiful sermon on the sympathy subsisting between the scattered members of the church of Christ, the first preaciied by his Lordship on revisiting England, and taken down from memory by Mr. Ilorden at the time. This bronglit me, in a manner, into close contact with one engaged like myself, and was a matter of on small K 2 I'll M 1. i \ k I L I pi f I / I 132 THE NET IN THE BAY. interest *o one placed as a colonial bisliop, yet labouring alone, cut oif iVom all his brethren. But even more sin- gularly, I foimd that Mr. llorden had, at a later period, been much connected with an attached pu])il of my own, the Rev. W. Ilawker, of Charles Chaj)el, Tlymouth, called early to his rest. I had heard of his death since leaving England, but now first learnt some particulars regarding it — his gradual weakness and his closing ser- mons. This revived many old recollections, especially of hours of pleasure devoted to sacred music, in which all who knew him must remember his delicacy of taste and touch. In the evening some more candidates examined ; on this occasion many more ripened Christians among the older people, — which increased my conviction of the depth of the w^ork. I held a long conversation with an Indian from Rupert's House, who could s[)eak English, and expressed his sorrow that I was not going on, but seemed pleased when I promised that a clergyman should visit it this autumn. AVith another from Fort George, I conversed much about that place, having some thought of a{)pointing the clergyman coming out to that sphere. I made inquiries about the number and character of the Esquimaux trading there ; he says they are "mechct" — many, and apj)arently a happy contented people. They seemed to dwell chiefly near the Little and Great Whale Rivers : if so, the intercourse with them would be easily opened. A warm day throughout, the thermometer at 81°. August Wth. — Prep;\ring for the services of the mor- row, looking over the translation of the Confirmation Service. I;. THE NET IN THE BAY. 133 In the afternoon, i\Irs. Wilson arrived from Albany in canoe, having been sent for to join her husband here, who is ordered off to Temiscamingue district. How different her passage from our own ; she had been six days, while we were only one and a half They have, however, often been ten or twelve days accompli:hing this short distance, wind bound at some point or other. Mrs. W. had her three little babes ; how trying the passage under such circumstances ! One would almost have wished to have made the exchange, and given up to them our fairer passage. Three Indian canoes arrived also from the other direction, from Abbitibbe, in the interior, bringing the produce of their hunt, having been delayed in doing so by sickness. In the evening, as often during my stay, we enjoyed some sacred music. Manj^ of the gentlemen in the ser- vice are musical, beguiling their solitary hours with some instrument or other, and, when meeting in the summer, enjoy playing together. I discovered acci- dentally that this had been stopped after my arrival, out of feelings of respect, and in the uncertainty whether I might like it. Some hint of mv fondness for music which dropped from me, brought this to light, and afterwards, when not with Indians, we had our evening practising. Dr. Long, late of Montreal, the medical officer, had a very good collection of sacred music, from which we tried over many old favourites, aided often by his voice and instrument. On such occasions my men assisted, while our young friends at the Fort furnished some sweet trebles. Thus much of the happiness of life depends on turning to account the varied gifts of all. .'A X IF \34 THE NET IN THE DAY. i ■ ■ I- and the whole bodv arrows by '*tliat vvliicli cvorv hint supplioth.'" I have now c;iven uj) ail hopes of the arrival of tho ship bcforo another week, although in IMr. Ilorden's case last year, it was twelve o'cloek on Saturday nicht wlien their inms were fired at their first anchorage. At all events it will be too late for any to land, so that I could not proceed with the Ordination to-morrow, and 1 conld now rather wish that it midit he delayed until JMonday niorning to give us a quiet day of rest. The **SiQnis" had been read the previous Sunday, that the Ordination might take place as soon as possible after the arrival of the ship, as the fear of early winter (which it will be seen was not groundless) had made all urge that niy return should not be delaved a day longer than was necessary to aecomplish the objects for which I came. Avf/ust \r)fh. — Arose betimes for the early se^en o'clock service. Jt was a sharp morning, my first in- telligence was that there had almost been frost. This, after two most melting days with thunder-storms, woukl ])!'ove how sudden the chang'^s are. It was, however, a lovely morning ; from my window I could see the Indians passing along the terrace-wall to the church, some time before the appointed hour. When I went over, and had robed and entered, every place was filled, women and children in the aisles. We sunjj; and had a ])ortion of tlie Morning Prayers as before, after which I baptized seven adults. These had been examined, and I am satisfied that they know, and trust that they feel, something of a Saviour's love. Through the interpreter, Tin: ni:t in the bay. 135 I put the (juestions in the Baptismal Service for those of riper years, to which they answered audibly. I then baptized them, using the Indian form. i\Iore were pre- sent in consequence of the arrivals from Abbitibbe, in- deed I could not have found Moose fuller than at this time. I had just finished and given the final blessing, and was remaining until the congregation dispersed, when the interpreter whispered tome, " The ship has come." The words soon passed from mouth to mouth, and we could see the joy on their^ faces. It appeared that I had scarcely left the house five minutes, when the flag was seen flying from the Moose schooner, the appointed signal of tbe arrival of tlie Prince Albert at the outer anchorage. The joy of such an arrival, at sucli a place, can hardlv be iniajrined at home ; it is the event of tlie year, that which brings new faces to the country. To myself, although I had longed for it for some days, it could hardly have arrived at a better time, the Sunday Services will be over before any can land, and the Mon- day will transport us in thought to other lands, and bring us tidings from afar. The only thing I could have wished was, that jMr. Watkins might have shared with us the pleasure of the Indian Confirmations. It turned out thai, some Indians had been aware of the arrival 3f the ship the night before, and yet had come up to their tent, without mentioning it to any one. The guns had been fired the preceding night, but were not heard by any at the Fort. What makes it the more remarkable is tlie fiict, which was afterwards ascertained, that the Prince of Wales arrived at York the very same ' u \ I ■ i 1 I I" 130 THE NET IN THE BAY. 'f: day, August Mtli, and that it was the anniversary of mv own arrival in the country in 184!). On our return, we found a state of excitement un- usual on a Sunday morning, as one open boat had been sent off to the scliooner. We prepared, however, for the Enghsh service, at which we had more than the previous Sunday, probably from the desire to witness the Confirmation. I counted about sixty or seventy, although some were necessarily absent — the captain and crew of the schooner, and the men who had gone off in the boat for the ])}ieket. I read prayers as before, Mr. Hor- den takijig the Lessons, and then preached, especially for those to be confirmed, from Ex. xii. 2C, " What mean ve bv this service .'" From these words I considered, Why we confirm, and the nature of confirmation We confirm, because of aj)Ostolical example, because it is a reasonable service, because the Jews had and have something similar to it, because those who differ from us confess something of the kind necessary, as Calvin and modern Dissenters. I stated that Confirmation is not a sacrament, but is a personal undertaking of what was promised for us ; it is professing to do so in God's strength ; it is doing so before many witnesses. This line of argument I adopted here, as at my first Con- firmation at the Ked lliver, as the subject was com- paratively new, and it was necessary to meet any doubts or objections. To this I added a short practical applica- tion, after which I confirmed tvventv-three of those con- nected with the Fort, including Mrs. Miles and her sister, Mrs. Spencer, a daughter of each, and many others around. As is my custom, I addressed some THE NET IN THE BAY. 137 jver, the I- worils of counsel to them afterwards, leaving Phil. iii. 13, 14, as a motto with them, and the following as short rules of life : that prayer should he the hreath of their spiritual life ; thsit God's word should be the food of their souls ; that their Sabbaths should be viewed as their preparation for heaven ; that they should have fre- quent periods for meditation ; that they should be cautious in selecting friends ; bold in the confession of Christ ; tliat they should endeavour to find out their besetting sin, and pray against it; and, after due and special preparation, be diligent in frequenting the table of the Lord. During the service, I gave notice of the Ordination and Sacrament for the following Sunday. I could thus look forward to having in the administration of the latter the assistance of my two young friends. A short interval, and the Indian service commenced soon after three o'clock. Before the time the church was densely crowded, seats and aisles, the males chiefly on one side, ihe females on the other. We had sing- ing, and the service to the Psalms ; I then requested Mr. Horden to put some of the questions in the Con- firmation Catechism, to which they replied. I then very shortlv explained to them what they were about to do, begging them to think of it solemnly as in God's sight, and then asked them to approach ; they drew near very quietly and devotionally, and knelt down, twelve each time. I had my hands on two at a time, using the plural form, and having committed the Indian words to memory, I could use them with closed eyes as I passed around, to prevent distraction of thought. It 1 ,"f' I ) II I 'It 13-^ TIIF. N'F.T IN Tin, liAY. ' ■ was tlie fourth fimo I li.'ul used Indian words in con- firrniiiff, and vet on three occasions the words have heen diffi'reiif, hut tlie pleasure has hceii j^-reat in all. Ei;;ht times the communion rails were filled, a nintli time par- tially, 10.") in all, making 12S this day ; the lari;cst num- ber I hiid ever contirmcd in one day, excej)t at St. An- drew's church, lied River.''' I afterwards addressed them shortly, speaking especially of the beauty of their three expressions, on which I exhorted thcni often to meditate : — Melwachemoowin, the good tidings. Salikehewawin, love. Kalikega-jiematissewin, eternal life. In speaking to them 1 frecpiently stopped, and j)ut what I had to say in the form of a question, and said, " Now answer," wdien the old chief answered fully and well. Such cpiestions are I am sure of use fur a )>eo- ple of this description : they are common in South India in native con: ; ^gations, and are found beneficial, leading to growth in knowledge, and preventing the tendency to drowsiness. There are many young men here of great promise, who seem anxious about the one thing needful ; their eye is fixed on Mr. Horden when he reads or speaks to them ; their souls are, I think, stirred up, and I trust they are giving their youth to God. They are to appearance like the young man whom Jesus be- holding loved. And many young women too, of no less promise, who answer beautifully, and whose manners * Two from the Fort, unable to be present in tlic morning, were confirmed on a sul)sequent occasion, making the total num- ber confirmed at Moose, 130. o\ til w I) C( tl Tiii: m:t in tiif. r.\\. I'M) one niiu'lit nlmost call il refined and cngni';ing. For tlicni the kindness of Mrs. Miles Inul done ninch, ns well as latterly the attention of Mrs, Ilorden to their ft hest interests. Their beaded cap was left behind in coining up, and they drew near with inicovered head ; this I prefer myself in the case of the Indian, to any kind of white cap, to which they are unaecnstomcd, and which would not generally suit them. So closed the public services of our Confirmation Sab- hath ; never did I feel more interested in those brought before me. They waited, as usual, on the bank to say good evening : this we said to more than half, but the numbers being so large, we were then obliged to content ourselves with a general farewell. Later in the evening I strolled along the bank to the lower wood, to satisfy myself that all was quiet : fill was still and had a Sab- bath air, and from many of their tents I heard the hymn of praise ascending. After our evening family prayers in the upper hall of the fort, I felt quite fresh at the end of the day, only humbled in the retrospect of the day's mercies. let not the unworthiness of the instrument stay the descent of the good S[)irit ! May the 1 28 be at the last j)artakers of the joy that remaineth for God's people. It was a heavenly day ; may the savour of it be diffused through the week. August I6th. — The wind still in the south ; no hope, therefore, of the ship landing her passengers. Soon after ten o'clock, however, the letters were brought ashore. The greater part of my own have of course gone to the lied River, but a few were addressed to m*} here, in the expectation of finding me. The only 1 1;. \>r 3 ' I ^: f 'i 1 ' ' 'J 1 ^'< J 140 THE NET IN THE BAY. painful intelligence was concerning the Rev. R. James, who, at the eleventh hour, had heen forbidden by his me- dical advisers to return to his work this year. This gives me much more anxious thought, and will give me more to do through the winter, in supplying the daty^ to a large and important parish. I was glad to find that another labourer for this eastern quarter had really ar- rived. I had a kind note from the Rev. E. A. Wat- kins, reporting himself and Mrs. Watkins a good heahh. One circumstance may be here inserted, which I omitted to mention, in order not to break the continuity of the record of our Sunday services. The Confirma- tions naturally led me to revert to my own, and I acci- dentally mentioned, in coi.versation, that I was con- firmed by the late Bishop Sandford, in Edinburgh. The name caught the ear of one present, \fho said his father had been a pupil of the bishop's, and on inquiry it could not have boon lono; before. jNIr. F. .tescue had ouiv- reached Moose a few weeks before myself, and had pre- sented to me a letter of introduction from INIajor Straitli, the active secrctarv of the Church ^lissionarv Society. He had come out, as all do, uncertain where he might be fixed ; but for the happy coincidence of his appoint- ment to Moose, and my visiting it, he might have been years in the country withont meeting me ; as one packet, intrusted in this way to one in the service, to h't de- livered to rpr^, was carried to Vancouver, .and found its way to me from thence. I was glad when my young friend came to me during the week, to speak to me re- garding the sacrament of the Lord's Suj)per, and told m in THE NET IN THE BAY. 141 me lie had been a coininunieant for two years before leav- ing home. Avgust l/th. — ^Wind still adverse and strong. Threat- ening of rain and thunder ; tlie former did fall in heavy showers, the latter kept off, though there was extreme sultriness all day. The wind falling at night, Mr. Ilor- den planned to go off in the morning, and bring Mr. and Mrs. Watkins ashore. I was oecupied through the day in perusing the accounts from home, and news- ])a})ers. How great tiie difference ; the activity of thought and mind, tlu extreme energy, which is the mark of the age in Britain, compared with the stillness and quiet of life in this country. May it tend to keep us nearer to Gud, in closer communion with liim. Among the Abhitibbe Indians it .appears that several are inquirers, wlio have petitioned for instruction from Mr. Ilorden. These he saw for a lonii; time durin": the day^ and explained to them as fully as he could the plan of salvation. Such, indeed, is now generally the case ; anv Indians from a distance, wlien here, are led to in- quire about the truth ; they feel as if rebuked by the sight of Christian Indians, and wisli to cast in their lot witJi them. Tiiis they do, even with some of the prac- tices of heathenism still cleaving to them. There was one case anion jr these of a man with two wives, sisters, but when remonstrated with, and told that this was an entire bar-ier in the way of his reception of Christianity, he was immediately willing to give up one. For the one so discarded we must feel much, but she will not be lost bight of, for in such cases it almost becomes a t 11 \H\ .1'/ r 'i J 'I 1-12 THE NET IN THE BAY. i .' \ Christian duty to see that she is in some way provided for and settled. Now, even supposing some of them to go back, and prove insincere or unsteady, yet if others go hence and carry the leaven of Divine truth, how ra- pidly might it spread and penetrate the land ! In the afternoon I took the weekly lecture : my sub- ject was Isaiah xii. 3, " With joy shall ye draw water from the wells of salvation," making it a preparatory lecture for the approaching communion. I enjoyed it much. August \Sih. — Mr. Ilorden had started, I found, soon after daylight, to go off to the ship. Some of my men accompanied him as a crew, with a guide from the factory. To those from lied lliver, the sight of a ship was e-o great a novelty, that they wondered that I was iu>t equally anxious to see it. In the morning I taught the inquiring Indians, at Mr. Ilorden' s request. I first thought them entirely ignorant, hut I gradually extracted more from them. When the book was drawn from the breast, I got them to repeat the alpiiabet, or rather, I should say, their syllabic; sounds ; then words of two syllables, then the trisyllables and longer words. The husband assisted the wife, the Moose Indian the one from Abbitibbe. Of sacred truth I found that thev knew the elements, and were anxious to know much more. It ended in my feeling aiTcctionatdy to one and all of them ; with in- struction each day their baptism might be thought of for next Sunday, and their little ones might then be given to the Saviour. It was a new thing to me to teach the alphabet — a thing vvhich I never could manage, lA THE NET IN THE BAY. 143 fond as I am of teaching after a child can read, and has made some definite progress. In this case, not be- ing sure of the ground myself, I had to do it the more carefully, lest they should get before me, but by watch- ing I could follow each sound, while, by dodging them up and down, I gave them the idea that I knew more than was really the case. In the afternoon we were pleased to find that the Prince Albert was approaching, and dinner was scarcely over, wlien the guns were fired. The salute was re- turned from the Fort. The ship then took up her anchorage eight or nine miles oif, and from that the schooner brought off Mr. and Mrs. Watkins. It had been blowing so fresh since morning, that we were not surprised to find that Mr. ITorden and party were not with them. They had reached tlie ship sands, but no farther. Singularly enough, we were, therefore, the first to welcome our new comers. After the introductions and salutations were over, I paced the terrace for some time w^th Mr. Watkins, on the look out '''>r Mr. Ilorden. I took him to visit Adam and Eve, two « i the oldest Indians of the place ; also to see Jacob and Ivaehd Sailor in their tent. Spoke to Jacob, and asked him for his book, to show Mr. Wat- kins, when he produced some beautiful copies of the Lord's Prayer. On my .asking whether they were his own doing, he pointed evidently with an air of satisfac- tion to his wife, saying, '■' Wela." I then understoot^ that they wen* for me, some cojiies w Inch I had requested lipr to make for some dear friends at home. Soon aftier Mr. Ilorden and mv friend arrived, and H 144 THE NET IN THE BAY. I M 'i^ t < ' I' verv glad were we to welcome them on terra fnna. We were not a little amused at the tale of their adventure. "While waiting for the tide, some had landed on the sands, and were rambling in quest of fruit ; the others, meanwh le, had fallen asleep in the boat, and drifted off to sea. When aware of their position, they tried in vain tt, pull back to their companions ; but were carried by the wind in the other direction, and fortunately fell in with the schooner. Mr. Ilorden and the others were left on the island without boat or provisions — indeed almost in the position of Robinson Crusoe — this, too, with the tide making upon tliem. They were, how- ever, luckily discerned by Ca})tain Royal, from the Prince Albert, who sent his gig to take them off. They thus reached the ship, though not to accomplish the object they had in view, finding Mr. and Mrs. Watkins flown, but they partook of Captain Royal's hosj)itality ; and, when all the party were safe on shore, we enjoyed a hearty laugh at their expense. It was rather a for- bidden subject afterwards, as my men did not like to hear of their bad seamanship. 1 believe the secret was, that though used to tlieir own boats with a single square sail, they were nnable to manage the more complicated rigging of that they now had, and besides this they were weak when so divided. The evening passed pleasantly in social conversation, and looking into some of the parcels and letters intrusted to the personal charge of Mi . Watkins by fiiends at home. I was delighted, though almost overpowered, to hear of all that had been sent to Red River and our other missions : the list ap})ended to a single number of ^^^,-,^' THE NET IN THE BAY. 145 the Church Missionary Record would show how many think of the poor Indian, how many pray for him^ how many labour actively for his good. The most ])leasing sight of all was the lithographed sheet for the Indians, forming a little book for their use, prepared from a draught sent home by Mr. Ilorden, in the syllabic cha- racter. It has, indeed, all the advantages of short- hand, and is multum in parvo^ containing a body of Christian truth. "We felt at once that it would make the Indian's heart to leap for joy. Had they only known at home that it would form his breast-plate, they would have had it in a smaller size, doubling the sheet in half. But, such as it is, it is most valual)le. What a delightful close of the alphabet lesson of the mornnig Auyust \dth. — All the raoniing with Messrs. Wat- kins and Horden, in coiiference about missionary mat- ters, and the detail of work. The examination papers were all given to Mr. Watkins, anl Sunday morning was tixed for the admission of Mr. Horden to deacon's orders. We had much conversation about the expe- diency of fommencing a new station on the East Main. The Church Missionary Society had sent Mr. Watkins, in com})liance with my urgent entreaty that a clergy- man in full orders should be sent to take the cliari'-e of O Moose ; under this idea Mr. Watkins had come out, supposing that Mr. Horden would return witli me. What I had seen led me to feel, as I think every reader will, that it would indeed be an unwise step to remove Mr. Ilorden from a sphere of i)resent usefulness. To have taken him with me might have secured him some Intel- i> y. i ;■!!, M }i i» t ' i'.i ]46 THE NET IN THE BAY. : f' [1 ' lectual advantages, but it would have been at an immense sacrifice. Time and souls would have been lost thereby. This, then, was a point fully decided ; the further ques- tion remained, how to employ both to the best advan- tage. They placed themselves entirely at my disposal, willing to remain passive in the matter. This, of course, laid a heavy responsibility upon me. Mr. Ilorden was quite ready to go elsewhere, and break up the new ground, if I wish-^d to leave Mr. Watkins at Moose ; while the latter, though imagining himself at his jour- ney's end, was equally willing to go forth again and make his first trial of missionary life at a more solitary spot. The former plan would leave one at Moose, un- acquainted with the language, in something of the po- sition of ]Mr. Horden a year ago ; it would therefore be a great loss to the larger population here, to say nothing of rending the ties already formed. Therefore, though feeling dce})ly grieved for the additional hardships which it might lay upon our friends just arrived, my own mind inclined rather to the alternative of sending them on- wards. The chief difiiculty in opening a new station at Fort George, or elsewhere, will be the want of fuel and food, where no notice has previously been given. Mr. Miles gave us, most kindly, what information he could, but of course he could make no definite promises with- out specific instructions from the Comjiany. All this left me in suflficient perplexity, and of the pain of my conflicting feelings I can give but a faint idea. At the end of the morning's conference I had thus abundant matter for prayerful thought. I had gained some insidit into the minds and characters ol' THE NET IN THE BAY. 14; ,1 my young friends, both eager to be engaged in their Master's work. At times I could scarcely help wishing that Mr. Watkins were at the Red Rirer, to supply the place of Mr. James, at St. Andrew's Church : he ap- pears to possess great capacity for usefulness, and would suit admirably there, but this may not be. We must therefore strengthen this eastern mission, and trust that God may, in His good time, supply the lack of service in the other quarter. Captain Royal, and Dr. Blomfield, the medical officer of the Prince Albert, came ashore during the day : the former I had not seen since we came out in company. He seemed astonished to find me so much darker, partly, perhaps, the effect of climate, but at present it is much increased by exposure for many weeks to the sun. August 20th. — My time not admitting of much delay, I arranged finally about the stations. Fixed that ]\Ir. Horden should remain at Moose, and that Mr. and Mrs. Watkins should proceed at once to Fort George, and spend the winter there. I had given them the option of remaining at Moose until the spring, and going up as soon as the bay opened, but they preferred going on to their af)pointed sphere, and this resolution I could not but commend. I felt much satisfaction in this arrange- ment : it will in a measure occupy this part of Rupert's Land. Mr. Horden, at Moose, will embrace Albany and Rupert's House ; while Fort George, Little Whale River, and any intercourse with the Esquimaux will fall to Mr. Watkins. He had seen many of the latter, more than usual, in ])assing though the Straits, and felt, he said, much drawn towards them, almost inclined to L 2 ,.| % "T"^ Tt^^F^ w^m^ ' 14' |j I hi h i f '\ ?>' 1 K'- 148 THE NET IN THE DAY. jump ashore and visit them. Mr. Watkins will be the remotest minister of our Church in this quarter. The Bishop of Newfoundland runs up the southern part of the coast of Labrador, where he has already planted some stations, but they do not stretch beyond Sandwich Bay. Indeed, since my return, I had a letter from his Lordship, in which he says that, for the present, he re- gards Cape Webuk as his boundary. To the north of that ca})e are the Moraviar settlements, to which the Bishop makes favourable allusion in his Labrador jour- nal. Li these I had long been much interested, and I now wrote to my friend, the Rev. P. La Trobe, the excellent secretary of the Moravian body in London, re- questhig him to send complete sets of all their transla- tions of Scripture, hymns, .fcc, for Mr. Watkins, by the ship next year. Of their Ne'v Testament, hymn-book, ike, I had copies at the Red River, but these were un- available here. Mr. Ilorden had, fortunately, a few translations, which were kindly given up for INlr. Watkins ; among these was the Esquimaux-English Vo- cabulary, compiled for the use of the Arctic expeditions, by order of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. In the afternoon we had a happy service in the church, seven baptisms, — two grandchildren of Mr. Miles, the children of Mr. James Clouston, accountant at the factory, the three children of Mr. Wilson, the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Horden, and the daughter of the valuable store-keeper, Linklater, who, when ne- cessary, had acted as interpreter for me with the In- dians during my stay. The baptisms had been delayed, as Mr. Horden wished to secure the services of Mr. and THE NET IN THE BAY. 149 Mrs. Watkins as sponsors for their babe. They kindly wished my own name fo be added to the Christian name, and I baptized her, in consequence, Elizabeth Anderson ; the very name, although they knew it not when they selected it, of her to whom I owe all my earliest and most sacred impressions, by whose knee and from whose lips I first learnt to pray. The parents with the spon- sors formed quite a congregation, and made a pretty group round the font. I took the opportunity of con- necting myself with the estimable family at the Fort, by offering myself as an additional sponsor for Mr. Miles's eldest grandson, and also undertaking the same office for the son of my kind hostess at Albany. Among my clergy, it has been my custom to have one godchild in each family, and so it may continue during my lifetime, while our number is only small, and I have already four godchildren of my ovn baptism among their families. This day had long been anticipated at Moose, and the baptisms had been deferred in expectation of my arrival, or that of a clergyman. It can never happen again with a regular ministry among them, that two or three of a family should be baptized at once. August 2\st. — A. day of extreme heat, of which we felt rather the incapacitating effects. P^ngaged in preparing instructions for Mr. Watkins, to place in his hands for his guidance in duty. These were necessarily very general, and it was difficult to pro- vide for oontingencies. From distance, and there not being any direct communication, I could not expect to liear from him more than once a year; he will thus be very much cut off from advice, either from myself or t •, ?i »« I 1 rt m ir>o THE NET IN THE BAY. > i, t'rom Rngland. From Mrs. Sj)encer, of Fort George, wlio is still with us, we learnt some additional particu- lars, and I find that in some respects the supply of food is even better than at Moose, more of the larger animals, of deer, &c., and a greater abundance of wood par- tridges and wild fowls. In house accommodation they may have some difficulty tnis winter, but a portion of the Fort, not at present used, will be given up to them, though it may possess Httle of furniture or internal comfort. To Mrs. Spencer, it is a source of great joy. How changed to them the aspect of the place, with the ministry of the Word among them ! Her son Rupert, who is now s< ioned at Little Whale River, a small branch station ot the Hudson Bay Company, will, I hope, be of use in interpreting for Mr. Watkins, with the Esquimaux. During the morning I received the subscriptions of Mr. Horden, preparatory to the Ordination ; Mr. Miles, being a magistrate of Rupert's Land, was good enough to administer the oath in the absence of the re- gistrar. For the last two days Mr. Horden had been seeing those Indians who were to partake of the Lord's Sup- per. We purposely only selected a small number of the more promising, those of whom, humanly speaking, one might have every hope. These he saw this after- noon, and on coming to me he seemed much overpowered by his emotions, when he spoke of his people. It had opened up new sources of delight from the closer inter- course which he had thus with them ; it brought out more affection towards himself on their part, and much THE NET IN THE BAY. 151 5! love to Christ, though accompanied with a clecp sciibc of their own weakness. Indeed it required encourage- ment on our part to induce even the most advanced among tliem to come forward, so much did they feel their unworthiness. Mr. llorden's leehngs at tins time were very similar to what I had witnessed at Fairford, in the case of Mr. Cowley, on the morning of the Confirma- tion there.* None of these Indians had ever been ad- mitted to the Lord's table by Mr. Barnlcy ; they wer • then in too elementary a state ; this was, therefore, their first approach. One, my guide from Albany, Isaac Ilardisty, deplored much the absence of his wife, and asked earnestly when there would be the oppor- tunity at Albany. It was exactly such a longini; which we hope to find in many hearts, that those partaking may lead others to desire the same privileges. Met my two young friends in my own room after family prayers, in order that we might seek an especial blessing on the morrow, aud commend to God the in- fant church at Moose, and the station to be planted, if He permit, at Fort George. Our prayer thus embraced the Bay and the East Main, and the poor Esquimaux beyond. Nor did we forget those at Red River, and the other churches scattered over the land, and then, enlarging the sphere of vision, thought of Christ's uni- versal Church. This reminded me of similar meetings in the early period of my ministry, when associated with a respected father m Israel, the late Rev. R. P. Buddicom ;t we used to meet with him, — my fellow- * Church Missionaiy Intelligencer, vol. ii. p. 279. t Incumbent of St. George's, Everton, for a quarter of a ^ 1^ 1.V2 THE NET IN THE BAY. i) ciirato ukI myself, every Saturday evening, to implore a blessing on the coming day. Juf/ust 22/i(i. — Sunday. — A remarkable Sunday. To myself as my farewell Sunday ; to Mr. Watkins his opening one ; to Mr. Horden that of his ordination ; to many of the congregation that of their re-appearance at the table of the Lord, from which they had long been debarred ; to the Indians that of their first communion. Early seven o'clock service : Indian prayers read by Mr. Ilorden, after which Mr. Watkins delivered^ through the interpreter, a simple and affectionate address from the words of the apostle, Eph. v. 8, " Ye were some- times darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord ; walk as children of the light." DweUing (1) on darkness as ignorance and sin, (2) on light as knowledge and good- ness, and stating {?>) the obligation to walk as children of the light. It was much to the point, and effective, and listened to attentively by all. We had then a short interval before English service, and assembled at eleven o'clock. The Rev. E. A. Watkins read prayers. The second lesson for the day brouglit before him the Ordination text of the Bishop of London (Acts xx. 28), when he was ordained priest at St. Paul's. IIow different the scene in the cathedral then from the ordination in the infant church for which we were met together. Yet on this occasion we felt forcibly the unity of God's people. Mr. Watkins had been onlained at St. Paul's on June (ith ; on the same day I had myselt held an ordination at St. Andrew's century, and afterwards Principal of St. Bees' College, Cumljci- laiitL i\y '■^;a»a>aitf. V'fTlfV" ' "—^tdMa plore a THE NET IN THE BAY. 153 Church, lied River. In the interval he had crossed the Atlantic, and passed through the Straits ; I had come over lake, river, and rapid, and here we met to join in a similar service. The 107th Psalm, too, being one of the Psalms for the day, vvas very applicaljle to those who had just reached the end of their voyage. All who could be spared from the Prince Albert, had come on shore the night before, to be present at the service. I preaclied myself from Ex. xxviii. 36, " Thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet. Holiness to the Lord." Of it, as before, I subjoin a short abstract. OUTLINE OF SERMON. Our three Sabbaths here. Baptismal, Confirmation, Sacramental. This sometiiing more, that of Ordina- tion, and the Ordination precedes the Lord's Supper, so that we shall all minister together at the Commu- nion. We shall then be a threefold cord ; three linked together. There were only five in the whole country when I first landed, and to-day we are three at this dis- tant spot. The work then increases, but all depends on such services as the present; and on what does it rest, on the talents ? no ; rather on the holiness of the instrument. For this end, I have chosen a beautiful verse out of a singular clia})ter. The priest stands before us, arrayed in his garments of glory and beauty, and as one gazes one feels tempted to ask. Who is this ? Is there not the sketch of one higher than Aaron — holier than Aaron — mightier than >,) I i' I,. " ■ 1 ''.') 1 1 ,'*, jl hm i Iv 1^ I : ■ ) in ifU'i ^ 'A ■ 1.^4 THE NET IN THE BAY. Aaron ? Would not the very infirmities of Aaron point to one abovj him ? We cannot go wrong then in se- lecting Aaron for our contemplation ; ourselves weak^ the subject is the more adajjted to us, and we feel the more that the excellency of the power must be of God. Let us then contemplate from the words, I. The necessity of holiness. The object of God in creation has been beautifully stated, as being " to circulate his image and likeness." This still his object — to restore that lost image. This echoed through the whole of Scripture. " 13e ye holy, for I am holy." " Be ye perfect, even as your Father is perfect." "Without hohness no man shall see the Loj'd." The object then is to introduce holiness on earth, that heaven may be peopled with holy subjects. For surely, nearness to God requires holiness ; the Saviour's blood cries aloud for holiness ; the gift of the Spirit makes holiness attainable. The figures of the text proclaim it : the pure gold, without admixture, dross, or alloy ; the deep engraving on it ; all this would shew the depth and purity of the work of the Spirit. The inscription on the forefront of the mitre would demand that the holiness be visible — *' known and read of all." II. The effect of holiness — its influence. Alexander felt something of this influence when he approached Jerusalem ; the Arabs felt it, when they called it "El Kuds, the Holy." Joseph's holiness was recognised by Pharaoh in Egypt ; Dan-ol's holiness acknowledged by Nebuchadnczzer in Babylon. ■'A he n( i THE NET IN THE BAY, 155 point in se- vveak, ?el the be of ?oId, I A holy ministry will tell, and will be reflected in a holy people. A holy people will tell, and attract others around ; their " merchandise and hire will be holiness to the Lord;" on the very •' bells of their horses will be Holi- ness to the Lord." The Lidiaii will learn by contrast and by contact with holiness. The conjuror will fear and quail ; he will say, as the evil spirits of old, " We know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God." The object of the ministry then is to win men to holiness. With one hand on Ungava Bay in anticipa- tion, and the other on the distant Chippewyan, we would say to uh, " Come ye, let us walk in thf hght of the Lord;" we would not rest till all committed to our charge have heard the joyful sound. Such is the effect of holiness, and I appeal to your- selves, whether those we leuve with you do not com- mend themselves to your hearts as men of holiness. If the woman of Shunem could say, " I perceive that this is an holy man of God which passeth by us continually," would you not say this of those among you? Their prayers, their labours, their conversation, these surely savour of holiness. And I think I may go beyond and ask, whether the holiness has not been in measure re- flected. When I hear him who is now to be your be- loved minister, speaking with animation and delight of those once regardless, but now anxious for their souls, it seems as if some reflections of this holiness were being multiplied around. I i!: %iH ■ I \1 156 THE NET IN TIIK BAY. i ' 1 ' And, brethren, another beacon light is now to be placed on this dark shore. Never can I forget the words of the most eloquent perhaps of living ministers,* when, referring to those who plant beacons along the coast, he said, '* from them I derive my best lesson." So, brethren, we know well the dangers of the Bay, the dangers of the iceberg and the shoal ; but these are only temporal dangers — temporal, yet, oh, how near eternity ! And shall not the shore of the Bay, from which this territory is named, resound with joy at finding the spiritual beacons raised along it, which point over the waves of this troublesome world, to a blessed haven of life, and joy, and peace? Think of Fort George, Rupert's House, Moose, Albany, York, and Churchill, — some believers in each, and tlie fringe of light gra- dually extending along the bleak shore. But let me not forget to notice, III. The view of sin presented in the context. The verv reason o:iven for the mitre on the forehead is that Aaron may bear the inicjuity of their holy things (ver. 38). Aaron, a sinful man, bear the sins of others, and yet have holiness inscribed on his brow ! O, no ! surely if this is Aaron in himself, the crown must fall from his head, the engraving of the signet must be de- faced, for he has sinned. Then there is one greater than Aaron here — the Priest who bears the names of his people on his breastplate, — the Priest of the lirim and Thummim, — the Priest who can wear Holiness to the Lord on his forehead, for lie is the Holy One of God, Jehovah our Righteousness. * The Rev. 11. Mclvill. THE NET IN THE BAY. 157 And now, in closins;, to mv youns; friends I would say, seek this personal holiness, bear it on your fore- head, as " a workman that needcth not to be ashamed.'* As an eminent servant of God said, whose face in the freshness of youth I remember, but wlio now rests with Jesus, *' A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God." ^'^ And yet, when ^^ou feel at the close of an imperfect Sabbath, or at the end of a feelde ser- mon on a heavenly theme, — Woe is me — when you feel that your head is almost bowed down like a bulrush under a sense of sin, then arise to the blessed thought that you are not alone, but that your standing is in Christ, the G;reat lliuh Priest, on his foreliead recos;- nize the engraving. Holiness to the Lord, and take com- fort. To those about to approach the table of the Lord, I would sav, tix the eye of fiiith on the great High Priest — the Priest and the Victim — here is the Lamb provided, the victim slain — the only Priest over tlie house of God; but where? "Within the veil, with the names on his breast, with holiness on his forehead. His the crown of j)urc gold, but his, too, the blessed office to i)lace a crown on the lowliest child of God. Yes, fix the eye of faith, on the true Joshua in that beautiful vision, clotiied first in filthy garments, but then unolotlied and clothed upon. Here is Christ, in the robe of humiiuition, yea, bearing sin — made sin for us ; but here, too, is Christ clothed for ever in the gar- ment of glory and beauty above. And in this behold the believer ; brethren, in ourselves how weak, how * The Rev. R .MMrray M'Cheyue, of Dundee. \ i r 158 THE NET IN THE BAY. sinful — our riglitousness as filthy r.ags ; but when faith opens the eyes, then how great the change — to stand in the Redeemer, the ring on our hand, the shoes on our feet, the best robe, yea, Christ's sinless and spotless robe thrown over us. O may God give us that per- fect and entire accejitance this day in his own dear Son, that the precious blood may wash out every stain, and that the righteousness of the Lord may be brt)ught near to every soul. I 1 At the conclusion of the sermon, Mr. Ilorden was presented by Mr. Watkins. The Litany then proceeded : the oath of supremacy was administered by Mr. Miles, and Mr. Ilorden was solemnly admitted to deacon's orders, when all withdrew except those who were to partake of the Lord's Supper. We were in all twentv-five ; how various our conditions! Some had received it in the land, but several years ago ; some never before in their lives ; some had received it last in the bosom of their own families, and here we all met, many of us soon to part, at the table of the Lord. What earthly friendship more durable than this, the bond which unites those who are heirs of God, though strangers and jjilgrims here. If we could look inwards, and ascertain the thoughts and prayers of that little band, how would tliey pass over time and space, and embrace things beyond this present world ! The heat was very intense, the doors were thrown wide open during service, and the windows as far as possible taken out, yet even then it was very opj)res- sive. THE NET IN THE BAY. 159 anu In the afternoon I devolved tlie service almost entirely on Mr. ITorden, that he might be brought prominently before the people as now their duly ordained minister. He read the evening prayers to the end of the lessons, when I spoke to them before the baptisms, grounding my address on the words of Simeon, " Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace." This is very beau- tiful and touching in the Cree, especially the words, " Let him gently dei)art, pukketin kittah meyo nukkut- tahk." I asked them if they could not say this at the close of such a day, assuring them that I could from the depth of my heart. I said I had heard accidentally of one who the previous evening, on coming up the river, with the sun bright over his head, and the gush of thankfulness in his heart, had remarked, "Tnis surely must be like heaven." I stopped for a moment, and looked at the individual, saying, " Kcla na — you vvas it not?" when he immediately said, " Yes; but I think this Sabbath and its enjoyments much more like heaven." This was exactly the point to which I wished to bring mv remarks, that the Sabbath was our nearest foretaste of heaven, far nearer than the greatest earthly good, and here it was brought out from his own lips, without his having the smallest idea that liis words had been re- peated to me, or that I was going to appeal to him in ])ublic. It was not a little pleasing that he could thus follow my drift, and anticipate my very meaning. The Rev. J. Horden then took the baptisms, his tirst amono; his flock, eight adults and seven infants, using with fluency the words of the Baptismal Service almost entire. After which tlie Indians were requested to I : i 1 ■1 II i 1 .1 1 i ; 1! ' 1 *1 ' ■ ■■1 p IGO THE NET IN i IF BAY. i h' i h ■<; ■ 1 withdraw, except those to wliom we liad specially spoken of the Lord's Supper. Before it, however, I had three baptisms, tV ' child of Captain Swanson, of the schooner, and two others, whose parents were unable to be pre- sent on Friday ; these I took myself, as Mr. Ilorden was sponsor in one case. We then gathered around the table of the Lord, while there was the dee])est stillness in the little church. The feelings of the Lidians were outwardly visible, yet all was very chastened and subdued. It was through- out quiet, solemn, and very affecting. When I came to the part of the service where they were about to draw near, I ])urposelv re})eated once or twice the words in which we w^ere {ib''..t to administer the sacred elements, and asked if they fully understood them, to ascertain that they were indeed following with the spirit and with the understanding also, as far as man may discern. On their professing to do so, we proceeded ; they came u^) and knelt very reverently at the communion rails. ]Mr. Ilorden assisted me in the administration ; I took the bread myself, and in the Indian tongue gave it to them one by one ; Mr. Horden followed me with the cup in the same wav. Mr. Watkins was with us as a listener and spectai r, and partook with us in the feast of love. We v; ere in all thirty-one ; we might have more than doubled the number, but our object was to comnmne with a few, and to allow the feeling to spread, and the desire for admission to come from their own hearts. Many expressed to us afterwards a longing for the re- turn of such a season. Unwilling, only because unable, to spend another THE NET IN THE BAY. IGl Sunday at Moose, I had given notice of morning service for Tuesday, St. Bartholomew's Day, announcing my intention of admitting Mr. Ilorden to priest's orders on that day. Very unadvisable is it generally thus to bring the two ordinations so nearly together, where it is possible to avoid it, but in this case it seemed hardly to admit of a doubt. To leave him in deacon's orders, without the possibility of assistance in duty, and so far from myself, would not have at all accom}dislied the object I had in view, I therefore accepted his year of good service as catechist, instead of the usual year of probation in dea- con's orders. During the day a canoe had arrived from Michipi- coton and Lake Superior. It brought the letter I had written at Red lliver, when we were all in distress, say- ing that on account of the flood I must give up the hope of seeing ^Nloose this year. Luckily, in the pro- vidence of God, I had preceded it, and so it only caused a little amusement. August '2^rd — Engaged in making out the necessary papers and instructions to leave with Mr. Horden. Very few hours now remained to prepare all that I in- tended to leave for those here, as well as for what I wished to send home by the Prince Albert. I had also to think of stores and provisions for my homeward journey ; but all this was kindly taken oif my hands by Mr. :Miles, The ladies had also taken care that I should have a few pretty specimens of native work, to carry away in remembrance of my visit : in the neat- ness of their work those of this quarter much excel. All the heavier packages were now landed from the ship ; w I s ■ \ t ! w \- 162 THE :tet tn the bay. indeed, the greater part of the cargo was now on shore. It is hioiight off by the schooner in successive trips, and this causes some dehiv. The homeward carso of furs, thougli valuable, is comparatively less bulky, and being Hght they have to take in a large quantity of stone as ballast. This, of course, is not lost at the end of the voyage, and, strange as it may appear, some parts of London are paved witii stones from these distant Bays. The package wlin h excited most interest in the Fort was a piano, whirK itud been ordered by Mr. Miles as a present for his (iati-htcr, the first, of course, that had ever been seen iu ro. We were not long in asking for a trial of its power ; its sound durnig the day seemed to uive new life to the Fort. We could not, however, encroach much on Mrs. Clouston, as she was preparing to leave on the morrow for a short time. I could not but think how much it would enliven their long winter. Mr. Gladman, chief trader of Rupert's Ilocse, ar- rived during the day. I was glad to see him as being in charge of tliat station and the Rupert's River dis- trict. Had I had more time I should have liked to have gone on tliere ; indeed, had I known exactly when the ship would arrive, I might have gone to Rupert's House first, and returned to Moose in time for it. Rut I could not calculate on this, and I had before sent iiiessages to Mr. Gladman, expressing my sorrow at not seeing him, and asking him, as far as possible, to befriend our mis- sions. How dilFerent to meet face to face, and to confer on such matters. lie seemed much delighted that Fort George was to have a resident minister. I arranged with him that Mr. Watkins should go as far as Rupc.t's THE NET IN THE BAY. I(i3 House by the schooner, and take all his property so far ; from that he wouhl have to hire a canoe and Indians, and could take but very little of his luggage on. The rest would follow by the first open water in the spring, that is to say, towards the beginning of June. In the evening I had a dolishtful bathe after the heat of the day, on the fartlh i side of a little island with a sandy beach, to which we rowed from the Fort . As one floated on the surhue, one oo»dd see the Aurora Borealis and n brilliant moon, which had just com- pleted its first qniwtev. Of the Aurora Borealis, a daily register is kept ut Moose by Mr, James Clouston, who hus ft great fondness for scientific [jursuits, and an aptitude for astronomical observations, which might, under more favourable circumstances, have been de- veloped to advantage. A similar register is kept at other spots in the country, as Michipicoton, Peel's River, &e., and the results are periodically transmitted to Captain Lefroy, R.A., of the Magnetical Observa- tory, Toronto. In the last report issued by that officer'^- very flattering allusion is made to the returns of Mr. Svvanston, of ^Michipicoton, Mr. Clouston, of Moose, and Mr. Anderson, of Attrabasca. Allusion is also made to those of Mr. W. llardisty, which established, beyond a doubt, that there is a sound accompanying the Aurora in high latitudes, which he compares to the gentle waving of a silk flag. This was corrohorated by some of my men, who declared that they had often hearil it when out on the prairie. The belief in this, * " Second Rrport on Observations of the Aurora IJorealls, roroiilo, 18j2." M 2 ; 1 1 i I 1. ,' •*e l(il THE NET IN THE MAY. indeed, is common in the country, but I had not before given full credit to it ; from Captain Lefroy's remarks, it seems now accej)ted as a scientific fact. The most remarkable point, however, as noticed by Mr. llardisty on Peel's River, was the nearness to the earth at whieii he saw the Aurora ; it appeared, on one occasion, be- tween himself and the opposite bank of the river, where it could not have been forty feet above the level of the stream. For the purpose of these observations a^ Moose, there is a small azimuth table, graduated along the edge, with a projecting stile or gnomon — a very simple apparatus, which might be had anywhere, by which the horizontal distance of the Aurora from the north or south points can be determined, and also its altitude in the heavens. August 2'^thy St. Bartholomew's Bay. — This was the day aj)j)ointed for the second ordination, an arrangement which, it has been seen, was unavoidable. So far it wjis not without a precedent in the country, in the case of the visit of the Bishop of Quebec, then Bishop of Mon- treal, in 1844, when the late Mr. Macallum was ordained deacon on Sunday, June ,'30th, and priest the followiiii; Sunday. In the case, too, of Mr. Watkins, I was mucli indebted to the Bishop of London, who, from a view uf the necessity of the case, had admitted him to priest's orders within six months. This morning I had arranged for a small distribution to all the Indians now at Moose. I wished them all to receive something, however small, from myself. Cloth- ing, even a small article to each, would have outrun my ability to give, when there were so many. After con- mm mm mt THE NET IN THE IIAY. 105 before ions ji^ sultatlon with Mr. Miles and Mr. Ilordtii, nil was pre- pared by the active store-keeper. There was a little tea and sugar, some oatmeal, and some grease (which they pri7X' much to mix with it) for each family. They ail assembled in the area of the old Fort, and came up one by one to receive it. They were all very orderly and very grateful. A pleasing story was told me of old Oolikishish, who, when Sir George Simpson, on occasion of his visit, had given tliem something similar, had ai'terwards prevented the Indians from taking or touch- ing it, mitil he had asked a blessing and thanked God for the gift. When all was over, we joined in singing a hymn, when I offered up a short prayer, and gave them the blessing. I found that fifty-five families had thus received a little token of my good will, and in the num- ber widows were especially remembered. While this v,as going on, Mr. Clouston was prepar- ing for his start : he was fully late in the autumn for the distance he had to accomplish. His object was to go to Little Whale River and examine the Fishery there — that of the white whales, from which the Hud- son's Bay Company are in hopes of procuring superior oil. Some of this was on view in the office here, and looked very clear and beautiful, almost as transparent as sherry wine. Two gentlemen had come up from Canada this summer, who had had some experience in this branch on the coast of Newfoundland ; they had passed on to Fort George, in order to show the method by which it might be carried on. It was to join them, to examine and report on the prospects of the fishery, and to re- turn with them, that Mr. Clouston was now going off, \\ I n ■< ^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /> ^.A^ srA^ J z ^o 1.0 I.I 1.25 IM no i ili 2.2 1^ Uig 1.8 1.4 q V^ /] ^;. ^^^^> > ^^^j> y ^^j^'-^ - M % ^J^ o / Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4S03 *v ^ o V il r .._» ,,tii.i^"V»-fJ^l-'" ?." ■v. I ™i-> ■■■ hi A' 166 THE NET IN THE BAY. taking Mrs. Clouston and his eldest little boy with him. Their departure deprived us of the presence of a few at our service, as they had not fairly started when eleven o'clock, the appointed hour, arrived. I had asked Mr. Watkins to preach the Ordination Sermon on the occasion, and I was only sorry that there was not a larger audience on his account. He read prayers, and then gave us a full and beautiful sermon on Col. i. 28, " Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom ; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." After this the ordination proceeded, and he assisted me in the imposition of hands. When this was concluded, as there was no administration of the Lord's Supper, I addressed a few words of farewell to them after the Nicene Creed. As on Sunday, I had dwelt oi. he holi- ness of the ministry, so now my best wish and prayer for all was, that they might be holy, happy, and heavenly. God had blessed us during a short period of intercourse together — my fondest wishes had been realised — the vessel had arrived in sufficient time — ]Mr. W^atkins had joined us, and, providentially, in full orders. I had come among strangers, but I had found friends, who made me feel as if at home. In my first address I had expressed the wish that the period night be a bright one, and a season of refreshment to us all. I had felt it to be so myself, and from their own kind expressions I gathered some hope, that it had been so to them likewise. I had arrived on a day with- out a r^oud, I was now taking leave of them on as bright a diy, and for myself I could say, that my intercourse r THE NET IN THE BAY. 167 vvith them had been without a cloud or drawback. The depth and meaning of the Ordination Service, I had felt more than ever to-day. The one word, from which I had before been almost inclined to shrink, I now felt to be true, though very humbly and depressingly — the term "Father" and *' Father in God." From this I had almost at times shrunk, partly from youth, partly from a deep feeling of unworthiness, but my journey had brought it much more home to me. As I heard the Indian use it, and with hope and confidence speak of me as " Our Father " — as I looked on my two young friends, the one especially my own son in the ministry, and re- ceived their tokens of aifection and respect — as I looked on those baptised and confirmed during my stay, I felt that, however unworthy of the title, the design of the office was that I should be as a father to many. may God enable me to think, feel, and act, in some little measure, as a father to the poor Indians — yea, to all throughout this land ! I concluded by wishing them God's best blessing, and pronouncing the benediction. In the afternoon we all dined at the parsonage, with our good friends Mr. and Mrs. Ilorden. All from the Fort were with us, Mr. and Mrs. Miles, &c.. Captain Royal of the Prince Albert, and Mr. Gladman of Itu- pert's House. It was a pleasing proof of the good feel- ing and harmony which reigned around ; all seemed happy to testify their regard and respect for their young minister and his wife. I wish it had been in my power to return the civilities shown me by all here by enter- taining them, as would be rather the bishop's custom, in my own house, but this was impossible, and I was I ,\ U 1 V n I W ! i V ''I 1; i'.' t 168 THE NET IN THE BAY. obliged to leave a debtor to them all, for their kindness and hospitality. My only pain was to receive so much without the power of making any return. As I walked home in the evening with Mrs. Miles, she told me much regarding the Indians — their longing from year to year for a permanent minister — their dis- appointment each year when the ship arrived without one. She mentioned that several had said on Sunday, with great joy, " Now God has heard and answered our prayers, when we see three officiating before us." Mrs» Miles has herself been the great instrument in keeping the Indians together, and preventing their losing what they had previously been taught. Her influence among them is very great, and they look to her as a mother in all things. This has indeed smoothed the way, and lessened materially the difficulties in Mr. Horden's path. I had another refreshing bathe after tho labours of the day, indeed had I known sooner of such a quiet and retired spot, I should have sought the enjoyment oftener during my stay. It was now my last opportunity of doing so, and a shade of sadness was over all. We had had our last social worship in the upper hall, and were looking forward to part on the morrow. Yet I felt that gratitude ought to predominate ; I had been per- mitted to accomplish all I could wish ; and, when I con- template how it might have been otherwise — if the ice had impeded the progress of the ship, and delayed its arrival until the 24th of September, as in 1813 — I am lost in imagining what I could possibly have then done. A fruitless journey of 1,200 miles would have given me THE NET IN THE BAY. 1C9 certainly very different feelings for every step of the homeward route. If any have derived pleasure from the sketch of the Ordination Sermon in this chapter, the following beauti- ful stanza, pointed out tome while transcribing it, may not prove unacceptable, as embodying its leading thought. I give it the more willingly as the volume from which it is taken, may not be much known to English readers. It is from Christian Songs by the Rev. Dr. Lyons, Philadelphia. ** If thou would'st rind His likeness, Search where th^ lowly dwell, The faithful few that keep His laws Not hoastfully but well : Mark those who walk rejoicing The way which Jesus trod, Thus only shalt thou see below Fit images of God." Having thus referred to the sermon, I may add, that the words there quoted were used by Mr. Melvill, at the Trinity House, the very day before I left England. In- vited to their annual commemoration by Sir J. H. Pelly, the deputy governor, I was by him kindly intro- duced on that occasion to the Duke of Wellington, the governor of that corporation. Soon after my return the same mail brought us the tidings of the death of both. When all connected with the Duke is a matter of public i M ni ■ i (' f 11 I'" 170 THE NET IN THE BAY. interest, I may mention that immediately on hearing my name, and that I was about to proceed to Rupert's Land, his grace asked at once, will you then be anywhere near the Red River ? So accurate was his knowledge of a country known comparatively to few, and so retentive his memory of minuter details even in his latter years. I did not at that time know that a detachment of the 6th regiment had been for some stationed at Red River. From this, and through Colonel Crofton, the command- ing officer, who was I believe a personal friend, the Duke had become in some measure familiar with the position and circumstances of the country, and the knowledge once acquired never escaped him. CHAPTER V. Ac? yap irphs oIkovs voorrlfiov trwTTjpia? K({/i«|/ai SiavKov Bdrepov kwKov iraKiu. ALscH. Agam. 33-i. " Having turned the goal, The course's other half they must mete out, Ere home receives them safe." Blackie's yEscH. Departure from Moose. — Sunday at Alhany — Ascent of the Albany River — Detention by snow at Martin's Falls. August 25 M. — The time had now arrived for bidding farewell to Moose, and, accustomed as I have been in the providence of God to many removals and changes in my ministerial life, I have seldom felt the pain of separation more than this morning. From Mr. Miles I had re- ceived tlie heartiness of an English welcome, and all at the Fort had done their utmost to make each day pass pleasantly along. I felt more rooted than I could have imagined it possible in the short space of three weeks. The Indians too exhibited much affection : I walked along the bank, endeavouring to say farewell in each tent. One womauj who had brought me some mocassins 1 1^1 il % 1: I ( s 1 ii ■I 172 THE NET IN THE BAY. 1 i .1 ii of her own work the night before, met me by the way and said, " I shall never see you again," wliile her eyes filled with tears. I encouraged her by the hope that, if I lived, I might yet return to see them, but she turned away her head to conceal her emotion as I shook her by the hand. Another, with whom 1 knelt down with all her little family by her side, was, I found, weeping much as we rose from our knees. Very distant and uncertain was the prospect of my revisiting them. On my way hither I had thought of the fourth year as the soonest possible period, but when I saw the work, and antici- pated its gradual extension, I was led to hold out some hope that it might be in the third year. But, though this would be the usual period for a bishop's visitation, the extreme distance and the many contuigencies which might occur to prevent, render it only a pleasing vision of the future, in which a visit to Fort George would form an additional bright spot. My kind friends had one and all assembled to attend me from the Fort to the landing pier, while such of the Indians as were at home were collected around. I could only bid them all aifectionately farewell, and with Mr. Miles's arm, I went down to the boat. We soon arranged ourselves in our places and moved off. I was not aware, until I looked round, that they were about to fire, but as we passed along they gave us a parting salute from the great guns. To this my men returned a loud cheer, and we went quickly down the river under sail. We were soon as far out as the anchorn^e of the Prince Albert, though considerably to the westward of it, and here, by Captain Royal's instructions, another salute v as THE NET IN THE BAY. \7'S fired. Our Indian in the bow, loaded and fired in return, but tlie sound of his gun would certainly noJ reach the ship. VVe were now quite out of sifrht of the Factory Island, leaving it with very different feel'ngs from those with which we approached it. Its position may be re- membered by friends, as being in the same latitude as Loudon, about 51° 10'. And vet how different! We had left very promising white currants in the garden not yet ripe, and the crop of barley not advanced enough to reckon upon with certainty. They are still trying some seed wheat from Canada of a rapid growth, but its coming to maturity was very doubtful. I had in vain endea- voured to ascertain, if it was from design that the forts, Ijoth at ^loose and Albany, were built on islands. I had thought that it might have been as a protection from the fires which sweep over the country, or as affording greater security in earlier times for the attacks of Indians, but I could not learn that cither of these reasons had influ- enced the selection. It was probably only because the islands lay near the mouth of these rivers, beyond which the i.avigation would be more difficult. Little apprehension need now be entertained as re- gards the Indians. The last painful case was in I83i, at Hannah Bay, about sixty miles eastward of Moose. The poor Indians had been made the dupes of one of their own conjurors, who held out to them visions of wealth and greatness, if they should destroy those of their own post, and then proceed to the forts around. They listened in an evil hour, attacked the Fort, and killed Corrigal, who was in charge of it, his family, and others — in all twelve or thirteen. Their next object i. m i "I : tn 1 ♦ I I I i:i .., i I 174 THE NET IN THE BAY. i vl-i ■; :i I would have been Rupert's House, and from it they would have found their way back to take possession of Moose, but some fortunately escaped, and in an incre- dibly short time brought the tidings to Moose. The ringleaders were immediately apprehended and put to death. Several of the Hannah Bay Indians I saw during my stay, and among them too the Gospel is gradually making its way. The wind favoured ns, and we soon [)assed the North BluflT. On our way we saw the stages erccttd for the purpose of catching the whale : they i)r()irft some distance into the water, and form a sort ot' deco , the entrance wide, but gradually narrowing, so that, when the whale has once got in, it is unable to turn and make its es )e. I had been so busy all the morn- ing, that I had scarcely thought of the direction of the wind : we had ])rayed the night before that it might be favourable, and (Jod seemed to have heard and answered us. Had we made a very early start, the wind would alm^^st have carried us to the mouth of the Albany River, but as it was we had not left until about eleven A.M., partly from waiting for the tide, and towards evening the wind fell. We had, however, a very good run, and accomplished more than half the distance. We had one addition to our number in a little boy, the sou of Mr. Spencer, of Fort George, whom I offered to take with me for instruction at Red River. He had only known of it over night, but started with a very good heart for so long a journey. This is indeed the very condition of life in this country, and its great trial — the long separation of parents and children. For THE NET IN THE BAY. 175 it they 3Ssion of in incre- e. The put to V (luring ratlually e North for the •t some i' deco , so that, to turn e rnorn- u of the light be iswered would Albany eleven owards ^ good e. le boy, offered le had a very ed the it trial . For Moose the Collegiate School at the Red River is prac- tically useless, and, if a better education is desired, they are obliged to send their children home at a much greater expense. This Mr. Miles has done ; himself a native of Gloucestershire, he has sent his family home in succession. It was not a little singular to find the view of Fairford Church in that county hung np in the Fort, to hear that this was the scene of his early associa- tions, and to be able to tell him that I had perj)etuated the name in tliis land, by giving it to the station of the Rev. A. Cowley. Many circumstances might be men- tioned resulting from these separations which would hardly be credited at home, such as brothers meeting without being able to recognize each other, or hearing of the death of a brother or sister whom they have never seen. This must of course tend to weaken ihe family ties, which cannot be renewed by a vacation spent at home. The prospect of separation too, in many cases, leads to another evil, that of undue indulgence while the children are young, and still with the parents. Three Indians also were with us ; they had come from Albany on foot, and would have returned in the same way, but I offered them a passage with us. Nor ought I to omit to mention that our good friend, Mr. Ilordcn, had determined to bear me company as far as Albany, having been disappointed in liis hope of meeting me there. I did not, therefore, break through at once every tie which bound me to ]Moose. Thus we were in all fourteen. We ran on until after sunset, but then, fear- ing to encounter the shoals, the wind not being strong enough to justify us in keeping out, we put ashure on a If. 'ii t «| /I m J" ■ ii 17(i THE NET IN THF BAY. r, If y*. I >' long outlying icef of loose stone and gravel. The lightning soon hccanie vivid, risi.ig against the wind quarter, and tl-.is led us to expect a change of weather. We at once n :ade fast the hoat and prepared for a storm, which was not long in arriving. I'Voni midnight until ahout three o'clock it was severe, and the thunder very near us. We passed the night in the boat under cover, with a large tarpawling spread over us, as well as pos- sible. Having otdy this between ourselves and the heavens above, while the thunder was pealing around, it was indeed a lesson on the attributes of God — a period for solemn retlection on His power and majesty ! Wf had had prayers in the boat, when almost uncer- tain whether we might not proceed onwards during the night. We had, as usual, a passage of Scripture, and a hynm, when 1 joined in prayer with my men ; but after this, Mr. Horden went to the bow, and there held a similar service for the Indians who were with us. 1 told him that he was indeed a good Indian pastor, and I could only wish that, in travelling, I could always command his services as Indian chaplain. The idea was a pleasant one, that in our little boat in the Bay we had thus the double offering of incense to the Lord, in the two languages, yet I hope with one heart. Mr. and Mrs. Corcoran had preceded us by some days, Mr. Corcoran having been re-appointed to Albany, his old charge, in room of Mr. Wilson. When some of our Indians had jumped ashore on our coming to the point, they saw a dog which they at once knew to be from Albany, and soon after we heard a gun at a Uttle distance. They had not to look far, when they found THE NET IN TIIK BAY. 177 some Indians with a canoe hanlcd up : they proved to be those who had taken Mr. Corcoran to Albany, and were on their way back. August 2(iM. — The wind had clmnged, as is usually the case with a storm, and wo were wind-bound ; the Indians, going the other way, of course passed on. We did not, howevv?r, lack amusement. As our second dav from Red llivcr was spent in quiet on the lake, so our second from Moose was spent in quiet on the shore of the Bay. We could look backwards and tell of many mercies received at Moose, and could look forward and in thought pass to the end of our trip, the length and circumstances of which are known oiilv to God. We had our double prayers in Enj^lish and Indian. I then read a portion of the Greek Testament with Mr. Ilorden, and finished the Epistles to Timothy. We afterwards perused some of the accounts from home, which time had not permitted me to do at Moose. I I was grieved to see the death of Captain Forbes, of the Bonetta, well known by his travels in Dahomey. May God graciously preserve the bishop who goes out to that unhealthy climate. How grateful ought we to be for the healthiness of our own land ! We made an effort, towards midday, to change our anchorage, being rather exposed to the wind, and fear- ing a little the height of the tide. We rowed off in hope of finding a safe anchorage more in shore, but a sfpiall came on, and we were very glad to turn round, hoist sail, and run before it towards our old quarters, which we gained after shipping a few seas. We then deter- mined to spend the remainder of the day there. We N 'iii i: 178 THE NET T; .: im '/' 188 THE NET IN THE BAY. i :.»i< Mr. Ilorden comforted them by inviting them over to Moose at Christmas, in order that she might be admitted to the Communion, her absence from which, on the late occasion, had so much distressed her husband. I also recommended Mr. Ilorden to give him a small allowance from the Church Missionary Society, in order that he might, through the winter, carry on the elementary in- struction of any Indians anxious to learn, who might fall in his way. For Albany I feel even more anxious than for Moose, the work not being quite so far advanced, and having no regular superintendence. This was the reason for my not confirming at the time ; had I been anxious to swell numbers, I mi^ht have had there from fifty to sixty, but before admitting them to that rite, I wished to feel more confidence in their being carried on, and I therefore preferred waiting, looking forward with lively anticipation to a second visit, when, as I told them, I hoped to find a little church, or, at all events, a school among them. August 'd\st, — The extreme heat of the previous day was followed by heavy rains during the night. This detained us at our enccmpment till after midday, when we endeavoured to proceed. My companion during the morning was Trench, "On the Study of Words," a book which I seized on with great delight, and read and re-read by the way. It was, indeed, one which bore well a second and third perusal, as suggestive of thoughts, and thus a good companion for a solitary journey. Many other examples under the various heads presented themselves to the mind, as, for ex- THE NET IN THE BAY. 189 ample, the word ceremony, n good instance of histo- rical derivation. Much also in the volume fell in with the current of one's thoughts, as illustrating the gradual formation of words in a language, aj)plied for the first time to spiritual ideas. That friends at home imagined it a book to my mind may be inferred from the circum- stance, that three copies of it have reached me ; the one which luckily found its way to INIoose, was fully digested on my way home, and the others which I found there were not lost, as they have been thoroughly instilled into my scholars, and thoroughly enjoyed by them, and some of my clergy. We advanced pretty well the remainder of the day ; the clouds were very heavy, but they proved only charged with wind, and when it changed to the west, the day cleared up. We encamped for the night at the lower end of the Indian Stone Bay, a long bend of about seven miles ; in our two half-days we had not advanced more than twentv-four miles. September \st. — Manominike gisis — the moon of the gathering of wild rice. Up before dawn, and with the rising sun started on our way ; a very good run before breakfast. After it, the track looking inviting, I set off and walked on several miles. Part of the wav was soft sand, a pleasant track ; this, at intervals, was broken by a little bay of stones, some round, and not a few pointed; at other timss, for some distance, there was a succession of large smooth blocks, arranged like stepping stones, and I leaped along from one to another. Very seldom was the footing treacherous, and this continued here for miles. The morning was pleasant, much in favour of all of us, cool with but little sun ; in favour too of our ■C ■ ;i|*l 190 THE NET IN THE BAY. m !K:i good friend Mr. Ilorden, of whom my men often spoke much, noticing the wind, wliich they tliink will carry him to Moose, ns to-dny ; 1 heard, after my return, that he really readied home the next morning at seven. From the bank I had a good view of the little Hose, seeing her at times from higher ground. I should have liked to have had a sight of her more rapid course, while shooting downwards ; now one saw her struggling slowly on, now paddling, now j)oling, and then with the tracking line, making, after all, little progress. We are Hkely now to make more intimate acquaintance with the x\lbany River, than we did on our flight down, all the difference between the facilia descensus, and the nitor in advoi'sum. Now tliat there was no chance of mv being left behind, I should more frequently have en- joyed a ramble along the bank, and eased them of my weight, had it not been for the little creeks which con- tinually crossed the path ; into these I must either have plunged, or get in and out of the canoe so often, as much to impede its course. Sejitemher 2nd. — An i\nceasing r.^in all day ; such as one sees in the Lake districts '^t home ; a cheerful large fire near our tent was our chi ." . kijoyment. I had received from Mr. Mil- > at starting, a copy of Mr. Svveezey's journey along this route in I80I, with the time specified from post to post. If we have many such days we shall fall sadly behind. September '3rd. — A doubtful morning when we started; heavy rain soon came on, and at breakfast-time there seemed little prospect of our advancing. After prayers it improved slightly, and we proceeded, but the day continued showery, and I was nearly throughout it THE NET IN THE HAY. 191 covered over in what was, in effect, like a small cabin below. Here I instructed my young companion, and drew out of liini, in return, a number of Ksquimaux words. Tiierc appears to l>e a larger amomit of intelli- f^ence amon<; those of tluit tribe around Fort George than I had any idea of. It gives me thus much joy to think that this journey may so far liave set on foot an organization which may open a perniaticnt communica- tion witli them. I had little thouglit of the Kscjuimaux when first starting on my trip, but now the prospect of our work being extended among them brought to my mind one visit to Ockbrook, near Derby, just before leaving England, where I saw an aged missionary, who had been long on the coast of Labrador ; he was occu- pied in revising a translation of (I think) the book of Jeremiah. When I told him that I was going much farther than their Moravian stations, he seemed almost sceptical, and I know not that 1 fully convinced him after all, that I should pass through the Straits, and go much beyond. He was a German, and had laboured for many years, but was now resting from his work, lie showed us his seal-skin dress, and other curiosities which he had brought home. I ought, perhaps, here to sav, that from what I learned at Moose, and have since seen of the Esquimaux language, it cannot have had any influence in moulding the Indian dialect of the Bay. We had, after all, a good day's work, though the water was shallow, which retarded ns somewhat. September Uh. — A lovely morning ; the sun rose beautifully over the island near us, and gave all fresh spirits. Advanced before breakfast, and rested near '/< 192 THE NET IN THE BAY. M u ' i Nome's Island, so called from a poor man who hung himself there. He was on his way to Martin's Falls with the winter packet, and had, somehow, fallen behind his companion, when he took oflf the trace from the dogs, and suspended himself to a tree. Suicide is, happily, uncommon in this country, either among Indians or Europeans. Of cases among the Indians I only remember one, a son of Pigwys, the chief ; another case, of a boy who had been punished by his parents, has since been reported to me from Fort Pelly by the Rev. C Hillyer. While here we heard a gun, which told us of Indians near, and before we had done our meal a canoe came down, with an Indian and two children, on their way from M.irtin's Fall to Albany. They reported more water in the North River, and we found that they had had none of our heavy rain this week. We were still through the day much impeded by shoals ; the six men were often out of the canoe, raising and carrying her in the water for a quarter of a mile at a time. The channel is very variable from year to year, but my steersman had gone up it thirty-two years ago, in 1821, the year of the junction of the two Companies, and said it was as shallow then as now. We were glad once more to see the Chepai Scepee. The geese were very abundant all day, and very noisy, nor was it, after this, so incredible to think of the number caught at Albany. We had also, on the bank, the track of a deer, a buck, which had passed down, the men said, the previous day. We afterwards passed the creek where we had met THE NET IN THE IJAY. 1 after Christmas, sj)encls New Year's Day, if possible, at Osnaburgh House, and so reaeiies Martin's Falls earlv in January. Their greatest treat woukl he to relieve those in charge of it, travel with it on snow shoes the 'M)i) miles to Albany, and bring baek the packet in re- tur 'ks lat( Such tiieir hiirhest idea of , some enjoyment. The name of this jiost I tind is not de- rived, as I at tirst thought, from the fur-bearing animal, but from a ( Governor Martin, who was niauv vears ago in charge at York. M'ith our Canadian early habit.s seemed still to prevail, for he continually eaded it Les Chutes do Saint ?Jartin. For ourselves, it would hardly be an agreeable pr(i- spect, if winter should indeed set in nj)on us, and we should be obliged to tarry here, 800 miles from home ; still less if the ice should overtake us on our way, and we be forced, as some have been, to build a dwelling on the banks of one of the lakes. Ihit we do not allow any such visions to dwell on the mind ; rather were we inclined to hope, that after these early equinoctial gules (for the snow was accompanied by very high wind) we may yet have, as is often the case, a few weeks of very fine weather — frccpiently in this country the pleasantest part of the year. III u ill ,i." ■' '■'ft ■1 hi ■// CHAPTER VI. " Haste homeward ! haste ! Nor the ' fall-fish' with autumn's showers await : For then does stormy blast From all points of the compass circulate." BISHOP OF NEWF0UNDLA>7D, Quoting Hesiod. / a Queen's Hill — Osnaburgh and Lac Seul — Storms and snow — Changed scene at English River — Arrival at home. ' \ I ''M Such are the words used by the Bishop of New- foundland, wht;n referring to the dangers and difficul- ties of a September visitation on his rugged coast. 1 was now beginning to feel something of their truth. Our chief fear was lest the ice should set fast at the narrow outlet of one of the lakes, and so bar our pro- gress. If safely over Lakes Osnaburgh and Seul we should then have little to apprehend. September IWi. — The report in the morning was that the weather was fair, the wind a little lower, but the snow deep on the ground. I thought that this might do ; I therefore sprang up, and made my prc[>a" THE NET IN THE BAY. 207 rations. I sallied forth from the house, along the hrow of the hill, and then over the rocks upwards of a mile to the spot, where my men were encamped with the canoe. It was a curious sight, skirting the edge of the falls, passing from rock to rock, the trees, juniper, pine, and poplar, hanging with the snow overhead. We at last reached the canoe, and farther on, in a cleft of the hill higher up, we found the tent, but all was still, the men not having yet stirred, thinking that I would scarcely have been up so soon. They thought it too windy to venture, but after breakfast and prayers it was resolved to make a trial. It seemed necessary to commence in faith, in hopes that the snow might pass off, as we had little time to lose. I therefore took leave of Hackland, who had walked up with me, and who made me pro- mise that, if unable to proceed, I would return and take up my quarters at the House. Soon after starting, the snow set in again in heavy showers, and it seemed doubtful whether it would at all clear off. The sun eventually peeped out at intervals, but the showers of snow, with a driving north-west wind, continued all day. The water was considerably lower than on our way down, and this made the current more gentle for us. We made in all five portages dur- ing the day, the first a short one over the Island of Galilee — then came the Big Fall, the Dining Recks, the Long Race, and the fifth the Ross Fall, at the extre- mity of which we encamped for the night. We could not well proceed, for want of a good resting-place far- ther on. So far it is a pure bed of rock from Martin's iJ \ i i - \ V\ ■I «l 208 THE NET IN THE HAY. Falls, an almost uninterrupted channel of solid stone. Here two Indians joined us in a canoe, having come in the opposite direction, though from that same river, the Wahpiskow ; they had come from the Moosvvahkeeng Lake, and were on their way to the House. This is the universal term in the country, and in itself reveals much. The House is what you hear on every lip in travelling about ; to it the Indian takes his trip once or twice a year, to it he looks for supplies, and from it he derives all his news. They do not name the particular house to which they are hound : this is left 2;enerally to explain itself, by the direction and neighbourhood. September Ibth. — The canvas of the tent frozen hard in the morning, but a line bright day — coldish till after breakfast. Before it we made two portages, one called Michael's Creek, then the Moosvvahkeeng Lake and portage ; au'l on coming out into the stream put ashore for our morning meal. We next made the Long Port- age, where we had slept in going down. Robertson's Falls we ascended without a portage, the men poling up, and a few of us walking through the wood > lighten the canoe. We then passed Gloucester Ilov , or rather its site, to which the men point, as if sayini*; " Fuit Ilium." The Lower Gloucester Falls we made remaining in the canoe ; it was a severe struggle for the men, more difficult to surmount than any we had yet encountered, the current threatening to carry us down, so that we often appeared to be losing ground and toil- ing in vain. We made on the whole a good day ; the weather lad !:• if '^viun '^ THE NET TN THE BAY. 209 id stone, come in river, the vahkeeng This is If reveals ery hp in [1 once or rom it hf particular 2;enerallv rhood. 3zen hard I till after )ue called ^ake and ut ashore 3ng Port- jertson's n poling wood '(( r Ilc\is.', say 1 ill?, we madr e for the had yet us down, aud toil- ithcr lad improved, and we had our first sight of the young crescent moon. It indicated frost from its clearness, and so it proved. September \Qth. — The tent was found'so stiff that it could not be put into its bag ; it had to be stretched over the fire to relax it. The canoe too required to be attended to ; the birch bark cracks with the frost, and the plan is to take a kettle of hot water and sponge it over, to i)revent any bad effects. After all this was done we were still off in good time. A short run brought us to the Upper Gloucester Falls, where we were not sorry to make a portage, as it warmed us and gave an appetite for breakfast. We kept on, however, first entering the Makukabahtun Lake, and reaching the beach on Pavel's Island, where we had dined on the 23rd of July. After breakfast we kept on the south-east side of the lake, instead of the noithern, as on our way down. This we did owing to the wind which was on our side from shore. We passed opposite the point where Mr. Sutherland had erected his winter quarters, glad that the snow had disappeared, and that a like necessity was not at all events as yet laid upon us. He was, I found, father of Mrs. Corcoran, of Albany. From that we merged on a smaller lake, and then jiassed some very circuitous rapids, called by the singular naine — the Cheecheesis (the little fingers), consisting of ten or twelve successive rapids, smaller and greater, giving abundance of work for the })ole, at times very shoal and impetuous, at others deep without a bottom which we could reach. Rather beyond the centre of them we !SI :v| I '1; I..' 210 THE NET IN THE BAY. 1 > found a good encampment : the day throughout had little sunshine, heavy clouds, and the wind in the east — the rainy quarter. The names of rapids and portages vary a little, it will be observed, on the way up ; some fresh nai les have already presented themselves. The longer and more prominent ones are, of course, the same either way, but many a rapid, or succession of rapids, down which we had shot in a lew minutes, and of which we were then scarcely sensible, took us hours on the ascent. So, too, we had to make many a portage to avoid a fall, which we had run with case on our way down. September \7th. — Towards daylight the rain set in, and came down with great violence. It cleared for a little as we rose, and then commenced aa;ain in tre- mendous showers, with but little appearance of break ing through the day. About eleven a.m. we made a start, tempted by a little rising of the clouds in the east. We paddled on some distance, and then faced the Lower Kinwooehe Falls. When the water is high and strong, two portages are here generally made, but we did with- out them, only easing the canoe of about six pieces at one point. The navigation was difficult, and the men very energetic ; they were up to their middle in water, toiling with ropes. We then came out on the Jabemet Lake, and hoisted the sail to catch the east wind. At first it blew but softly, but gradually increased, much to our joy. We were carried bv it nearly the whole extent, which we tra- versed, but were obliged to stop short, from the rain again setting in. We made, in consequence, little more than I '. THE NET IN THE BAY. 211 M loiit had le east — le, it will les have nd more way, but vhich we ere then So, too, ivhich we n set in, ed for a I in tre- )f break made a the east. le Lower i stroujj;, lid with- pieces at the men n water, I hoisted blew but 3y. We 1 we tra- ain again ore than half a day's work, from eleven to four Our encampment was on a projecting point, our tent well in the wood, the only distressing object being an old conjuring tent close to us. Many a tree was felled to make our fires ; the desire to warm themselves gave the men fresh vigour in bringing down the pines, and very soon two blazing fires were ready, one for themselves, and one for me. There is no stint here, no one inclined to call a halt when " Ligna super foco Large repoiiens." We had many stories of conjuring suggested by the vicinity of the old tent. They quite believe that the con- juror can loose his bonds, even when tied ever so firmly with doubly knotted rope ; they have assisted in so tying him, and yet have seen him get forth. Mr. Budd has told me the same ; and it is reported by many on whose word I ought to rely. If so, I cannot myself entertain a doubt that there is supernatural power, some agency from the evil one, permitted in these cases, as in the oracles of old. It would then prove that we are indeed, as I always imagine, nearer to Satan in this land — that as Christ's kingdom advances it borders more and more closely on Satan's domain. One thing they also men- tioned, of which I had not previously heard, that the presence of a Bible or Testament paralyses their power, and renders their enchantment vain. The experiment they said had been made by a number of young men, one of them carrying a Testament in his pocket, without the knowledge of the conjuror, who, after many in- effectual attempts, carae out, saying that some one was p 2 II t i