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(,.\Li i t i;!E -'io \ i . :■- r\ i \ ^; i> M(»M)N.\ ]l\ \ S M'.inr. w A L MOKLKV Al.:,Kf-Tv. 1 ' \ 1 ' V Ai.i-X 1 !!!.!:!m i),l).l! J HIM. ST it ]-!}•■) K.SV <> .;' A' ,rh '%■ ,-^^- \?.i Mi; I T I 's* ■;»- '^0i 'Hft; *il i- ti-. GEORGE MILLWARD McDOUGALL. % THE PIONEER. PATRIOT AND MISSIOJSTAEY. BY JOHN McDOUGALL, MORLEY, ALBERTA. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ALEX. SUTHERLAND, D.D. ^.i TORONTO: WILLIAM BRIGGS, 78 & 80 KING STREET EAST. MONTREAL: C. W. COATES. HALIFAX: S. F. HUESTIS. 1888. Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, by William Brioqs, BooI{ Steward of the Methodist Booli and Publishing House, Toronto, at the Department of Agriculture, PREFACE. J thousand ,ard of tho irtment o| TO the Canadian public and the Christians of every Church this humble volume is respect- fully presented, the writer apologizing that he did not earlier detail the facts herein given. The subject of the following sketch was a true patriot, and one of the pioneers of our great Dominion. He was a faithful missionary, and his whole life was spent in the vanguard of Christian work. That this short recital of the events of his life may stir someone to go and do likewise is the earnest wish of his loving son, JOHN McDOUGALL. MOELEY, Al^BERTA, 1888. ^ CONTENTS. 'M I'AOF, iNTfiODUCTION V CllArTKK I ClIAFTKR II 15 Movea to Owen Sound — Makes ])Usine8H conneetions — Starts for college- Received as a probationer for the ministry — Is appointed to establisli a new mission in, tlie far North. Chapter III 20 Starts to explore for and establish a mission — Locates at (larden River — His work during six years' residence at this place. Chapter IV 62 Moves to Rama — Three years' residence at this place. Chapter V 64 Appointed to the Hudson Bay Missions— Is made Chairman of same - Three years with Norway House as Head- quarters — Describes several missionary trips made dur- ing these years. Chaptep. VI 104 Moves from Norway House to Saskatchewan — Settles at Victoria — Eight years' pioneer work at this place. Chapter VII 179 Moves to Edmonton — Three years' residence at this place — Journeyings and experiences connected M'ith this new field. Chapter VIII. 201 Visits Ontario— Pleads the cause of Missions — Takes a short trip to the Mother Land — Once more sets his face West- ward—Is employed by Government to conciliate the excited Plain Tribes — His tragic end. Manitoba and the North-West 231 !♦ , a V t II s t tl F II ii ti s h INTHODIJCTIOX. IT is with mingled feelings of pleasure and pain that T have consented to write a few words of introduction to these memorials of a consecrated and useful life : of pleas- ure, because the task recalls days of delightful intercourse with one whom to know was to esteem and love ; and of pain, because it revives the sorrow caus(Hl by tlu; tidings of his tragic end. Among those whe have "served their generation by the will of God," f(?w names are more worthy of remembrance than that of George McDougall. He was emphatically a man of one work. To carry the gospel to the heathen, to seek out the Indian in his wigwam, and, by the story of the Cross, win him to a better life, was the Christ-like task to which his energies were consecrated; and navmg put his hand to the plow he never looked back. Unlike many whose zeal abated in presence of the hardships and isolation of missionary life, he never wavered from hig first love, but lived and died an Indian missionary. Hard- ships and sorrows, in no stinted measure, fell to his share, but he was never known to murmur or complain. Tlie l> h VI INTRODUCTION. E \ dark side of missionary experience he seldom referred to, and then only to show, by vivid contrast, the power of the gospel to conifort and sustain. In all his efforts to evangelize the Indians he was admirably seconded by his devoted wife, whose name, with his, will ever be held in loving remembrance. In early life George McDougall enjoyed but few educa- tional advantages, and when converting grace awakened, as it always does, a thirst for knowledge, adverse circum- stances gave but slight opportunity to repair the defects of the past. Even when, in the face of obstacles that would have daunted less resolute men, he forced his way to college, the needs of the mission field allowed him but a few months' respite before he was called away to an Indian station. From that time onward his life was one of incessant toil, but by the diligent use of odd moments in his humble home, or by the camp-fire in forest or prairie, he amassed no small store of useful knowledge, and be- came a workman who needed not to be ashamed. He possessed, as his letters show, intellectual powers of no mean order, while as a missionary pioneer he had few equals, and, perhaps, no superior. At Rama, at Garden River, at Norway House, and in the far West, his name, among the Red men, is still "as ointment poured forth," while his heroic labors and tragic end have embalmed his name in the memory of the Church forever. Although the greater part of George McDougall's life was spent on the frontiers, and in thinly-peopled regions, ^% INTRODUCTION. Vll erred to, >ower of fforts to 1 by his held in iv educa- k^akened, circum- I defects les that his way him but y to an was one noraents prairie, and be- He of no ad few Garden name, forth," ned his id. yet his days were full of stirring incident " by flood and field," and one could wish that a much larger number of these had been interspersed throughout the narrative. But as the author's aim has been to present a plain, un- adorned portrait of the man, he has wisely allowed him to tell his own story in extracts from reports, and journals, and letters, some of which were written with the freedom of personal friendship, without any thought of publication. These memorials will be read with eagerness throughout the Church, and will, by the blessing of God, be an inspira- tion in missionary effort. They are commended, more especially, to the study of our rising ministry, with the earnest prayer that they may lead some to tread in George McDougall's footsteps, and win a like imperishable renown. A. SUTHERLAND. Toronto, May 10, 18S8. I iii I's life [egions, GEORGE MILLWARD McDOUGALL. CHAPTER I. GEORGE McDOUGALL was a native of the City of Kingston, in the Province of Ontario. His parents were Scotch ; his father was a sailor by profession, who, becominj^ connected with the British navy, found liiinself and his family stationed at Kings- ton, which was at that time a naval depot. While George was very young, the family moved into the wild north country of Ontario, and located upon a portion oF land near Penetanguishene road, and not far from the Georgian Bay. Here in the primitive condition of this forest coun- try, the subject of our sketch began really his struggle in life, for, in common with very many of his compatriots, poverty, as regards the things of this life, surrounded him on every hand. At this time wild and semi-savage Indians roamed the country, wild animals abounded, and settlers were few. 2 I- I 1' 1i ff 10 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, The sailor-life of the father kept him away from his home the most part of the year, which inspired George with the feeling, while still very young, that upon hiui devolved the duty of bestirring himself for the support of the family. He, though only a boy, cleared the forest, worked on the farm, hunted deer and bears, and in the season trapped the fur-bearing animals, and in every way possible to him worked in the interests of his mother and the rest of the family. There were no common schools in those days in that country, or if any, only for a short time in the winter ; thus George in early life was debarred the blessings of even an ordinary education. All his early surround- ings partook of the wild freedom of frontier life. An occasional visit to the neighborhood of some pioneer missionary who had picked his way across the corduroy road, or had been guided thither by the blaze on the tree, was the only connecting link be- tween these early settlers and civilization; notwith standing, in the heart of the boy there were yearnings after better things, but the opportunity for his acquir- ing an education was slow in coming. In the meanwhile, he became a first-class pioneer ; his knowledge of woodcraft became great, he became renowned as a hunter, many a deer fell, shot by his unerring rifle, many a bear was either shot or trapped THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY 11 by him. He could handle a birch canoe or a pair of snowshoes like the natives. Without his knowinr(l^ 18')1. — Walked across tlie Portage and stood on the shore of vast Superior. I have now passed the hounds of civilization. All ahead is hoth a natural and moral wilderness. May God make \\w the honored instru- ment in preaching Christ to thousands of the benighted sons and daughtei-s of these wilds. SahbatJi, Juh/ 27 th, 1851. — Preached twice at the Bruce Mines, and though severely indisposed, yet greatly sustained in declaring the truth as it is in Christ. Gakukv River, Jx/t/ 'IdfJi, 1851. Have met the Indians in council, and agreed to become their missionary. I have sought the direction of Heaven, and now see the finger of Providence. Oh, Thou in whom all fulness dwells, help me to be more abundant in labors. Amen. He finally decided on establishinsf cat Garden River some ten miles fi-om the Sault Ste. Marie. Returning for his family to Owen Sound, he proceeded with them on the next trip of the boat, and eventually reached the destination of the part}'. He hired a shanty from one of the Indians, to be a temporary home while he should endeavor to build a mission house. Well do I remember the nifrht of our arrival at Garden River. The whole population, w^ith the ex- ■•••/^yx THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 25 race whose hite man's ;e and stood passed the latural and ored instru- i benighted it the Bruce ,ly sustained dth, 1851. »d to become of Heaven, ou in whom it in labors. den River Returning; with them ly reached lanty from e while he arrival at th the ex- ception of three men, were drunk. Hideous yell.'; ""^ 1 noises were around our new home durinjij all the nii^ht, and I, in common with all our fandly, shall never forget the hours of terror we passed through. The missionary was on the ground, and now his early training came in good. He had some of the lano'uaije. He was as one of the Indians in his know- ledge of the woods and waters. To w^ork he went, both by precept and example. He preached the Gospel, and the Lord blessed his efforts, and soon there was a change. With his axe or his shoulder, he w^ent into the woods and hewed the logs for a mission house. His boys, with a yoke of oxen, " Whoa-haw-cee'd " them out, and before many weeks had elapsed, he moved his family out of the humble shanty into a large, com- modious log building, which in itself was, as it stood there on the banks of the stream, in the centre of the Indian settlement, a preacher of civilization to these semi-barbarians. Here we think it proper to give some more extracts from his own journal : November loth, 1851. — Nearly four months have rolled away since we landed here. JNIany have V)een the vicissi- tudes through which we have })assed. Methodism has now a home and a footing in this place. A comfortable house erected, a school-house well on the way, and all these efibrt^ 3 i .^ i ; ; lie * ' *:• m '; ! I ! I i'' 20 GEOROE MILLWAUD M'DOUGALL, have h(!Oii iiiai'ked witli the special pfovidonco and ju'otoi*- tion of (jlod. No aocidont lias occurred. Our meetings are well attended. Last evening the presence and power of (jlod was felt hy all. Two out of tliree of our chiefs were heard pleading with ( Jod for mercy. December '2iu/, 1851. — Held the first temperance meeting in this most intemperate place. Tried to impress upon the " red man " the fact that he is a descendant of a race once fearless and independent, capable of enduring the greatest hardship. Tried to point out to them the terrible sorrow entailed upon their people by the use of lire- water. December bth, 1851. — Last evening met the chiefs of the tribes in private council at the parsonage, for the purpose of devising means for stopping the bringing spirits into the village. A proposition was made to appoint ten soldier-men, whose business it would be to destroy all spirits brought into the village. Night after night Gospel and temperance meetings were held. Other points in the vicinity were visited, and, as to the chanfje effected, let the followinsf letters, written by the missionary and others at the time and on the ground, indicate the nature of the work carried on: Bruck Mines Mission, Garden River, Aiujust Ibih, 1851. Rev. and Dear Sir, — In accordance with your request, I write you the first opportunity. I left my family at Owen Sound until 1 should know our destiny. On the ;[!,..• IHE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 27 m Ll'iitl July, I call«'(l at the Bnico ; here 1 wjis most kindly I received — found a society organized, and a youni; man cm- Iployed as school-teacher and local preacher. In this capacity he has labored for the last nine nio.iths. He re- ceives £100 a year — X 2.') from the Company, and the re- niaiiKhn" from the miners, who suljscribe each two shillings [per month for the maintenanc(? of the (Jospel. Leaving two lappointments for the coming Sal)bath, I started for the Sault Ste. Marie. Here I met with the Rev. J. H. Pietzel, ISup<'riutendent of Michigan Episcopal Missions, to whom was much indebted for information relative to the missions. [e strongly reconnnended (larden River. On the 20th, T returned to Bruce ; met the society in the evening ; learned that arrangements were made for the Sabbath, sacrament bo be administered, and about a dozen children to be )aptized. They appeared disappointed when they under- stood my position, having expected an ordained agency imongst them. This, however, appeared to be forgotten rhen. I stated the interest taken by the Conference in their welfare, and also the prospect of your paying tliem a visit lortly. There ure in all 120 Cornish miners here, and ^hougli the members of society are but few, yet more than lalf of the above number have once been members. The Inhabitants of the Bruce number in all 300. Sabbath morning the little chapel was well filled, v/hich, by the way, holds a})out as many as the Alderville chapel. In the afternoon I attended the Sabbath-school, which is purely Wesleyan in its character ; the children number lirty-tive, with an efficient staff of teachers. Sabbath evening the village appeared to be present. The 3st singing I ever heard. At the close of the service, the Snglish part of the congregation requested I should tender m is li 4 !1;^ '!| ; 1 28 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, their thanks to you for tlie interest ah'endy manifested in their behalf, with an urgent request that you visit them soon. The young man employed by the minei-s aj)p(!ars to bo useful ; yet I think a more experienced person migiit bo more so ; at least they want an ordained minister, and witliout a cliange in the mining appropriation, they would support one. ]\Ioney is plentiful. If the young brother could be changed, and tak(Mi under your control, it might be better. I enclose the Superintendent's order for books. They want Wesleyan hymns, that the children may use them in tlie conii:re<;ati()n. Dr. O'iNIeara (Episco})alian) repeatedly offered his service, but was rejected. Several disgreeable circumstances have arisen out of this. On the ildth I met tlie Indians of Garden River in council, and stated to tliem the object of my coming amongst them. I then left them till evening for an answer. From the preachers at the Sault, I received a note of introduction to a Mr. Church, with whom I found a comfortable home while staying here. In company with this gentleman, I met the Indians in the evening, when the principal chief of this vast country arose and spoke nearly as follows : — '' AVe are glad to see this black coat amongst us. We hope he won't soon get home-sick. Twenty years ago Peter Jones first, by-and-by John Sunday, afterwards, one Sauh- goh-nash (T. Hurlburt), came to see us ; but they all got tired and went away. By-and-by the big black coat sent one here (Capt. Anderson) ; Init they all got tired, not one of them started a school. Two years ago I went to Mont- real; I called at Alderville and Rice Lake, and a great many more places. At Alderville saw the old black coat, saw the Indians were very wise, they all knew very pap( THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 29 iianifostod in it them soon, ppears to bo ioii might be ninister, and 1, they would oung brother trol, it might lei- for books. Ireu may use 3d his service, istances have m ver in council, .mongst them. From the troduction to ortable home gentleman, I icipal chief of Hows : — iffst us. VVe ars ago Peter ds, one Sauh- they all got ick coat sent ired, not one v'ent to Mont- and a great d black coat, paper. Nov we want a school. We have sixty children here ; they all learn to fiddle and drink lire-water, but not one ever learned a book.'' This is the experience of one of the olde.st, and, it is said, most intelligent Indians in North America. (tarden River is a most desirable location for several reasons ; first, there are two hundred and eighty Indians residing here : there are two other bauds, the on(^ about fifteen miles up Lake Superior, in all twenty-five miles from here ; the other, about twelve miles below this, at the foot of Lake George. Another reason is, that in case of no change being made at the IJruce, 1 can visit it once a month, the di.stance is thirty-tive miles. Another import- ant thing is, there is good land here, 1 think not less than three thousand acres. There is another opening at the Munedooning, at Ma;3le Pond. The Indians are all pagans. Both the land and fishing are good. If the ground could be taken up by a suitable agency, a number of Indians might be collected, as the North Shore tribes have no tilled land. It would be an etlbrt v.'orthy of our INlissionary Society, to have at least one station on that vast island, containing a population of more than two thousand, divided into seven villages. I was disappointed on arriving at Owen Sound, to find that my interpreter had not arrived. I am now on my way to Garden River with my family. Please pardon the imperfections of this scrawl. I make no profession of pen- manship at best, l)ut to write on board the old Gore is all but impossilde. We have had one constant blow all the way up ; and I must either send this, or miss the post for another week. August Gth. — I have rented a shanty which will have to do till a house can be erected. A school might be com- it- m k ii I i;: 30 rjEonrjF. mimavaud M'Uoiiaw.t, inoiicod, hut for Hie wuiit of hooks. If this want could \)o supplicMl hy the next ho.it, we could tlicii coiMinciwc^ opera- tions. I jiavo sont an ordtM* fi'oni the mines foi* hof)ks. TJK^y can all he sent in one j)ackai;e. I iu^artily join th(! miners in their recpiest for a visit from you. If we may hojx" for this, I woiikl put ofV selecting tlio ^'round for a chapel and })arsonaii;(; till your arrival. Asking your coun sel n,nd an intcM'est in your ])rayers, T am, your ohodient servant, (J M. McDoUGALL. 7'o the Rkv. E. Wood, Toronto. Oardex River. Appreciating tlie deep interest which the friends of Wes- leyan missions liave over manifested in tin; welfare of the native trihes of our country, I have designed to he explicit in referring to the work of God as connected with this dis- tant point of missionary lahor. Twenty months ago T made my first landing among this people, and never shall I forget the circumstances connected with that period. Our voyage from Penetanguishene had heen unusually hoisterous ; and having arrived at our place of destination, we disemharked in the mid.st of a lieavy rain, without house or friends to i^ceive us. The Indians were on the eve of starting for the Mahnetooahning to receive their presents ; many of them at the time in a state of intoxication ; and we soon ascertained that but three individuals out of three liundred abstained from the fire- water. They were, in fact, a drunken community. My first effort on arriving at Garden River, was to pro- cure a place to shelter us from the inclemency of the weather. i TIIK I'loNKKH, I'A'IIUOT AND MISSIONARY. ai I n-iitt'd ii sljMiity, l)Ut if lu'ini,' unpIfisttM'cd (iiid rooftul with liark, Wiis l>y iu> mciins pi'oof ii^aiiist tin* Indians acted nobly, and, with tlie tlierniometer some fifteen degrees below zero, we put in the door and wi?idows, hiid the floors, chinked, pL'istered, wliitewashed, and tinally liad tlie pleasure of con- gratulating each other as the proprietors of a comfortable little school house, free from debt,- with the exception of .£3, and this we hope to cancel before Conference ; for we go upon the principle that it is the duty of all men to help themselves according to their several abilities We are deeply indebted to P. S. Church, Esquire, for a gratuitous supply of lumber, use of oxen, and other favors. May the Great Head of the Church abundantly reward him and his kind lady for the deep interest they have taken in, as well as the valuable help they have rendered, this infant mission. Our watch-night was conducted by the Rev. J. H. Pietzel, Presiding Elder of the Ste. Marie District, and though not largely attended, the night being exceedingly cold, yet it was a time long to be remembered. By the Garden River people, New Year's eve has ever been a season which, above all others, was spent in revelry and drunkenness ; but by a number the Gospel has been lieard, and its power felt, and old things have passed away, and now, for the first time, these red men, surround the table of our common Lord, and anticipate tlie dawn of a new year in earnest prayer to the Great Spirit for His blessing. To God we would ascribe the praise. The good seed sown on watch-night we have been endea- voring to cultivate, by holding a proti'acted service. The God of revivals was present to own our huml)le labors. The cry of penitence and the song of praise were heard in our midst. Eleven profess to have received good ; most of THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 35 them heads of families. Some of them are related to other bands, thus enlar£;in,i^ our prospect of usefulness. Intem- perance is the great l)arrier to the Gospel in this country. Could we persuade those civilized and refined gentlemen who sell the Indians whiskey, to stop their nefarious traffic, the work of evangelizing these tril)es would soon be accom- plished. Chief ( hinggwuk can name upwards of a score of his own relatives who have either been drowned, burned, or frozen to death, while in a state of intoxication. Last winter, not less than five women were burned to death in their camps. Since I comi lenced writing this letter, I have been in- formed of the death of a young man belonging to the Sioux band, who, in a state of drunkenness, fell across the camp tire, and before rescued, his abdomen and legs were burned to a cinder. To stay this dreadful scourge of the Indian, we have used every means in our reach — the temperance pledge, the co-operation of the custom-house officers, in pre- venting it being brought from the American side, and also the influence of those favorable to the cause of temperance. Yet the only sure antidote against this vice is the Gospel; and though a large majority of the people are strangers to its saving power, yet such is the influence it exerts over their minds, that more than half of this vast community abstain, and those that still persist in drinking are a^^hamed to do so openly. As a proof of this, my family have not been alarmed at hearing the wild war cry for the last two months. January \bth. — With my blanket, provisions, snow-shoes, — all assorted — and a faitliful old Ojebwa,y for a companion, I started for the Bruce. The first day we reached tlie north end of St. Joseph's Island, and on our way we spent some n m i i ft ,' '! , !'? 1!' 36 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, '''ill time with the Pumpkin Point Indians, a band numbering about forty, still in a state of paganism, and, as a consequence, in wretchedness and poverty, but willing to hear the Gospel. On the 16th we called at Hilton, a young but rising settlement on the north-east point of St. Joseph. Here our way was closed up. The erysipelas, or some disease very similar, had assumed the aspect of an epidemic, and almost every family was afflicted. Visiting all within our reach, and distributing some tracts, v^e started for the Mine. St. Joseph's Island, if the mining operations are continued, is destined to become a place of importance ; the land is good ; almost all kinds of vegetables grow luxuriantly, with a ready market for all that can be produced. Crossing from the island to the mainlaml, we were caught in one of the most terrific snowstorms I ever witnessed. The drift came flying over these vast fields of ice so thick, that for miles we were obliged to shape our course by observing the quarter from which the storm came. But, conscious that we were under the protection of the Arm Omnipotent, we pursued our way, and nightfall found us quite at home amongst our Cornish friends ; and a more ofl'-handed, kind-hearted class of people are not to be found. Saturday we spent in visiting, and a more suitable time could not have been chosen. Almost 3very family were afflicted with the disease already referred to; one adult and three children had died, and several others were dangerously ill. On Sabbath, the services were well attended, notwith- standing the cold, for the thermometer stood at 25°. The class is in a healthy condition. Brother Hooper, the leader, is faithful to his charge. The Sabbath-school, under the influence of the same brother, is well supplied with faithful teachers, and is in a prosperous condition. ;! !j|f THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 37 Here is work for one missionary. A people prepared — many of tliein once happy in God ; but leavini; their native )and and the regular means of grace, they have lost their onjoymeuts by drinking into the spirit of the world — yet still they linger about the courts of Zion. May God speedily revive His work among them ! 1 a,m, Rev. Sir, yours respectfully, G. M. MCDOUGALL. To the Rkv. E. Wood, Toronto. [From the Chrlrtian Oucwdian, May 5, 1852. J The letter from the missionary at Garden River and Bruce Mines, which appears in last week's Guardian, con- tained a very gratifying account of the successful operation of the mission, as well as the openings for the more exten- sive cultivation of the promising fields for missionary labor in that })art of the country. The following letter of a later date, from the same place, will be read with interest and plt'asui'e by aM who love to hear of the prosperity and the encouraging prospects of this department of our work : — Garden Riveu, March ISth, 1852. Rev. and Dear Sir, — As I have now an opportunity of posting a letter, and that for the last time till navigation opens, 1 feel it a duty to send you a brief account of our proceedings. Throughout the past winter I have visited the Bruce monthly. On my last visit I was accompanied by Bro. H. Pietzel, of the Sault. On Saturday we held a temperance meeting, when twenty- five took the pledge. Sabbath was a high day amongst the miners. God in a very special manner owned the k'l--. : I , I If : I I: IV ■ IS 38 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, ordinances of His Church. T3acksliders were rechiimed,and sinners convinced, and tlie little church greatly raised. Five lovely babes were dedicated to God in baptism. Before leaving, I received from the Sabbath-school chil- dren £1 17s. 6d., as a juvenile missionary otlering, and 17s. 6d. from the class. I was also presented with a purse con- taining £4 12s. 6d., as a present. This came in place, for I had spent considerable in travelling to and from the Bruce, though I knew not from whence it would come. Last fall, when the change took place in the mining opera- tions, we had but two members at the Bruce, but God has ownx... our humble laboi's ; we have now a thriving class of thirteen. Yesterday I returned from Lake* Superior, where in com- pany with Brother Pietzel, we visited several bands of In- dians, and spent the Sabbath at Na-yah-mah-young, a flourish- ing mission, some forty miles above the Sault. Here they have a boarding-school in operation, and preparations are being made for farming. The American brethren are prosecut- ing the work with great energy. Their missions extend from Sault Ste. Marie to the head-waters of the Mississippi. How humiliating to the Canadian missionary is the fact, that while the south shores of vast Superior is dotted with missions, all in efficient operation, the Canadian coast, with its tens of thousands of inhabitants, is still a moral waste. In order that the Indians of both countries may be use- ful to each other, we have appointed a camp-n~ieeting to commence on the 4th of August. A committee has been appointed to make the necessary arrangements. We hope that a meeting of this character will bring out many of the pagans who will not attend the ordinary means of grace. As regards personal improvement, though I find my acquaint- THE ['KJXEEIl, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 39 aiicc with tho language daily increasing, yet I have not made that proHciency that 1 iiad lioped for. The lii'st tliree niontlis after my arrival was taken up in huilding and other preparatory arrangements. The liruce rc(iuires me montldy from six to ten days. But this, T hope, will he remedied in another year. The miners intend to petition Conference for a missionary, and I know of no place where one might he so useful. I have several times h(Mrd you anticipate the erection of a Manual Labor School at Owen Sound. If this measure could be consummated, and the institution placed upon a footing, so as to receive children from mis- sions in this country, the prospect of educating the youth of these war.dering tribes w^ould appear under a happier as- pect. The Indians are willing to send their children south to be educated, and appear delighted with the thought that a school of this character may yet be placed within their reach. Please pardon all imperfections, and believe me. Reverend Sir, yours respectfully. G. M. McDoUGALL. To th'i Rev. E. Wood, Toronto. P.S. — To-morrow morning I start for the Bruce, where i am a})pointed to hold a missionary meeting on Saturday evcnnig. it t •;; I' ,tv ^»fiii h ' i Bruce Mixes, March llnd, 1852. The work here is onward. 1 received seven on trial yesterday. Missionary meeting resulted in .£4: 2s. lOd., making in all between .£5 and ,£6. The temperance couse is doiuf; wonders. G. ]M. McDoUGALL. I . Is ' V I If! I, 40 GEORGE MILLWAIID M'DOUGALL, I. I CtArdkx River, Sfptemher '2SfJi, 1(S52. Rkvkukm) axd Dii.VK Hill,— Your favor of the IGth instant came safe and the contents were duly appreciated. In answer to your en([uiries as regards the farm, I would just remark, that I view the appointment of R. Sutton as providential ; his past training will fit him for present use- fulness. A tolerable acquaintance with the Indian language, industrious hal)its and experience as a Christian will, I trust, l)y the blessing of Heaven, make his example and ac- quaintance with business a great benefit to the community. The effort tow ^rds preparing the farm appears to me to be beginning at the right end of the work. The prospect of estal)lishing a manual laljour school, as well as the im- provement of the Indian in agi'icultural pursuits, depend wholly upon the management of the farm. As to its pros- pects, I believe, if properly conducted, it would not only meet the attending expenses, but when fairly started would prove a source of profit to the mission. Vegetables of all kinds lind a ready market at a high price, and roots of the most useful kinds — as potatoes, turnips, carrots and onions, etc. — yield an abundant crop. Some expenses must be in- curred in providing seed, farming implements and provisions; for though nmch can be done towards clearing the land, in the way of making bees, yet the red man must have some koo hoosh, pork and bread. Openings for extending the work in this country are numerous. The Pic, a point once occupied by the society, is still an open field. Fort William is now a Jesuit station. To the Indians at the Pic they have frequently ofiered their services, but Ah Tick Rouse, the leader, is faithful to Methodism. I was informed a short time ago, by a clergyman of the Church of England, of a circumstance worthy of notice. Some three B i! i^ THE PIONKEU, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 41 years since, when the choleni raged severely throughout the countiv, many of the Indians fell under its influence. On one occasion, the gentleman referred to was called to visit two men said to be dying; he found them fast sinking, hut trusting in Christ foj' salvation. ITpon enquiring, he found they were from the Pic, and that sevei-al y(>ars pre- vious they had been baptized by the Rev. T. Jlurlburt. These forest children, though exposed to much temptation, and surrounded by lieathenism, had not f< ,otten tlie teach- ings of the missionary ; and now, under the most trying cir- cumstances, they rejoiced in the hope of immortality. INFaple Point, on the north-east extremity of the iMahnea- dooahning, is distant some forty miles from any other mission, so that it could not be considercHl an encroachment to oc- cupy it as a station. It is well calculated for a mission, the land is good, fishing exceHrnt, and the situation convenient to the steamboat route. The Indians call for sympathy, they are at present in a most wietched condition. Dissi- pated, destitute and friendless, they ai-e fast melting away before the Indians' deadliest foe, the tir(>-water. .May God move His Church to greater efforts in behalf of these poor people. Many enquiries are made about the expected chapel. Nothing would consolidate our movements here, in the estimation of the Indians, more than the election of a com- fortable house of worship. By way of improvement, we are preparing to survey these lands, so as to designate to each man his lot. I have taken the lil)erty of writing to several friends, soliciting aid in behalf of a class of this conimunity, who are truly objects of chaiity. I hav(.' reference to the aged and young orphans Could those benevolent ladies, to whose efforts the missionary enterprise is so much in- debted, have witnessed one-tenth of the destitution that >m J! Mii.'i 1:1; i/( i! I) :1 *f 11 1 ! ■; \ >, \ i. ! i I Is,:' 42 GEORGK MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, your missionary at Gardoii River was an eye-witness of last .vintcr, especially anioii^'st the acjed, L believe efforts would be made to prepare these unfortunates to meet the severity of the comini,' winter. Old clothes, second-hand bedding, woukl 1)(5 highly appi'eciated and thankfully acknowledged. I could have induced the Indians last s})ring to have planted twice the amount of garden stuff, but for the want of seed. That which had been supplied by a few kind friends was well attended to, and has yielded an abundant crop. If the friends of missions would collect a box or two of seeds, and forward them to the mission before naviga- tion closes, they will confer a benefit on those wlio cannot help themselves. With sentiments of respect, I am, Rev- erend Sir, yours sincerely, G. M. McDoUGALL. To Rev. E. Wood. ■^ ^ \ The speech made by Ojesh Tab, one of the chiefs of the Garden River bands, in a general council, prior to the missionary's leaving for Conference : " Black Coat, I want to say a few words. I want to say them strong. We want you to repeat them to the Big Black Coat and Black Coats assembled in council. The Indians down south have fathers and mothers. We are orphans. The Great Spirit has done a great deal for them ; He has given them a rich country. He has also sent them miosionaries, who have been parents to them. The Great Woman Chief has been a mother to them. She has assisted their missionary in building large schools amongst them, and in teaching them how i > work. They aie not poor, they have plenty of kind fn' ;nds. Not so with us, we are orphans; we who live on tlie north shore of Huron and THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 43 Superior. Tlie (Jieat Spirit lias not man's reli '/\i)\\ ; ii'> teacher has been sent us, noi' scliool-liouse huilt tor us. We arc })()oi'. We hav(; no kind great fatliers or mother to protect us ; we are worse tlian our t'oi'efatiiers were many yeai's ago. Our forests were full of wild ani- mals, (leer, l;t!ai', hi^aver, etc. ; hut the white; man came and iiuhiced lis to kill of!" all our furs. He brought his steani- 1)1 tats and large iK^ts, and drove the tish from our shores. We aic [)oor, and we are becoming more so every year. Now we want you to say to the Big JJlack Coats, that we ask them to help us. We want them very much; we want our sons and daughters to understand paper and to learn to work. Tell them that we live in a large country, and tiiat tlicn-e are a great many of us. Tell them about this place, that it lies between Huron and Superior; uhat the land is good ; that we raise potatoes, oats, turnips, etc., and all sell for a great price ; but that the Indian knows little about making gardens. Tell them we ask for a school, like the one some of us saw at Alnwick, when we went to Money- aung (Montreal), three years ago. We are willing to give s( II. e of the best of our land for a farm, and assist in build- ing the houses ; but we must have the white man to teach us the way." ^11 If m lil. The fullowiri;^ letter to the President (>1l the Cunfer- eiice, from a gentleman at Garden River, contains a very pleasing- testimony to the ijood etl'ects attending: the labors of the Wesleyan Missionary amongst the Indians at that place : . '■ M ' I! 44 OEOIKJE MITJAVAUI) M'DOUOALL, Sttciau Island, oppositk (Iahdk.v IIivkii, F,U)'iiuv>i \7//i, isr)3 Hkv. and DiiAH Sin, -You will pardon the iihrrty of a total sti'iin,i;t'i' in addicssinL; !i i'rw lines to you, us tlu? sul)- j(H't is one in wliieh, I trust, w(^ l»oth feed an intei'cst, jukI to.^etliei' olTei- our mutual prayer for its suocoss, viz., t\w Wesleyau Mission at (larden llivcr. I hecanie ac(piaint(Ml with the Indians at ( JardtMi Uiver in IS 10. Tlu^y wer«? at that (iuKi a very poor, do,, since I oame amoni^st tluMu, cultivated much moi-e rjround, buih hettei- houses, and be- gan to '^ct foi" themselves liorses, cattle, etc. I furnished them woi'k at all seasons of the year, foi- which I paid them in provisions, etc. ; still much intcmiperauce continued. I long saw and felt they neiuled a faithful mi.ssionary to teacli them the way of life and light through Jesus. I liailed with Joy and thaidcsgiving the arrival of the llev. Cleorge ^NlcDougall in IS,") I, sir.ce which tiniv (Jod has seemed to crown the labors of this inilefatigable missionary with great success. InttMuperanco is known to only a limited extent. In many houses, where scenes of drunkenness were often beheld, may now bi; heard the voice of prayer and praise to God. The Indians are very much elevated in the scale of human society, and seem far advanced in civilization. As to the number now connected with the mission liouse, I am not informed. The congregation on the Sabbath is verv respectable as to numbers, and sometimes quite hirge, so much so that the school-house is much crowded. The house now used as a place of worship and school-house THE IM()\Ki:U, PATRIOT AM) MISSIONARY. 4,') is otM' of (Ik' most iin(;omfoft.'il)I(! im;iLciii;il)Io. M;iiiy days, as wo liav(^ in (his liy[)(M*l)or«'an n';,'i(iii, it is iiiipossiliU; to iiiak(^ it comfortahlc ; and as it is not snifalilc in si/c, locality, ct*'-, I think if not woi-th ti-yin^ to iMi|»i'ov(! I»y rc[ );urs. I cannot l»iit Ihink that (he ('rcction of a conifoi't- al)l(' and nspcctaljlo chapel would add in (he nscfidncss and iidhwrncc of the mission. I am not ac(|uaint('d with th(^ stato of th(! funds of your hoard, hut fully ixdicvfi it wortli a stron;^ oH'ort to build a chajicl at (lardcn Iiiv(M' the coudny summer; and if so, it should ixM^onnncnccd (sarly, as our seasons are shoft, and not at all times <'asy to ^ct h(dp necessary for work of that kind. I think five Imndrerl dollars would Ix^ r(Mjuir(ul to build and linish a chapel suital)le to tlu! place, with its pi'(!S(uit [M'ospect of increase;. Should tlu; lioai'd appropriatt; that amount for the j)Ui'pose, I will contribute lifty dollai-s to- wards it, or in th(; sam(! pi'oportioiv for a less sum. J under- stand from ]Mr. McDoui^all, there is to be a camp-meeting another summer very near my liouse, when [ liopc; w(; may see you, and have the pleasure of your ac(juaintance. I wish to say a few words on the subject of Mr. McDou- gall's salary. I understand that he receives but ii?.'>20 per annum from the Board. I am satisfied lie cannot live; at least comfortably on that amount, with his present family. I believe, should you increase his pay to 8 100, that with such contributions as wou'l be made here, he would be able to get on vei'y well. You may think I take ([uite too much liberty in making such suggestions with regai-fl to the mis- sion. I do it, I trust, in (Jhri>tian meekness, as a well- wisher of the success of tlie work at (Jarden River. Though of a different denomination, yet I i)rav God that much good may be done, not only to the Indians at this ■W itl A\ ! M ill 46 r5KOK(;K MIM.WARI) M'DOUOAM., placo, 1»ut also tlir()Uja;li all this upper country, tliroui^'h tlio instruinontality of the uiissionai-y ciiti'i-prise. ()iu> word inoi'o, and I will have done. 1 know not what the practice is with the Wcsicyan Methodists of (.anada with r('ij;ard to their missionaries. 1 think, on oui' side, they too often <'han<,'e them anioni,'st the Indians. It would take a lon^ time, I think, for any other man to j^et the confidence and gain the influence over the Indians at Garden River that Mi*. McDouyall has now. r am, Sir, yours in Christian affection, 1'. S. (JlIUKCII. To Rkv. E. Wood, VorkvUle, C.W. M ! \ i ' ' i I I. [ I ': i ] [From the Chrixtlan (riiarditm, April 27, 1853.] The t'ollowinof letter from the Wesleyan Missionary at Garden River, to Mr. J. Macdonald, of Toronto, givino" an account of the destitute and polishing con- dition of some of the Indians in that part of the coun- try, will, we trust, excite the active sympathies of those who possess the means to supply the wants of the needy. We are requested to state that Mr. Mac- donald will receive and forward to Garden River the benevolent offerings of those friends who may desire to assist in relieving the necessities of the poor and suffering Indians of that place : Garden River, March 2nd^ 1853. Dear Brother, — My object must be my apology for the present letter. For some months past, I have felt a strong desire to do something more for the aged and afflicted in t TUK PIOXEKIl, PATFiroT AND MISSIOXAUY. 47 tins ronitnunity. A slioit tinM> sinco, in convcrsfition witli tlic ll<'v. I». Sliiiw, Presiding; lOldcr of tlio Siiult Stc. Mfiric^ District, upon tiic snl)joct, I was iiifoi-nicd that they i('i'('i\('(l y«'!ifly lai'i^c supplies of secondhand clotliinj,', j^Mi'den seeds, medicines, etc., from diU'ei'ent i)«'ne\()lent societies throiii^diout tlu! Union. These, when judiciously dispensed, not oidy relieved the suirei'in<;s of the destitute, hut also exerted a happy inliuence in favoui* of religion. The Indiiui makes no piovision for old a<^e or allliction, and when once incai)acitated for the chase, his case beconu\s truly wretched. Many of the iidand Itidians are now in a state of starva- tion ; the rabbits, which were tlieir main (h'pendence in winter, havin«^, from some unknown cause, dietl olK 1 lately visited a band, where one of their women was driven to such a desperate stat'^ through starvation, that she ate her own child ; and I have good authorit ' for stating that several cas(!s of the kind have occuired during the past vear. Accidents often occur which place individuals in circum- stances of gi'eat aliliction and destitution. A shoi-t time since, M-ithin sight of the nnssion liousc, a widow woman got her camp burned, and a tine active litth^ child roasted alive in it. Now this unfortunate not only sutlered tlie gri(;f peculiar to ;i mother, l)ut, as r-egarils food and cloth- ing, was left totally destitute. We l)elieve that were the I'ight agencies employed, God, through Ifis (Jhui'ch, would enable the missionary to relieve such cases. I^ut with me a (lilliculty presents itself; for my junior ])Osition as a mis- sionary, together with my crcumscribed acijuaintance with persons suitable to co-operate in this work, prevent me from taking that active part in the work that I might otherwise do. >'■: ' IJ m 48 GEORGE MILL WARD M'DOUGALL, Tj-usting in God, however, I liave resolved to write several friends on the suhject, asking their assistance. Now, my dear sir, if you can enlist the benevolent of your acquaint- ance in our behalf, you will confer a great favor, and relieve the suffei-ings of the destitute. It is necessary to be an eye-witness in order to form any- thing like an idea of the sulFering condition of the pagans of this region. Dissipation, poverty, severity of climate, all con^bine to augment their misery. A"^ regards our pro- gress in religion, we have i-eason to be encouraged. Our society numbers about tifty members ; and among a people who, less than two years ago, were noted for drunkenness, only one case of drinking the tire-watei has occurred this winter. They have raised upwai'ds of .£10 for missionary purposes during the past winter. We have got out timber for a chapel 25 x 35. To our Heavenly Father we desire to be thankful, and to ascribe all the praise of our success- Trusting \ ou will pardon thf; lil)erty 1 have taken, by re- meml)ering the object I have in view, 1 remain, yours very sincerely. Geo. McDuugall. John Macdonald, Esq, Toronto. Garden River Mission, Aoventber 25th, 1853. Rev. and Dkar Sir, —Our chapel has been the object of interest with the Garden River people for the last year. We hope soon to enjoy the fruit of our labor. Christmas is the day appointed for the dedication. The Rev. J. Shaw will lead in the services. The Rev. C. McCulloch, Presby- terian minister of the Free Church, has offered his services. ■I' ' J and THE PIONEKR, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 49 C. P. Harvey, cliiof agent for the Huron and Superior canal, tlie chief engineer, witli a number of Ciu'istian gentlemen, wish to he present. Should the day he tine it will be one of much interest to tlie mission, for Christians of every name have taken a deep interest in our humble elTorts for tin; natives. The Indians are not less interested ; they have given 145 days' work towards its erection. I hope, dear sir, you will not receive the impression that we are prodigal, because we live up to our income and some- times in advance of it. I believe there are few families more frugal than my ov/n. The fact is, I liave incurred responsibilities in endeavoring to advance the interest of the mission ; but we are more than compensated. God has given us many kind friends in temporal matters ; and He lias given success to our feeble efforts for the good of His people. During the last two years I have received more than ,^200 from different parties for this mission, all of which I have endeavored to lay out for its advancement. The Kdhtola broke her machinery three weeks ago. We have no Canadian mail. This is an unexpected favor by a traveller to Detroit; the boat stays but a few minutes. G. McDouGALL To Rev. E. Wood, Yorkville. m\ t i ■ ^1 t M: 1 Extract from a letter from the Rev. G. McDouiXf^ll, dated January 28th, 1857: Residing as we do in a part of the country wliere Popery preponderates, and where festival days are characterized by scenes of drunkenness and dissipation, we have ever looked forward to the holidays with an.xiety, especially as regards the young of our congregation. The past, however, were '. '\\r \\^\ ';ir.;|. ■I 50 GEORGE MILL WARD M'DOUGALL, seasons of pleasing remembrance. Christmas was a happy day at Garden River. Our morning service was well attended. In the after- noon, witlj two exceptions, every individual belonging to the band assembled in the Wesleyan church for the purpose of enjoying their Christmas feast. The good things were provided l)y the young of our congregation. The evening was spent in the defence of temperance principles, and a most effective meeting it was. Our watch-night was a season of deep interest. How happy the change wrought in this people, when a comparison is made with the man- ner in which they formerly anticipated the new year. On the '2nd of January, at the suggestion of Mrs. Church, and at her expense, a pic-nic was got up for the mission school, and to this, not only the little people, but all their parents were invited ; every variety was provided for their enter- tainment — nuts, raisins, apples, and cakes of various kinds ; and to these you may l)e sure ample justice was done. Fifty-four children, and some 150 of the grown-up ones, were made glad on this occasion ; and, while speaking of the little folks, I would just remark that, without being in- vidious as to others, our school is decidedly the best we have seen in this country ; our indefatigable teacher, Mr. Dagg, has drawn around him, not only the children of our own people, but almost all the Romani^it children within reach. Would that the friends of the Indians could witness the improvement in many of those children. The class in grammar, geography and arithmetic, would bear comparison witli most of those of the same age in our favored country. Intent on doing good, Mr. T>agg commenced a night-school for the young men, which /ids fair to be of much service. These are some of the lights connected with our work in ■i *■■ I THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 51 this country, and to God wo ascribe all the glory, and yet wo are not witliout our shades. Twenty-five years ago, when a Sunday, a Jones, and a Ifiirlhurt first proclaimed the great salvation to this people, the way was clear; there were hut few opposing influences; hut now every inch of ground is contested. Popery, the blight of Ciiristianity, has been aroused to greater exertion since tlie increase of our mission ; Bacchus is greatly in- creasing the number of his agents ; not a village, however insignificant, a fishing point or a mine, i^ut has its vendors of lire-water. The holy Sabbath in many places is shame- fully desecrated. To meet these soul-destroying influences, and also secure an increase of numbers in many parts of this wild country, a new order of things is about being introduced. Those points which we now view as distant, such as Michipicoton, the Pic, or Fort William, stand in about the same relationship to the civilized world as did Owen Sound or Saugeen some ten or twelve years ago. Already the tide of emigration has passed the falls of Ste. Marie, and the roar of its waves is distinctly heard on the north shore of great Supej'ior. Yesterday we conversed with a party already equipped for a journey on the north shore ; they intend visiting Montreal river, and to select a place for a settlement, and as soon as possible erect a saw mill. Many others with whom we are acquainted are looking towards that section of country as their future home. The une(|[ualled fisheries and inexhaustible mineral wealth of that region are the olijects of attraction. Now the solemn questions suggested to the mind of the Christian are as to what will be the char- acter of these rising settlements ? under what auspices *i M :\ '_' ;i !/^f \ M if i^ ' ini- ! . uii ■- ; ■I IHi 'M)":i 52 GEORGE MILLVVAIID M'DOUGALL, will tiiov crrow ? shall the inhabitants, and the sons of the fo:"Vit, by whom they are surrounded, receive and obey the truth, and be broii,gljt into the freedom of the sons of God ; or be ignoi-ant of the great Redeemer, and left to their own iusts, and sink deeper into the thraldom of crime and sin '< These are questions which must be practically met by the Church of Christ. Sabljath the 18th we held our quarterly meeting, Brother Price, of the Shawville mission, being with us. Next Sabbitli, Providence permitting, I shall spend at that mission. Brother Price has kindly consented to accompany me to the Bruce Mines, at the earnest request of the Pres- byterian church. Sault 8te. Marie this winter is destitute of a pastor, and, in connection with Brother Price, I preach for them every third Sabbath. March 15th we have an appointment at Ma Mas, Mont- real Mining Company location, on Lake Superior. In meet- ing these engagements, we expect some hard beds and cold nights ; yet labor is rest, and pain is sweet, becaus^ my God is here. ■'1 1 Extract from a letter from the Rev. G. McDougall, dated July 24th, 1857 : Gardkn River. We have just closed the Lake Superior camp meeting. The weather was favorable, and quite a number attended, and, best of all, the Master was present and souls were con- verted. Amongst the many that were blessed, two cases are worthy of special notice : the first, a Frenchwoman, a very respectable person, but a bigoted Romanist. On this dark mind the spirit of conviction fastened, and one of the most powerful conversions we have ever witnessed was the THE PlONEIiR, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 53 result The lady there and then declared that henceforth neither pi"iest, saint, nor Virgin, should stand hetweeii her soul and the all-su(iicieut Saviour. The next was that of a young man, decidedly the hardest case at Garden River. If is fatluu', a valuable native brother, stated tliat for the last three months he had daily in secret besought the Lord to convert his son. In the clearest possil)le manner that prayer has been answered, and great is the joy of that family. We are now hourly expecting the death of a young man, the son of our oldest chief, who spent the last three years at Alnwick School, having suffered from consum[)tion for sev(>ral months. He is now, to use his own words, " very near home." T was much gratified to hear last evening this dying youth express to iiis family and friends his gratitude for the kindness and faithfulness of those tried missionaiies, Brother and Sister llurlburt. A camp -meeting was expected at the Pic. Brother Ash- quabe writes that two hundred and fifty Indians had waited there three weeks for the Big Black Coat. From Brother Blaker I I'eceived a letter yesterday, in which he states that tliirteen families of the New Brunswick Indians had waited there for some time, in view of going to the Pic camp-meet- ing. The iron mine located four miles from the jMichipico- ton mission, has been started under favorable circumstances. !. U ! • ' M " Garden Rivkr. " Di:ar Fathkr, — Ke-che-me-ticg, — Our minds have long been to write you letter. Our missionary, Ah-Yah-Bans, has often told us that you was the first talk to him to come to this country. We thank the Great Spirit that lie put it into your heart. Before this missionary came we all I < 111 in 54 GEORGE Mir.LWARD M'DOUGALL, drank the lire- water; we were very wretclicd ; we were very poor, we sometimes woi'ked ; but we '^ave our money for whiskey ; then we fought. Sometiuies some of us were drowned, some were burned to deatli. Some of our children died while our women were drinking ; and when we were sober, we were much troubled in our minds. " We have often wisluid we were dead. Sometimes the Churcii missionary preach to us, in th(^ morning w(^ went to meeting, and at night we all drink. I>ut now is great change. The (ireat Spirit has blessed us, most all have put away the lire-water. A great many of us feel tlu; (iJreat Spirit in our hearts, we are v(U'y happy ; our young people have learned to sing good hymns, they like to sing ; most of them can read the liymns in the Great Book. Last summer Ah-Yah-Bans told us to send two of our boys to your big school. We have just got good letter that they are ha})py. The Black Coat is good. His wife is very kind, their teacher is the great friend, we thank you for our boys. " We want lo tell you we have a large, good chapel. We helped to make this house. We all worked hard. We were glad when we meet in that house. No white man, but the missionary and the farmer, help us to this house. We think vciry strange, when we remember how quick the Great Spirit has done so much for our people. " We like our missionary very much, he is our gi-eat friend. We want to tell you little more. We know the white man is strong and wise. We were strong. We not strong now, we become weaker and weaker; the poor Indians want you to help them ; the great chief many times send us wise man to tell us good things, but we forgot them; what we want is religion in our hearts. Send us more missionary, send to the poor Indians all along the shores of our big Jakes, u it THK PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 00 thon they will become happy, and our children will grow wise like the white man. " We want to tell you little more; twenty years ago John Sunday, Kahkewaquonaby and Negij^ c.'im(; to this country, we remeniher them, our children do not remember them. Since Ah-Yah-Bans come liere, some good Black Coats come to help them. " We like camp-meetings very much, we will not forget the one at Nan>ekong; we had a great one last summer, the hig missionary from Owen Sound brought a great many with him ; we want you very much to come and see our country when we have our meeting next summer on Lake Su})erior. " We have told our interpreter to write these words. " Your friend, " Ogesiitah, " Paiiaiibetahsung, " Chiefs of Garden River. "James Asiiquabe, "Interpreter. ''To Rkv. E. Wood, Torontor P. S. — The term Ah-Yah-Bans, is the Ojibway for " Little Buck," the name given to father by the Indians, because of his having won in a race with one of their best runners, whose name was " Little Buck," and who at once surrendered his claim to this because of havinij: lost the race. :t p\ h ! .i i'ni Garden River Camp-Meeting. Reverevd and Dear Sir, — At the earnest and kindly invitation of the Chairman of the District, and the resident s \p' 5G GEOKOE MILLVVARD M'DOUGALL, missionary, T niacin anvingonients to attoncl tlio Indian canip- ni(M>tin<,' held in tlie vicinity of our (i;u(l«Mi llivor mission, and to visit tlu' mission, ouf most wpstiMlv on(^ in Canada. Anxious to know moic of the state of oui* work in that ro'don of the country, to witness for myself the condition of the Indians in tiie vicinity and in^gion of Lake Superior, and to contribute in some huml>h' dei^i'ee to the advancenient of the woi-k of ( }()d in that distant part, T Ljladly a\aihHl myself of th(^ company of the esteemed chait man, Rev. C. Vandusen, and proceeded towards the mostdi.'mtof our Indian missions in this line province. Feai'ing a want of connection in the steamers on our northern lakes, Brother Vandusen and myself took the route by Detroit, v/liile Bro. Pet(!r Jones, more for- tunately, proceeded by the noithern route, and arrived at the camp-ground nearly a day earlier than we. The ground was well chosen, ncjar the junction of the (harden and Sault rivers, and contiguous to Indians both of Canada and of the United States. Two bands of American Indians, with their missionaries, were present, and an equal or larger numljer of Canadian Indians from Garden River, and (jther Indian settlements, swelled the number to a goodly host, such a one i4,s would at one period in our country's history have tilled a stouter heart tiian mine with terror. But these hundreds of Indians of ditferent nations and living under ditlerent Hags, met in amity. Many of them converted, they met as brethren beloved ; while all, free from hostile feelings, met on the ground of a common or general brotherhood. It was no ordinary sight, a sight calculated to awaken no ordinaiy emotions. My heart rejoiced in the omnipotence of Christianity, in the lovely fruits and glorious triumphs of Christianity. THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. o7 Tliere wero no wliitos presoiit save tlio missiouarios and their families, with one or two exceptions. Tlie Rev. Mr. Sliaw, Presiding Elder in the Michigan Conference ; Rev. N. Calendar, Presiding Elder among the Ccrmans; Rev. L. D. Price, missionary at the Sault Ste. Marie, all of the Methodist Episcopal Church, wei-c present, and rendered valuable service during the meeting; Rev. C. Vandusen, Rev. P. Jones, Rev. (1. M. McDougall and myself, together with Brother Dlaker fi-om the Pic; .Mission, represented C\inadian Methodism, and in all our intercourse with the beloved brethren of the Methodist lOpiscopal Church, we felt that we were one with them. Noble men of God ! ma^ they be more successful than ever in the heroic and martyr work in which they are engaged. We listened witli })leasure and profit to the addresses of the brethren named ; and witnessed some of the effects produced by their ministra- tions. Habitual as it is to the Indian character to conceal all evidence of emotion, nevertheless tlie sigh, the tear, the exclamation of joy told how ellectual was the Word of (iod, while thus faithfully preached and accompanied by unction from above. Many hundreds there wei-e of living evidences of tht* power of the Gospel of the Son of • Iod ; and, during the progress of the meeting, many pagans were induced to give up their idols and seek the Lord "with full purpose of heart." No case was more thrillingly interesting to r.s than that of a venerable chief, nearly eighty years of tige, and the most influential of any chief in his own or adjacent tribes. For many years this chief had resisted all the etlbrts made to induce him to renounce paganism and sin, and to give his heart to the Lord. Many of his tribe were converted, and 5 ■in ■} n :1 ftW II I . 58 (JKOIUJK MILhWAUI) M'DOUCiAI.I., y(?t lie w.is ail idolatcf. O > Monday afternoon, the last day of tlic ramp nii'ctin,:^;, the ro<;k was smitten, the; old eliief bowed in penitence ; all ni<^lit prayei* was made to (iod foi hii)i. I'jfe till' morninij sun shone up(^n us, the Sun of llijL^liteousness had risen ujxjn his h(»ai-t. lie was madt; hap])y in the love of Jesus, and on the followinji; niornini,' received the holy sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and was baptized by the Rev. Peter Jones. .I>ui'in^ the protracttnl prayer-nieetings, as well as during preaching, the power of (4od was present. I could not but nf)te that tin; Indians in legard to prayer, were very much like some of us in re- g;ird to preaching; they were not afraid of being "too long" or "to(/ loud," yet, whatever might be said of the preaching, good John Wesley himself would not have con- demned the devoted or penitent Indians for the fervor, vehemence or perseverance of their prayers. Sometimes the meetings continued in the tents the whole of the night. The love-feast was a happy season ; and when we parted, never to meet .igain on eartli, "eyes un- used to weep " were suffused with tears. Few, if any, upon the ca)np ground but wept as tiiey bade a final adieu to each other. I know not the number converted during the r.ieting; but I w;xs informed that there were many brought to God. The reouit will be seen after many days ; but not fully until the day of eternity. Before I left the ground, the ch'efs present lionored me with an Iiulian name, Wah-bah-noo-sa. I was at no loss to discover that my valued brother, Vandusen, had as much influence with the western Indians, aud he richly deserves it all, as he had with the senate of a western university, and that not only to his recommendation was an old friend W m I j I 4 THE nuNEFIt, I'ATKIOT AND MISSIONARY o9 intiMl r)r the lioiior.iry cle;L,'roo, hut myself for luy Indian CdlJIlollHMl. I visitcnl tlu' Miissioii iicir the liciid of the Sault, some tt'ii miles fioiii tln^ Like SujxM'ioi". It is lovoly in its asp(!ct ,111(1 sctMici'v. A more siiitaMo location coukl not have teen iii;ul". Tilt' siMMU'iy is anionic tlio finest [ ever saw, tlie soil is of a siij)ei"ior ((uality, the stt'oains alioimdiiiL; with tish, and tlui sahihrity of the cliin.ite unrivalled. In eonii)any with the chaii'nian and nussionary, IJi'othei' .Fones iiavin^ rcturniMl hoine, wo visit(!(l many families in their houses and priyed with them t!i(M-e. 'IMie iiouses, ahout forty, have all h ' Ml put u[), I l»;!lieve, within three oi- four years, or since tlw. comuKMicoment of the? nussion. A church and mission- house ha\'e also hecn ercn^tcid, chiefly by Hi'otlu'r McDoui^'all himself, wh) is, without adulation, one of th(>! hest mission- aries in our impoi'tant work. lie is in labors more abun- dant. Could our friends a thousand miles away visit this mission, as it was my haj)j)y privile<^e to do, and see with their own eyes, and hear with their own ears, the evidences of the wondrous work elVected in a few years, they would not oidy rejoice in having had the opportunity of contri- buting to such a work, but would resolve to do more than ever for a cause so owned and blessed of (jrod. I may say, so delighted was I with the evident improve- iiient made by the Indians of Garden River, and with the desin; evinced still furthei- to improve, that when a wish was expiessed to have a communion service some day, that I pledged myself to procure for thcTu a suitable service and send it, together with books and other presents for the mission, this autumn. 1 shall be happy to be the medium of conveying to the missionary there any donation for the use of the mission I i M II r m 4 60 r.EOROE MII.UVARD M'DOUnALL, wliich tho roalors of this hasty skotoli may wish to havo conv(>y<'nioo Minos and intorniodiato points, and wo^ttward to tho Sault 8tr» Mario and away boynnd it. He hoard ot* tribos all al()nrother IIuntinL^don allitms, they have proved faithful. it must he sonw; thirty-three; or thirty-four years since tliese men were thus re'u-hed hy my father. He was ordained at the Conference which sat at Kin^'ston in 1 THE PIONEER, PATUIOT AND MlSSIOxNAKY (i3 him as a missionary advocate, and during the winter montlis they called him out into the lar^^e centres to plead before immense congregations the cause which lay so near to his own heart. At the end of his term at Rama, in the June of 1860, to his great surprise, the Conference appointed him to Rossville, Norway House, in the Hudson Bay Territory, and also ' laking him Chairman of the Missions in that distant land. f; H ( i I "J I : I • <■, I : I V 1 t r H''' .V ! 64 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, CHAPTER V. Appointed to tlie Hudson Uay Missions — Is made Chairman of same — Three years with Norway House as Headquarters — Describes several missionary trips made during these years. Toronto, Jidij lOth, 1860. THE bearer, the Rev. George McDougall, has been appointed by the Canada Conference of Wesley an Ministers to take char,£^e of Rossville station, Hud- son Bay Territory, in the room of the Rev. R. Brooking, who returns to Canada. Mr. McDougall is also appointed Chair man of the District embracing the mission stations of the Wesleyans at Rossville, Oxford House, Edmonton, White Fish Lake, Lac la Pluie, etc. I recommend him to the Company's officers, to extend to him their wonted courtesies in forwarding himself and family to their destination, and facilitating the object of his mission — the welfare of the Indian tribes within the Honorable Company's territory. Exec II Wood, Gen. Siijj't. Weslei/an Missions, Canada Conference. Makino: his arrano-cments, and leavins: two of his family to attend school in Eastern Canada, as soon as possible after his appointment he started for his new field. The route was by train to CoUingwood, for in ii' : THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 65 the meanwhile railways had been built in Canada. At this point a number of friends had met to bid the missionary and his family adieu ; amon^ij these were the Rev. Drs. Enoch Wood, Superintendent of Missions, and Stinson, President of Conference. Receiving the benediction of these brethren and friends, the mis- sionary and his family embarked on an American propeller, which took them on the journey as far as Milwaukee, Lake Michigan, where he and his party took railway train for La Crosse, on the Mississippi river, which, at this time, was the most northerly and westerly point of railway enterprise on the American continent. Here the party went to one o? the large Mississippi steamers, which w^ere then almost the only means of transport into the interior of America. Steaming up the magnificent Mississippi, the mission party met wdth the usual experiences in those days — tying up to other boats for the purpose of social con- viviality, unloosing and running exciting races with the late partner ; witnessed slavery ; saw the manage- ment of steamboat employees, which seemed as bad as slavery ; finally reached St. Paul, which was the limit of navigation at that time. Here the problem of the big overland journey, from tliis point to the Red River of the north, met the missionary. Tiiis he solved by chartering a newly organized stage line to .»J -1 II 1 f I'l '< ■ ] '\i- n'\f 'i » 1 4i pi 'I! I ■I I 1 1 ''' ' 66 OEOllGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, d I transport him and his family on one of their coaches from St. Paul., on the Mississippi, to the Hudson Bay post, named Georgetown, on the Red River. The party left St. Paul very early in the morning ; breakfasted opposite where the present Minne^ipolis stands, then a few houses indicating the site of a future metropolis and the greatest wheat market in the world. The first day brought the party to St. Cloud, where the missionary learned it would be wise for him to remain a short time, in order that he might make connection with a steamboat in the Red River. Accordingly he camped his party for a short time at St. Cloud, a.id, purchasing a bolt of cotton, ^'inproved the time, like Paul of old, by making a tent, which he and his family very successfully accomplished, stitch upon stitch (for there were no sewing machines in those days). Continuing their journey, the party rolled over the plains and hills of Minnesota, making passing acquaintance with the stage -house keepers, and the few solitary settlers at that time situate in this new land, many of these a short time afterwards to become the victims of the terrible Sioux massacre. After six days' rapid journey, chano;ing horses every twelve or fifteen miles, the missionary and his party found them- selves camped on the banks of the Red River, where f'i THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 67 they in a sense entered the Hudson's Bay domain, for liere they found a Mr. Murray in charge of the Hudson's Bay Depot. Here the missionary found, notwithstand- ing his previous stay-over at St. Cloud, that the only steamboat on the Red River was behind-hand ; which delay was compensated by the profuse hospitality of the Hudson Bay Company's officer, as also the grand opportunity for the pioneer spirit of the missionary to explore this new country ; thus several days passed, and at last the steamboat came, but having arrived, the captain said the water is too low, the boat can- not possibly go down the river again until the water rises. Here was another dilemma, which was passed by loading a barge, upon the deck of which the mis- sionary and his family pitched their tent. Four immense sweeps were attached to this barge and were used as the propelling power. They were now^ on the famed prairie lands of the far west. Pemmican had become a staple in their food ; this was n>ade out of the meat of the bufialo, large herds of which were almost within hearing distance from the banks of the river. They were right on the neutral ground between two warlike tribes ; the Sioux on one side and the Red Lake plunderers or Ojibways on the other. The party on the barge kept the middle of the river as much as possible, and were very careful as to the spot I ! t} i. mu w ()8 GEOROE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, they landed on wlien it became necessary to ^o on siicre for firewood for the cooking-stove upon which tliey prepared tlieir meals. Eight days and nights of pulling down the riven leavinf^ Minnesota and Dakota, enterinij wdiat consti- tutes to-dav Manitoba, the mouth of the Assiniboine was reached. Here the party came to Fort Garry, the capital of the Hudson Bay country, the seat of govern- ment of the said Company, and the centre of the Red River, or Selkirk settlement, of the north. Here the missionary and family met with a kind reception from Governor McTavish, and through whose assistance, very little delay was found by them in obtaining transport to their yet distant post further north. Let tlie following letter, written shortly after, convey the impression of the missionary as to the capabilities and future of this great country : RossviLLE, September 17 /h, 1860. The three days spent by our boatman between Fort Garry and Like Winnipeg gave us a fine opportunity for observa- tion. Wo conversed with traders, farmers and travellers on the character of the country; we witnessed the system of agri- culture, passed through their tields of grain ready for the reapoi', and the impression we received was, that for fertility of soil, and readiness of cultivation, the banks of this western Nile could not be surpassed. It must be admitted that the system of agriculture is very primitive, the banks LI 1 < i Ci :; ' ''!ml ; w\ i; ^uM&l 'i -mm ! I ! liniiii.i 1 vmW'i 5, ■ '1 ' ' 'Wl i' ■ ^ ^1 3 4 ! \.i % \ ,!• ) m\ Hi. I '■ i<' I . I i 1, ! , I 1 . I'll!' .1. . i 1 1 (. & i K :i THE PIOXKEH, I'ATIIIOT AND MISSIONAUV. 71 of tlie river often remind one of the shores of the St. Law- rence fifteen years ago, wlien thi^ FrentOi-Canadians either carried the manure into tlie mi(hlle of tlie stream, or tossed it over the baidvS, This, however, will soon he corrected. Farming implements arc; now being imported ; a progressive spirit is being manifested ; and the day is not distant when the limitless prairies wiiich environ the hanks of the Assiniboine will rank amongst the finest wheat-growing countt'ies of British North America. And here is a home for the hundreds of sturdy Canadians who live on rented farms, or who may no. ii. ; nuMUs to purchase homesteads in Canada. The be . oi. ,nd can be olttained at a nominal sum. A word to those wishing to emigr.ite o this country. At present we would recommend thr 't. Paul route. A through ticket from Toronto to 8t. r'aul by Milwaukee and La Crosse, costs twenty dollai's and fifty cents. A family would do well to purchase a team and waggon, not forgetting a tent. Provisions can be obtained cheaper eighty miles further on, at St. Cloud. The road is good, feed abundant ; and in company witli half-a-dozen thei'e is no danger. In this w;iy, the journey can be accomplished at a trifling expense. AVe were much gratified to learn that the cause of temperance was beginning to excM-cise an infiuenoe, and that several of the clergy heartily advocated its claims. On this subject there ought to be no uncertain sound ; the missionary that would be useful in this country must abstain. As an illustration, when we were coming down the river our men stopped at the lower fort, and procured a small quantity of spirits ; singing, shouting, and a great deal of noise followed. The wind being fair and very fresii, my iV M i V ' I ■'T ii«.ii, .r - 72 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, 1 It,' son assisted me in tlie sailing* of the boat, leaving our un- ruly crew to swallow the demon. Subsequently, I conversed with them on the impropriety of drinking. Aiif/ust '22)ul. — Our brigade was obliged to seek shelter on an island opposite I'ering's river. Being anxious to visit the Indians, and see the location, we got up a party and went up the river. There were but few Indians at home, and only one of the (Jompany's servants. In Canada we have frequently received gifts from our good-hearted farmei's, from the inmates of their sheep r.nd pig-pens ; but here we were presented with a fine stuigeon from the fish- pen. The Indians of this location are pleading for a mis- sionary. The young people here expressed themselves as willing to renounce heathenism and become Christians. Though we could not reconmiend Bering's river as a suit- able place for a mission, yet there is a river a short distance south of it which possesses all the advantages of good timber, good soil, and an excellent fishery. Friends of Christ, will these poor Indians have a missionary? We plead for nothing expensive, but let it be said of the Church of Christ that she hath done what she could for them. 23/v/. — We are now opposite the mouth of the Saskatche- wan, the future highway of nations. A gentleman has just enquired of us, why the Grand Rapids as a mission station has been overlooked. " Here," said our informant, " is the place for active operations" among the Indians. A large body is located there. Past this point all the ti'aflfic of ^ the Saskatchewan and the Mackenzie River country has yearly to be conveyed. Now is the time to secure this ground ; soon all the important places along this great river will be occupied by the commercial world. Dear Christian friends of Canada, we have no time to enlarge upon this subject, or I to I thi 1 IIU 1 ye if Uli 4 sp. i iiln 1 i/ii 1 me 1 fro 1 pa. ■ col 1 t.. 1 aiK 1 1)1( m to ! I 'If' THK PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 7.3 to plpfid witli you in bohalf of the sufrcrinp; inl>al)itants of tliis country. F*"'i('lcls of usofulness tlicrc are almost without iiuinhor, and tliousands of precious souls who have never vet lieard of the sacred name of Jesus. Now the Indian missionary naturflly looks to ('anada for a favoral>le re- sponse U})on the suhjfict. By the Methodists of ('anada almost incalcnilable sums have heen s[)ent in the Christian- i/iii<^ and oivilizin<^ of the natives. Through tlunr instru- mentality thousands of precious spirits have been loosened from the bondafjc* of heathenism and ^'athered into the j)aradis(^ f)f God. And, (Christian friends, what is your command to us, your agents in tliis distant held ? Is it not to uo on until the last western wigwam has been entered, and the last pagan brought to the feet of Christ] Ves, yes, blessed be the name of our God, this is what we understand to he our connnission, as gi\en us by Christ and His Church. 'IXf.Ji.- -We readied Rossville, but could hardly realize the fact. We are now in a Wesh^yan Mission House surrounded by old ac([uaintances ; and then to feel that in tliis vast moi'al wilderness there is a place where one day is hallowed, and one assemblage convened to honor the Triune God, and to know that tlie veracity of heaven is pledged to make the little one a thousand. Bless the Lord for all His mercies. G. McDoUGALL. M The next morni.i;j; found the missionary and party in one of the inland boats used by the Hudson Bay C'Oinpany for tlie transport of their tn.de to and from the interior. Still continuiniTf down the Red River, the party reached Lake Winnipeg, and coasting alo.'g the shores of which, after ten days' voyage from Fort 6 1^11 74 fJEOIKJE MILMVAUI) M'DOITOALL, Garry, reached *' Norway House." Tliis was tlio end of tli(^ i(nirnev ; here was tlui station to wliicli tlic missionary had heen appointed. As it was alicady hite in tlie season, it hecanie the previous missionary, the Rev. Robert Hrookinuf, who was now relieved, to make liaste and ^^et out of this nortliern clime l)efore winter would set in, which he accordin;^dy did. Rossville Wiih the oldest mission station in the coun- try in connection with the Methodist Church. .lames Evans, Thomas Hurlburt, Henry Steinhauer and Robert Brooking had labored at this point ; a great deal had been done in the transforming of the people from paganism and barbo^'ism to Christianity. A walk through the village, a visit to the church on the Sabbath morning ; a trip with the male population of this band to York factory on the Hudson Bay and back ; any one of these experiences could not but im- press the thoughtful beholder with the fact that the previous missionaries had not labored in vain ; and yet there remained a great deal to be done. At this time the Hudson Bay Company were still trafficking in rum, and this, as always, was proving itself the greatest bane of the native. The immediate predecessor on the field had slack- ened his grip of the people in this respect, and there- fore the present missionary found plenty to do ; and 1 I1 i ; i.». ll/ II 111! n;«!! fii •i 1 il '"'■f:'\ ■I; '' ;i . < i c 01 HI ox tl T h tl ii tl cl 11 ■I I THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 77 the Lord was with hira in the preachins^ of the Gospel, in the holding of temperance meetings, in the improv- iii"" of tlie church and mission-house, and general material appearance of the mission, in the stimulating of the people to better their surroundings ; he found that in all these lines there was plenty to be done, and cliaracteristic of him he did it, and was blest in so doing. The missionary's earnest desire to make provisions for the future of this people, will be seen from the I'ollowinor letter written at this time : To (he Editor of the Christian Guardian. It is generally admitted that the great misfortune of the Canadian natives is their scattered position ; this is not only their weakness politically, and a large additional ex- pense to the cause of missions, but it has also gr<'atly re- tarded their civilization. The time was wlien these bands might have been collected in one community ; and we be- lieve had our fathers, thirty years ago, possessed the experi- ence and influence of our Mission Board at the present day, tile work of centralizing would have been accomplished. The opportunity for such a consummation is now forever gone ; the fair lands of the Indian have passed into the hands of the " Pale-face," and all Christianity can do for them now is to watch over their spiritual and educational interests. This we are glad to know is not the position of tlie Indians of Hudson's Bay. What niiglit liave beer done for the Chippewa, may still be accomplished for the numerous tribes of this country. In presenting this sub- •■ ! t ;?i i ;• lis u '^ili]l l^i 78 GEORGE MILL WARD M'DOUGALL, jcct to the friends of the Indian, we lay no claims to ori,L,'i- nality; we know that tlie enterprise has l)een for years entertained by some of the most exi)erienc('d liicmhers of the ('onferenc(; ; we are also aware that the able Superin tendent of Missions lias done more than merely speculate upon the sul)j(;ct. The i^ood men who found(>d these mis- sions were not in <|uest of farming locations ; their great object was to save souls. Leaving the rich valleys of the south, they puslied their way through Lake Winnipeg down the Nelson River, and finding at Norway House and at Oxford a wild, neglected people, tliey ap[)lied themselves to the arduous work of Christianizing them. Rossville and .Fackson's Bay were not selected because of their adaptation to agricultural pursuits, but because of their proximity to ;i heathen people. And here we will illustrate the position of these missions by a comparison. Our friends in tli(i fron- tier cities of Canada can boast of the salubrity of theii' climate, and the fertility of the lands by which they are suri'ounded ; but just suppose a point five hundred miles north of Toronto, or Montreal, anudst a vast wilderness of limitless swamps, and barren granite rock — a country that, for seven months in the year, is covered with a dreary mantle of snow — and then you have no more than a parallel to Rossville or Oxford. In Rupert's land there are millions of acres of the richest soil ; but the Red l^iver and Saskat- chewan are far south of us. There are m, number of ri.-asons why a suitable location should lie selected for the poor Indians of this high latitude. The first we shall notice is the scarcity of food, and the painful fact that the (piantity is yearly decreasing ; the fur- bearing animals are now no logger numerous, and the rabbit, an animal as necessary to the iidand native as the THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MtSSIONARY. 79 reiudper is to the Icelander, is very uncertain. When we lived in the Lake Superior district, for several years they entirely disappeared, and for the last two years they have cMu^ht none here. l^ish is tiie principal article of food in most parts of this country, the hunter and his dog both live oil fish ; tli(! (juantity recpiired for tlie winter supply of N'oi'way House and llossville is 70,000 annually ; ahout twice that number are destroyed. Now, all past experience pfoNC that fisheries worked in this way fail. Thirty years ago the rivers flowing into Lake Ontario wer(^ at certain seasons full of salmon. When the Credit mission was established, it was nothing uncommon for one canoe tf) take 300 in one night. From these waters the salmon has entirely disappeared. Twenty years ago, when I first visited Owen Sound, an Indian in our employ by the name of Na-bun-e-(|um, caught l»v tiie liogs to carry provi- sions and blankets. To avoid expense \ preferred footing it until our load was sufficiently reduc<-t to allow me to ride. In this country when the traveller re .is by the same roads, to avoid carriage, provisions for men and dogs are deposited at each sleeping place ; to prevent these from being destroyed by the thievish wolverine, who constantly hangs upon your track, a hole is dug under the camp-Mre ; there the stores i5i 1' i i 'n *-f ! S * - , :.ie i n Hi Ki ' , t ^;i• f , h' '^ niKhp:;;!:: 82 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, are coiiceuled, tho warm gmuncl covered with snow, which soon becomes a body of ice. My son, who since our arrival here has taught the scliool without tlio loss of a day, gave his little folks a vacation aiul accompanied us. My interpreter and a young Indian made up tho party. Tho distance from Norway House to Oxfortl by water is upwards of two hundred miles, by land one hundred and lifty. A few hours after leaving home, we met ]\[r. Clair, the gentleman in charge of York Factory, on his way to Ked liiver to attend the general council; this we regarded as })rovidential, for it gave us a track, and made snow- shoeing nmcli easier ; and also suggested the question. Shall Britons, in pursuit of legitimate gain, display a greater energy and endure greater hardships than we are willing to do who profess to go forth for the love of the Redeemer, and the extension of His cause ? As the hotels of the north are very similar, a description of one will be sulhcient. Tho traveller selects the thickest clump of trees, in the centre of which he makes his resting-place. After shovelling awny the snow, the ground is covered with boughs, a few branches stuck up in the rear, and a lire in front, the roof the one erected bv the Great Architect, and the wayfarer's home is complete. Never shall I forget some of the nights spent in this high latitude under these circumstfinces. The peerless Queen of Night smiled down upon us with a bril- liancy and beauty I never before witnessed, while the count- less multitude of the celestial host marshalled around their sovereign. These at times are almost eclipsed by the Aurora, which here displays an assemblage of gorgeous forms never seen in Canada. Now shooting forth a stream of silver light, in a moment the color changes to that of a deep red, representing scenes of living tires, while at the ' 1 h 1 'f TFIE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 83 s;iiiic time those different sluules are all refloctod l»y the vast ticlds of icp and mxow beneath ; while j^a/in^ on this ininii- fiililo pictuiT-, painted by the tinger of Clod, with what joyful (Miiittioiis does the Oiiristian exclaim, " My Father made thciu all.'" Wcdnesdiiy, Gth. We crossed Winepegoosis, a line sheet (if water, neai'ly as large as Lake Simcoe. I n the afternoon we leached the cam[) of a liii-g{! family of natives. 'I'liey were all our people, and heartily glad to see us ; wo all joiiieil in a hynni of praise, and after commending them to iiiir eoiiniion Parent, resumed our journey. Thursday, 7th, This is emphatically a land of lak(>s and ii\crs, oi'e portage follows another. We have seen a few (•,i!il)()0 tiacks, and one beautiful black fox ; but animals of all descri[)tions ai'e fast disappearing from these forests. Alas for the poor Indian of this irdiosj>itable clime. Friday, 8th, was a terrific J; y. To give tlie Ojibway idea, Xan-a-bush-you had shook his blanket, the old giant was mad. The sun looked pale and feeble through the thin scuds that swept across the sky, the drift was so line ;ind so penetrating that no amount of clothes was proof against it. ^^'e struggled on until we n^ached the Oxford liiver. Here we found a fan)ily of the Jackson Indians ; they had lu^ard that a strange missionary Avas expected. In view of the visitor a Hue young beav(M- had been kept. This was now taken from its birch-bark wrapper, prepared in back- woods style, !ind very soon disposed of. iMy mind has often been greatly encouraged when visiting those fannlies who, in search of food, spend the winter away from the missions. iJy them the Sabbath is strictly kept, even when tnn ployed by the Ilonoraljle Company. Nothing will induce them to violate the sacred day. Another characteristic is their '. H ■A ,n'^ 1 ^7 ^1 1 i: 'i 1 1 i 84 (;eorge millwaud m'dougall, deep anxiety that dying friends should give unniistakahlc evidence of tiieir acceptance in Christ, their hist words aiv treasured up, and reported to the missionary. AFost (if these wandering families possess parts of the word of (lod : in this way the noble James Evans "being dead yet speak, eth." The very simple yet practical character of his sylla- bic letters can scarcely be realized. Not infi'(.'quently the pagan procures a part of the New Testament, and learns to read and write in these characters, before he has received the teachings of a missionary. Saturday, i>th. We reached Jacksonville, and once more enjoyed the fellowship and hospitality of a mission family. Sabbath forenoon we spent among the natives, and in the afternoon, in company with Brother Stringfellow, crossed the fifteen mile portage to Oxford House, where we receivetl a hearty welcome from Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. These kind friends did everything in their power to make our visit pleasant. In the evening I conducted an English service, at tlie close of which my interpreter astonished his friends by giving in " Cree " almost all I had said, word for word. May the bread cast upon the waters return after many days. Monday morning we returned to the mission. In the evening, Brother Sinclair preached; and on Tuesday morning we commenced our homeward journey. We had spent three days with our esteemed friends, and after surveying their tield of labor, and to some extent the work accomplished, I feel compelled to congratulate the Societv in their' having such agents at Oxford. Brotlier Sinclair has made a respectable acquaintance witii a lan- guage that gives him access in preaching to hundreds. With his own hands he has done much to complete their now comfortable church. I was also much gratified to wit- 'YllK PIONKEK, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. S5 iioss tlio vlKorts iiKule Ity tliis wortliy family to rcdiu-o tliP rxiM'iiscs of tlic station. Wlicu tiie iiiipoi'taiu'c of procur- ing (Titaiii iH'cessai'ios was su<,'lorations j)rove that gold on this sid(! of the niountain is al)undant. Several of the Company's otHcers with wliom I have conversed speak con lidently of the future ; they all expect stirring times next summer. Dear Sir, can we not do something more for the thou- sands of Indians in the neighhorhood of Edmonton 1 jNIrtli- odism alone represents Protestantism in tliat country. From nOO of the Stony Indians the crv comes, " Send us a missionary." Thig noble band liave tlieir liunting grounds in the gold region. They were first visited by Rundle, and subse(iuently rej)eatedly by a Woolsey. INIany of them liMve embraced Christianity. We want a practical mission ary instantly for this important tield. Chi(.4 Factor Christie, of Edmonton, is s})ending two weeks at Norway House, and having heard that your mis sionary intended visiting our missions in the Saskatchewan, kindly offers to place means at our disposal next spring for that long journey. This generous offer, the Lord willing, we shall accept. G. McDoUGALL. 1- :: u*^ mmm THE PIONKEIl, PATRIOT ANi) MISSIONARY. 87 On one of those nortliern trips, ttiken in the a'ltunin, tlio missionary und party came very neai' l()>ir)g their lives ; they had made a portage, and re- (•iiil)arkin<:5 in their canoe, were crossinj^ one of the rivers above the rapids, wlien an unexpected ripple upset the canoe, and thus tlie wliole party was carried over the rapids. Father had on liis overcoat atid was otherwise clotlied, so that it was ahnost im})()ssiljle for him to swim; but the inverted canoe fortunately came s\viii"in<' round within his reach, and he ^rasiied one end of it which floated him into an eddy. In the meanwhile one of the Indians came to his rescue, and took hold of the other end of the canoe, and working for life, they succeeded in getting ashore, just a little before reaching another and far more dangerous rapid. (Inns, ammunition, provisions and, in short, every- thing they had in the canoe was lost, and had it not been that a small piece of pemmican which was tied up in a bag, and thus floated on the water, and wliich they subsequently secured away down the river, starvation would have been the conse(|uence ; as it was, the missionary and his party reached Rossville in a very low condition. The second summtr of father's stay at Rossville, he vdsited the missions in the Saskatchewan. The route going up into the country was southward to •i M it ,%. ^, ^^^ ^ nO. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // ^ '# / Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. I45B0 (716) 872-4303 88 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, ; i 'H '] % Fort (xarry in open boat, then westward across tho plains on liorsehack. The first part of the overland journey was ver}'' tiresome ; travellinji; in the saddle at the jofr trot, up hill and down dale, fifty and sixty miles a day, was pretty hard on one unaccustomed to it. The route from Fort Garr}'' to Saskatchewan overland was merely a pack trail. There were no ferries on any of the streams, means of crossing hav- ing to be improvised at every one of these ; some- times a raft of sticks, sometimes a buffalo's hide, at all times the traveller running more or less risk of life and property. Then westward through Manitoba and onward into the greater North-West, crossing the South Saskatchewan where the present Batoche is ; touching at Carlton, which was at that time one of the principal distributing posts of the Hudson Bay Company in the Saskatchewan district. Crossing the North Saskatchewan at this point, and traversing the country lying to the north of this mag- nificent stream, touching at Fort Pitt on the north bank, and continuing westward and northerly from this point, the missionary eventually reached White Fish Lake, one of the missions under his charge. He was now, by the route he had come, nearly 1,200 miles from home, and found himself on the borders of the great plains of the west and the forest lands of the nil. ' \S .«. .j w L i tu iw «tu THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 89 north. Both westward and eastwiivd of this point, the prairie and the woodland alternately Ljive way, the one to the other. Tiiere was the Rev. Henrv Steinhauer. His mis- sion at this point would then he al»out five years old ; and notwithstandinijj all his difiiciilties, he had done considerable in the establishin<>' of a mission settle- nient. Quite a number of Indians had built houses, and already there were to be found amoni]; this people many evidences of the converting,' power of the Gos- pel of Christ. A few days spent at this place by our missionary were seasons of mutual encourasijement. Then making arranjj^fments with Mr. Steinhauer and his people to meet them later away out on the h'lcr plains among the buff'alos, the meat of which was the staff of life, the missionary and party continued their journey, and after two days' travel succeeded in reaching the Rev. Thomas Woolsey, who was attempt- ing the establishment of a mission at a place called Smoking Lake, some twenty-five or thirty miles north of the present Victoria. Here another of the vicissi- tudes of missionary life cropped up. The travelling missionary and party were out of food when they reached Bro. Woolsey, who, if he had not the same afternoon killed one of his work o.Ken, wouM have had 7 1 ■ 's W '' 5 IHk t 1 I^^Bi 1 ■ i ^^HV Hii tiH !'{• ML,i- m m 'I i il rj il u I I lis'' * it I I ii» 90 CJEOllGE MILLVVAKD M'DOUGALL, .*■■! i 'i ¥ ! none for either himsclt* or his friends ; as it wa-s, touj^'h beef, with very little salt, and without any vegetables or bread, was the only food. Here arrangements were made with Bro. Woolsey to accompany father out on the plains, wliere tlie Indians were congregated, and at which point it had already been arranged to meet the Rev. Mr. Steinliauer. Accordingly father's party was augmented by Mr. Woolsey and his interpreter. The route was now to the soui and the first day's journey brought the party to the North Saskatchewan, where the present Victoria settlement is situated. Here father exercised his authority as "chairman," and instructed Bro. Woolsey to move his efforts to establishing a mission from the Smoking Lake to this point. Camping on the spot, the first difiiculty that presented itself the next morning was this mighty river to cross. Here was a mission party without any boat, canoe, or anything else ; but the guide soon discovered a way of ferrying his passengers over this rapid-running stream. The means used were these : a large hoop about six feet in diameter was made out of two willows ; the only oil cloth carried by the party was then spread out on the beach, the hoop was placed on it, and the corners and sides were turned in on to the hoop, thus leaving the hoop as the rim of the aflTair. Into the centre of this :, "i;(i i, 'i; t r THK PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 91 rin.' was put the travellin<^' outtit of the party, saddles, a\i', kettle, i'lyini^-pan, <]^iiris, ammunition, etc. Several of tlio party then, instructe ! < i II 1 !l and cat nii;"ht camp-fires were put out and horses staked, and each one alternately kept LTuard. The beef bronixht from i\rr. Woolsey's liome was devoured very soon. A bear and a butialo were killed; and after several da3'.s of travcd which brini^ the party out into the prairit> lands of the l^)attle River country, the large " Cree " camp was reach(Ml. Before proceeding any farther, we will insert a letter written from this point l)y father to the Rev. Enoch Wood. liLACKFOOT COUNTHV, Sept. '2)ld, 18G2. Drar Sir, — We arc now in the country of the dreaded Blackfeot, and in the centi'c of the gro;it prairie. All around us is sti'ange. One seems to he carried hack to some remote, long past age. Xcver l)efore have [ felt so forcibly a consciousness of my own insignilicance. Hourly expecting; an attack from a war-party, living upon the providence of H(\iv(mi, our coviu'ing tlie vaulted sky, our only refuge (lod -and l)l(;ssed be His holy name, we are witnesses of His watchful providence over the wants of helpless man. Our aj)proach to the great camp was very exciting. On the little liillocks that surrounded the little handet sat the wild sentiiH^ls. eacli with a loaded gun. Many scores of liorses i^razed on the adjacent plain. The vast circle of tents, all made of the di'cssed skins of the hutl'alo, and many beautifully ornamented, presented a line appearance. Once inside of the enclosure^ and we caught a gleam of savage I i 111 JIBkuwiHl p roiiorht tl (li ^} ays airir 'C reo lett er •oadod All Lck to ^It LOUI SO th )n tlio /, our e are ,iits of , Oil Lt tlie l'(\S of c\{) of many Once avasfe y ^mi\ '» i' i-^ ti ■! 'i^ I'lili ^Uli M THE IMONEKU, I'ATKIOT AND MISSIONARY. 0.1 life uiulci' one of its happiest aspects. The day's hunt had |p('«'ii successful. Many fat animals had been captured, and stages in every direction were covered witli tlie richest meat. Woman, the sLive in all heathen lands, was hard at work, while her lord, r(»l»ed and painted, sat smoking. An old conjurer fearing his craft was in danger, drummed and sang most lustily. Wo were received with the greatest kindness. Mas-ke-pe- toon, the head chief, set before us a kettle full of the choicest llesh. () nah-tah-me-nah-oos, his second, placed his tent at our service. The feast over, the pipe of peace was passed round, and arrangements were made for evening service. How soleiini, how burdened with the interests of eternity ap})f?ars the hour when the Indian herald announced to his tribe the commenctMnent of this first camp-meeting. For ages these virgin plains had echoed to the hideous cry of the warrior and the dismal dirge of the conjurer, but now they resounded to the praise of the most High God. The appearance of the congregation was deeply interesting. The native Christians collected around the missionary. In the back-ground sat the heathen, their fierce restless eyes and blood-stained faces proclaimed their allegiance to the Prince of Darkness. Yet for these degraded and benighted ones there is hope. The earnestness they manifested while listening to the Word cannot be described. Seventeen times we pointed them to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world ; and our last service was not only tiie best attended, but, we trust, the most effective. O, God of mercy, have mercy upon this perishing people; their cry, thougli unheard in Christian lands, is lieard by Thee ! By many a camp-tire, and in many a smoky lodge, our faithful missionaries have taught these natives the niessage of sal- m H '1 it B ;l HI ^1 ,M^^^v LtrlfflBl' I ' ' HK'''\ i \ :».f %• \i i \ !('*S i 1 m 96 GEORGE MILLWAllD M DOl'GALL, ii *f : u'il vation, and wlio can ('.stiiiiat*^ tho fruit of tlicir lahor? Many of the paj^'ans undcistand tin; syllal)i(' rliaract<'rs, and have procured parts of the IJook of tiod ; aiid in this way in many h<'art.s tiui heavenly leaven is spreading,'. The liead chief, a line old man, received a New Testament from Mr. Wool- sey last winter. Ev«!i*y day he reads two chapters. He was n.'adinf^ the eighth of Romans when I Msited his tent. While at the C.^'ee camp, 1 attende I, in company with my brethren, a funeral. The deceased was a little j^irl, and the parents were Christians. Jt was a sad and mourn- ful spectacle, and powerfully demonstrated that th(! dark places of the eartli are full of the habitations of cruelty ; and yet such are the anomalies of heathenism, that men wlio re<,'ard it a merit and ^lory to murder a disarmed and helpless foe, and afterwards subject the lifeless l)ody to the most shameful treatment, ai'C no strangers to the tenderest sentiments of compassion for their relatives. The loss of parent or husband must be deplored with blood. A finger is cut off, or the arm pierced with a sharp Hint, and the deeper the incision the more sincere the sorrow. At the burial we joined in in order to prevent the enemy from discovering the new-made grave. Every effort was made to obliterate any sign thereof. If it had been winter time, a fire would have been built over the grave. In this case the sod was cut with a knife, the earth placed on a buffalo skin, and after the body was deposited the grave was filled and the sod perfectly replaced, the surplus earth being re- moved to a distance. Yesterday ]Mr. Steinhauer left for his station. The company of our intelligent and useful Brother was very encouraging, and often reminded me of the venerated Wm. Case. By that man of God the Ojibe- way boy was rescued from paganism and placed in a a "1 n;l Tfir PIONEKR. PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 07 position to receive a respectablo oducition, .'iiul now, \vlul«» tlie bonofjictor rests from his bihors, tlu; Indi.in l.ul is a successful messenger of salvjition to his wandcrini; Kreth- ren. Parting with thc^ Crees was veiy afrecting. The native Christians clieerfully supplied us with provisions. The tierce pagans seemed to foi-get their natural tVrocity, as one hy one they came to hid us good-hyc Tin; head chief and a nund)er of his wariiors escorted us some distance on the way. Farewell, ye siinj)le children of the plains. May the Holy Spirit accompany with convci'ting and sanctifying power the living truths to which you have listened. We are now on our way to Fort Fdmonton. The .scenery is extnMuely beautiful. Judging from the appearance of these gras.sy plains, the soil must be very fertile. Animals are abundant. A herd of bufi'aloes allowed us to pass within lifty rods without showing fear. The elegant antelope bounded past us with incredible swiftness. jMore than a score of wolves were feasting on the carcass of a bull. The coyote, or smaller wolf, is fi-ecjuently .seen. Numbers of whitened antler.s, some very large, show that we are in the neighborhood of the elk ; but the king of the plains is the grizzly bear. G. M. M(:1)ou(;all. Here father met for the first time with the Cree chief, Mas-ke-pe-toon, or Broken Arm, and wa.s wel- comed by thi.s hale old warrior to tlie Cree camp and buffalo country. Here were a few Chri.stian natives surrounded by an overwhelming nnmljor of pagan.s. On every hand were seen savages in their original cos- tume — feathers and paint and trinkets forming the m It-' '^ imf I [ n !).S (iKoUrJK MII.LWAKI) M'DOUOALL, h I -i'l principal part of their clotliing. In this camp services were lield by the missionaries in the open air, and wliile a number were f^atliering at the services, the whole ■ msssmm ni , : 1 -I- 108 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, lonfj trip would be consuimiiated ; tliroui^li these men and tliL'ir camp lie would reach the; whole tribe of Mountain Stonies. His words of:' encoura^^ement and advice, as also as- surances of future missionary help for their people, would be carried bv these men to the dili'erent branches of their tribe in the still farther west, and aloni^ the mountains south and north for many a league would be discussed around the camp-fire, would be the text of many a council, anil the people would feel comforted and say. We are not forgotten ; the praying men of the East still remember us, and by-and-by, as they have often told us, will give us a missionary in our own country. As soon as possible the Indian camp from whence these young men came joined that of the missionary. A delightful Sabbath was spent among these people, and many lessons of faith, hope and charitv, never to be forgotten, were inculcated. As tlie Indians had plenty of dried elk meat, the missionary's party was relieved of immediate anxiety as to a food supply. Sunday evening the missionary said to the interpre- ter, "You had better take that little mite of flour and make a cake." .Accordingly he shook the bag out on to another. T!ie young Indian lads standing around looked in wonderment at this white stutf, and presently l l Mywlw«l^W l W ^BiawlW■^l THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 109 they and one of them ran oft' to the camp to tell his people that the missionary had some of the whitest of white earth lie liad ever seen. Most of this camp liad never seen flour, much less tasted bread. The niissionary remained several days with these Indians, constantly preaching and teacliinuf. In the meanwhile, with one of them as a guide, they explored tlie Battle River to its source; his ol)ject being to see for himself where wouhl be the best point to establisli a mission fortius people. Four days of heavy riding were spent on this trip of explora- tion from the camp. Then, as the season was far advanced, and the ulti- mate objects of the trip accomplished, the missionary and his party set their faces homeward, and travelling direct across the country, made all haste for the new mission on the banks of the Saskatchewan. On their way back they passed through herds of buftjilo, but turning neither to the right nor left, they found them- selves, on a Saturday evening, within about twenty miles of the mission. Travelling on in the night, they camped short, deter- mining to go on on Sunday morning. Early next day they proceeded on this journey, and had not gone far, when from a clump of willow\s, the smoke of a lodge was seen ; this proved to be old Stephen Ke-che-yees, one of Rundle's converts, whom the missionaries u' ii Pi 4 110 GEORGE MILLWAIin M'nOIJOALL, ni :rf\ ,1 'I! > w found by later experience to be one of the best of men. The old man and his family were delif]fhted to see the missionary, and without knowinj^ it, he administered a reproof as to Subbath desecration which the mis- sionary and his party have never forgotten. Said the old patriarch, "You have God's Word, you under- stand its meaninj^, you know exactly how far you can go in any matter ; all I know is what the missionary told me, — Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. On that day refrain as much as possible from moving camp or doing any manner of work. Now, I under- stand that, and I don't know any more, and therefore, wherever the sixth day night finds me, I remain until the first day morning also finds me." The missionary sang and prayed with Stephen and his family, and then pushed on to the mission in time to join in ser- vice with the people and friends, who were delighted to see them once more. But neither he nor his party, while memory lasts, will forget old Stephen and that Sabbath morning. Having spent some twenty-one days on this trip, the missionary now saw the necessity of making arrangements for the winter for himself and party. More accommodation in tlie way of building must be found, provisions secured; to obtain the latter a buffalo hunt must be organized and a fishery established. No if Tilt: PloSEEIl, PATUIOT AND MISSIONARY. Ill ih H one, unless they have passed through the experience, can possibly conceive of the amount of meat food that will be j^'one throui,di with by even a small l)arty. No vef,'etables of any kind whatever; no Hour, or at least very little, which is carefully put away in case of extreme sickness. The ordinary ration, under these circumstances, at any of the Hudson Bay ('ompany posts is either three large white fish, or three rabbits, or two pounds of pemmican, or three pounds of dried meat, or eight pounds of fresh buttalo meat per day per man. A full practical knowledge of this was ever present with the missionary, who felt that upon him, under Providence, rested the responsibility of the success of the enterprise, especially, as in his case, he had no wealthy company or government to back him. At best the means placed at his disposal were small ; accord- ingly, father stirred himself to provide for the now rapidly approaching winter. The f.'rst thing was to go up the river, and cut and raft down timber, as also manufacture lumber, every foot of which had to be sawn by hand, which is one of the most laborious duties within the range of manual labor. The next thinfj was to orjijanize a party, and go out on to the plains for the purpose of obtaininn: buffalo meat. This was called the fresh 1.! H r I lili IS i ; ; j ' ' '. » 112 nKOUGE MILLWARI) M'DOL'GALL, I vt) . i meat hunt. Tho weather heinj^ cold, the phin of action was to procure tlie meat, next haul it hotne ; and then having' huilt a bi<^ stage, spread the meat upon it, and though winter might not really set in for weeks, yet such was the nature of the meat and the climate, that with plenty of air above and beneath it, the meat would keep splendidly for njonths. Starting for the plains, the missionary and his party, the second day out, met chief Broken Arm, their ac({uaint- ance of the year before. The old man was delighted to see his friend back again. Father had intimated to him the previous summer. Providence permitting, he hoped within a year to meet him on his native plains again. The first e.vlamation of the old man was, on meet- ing him, " You are a man of one word. My people and myself are glad to welcome you to our country." This fact here illustrated one of the reasons for father's influence with the red men, — he invariably made every etibrt to reach his appointments, to fulfil his promised word. Storms might come, difficulties pile up one upon another, long distances intervene, he would put forth his whole energy to keep his word with these simple people ; and thus, by long years of efibrt, he gained their confidence. The chief, Broken Arm, ordered some of his young 1|> .' ' I ? iMI THE PIONKKK, PATUIOT AND MISSIONARY. II.*} '-if)n, as well as in the Saskatchewan country. Two of tise little mission party are sent away to a hike about t'oi-ty miles dis- tant, and these set themselves about catchin:^' iish. At the time of wliich we speak, nearly 2000 wliite fish were secured ; these, later on in tlie winter, were hauled home by the dog-trains, each train taking from 100 to 150 fish at a load. Havincfmade these arranoe- ments, and having in the meanwhile worked in the camp of Indians, wlio had stop] d for a few weeks in the fall beside the mission, anrty, and send part of it to Fort Garry in the interests of iflBJ m ' iiii \h I I ^ 'II 120 GEORGE MILLWARO M'DOUGALL, «; \ i 1 1 ' i i 11 hiH own and Brother Steinhanor's mission. To travel across tlio country, to purchase cattle and carts, to equip tliese, and k)ad on tlie scanty outtit for the next eijjjhteen niontlis for two missions; then to retrace the lonf]^ road, witli the now lieavily hiden vehicles, improvising ferries and inondinLj carts, and travellinj^j as best you can, takes from the first of April until the middle of August. This father arranges, and success- fully accomplishes. In the meanwhile the Indians have come in with tlie spi-ing from the plains. The whole valley is a busy scene. The butf'alo leather lodges dot the prairies everywhere, the hundreds of ponies and thousands of dogs mix with the humanity of the encampment. Father, and those who remained at home with him, are endeavoring to teach agriculture as one of the lessons of Christianity. Some seed has been hauled by dog-train from Lac la Biche, and from White Fish Lake in the north, also from Edmonton in the west. A few garden seeds have been carefully put away by thoughtful mother. A small portion of turnip seed is doled out by thimbles full. All the hoes the mission party can scrape up, and the one plough they possess are constantly worked, and the beginnings of the mis- sion farm and the first garden patches of the Indians are the result. H 1% ^^ JittlMtti 'o travel carts, to for the ') retrace vehicles, avellinrr »til the •success- Indians s. The leather reds of tuanity >h him, of the bauled 3 Fish > west, ly by ) seed ission >ssess mis- iians ':'''!^:>;V|#ii|';!iii;;';ifillH^ t 1 ( ' ■1 lyl i: j i; ■i.y ^i t ■ ( t •1: 1 i L b 11 M WywjKm i aiS 1 H 1 ';1.. / 1 = .* TRK PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 12.*^ The reader will un'lerstand that, durinj^ the winter, earnest efiort has been put forth for the erectin<^ of a huihlinj^ wliich will serve as cliurch and school-house; this has been accomplished. In this, and in the lodges of the people, Gospel meetings and councils for instruction are being held night after night, Sabbath after Sabbatli. Thus father and his interpreter and everybody else around the mission are engaged until planting time is over, and the Indians again take down their tents and start for the plains; for by this time the provisions they have brought in with them are consumed, and of necessity they must move. The Indians gone, Bro. Steinhauer comes over from White Fish Lake, joins father and his interpreter, and the trio start for the west to hunt up the mountain Stonies and all in- termediate people. Edmonton is taken in on the route. On travelling southward, they strike about three hundred of these people at the crossing of the Battle River. Some one has seen them coming; who else can it be but the missionary; he told some of our people last fall, God willing, he would hunt us up this summer; here he comes. The whole camp is astir, the chiefs and the braves and hunters all mount their best horses ; the ohl man of the mountain rides at the head of the column, and thus they advance to give the little mis- i f i, i : ■ t I I 124 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, i ■ M sionary party a nrrht royal welcome. Almost as quickly as tlio r(3peatin<^ riHe, in the liands of the skilful hun- ters the old flint lock is made to sound forth, volley upon volley. What cares the thouf^htless Indian, that perhaps to-morrow, or in the near future he may shake his powder-horn in vain, for no powder is there ; enough for him now his heart is ijjlad, his friends have arrived, an epoch in his life has come, and he thinks not of to-morrow. Years afterwards he will awaken to the thought that these humble men now approach- ing]^ the camp of his people have come to make him think, and cause him to make provision for the mor- row. Such shaking of hands. Every man-Jack of the whole party shakes hands with the preacher ; then wheeling into a line they escort our heroes to the camp in the valley. Here there is still more of hand-shak- ing, the women and the children must also touch the hands of the praying men. Days and nights are spent in preaching, singing and praying; souls are converted. As the missionaries express a wish to see more of this people and their country, tidings having come into camp since their arrival that another portion of the tribe is now several days' journey nearer the moun- tains, the missionaries and the Indians all move in this direction. IV 1 likl>' h THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 125 For three day.s they travel in company, < hiring' vvliich time they liave {)a.sse(l the scene of a recent tii;ht, vvliere- in some Stoney ho3's were attacked hy a hiri^e war party of Blackfeet. It seems that some of tlie Stonies were cutting up buffalo which they liad killed that morn- ing. Tlieir shots had been heard by the scouts of this war part}', and these Blackfeet were now stealthily approaching the unsuspecting Stonies, but fortun- ately, as was their custom, one of these went out to reconnoitre the country while his friends contiruied their work, and he in his turn discovered the enemy, and returning to his party, he said to them, " Come, young men, let that alone for a while, here is better game for us." And they charged the Blackfeet and totally discomfited them, killing two of their number and wounding others, and securing their robes, blankets, horse-lines and shoes; for, like all such parties, they were thoroughly eijuipped for the purpose of stealing horses. Here were the remains of these dead Indians still unburied. Our missionaries took this as a text, and on the ground preached to the Indians the words of our Saviour, *' Love your enemies," and practically enforced the teaching by having the Indians reverently take up the bodies of their enemies and bury them. As the movement of the whole camp was slow, and the time of the missionaries precious, and the distance jiii t J I 1: ^ :■ ill mmmagmmmm 126 GEOIIOE MILLVVAUD M'POUriALIi, yet to bo travelled lon<^, t'atlier and his friends, takinj,' an Indian <^nidc with them, contirnied their journey and reached the other camp. Ilt^re they went thr()U;;h like experiences, but under did'erent surroundinj^rs. They were now in the vicinity of the Rockies, and were actually camped in one of the valleys of the foot- hills. For the Hrst time in their lives the missionaries beheld thefjjrand mountains; the very si«,dit was an in- spiration. Ah, said they, no wonder the Mountain Stonev loves his mountain home. Havin*; visited with these people, havini,' preached to them continuously, havinjj encouraged the hearts of these wandering men in the faith of the CJospel, they bade them f]jood-bye and turned their faces homeward. ]^y this time the rivers were high, snows on the mountains were melting, and many a thrilling experience was passed through by our mission party as they crossed and ferried and swam these mountain torreots on their homeward journey. By the way they made a big detour, con- tinuing the exploration father had begun the year before. Crossing over from the source of Battle River they came out upon the shores of Pigeon Lake, a sheet of water covering a space of about seventy-five square miles, and abounding in tish, on the northern bank of which they located the site of a mission yet to be estab- , tfikiritf journey throuf'h ics, and lie foot- ionarie.s Ls an in- ountain etl with luously, ngf men Jod-bye iiic the neltincr h rough ed and leward i\ con- e year r they eet of jquare nk of 3stab- &» THE PIONEKU, I'ATIUOT AND MISSIONAIIV. 127 lished, which tliey hoped would prove a centre for the Mountain and Wood Stonies, as also nmny Crees. The wljole trip Imd taki^n about a month. Reaching; hunie, the <(arden, fields, haying, and many otlier things oc- cupied thiiir attention. Wandering bands of Indians coming and going, all recjuiring instruction; apply- ing to the missionary for legislation and medicine. He must be judge, and settle their disputes; he must be doctor, and administer medicine to tlieir sick, morning, noon and night. The work of the pioneer missionary must never cease. The preparations for the winter are as imperative now as last year, and thus the summer and autumn pass and winter has come. One or two of the Indians have already been seized with an ambition to build a house. The missionary is there to show them how, and though he did expend a great deal of time and hard labor in this style of teaching, yet father felt that he was doing as much good in this way as in any other branch of his work. Durinix tlie vear two schools had been orfjanized, one at White Fish Lake, and the other at Victoria. Herewith we put on record that father organized the first Protestant mission schools west ot Portage la Prairie. The fall and winter of this year were spent very much as last ; building, securing food, travelling y) a 'i. I i 4 1 1 n i I! 128 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, I] tit '^ $ I '1 } ill n :S!Ji::i from post to post and from camp to camp, getting acquainted with the people, acquiring a knowledge of the country, and also preparing for a new mission to be estahlished at Pifjeon Lake. Durinfj the month of March some of the material was transported from Victoria to Pigeon Lake by dog-train. The wood- work of a plough, made out of birch, was put together at Victoria. This was taken up to Edmonton, and there as a great favor it was ironed by the Hudson Bay Company's blacksmith, then taken on dog- train from Edmonton to Pigeon Lake. In the early spring father sent his son to take up work on this new ground, and here is another instance of his reaching out beyond orders. For two years he kept his son at Woodville, without any assistance from the missionary funds. Early in the spring he started for the Red River settlement, the one object being to bring in the sup- plies for the following year, as the Hudson Bay Com- pany's ruling in this matter still prevailed; the other was to meet two of his children, a son and a daughter whom he had left in a school in Ontario, and who were to come to Fort Garry this season. This trip occupied some three months of the spring and summer. In the meanwhile the mission at Victoria was irrow- ing. The Hudson Bay Company had established a post, and were carrying on a large business. A colony V'4f^ THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 129 gettinrr edge of sion to onth of d from wood- logether n, and Hudson g- train or sprin [•round, )eyond mville, ds. River i SUp- Com- other ghfcer who trip imer. row- 3d a ony of English-speaking half-breeds moved from the Red River settlement and settled there. All this increas- ing responsibility resting upon the missionary. The following season the Hudson Bay Company compro- mised the transport business by bringing the necessaries for the three missions as far as Carleton, thereby sav- ing to the several missionaries more than fifty per cent, of time and trouble. Let us look into the missionary's house ; let us visit himself and wife and growing family. We will be very welcome. Few and far between are the visits of those speaking the same tongue and hailing from the same country as this missionary family. While every- ihinf; about and in the house is made as neat and clean as possible, rude benches and rough home-made chairs, and very few of these, comprise the furniture. We are invited to take a meal with the family. We see the meat upon the table ; grace is said, the meat is served, the tea is poured, but there is no milk or sugar. There is a little salt on the table. We look for the coming of the bread, but it comes not ; we would enjoy a potato, or a turnip even, with this meat, but the meal is ended and they are not forthcoming. We are surprised, yet so common i,-. such fare with these our hosts, they don't notice what is a surprise to us. Let us go in another day, and this time we see something .,■1 ■!! 5!i I ■■M: 11 I I ' f . 130 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, ■ :v ii ! T!- i i \n I ! ' ! imm upon the table that we never saw before. Will you take some peinmican? we are asked. We look in vain for anything else, and perforce, because of necessity, we take some of this queer-looking stuff, which we are told is called pemmican. We cannot say we relished it very much at first, but we will, no doubt, if we stay lonijf cnouidi, for our friends and their children seem to eat it with a hearty good-will. We go in another day, and we gather with the family around the board, and, to our greut astonishment, a great big dish filled witli boiled eggs is put upon the table. " I am sorry we have not anything else," is the humble apology of our hostess. We eat eggs and eggs until we have enough. We come along another time, and, having travelled far, are hungry. As before, we are welcome to this hospitable table. A big plate of potatoes is put before us, and some milk is pourf-d out and placed beside us. Again we are told, " We are sorry there is nothing else in the house." Yet another time we reach this pivoneer home, and a big dish of boiled fish is put upon the table, and we are asked to make our meal of fish, sometimes with salt, sometimes without it. Such were the constant and ever recurring experiences of the people who lived in this land in those days. Did the patient mother ever utter a word of com- plaint ? No 1 We have already said the father was THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 131 Vm you in vain 5sity, we we are reiished we stay n seem mother board, h filled 1 sorry ^sy of ' have laving slcome oes is )laced ere is reach ' put al of ^ueh >s of om- was never known to whine, and as like begets like, there is very little complaint among the children. Some- times there is very little of anything, and sometimes dire hunger makes the little ones cry out. Gradually the missionary is working his way to a better state of things, but this takes time and long years of patient endeavor. Many .ne those depending upon him. The weary traveller, wh3 never is turned away; the starv- ing families and camps of Indians, who fall back upon the mission as their house of refuge ; all these handi- cap him in his struggling upward — we mean material climbing, for spiritually such experiences are as wings lent wherewitii heavenward to fly. Durinij: the next winter father works hard amonj? this people, visits the Indian camps far and near, takes a trip with old Broken Arm and a large following of Crees out into the Blackfoot country, and is instru- mental in ^fleeting a peace with the enemy, which gives the whole country for soire months a respite from the terrors of war. Some three weeks were spent on this trip, and a great many Indian camps visited in the meanwhile. With spring comes the stirring up of the people by Uie missionary to agricul- ture, in doing this he must take the lead, he must furnish the seed, he must set the example in his own field. ^ni :■ m :.r»i t'l ffimt M ' 1 i 1 j i f,- '. \ k 132 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, ^H] [i 'L Anyone visiting the chairman of this immense dis- trict, reachini^ from the Hudson Bay to tlie Rocky Mountains, and from the boundary line as far north as you can go, would have hardly recognized him, except that they saw the one white man among a crowd of Indians. Coat and waistcoat off, up to his eyes in work, from morning until night ; this was the daily experience of father at these times. Farming, doctoring, law making, teaching, preaching; truly his duties were legion. The following summer the mono' ny of this life was varied. The report comes to the mission that his son, the one that is breaking in for mission work at Pigeon Lake, and who has gone out with a sniall camp of Indians into the Blackfoot country, is lest. Again the report is differ- ent, " he is killed," and father organized a little party, and starts out to make sure. To his great joy, he meets his boy when he is about 120 miles from home, com- ing in with the party loaded with provisions for the comino; winter. In a country where there are but few men to spare, the reader will readily imagine the experiences of those few weeks to these fond parents and friends. Other matters now demand father's attention. His family has grown. Three daughters are ready for school, and there is none in the country. The work is growing. ; THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 133 'I Some parts of this district want re-manning, and other points should be taken up. Often has he written; but we are so far off, that the written cry for lielp loses its emphasis before it reaches its destination. Accord- ingly he makes up his mind to start for Eastern Canada. Making his arrangements, and bidding a portion of his family good-bye, he takes three girls with him, and another, whose father also is anxious she should be educated. With two Indian boys as his help, father started as the summer was waning, and drove the l,iSCO miles across the big plains of the North-West and Minnesota to St. Paul, on the Mississippi. Here he placed his two Indian boys with farmers to learn some of the arts of civilization during the winter months. Continuing his journey, he reached Ontario. Putting his children to school in the Wesleyan Female College at Hamilton, he became subject to the Mis- sionary Secretary, and travelled the country in the interests of missions ; and, as very many Canadians will remember, awakening them for the first time to a knowledge of this immense country. On previous visits to the Red River settlement, as also on his way down this time, father had noted with sorrow the fact that the Methodist Church was not represented in the whole Red River country. Our ■■HI. 1i m t : mi 'mi: i m :iU m \ ; WH 134 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, li I i ' ! missions were nortli and west, hut in tliis, which he very well knew was, jiijeograpliicfilly, placed by Him who created it to become a radiatiiij^ centre, there was not even a solitary Methodist preacher. He had written about it, and now he was .cjoing to speak about it. His importunity produced results, and we see him the next summer leaving Ontario at the head of a party of missionaries and teachers for Red River and the country to the north-west of it. He brought with him the Rev. G. Young, whose history in connection with Manitoba, Canadians are proud of. If Methodism has done anything for Mani- toba and the Nortli-West ; if Metliodism is an estab- lished fact in the growan and make-up of this develop- ing country, we claim that to fathei* falls the honor of inaugurating this work. He had with him Egerton R. Young, who spent eight years of zealous missionary toil at Norway House and Beren's River ; also Peter Campbell, who labored for five years on the Saskatchewan, and whom the Indians remember and speak of with respect and friendship as " Blackhead," because of his coal-black hair. He had with him the two Snyder brothers, who for some vears tauofht schools on the Saskatchewan, one of whom is to-day an honored minister in the London Conference. It took a long time to travel THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 185 from the Mississippi by wai^cjon and cart, and these heavily hiden, to Fort Garry, and the 1,000 miles beyond it, on to the Upper Saskatchewan, but early autumn saw each and all at work in their respective fields. A winter in Canada had but stirred to j^reater heat the missionary heart of our father. The same fall, after his return, he visited his son at Pigeon Lake. Many of the Indians before his arrival pitched away into the timber countries of the North-West. In these camps that had gone away there were some people who wished for Christian marriage. There were also a number of children, whose parents desired for them Christian baptism. The night of father's arrival at Pigeon Lake, the people there were gathered for service. Father addressed them, and a blessing rested upon the meeting. After the meeting the young missionary spoke of the camp that had already gone into the thickets and muskegs, which lie away to the North-West. "Let us follow them up," said father, and the next morning away went the party on the trail of the hunting camp. The third day the missionary [^arty came up with the Indians. No one could imagine how delighted these people were to see the old missionary. Glorious meetings were held in that camp, and the writer can think of cjuite a number \M B I'l 1 i r m Ik ■ Ji ■' 136 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, whom he believes are in heaven to-daj^ a.5 the result of that visit. Through with this work, we started on tlie home- ward journey. The first night out from the Indian camp father had a dream. He had been talking aboui a mutual friend, a man who was once a minister in the Methodist Church. This man had gone up that fall into tlie Lac la Biche country, and father had said to me, "I am anxious about Mr. Connor ; he is very energetic, but at times very rash also." Well, this night father dreamed that Mr. Connor had been drowned. He told me of it the following morning as we were eating our breakfast in the camp, and to my surprise, and to his also, on his way home, at Edmonton he met with the news, and writ- ing to me from this point, said : " How strange that I should have dreamed about Connor as I did. To-day I have heard that he is actually drowned." The place where he dreamed was 280 miles from the locality where our friend had lost his life. I will say here, that I never in all my recollection knew a man further removed from superstition of any nature than father wa^ The following winter was one of hard experiences al) over the Saskatchewan country. The buffalo left the region and went south. The mission family at THE PIONEEi., PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 137 Victoria fared hard in coinn^on with tlie rest. Our missionaries, with tlioir people, organized a general hunt the following spring. This was t(^ be turned, as much as possible, into the shape of a camp-meeting. In those days the only place where large companies could congregate for any length of time was in the vicinity of the big herds of bufi'alo, as no other food supply in the country would be adequate. While this was being organized, and as the spring opened up, the sad tidings came in from the plains that Broken Arm had been killed. The old chief, the white man's friend, the man who worked harder in the interests of peace than any other Indian in the whole country, and who now, with a flag of truce in his hand, was negotiating peace with the Blackfeet, had been treacherously shot by them. The savages had cut the old man to pieces, and had dragfofed his remains at the tails of their horses into their camp. Our hearts were sad because of the loss of Broken Arm, and, moreover we knew that the cominji season would be one of intense hostility between the tribes. Venofeance would demand it. However, from each mission both missionary and people, immediately the spring work of seeding had been done, started for the rendezvous on the plains. This point was about 200 10 :H ' I li J rh ■ 5 ■ '/t '» ' ;•;!?; lil: 4 J mmamm I'-i'd 188 OEOIUJE MIMAVAllD M'DOLTJAFJ., ,! M If :< i 1 i-!i m-^ miles southeast of Victoria. The ohjccts, for tlie most part, were accomplished. Provisions were iiia«l(', the people from the different localitii^s of the country became acfjuainted with eacli other. This tend(Ml to break up old feuds, and to enlif,diten the people as to the population of their own country, (lospcl nifctini^s were held, the word was faithfully preaehe 1 by the various missionaries, and this famous j^^atherinLj^on the plains is often referred to by the Indians and half- breeds all over the country. Here we will insert a letter written by father witliin a few months of this ffatherin";, which will also con- tinue the narrative in the subsequent experiences of the season, and will explain the state of the country at that time. It was during this summer that quite a number of horses were stolen from the mission and its vicinity by the Blackfeet. To Rev. Dr. Wood, Methodist Mission Rooms, 2'oronto. I wrote you in August, giving a brief account of a nine weeks' journey in the plains. Since that date we liave had no communication with the frontier woikl, and now expect none until January. Our spring hunt was a success. In a camp of one thousand people, five thousand butialo were slaughtered ; and one hundred and twenty thousand pounds of dried meat secured. All felt that if our crops should be as abundant as in years past, there would be no starvation TUE PIONEKII, PATItlOT AND MISSIONARY. 1 :v.) i^ for soiiifi years to como ; but tliero was room for unxiety. Two hundred miles from tlic Saskatclicwjin, scaivcly any rain had fallen. The oldest in tlie camp liad never wit nessed tlio lik(! before. Tho rich valleys hitherto encumbered with vej^etation are now j/arched and l)ui'nt. I''ifty miles south of X'ietoria we met parties who informed us that our (lelds weie a failure. The seed liad dried up in the earth. 'I'his was sad n(nvs. Th<^ season was too far advanced to s(!nd to K(h1 |{iver. Benton is much near«'i-, but l)etween us and that place the merciless IJlacktV'et ranges the ])lains. Tiiere was but one course open, and tiiat was to strike for th(^ butJalo country. For montlis we had lived on flesh and fowl, and for eigiiteen months to come we iiave no prospect of a change;. A coun- cil was held, and it was determined tliat as soon as oui- animals wei'e rested we should return to the hunt. In the meantime, the f^lackfeet made a raid upon Victoria, and some of our people sull'ered severely. Since the murder of our lamented chief, the (Jrees have killed nearly one hun- dred Blackfeet, and in retaliation the enemy has resolved to carry the war into the (Jree country. Tliey iiave sent us word that they have spotted the Com[)any's posts oi\ tlie Saskatchewan, and in particular Victoria. Pray for us, Our dangers and diHiculties at times are almost insurmount- aV)le. We deeply feel that nothing but an ard(Mit love for souls, and a strong trust in (iod's mighty power, not only to ave, but to resti-ain, will cai'ry us through these times Auf/nst IG/A. - Starting fftr the plains. In old times crossing the river with a larg(! camp was a tedious ali'aii-, and to th(^ uninitiated trying to the ner-ves. A leather tent, or, as in my own case, an oil-cloth, was spread on the beacli, the travelling kit was placed in the centre, iiir •^ v ^ HI; , I mi. r 140 GEORr.K MILLWAHD M'DOUfJALL, 1 I tnon tho cloth <,'athoro(l up aiul tiod at tho top, giving tho aj)p('aranco of a hug(i pudding hag. Tho raft is thcMi sliovcd into th(! wat(>i', and attached l)y a lino to a hoi'sc's tail ; the trav(5il(M' then mounts th(! boat and guides tho swinnning 8t(!(Hl to the ()pposit(; shore. In this way and in a very short tinj<^, I hav(; crossed largo rivers. W(? have now a good scow, and tho novel scenes of yore have pass(»d away. Auf/itsf IS///. -For years ponnnican has been tho staple dish on our table, yet I must confess, T have very little relish for tallow and })ound(!d meat. My wife says that it is bett(;r not to think of bread, while wo cannot have it, as tho thought might cause impationco. I shall not controvert her o})inion, but judging from my feelings this morning, (he siijlif of a Jour /iiiKnil loaf would produce in my poor heart tho liveliest gratitude. With my hor.se and gun, 1 shall leave the brigade to move on, hoping to join them in the evening with something fresh for supper. A little while before sundown I reached a round hili that rises about three hundred feet above the level of tho plain. From the top of this little mountain the magnilicenco and profusion oi the prairie met the eye. The silence and solitude is overwhelming, and this feeling in- crease's with the conviction that we have only entered into the vestil)ule of Nature's great temple ; for this is but the mai-giu of the plains, and now, the mirage adds to the beauty of the bewildering panorama. In a moment the little lakes api)ear above the plains, and the distant bluffs of aspen dance in mid-air. From these majestic scenes the untutored Indian paints his future paradise. Alas for him, his religion makes his heart no better; yet, however steeped in sensuality or stained with blood, the native loves nature. He will sit for hours on the hill-top, and %J!k TTIK rroNEEIl, PATRIOT AND MISSION' A RY. 141 ^a-AO with placid sutisfaction on tho wild aiul boautit'ul. Think tho Lord, w(! have now both Croos and Stonics who look from naturrd, Iron Creek. — This beautiful stream derives its name from a strange formation, said to ))e pure iron. The piece weighs 300 lbs. It is so soft you ran cit it with a knife. It rings like steel when struck with a piece of iron. Tradition says that it has lain out on the hill ever since the place was first visited by Na-ne-boo-sho after the Hood had retired. For ages the tribes of Blackfeet and Crees have gathered their clans to pay homage to this wondea'ful 1 1 wamm 1'!: 142 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, nianitoo. Three years ago, one of our people put tlie idol in his cart and brought it to Victoria. This roused the ire of the conjurors. They declared that sickness, war, and decrease of buffalo would follow the sacrik^ge. Thanks to a kind Providence, these soothsayers have been confounded, for last summer thousands of wild cattle grazed upon the sacred plain. liATTLK RiVKH, Auf/ust 2^rd. The future inhabitants of these ricJi lands ill find no lack of water power. This river, which rises in the pine forest lu'ar the foot of the mountains, and runs parallel with the Saskatchewan for more than 400 miles, is from its source to its confluence one continuous water power. The same may l)e said of the Jiumerous tributaries of the larger rivers. All supply water at an elevation that will meet any demands for milling purposes. 26///. — Hard times. All order has fled. Men, women, and children are seen running in every direction in search of berries, roots, — anything that will satisfy the craving of hunger. For days they have had scarcely any food, and the great camp which so recently passed over this trail felt notliiiig for us; but how true, " jNlan's extremity is God's opportunity." Earnestly have we prayed for help, and now it comes. One of our hunters signals from a hill that bufl^tilo are in sight. Hurrah ! IFurrah I In a moment all the sufferings of the past are forgotten. The runner mounts his horse and dashes off in the direction indicated. Fi'om a rising ground we witness the charge. In less than ten minutes ten fat beeves are on the ground. Exclamations of joy are shouted by the women. These buffalo will be baked, boiled, and roasted foi* supper. m THE PIONEE. , PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 14Ji Scjiteniht'i' l.sV. -The jL,'reat camps, the Edmonton, tlie \'ictoria, and th(3 lUaektoet, uiiniberiug more than 10,000 souls, are all within a short ride of each otlier. The plain Crces, driven in l>y tlu- iUackt'eet, have fled to us for pro- tection. The Edmonton people liave liad a skirmish with the enemy, and blood was shed. Last evening the lUack- feetsent us woi-d that they would tiglit us to-day at noon, and ."iOO men are anxiously waiting for them. I liave ventured to say they will not couje. A h^ng experience amongst red men has satisHed me that when they tlu'eaten tliey sel(h)m strike. The 131ackfeet are also aware that there are two mis- sionaries in tlu^ camp, and their superstition will prevent them from coming. With feelings not easily expressed, I Silt u[)on a knoll and reliected upon surrounding circum- stances. Our tents are pitched upon one of the most magnihcent plains in America. Unnumbered herds of cattle are fattened on free pasturage. Hundreds (jf lakes otter drink to man and beast. Here we hav(; a pei-fect realization of a Imnter's dream, and what are the facts I sin has poisoned all. In these camps we see the untrained development of the vilest passions, hating and being hated. There is no peace for the wretched people. Their degradation car not be written. One hardly knows how to apologise for the mis statements of intelligent tour- ists, who have travelled these plains. They must have written as they ran. Their descriptions of the noble, vir- tuous, honest native, are all from the pure ideal point of view. Let them come down to real work, and study the lan- guage and life of the people, and live amongst them, as your missionaries have to do, .-uid they will be able to ^'1 ■fjr :;| , i 1 1 1 1 i ,': its m 144 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, >^. tUl '1 m mj appreciate the wonderful change wrouglit on many of them by the teaching of tlie Gospel. Delivered from the slavery of demon worship, the Indian is the happiest of men. Once truly converted to God, lie presents a noble specimen of what the Gospel can effect. While under the influence of heathenism, his mind is filled with a strange mysterious dread. His religion teaches that an evil " Genius," that never slumbers, follows him from the cradle to the grave. Omens, presaging sorrow, are daily presented to his dark imagination. A significant word from a conjurer, the flight of a bird, or a dream, are all interpreted to foretoken death or sickness. The pagan believes that his "Genius" instructs him in the hours of sleep, and the consequence is frequently awful. A Plain Cree, with whom I am acquainted, dreamed that his Puh-wah-gun, demanded three human victims, and he actually murdered three of his own tribe. A young heathen, whose father lives at our mission, fancied that his demon demanded three human sacrifices, and last summer he shot a young half-breed, with whom he was on the most friendly terms. A short time ago I conversed with this young man. He frankly acknowledged his determination to complete the number, alleging as a reason, that if he was not faithful to the instructions given, a fearful retriVjution would follow. But I must stop, for were it necessary I could unveil some of the mysteries of paganism, and tell of deeds of darkness that would make the heart sick. War, murder, gambling, polygamy, and demon-worship are all producing their natural effects; and if civil law and Gospel light are not speedily brought to the rescue of these tribes, they will perish from the earth. Making plain provisions in the hunters' camp, with all THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 145 its wild surroundings, the man of leisure may pass his time very pleasantly; but there is another class, who tind more of fact than fiction in killing wild cattle — to this party belongs the missionary. A long winter stares him in the face. There is no market where ho can go to for supplies. Offer a man gold for Hour in the Saskatchewan and he would laugh at you. $60 per barrel has been tendered to the Iludson Bay Company, and the money has been refused ; and no wonder, for every pound of the precious luxury has been dragged over the 1,800 miles from St. Paul, and that in Red River carts. But the good time is coming. The royal standard is now supplant- ing the bunting of the Hudson Bay Company. Brother Dominionites ! our majestic rivers invite your steamboats ; our natural road extending from the Winnipeg to the Rocky Mountains, wide as the limitless prairie, is waiting for your land transport. This wild, uncouth younger bro- ther of the confederation family only waits the chance for development, and the youth will l)ecome, what geographi- cally and naturally he really is, tlie heart and soul of the country. But I must go back to the camp, and the first tiling is to kill the animal, cut it up, and bring the meat to your tent. Then the process of curing and drying takes place. Then follows pounding and making up pemmican. True, you can have help, but my experience of buffalo eaters goes to prove that however numerous the servants, the master is the greater vassal. Then you must shoe your own horse, mend carts, and what is more trying, keep a day and night guard upon your animals, for horses are constantly disap- pearing very mysteriously. These are some of the toils of the hunter. The missionary has additional ones. Night and morning he collects the people for prayer ; he must 1 :1V ^U 5 ' . tl FT ? V i'.i Hi if J 146 GEORGE MILLWAllD M'DOUGALL, 'ft 'I i ill ' If H visit the sick ; liis tent must be a refii<,'e for the aged and for thci afflicted. The; avenger of blood is awaiting his time; th(! missionary must be the mediator. Not long since one of our young men, influenced by jealousy, shot at his companion, but providentially missed him. The next morning I saw the ofl'ended man cleaning up his six-shooter, and he confessed to me, that he was watching his chance. In the evening, by the help of some friends, we bi-ought the two togethei', and effected a lasting peace. Then there are the Sabi)ath services ; these are highly appreciated by our people. In some suitable place the Union Jack is hoisted on a pole ; a crier goes round the camp, and invites all to unite in the worship of the one true God, and often have we felt while addressing the Stonies, the Crees, and tlie half-breeds, "That laljor i« rest, and pain is sweet, If Thou, my (lod, art here." Geo. McDougall. Immediately afLer we find in the same manuscript the followiiig, which in the li^ht of events subsequently happenino', is significant. Fatlier had been brought into contact witli Roman Catholicism and Roman Catholic priests ; and, indeed, with many of the latter he bad beep, on very friendly and nein^bborly terms, and yet, here is what he says. This would be the latter part of the year 1809 : The Papacy, the man of sin, is powerfully represented in this country. There are five priests to one Protestant THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. l47 missionary. They are anti-British in their national sym- patliies, and if we may ju(l<^e the tree by its fruit, anti-Christ in their teachings. Their convei'ts have a zeal, but their fervor prompts them to propagate a system and not a Saviour. By them the Sabbath is desecrated, polygamy tolerated and the Bible ignored. Their chuiches are the toy shops where the poor heathen get their playiiings, such as idols, beads and charms, and vvliere the Anglo is denounced as no better than a brute beast; or to (juote from one of their sermons, " No better than the buffalo that herd upon the plain." They carry with them large pictures, representing two i-oads -one ternnnating in Paradise, the other in the bottom- less pit. On the downward track all Protestants are travelling surrounded by demon spirits ; while on the other road, throng all Roman Catholics, priests, nuns, etc. By these baptismal regenerationists the sacred ordinance has been so desecrated that many of the heathen receixe it as they would a charm from one of their sorcerers. One of the tricks played by these gentlemen is, when a child is born in a Protestant family, a female agent enters the tent, fondles the infant and then professing to show it to their friends, carries it to the priest, who baptizes the V)abe ; but the policy of the missionary has been to avoid all contro- versy, and simply preacli Christ. The very opposite has been the practice of the priest, and if trouble should arise between the tribes of this country and the whites, the cause in a large degree, will be at the door of the Papacy. These priests are hard workers, summer and winter they follow the camps, sutfering great privations. They are indefatig- able in their efforts to make converts, and these converts when made, if stripped of the external badges of Papacy, are J 11 1« } 148 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, 'VI ■ ! I! still heathen ; for of them it mjiy be truly said, they have not so much as heard of a Holy Ghost. These poor baptized pagans have never been pointed to the Lamb of God. Another letter to Dr. Wood about this time reads thus : Victoria IMissign. Many thanks for your timely advice in tiie Missionnri/ Koticps. Only let the Government act up to those sugges- tions, and untold trouble will be averted. We are doing all in our power to save the country from bloodshed. A large number of Crees and mixed bloods have signed an address to the new Governor, asking for a peaceable settlement. Our position at the present time is one of the most per- plexing possible. The Blackfeet are the trouble. They profess to be friendly with your missionaries, and yet kill our people and rob your missionaries. When good old Mas-kee-pe-ton was murdered, I felt it was time to take a stand. Since then they have made a raid upon Victoria, and some fighting has taken place. I then sent the Black- feet a message, statin^: that I had often saved their lives and buried their dead, and that now they must send back the stolen property, and give me a promise never again to attack our mission. There reply was, " You harbor our enemies, and we must fight them." Since that time my son has ventured amoncrst them, and he intends lands, and the Indian is not so igno- rant hut to en([uire to wliom has he ever ceded his huntin<:f- 'M'ounds. Thev have no idea of civil iiovernment. We have spent days in tryitii,' to explain to them that they would be justly dealt with, and th(» answer invariably has been : " Tne Hudson Hay Company told our gr-andfathers that always, and you missionaries have been repeating the same story for twenty ye;irs, and yet nothing has been done.'' These men ;ire exceedingly jealous of the miner and the settler, and a collision with either pai'ty will bring upon this noble coun- try all the horrors of not sim{)ly war, l)ut massacre. We have observed in the papers that much is expected from the Hudson Day Company's influence in settling with the natives, and as regards the Wood Indians there is no doubt but their assistance would be considerable ; but from these we have nothing to fear, and as for the Plain tribes, they have neither the power nor the influence to control them. For years their traders liave not ventured into the Blackfeet camp. The last time they attempted a trade with these nobles, their carts were robl)ed. Some of the Plain Crees are very little better. Twice last sununer they pillaged the Com- pany's agents. Of these Indians I speak ivou^ personal ol)servation. For years I have visited them in their camps. Last sununer, in company with my son, who has a per- fect knowledge of their language, we spent eighteen weeks amongst them, attended their councils and listened to their speeches, and the impression received was, if Canada is II ■l\ 152 GKOlKiK MILLWAHD M'lH)U(iALL, going to extend her huni;in(^ pol'cy to tliose Indians, there is no time to be lost. At presei^t there arc agents tliat might be powerfully cinploycd to <-il«"jt a jun-inanent settle- ment. West of (.^irltoii there canujt be les^ tlian 700 mi.Ked bloods. These; are all anxious for eivil protection, and a treaty with tin; Indians. The Hudson Day Com- pany's servants, who at present live by the sull'erance of the natives, would gladly lend tlieir influence. Anotlier j)arty from whom we would ex))ect much, is the natives that have been trained at tlu; Protestant nussions. Many of these are sulHcicntly eidightened to know the power of the while man, and on the wliole are for peace. Then there is still a lingering love for the Union Jack. Many of the Crees call themselves " King Georgej's men," and ihey all dread American oucroaclunent. With all the ardor of a Canadian who loves his country, /md wlio desires for its honor tliat justice may be done this i-emnant of a once numerous people, I would advise that ]io time be lost in meeting them at their councils, treating with them for their lands, and by potent explanation, al'aying the present excitement. Let it not be forgotten that in the upper Saskatchewan there are at least 20,000 natives who by a wise and just policy can be made the fi'iends of the (government. I-et this once be accomplished and the counti-y will speedily be settled. J5(!tween the l>o\v River and the North Saskat- chewan there are gold lields of sufficient extent to fill this country witli an enterprising population. There are now scores of families who would gladly settle in the neighbor- hood of Victoria, but the best friends of the country must discourage iunnigration until t'le indijMis are treated with. (jr. M. MCDOUGALL. :;h THE PIONEER. P.^TIUOT AND MISSIONARY. 153 The foregoing extracts from father's journal will fully show his views on these matters, but if there were niutterin^s of discontent on the Saskatchewan, when the packet arriv'^d it brou<3'ht tidings to the isolated settlements in the west of an outbreak in the eastern portion of the North- West. The half-breeds and natives of Red River were said to be in rebellion. The months that intervened be- tween this news, and the final suppression of the rebel- lion by the advent of General Wolseley and his com- mand, were times of serious anxiety to us in the Saskatchewan. Father felt the responsibility keenly. There was a consciousness that the same influences which created disorder in Red River were workiui; for the same purpose in the Saskatchewan. From Victoria constant communication was kept up with the Sweet Grass, the Bi^js; Bear, and the Wood Cree camps, the object being to counteract, if possible, any disturbing or disloyal influence. In the spring father became so anxious, not only in regard to the possibility of trouble, but also in regard to supplies for these mis- sions during the coming year, that he determined to go to Red River himself, and was there during a short period of the reign of the rebels. He reconnoitred Fort Garry himself, and offered to be one of twenty men to surprise and recapture it from the rebels ; 11 i ' 5 I 'i , i mmm w i! i:)4 (JKOIUiK MN.I.WAKI) M'l)()r(;AM-, but if tliore were nineteen such men asliimself in that country at that time, they were not to be found. Previous to liis starting for Red lliver tliere had come up from the plains south of us rumors to tlie effect that the small-pox was among the Hl.ickfeet and Bloods. Father had told us that if the disease reached this country before his return, to do all we could to scatter the Indians. His last words were, as he started for Red River : " Now, John, if the small-pox reaches the Saskatchewan, isolate the people as much as you can." Sure enough, the season had not far advanced, when we heard that the small-pox was among the Plain Crees. All felt then that it must inevitably reach us. Such was the lawless state of the country, such was the migratory habit of the Indians, that soon from camp to camp, and from post to post, the fearful epidemic was carried. When it reached Victoria how we longed for father to return. There was no one in the country in whose medical knowledge we had so much confidence. As the Indians began to arrive, we did as father had in- structed us, and urged them to separate and isolate themselves. Our words to them were, "If vou continue in large camps, and congregate together, this disease wall grow in power, will assume a virulent form, and will be almost sure death to any who may take it; bub THK IM<.»\KEU, I'ATUIOT AND MISSIONARY. 1 .'),') if you scatter as you liavc been advised, very many of you will escape tlie infection, and even those who may have already become infected, may reasonably expect the milder forms of the disease, if they do as we say." This advice very many took, and there was a scntter- mcr through the wood lands and prairies of the north. But in this we were thwarted l)y the directly contrary advice of the priests. They gathered the people to- gether, they assembled tliem in meetings, and they used our action in the matter as an ar<vay. On Saturday, our most be- loved local preacher, Thomas Woolsey, died in great peace. His deatii has made a great impression. Some of his last utterances showed a depth of spiritual knowledge truly astonishing. Forgetful of his great sufferings, he spent his last iiighc on earth in exhortation, prayer and praise. I I THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 157 >'.; ■■ ■M ! r great r, but a 1 escribe as this, es were i^ood : 1870. jribed, I eft Red tSaskat- ised the estroyer 3rt Pitt, Voiu tlie re than ter, but e incap- arrival e. For id niglit )ur best lost be- t peace. Ills last 3 truly )eiit his praise. Glory to God, who, in the midst of Popery and paganism, proclaims His .sovereign power to save to the uttermost. At this mission, the past summer lias been a time of danger and great anxiety. The Blackfeet, driv(Mi to (]('s})era- tion by the awful scourge which has cut oiY moj-e tlieu one- half of their tribe, have sought to propitiate their deities by murder and robbery. They have stolen our liors(^s and killed our cattle; articles of clothing and human Ii.iii-, in- fected with the small-pox, have beon loft in our vill, ge ; and so reckless of life were these wretched men, that of a war-party numbering eleven, who made a raid on Victoria, ten died. Some of their bodies were found by oui- ])e()ple. Sad new lias reached us from the jMountain Stonies. The Blackfeet left clothing in their neighborhood ; the thought- less Stonies took the blankets, little thinking that one-half of their nation would be the price. From Bro. Campbell I have not heard since my return. With White Fish Lake we have no intercourse. The last report was that the disease had not reached that neighbor- hood. What gives the greatest trouble in this land of i-obos and leather, is to find clothes for those who have recoveied. We cannot allow tliem to return to their families v/ith tiieir infected clothing to spread the disease. Very little meets the wants of the poor Indian. Friends of suffering human- ity, pray for us. Verily the judgments of a just God are now upon this land of blood and idolatry ; and ye^t, of how many of these suffering creatures, it may Ite truly said "they know not their right hand from their left." G. M. McDouGALL. Towards autumn there came a deceitful lull in tlie disease, and it became imperative to prepare for win- fi^iisi I ■ 'l I' 1 1 'I \ f '^' 158 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, ri ! ■I M i I 1 '1:1 1 > I I' ter. Father's instructions to his son were, gather the peoi)le together who are as }'et disinfected and go with them on to tlie plains. In the first place, do all you can to keep your camp from infection ; in the second place, do all you can to obtain provisions for the com- ing winter. Accordingly we got ready. As carefully as possible we avoided the infection. Sad was the party under these circumstances. There seemed to be a consciousness that in this life we should not all meet again, and so it was. Our party had not been more than two weeks away when the disease broke out in the mission. All were taken down with it except mother. Three of the household died in terrible agony, and father recovering from the disease, and slowly re- gaining his strength, with the assistance of my brother David, themselves buried their dead. Here are some more of father's letters : Victoria, Oct. 2lst, 1«70. As there will he no other chance for writing until winter expires, I send this on to Carlton, hoping it may reach you. Since I last wrote, the harrowing scenes we have passed through cannot he detailed. Sniall-pox has swept away hundreds. To relieve the sull'crers, and to seek to lighten the sorrows of tlie bereaved, has been our work. Of all men, the ignorant, destitute red-man is the most wretched when a strange disease appears amongst them ; many have died alone and unattended. 1 I her the go with all you second t^e com- refully i^as the Jd to be ill meet ;n more out in except ^ agony, vvly re- brother e some 1«70. i winter Lcli you. passed t away lighten til men, I when ''e died THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. loO Not a few have sought relief by plunging into the river, and multitudes who recovered from the disease have perished from destitution. We have sought by every means in our power to stop the sprearl of this great destroyer, and with deep gratitude I record the fact, that, up to the present date, not one of the old settlers of White Fish Lake or Victoria have died of small-pox:. Our trouble lias been with the poor Plain Crees who fled to the mission in their distress. Many of these have died witliin sight of our door, and yet my own family, which, including adopted children numbers nineteen souls, liave hitherto escaped. To God alone be all the praise. Never was the arrogance and bigotry of Popery more mani- fest. Having taugiit their deluded followers to look to them as to a god, when the scourge tirst appeared they collected their people into large camps : the bodies of the dead, the infected, and the well, were all collected in the church. The spiritual power of the priest proclaimed the grand speciiic, but all has failed. At their mission, ten miles from Ed- monton, upwards of one hundred have died, mostly French half breeds, while numbers of the same people have died on the plains. My son has gone with the Victoria camp to the plains. Our people must have provisions. Brother Steinhauer is out with his people. I enclose you a note written the day he started. Brother Campbell was here last week ; my son and he have arrangt?d (D.V.) to start on a visit to the Mountain Stonies the tirst snow. Our poor Stonies ! I fear most of them are gone. So great has been the mor- tality amongst these western tribes in the last eight years, that, but for the assurance that numbers have died in the triumph of our faith, our work would be most discouraging, rl ! m . 1 ,'■; 'I 'M lif'^i:^ 160 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, \'4 y H (1 ,♦5 I i l\ t 1 ill 111 I have just received a letter from Mr. Hardisty, of Fort Edmonton. Two Imndred of the St. Albert people are re- ported dead. There will be great distress tliis winter, the fall hunt being a failure. When I left for Red River I had three good horses, I took two with me, leaving one with Mrs. McDougall. The Blackfeet, during a thunder-storm, stole the horse from the door yard, and also killed one of our cows ; but these are small matters compared to the loss some have sustained. My most intelligent neighbors believe that Jesuitism is at the bottom of all our Blackfeet troubles. One thing we do know, that we have been represented to them as harboring their enemies, killing their people, etc. If ever the rights and liberties of British subjects are enjoyed by Saskatchewanites, the world shall know some of the dark deeds of the past two years. Geo. McDougall. Victoria Mission, December 2nd, 1870. When I wrote you last our people, accompanied by my son, were starting for the plains. We used every precau- tion to prevent all that were infected with small-pox from going with the party. I followed them to their first en- campment, and there we detected small-pox, and had the family r ^ved. Thanks to the Great Preserver of life, no other cti< occurred among them during their long sojourn. This w; •■■ Jie more remarkable^ as they passed over a part of the country where the Blackfeet had left scores of their dead in an unburied state. At one place tliey passed the tent of the celebrated chief Nah-doos, the principal murderer of our Mas-ke-pe toon. An enemy more to be dreaded than the Cree had over- THE riOXEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 161 taken liini ; and now, surrounded by numbers of his dead warriors, liis body was left to be devoured by wolves. From a pole projectin«,' at the top of the tent floated a Union Jack, and the warrior's coat mounted with ermine. We have not yet ascertained the number of l»lackfeet who have died with small-pox ; but judging by the number of un- buried bodies left at eacli encampment, the mortality must iiave been very great. In the Upper Saskatchewan, not including the iilackfeet, there cannot have been less than one thousand deaths at the French half Ijreed settlement ; near Edmonton, three hundi'ed have died, and many are still afflicted. Our position at Victoria has been a trying one. The more intelligent of our people, who acted upon our advice given them in the early part of the season, have escaped the disease. There has been })ut one case here among the English half-bi'eeds ; and our old chief, who, witii a part of his band fled to the woods on the breaking out of the disease, has, up to this date escaped the sickness. Yet jrreat have been the sull'erin'jfs we have witnessed. Our mission has been a centre to which the diseased from all parts catne destitute of food ; and, in dread of the Black- feet, they crowded around the mission house. We have had to bury tJie dead and wait upon the dying. In these labors we have been assisted by the Hudson Bay Company's officers, who at the risk of their lives, have never failed at the post of duty. EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL. September 25M, 1870. The disease first appeared in my own family, and on the 13th of October our youngest daughter, aged eleven years, ■ ^r\ .iy.K liS mi .■ih : i ih If I: .' ■/■' f If 162 GKORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, (li(;d. How precious to our bleeding hearts her dying words! Flora iuveu ihd Saviour. October 23rd, 1870. We are now passing through deep waters, all prostrate with the fearful disease, except Mrs. McDougall, and she exliausted with watching. Yesterday I felt it was high time to set my house in ord(u\ For two nights my mind has been wandering, and what course the disease may take I cannot tell ; but 1 bless God, come what will, I feel all is right. I feel 1 am an unworthy sinner, but a sinner saved by grace. I had a long conversation with my much-be- loved daughter, Georgiana, and gave her directions as regards the future. Little did I think, as she stood beside me the picture of health and youthful energy, that before I fully recovered myself, I should lay her in the grave. Last night she was taken very ill, and to-day it was dis- tressing to witness the change that has taken place in her appearance. '24:th. — Last night T resolved to sit up, and not allow myself to sleep. Most earnestly I prayed that I might retain my senses, and, blessed be God, He has heard my prayer ; and to-day, though the disease has developed, I am enabled to wait upon others. 25th. — This morning a Cree woman came to me and begged that 1 would baptize her infant grandchild, who had been taken ill with the small-pox. I walked to the tent and attended the duty, and though the day was stormy, I have felt no evil consequences. 2()th. — This morning I heard a person crying at the garden gate, and on going out found a worthy Cree, whose family were all suffering from the sickness. The poor 11- THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 163 iig words! ', 1870. iH-ostrate , iiiHl she was hitrh my mind nay take feel all is ler saved niucli-be- tions as :>d beside •t before |ave. was dis- e in her ot allow I might Jard my 'd, I am me and Id, who to the stormy, at the , whose e poor fellow said that his only son had just died in his arms, and he wanted nie to help to bury him. I went and dug the grave, and assisted the yfHicted fatlier in burying his child. In less than a week he himself was in his grave. 2Sth. — This morning I buried our Anna. My son-in- law, Mr. Hardisty, dug her grave at tin; foot of Flora's. They were warm friends in life, and in death they have been i)ut a few days parted. Anna was fourteen years old. She was the daughter of the late O-ixa-mah-wah-shis. He gave her to us a few hours before his happy death. She was the best looking native girl in this part of the country; of a docile, tractable disposition. We were all much at- tached to Anna. November \st, 1870. At five o'clock this afternoon our Georgiana breathed her last. The last intelligible words she uttered were prayer. A few days before she was taken ill she told her sister that during one of the services in the church her soul was greatly blessed, and we all observed a marked change in her conduct. The gj'eat Master was evidently preparing her for a better life. Georgiana died at her post. For months she has labored incessantly for tlie good of this suf- fering people. Conversant with their language and modes of thought, she proved herself a judicious counsellor. My kind neighbors, Messrs. Hardisty and Tait, brouglit the cotHn and placed it at the gs'te, and my son and self carried her uiortal remains to the grave. When we were tilling in the earth, he uttered an expression which found an echo in my poor heart, " Father, I find it hard to bury our own dead ; " but just then the words of the apostle were applied with such force to my mind that I could not restrain myself from shouting them aloud : " O, death, where is thy sting 1 i'-; ''.) 'hi 1^ II i if: f : 1 ■: I' li 1 I i: Mil 1 04 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, O, gravo, wliorp is tliy victory? Tluinks l>o to Ciod who givoth us tlio victory tlirougli our Lord Jesus Christ." Novpuiher 13(h. — 'J'his nioriung I rotui'ued from my sixtli visit to a miner who lives about ten miles iiortli of Victoria. The poor f"llow has been very ill with inflam- mation of the lungs, and I trust the Lord is sanctifying his affliction. About twelve o'clock last nitjht I noticed that he was very mu ex d, and, throwing up his hands, he exclaimed, "0. •': b^d man that T am! The son of a pious mother, ofi i.civ.-! T l-yd these hands upon her knee and repeated prayer, and Uiany a time she has led me by the liand to the class-meeting — and yet, for twenty years, I have forsaken my mother's counsel. Uh, my God, I will return!" And my afflicted neighbor has returned, and found peace in believing. And liere let me say, take courage, ye praying mothers. This is the third case I have met with among these wild adventurers who, in the time of extremity, have turned their thoughts to their pious mothers. The mother may never know it, but a covenant-keeping God has answered her prayers. November IStli, Quarterly Meeting. — After an intermis- sion of two months, we have again ventured to hold a public service. Our meeting was deeply affecting : there were vacant seats to remind us of the past. There could be little done in the way of preaching. Both missionaries and people wept before the Lord. I could not i-efrain fi'oni re- viewing the past. Since my connection with the mission more than one hundred adults, natives, have passed away. Some of these were marked men and women, earnest Christians, who were a credit to the Church of Christ. Then the multitude of dear children, my own among the number, who delighted in singing the sweet songs of Zion. ' 1 V I A: ' THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 165 Tlieso have all disappeared from among the living. At first sight there was something very discouraging, and we felt tliat if in this life only we had hope, we should he most iiiiserahle, but ours is a work for eternity, and these are not lost to us. Our love-feast was a season of power ; the Com- forter was present. November '22nd. — Started for Ediii.)nton in company with Captain J>ntler and Messrs. Hardisty and Clarke. The Captain is out on a tour of inspection, and takes a deep interest in the great North-West. He declares the fact is humiliating to an Englisman that so fine a coun^ j ''hould have been totally neglected. The wevere two e School, s'as most gratefully received, for tiie appropriation made by the iJoard, though ample for otlwr lands, will scarcely cover the hoard hill of a teacher in the Saskatchewan. 'r/iurs(/a//y \)th — Accompanied hy my son, I met Mr. (•hristie and the Conipany's oHicers at \Vhit«' Kish Lake. The school examination, which occupied the whole day, was most satisfactory ; the exercises were commenced hy Brother Steinhauer presenting a very appropriate addi'css to tlie Chief Factor ; then the young Crees were called upon to pei'form their part. Their attainments in reading, wiiting and sptdling, geography, arithmetic and IJiMe iiistory, were very cre(lital)le, so much so, that th<* gentlemen present ex- pressed themselves as agreeably surprised at th(i proticiency manifested hy these native children. ({reat credit is (hut to Mr. Era Snyder, their teacher. Our pious young brother labors hard for the spiritual good, as well as the mental improvement, of his large school. Our young lirother is also a useful local preacher, rapidly ai.-quiring a knowledgi^ of the native tongue ; and, if faitli- ful to the grace bestowcKl, will at some future day, occupy a still more important position. At the conclusion of the exer- cises, Mr. Christie addressed the parents and the scholars. He commenced by referring to a circumstance connected with his own family. Nine years ago his youngest daughter passed the winter at Norway House ; there she had for a companion the youngest daughter of the mission- ary ; from h " she learned to sing many of the sweet pieces which he had listened to that day. When the (li-st epidemic passed over the Saskatchewan, his dear little daughter was one of the sufferers. Among her last utterances were por- tions of those hymns. This fall hi-, mind was deeply atlected when he heard that the little maid, from whom .slie 12 mm -«^ -'■^Bai^B^Et^x,^ 170 ' «{ > r '! in OKORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, had lean 10(1 to sing, had fall on a victim to the siii all-pox. He could ou\y say to the Jifflicted parents, " Let us console ourselves with the happy assurance that our dear children ai'o MOW where no sorrow will iningle with their souf^s." My son was I'ecjuested t .> ta'ce note of the address ; and in the (u'ening, to the great satisfaction of all present, he repeated it, almost verbatim, in the native language. Brother Steinhauer deserves the sympathy of the Christian Church. J lis people are decidedly in advance of all other natives in the Saskatchewan. Pi'incipaily by his own labor, ho has built a good parsonage. On the ground floor there are five commodiou.s rooms ; the partitions, the panel doors, the nea.tly ceiled walls, all display taste and workmanship. Assisted by his people, he is now collecting material for the building of a larger church. If some of our liberal friends would lend him a hand by assisting to procure nails, glass, etc., they would be investing in what is a paying enterprise. A church in which the blessed (lospel is preached will be a greater power for subduing and con- trolling these Plain tribc,> than stone forts, rifle or cannon. Satun/a//, llt/i. — We returned to Victoria. The inter- ruption which our school ^afFered during the time of pesti- lence retarded its progress, but now we are doing well, anci, notwithstanding the great scarcity of provisions, the aver- age attendance is from forty to fifty. Over twenty of these can read the Word of God, and almost the entire school un- derstand English, We have also a week-night reading class. Our plan is a very simple one, but it has proved a great success. Some six or eight are called upon to read pieces each evening. They are allowed to select their own reading, with the understanding that nothing immoral or fictitious will hQ introduced. So far we have had to admirq TFIE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 171 ; sni all-pox. ) us console ar children songs." dress ; and pre.sent, ho ao-e. ly of the advance of )aily by his the ground titions, the r taste and V collectinjx If some of assisting to in what is ;sed (iospel X and Con- or cannon. The inter- e of pesti- j well, and, the aver- ty of these school un- it reading ; proved a on to read their own n moral or to admire the good taste displayed. (Jreat efi'ort has been made to ac- quire a thorough knowledge of tlu reading, and the dill'erent tastes have given us (piitc a variety. Christian l)iography, temperance, history, and dialogues all pass l)efore us. In fact, so profitable have been t\n\ exercises, that we intend to introduce them among tlu^ nati\t>s, training those who understand the syllabic charact(M's to interest their p(H)ple with portions of the P>il)le. Notwitlishmding that famine and pestilences hav(s swept oxer us, our ])()()r peof)le ha\-e not been unmindful of their obligation to do something foi- the support of the cause of (lod. Last fall we intendcil to liold missit>nary meetings at (>ach appointment, but were pre- vented by the epidemic. For local jjurposc^s we have received the following sums : For White Fish l^ake School, $250 ; for Victoria School, 8100: from Chief Factor Christie, Esq., 8100 for general school purposes ; and from our friends at Edmonton, to assist in finishing th(^ church at Woodville, 8100. In addition to this they, last sununer, presented Brother Canj])bell with two horses, our good mis- sionary beins with severity the infringement of the law prohibiting the sale of intoxi- il THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY, I7i t peaceful visitatio"^ wliile We le sufler- Is of God Jjy pesti- ui'^e Iiad fflictions he Plain listen to give up 11 Dorn- nierican 3. Their niediate Ttunate 3rity of men, to foss our 'oni the )erance of this with a lishing d this > M'ere verity intoxi- cating drinks to Indians, but Benton and Montana traders cross the 49th parallel, and, in dtsHance of the law, carry on their loathsome tralHc. To quote from a letter of a close obsei'ver, wIkj spent December and January among the whiskey vendors of 1 Jelly River : " No language can describe these drunken orgies ; more than sixty Blackfeet have been murdered ; and if there can be a transcript of hell upon earth, it is here exhibited.'' I know there are those who will say, " All right, the sooner the red-skin is swei)t from the plains the better." Thank CJod this is not the voice of Canada ; her sons and daughters have been trained to sympathize with the poor Indian, and view with commiseration his struggle for ex- istence before the e\er-increasing flood of civilization. In the Saskatchewan they must be protected, and the only way by which this can be done is to establish a military post at Bow River, w-here the revenue laws wov4d be enforced, and impartial justice to red and white administered. The present time is favorable for a settlement with these tribes. An enemy more terrible than war has, to some ex- tent, subdued their lighting spirit. Their country is the finest part of the North-West. I have travelled in every part of the western prairies from Lake Winn! .-g to the mountains, and I have seen nothing to comj c to Bow River section. Gold, coal, and timber abund' ; number- less small rivers Jind rivulets flowing from tl mountains, with their snow-capped peaks, add to the p; o-^pect a sub- limity and beauty that cannot be described. statesmen of Canada, here is a held worthy of your iKjolest eflorts ; Christiait philanthropists, to you we appeal on behalf of a trodden down and rapidly perishing people ; the precious gift they need, you can bestow. The Gospel is not an ex- i**B. fi; M. ^1:^ it !|ii 176 GEORGE MIIJ.WARD M'DOUGALL, fi! a 'J periinent. Scores of Stonies and Crees liave proved its power to save to tlie uttermost, and tli(!y are now in heaven. Last fail, wlien tlie t(MTil)l(i [)estilence was upon us, 1 saw the poor Cree lying upon tiu^ cold earth, in the hist stage of the loatlisonie disease ; th(i h)ng niglit passcMJ without th'ink, tire, or clothing, yet within that heaving hosoni lived ii power no huuian misery could crush —the deathless love of Clirist. Our ardent desire is to pi-oelaiui this matchless love to every man, woman and child in the Saskatchewan. Alas I we have not the power. Our nunihors an; too few. I am now entreatinii' the Mission Jjoard for one additional man — ten could he well employed. Citizens of fa\ored Canada ! to you and to your children are given the hunting-grounds of the poor Indian. Their natuial day will he shoit; hasten to their rescue, remember then) in your prayers, forget them not in youi alms-giving, and He who !ias purchased them ■with ills own blood will reward you I shall not attempt to narrate the wonderful events of the past year. Notwithstanding the consolations of religion, our liearts are sad ; many of those for whom we have labor-ed for years are gone. Is'ot less than liU tStonies are cut off, our poor Crees broken, scattered, and strewn like the leaves of autumn. Aged native CJiristians and sweet little ."^ab- bath-school songsters all gone ! All that is mortal of two of our own. dear daughters lie in the mission garden ; we mourn, but not as those " who have no hope, for if we Ije- lieve that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.' We will try and be grateful for mercies. In the midst of death all our mis- sionaries have been spared. Twico the restraining power of God was very manifest in the preservation of my own THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 177 idk family. Onco Mrs. Mc'nouf:jall, my eldest son, and two dau<,ditors wcro in the Held, wf^eding turnips, and, not a hundred yards from them, secreted in the lon;.^ grass, lay eleven Blackfeet. '1 hey came to pillage and murtler; hut, as they afterwaids acknowledged, were restrained from firing. At another time they crawled through the barley, so as to witness all tliat was doing in the house, but did no harm. My son and a Clu'istiiin Cree were crossing the river in a skili' and as tliev were in the a(;t of haulinix the boat up the bank, a ball passed between them, tearing up the earth close to their feet. Many ar(^ the hair breadth escapes experienced by mem- bers of this mission, but no blood has been shed. Surely the good Lord has ])revented it I In the past winter we have been tiying to icdecMu the time ; our services both on Sabljath and "week days are well attended, and some of the heathen are receiving the truth. The day-school is faithfully taught, and a more orderly class of children could not l,»e found. The Sabbath-school averages between lifty and si.vty. Twenty of these are connnitting the Wesleyan catechism to memory, and some of them have completed the task, and have also correctly recited the fifty two lessons in Scri})tural doctrine. With a thorough knowledge of this admirable system of theology, we have no fear that any of our young people will ever become Papists. Monday evening is spent in public read- ing and singing. A course of lectures has been deli\ered on '• History," by Hudson Bay othcers and others, calculated to prepare our people for the change now taking place in their country. Temperance has Ijeen prominently kept before their I 8 ii' '■ hr' I I Hi »^'J^'«''-""'^"'-«'«WW*!^'-t«WilB» J * ■- I I i, 178 GEORGE MILLWAllD M'DOUGALL, minds, and, with few exceptions, both younff and old have pledged abstinence from all that can intoxicate. On Sabbath afternoon we preach at a small settlement ten miles distant, .and there a promising Sabbatli-school has been established, where both European and native, wlio once blasphemed, now spend a part of the holy day in teaching others to read the Word of God. Next to the spiritual interests of our people, we have felt it our duty to 'abor for teaiporal improvement. In this we are greatly encouraged. JNIore seed will be sown, and more land culti- vated this spi'ing than in any previous year. With the powerful aid of the Hudson Bay Company, material has been collected for a flour mill. Thankful for past mercies, hopeful for the future, with sincere hearts, we would give to God tlu; glory for all the good that has been accomplished. Geo. M. McDougall. THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 179 CHAPTER VII. Moves to Edmonton — Three Years' residence at this place — Jour- neyings and experiences connected with this new field. IN the spring of 1871, father began a mission at Edmonton. For a long time Edmonton had stood on the list of stations in connection with the Methodist Church. This simply meant that it was, in a way, the headquarters of the evangelist mission- aries, Rundle and Woolsey, who had been the guests, when at home, of the Hudson Bay Company. As yet no mission had been attempted, but as Edmonton was the head of the district, and the mercantile depot for the whole country, and was on every hand beginning to attract settlement, it was thought by the District Meeting that this post should be taken up, and the chairman himself was the best man to do it. Accord- ingly father moved up to Edmonton and began work. This season the streams were very high, and in one of the many situate between Victoria and Edmonton, father came very near losing his life. Descriptive of this, we will insert right here a leaf or two from mother's journal : 'H r' ^^!;i ISO CJEORCE MILLWAIID M'DOUOALI., ! t i 1 .iJ^ f I 1 .' June, 1871. We moved from V^ictoria ; my husbaml and self, and two of our n(M,i,dil)ors, started on our journey to Edmonton. The roads were very bad, the banks of eveiy stream we came to Hooded. The? two lirst were cros.sed witliout very yreat dilliculty ; tlif tliird, called Sucker Creek, was i'a<^in^', the waters rushing and foamiiif,' with swiftest speed. When T first saw it, 1 wondered how we were to cross it, and turning round to speak to Mr. iMcJ)ou<,'all, I saw he was pi'tjpariiii,' to cross by moving the luggage froiu the buckbo.-ird and placing it on the cart ; and when ready he drove down the bank of the sti'eam, and at the same time spoke to the boy who was di'iving the cart to follow. Scarcely had the horse struck the current when lie was thrown on his side, and horse and buckboard, with Mr. McDoui^all standing on tlie buckboard seat, were carried down the rivei*. There were trees projecting from the bank into the stream on either side, and presently all were carried under one of these trees, and horse, buckboard and driver were tangled up togetlier by the force of the current. This was repeated several ^imes, and very soon all disappeared aiound the point out of my sight. All this happened, as it secuied to me, in u moment. 1 tried to speak, but could not. I turned to the men, but I saw them running through the bushes down along the bank of the river, and my tirst thought was to follow, and I was going to do so, when the boy with the cart drew my attention. He had been directed to follow, and had just got down the bank of the stream, and the horse had stopped, with the water above the shafts, and I went to see if I could do any- thing to help him. ^Hil TflE PIO.VKKK, PATRIOT AND MISSION -UY. 181 r found that it was impossible, tho stoop l)aiik shoving the horse and cart towards the current. We could not pos- sihly l)ack the cart out. T told the boy to sit still, and I spoke a (ew words to the noble animal, and he stood per- fectly ([uiet, Ijracing against the current as if he knew both life and prop(!rty wei'e at stake. Tn the meanwhile 1 was continually looking to (lod, and praying tliat my dear hus- band's life might be saved from a watery grave, and while doing so, 1 reali/.«'d all would be w»'ll. I had only to wait, iiut tiie time seemed very long before anyone came, and how my heart leaped for joy when T heard his voice, calling to me, and [ ran to meet him. His lii'st words were, Let us praise the Lord foi* tlu; pre- servation of my life. lie had been near the gates of death. The wet and sticky reins had become wound around his arm, and thus sometimes under the buckboard, and .some- times coming to the surface, he had been dragged along with the horse and rig ; and not until he had succeeded in biting away the reins from his arm wa:. he able to swim for the shore. l[e said the horse had struck a i)arat the foot of a steep bank on the other side of the river, and was standing thei-e with just his head and neck out of the water. He said, if T can get across now with this other horsc, T may yet save him. He stopi)ed not to change his wet garments, but took off his boots and plunged into tho water, and unharnessed the horse which was in the cart, and mounting him, ho sti'uck out into the stream. This horse was a strong, spirited ani- mal, and soon I saw ^Ir. McDougall and his steed climb the other bank, and. disappearing down through the woods, presently he came back with the other animal, and both horses and master looked as if they were ready and fresh P iti I »i IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 U£ 1^ III - lis lllllio 12.2 1.8 U i 1.6 6" 9m ^ '^A /a °y* } 'm '/ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 182 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL i Ml III 'f i i '- > Ki^ for any otlier emergencies that might happen. In talking over this circumstance the same evening with old Harry House, one of the neighbors who accompanied us, he said : " Mr. McDougall and the animals' lives were saved in an- swer to prayer. Madame," said he, "you must call to mind the prayer that was offered by Mr. McDougall this very morning before we started on our way. Near the close of his prayer he asked God to bless us in our journey, and asked Him that the lives of both men and animals entrusted to them might be precious in His sight, and it was so." Tears of joy were streaming down the good old man's cheeks as he thus spoke to me of the day's experience. Friends rallied round him, and in a little more than a year he had comfortable mission premises, and better than this, a flourishing cause. In the meanwhile he visited the missions under his charge.White Fish Lake, Victoria, and Woodville. The amount of work in the building of a mission in a new country, one thousand miles from a saw-mill ; in erecting mission-house and church, and establishing school can be estimated only by those who have gone through the experience. In the spring of 1873 he started for the south- western country, and reached the Bow. The reader will remember that all the region southwest of Ed- monton was for hundreds of miles the Blackfeet country. Here the Blackfeet, the Sarcee, the Piegan, and the Blood were allied against the Stoney and the Cree. This was the scene of many a tragedy. In this THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 183 fair land and on the banks of the Elk, in the valley of the Bow, along the margins of High River and Old Man's River, and in the intervening countries, many a white man had come to a terrible end. To make matters worse, an illegitimate traffic was being smug- gled in by a wild class of lawless men from the southern border. The southwestern portion of our country was at this time the rendezvous of the hard cases. From Fort Benton and other parts of Montana alcohol was boinor smujrorlcd across the line, and whls- key, warranted to craze and kill, was being manufac- tured at different points. Very little was known about this region by the people who lived in the north country. Very few white men, though they resided in the Saskatchewan for years, knew anything of the Bow River country. Hundreds of Indians along the North Saskatche- wan, notwithstanding their migratory habits, have never been so far south, but the mountain Stoney, whom the missionary met on previous trips, and also at Wood vi He and the old mountain fort, said it was a goodly land, and importuned for a mission somewhere in that region along the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains. These Mountain Stonies were our people. They had been faithful to us, and they had won father's heart, and his sympathies were with them, I I ♦' 184 GEOItfiK MIIXWARI) M'DOUGALL, ■! ! i H I ; >. li Though few in number, they had held their own, in the whole width of British territory alonu the eastern base of the mountains. They had done tliis against the combined hosts of the plain tribes. Father ad- mired their pluck ; moreover, his foresii^dit told him that by planting a mission somewhere at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in that southern region, with these Mountain Stonies, wit' their warlike prestige, as its body-guard, not only v.ie interests of Chris- tianity, but the peace of the country and the future settlement of it. would be in a large measure secured without collision with the natives. Subsequent events have more than veritied his pro- phetic action. To explore for this he, in company with a single native, travelled thrt)Ligh this region. Reaching the Bow, they came out upon this valley a few miles east of the present Morley. It was about the end of May or Hrst of June. I can imagine father, as he sat upon the hill, picturing to himselt* the changes that he felt were coming. Little did he then dream that in front of him and at his feet would, in less than fifteen years, lie the steels that belt the conti- nent. Little did he think that up this valley would roll the tide of the world's westward travel ; that down the slopes before him would pour the produce of China and Japan ; and yet he knew it was coming. k i THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 185 Having seen the country for himself, he came back and endorsed the Mountain Stoney's opinion of his native land. He, in company with other missionaries, the same summer, travelled across the plains to Win- nipeg, and met at this place Drs. Punshon and Wood, also John Macdonald and other friends, who had come up from the east to shake hands and encourage the missionaries. A deliLjhtful missionarv conference was held ; the hearts of the so often isolated missionaries were cheered by conference with these eloquent and wise brethren. Father secured the endorsation of his scheme for the opening of the new mission at the foot of the moun- tains, which he had so much at heart, and then bid- ding the brethren good-bye, he, with others, again set their faces westward. It was his privilege to travel across the plains in company with Sandford Fleming, the chief engineer of oar Government, and Dr. Grant, now Principal of Queen's College, Kingston, and Pro- fessor Macoun, the famous botanist ; they, in turn, were fortunate in falling in with the old pioneer missionary. The following spring, early in the month of April, he and his son visited the Mountain Stonies, who were then camped in the valley of the Bow, at the foot of the Rockies, continued the exploration of the country, and came to the conclusion that no 13 !i . ' 186 GEORGE MILLWAIID M'DOUGALL, i. more central place for the new enterprise could be found than in the Bow Valley. While on this trip the missionaries remained several days with the Stonies, and travelled with them southward along the mountains, holding meetings morning and evening, in short, all the time, with these people. At this time father assured these Indians that he would do all in his power for the planting of a mission in their countr}'. Then retracing their way, the mis- sionaries travelled homeward by a different route, keeping along the mountains, and then striking east- erly towards Pigeon Lake, they came across another large camp of Indians, moving out from the woods to tk.he north. Spending some time with these, they con- tinued their journey and came to VVoodville from the other side. Father then went on alone to Edmonton. The following letter to Dr. Wood is descriptive of this trip : Edmonton, May 2Sth, 1873. According to previous arrangement, April ■29th, I started for Bow River, and in the evening met my son at what is called the Forks of the jNIountiiin Road. Ma>/ \st. — At the foot of the Bear's Hill we fell in with a party of Victoria Crees, most of them our own people. With these we spent some time in religious exercises ; and, after exchanging prairie news, we pushed on to Battle River, where we met another party belonging to the same place. The head man of the camp is one of the noblest 'k THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 187 specimens of a Christian native T have met with in this country. Our friend Noah invited us to his tent; we made our supper on a yellow crane. With tliese we held two services and baptized two children, and were made ac- quainted with a fact demonstrating tlie power of Christian- ity on the native mind. An aged, blind woman visited our tent who, some months previous, had been cast away by her inhuman children. They had long felt the old woman a burden, and one morning while she was asleep they all slipped away from the camp, leaving her, as they expected, to perish. Our good brother and his party found the unfor- tunate mother, and were taking the best care of her in their power. On the evening of the second we reached the north bank of Red Deer River. For four days we had been travelling through a country ready for the agriculturist ; a rich black loam resting upon a clay bottom ; abundance of the finest pasturage and the purest water. Once across the Red Deer River, and the traveller observes a change. Here the celebrated bunch grass begins, and the tough, level sod of the northern prairie disapp3ars, and the soil is so loose that your horse sinks at every step, and wherever the badger had thrown up the earth, we observed a mixture of lime- stone, gravel and clay. Springs and streams are abundant, and although the climate has not been practically tested by the agriculturist, there is not a doubt but that, for stock-raising purposes, it is one of the finest countries on the continent. In winter there is scarcely any snow, and in summer the horse-fly and mosquito, so numerous in Manitoba and the Saskatchewan, are seldom seen south of the Red Deer. Sabbath, ith. — We spent at Dog Pound Creek, where ) jpj (ft ' h asi III I I i: !'f J : I ' I ! 188 GEORGE MILL Ward M'DOUGALL, we enjoyed a magnificent view of the mountains. In the afternoon an old bull came down to the spring to drink, and not being disturbed, he fed beside our horses until thn next morning. Monday, 5th. — We travelled up the Little Red Deer, a beautiful river, the banks of which are well covered with affpen and pine. In the afternoon we killed a bull, and I caught a young calf, and we camped near to a large sulphur spring, where waggon loads of the mineral may be collecti' r m'' Pi i ..III i, I ■ , I h I I I..' if 1 hi n 'ii :'(f 190 r.EOllGE MILLWARD M'DOUOALL, Canadiaji liorse would have broken his neck, I whipped up, and for the remainder of the day kept alongside of our guides. In tlie afternoon we came to the great chasm in the mount througlj wliich the river ruslios. From a very high foot-hill we gazed on this prospect wit!- admiration and wonder. Witiiin three miles stood the grand old mountain, the wild goat and sheep sporting on its liighest summit. At the foot of the hill, and in perfect ignorance of our presence, a band of bufl'alo were feeding on the richest pasture. To the right of us, and on the north bank of the river, lay the location which we have selected for our new mission. In the roar of the plain there are large hills covered with valuable timber, and from these elevations scores of little streams run down into the valley. Further on, beyond the first range of mountains, there is a large lake which the old Indian tells us is bottomless, and the water so clear that salmon trout can be seen at a depth of thirty-five feet. In fact I was sui'prised at the clearness of these mountain lakes and streams. Late in the evening we returned to the camp tired and hungry. At the evening service it was decided that on the mor- row we should pitch southward, our people having an en- gagement to meet the Kootanies about the end of May. I had now ample opportunity for observing the conduct of this singular people. Twenty-five years ago they embraced Christianity, and though most of the old people have passed away, and they have only been occasionally visited by your missionaries, and for several years have been exposed to the destroying influence of whiskey-traders, yet, with few excep- tions, they have been faithful to their religious principles. Many of them can read the Bible. In every tent there is THK PIONEKR, PATIIIOT AND MISSION A llY. 101 family prayor ; thoy nro passionately fond of sin^jinp;. I'ho week we spent with them was emphatically a eampiii'rting. We retired to rest, listening; to the voice of sonjL-, and awoke in the mornin;^ to hear the Stonies en^'a;,'e(l in the same exercises, Sahhath, tlie 11th, was a day of incessant labor. We hapti/ed thirty-one children, and married one couple, and at midnif,dit lay down to rest, j^rateful to (rod for blessing the day. Monday, the 12th, at mid-day we left for the Saskatchewan, and crossed the High Water River; and on the l.'kh, with a great deal of dillicnlty, we suc- ceeded in fording the J3ow liiver. Expecting to meet some Stonies, we made a straight course through the country to Woodville, and on the evening of the 16th reached liattlo Lake, where we found eighty of our people. On Sabbath morning we preached to this camp, baptizing four children, and then rode over to Woodville, where we found two hundred waiting for us. In the evening we ad- ministered the Lord's Supper to about sixty communicants. On Tuesday, at noon, I reached Fort Edmonton, grateful to God for all His mercies. In the last twenty-two days we have passed through some dangers and difficulties, rapid and dangerous rivers have been rafted, localities have been vis- ited where only a short time before human hlood had been shed, where the American whiskey-trader and Blackfeet had met in deadly conflict. But through all our exposure the Lord has preserved us. Six hundred and thirty-five Stonies have been visited, and upwards of one hundred Crees ; and, best of all, the presence of God has been strikingly manifested in our ser- vices. To His name we ascribe the praise. G. M. McDoUGALL. ?,M li''fl tAJuM 192 GEOIKJK MILMVAIU) M'DoUdALI., I I . The .same season the Secretary of the Missionary Society, the Ilev. Laclihm TayU)r, visited these mis- sions. Father met him at Fort Pitt and travelled with him to White Fish Lake ; from there to Victoria, and on to Edmonton ; out to Woodville, back a^ain to Ed- monton ; from Edmonton, out on to the big plains to the lari^'c Cree camps ; from the Cree camps to the mountains, ht'in^ captured, and after two days released, by the Blackfeet en routf, from the mountains in Bow River, south-eastward to Fort Benton, on the Missouri, taking in the famous Whoop-up countr}' by the way. Then Ijidding the Secretary good-bye, and having delivered him within the possibilities of stage and telegraph lines, father returned for the most part by a new route across the country to Edmonton. Most of this travel being accomplished by him in the sad- dle. The greater part of the trip was subject to con- stant danger, father taking his turn on guard, and in everything laring the burdens of this long journey. During the winter of 1873 and 1874 he visited the missions on the Saskatchewan, and worked away at his ow^n charge, which was growing in interest^ Anyone looking up the reports of our Missionar}' Society will see what was tlone by this newlj'-be^un mission during the years of 1871, 1872, and 1873, for the general hi liissiormry iliese niis- ellt'd with !toria, and lin to E(l- jig plains ups to tlie s released, n tains in 1, on the ►untry hy i-bye, and I of stage tiost part on. Most the sad- t to con- ard, and lis long sited the ay at his Anyone iety will 1 durinor o general THK PIONKKU, PATUKVr AND MISSIONARY. 193 cause, which is a good inde.K of all other matters. In the meanwhile tlie missions at the foot ( ' the moun- tains were begun lute in the year of l I am nearly iiited agent atonies, and in sending )0 to be dis- , Mrs. Har- vvill have to hall request led River a memento of [•ward it to e, but shall it turns up. Hh, 1874. all in the ndly hoped ge for the some labo- Dasca. and y not only family, to une 5th. my daugh- have been i mounted THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 195 it on a cart. On a number of occasions we found the bene- fit of the arrangement, for the mountain streams were all foaming. The journey from Edmonton to Morleyville was made in seven days, including the Sabbath, and only those who live 200 miles from their nearest neighbor can realize the pleasure with which we were received, not only by the mission family, but also by a camp of Mountain iStonies, who very fortunately arrived the same day. In the even- ing I went with my son to visit an old patriarch, Kis-chee- po-wat, a man who was once guide to Mr. Rundle, and who was with the pioneer missionary when he ascended the mountain now known to travellers as " Mount Rundle." This venerable native was evidently, to use his own lan- guage, very near the great camping-ground ; but rich in the consolations of the Gospel, and one of its blessed fruits was very apparent in his case, for while the aged among the heathen are often left to miserably perish, the family of this old man treated him with the gieatest kindness. Sabbath was a day of special blessings, and in the love- feast many were witnesses of the power of saving grace. I was much gratified with the efforts that have been made to establish this mission. Finding it impossible to build a church sufficiently large to accommodate the numerous con- gregations, the missionary has run up a rough building, covered it with bark, floored it with pine brush, lighted it with parchment windows ; and here Blackfeet, Orees, Stonies, and the traveller from other lands, meet to worship the Lord of all. In the meantime, timber has been pre- pared for respectable buildings; sashes, nails, etc., l»rought from Fort Benton, and we hope by next summer a fair start will be made on this important mission. Having a few days at command, I made up my mind to ) ! II i( m '"■■■# B> 1\ w •f I ? ■L i 1 I 196 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, ■) !. ! i prospect the adjacent country. Our first excursion was up the Bow River Pass. The distance from Morley ville to the foot of the mountains cannot be less than fifteen miles, the most deceptive prospect I ever gazed upon, for the gen- eral impression is, when you first look across this beautiful valley, that a ten-minutes' walk would take you to the base of these snow-capped peaks, and yet we were two hours and a half in reaching the entrance of the pass, at a smart canter. As we approached the great canyon, I was forcibly impressed with the thought that there stood before us a fit emblem of both time and eternity. Of time, for the scene was ever changing. As the sun mounted higher in the heavens, and the snow began to melt on the summits of the mountains, small streams rushed over vast precipices and spent themselves in spray before they reached the foot of the mountains. To the north of us, a heavy thunderstorm enveloped the peaks, and we noticed, when it had passed over, that at a certain elevation there had been a heavy fall of snow. In a few days' sojourn in these mountains the prospect is ever changing. Then there are the huge rocks, in some places presenting a perpendicular wall 6,000 feet high, grand representatives of the everlasting, and yet these shall pass away. While sojourning among these mountains, I was profoundly impressed with my own ignorance. Here was a grand field for the geologist, and all I knew about the science only increased curiosity. Here is a perfect paradise for the botanist, for among tlie multiplicity of flowers and plants, I think I have seen some new specimens, but find it difficult to classify. And here I have seen the wild goat upon the mountains, and my party liave killed the big horn sheep, the mountain marmot, and the large black 1. '.I A if '• THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 197 partridge ; even the rabbit and the squirrel are unlike any- thing I have seen in other parts of the Dominion. Here is a grand field for the naturalist. But, anxious to show the resources of our mission, we resolved to visit Lake Taylor. Marvellous stof'ies had been told us by the Stonies of this strange sheet of water ; and, after a careful inspection, we were certain the half was not told us. The lake is about eight miles long by one mile and a half wide, and probably very deep, located between two huge mountains, and evidently full of the finest trout, for standing on the shore my party caught eight very fine specimens. The Stonies tell us they sometimes take them forty pounds in weight. In fact, every stream we met with was full of salmon and brook trout. This beautiful lake is not more than twenty miles, in a straight line, from the mission. While camped on the shore our Stoney guide pointed out a path that led straight over tlie mountain to Morleyville, but when requested the next day to take us by this route, he replied, if it were the end of August, in place of June, he would willingly do so, but at present the snow is too deep for horses. Such are the contrasts in this strange land. Close by our feet the strawberry is ripening, the gooseberry nearly ready for use, and yet not half a mile distant the snow is still several feet deep. While conversing with my son, who has just returned from Benton, I gathered a good deal of very useful information in reference to the state of things on our frontier. The past winter has been one of unusual activity on the part of the fur traders, and a large amount of valuable furs have been carried out of our country. I observed in the Notices, that where I had stated in a letter m.\ "|; ill -kwTt* •I I ■ I' i ' ii i ] m ^ til 198 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, referring to their transactions one year ago, "that more than 50,000 robes had been carried out of British territory by these whiskey -traders," one cipher had been dropped by some of my cautious friends, making it "5,000." The secular papers that had copied the paragraph also made it " 5,000." Now I reiterate my statement, on the best anthority, that more than 50,000 robes have been traded from our Indians annually for a number of years, and that nearly all the return that these wretched people have received at Ben- ton, for what was worth $250,000, had been alcohol. And the terrible effect on the tribes is very apparent. Ten years ago the Blackfeet were rich in horses, and no observer could visit their camp without being struck with their fine physi- cal appearance as a body of natives; now they are an im- poverished, miserable-looking race. Last winter the usual amount of shooting took place ; and the worst feature of this sad work is, the innocent suffer, and not the guilty. But as the Indian kills the first white man he meets for the death of his friend, no traveller is safe on these plains until a stop is put to the infamous conduct of traders. While I was at Bow River our people found the body of a white man, who evidently had been killed by the Blackfeet ; and since our return to Edmonton a report has reached us that a young man who was in the Hudson Bay Company's employ last v.-inter had been killed On this side of Elk River. And all this cata- logue of crime and death can now be traced to the unprin- cipled whiskey-trader. I have frequently received letters asking for information as to this country, and in which reference is made to the Missionary Notices. In ansvrer to such parties, we would just say, as far as our observation goes, that one of the best stock-raising countries in the that more ih territory Iropped by rhe secular it "5,000." authority, 1 from our ; nearly all ed at Ben- liol. And Ten years irver could fine physi- ire an im- the usual feature of he guilty. its for the ains until )und the killed by lonton a ) was in had been lis cata- e unprin- d letters in which answ^er )ervation in the THE PIONEER. PATIIIOT AND MISSIONARY. 199 Dominion will be found south of Elk River. The horned cattle at our mission arrived at Morleyville late last fall. Most of the oxen had been worked through the summer, and those belonging to the missionary performed a large amount of labor in the winter ; and yet these cattle, although having to feed themselves, were tit for a trip to Benton early in the spring. To those who may wish to set- tle on the eastern slopw of the mountains, it may be useful to know that both provisions and stock can be bought much cheaper in Moiitana than in any part of the Dominion. I saw two enterprising Canadians who, this spring, bought fifty head of four-year old oxen for twenty four dollars each. They are bringing them over to the Saskatchewan, and I have been informed by my son that half-breed Texan cattle can be bought for even less than that ; and there is no doubt in my mind but that the day is not distant when, on our Dominion soil, we will be able to compete with our American neighbors in the stock department. As to cereals, I cannot speak confidently, for they have never been tried this side of Sun River. One advantage we will have over Montana — we shall not have to irrigate, for up to the forty- ninth parallel there is, most seasons, an abundance of rain. As to the Indian (juestion, which seems to deter many from making their home in this great country, I would just remark, that, should the Government give us protection, the best informed in the country are of the opinion there will be very little trouble with the Indians. If they are judiciously treated by the Government, we apprehend no difiiculty in settling the Indian question. Two things we would earnestly impress on the attention of those in authority in the country : First, that no notice be taken by the civil powers of the crimes tiiat liave taken I 1 I ,''! ii ,. I i- :|l i i ' f 'ti ill I 200 GEORGE MILLWARO M'DOUGALL, place in the past. If every murderer were to be arrested, there would be no end of trouble, and the Government would most probably become involved in civil war. The next difficulty will be to know who are Dominion Indians, and who that cross our lines are not. And this, I appre- hend, will be a difficult matter to decide. The Blackfeet proper have all along been regarded by the Americans as their Indians ; but from all we know of them, they can never be iiiducod to settle on the American side. The Piegans and Bloods receive annuities at the American agency, and yet they spend a large part of their time on our side, and frequently trade at the Hudson Bay Company's forts. Now this is a question that will have to be settled before we can treat with these tribes, and until it is done we cannot expect to have peace on our borders. Some of these remarks may appear foreign to the work of a missionary ; but our position is peculiar ; we are often importuned for information, and if anytliing we say can tend to the spiritual and temporal elevation of an unfortun- ate race, we shall feel amply rewarded. t THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 201 5 'i ' I CHAPTEK VIII. Visits Ontario — Pleads the cause of Missions— Takes a short trip to the Mother Land — Once more sets his face Westward —Is employed by Government to conciliate the excited Plain Tribes — His tragic end. ONCE more father drives across the plains. This will be mother's first visit since she left, fourteen years before. Those years have effected a wondrous change in the northern part of the conti- nent of America. A line of steamboats is on the Red River. The Northern Pacific crosses this river near the spot where the missionary and his family fourteen years before had camped ; at that time the whole country a howlin(:r wilderness. No man appreciated better than father did the possibilities of the great North- We>t, and these wonderful changes which had already taken place were sources of great joy to him. Proceeding eastward, father reached Toronto in time to be present at the first General Conference of our Church in Canada. Here he met a hearty wel- come, the whole Conference cheering as he entered its presence. Some people may imagine that the invita- li I I >l $- I 1 1 '.i 202 GKORGE MILLVVARD M'DOUGALL, tion to come home for a year, given by the committee of our Church to the missionary in the far-off fie hi, is su<,'gestive of a period of rest and recuperation, but this is not so ; every energy of mind and soul must be resurrected on the part of the returned missionary. The tension of every nerve must be tightened a little more, and tlie whole strain of wear and tear of such a life as the southerly acclimated frontiersman is now called to bear, proves often harder on him than the rough years already passed through. The crowded houses, the badly-ventilated and over- heated audience-rooms, the cold and chill, though stylishly arranged, sleeping places — all these things affect hi.? body ; while ever present to his mind is the difficulty of presenting his thoughts to a different people, and possibly expressing them in a language to which he is not accustomed. If there should come a Sabbath in the course of the year, which the Mis- sionary Secretary has not included in his programme of work for the missionary, there are always a few score of brethren who have been watching this oppor- tunity, and by dint of importunity, they let the mis- sionary off with two services and. a Sabbath-school address sandwiched in between. And herewith we would announce to all missionaries : If you want rest, don't go home ; seek it elsewhere. Father, during the THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 203 f I winter succeeding the first General Conference, pretty well did the Eastern Provinces. Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, were all visited in turn, and everywhere the cause of missions and the ffreat North-West were his theme. Towards spring he ran over to N w York. Coming back, he sailed for the Old Country. Addressed meetings in London. Took a run into the Highlands, from whence his forefathers had come, and then once more turned his face westward. He arrived in Ontario in time to be present at his own Conference. Secured additional help for the work on the Saskatchewan ; and starting witli mother and his new mission party, he continued the journey west- ward, and to him, homeward ; though in reality just now he is without a home, for the missionary com- mittee have concluded to undertake a new enterprise and establish a mission yet further south in the region of country which is known to-day as Southern Alberta. Reaching Winnipeg by steam, the real work of the journey now begins. Carts and oxen must now be purchased. Transport provided for families Fortu- nately for the missionary and party, they meet at this point with Mr. David McDougall, than whom there is no better ffuide or frontier traveller on the continent. He couldn't be much less, being the sun of iff' I b3i fc .1 r 204 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, I . his father. Just at this juncture news is brouj^ht over the plains of trouble among the Indians and half-breeds in the vicinity of Carlton, and westward beyond it. The facts were, the Government was proceeding with telegraph lines, and railway, and geo- logical and other surveys. Material was being poured into the country, and all this, prior to treaties with the Indians. No explanations had been made, and no wonder that the natives were concerned about these things, which ought to be felt by any man of equitable mind as something altogether " too previous." Sur- veys were stopped, and serious trouble was anticipated. Father's opinion was sought ; and he gave it as his view that the trouble had arisen because of a lack of understanding on the part of the Indians. That if proper explanations had been made prior to these sur- veys having been attempted, he believed there would have been no trouble. Immediately he was requested by Lieutenant-(jrovernor Morris, of Manitoba and the North-West, to undertake this mission. Accordingly, receiving his commission, he started with mother, and proceeded directly to Carlton. From Carlton he went to Prince Albert, and havinir met the natives in these vicinities, he then started out with his little party westward on to the big plains. Travelling from camp to camp, he explained these «!< THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 205 niatturs to the excited Indians, and assured them, as his instructions were, that the followinf:^ year commis- sioners would be sent into the country to treat with them. He was received everywhere with confidence, and his words were believed ; and the Indian mind all over the country was set at rest for the time beinj^. Havini^ travelled westward to Tail Creek on the Elk River, and thence northward to Edmonton, and from thence eastward to Victoria on the North Sas- katchewan, thus covering the territory, and reaching the people most interested in this matter, he then started for the mountains and Morley, and the recently located mission in the valley of the Bow, at which place he arrived simultaneous with his party, which he had separated from on the Red River some months before, and which had been coming as directly as possible in those days to this its destination. How joyous the meeting of these missionary parties. Some have been laboring in the country, others are just returning from the east, some are new-comers ; all are here for the same purpose, the taking-up of this land in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. These men and women are here to sow the seed of Chris- tianity and civilization, to plant the standard of empire, to uproot and destroy the savageism of the native, to restrain the cupidity and selfish- \l ill ,. :, \ ,1 ' I H^ ' W ii \ I Il I III I I II* 20G GEORGE MILI.WAUI) M'DOUGALI., ness of tile new coiner. Truly theirs is a mij^hty work, and only by the grace of God can they do it. Wint(?r is already here. Wliat are the plans for the future ? Listen to the leaditii:; spirit as he speaks to his son, the resident missionary at Morley : "John, myself and teacher will have to stay with you this winter; it's too late now to begin l')0 miles further south without a chip of preparation as yet having been made. We are both willing workers ; we will jump right in and help you to put up your church and other buildings this winter, and then I want you to come over with us next spring to Old Man's River, and give us two or three m nths with your men and teams." " All right," I said. In the meanwhile father's restless spirit moved him on, and within a few days we were on a trip of explo- ration south along the mountains, our object being to hunt up the site of the proposed mission, and also make ourselves acquainted with the best way of reach- ing this point. Between two and three weeks were occupied on this journey, during which time several large camps of Indians were reached, and the oppor- tunities for preaching the Gospel were many. The new Fort McLeod was also visited, and father was kindly received by the mounted police, this place being at that time their headquarters. Returning lli * i THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 207 from this journey, the fact that our lar<^e party reijuired a fresli supply of provisions came up ; and wliile some of us went out on to the plains for this, father proceeded with buildinjj operations and other work connected with tlie nussion. Owing to very severe weatlier, and the distance tlie hufi'alo had i^one into tlie phiins, the huntini; party failed this time, and were forced to go home in a state of starvation. Late in December he started on a missionary tour to the mouth of High River, where there were several trad- ing establislinerits, and also quite a nuniber of In- dian camps. Early in the new year he returned to Morley, bringing word that the butialo were now moving westward, and that this was now an oppor- tune time for striking for meat, and as this was very much wanted by our party, arrangements were made to go out. Horses driven in, sleighs mended, and, at the last minute, the man we expected to go with us was not forthcoming. In vain we looked for another, ami then father said, " I will go with you, for we must have meat." Our flour was getting low, and there were many mouths to fill. We started for the liunt, and procuring fire-wood by the way, pushed out on the plain. On the third day we came to the buffalo. The con- dition of the prairie for running with unshod horses Uii fi '' I,!! *| : 1 ■: » f I !J ^m 208 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, r I' t I- ) l!- I' I* n I I IJ was very bad. The weather was extremely cold. How- ever, we secured some animals ; but Saturday morning found us with about half loads, and the weather get- ting colder all the while. We saw that the buffalo were slowly moving westward, we concluded to go back with our teams to the first point of willows, where we could get wood, and there spend the Sabbath, hoping that the weather would moderate, and the buffalo draw nearer. We spent a quiet Sabbath in our leather lodge. Our party numbered five. An Indian and his boy, about twelve years of age, had joined us to obtain meat for themselves. Our party proper was composed of father and his nephew, a lad he had brought from Ontario on his last trip, and the writer. Monday morning, from a hill alongside of our camp, we could see buffalo. Father and I, taking four sleighs with us, and a little wood on one of them, and two loose horses for runningf, started out towards them. The Indian and his son, with one sleigh, accompanied us. We left my cousin to look after the camp and watch the horses. The weather had moderated some, but the prairie was still very bad for unshod horses. Coming as near as we could without startinsf the buffalo, father took charge of the horses and sleighs, and I attempted to run, but so slippery was the prairie with its patches of snow and ice everywhere, that the old. How- y moriiinor sather get- iffalo were • go back where we jh, hoping le buffalo iir leather -n and his ed us to 'oper was i he had le writer. )ur camp, r sleiofhs and two s them. mpanied mp and ed some, orses. ing the sleighs, prairie hat the THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY 209 sharper hoofed buffalo could get away from the unshod horse. Chanfjinfj horses three times, ffettins: one tremen- dous fall, which shook me up pretty well all over, I eventually succeeded in killing six buffalo. The Indian had not been successful. We irave him one and bejjan the work of skinning and cutting up the other five. It was now late in the afternoon. We had butchered and put on to the sleighs three of the bufRilo. We were at the fourth. While I was working at this one, father said, "I think I will melt some snow, John, and boil the kettle, and we will have a cup of coffee." Takinor the little bundle of wood we had brousjht with US from the sleigh, father soon had a fire built, and the kettle boiling. It was now becoming dark. The coffee made, father said, "Come along, my son, this will do you good after the shaking up you have had to- day." We had a few small cakes with us. Eating these, and sipping coffee and talking about our work, thus the niijht came on. I remember there w^as an odd cake ; father said, " John, you eat that, you have been working harder than I have to-day." The coffee drank, we went at the buffalo again. Just as we were finishing the fourth animal, we heard the Indian call, and answering him, he came to us with his sled loaded with the animal which had been given him. Alto- 11' 1 1 1 \* k .;,l f' 1! hi. ■.'■'. llil] *■ ! MP 1'^ ■| ■ ! I m ' < t si If I ' liii K^li 1;; J Ml Mi- I i f ll'l; \n n n '. i < 210 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, gether then we moved or to the tit'th animal, and now, with the Indian's help, we soon had this one skinned and cut up and loaded on to the sleigh. This being done, I put my running pad on one of the loose horses, and gathering up the lariat attached to the halter, handed it to father, expecting him to ride. I then said to the Indian, " Go ahead, now, and I will drive my sleighs after you." He said, " I don't know the way ; I am a Wood Indian, I am not so much accustomed to the plains as you are." I said, "I will tell you the way; you lead off with your horse and I will drive our four sleighs behind you, and if I see you going wrong, I will shout to 3'ou." The Indian did as 1 told him, and I strunof out our sleiijhs behind him. We were about eight miles from camp, and I should judge it was about eight o'clock at night. There was some wind blowing and some snow drifting along the ground, but overhead the stars were clear, and the night was fine As I walked behind the la.st sleigh, father would ride beside me, or, dismounting, sometimes walk. We conversed about the future, we talked about the orphanage that he hoped to build and be instrumental in establishing at the new mission he was to move on to in the spring. We came to the valley of the Nose Creek. Here there was a long incline to the creek. The Indian THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 211 started off on a run before his horse, and I cracked my whip, and sent my horses after him. Father had been walking when we came to the top of this hill, and as t'le rest of us ran down the slope, we left him some distance behind. We crossed the creek, and were nicely strung out on the flat on the other side of it. and as fast as we could were making our way to the gently-rising hill near the summit of which our camp was situate. I should judge we were about two miles from camp, when father having mounted his horse, came up at a gallop. Instead of stopping behind, he rode up alongside. I said, " Father, are you going on ?" " Yes," said he. " I think I will go and get supper ready. That bright star there is right over our camp, is it not ?" said he to me. I looked, and answered, " Yes." It was impossible for me to think that h? could go astray. The landmarks were extremely good ; the night was not stormy. Away he rode into the darkness. Little did I think that I had spoken to my father for the last time in this world. We went on to our camp until we were within two hundred yards of it, being situate down in a little valley. When I came in sight of the spot I saw no light ; my heart misgave me. I rushed the horses up to the tent, and shouted, " Father ; father. Moses ; Moses." (This was the name of my cousin we had I ;■■•! iii ■ I } :'' I t ' ■ , ■/ 1 *i 1 ;1 ■i I i m t HI il. 212 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, left in tlie camp that morning.) But no answer came. I jumped into the lodge. There was no fire. I felt around, and found the boy buried under the buffalo robes, he evidently having become frightened as night came on. I shook him up. Said I, " Moses, did father come ?" He said, " No ; I have not seen him." I jumped out and grasped my rifle, which I had fastened on one of the sleighs, and fired several shots in rapid succession. I told the Indian to shoot off his old flint-lock, and he did so repeatedly, putting in large charges of powder. Then I said to myself, how foolish to get so excited. If father has missed the camp, he will be in before I can get these horses unharnessed ; or he has ridden past to hunt up our horses we left here to-day ; and with this thought I went to work and unharnessed the horses, and disposed of them for the night. Bat no father came. We did the best we could. The next morning, with the first peep of day-light, I found the horses, and was glad to see that the one he had ridden was not with them, for I had thought, that father might have been thrown, and hurt badly, and if so, the horse would come to his partners. He was not there, and again I said to myself, it is now daylight, and by the time I get these horses back to camp father will be there ; but he didn't come. The Indian and myself scoured the country the whole day. THE PIONEER, PATKIOT AND MISSIONARY. 213 swer came, ire. I felt the buffalo ed as nif^ht did father Ijumped jd on one of succession. »ck, and he 3f powder, so excited, a before I las ridden -day ; and lessed the But no day-light, it the one thought, irt badly, lers. He it is now s back to me. The hole day. We did it systematically. The Indian was a tirst-class moose-hunter. I was no novice in such work. Even- ing came without a clue ; then I said, fatlier missed the camp last night, and passing on up to the ridge west of us, Morley would appear so near to him this morninof, that he concluded to 2:0 rii^ht on to the mis- sion. Some one will come out to meet us to-morrow. This was my theory ; the Indian thought so too. Since Sunday the weather had been moderating. Monday night, when father left us, it was compar- atively fine. Tuesday was a beautiful winter's day. Tuesday at midnight the weather was still fine. Shortly after this the wind changed, and a most terrific northwest storm set in. It was impossible to move on the plains. Sheltered as we were in the valley, we had hard work to keep the fire going. We said, No one will start from Morley to-day. The storm continued all day, and a greater part of the followinu nijjht. Thursday morning, bright and early, we started for home. Getting my party I'airly on the way, I left them to come on, and hurried home, reaching there late Thursday night, but father was not there. Then he must have gone to Calgary. We hurried down to Calgary. There were no tidings of him. We secured help and began the search. Saturday afternoon we i r 'f! I ■ U: i. n': li r *f(|! iW II I li I! i ! Ill i* 214 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, found the horse, Saturday night we heard from some half-breeds that they had seen a man k'adin«jf a horse, the whole description corresponding to him and his horse. The time they had seen him was on Tuesday afternoon. Some continued the search, and others went for more help, and on Sunday we had all the available force we could get out on the search, but the weather became intensely cold, and Sunday night we had to fall back on Calgary for food ard wood We then saw the necessity of better equipment, and we went home and gathered in all our available horses and sleighs, and starting out with all the nen we could get, we camped on the spot, and continued the search. The following Sunday I was riding up a cooley, had dismounted and tied my horse, so that I might more effectually search the clump of brush I found there. Presently I heard some one shouting ; running out, and getting on to my horse and moving up the hill, I found it was the man next to me in the line of search. Said he to me : " They are making signs to me over yonder." Ah, thought I, father is alive. 1 had not yet given him up. When I reached the now rapidly congregat- ing party, my poor broken down brother said, '* Oh, yNi THE PIONEER, PA RIOT AND MISSIONARY. 215 'SI > tne over John, father is dead ; they have found his frozen body." A half-breed, one who was not with us on the search, but was out hunting, had killed a buffalo, and going back to his camp, had taken his horse and sleigh and was making a bee line as much as possible to where his buffalo lay, and in so doing drove right on to father's lifeless body. He put him on the sleigh, and took him back to his camp, and sent us word. Soon we stood beside his lifeless form. A kind native woman had spread her shawl over it. I lifted the shawl, and as I saw the position in which he had frozen, I said, " Just like him ; he was thoughtful of others, even at the last moment." As I looked at him, and beheld his features, I said, " Whatever may have happened to father, towards the last he was conscious, and feeling that death was upon him, he had picked a spot as level as he could, and laid himself out straight upon it, and crossing his hands, had thus pre- pared to die." His face was perfectly natural. There seemed to me to be the expression upon it of conscious satisfaction. Reverently we lifted him and laid him on the sleigh, and solemnly we started on that Sunday afternoon on our homeward journey. The next day the party reached the mission. For- tunately we had as our mission teacher at this time a medical man, Doctor Verey. I asked him to examine li :i fc 'I I 'I ih -^H^A^i'i i'l 216 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, I If! , I'! i Hi It- Mi ! '. mil m. ' -■ii i i! the body, but to disturb it as little as possible. How- ever, no clue as to what caused his death was discov- ered. My own theory is, that some disease affecting either his heart or brain, so acted upon him that for the time being he was unconscious of his surround- ings ; otherwise I cannot explain his being lost. We left him clothed as he had lived and walked last, in Western costume, thoroughly prepared for storm, as he knew well by long experience how to be. Thus he had taken his last walk, and strength failing, had laid him down and died. It was a sorrowful company that bore his remains to the grave. With trembling utterance we laid him in it, in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrec- tion. His work is finished, but not forgotten, nor yet will it be. A faithful son, a true husband, a fond and righteous parent, a real patriot, a faithful missionary, such was father. We here insert his last letters, written to the Hon. James Ferrier, Montreal. MORLEYVILLE, BoW RiVER, Rocky Mountains, December 17 th, 1875. Hon. James Ferrier, Montreal : Dear Sir — If our young friends of Great St. James will just glance at the map, and follow their missionary in his wanderings since we parted on that delightful Sabbath THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 217 evening, I am persuaded they will need no apology for my not having written sooner. Tlie journey to Winnipeg is an old story. Tiiere we parted with our mutual friend, the venerable Dr. Wood, and, accompanied by brotiier Man- ning and the school-teachers, struck out for the great North- West. After travelling with the party for some days, I left them «as we approached Fort Ellice; and having a com- mission to visit the Crees and Stonies, I made all possible haste to reach Fort Carleton. Here you will observe we had to cross the South Sas- katchewan, a river which was formerly a terror to the travellers. More than once I had to make a canoe out of buftalo rawhide, and ferry goods and carts across the rapid stream; now there is a ferry-boat. After visiting the In- dians of Carleton, and explaining to them the great Queen's letter, I proceeded down the river sixty miles to the Prince Albert Presbyterian Mission, where I also met the Indians of that part of the country, and was treated with great kindness by Mr. McKellar, the missionary. Here I had the pleasure of taking a leading part in the opening ser- vices of a new church, and was forcibly struck with the fact that our country is greatly indebted to the missionary for its material development. When I passed through this country eleven years ago all was wild and desolate ; now there are three churches in the settlement, and where the prairie grass waved but a few years ago, theie are now vast fields of the finest wheat ; the settlers expect to have 30,000 bushels. Most of these people are mixed bloods, but there are quite a umnber of Indians who regard Prince Albert as their home. Having completed the work in that section of the coun- try, in company with a gentleman of your city, Mr. Ellis, 15 I i i; 218 GEORGE MILLWAIID M'DOUGALL, 'i • the geologist, I started westward, following up the South Saskatchewan. Now, in your favored land of railroads and steamboats, it may appear but a very sniall matter to travel from (Jarleton to the Kooky Mountains, and the day will soon come when it will be but a small matter here ; but to me it was a very serious one. The buckboaid was our mode of conveyance, tlio tent our lodging-place. There is not a twig or a bush for hundreds of miles, owing to the Indians having followed the bufl'alo so far out into the big plain, and we were therefore obliged to spend weeks in a woodless country. Now just look at the eflluence of the Elk or Red Deer River. Here I met with a deeply interesting people, the Plain Stoney ; they had seventy leather wigwams. These cliildren of the prairie were greatly pleased when I told them what the Gospel had done for their brothers of the mountains. Now run your finger along the map in a westerly dire<"tion, and your eye will catch a place called Buffalo Lake ; so* le call it Bull's Lake. Here, by appointment, I met our missionary pai-ty, and also my son from Morleyville, and a large number of Chris- tian Indians from Whitefish Lake and Victoria. My next journey was north, to old Fort Edmonton, thence east to Victoria. At every point I met with a most cordial recep- tion from our Indian friends, who were all delighted to he"r that the " Great Ogeemah '' was going to treat with them for their lands. From Victoria we proceeded straight to Morleyville, by Edmonton. Now, just look for old Bow Fort, or Bow River; six miles east of that stands your mission. Having spent three or four days amongst the Stonies, accompanied by my son, I started for Fort McLeod. You will observe that, running nearly parallel n-ith the mountains, there is a vast THE PIONEKII, PATRIOT AND MISSIONAUY. 219 range of hills cilled tlio Porcupine. To find a road throupfh the great valley was one of the ol)j(;cts of our journey. We were guided by the Stoney inter})r<'t('r, James Dixon, a very remarkable man, who for years has been the patriaich of his people. James, in a live days' Journey, could point out every spot of intei'cst ; now showing us th(^ place where, more than twenty-five years ago, the venerable Uiindle vis- ited them, and baptized many of their people ; a little fur- ther on, and the location was pointed out to us as where his father was killed by the lilackfeet ; then again, from a hill, our friend pointed out the spot where a company of German emigrants, while crossing from Montana to the Saskatchewan, were murdered— not one left to tell the painful story. This occurred seviui years ago. Tfow wonderful the change ! We can now preach the (xospel to those veiy people who, but a few years ago, sought the life of every traveller coming from the American side. Just examine the latest Canadian map, and sco if you can find Play- ground River. Here is the place where we hope to estab- lish our new mission. This beautiful valley and river is named after the won- derful Nahneboshou, the Indian deity. The red man believes that while this great personage was on an inspect- ing tour, he was so delighted with the pi-ospect f)resented at this place, that he rested, and amused himself i)y playing with some stones ; some of them were })oint(!d out to us, and I r.hould think they are quite as large as the mountain in the rear of your beautiful city. From the playground of the deity we could see the mountains of Montana, the great valley of the Belly River, and the boundless prairie away towards the rising sun, and thousands of buti'alo grazing on I • II ! i S 220 GEORGE MILLWAUD M'DOUGALL, ff I' 11 tho plains ; in the rear of us, our guide pointotl to the place where tho Stoney hunts tin; wild goat, and tho big horned whoep, the hlack tail, tho wliite tail, and tin; graceful ante- lope. No wonder the poor Indian sighs when he tells you the story of the past ; a great change is now rapidly passing over this paradise of the hunter ; yonder stands Fort McLood, at the mouth of the Playground River, the grand old Union Jack waving over that very spot where, only two years ago, I witnessed the sad ellects of a drunken fight between tiie whiskey trader and the Jilackfeet. Here we visited a large camp of Blackfeet, and informed them that we hoped soon to open a mission for th(?ir benefit. The head chief, who is quite an intelligent man, spoke of the future with anxious forebodings, and I thiidv his statements were correct ; let me illustrate his position by comparison. Just suppose that all supplies were cut otl' from Montreal ; all factories closed because there was nothing to manufac- ture ; the markets forsaken, because there was nothing to sell; in addition to this neither ))uilding material nor fuel to be obtained ; how sad would be the condition of the tens of thousands of your great city. Now, the situation of these prairie tribes is exactly anal- ogous to this state. For ages they have lived upon the buffalo ; with its pelt they have made their wigwams, wrapped in the robe of the buffalo they feai'od not t'^e cold, from the flesh of this ox they made their pemmican and dried me.at, while they possessed his sinews they needed no stronger thread, from its ribs they manufactured sleiglis. I have seen hundreds of Blackfeet boys and girls sliding down these hills on this kind of t boggan. The manui'e of the buffalo is all the fuel they had- in a word, they were totally dependent on the buffalo. THE PrOXKER, PATiiIOT AND MISSIONARY. 221 Now, those iinfortunato tribes behold with amazement the (lisappearatK'e of these animals, upon which they have existed for ages. Unfortunate people ! nothing hut their abandonment of paganism and conversion to Christian- ity can save them. Well, let us now go back to Morley- ville. We shall go straight across the bare prairie. There is no fuel, but we shall carry a few small sticks for our first encampment, and hope on the second evening to reach the timber. Our journey was far from pleasant; at times the storm swept past us, and at night we had but very little tire to warm us. Nomniher Qth. — We reached the encampment of our friend Dixon ; there were .'^80 Stonies present. Next morning we held a service, and though tlu; froz(Mi grass was the best accommodation we could orter our hearers, yet, no sooner was the announcement made, than men, women and children gathered round us, and sang with great energy, " Salvation, oh ! the joyful sound." Here I counted over one hundred boys and girls who ought to be attending school, and who, I hope, will be, as soon as we can get a place erected sufficiently large to accommodate them. 1 must tell you now how I expect to pass the remainder of the winter. Since our arrival we have built a place of worship, and fitted up a room for each of the families. For- tunately, my school master is a good carpenter, and I am an old hand at building, so we have resolved to assist my son in completing the mission church. The only appropria- tion made for this important mission was ^olJO ; the im- provements now in progress will cost considerably over $3,000. We cannot ask the Society for another appropriation under existing circumstances ; so, if the Lord gives ui^ \^ f uV i 222 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, i ( 1 ill n ! f ': i. I M ' health, we intend to do tlie work ourselves. Perhaps my young friends may enquire, Wliy do you not hire somebody to do the work 1 The answer is simply tliis : In a country where the mounted police are paying mixed bloods $90 per month as guides and interpreters, and where a stock-raiser pays Jiis herder 8150 per montii, it is not easy for missionaries to procure laborers. Some future day, when this great country is filled with Christian men and women, we shall be able to build churches just as you do in Montreal. At present, if your missionaries would succeed, they must not be afraid of a little manual labor. I expect next week to visit the mounted police on Bow River ; if spared to return, 1 have a number of Indian facts which I hope to send you. Your affectionate friend and missionary, G. McDouaALL. MORLEYVILLE, BoW RiVER, Rocky Mountains, January 6th, 1876. Hon. James Ferrier, Montreal : Dear Sir, — In tho midst of much confusion and toil, I send you another paper for your model Sabbnth-school. I wrote you a short time ago ; as to the mo^tter or manner, I shaF be thankful to receive any suggestions from you or the intelligent teachers of your school. There is something that strikes on all hearts in the spectacle of a great man's funerix,' The hearse, the solemn march of the procession, are both very impressive ; and yet the subject of all this show may have been heedless of the great Salvation, and, if so, is now suffering the doom of a lost spirit. No feel- ings o£ this kind trouble the heart of the believer as he fol- ' iii lil THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 223 it: 'haps my somebody a country oods $90 where a ; not easy ture day, men and you do in 1 succeed, I expect River; if which I UGALL. , 1876. ,nd toil, I chool. I nanner, I m you or omething ;at man's 'ocession, f all this ion, and, No feel- 3>s he fol« lows the young disciple of Jesus to the resting place of the body ; of these it can be truly said, " Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." Reflections like these often cross the mind of the Indian missionary as he looks for the last time upon all that is mortal of one of his Sabbath-school scholars. In the past twenty-tive years I have assisted at the burial of hundreds of these little red children. The squirrel now gambols in the boughs of the trees tluit overhang their graves, and the partridge whistles in the long grass that floats over the soli- tary place ; but the incidents connected with their short pilgrimage cannot be forgotten. Little Ka-be-o-sense was about three years old when his parents, and his grand- father, Ke-che-da-da, were converted on the south shore of Lake Superior, about sixty miles west of Sault 8te. Marie ; and, at the first camp-meeting ever held in that country, on Sabbath afternoon, while the Rev. Peter Jones was conduct- ing the communion service, the mighty power of God was so manifest that many were constrained to cry aloud. To use an Indian idiom, this was the hour when the relatives of Ka-be-o-sense first sighted the promised land. His mother, a very delicate young woman, but one susceptible of strong impression, there couseci'ated herself to Christ, and from that moment religion was to her, not only a new lifc^, but a passion. Henceforth she talked to her little boy about the Saviour, just as she would about some very dear friend ; she taught him to sing ; she brought him regularly to class- meeting and Sabbath-school ; and what is most gratifying to a pious mother, she observed that with the first awaken- ing of the mind, the blessed Spirit was influencing and moulding the heart. How fortunate when parents and teachers understand I i ! V ,1 1 f. 224 GEORGE MILLVVARD M'DOUGALL, Ti l! i 'i j '. 1 1 : i : *l h.i »♦ 1 fi! k ! and sympathize with a sin-sick child who longs to love the Saviour ! This forest boy was taught the simplest truths of religion, and shortly we had scriptural authority for be- lieving that our little friend was happy in the emotions of joy and peace. When nearly six years old, little Ka-be-o- sense caught a very bad cold, which, in a few short weeks, terminated in consumption. I was in the Sabbath-school when a messenger from the cabin of Ke-che-da-da arrived, requesting that I should immediately visit the little rufferer. On arriving at his humble abode, I at once perceived that the struggle of life had nearly ended ; the dear child re- ceived me with a smile, and pointing with his finger to a corner of the room, said, " Jesus has sent for me ; the heavenly people are waiting for me." His mother informed me that for more than an hour he had been directing their attention to that part of the room, and telling them that the angels of the Great Mun-ee-doo had come for him. He then requested us to sing, and while the songs of the earth calmed and comforted the sorrowing friends, the redeomed and saved spirit of little Ka-be-o-sense passed away to the realms of rest. With deep emotion wr thought of the mar- vellous change which had taken place in a few moments. Present to the natural eye, was the humble home of an In ban child, the weeping friends and the lifeless body, but the eye of faith beheld the ascending spirit, the rejoicing angels, rnd above all, the welcome received from the adorable One, who said, " Suffer little children to come unto me." Before parting with Ke-che-da-da's family, I will briefly relate a circumstance showing the ardent desire of a native Christian to read the word of God. I had noticed that the father of Ka-be-o-sense ;" Iways brought his Bible to ciiurch, and followed the reading of the lessons with i \ THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 225 i marked interest, and the circumstance excited my curiosity. I knew he was what we termed an inland Indian, and that no school teacher had ever penetrated the wilderness where he was born. Approaching him after service, I said, "You can read?" and his answer was, "Yes." "Who taught you the letters 1 " "I do not know them," was his reply. "Then tell me how you ca-.i rfad." Witiiout any embarrassment he replied, " This is the way. I observe that when you pronounced any of our words that they were l)roken up into small parts. (I would here state that at this time we used Peter Jones translation, in which, though he employs English orthography, all the words are divided into syl- lables. That Muneedoo is written Mun-ee-doo.) When the white man says " Indian," you write it " Uh-ne-she-nah-ba," When I went to my tent, I would take a hymn-book, and ask my wife to repeat one of the hymns she had learnt by heart, and I soon became acquainted with the form of all the syllables." Now, the simple fact flashed upon my mind, that this poor Indian, by intense and unremitting study, had mastered every syllable in his language. May not something of this kind have first suggested to the ingen- ious and indefatigable James Evans, the first idea of the syllabic character. When the light of Christianity first reached this young pagan, he was about eighteen years old, and the fire then kindled in his young heart was no tran- sient flame. Very few in two short years have labored harder or accomplished more for the good of their people. Often, since my lot l.ias been cast amongst these wild, sensual tribes of the west, I have thought of zealous Ah- nee-me-ke, and felt constrained to plead with the God of missions that He would raise up and thrust out from amongst the Blackfeet young men like Ah-nee-me-ke, filled !i I i 226 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, : 1 t! >\ 'r- 11 i '-1 i i ! I i \\ I' [I i ♦ with the Holy Ghost. My young friend was not what men called gifted ; unlike many of his countrymen, he was a poor orator, and his gift of song was very limited ; yet, wherever this young man went, a blessed influence followed, and, until his health entirely broke down, he was inces- santly at work for the Master. I have heard him plead with the Sabbath-school children, entreating them to give their hearts to Christ, until all were in tears. I have seen him kneel beside a hardened old conjurer who had bewitched L -] people with sorceries for many years, until he trembled, and began to pray. The secret of all this young man's power was his entire conse- cration to God. I can now recall my feelings when as- 'sted by this devout young man, for though we greatly rejoiced in his success, we saw that he was rappidly slipping away from us. It was in the spring of the year when he was tirst confined to his humble bed. I daily spent an hour with him, and invariably came away blessed in my own soul by the conversation and experience of this dying In- dian boy. The last time I called upon him his father was sitting by his couch, the rest of the family being out in the sugar bush. Taking him by the hand, I enquired how he felt, and his reply was, "You have just come in time, for I am dying." Just at that time a Church of England minister entered the room. I informed my friend we were about to have prayer, and requested him to lead, which he readily did. Kneeling beside my native brother, I took his hand in mine, and, while the man of God was commending the departing soul to the Saviour which redeemed it, the young disciple fell asleep in Jesus. When we arose from our knees I informed Wah-bun-noo-sa of what had taken place. THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 227 In this old man there was still a leaven of paganism, yet he fully believed in Christianity. He said that tln'ee things had caused him greatly to rejoice : 1st. That two ministers had been present when his son died. 2nd. That his dear boy was so happy in the prospect of death ; and lastly, that the Great Mun-ee-tloo had called his son away at exactly twelve o'clock ; and what specially filled his heart with gratitude was, that the sky was perfectly clear, allowing the departed a glorious ascent to the home of the Great Spirit. We did not, at that time, try to instruct tnis poor man by informing him that his son had entered that land where there is day without night. I shall be glad, at some future time, to inform you about some of our living Sab- bath-school scholars, some who have been rescued from the deepest poverty and ignorance, and are now creditably till- ing positions of responsibility. With kindest regards, I remain your missionary, G. McDouGALL. ■■i ■ I 'f Trusting that this simple detail of the life of my father may stimulate some hearts to a broader patri- otism, and brighter Christian life, is the earnest prayer of the writer. MORLEY, 1888. II % M Pi !>;(■ m I! Ill n !i: t Mi: ; I !'■: ^ K mm MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. X 'A O C THE reader of the preceding chapters will have wandered, in imagination, with us over an immense reijion of country. First, we went down the vallev of the Red and Nelson Rivers, to the shores of the Hudson Bay, then turning westward we climbed the slopes of the continent i.ito the shades of the Rocky Mountains. Traversing the big plains and woodlands, situated immediately to the east of these mountains, we camped southward on the banks of the Missouri, and went northward, on to the tributary streams of the great McKenzie, flowirg into the Arctic Ocean. And yet we have placed upon record but little con- cerning; the natural resources of this bio- country. From father's letters we readily learn that he vahied these resources, and always prophesied a grand future for this, the land of his adoption, and however san- guine his faith, none the less is ours in the solid material worth of this portion of our groat Domini'^'n. Our reasons for thus believing are as follows : 232 MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. I< ( 11: I ! I iff 1st. Size. — From Rat Portage to the summit of the Eocky Mountains, and from the forty-ninth parallel to Great Slave Lake, we have a block 1,000 miles square ; beyond this we leave a large margin to be prospected and experimented upon by posterity. Con- fining ourselves to the above square block, we have an acreage of 640,000,000. Because of swamps and water and unarable parts, let us discount this by half. Mind you, I do not discount any portion ; long since I learned to believe that any part of God's creation would eventually fall into line, it being man's mission to discover and utilize. All came from one great Mind. Each is wealthy in its kind. However, deduct- ing half, we have 320,000,000 acres, which would give a population of 3,200,000 souls 100 acres each. No small inheritance this for any people. 2nd. Climate. — All over this big stretch of country, ppring opens from the first to thj twentieth of April, and winter begins Trom the first to the twentieth of November. Altitude and latitude are such that in the summer season there is very little night, thus there is a large percentage of sun, which to a great extent does away with the probability of frost in summer. Then its situation puts it on the northern slope of the Con- tinent, and thus it is always dropping away from the heiirht of land which lies east and west and south I i MANITOBA AND THK NOKTH-VVEST. 233 of the forty-ninth parallel. And this fact is to us a very sufBcient reason for our not l)ein<^ nearly so sub- ject to storms, blizzards and cyclones in tliis country as tliey are in tl.e states and territories south of us. By experience we know that, as other parts of America have been subject to climatic chany^es conse- quent upon settlement and occupancy by civilized man, so has this in the portions already thus occupied, and we have no doubt that these changes will mul- tiply as the development and settlement of the coun- try moves on. We believe that nowhere else in the Dominion is there so large a percentage the year round of clear sky and sunshine. 3rd. Soil. — Of course, in so vast a territory, there is variety. Light and heavy soil^ alternate according to geographical position and antecedent conditions. But we believe we are safe in challenging the North American Continent anywhere else to show as much good arable soil per acre as Manitoba and the North- West is possessed of. At Hudson Bay posts and mission stations everywhere in spots through the country, the soil was tested many years since, and the fact practically demonstrated that all the hardier kinds of cereals and roots viould be grown, and does not the crop this year satisfy even the most unbeliev- 16 r.H MVNITOUA AND TflK NORTH-WEST. 11 if! 1 li I. I li \ m ing as to the poHsihilities of our western country as a bread producin*; land. 4tl). T/ie Pasture. — Here we have one of the largest and hest pasture fields in the world. The natural grasses are rich and varied in their (pjality. In the prairie sections tlie autumn winds and dry weather, characteristic of that period of the year, cure the grasses and prepare them for winter fodder. Along the base of the mountains there are large sec- tions which are pre-eminently suited for winter ranges. For fifteen winters I have had cattle running at large all the year, with no other provision than that pro- vided by nature. For seventeen years our principal food was buffalo meat, and of cours: the only food of these animals was the natural pasture to be found all over the North- West. When I fir.jt came to the plains, the migrations of these vast herds were north and south ; north in fall and winter, and south in spring and summer. It would take 1,000 railway trains, each carrying 500 head of stock, to move the number of God's cattle I have seen at one time from the summit of one hill by a glance of my naked eye over the country stretching from my feet in every direction. Interspersed among them were thousands of antelope, also feeding upon this big pasture. All these lived and thrived and grew fat without the e:^- MANITOHA AND THE NOUTII-WEST. 2;jo ry as a of the d. The (luality. iinl dry !ar, cure fodder. ,rge sec- • ranfres. at large lat pro- irincipal food of )und all to the e north outh in railway lOve the le from ced eye 1 every ousands re. All the e:^- penditure of any thought or lahor on the part of man; and when, in the order of Divine Providence, these wild animals, having served their purpose, disap- peared, they left their immense rich pasture for the occupancy of the economic and thrifty civilized man, who can, if he will, herein raise and graze his flocks and herds away up into the millions in multitude. To-day we have in Manitol>a and the North- West, of stock of all kinds, about 350,000 head. At twenty acres per head we have room and pasture for 10,000,- 000 head. 5th. Water. — A very smnll portion of the North- West Territory may be termed i-rid, and even here there is c >nsiderable surface water, and through this the South Saskatchewan flows, and every here and there are to be found living springs, so that what is generally looked upon as the dry portion of our coun- try is not really so, but west and north, and east of this, there is abundance of splendid water. There are very many small lakes, and the perennial rivers and creeks that flow through the country in every direction are simply " legion." Among all the big ranges of hills general through the country, but more especially along the immediate base of the moun- tains, magnificent springs of the finest water are to be found on almost every quarter section. 236 M4NIT0FA AND THE NORTH-WEST. If ij m ,,t. .r; The drop of the continent to the east and north is such that every stream is a succession of water powers. The rain-fall in the months of June and July is as a rule large, and the dew is also plentiful. Many times have we been wet throu<:;h and throuofh while huntinjj stock in the early morn, amid the rank growth of pea vine and blue joint, common to the whole of the Sas- katchewan Valley. In twenty-eight years' sojourn north and west of Winnipeg, I have experienced hut one season of drouth. 6th. Minerals. — That gold, silver, iron, copper, lead and coal form part of the wealth of this country is a well-known fact. As yet, with the exception of coal, very little has been done towards developing these natural factors in the material advancement of a country. Some placer- dio^ijjinjx tor ijfold has been carried on araonof the bars of the North Saskatchewan and Peace Rivers, and for more than a score of years the sands of the Sas- katchewan have been made to yield a revenue to a number of men, who have every spring and fall, with the crudest machinory, washed the glittering gems from the black sands ; and though these deposits are continually going on, no one has up to this time found the source. Some d'ly this will be discovered; in the meanwhile quartz leads have been found in the moun- MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. 237 gems tains, rich in copper, silver, gold and lead, but the capital for the opening of these has not yet come to the front. The country is young, and capitalists are careful ; but presently some of the enterprise of the older parts of the world will turn this way, and our mountains and foot-hills will become " hives of indus- try." As to coal, it is everywhere. All the larger rivers, and many of the creeks, cut through and run over beds of " black diamonds." Both bituminous and an- thracite mines are already bei: qr worked, and we have no doubt that as railroads penetrate this hitherto wilderness land, the coal industry will assume vast proportions. The states and territories to the south, and our own biof prairie section, will need an immense amount of fueli and here in the North-West we have an unlim- ited supply of good coal, and the mining and trans- port of this will furnish employment for thousands in the near future. I have traced what seems to me to be one immense coal bed from within a few miles of the boundary line to the northern end of Lesser Slave Lake, a distance of 500 nules. 7th. Timber. — While Manitoba and the North-West cannot challenge either the Eastern Provinces or 238 MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. im i;:-. British Columbia in this respect, yet our timber supply is not to be overlooked. With the exception of the most southerly portion, a region of about 400 miles long by 200 miles wide (and in this there are the Moose, Woody, and Cypress Mountains, which are well wooded), all the rest of the country is more or less timbered, prairie and woodland alternating the one with the other everywhere. The settler, with very little exception, will find on his ov/n homestead fencing and fuel, and material for pioneer buildings, and in many parts he will find him- self adjaci-nt to spruce forests, which will atti act saw- mills, and thus his lumber supply for the future will be assured. The further north and east one travels the denser is the timber growth, and when settlement and legislation put a stop to prairie fires, this growth will travel southward, for there are valuable kinds of timber indigenous to the 3oil of the North-West, which only want a chance to grow. 8th. Appedrance. — This is a land of beauty. There is nothing monotonous about the North-West. The scenery is as varied as the country is large. Here is opportunity for the indulging of every taste. Do you want a fiat, even expanse to stand on, a vast level, and let the horizon drop all around you, like nto an in- verted bowl ? Then Manitoba, from Rat Portasje to MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. 239 ,f^e to Portacje la Prairie, and from the boundary line to Lake Winnipeg, will suit you. Would you rather a gently un- undulating land, small hills, broad valleys and graceful slopes ? From Portage la Prairie to Calgary, and from the boundary line to Edmonton and Battleford, in a vast area, you have your choice in almost bewildering variety. Do you hanker after water and headland and bay, after gems of islands and lai»yrinths of intri- cate waterwavs ? Is it music to vour ear to listen to the rippling of currents, and tumbling of cascades, and roaring of rapids ? Take the country to the north of Rat Portage, and about Norway House and the north shore of Lake Winnipeg, and on, on to Hudson Bay, and westward into the Athabasca country. Here you may paddle and portage " your own canoe " for thou- sands of miles and never need to sigh, " Oh ! for a lodge in some vast wilderness." Do you like to ride or drive to the height of some grand range of hills, and from thence look out upon a wondrous panorama of the beauty and variety of God's creation ? Come with me to the Nose, or Eye, or Ear, or Sickness Hills, ranging along in distances from the South Branch northward to the Saskatche- wan, and from the summit of any one of these your eye will reach out forty and fil'ty miles in every direc- tion, an(i will gradually accustom itself to taking ia It 240 MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. I'** ii 'hi 1^ '; \ the rich landscape scenery which in grand profusion is before us. Hills and valleys, shapely as they have fallen from Nature's lathe. Islands of timber and fields of prairie, artistically arranged, and so placed that however cul- tivated your taste, you would not change them if you could. Glistening lakelets and winding creeks, " like threads of silver " intersperse the scene. In season the smell of rank vegetation, and the ai'oma of thou- sands of Avild rose beds, is wafted to your nostrils, and to crown all, you expand your lungs and breathe a most glorious atmosphere; for you are on the High- lands of America and in the garden of the Dominion, and strange to say, that, as yet, from any one of these high places I have mentioned, you will look in vain for the smoke from a settler's chimney, for up to the time of my writing none have reached thus far. Perhaps you crave something vaster, grander, more majestic still ; let us stand on one of the ranges of hills running north and south, about 150 miles east of the base of the Rocky Mountains ; if the day is clear and bright, we will look upon a painting worth making an effurt to behold. Yonder, rising range beyond range, and stretching north and south and giving us the compass of an immense region, ^^re the Grand Mountains, h iVEST. MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. 241 ^rand profusion ave fallen from fields of prairie, it however cul- ge them if you ipr creeks, "like ne. In season aroma of thou- ur nostrils, and and breathe a ! on the Hiffh- the Dominion, ly one of these 1 look in vain for up to the >hus far. grander, more the ranges of 50 miles east if the day is |ainting worth rising range id south and 5e region, g^re "Where to cloudlancl and glory God transfigures the sod." The forests as they climb the steeps and the perpen- dicular rocks as thev stand heavenward darken the scene, but above them the snow-clad field., and glaciers, that never melt, glisten in the sun. Perhaps, as we look, a fleecy cloud catches on some peaks, and for a little veils these from our vision, or lower down a thunder-storm rolls up against the mountains, and while we see the liijhtninof and hear the distant roar of thunder above the dark cloud, we see the summits shining with reflected rays, unmoved and unnerved by the force of electric shock and storm upon tlieir sides. Let us draw nearer, and presently we begin to notice the Foot Hills. Like many an sesthetic Christian, we had been lookinor above, and missed seeino: the beauties and duties of lower life. Now these great hills attract our attention, their wooded slopes and summits finely shaded by Douglass and spruce trees, with the prairie sod growing in among their roots, strike us as very gems of picnic grounds. Take the Foot Hills from the Old Man River to the Athabasca, and they rival the most perfect natural scenery. Here we have mountains, prairie, woodland, river, lake, all harmon- iously blended by nature, into a great, grand and ever- changing picture. 242 MANITOHA AND THE NORTH-WEST. ! I m 1^ i Goinf? into the mountains, we find that they are not all rock and snow, but that intersecting them every- where there are charming valleys and thousands of ready-made camping grounds, and an infinitude of streams and lakes, all more or less full of lish, so that for years we might spend the whole summer, and by changing our routes, always have fresh fields and scenes. Just one thought more. When you hear any one say, "I know all about the North- West," please dis- count that statement ; do so largely, for no man living knows all about this great, big, wonderful land. Geo- logical, geographical and botanical surveys may con- tinue for years to come (and it is proper they should), but after all " the half will not ha^^e been told." My opportunity has been a good one, perhaps better than that of any living white man, especially as to what is termed " the Fertile Belt," and yet I am free to confess, I know but little. The field is so large, the problem so great, it will take time to discover and solve ; but here let me place on record that I firmly believe in the capability of this part of our great Do- minion for the maintenance of a large population, which will be in no wise disappointed in the heritage God has reserved for them. J. MCDOUGALL. MoRLEY, April 6th, 1888. •e not very- ds of le of ' that d by and ■ one dis- ivinor Geo- con- uld), etter IS to free !, the and rmly Do- tion, itage