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Las diagrammes suivants illustrant la mdthode. ata alure. 1 2 3 1 3 2X 6 ri /^J^-H:' Mission Llfe.i May 1, 1871. J 241 STRANGER THAN FICTION. ) '^^ (jU)ia..-<.T--.'v-..-G-<: STRANGER THAN FICTION. By the Editou. CHAPTER I. A VENTURE OF FAITH. TRANGE and -sveircl beyond expression was the scene from wliicli, as from a starting point, commences a series of events wholly without parallel in the Missionary annals of the Church.* Issuing from a populous Indian settlement, built in close proximity to one of the trading forts of the Hudson's J Jay Company, pours forth a motley crowd, all apparently worked up to the highest pitch of excitement. Decked with paint and feathers, and hideous masks, and headed by two unearthly- looking beings, stark naked, and covered thickly over with paint, they rush from their camp to the neighbouring beach. There, as if in mockery of the peaceful sound of the waves of the Pacific, breaking gently on the shore, the horrid too-too of the A BLOCK HOUSE FOIIT OP AN INLAND I'OST OF THE HUDSON'.S BAY COMPANY. * The writer is much indebted to the courtesy of the Secretaries of the Church Missionary Society for the facilities which they have kindly afforded him of consulting all the printed and MS. records of the work described in the following pages ; and also to the Rev. R. Doolan, for some time a fellow-labourer with Mr. Duncan, for his kindness in correcting the proofs and sup- plying information on various points. VOL. II. IG i 242 MISSION LIFE. fAlisBion Life, L May 1, 1871. "medicine drum," the most discordant of musical instruments, bursts forth ; the medicine men work their rattles, and the crowd, dancing wildly about, raise the while a dismal howl. Now the two leaders, proceeding in a stooping posture, and stepping like high-mettled horses, separate from their followers. Shooting forward each arm alternately, and holding it out for some time in a sort of defiant attitude, whilst ever and anon, they fling back the long black hair, which falls loosely over their shoulders, they begin to snifi" about like hounds, hunting for a trail. Well enough they know that only that morning a slave has been butchered, and the body cast into the sea, and that it would certainly have been left by the receding tide at no great distance from the spot which they had reached. Now they find it ; and, swarming round and rushing on it like a pack of hungry wolves, they rend it asunder, and bear away each his portion in triumph. For a brief space the band of followers closes in and hides from view the hideous orgies which follow; then again it opens, and forth again come the naked leaders, each bearing ; but how describe the climax of the sickening sight ? Suffice it to say that each, in presence of the assembled multitude, duly vindicates his claim to the envied title of cannibal, and, with it, to the highest rank amongst the various grades of flesh-eaters. Standing on the " gallery" of one of the bastions of the neighbouring fort, in full view of the whole scene, is one, whose heart might well have fainted within him at the sight he has witnessed. He is a Missionary schoolmaster and catechist — Mr. William Duncan, a name now familiar as a household word to philanthropists and travellers throughout the civilised world. He has just landed from England, and, in the painted savages before him, he sees his future pupils and catechumens. With what feelings does he regard that scene? The 'bright hopes and sanguine anticipations which lured him from home, and friends, and country, — will they survive the rude shock of this first convact with the actual work to be done ? The visions of docile scholars, earnest converts, and devout worshippers hastening to the newly-built house of God, which had been the subject of his waking thoughts and nightly dreams, — will they not now seem to him as having been but the fantastic combinations of a mere mental mirage, to which distance and a too sanguine tem- perament had alone lent the enchantment of reality ? Happily, in Mr. Duncan's case, a sanguine temperament was only a synonym for that unbounded faith in a great cause, which must ever be a main characteristic of the successful pioneer in new fields of enter- prise, and which alone can give to such a temperament the buoyancy and self-righting power requisite to make it proof alike against the depressing influences of unlooked-for difficulties, and the rude shock of adverse circumstances. Thus it happened that the very hatefuluess of the his I Misdion IJfe, Muy 1, 187X. s, bursts dancing stepping 5 forward )f defiant ir, which hounds, orning a 1 that it distance :o a pack ortion in ides from nd forth describe each, in in to the )ngst the hbouring ft'ell have issionary famiUar hout the painted opes and lids, and with the converts, d, which Mission Life,] May 1,1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 243 as, will jinations no tem- s only a ever be of enter- )uoyancy inst the e shock iluess of the abominations which, as we have seen, stood suddenly revealed to his view, seemed only to make him feel more deeply than ever the urgent need of some determined effort being made to " snatch the prey," as he expresses it, *' from the lion's mouth, and to arrest, in the name of God, poor self-destroying creatures." The circur: stances under which Mr. Duncan had come out to Fort Simpson may be told in few words. A naval officer, Captain Provost, strongly impressed with the necessity of making some efforts to save the Indians of Vancouver's Island, anc! British Columbia, from the demoralising effect of the constantly increasing tide of emigration, had presented a formal petition on the subject to the Church Missionary Society. The publication of this document had immediately produced an anonymous contribution of 5001. towards the proposed object, and Mv. William Duncan, then one of the Society's students at Highbury Training College, was selected to fill the newly-created post. Through the influence of Captain Prevost, who had just been appointed to the Pacific Station, Mr. Duncan at once obtained a free passage to his destination, whilst, by the kindness of Sir James Douglas, formerly the Director of all the Hudson's Bay Company's forts, and then Governor of British Columbia, he was met, on his arrival, with the promise of accom- modation in the fort, and all the moral support which local authority could give him. Lii:e most of the stations of the Hudson's Bay Company, Fort Simpson consists merely of a few dwelling and warehouses, giving sufficient ac- commodation for some twenty employes, and the usual trading stores, work- shops, &c. The whole is built in a square of about 100 yards, enclosed by a palisade of trunks of trees sunk into the ground, rising some twenty feet above it, and protected at the corners by a wooden bastion, mounted with cannon ; whilst along the top of the palisade runs a gallery, or platform, on which the garrison can take exercise, and from which they can see a considerable distance over the country. The Indian camp consisted of some 250 substantially- built wooden houses, stretching, in single file, along the beach on either side of the fort ; many of them, especially those of the chiefs, being of considerable size. The population numbered some 2,500, belonging to the Tsimsheean tribe, and divided into nine subordinate tribes or crests. As frequent reference to these crests will have to be made in the course of our narrative, we may as well at once give some description of them. Each crest is ruled over by four or five chiefs, one of whom takes prece- dence of all the others on ordinary occasions, and represents the crest in any general gathering. Amongst the representative chiefs one again is always recognised as " the chief of chiefs." A chief's rank is marked by the height of the pole erected in front of his house, on which the crest which distinguishes his division of the triba is carved. No offence leads ib:,.: *;> 244 MISSION LIFF. L May 1,1871. \A H^ : I'll , '! 1 >; '"'■iK'':'- ' . ■ ■:iV;'■^'y| IS ill' ''.''ill Mmm: ''!f I. '^mm ■■¥ lijli llii'!.,: '!, '"^^ i''"iiil!i'li' 111 iJii'i .i!i!i';fli'''i''ii'i'' ii iiiiliSii ■Fill »ii'::i|i;!i ,';,iiP liiiliN^life ilji;,:: 111' !i! I III |?ii''lli Ji ,.l!llllli!!il,lil|{|| I 'IB^^^^^^^^^ i'li ill,' liin l|il :li!ii^ .1^ IjSiil'' ;'.''' 'I' ill i'^^ i. ,i<:;l||ljl{ll. ''■H'i I'lii'iil: Mm I i If f !iS'''l "'''. o n C X eta a o c S to c I MlDolon Llfc.i May 1,1871. J STRANriER THAN FICTION. 21 'J tlio extent to which they were evidently intertwined with the whole trihal life of the people. The medicine men proved to ho a distinct claRS, numhcrinj? ahout one- v- tenth of the whole population, and poRsessinf:i; unl)oundcd inlluonce. Throughout the winter months, the initiating and admitting fresh pupils into their arts, was tho main source of occupation and excitement to tho whole population, a separate party heing told oil' to take in hand each pupil. All these parties fell under one of three general divisions : lirst, cannibals ; second, dog-eaters ; and, third, those who had no custom ^- ; of tho kind. At tho same time each had some characteristics peculiar . to itself. During tho winter months there were commonly as many as eight or ten parties at work. "5 Tho proceedings in every case partook more or less of the same general character. Early in tho morning the pupil, who, in spito of tho intense cold, was prohibited from wearing the slightest vestige of clothing, would go out on to the beach or the rocks and there take up his station in front of the dwellings of his own tribe, and then begin screaming and jerking his head about until a body of men rushed down, and, forming a circle round him, commenced a wild song. If tho party belonged to the dog- eaters they would then bring a dead do" to their pupil, who would forthwith commence tearing it in tho most dog-like manner, whilst the attendants, accompanied all tho time by a screeching instrument supposed to be the abode of a spirit, kept up a hideous noise, alternating betv .en a low growling and a loud whoop. In a little time the naked youth would again start up, and assuming a crouching posture, pushing his arms out behind him, and continually tossing back his flowin;:^ black hair, would proceed a few yards. Meanwhile he is intently watched by tho group about him, and whenever he pleases to sit down, they again surround him, and commence singing ; after this has gone on for some time, the youth suddenly dashes off, and, followed by his train, makes a dart into every house belonging to his tribe in succession. This over, lie usually takes a ramble on the tops of the same houses, carefully watched all the time by his attendants. By-and-bye he condescends to come down, and makes off to his den, which is distinguished and kept sacred from intrusion by a rope of red bark hung over the doorway, and into which none are allowed to enter but the initiated ; those outside being only . able to guess at what is going on by tho alternate hammering, singing, . and shouting, which for some time is kept up almost incessantly. Of all these parties, the cannibals are by far the most dreaded. One morning Mr. Duncan> induced by an unusual commotion in the camp to go out on to the gallery of the stockade, saw hundreds rushing to tho I beach and taking to their canoes, as though flying for their lives. U Inquiring the cause of so strange a proceeding, he was told that the ^^ cannibals' party, having failed to find a dead body to devour, were expected I 250 MISSION LIFE. rMidglon Life, L May 1,1871. to seize upon the first living one they met with ; hence the precipitate flight of the population. Both before and after this stage of initiation, other proceedings, to which an almost equal amount of importance is attached, take place. Before it the pupils have to pass several days alono in the woods, where they are supposed to receive supernatural gifts ; as, however, on their return they are supposed to be invisible, the encouragement to evade the greater part of the ceremony is manifestly great. As a grand finale to the whole proceedings, the pupil is expected to give away all his property, and as no one is admitted amongst the allied unless he or his friends have not only amassed considerable wealth, but are willing to reduce themselves to absolute beggary, this forms no unimportant part of the ceremony. The chiefs being the persons who benefit most by this distribution of property, the practice has an evident tendency to enlist the interest of all the most powerful men of the tribe in favour of the existing state of things. The first occasion on which Mr. Duncan witnessed this ceremony was one Sunday morning not long after his arrival. Startled by a peculiar noise which he had not before heard, ho was induced to go out towards the camp, where he quickly saw the cause of the excitement. A man who had finished his education as an ** allied " was going to give away his goods. He was proceeding to a distant part of the camp, and stepping all the way like a proud unmanageable horse ; behind him were fifteen or twenty men, all holding on to a kind of rope which went round his waist : they were pretending either to hold him back or to prevent him from escaping ; all the time they kept up a deafening noise with the peculiar instrument which has so much to do with their superstitions. Presently this party was joined by another, and shortly after by a third, all bent on the same errand. The competition between them sceemed to be to see which could make the greatest noise and look the most unearthly. Whether in connection with the initiation of the ** allied," with house- building, or with any other of the numerous occasions on which it commonly takes place, this giving away of property is one of the most characteristic features of the domestic life of the Tsimsheean Indians. Their sole object in attaining wealth is to hoard it up till they can indulge in a grand display of liberality in giving it away. The chiefs, when they have thus reduced themselves to poverty, can rely on being quickly recouped by return presents, but the poorer sort are often involved in great suffering owing to their compliance with the prevailing custom. Mr. Duncan mentions the case of one chief who gave away at one time as many as 480 blankets, worth to him as many pounds. The camp on these occasions presents a very animated appearance. Hanging from house to house, or on lines put up for the purpose, rMlRgion Life, L May 1,1871. precipitate sedings, to ;ake place, ods, where •, on their evade the xpected to t the allied Yealth, but forms no 3rsons who an evident len of the emony was a peculiar ►ut towards t. A man give away camp, and I him were svent round to prevent se with the perstitions. by a third, Rcecmed to the most vitli housc- which it the most m Indians. 1 they can The chiefs, y on being are often I prevailing Lve away at nds. ippearance. e purpose, Mliston Life,*! May 1,1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 251 hundreds of yards of cotton flap in the breeze. Furs are nailed up in front of the houses, blankets and elk-skins are exhibited on men peram- bulating the village in single file, after the manner of ihe more ambi- tious and pushing of London advertisers, whilst hundreds of yards of cotton, after hanging out for the best part of twenty-four hours, are brought down to the beach, run out at full length, and triumphantly borne away by a number of bearers, walking about three yards apart, to its new possessor. It is a point of honour with the members of every tribe to enable their chief to make a good display. The gifts are thus first given to the chief, and then appointed by him to fresh owners. It should, however, be added that every chief is looking forward to the time when, by virtue of a certain number of these free distributions, he shall have acquired the right to receive only, and not to give. To the chiefs, therefore, the custom is nothing more or less than a rude form of life assurance. These were the scenes which, during the day, Mr. Duncan was con- tinually witnessing all through the winter months. The nights, he found, were given up, to a much greater extent than any one would have expected, to amusements, espocially singing and dancing, varied by exhibitions of tricks by the medicine men, who generally appear either disguised in the skins of different animals or in huge masks, the different parts of which are moved by strings. The great feature of the entertainments on these occasions was for the medicine men to pretend to murder, and then to restore to life. The cannibals, as a matter of course, were supplied with human bodies, which they tore to pieces before their audience. Such was the stronghold of Satan which had to be assailed. Tlkt the medicine men would not readily yield their pre-eminence there seemed, unhappily, no doubt ; whilst it was only too probable that self-interested motives, if not superstitious fear, would enlist on their side the sj'mpa- thies and the active support of all the chiefs. Those who had been long resident at the fort, and knew the tenacity with which the Indians cling to their ancient customs, shook their heads, and doubted much whether any good could possibly be done against such apparently overwhelming odds. Mr. Duncan, alone, was confident throughout. He, alone, did not even regard the attempt as a mere "forlorn hope." True, the " strong man armed " was ** keeping his house," and " his goods were in peace"; but in the strength of One, "stronger than he," he hoped to be enabled to " take away his armour in which he trusted, and to spoil his goods." The word of God, faithfully preached, was the weapon — sharp and powerful — which he proposed to wield, and which he trusted : to find mighty to the pulling down of this apparently most impregnable ; fortress. 252 MISSION LIFE. TMission Life, L May 1,1871. CIIArTER III. WORK COMMENCED. HOWARDS tho miaaio of June, 1858, by which time tho lishinp; season was well over, and those who had been away tradinj]^ or hunting were bcginninpj to return, Mr. Duncan had, by hard study, and constant intercourse with the people, made suffi- cient progress in the acquisition of Tsinisheean to encourage him to make tho long-looked -forward-to attempt of addressing the Indians publicly in their own tongue. Thinking it most prudent at first to read what he had to say, he had for some time been engaged in preparing a written address, which, with the RKsistanco of Clah, he had at length completed, not of course entirely to his own satisfaction, but still, as well as he could expect. His next step was to go round to all the chiefs, ai^d ask permission from each one to use his house to address his people — a request which was readily grajited. When the day arrived it turned out very wet, and as the time drew near for the gathering in the first chief's house it poured in torrents. In spite, however, of this drawback upwards of 100 men had assembled. For a moment, as he stood up to speak for the first time under such novel circumstances, Mr. Duncan's heart fainted in him, and the thought Hashed across him that, after all, he had better use his Indian tutor, who luid accompanied lum, as an interpreter. Happily, Olah r(>fused to entertain such an idea for a monif nt, so that he saw at once that no assistance could be expected from him, and that he must brace himself up for the effort. Telling the Indians to shut the door, he knelt down and prayed that God would give him strength and power of utterance. Then he read his address to them. All "were very attentive, and showed plainly enough by their looks that they understood, and to some extent appreciated, what was being said. After tho address, they at once complied with his request that they would kneel down whilst he prayed to God to bless the work thus begun. At tho house of tho next chief all was in readiness, a canoe sail having been spread for Mr. Duncan to staud upon, and a box, covered with a mat, placed as a seat. About 150 persons were present ; and again all were most attentive, and knelt during prayer. In this manner each of ^ iingno rMisalon Life, L May 1,1871. MiMlon Llic.i May 1, 1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 263 'hicb time tlioso who bcginniiifi; itudy, ami lade suffi- isliccan to fonvard-to ly in their read what 111 engaged with the 3d, not of as well as 's, aLd ask iddrcss his ct, and as irst chiefs r, of this 1. For ii imc under fainted in lad better iterpreter. so that he id that be •ayed that c read bis y enough )prcciatcd, that they us begun. ail having d with a again all 3r each of 3' [the other seven divisions of the tribe were visited in succession, the i gathering in each case taking place in the chief's bouse. The friendly reception, the care with which the requisite preparations bad been made, and the thougbtfui attention with which be was listened to, were all sources of encouragement. Tbo smallest congregation was 90, and the largest 200. The compliance with tbo request about kneeling was universal. In tbo bouse where there were over 200 present there was some confusion, but the moment the prayer was begun, they were perfectly silent. In all, about 900 persons, including scne strangers from surrounding tribes, must thus, for the first time, have beard the sound of the Gospel. Thus was granted the earnest prayer with which ]\Ir. Duncan bad commenced bis labours — that '* Ho to whom belongs all power in earth and heaven would bid all difficulties vanish before His feeble servant, and bring another long-estranged tongue from the confusion of Uabel into His blessed and soul-raising service." The conduct of two chiefs about whose friendly bearing some doubts iiad been expressed was, as far as it went, encouraging. The bead chief, Legaic, whoso house had been visited second in order, was notorious for his evil deeds, but in spito of this, be was not only present but earnestly idmouished bis people to behave w-ell. Another chief bad, only a few days before, killed a slave merely by way 6f gratifying bis pride; bis house was prepared as neatly as any, but bo had himself gone away some distance, probably being ashamed to bo present. As Mv. Duncan for the first time unfolded the gospel plan of salvation, and exhorted them to leave their sins and seek pardon for them through Christ, warning them of tbo consequences if they refused, and setting forth the happiness of obedience, it was evident, from the significant looks which passed from one to another, that bis meaning was clearly Enough understood; on many countenances, indeed, alarm was the ^predominant expression, yet, on tbo whole, there seemed a general wil- lingness to receive the message as one which commended itself alike to their judgment and conscience. This was probably to be accounted for by the extent to which the new doctrines propounded to them ^laniionisod with the general principles of their own traditional belief |n the existence and attrr'^utes of a Snpromo Doing. I The Indian name for the Supreme Being, Sbimauvot-lakkab — (from |Bbiniauyct, chief, and Lakkali, above) — would seem to indicate a moro limited and material view of the nature and attrihutes of the I)€ity than |hey really entertain. Though regarding Him only in the light of a jreat chief, they believe that Ho is immortal, that Ho obsevves all that fs going on amongst men, and that Ho is frequently angry and punishes )ftcnders. Tbo idea of two states after death — tbo one above for the ^54 MISSION LIFE. rMlBMon Life, L May 1,1871. MiKAiOt -Afay 1 good, and the other below for the evil — is also a familiar one to them. They believe the good will be greatly honoured, and the bad treated as slaves. That, in both states, life will be supported by food, they take for granted. As a curious illustration of this may be mentioned the fact that when, in the fishing season, the fish escape their nets, they attribute it to the activity of the wicked beneath ! They have no idea of God having made them or the universe, but of His general moral government they have a keen perception : appealing to Him continually for pity or deliverance, especially in times of sickness. The extent to which they regard Shimuuyet-lakkah as the direct author of any misfortune which may befal them, is very remarkable. Not less so is the way in which, when driven to desperation by an accumulation of troubles, they will vent their anger against him. Losinp; all self-control, raising their eyes and hands in savage anger to heaven, stamping their feet furiously upon the ground, and uttering fearful impre- cations, they will again and again revile him as a " great slave " — the strongest term of reproach which their vocabulary affords them. A few days after this first attempt, Mr. Dum -xn went round to call upon all the chiefs, taking each of them a trifling present, to mark his sense of the kindness which they had shown him. A few caps, and one or two articles of clothing, all taken from a box sent out by some English ladies, were received with a gratitude which could not have been surpassed had the gifts been of considerable value. They were evidently a.i much pleased as surprised by the recognition of their courtesy and assistance. The immediate result of the kindly feeling which these events created was the offer by one of the chiefs of the use of his house for holding school in. Some time before this, Mr. Duncan had commenced school with a few very young scholars, and had only been watching his opportunity for beginning on a more extended scale. He, therefore, gladly closed with the offer ; and as soon as he had completed a few necessary preparations, ajrain started to visit all the chiefs and inform them of his intention to commence school on the following Monday. Not only was he received as usual with great courtesy, but, to his great delight, considerable satisfac- tion at his proposal, and a general desire for instruction, was expressed, not always by words, but by looks and gestures no less significant. On the Monday morning Mr. Duncan duly arrived at the chief's house to commence his new work. He found that the chief and his wife had made every possible preparation. Everything was as clean and neatly arranged as possible, anc! a tent placed upon a mat was ready for his use. Mr. Duncan had arranged to have the children in the morning and tk adults in the afternoon. About twenty-six children made their appear- ance, all, with one exception, looking unusually neat and clean. In the case of the only child of whom this could not be said, it turned out that it as Ipanic |medi m bla ^ffen( tterril i Th I Th Beemi |Dfiect |)erin] the d tnindi fashn Were had d fiignit Jus was £ likely 0f In( large lodger led to and si and s Island and di up. I ♦he qi This 1 Kind r€ and a ; At jBonseq '»3ut, h |ruce V ' The develo other whose ! "Y. Milt," With e J rMlBdion Life, L May 1,1871. !? May 1,1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 255 e to them, treated as ley take for ed the fact ey attribute erse, but of : appeahng of sickness, the direct remarkable, itiou by an im. Losiiip; I* to heaven, arful impre- slave " — the m. und to call io mark his ips, and one )me English jn surpassed tly a.i much assistance, uts created for holding with a few artunity for closed with reparations, intention td received as jle satisfac- expressed, cuiit. lief's house lis wife had and neatly for his use. ing and the leir appear- in. In the 1 out that it ilwas not disrespect or poverty which prevented his dressing as his com- Ipanions, but superstition. The winter before, his initiation into the imedicine mysteries had commenced; and to have worn anything besides ^ blanket or a skin during the next twelve months, would have been an yoffence for which he would have expected to have been visited by some .terrible calamity. : The children proved themselves very attentive and promising scholars. ? The afternoon gathering was not, on the whole, so satisfactory. There Beemed a superstitious dread amongst the people as to the probable JBffect of this new movement, and none liked to be the first to try the ex- |)eriment ; even the few, fifteen ii? all, who did muster courage to bravo the dangers, which their medicine men had doubtless instilled into their ininds, were evidently very nervous about the possible effect of their irashness. The chief and his wife, in whose house the school was held, Were themselves most anxious to learn. But after due consideration they had decided to attend in the morning wiih the children, sheltering their dignity ■ \der the spec' jus pretext of helping to keep order. Just as the school v/ork was getting fairly under weigh, the settlement was suddenly thrown into a state of confusion, which at first seemed likely to render it necessary to close the school again for a time. A party 0f Indians had arrived from Queen Charlotte's Island. As they had a large quantity of food to trade with, and were likely to prove profitable lodgers, a difficulty arose as to which tribe should entertain them. This led to a good deal of contention, and in the midst of a great deal of firing and shouting the strangers were hustled and robbed, one or two wounded? and several taken prisoners. A second party from Queen Charlotte's Island coming a day or two after in three canoes, they were also attacked and driven into the woods, their canoes being plundv.u-ed and then broken Up. Some of the tribes now espoused the cause of the strangers ; thus ♦he quarrel spread, and fighting was soon going ol in all directions. This lasted for some days, most of the people keeping their houses shut, |ind retiring to holes sunk for such occasions (truly a significant fact !), and a few of the more daring carrying on the contest. At one time it seemed almost impossible to continue the school in Consequence of the constant firing and shouting and general disturbance, ^ut, happily, before the necessity for suspending work had been admitted, a jkruce was concluded, and matters again settled down iiitu their usual course. I The only serious difficulty which now presented itself to the rapid development of the school work, was the jealousy excited amongst the |)ther chiefs and their people, by the preference given to the chief in diose house the school was held . " You will have all the people to teach, as soon as your own house is )uilt," said one chief. Another, when Mr. Duncan visited him, pointed nth evident pride to the work in which he was engaged. He had got 266 MISSION LIFE. rMlsolon Life, L May 1,1871. one of the most promising scholars from the school, and was learning from him the letters of the alphabet, which were chalked out on a board before him, and said that he did not intend that any one should be able to read before him. About the desire for instruction, therefore, there was happily no doubt. Under all the circumstances, Mr. Duncan decided that as the chief who had lent him the use of his house was going away for a time, it would be well to give up the school for a few weeks, and in the mean time to make arrangements for getting such a room, as was required, built. Towards the middle of July, Mr. Duncan determined to give a second public address to the people. As the preparation of a sermon in Tsimshecan was still a work of considerable labour, and he was soon con- tinuously engaged, not only with his school work, but with evening classes, and Sunday services for the residents in the fort, it was not until the middle of July that he was able to make this second attempt to bring home to the people the real object of his coming among them. As on the first occasion, he went to each of the tribes separately, and, indeed, followed throughout precisely the same plan of proceeding. Of all who were present at these gatherings, one man only — Quthray, another name of especial note in our history — one of the chief medicine men, and head of the cannibal gang — refused to kneel when asked to do so. The angry scowl with which he regarded the whole proceeding showed that he saw in it danger to his " craft." The exception was more noteworthy than it seemed at the time. Had he known then half as much as he learned afterwards by painful experience, Mr. Duncan would have been at no loss to recognise, in the muttered imprecation, with which, as the meeting broke up, Quthraj went his way, the first faint rumbling of the storm which was so soon ti burst upon him. iS^S- --i I OFF FOR THE FISUING SEASON. J fMUMon Life, L May 1,1871. riDKlon Lite,"] tJunel,l8n.J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 289 was learning it on a board ould be able ily no doubt, le chief who , it would be ime to make • jive a second i sermon in as soon con- ining classes, aot until the npt to bring 1. arately, and, eding. [y— Quthray, lief medicine asked to do 3 proceeding time. Had by painful gnise, in the up, Quthraj IS so soon to STRANGER THAN FICTION. BV THE EDITOn. C 11 A P T E n IV A CRISIS. IRITISH COLUMBIA p rVl riQn V>miUIVlJ01 H presents a coast-lino abounding in deep ^ ^ indentations, in one of the largest and most northern of which stands Fort Simpson. About the centre of the bay the sweeping curve of the coast is broken by a channel which forms a small peninsula. On this is situ- ated the fort and the Indian camp. For the convenience of launching their canoes, the Indian houses are all built along the beach, and as near as possi- ble to the line of high-water mark. Behind the settlement the ground rises for about half a mile towards an impene- trable forest. The intervening space having been cleared by the constant cut- ting of fhcwood, presents nothir.;;; but a waste of grey stumps of trees, a few bushes, and dead grass. Looking north- M'ards, the eye rests upon a rugged, mounla-nous coast-line, and numerous lovely islands, one or two of the south- ernmost of which help to protect the ay from the heavy splash of the Pacific, and to make it a safe harbour for jhips seeking refuge in bad weather. As the Indian settlement extended along the shore on both sides if the fort, it was necessary, in order that it should be as central as ossible, that the school-house which Mr. Duncan proposed to build ihould be erected close to the fort. The inconvenience of this arrange- ent, as bringing it into close proximity with the back of the house of e head chief, was not at the time foreseen. The Indians were anxious to render every assistance in completing the * The writer is much indebted to the courtesy of the Secretaries of the Church Missionary ciety for the facilities which they have kindly afforded him of consulting all the printed and 8. records of the work described in the following pages ; and also to the Rev. II. Doolan, for me time a fellow-labourer with Mr. Duncan, for his kindness in correcting the proofs and sup- plying information on various points. VOL. n. 19 290 MTSPTON i.rri:. '-Ml«iilon I-ltf, L.TniH'l, 1H71. !!i!i new buil(linj]f, and, iintlcr Mr. Duncan's direction, tho timbers were soon cut at a Rpot some distance alonj]; the coast, hauled down to the beach, formed into a raft and floated down to tho settlement. Hardly, however, had they commenced to carry the wood up the hill than an event occurred which, but for the confidence with which Mr. Duncan had inspired all about him, might have led to serious results. In makinj:; a c^reat effort to raise a heavy log, one of the workmen suddenly fell dead. The news instantly spreading through the camp, a crowd quickly assembled, all in a state of the gi-eatest alarm. Mr. Duncan at once suspended the work, leaving it to tho people themselves to propose its being recommenced. This, after a fev/ days, they did, and a day, the 17th of September, was accordingly fixed for making a fresh start. By six o'clock in the morning of the day named, Mr. Duncan went down to the raft, hoping to find all ready to commence. But for some time it almost seemed as if the superstitious fear caused by the recent event would, after all, prevent any progress being made. With the exception of some half dozen, the Indians contented themselves with sitting, Indian-like, at their doors, as if wishing only to be spectators. After waiting for some time, one of the half dozen men on the raft suddenly sprang to his feet, and, as a sign for starting, gave a peculiar whoop, on which, inadequate as their numbers were, they all sprang to the work with a will. Animated by their example, about forty more rushed down at full speed from their houses, and set to with an enthu- siasm which was almost alarming. Those who were too old to work gathered round and urged on tho others with the most spirit-stirrinp words and gestures. The heavy blocks and beams now began to move up the hill with amazing rapidity, and by three o'clock in the afternoon, all were safely deposited on the proposed site. Two or three days later, the work of building was commenced, and carried on with the same zeal. During the building, the only cause of uneasiness arose from the superstition of the Indians, and their dread of the slightest accident which could be construed into an omen of future evil ; but, happily, nothing further occurred to interfere with the successful completion o! the work. Mr. Duncan had proposed to buy the bark required for the roof and flooring ; but, to his great gratification, the Indians volunteered to con- tribute boards for both purposes, urging that their own houses were roofed with bark, and that the white chief's teaching-house ought to have a roof and flooring of boards. The offerings were all presented with a great deal of ceremony and show of good feeling : many, who could not otherwise have contributed, taking boards from their own houses, or even planks which formed part of their beds. By November the 17th the school-house was finished, and furnished JUIU' i with banc i H Ircvei iFtorr lor t\ ous ion tl ^ushf tmde ifbdore 4)low{ ;■ No ^jW i Ijhild: of foi tontii the ti the " ■|>thcr A 'tlvery their Bu would to be too se( liad llccisi ^ho s ^e ha( H A < if^ould iietail ]^im V Were ( Were ' %nent rM1«!iton I.lfr. L June 1,1871. I Juno l.ldi'l. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 291 rs were soon the beach, t. Hardly, liill than an Duncan had In makinjj ily fell dead. )wd quickly 1 the people a fev; davs, a. ' gly fixed for )uncan went lut for some y the recent . With the Qselves with ectators. on the raft VQ a peculiar 11 sprang to forty more ;h an enthii- old to work )irit-stirrinj; to move up fternoon, all ys later, the ne zeal. 30 from the est accident ut, happily, mpletion ol he roof and red to con- louses were ight to have sented with , who could 1 houses, or d furnished twith about fifty forms and desks, manufactured by the same willing : hands. Hardly was the work thus happily completed, than an unlooked-for reverse occurred : a great portion of the roof being blown off in a violent Iptorm. This was, however, quickly rectified, and in the course of a day ^r two all was ready for use. I Mr. Duncan now reaped the fruit of his preliminary work in the chief's liouse during the summer. No sooner did ho make his appearance jon the day appointed for recommencing school, than his former scholars |*ushed eagerly to the new Iviilding; whilst one mounted tlio platform Imderneath the "steel," which served for a bell, and, to summon his Ignore timid companions to the place, made it ring again with his repeated 'i)lows. i Nothing could have been more auspicious than the result so far of this ^jw efi'ort. Not only did some fifty adults, and the same number of jchildren, at once enrol themselves as regular attendants, but the chiefs of four out of the nine tribes actually signified their intention of dis- continuing their usual heathenish ceremonies, for entering upon which the time had again come round. Nor were there wanting evidences that -Iho ** medicine work" was likely to be carried on but feebly among.^t the •Uther tribes. A marked improvement too was observable amongst tho scholars. JEvery day their number increased, whilst fewer of them appeared with their faces painted according to their usual custom. • But what, in the meantime, of the "medicine men"? That they would tamely submit to see their craft thus brought to nought was not to be expected. Of their opposition to all that was going on they made iio secret; nor was it long before they induced several of the chiefs, who liad proposed to abandon their usual ceremonies, to reverse their decision. Many were tho arguments which Mr. Duncan had with those Irho seemed most amenable to reason ; and at times it seemed as though i|ie had gained the day, and that they would still hold to their first resolution. I A crisis was evidently approaching. Again and again Mr. Duncan Iwrould come upon one of the medicine parties engaged in all the revolting etails of initiating new pupils, and though they did not in any case ofier lim violence, but seemed rather ashamed than otherwise of what they r'ere doing, rumours began to be whispered about pretty freely that they ere " talking bad," in other wordG, laying plans for some decided move- ent to vindicate their position, and once for all free themselves from an pposition which seemed to threaten serious consequences. Matters were precipitated by the arrival of a number of strangers from notlier tribe, to take part in the "medicine rites" which were being arried on in the house of Legale, the head chief, which it will be re- embered was in close proximity to the school. 292 MISSION LIFE. rMlsnInn Mfe, L June 1,1871. Fuiic 1 Irritated by tlio interruption caused by tbe striking of the " steel," and by tlio scholars constantly passing and repassing his door, Legale appealed to the governor of the fort to induce Mr. Duncan to close his school for at least the month during which the medicine mysteries would be at their height. After a long consultation with the officers of the fort, Mr. Duncan decided to go on as usual. The result was, that the chief came down in his demands to a fortnight, declaring that if the school was not closed for that time, he would shooi any of the pupils who continued to attend. In the meantime parties of medicine men began to assemble in groups about the school, as though minded to carry their threats into execution. In spite of this, however, Mr. Duncan not only went on with his work as usual, but induced as many as 80 scholars to continue a pretty regular attendance. At last the medicine men proposed, as an ultimatum, that four days should be allowed them free of interruption. This, again, was refused. All was now excitement. The next day, the medicine party carijing on their work near the school broke out Avith renewed fury, asserting that the child of the head chief who was being initiated had just "returned from above." First came a message from Legale to know whether Mr. Duncan intended to persevere in holding school that day, a question which was answered in the affirmative. Then, on reaching the school, Mr. Duncan found Legaic's wife, who had come to beg him to give way, declaring that it was not so much her husband as the tribe which insisted on it. Feeling, however, that the battle must sooner or later be fought, Mr. Duncan still held firm, and went himself to strike the steel to call the scholars together. During the morning all went on as usual, but in the afternoon, just as the steel was about to be struck, up came Legale with a party of medi- cine men, all dressed out in their usual charms, and in a very angry voice ordered the boy who was about to strike the steel, to cease. With some seven of his followers. Legale then came into the school- room, the rest standing about the door. His first object was to drive out the few scholars who had already collected, and shouting at the top of his voice, he bade them be off. Mr. Duncan at once came forward, and seeing that their object was to intimidate him by their numbers and frightful appearance, spoke io> them in as calm and conciliatory a tone as he could assume. Telling them plainly of the evil of their ways, he explained that threats could not possibly affect him, as God was his Master, and he was bound to obey Him rather than them. The parley lasted for more than an hour. At times Legale seemed to be inclined to give way, but he soon broke out with more violence than ever. Drawing his hand across his throat, he W rMlsMon Life, L June 1,1871. ;he "steel," loor, Legale to close his iteries would Mr. Duncan ime down in 3 not closed d to attend, assemble in threats into vent on with ) continue a at four days irty carij'ing sserting that 3t "returned whether Mr. , a question y the school, to give way, tribe which )ner or later strike the lOon, just as ty of medi- very angry 1, to cease, the school- had already be off. bject was to e, spoke to- le. Telling ireats could IS bound to an an hour. )n broke out throat, he lUrdon Mfc.l ruilO 1,1871, J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 293 eclarcd that ho knew how to kill people. Then looking to two men who ere with him, ho said, " I am a murderer, and ho are you, and ho are iou, and what good is it for us to come to school." f To this sally, ^Ir. Duncan responded by reminding tlicm how often lie had declared to them that there was pardon through Christ, oven for iaurderers. 1 Towards the close of the scene, two of the vilest-looking of his followers went up to Legale and whispered something in his ear, upon Wiich he got up from a seat he had just sat down upon, stamped his feet in the floor, raised his voice to its utmost pitch, and exhibited all the iage and defiance of which he was capable. Finding, however, all his Iffoits either to persuade or intimidate alike unavailing, he at last with- Irew, and some sixteen scholars being still left in the room, school was resumed. '. We are not surprised to find entered in Mr. Duncan's journal, written On the evening of the same day, expressions of the deepest thankfulness fcr his preservation. " I am still alive," he writes. "I have heartily to thank that all-seeing Father, who has covered and supported mo to-day." r To those who knew the Indian character, to say nothing of the personal reputation of Legale for bloodthirsty cruelty, and uncontrollable violence of temper, the whole afi'air seemed well-nigh incomprehensible. Here was a man — the greatest chief, not only in that locality, but in the surrounding country, to whom precedence and the place of honour Would have been at once accorded amongst the chiefs of any tribe living within a radius of sixty miles — a man, too, who had scarcely known what it was to have his will disputed in the smallest matter, and who had never before hesitated to sacrifice the life of any who opposed him — thwarted and set at nought, and that, too, not only in a matter in which all his Itrongest feelings were concerned, but openly, in the presence both of his Iribe and of strangers. And yet the comparative stranger who had ven- tured thus to set him a. defiance seemed likely to enjoy a perfect immu- jliity from harm, and to be destined, powerless as he really was, to carry |)ut his own plans without further let or hindrance. Reviewing the whole circumstances of the case, it is hardly possible ,0 escape the conclusion that they constitute one of the most striking nstances on record of the manner in which God's servants are often ^|carried safely through any great danger, which, in the path of duty, Jthey meet calmly and trustfully. Nor will it lessen, but rather intensify, his feeling, if we pause for a moment to trace out the human instrumen- ality by which, in the Providence of God, this result was directly rought about. From information given some time after by the Indians themselves, it ould seem that whenever medicine men had threatened Mr. Duncan's 294 MISHKJN LIFK. [ .MlN»liiti I. lie, Juuu 1, Ih7I. lif'o, Clali, who liiul now become his constant uttondttnt, had tlcchired thiit he rcgiirtk'il him us under hia protection, uud that he should instantly uvenj^o his death. Nor was this ii mere idle threat likely to bo disregarded by those to whom it was made. Partly by virtue of his property, and partly in consequence of the inlluence ho gained by his intimate relations with the Euro])oan traders, Clah was recognised as holding the rank of a loading chief. Ho was a man of about forty. Generally holding a good deal aloof from his own people, ho was at the same time, a man of singularly determined character, and keenly sensitive of any wrong, real or imaginary, done to any one who had any claim on his protection. Only just before Mr. Duncan's arrival, a woman, by some silly expres- sion, had excited the belief that it was owing to her influence that a piece of wood, which was being carried by some Indians, had fallen from their shoulders and seriously injured one of his relations, a fact quite possible according to the superstitious belief of the Indians. Clah, on hearing]; it, had instantly gone out, and finding her, shot her dead on the spot, braving the revenge of the woman's son, who, in spite of the compen- sation of thirty blankets which Clah had at once paid, would never forego the hope of taking blood for blood. On the day of the concerted attack on Mr. Duncan, Clah, who usually wore a European dress — an ordinary pea-jacket and trousers — appeared in his blanket, loitering about the school. No sooner did Legaic and bis followers force their way in thau he instantly followed, and leaning against tlio wall just inside the door, an apparently unmoved spectator of all that was going on, literally stood guard over his pupil and iirotege. His skill in the use of fire-arms, acquired during his long intercourse with Europeans, was well-known ; and Legaic was perfectly conscious throughout the whole scene that it only needed the blanket to be dropped aside for a revolver to be brought instantly to bear upon him, and that in the event of any injury being done to Mr. Duncan, whoever else might escape, he certainly would not. From the first moment, therefore, that he entered the school, Legaic was aware that he was powerless, and though excited at the time with drink, his extreme rage and threatening attitude were probably merely assumed. Never a man of any great courage, he was by no means prepared to face instant death in defence of a system in which his faith was probably already more shaken than he cared to admit. Thus, even after making all allowance for the moral influence which, especially in religious matters, the strong mind invariably exercises over the weaker, we can hardly dcabt that, humanly speaking, Mr. Duncan owed his life, on this occasion, to the friendship and determined character of the one Indian whom he had especially made his friend. The excitement created by the attack upon Mr. Duncan, and the %ii [ AtlHxIiin I, III' (Ikilie 1, Ih7I. MimIoh f.ife luiiL- 1 lion Mfei STllANOKIl TlfAN FICTION". 295 xcl iloclarctl Lc uhuukl by those to 1 partly in atioua with I rank of a iiug a good , a man of wrong, real protection, illy cxpres- that a piece 1 from their .ite possible on hearing a the spot, be compen- lever forego n'ted attack m ordinary about the ^■ay in thau ie the door, 3rally stood fire-arms, ell-known ; scene that )lver to be ent of any le certainly Legaic was vith drink, y assumed, ired to face s probably Qce which, f rcises over r. Duncan i character ulignation amongst the medicine men against Legaic for allowing him- |elf to bo thwarted, were naturally very great. Threats of violence to |hu scholars, if they continued to attend, were again renewed, and with such an evident ])robability that they would l)o put into execution, tliut Mr. Duncan at once decided that it would be well to take the ^Opportunity of the moral victory which ho had gained to make arraiigo- 'inents for holding school for a short time in another part of the camp. jLippily there was no ditUculty in inducing one of the chiefs, who had throughout held iirm to his intention of abandoning the medicine mysteries, to lend his house for the purpose, and in it accordingly, the day after the scene which we have described, the school was re- ppened, and upwards of a hundred scholars attended. Thus, in the good Providence of God, was the crisis, for the issue of which all had been looking, safely passed. If the stand which Mr. Duncan had made was bold, as some may think, almost to rashness, the result of the victory gained was such as, in his most sanguine moments, he had hardly ventured to expect. This was especially the case with regard to the *' medicine " system.* The chiefs who had at first proposed to give it up were still plainly '* halt- ing between two opinions," and needed but very little to make them adhere to their proposed abandonment of its mysteries. Of course u custom Avhich for ages had been so universal, and so unhesitatingly accepted, and round which clustered so many traditions and cherished superstitions, was not likely to be set on one side at once. It was much that the blow struck at it had manifestly produced so great an ellect as it had. Not only did many of the chiefs show plainly enough that their confidence in the whole system was gone, but they could no longer con- , eeal the fact that they were thoroughly ashamed of it. Like revellers overtaken by the daylight — as the dawn of divine truth began to breal; ^pon them, and the false glare of superstition faded before the "• true jight," they seemed to recoil instinctively from that in which they ^ad so lately gloried, but of which they were now ashamed. I * The engraving on page 290 represents a "Medicine Man" of a difforent p;irt of North •jA-merica, but the di-es3 or di.' guise is just such as was in common use at Fort Shupiou. ■i ■J I t ., and the 296 MISSION LIFE. rMtBBion Kile, L June 1, ]8;i. Iiilte#i|i! '^'''■li ill '!ll'l'l!!il!l!llil||ii|'!llili|'il4':,' :l" \^ §» < Pi 55 a y. rMtBBion liiie, L June 1, 1871. UtxKioa Life,-] lime 1,1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 297 I'll r S5 55 a CHAPTER V. PROGRESS. l^i^^ ^lgHE events related in the last chapter took place only five days before Christmas (1858). On Christmas- eve Mr. Duncan gave his scholars a long address, explaining Avhy the season was to be observed, not as they had previously known it, merely as a special time of riot and drunkenness amongst white people, but as one of " gi-eat joy" to *' all people." At the same time, he urged them all to bring their friends with them on the following day. Next morning there were some 200 people pre- sent. Mr. Duncan had determined to try the experiment for the first time of dispensing with a address. Tie succeeded better than he had ex- The Indians seemed to follow his meaning very and as he set before them the love of God and His hatred of sin, and thon enumerated the various sii:s, especially of drunkenness amongst the men and profligacy amongst the women, of which they were guilty, he could see that his warnings as to their present and future con- sequences went home to the consciences of many. It so happened that whilst he was speaking, a woman who was suffering under a frightful affliction, the effect of her own vices, was seized with a sudden illness, and obliged to be removed. A more striking illustration of the effects #f the sins against which they had just been warned, or one more akely to give force and point to any exhortation against them, could iot well have been imagined. !l After his address, Mr. Duncan questioned the children on some simple ,i^ible truths, concluding the service by singing two hy^nns which ho had j^revicusly taught in the school. Every Sunday much the same plan of proceeding was adopL^d. Hj-mns Iready known were sung, new ones were said over by the whoio congrc- ition together, answers to questions in religious truth were repeated in le same manner, a short address was given, and the ser'-ice concluded rith singing and a short prayer. In addressing the people Mr. Duncan soon found the necessity of lopting as much as possible the figurative stylo of language so common long the Indians ; for instance, he would adopt such arguments as 16 following : " If a Chief is injured, recompense must be made ; if the J^ 298 MISSION LIFE. r.Mts-lon lAW, L •illlll! 1,1H71. olfender is too poor to make it, his relatives pay it. UnleKS compensation is made, there is no rocoiiciliatioii. We have all made the Great Chief angry; we could not pay ; Jesus Christ undertakes to pay for us." Or again. *' When we die, we all have to appear hefore the Great Chief ; if our hearts are dirty, if our sins are not washed away, He will he angry. * The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.' If we do not go to Him to wash away our sins, what excuse shall we have to offer to the Great Chief?" As a rule the Indians were very quick in applying to their own cases anything which was said. Thus we find Mr. Duncan about this time recording in his journal : — ** During my address this morning I observed one man (a spirited, bad man he is) to be very uneasy, and after a little time he shouted out some- thing which I did not understand, but from his looks and tone of voice I knew it was something bad. I went on as if nothing had happened. He looked enraged at me, and then hid his face in his blanket. Occasionally he would give me another severe look, and then put down his head again. When we stood up to pray, he moved towards the door ; I went on, and he kept still. On my finishing, he walked up to a woman, and whis- pered something in her ear, and then very quickly disappeared. As I was walking from school, one of the little boys told me that this man had been ' talking bad ;' and afterwards I inquired of a man that was present what it was all about, and he told me that the man thought that I was speaking about him, and telling the people his bad ways, and he was ashamed." But it must not be supposed that preaching and Sunday services wero exclusively or even mainly relied upon as the means of conveying religious instruction to the people. Immediately after Christmas Mr. Duncan had again taken possession of his own school-house, and was soon hard at work with a large and increasing number of scholars. His first difficulty had been how to deal with such large numbers at once ; but by dividing them into classes, and carefully adjusting the work which each class was to do, he was able to make fair progress. His next and chief anxiety was how best to make the school work subserve the primary object of Christianising the people. As a rule, both on opening and closing school, he would give a short address on some passage or narrative of the Bible : he would the^' make the whole school, children and adults, learn one or two texts in ^neir own language, and repeat them together. These he would explain a,gain and again, taking care that a text once learnt should be repeated sufficiently often, at various times, to fix it deeply in the mind. Singing again, which was perljaps, of all others, the most popular part of the school work, proved an important vehicle of instruction. Various i Bui l^intej msic mgui %he In irnej jrsis igs. Bui salg [ .Mls-lou Life, June 1,1H71. [Ii^lon Mfe,i jne 1, 1871. J STUVNUER THAN FICTION. 299 ompensatiou Great Chief r us." the Great way. He will ,' If Ave do have to ofler ir own cases lit this time spirited, had 3d out somc- le of voice I ppened. He Occasionally head again, ^ent on, and n, and whis- ared. As I lat this man an that was lan thought id wavs, and services were f convcvin'' 1 possession a large and how to deal classes, and was ahle to school work a rule, both ss on some hole school uguage, and gain, taking \y often, at popular part .1. Various iimple hymns, embodying the leading truths of Christianity, were soon #auslated, and were learned with the greatest possible interest by young |id old. I Early in 1859 a set of illustrjited Scripture lessons was sent up from ITictoria. These proved of the greatest use. One of the first pictures IJBprescutcd Noah and his family sacrificing after leaving the ark. The Jbdians at once recognised in the sacrificial act a custom long in use lijnoii!'st themselves. This of course afforded a stepping-stone from their O^'n system to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Seeing an evident Iteason for the custom of sacrificing, they seemed at once to gain a dearer conception of the object to be gained by the sacrifice of the death Ctf Christ. The whole subject of the Flood proved to be one of peculiar interest. IPhe Tsimsheans, it appears, have a tradition that many years ago all people, with few exceptions, *' perished by water." Amongst the few who were saved were no Tsimsheans ; and how their nation was repro- duced is to this day, they say, a mystery to them ! But the tradition of a widely-extended Flood is by no means confined to particular tribes. Preaching at a later period at a spot nearly a hundred miles from Fort Simpson, and alluding to the Flood, as described in Scripture, Mr. Duncan saw at once that he had touched Upon a favourite topic ; and on talking afterwards to one of the chiefs on the subject, the latter at once volunteered the following story : — *' AVe Lave a tradition," he said, "about the swelling of the water a long thuo ago. As you are going up the river you will see the high BDiountain to the top of Avhich a few of our forefathers escaped when the waters rose, and thus wore saved. But many more were saved in their canoes, and were drifted about and scattered in every direction. The Waters went down again ; the canoes rested on the land ; and the people tettled themselves in the various spots whither they had been driven. 1|hus it is the Indians are found spread all over the country ; but they ||1 understand the same songs, and have the same customs, which shows Ibat they are one people." I ]3ut to return to Mr. Duncan and his school. During the rest of the ^inter all went on well. Not only were many of the scholars maldng Considerable progress in learning to read simple sentences in their own nguage, but there were many indications that some at least were ready be *' doers of the Word, and not hearers only." In the school this was shown, both by the increased attention and rnestness, and by the continually-decreasing number of those who rsisted in painting their faces, and wearing the hideous lip and nose gs. But it was not only in the school that there was evidence of some al good having been effected. In spite of an unusual quantity of spirits i|!|ii|ijji 800 MISSION LIFE. r&liMlon Lite, L June 1.1871. having been brought to the camp by traders, there had been scarcely any fighting or quarrelling throughout the Avinter, and not a single murder had been committed : an event quite without precedent. At the same time the "medicine work" had been carried on with much less spirit, being entirely dropped by one or two tribes, and robbed of half its horrors amongst others. Another fruitful source of the influence which Mr. Duncan was no^v daily gaining -svith the Indians, was the constant and friendly inter- course kept up with the people by means of house-to-house visiting, and, as far as possible, by constant ministrations to the sick. Here is an extract from Mr. Duncan's journal, which will serve to illustrate the manner in svhicli these visits were often turned to account. Writing on December 29th, 1858, not many days after his contesl •with. Legaic, he says : ** After school to-night I went to take a little medicine to a sick man, and found in his house a group of Indians of the tribe which have lately sent a party of medicine men here to show themselves off. I therefore felt an increased desire to set the Gospel forth on this visit, that these poor creatures might go back and tell their people something of the glad tidings they had heard. Their village is about eighty to a hundred miles away from here, I think. For some time I could not begin ; however, I would not go away, but stood musing and praying, my heart burning, but full of misgiving. At last an opportunity was afforded me, and I began ; and, by God's blessing, I was enabled to set the Gospel clearly and fully before them, that is, as to the essential and first great truths of it. While I was speaking, one or two would make remarks as to the truth and reasonableness of what I said. Several times one man exclaimed, ' Ahm meUh! ahm melsh !' * Good news ! good news ! ' And another, when I had done, said, * Shimhow,* which means ' It is true ; ' and it is adequate, in their way of speaking, to * Amen,' * I believe.' They all seemed thankful for my visit ; and I hope the Lord will bless it. I tried to enforce the dutv of love and obedience to God, by alluding to the attachment and obedience they expected from their children. To this they agreed, and expressed their full belief that the Indians would not be long before they would be altogether changed." The Indians being in the habit of attending their sick with great kindness, seemed thoroughly to appreciate any sympathy and attention shown them ; at the same time, such were their strange notions on the subject of disease, that the greatest caution was necessary to avoid coming into collision with some deep-rooted superstition. Nearly all bodily afilictions, and most deaths, are attributed to tlie secret working of some malevolent person. This being the case, when a person of importance dies, it is thought essential that his friends should fix upon some one as the cause of his death. A slave, a stranger fifog, ibout Hs e rests. jpftin DHade a9seri miBcI poisoi invali patiei ptrese] ensue prope ftirioi l^tle the d 0e tl i)r sc ^s us 4|Bem! els COV( at 1 Th th ativi "I le ci rMioBion Lite, L June 1,1871. union Life,*; anei,li"71. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 301 I scarcely any e murder had ried on with i, and robbed can was no^v iendly inter- visiting, and, will serve to i to account, r his contesi take a little )f Indians of here to show t the Gospel ind tell their leir village is ;. For some y, but stood ing. At last 's blessing, I that is, as to peaking, one 3SS of what I km melsh .'' done, said, ite, in their thankful for Dree the dutv chment and hey agreed, not be long with great nd attentiou notions on 3ary to avoid )uted to the case, when his friends e, a stranger itely arrived, or any one known to have had a quarrel with the deceased, ^ usually fixed upon, and nothing short of his death will expiate his (|ipposed crime. 4 Under these circumstances, it has sometimes happened that a white ||ian giving medicine, which has failed to save the patient's life, has been lloked upon as the cause of his death, and an instance is on record, l^ongst the American Missionaries, of one of their body falling a victim ib this absurd suspicion of his motives. ■t As a rule, sick persons would of course send for one of the native dbctors, a class differing in some respects from the ordinary ** medicine aien." He v;ould probably try some of the simple remedies resorted to in lardinary cases, and, in the failure of these, to incantation. This latter jirocess is thus described by Mr. Duncan : — ** The instrument rsed is a rattle, generally in the shape of a bird or a firog, in the body of which a few small stones are placed. This is whirled ibout the patient while a song is sung. Occasionally the doctor applies his ear, or his mouth, to the place where the pain or disorder chiefly rests. It is also very common at this stage to make incisions where the pain is felt, or to apply fire to the place, by means of burning tinder made of dried wild flax. If relief follows these measures, the doctor Mserts that he has extracted the foul substance that has done the mischief: which substance is supposed by them to be the bad or poisonous medicine some evil-disposed one had silently inserted into the invalid's body. At such an announcement, made by the doctor, the patient, and the patient's friends, overjoyed at his success, liberally present him with such property as they have got. If, however, a relapse ensues, and the invalid dies, the doctor returns every particle of the property he has received. When no relief follows the first trial, a more ftirious attack is made another time. If still without effect, there is but yttle hope of the patient's recovery. n* ** Another curious matter connected with this operation is, that when the doctor has got pretty warm in his work, he boldly asserts that he can me the soul of his patient, if it is present. For this he shuts his eyes l&r some time, and then pronounces his sentence. Either the soul is in ^s usual place, which is a good sign ; or it is out of its proper place, and )ems wanting to take its flight, which makes the patient's case doubtful ; |r else it has flown i.way, in which case there is no hope for the invalid's icovery. The bold deceiver does not even hesitate to tell the people lat the soul is like a fly in shape, with a long curved proboscis." The first occasion on which Mr. Duncan visited a sick person, who ith the consent of his friends, had deliberately refused the aid of the ^ative doctors, was towards the close of the year 1858. "Last night," he writes, "was the first time I had ventured out in le camp during dark. It was to see a poor dying woman, sister to the 302 MISSION LIFK. [ Mldnlon I If. June I, ls;i )ate hcntl chief. I hnd seen her three or four limes before, hut couhl d her no good ; still, as her friends hnd como to the fort desiring aid, I accompanied them hack. On arriving at the house, I found tho sicl: woman laid before a large wood fire, around which some twenty Indinii> were squatted. After administering a little medicine, I began speaking to them a few words which tho solemn scene suggested. I pointed on; to them our condition and only remedy in Jesus our adorable Saviour adding, too, upon what conditions wo are saved by Him. They al understood what I said ; and two of the women that sat close at tlit head of the sick person very earnestly reiterated to her my words, aiii questioned her, if she understood them. It Avas, I think, tho most solerar scene I have witnessed since I have been here. Before I went awnv, out man said that she and her people did not know about God, but the- wanted to know, and learn to be good." Contrasting this scene with one desc oed at about the same dati in the following year (1859), we see clearly enough the progi*ess whicl had been made, and the extent to which it was traceable to the schoo! teaching. **I was informed, on coming out of the school this afternoon, that; young man, who has been a long time suffering in consumption (brouglr on by a severe cold), and whom I have visited several times, was dying so, after a little reflection, some misgiving, and prayer, I started off t see him. I found him, as his wife had said, dying. Over twent) people were about him : some were crying, and two, I am sorry to say were partly intoxicated. I looked on for some time in silent sorro\Y. When I wished to speak, silence immediately ensued. I rebuked tb noise and tumult, directing, the dying man to fix his heart on the Savioiii Jesus ; to forget the things about him ; and to spend his little remainiii|: time in praying in his heart to God to save him. ** His reply was, * yes, sir! yes, sir!' and for some moments h would close his eyes, and seem absorbed in prayer. On one occasior he spoke of his heart being happy or resigned : I could not make on! the exact expression, as there was some talking at the time, and tbe remark was in Tsimsheean. " He begged me with much earnestness to continue to teach his little girl. He wanted her to be good. This little girl is about seven yeni's old : her name is Cathl. She has been very regular at school since I commenced, and has made nice progi'ess. Much to my comfort, a youny woman sat by his side, who has been one of my most regular pupils. She is in the first class, and can read portions of the Bible. Her intelligence is remarkable ; and I have observed her to be always listening to religious instruction. Thus here was one sitting close to the dying man who could tell him, much more accurately than I, the fev; directions I desired to utter. What remarkable providence it seemed rMInjilon II'. I June I, iv;] •0, but could (If clcsirinpf aid, ] found tho sicl twenty Indinii began speakiii; I pointed on orablo Saviour im. They al at close at tin my words, aiii ho most solemr went awny, oiif God, but the the same dati progress whicl, 3 to tho schoo' fternoon, that; nption (brouglr Qes, was dying I started off t( Over twenti m sorry to say silent sorrow. [ rebuked tin on the Savioiii ittle remaining le moments li( Q one occasior not make ou! time, and tie teach his little out seven yean school since I mfort, a j'ouiif; regular pupils. Bible. Her to be always fitting close to than I, the few }nce it seemed ^'"[""iV-^J STRANGI ;: THAN FICTION. 303 t0 me ! With tears in her eyes, :.lic bogged him to give his heart to )d, and to pray to Him. I longed to pray with him, and Avatched ixiously a long time for tho opportunity. The opportunity came, and ^e strength came with it. I knelt down by his side. All was hushed, mid I prayed from a full heart to tho Lord our God to have mercy upon t|ie poor soul about to come into His presence, for the sake of His dear Qion Jesus." • To one who was so anxiously watching for every sign which could iildicate how far the good seed, which he was so continually sowing, was tiking root, there was much cause for encouragement in such a case as tliis. From the first this man had refused to allow tho native doctor to Ijgperate upon him. Ho showed that he understood and appreciated the Iftiding truths of tho Gospel, nnd was constant and earnest in prayer. AX his death, which took place the next day, he had again assured all fl^out him of the certain hope of a joyful resurrection in which he died ; ga^d in parting with his child had, with much feeling, repeated his wish ^at she would not be allowed to fall back into the old ways of his people. ; In the spring of 1850, when the season for the annual migration to the filhing-grounds came round, many of the Indians w ^e anxious to know Mrhether they ought to leave their children to attend the school, or take thiem with them. Knowing how important their help was to their parents, and feeling sure that if any failure of the year's provision occurred they would, whether rightly or wrongly, attribute it to him and the school, Mr. Duncan in every case urged their taking them with tllem ', Accordingly, about the middle of March, tho first grand detachment, oonsisting of about 200 canoes, started for the fishing station, situated ioime distance up a river which falls into the sea, some distance to the taiiTih. of the fort. j#After this the school was still kept on, though the number of scholars WkH reduced to about forty. ' IDuring the period of comparative leisure which the absence of so larf^e n-oportion of the population afforded him, Mr. Duncan devoted all the 10 which he could possibly afford to the preparation of several hymns id prayers, a short catechism, and a number of texts divided into isses, the first marking the difference between the good and bad, the jond setting forth simple doctrinal truths, and the rest referring to rious practical duties. He also prepared a series of reading lessons and lumber of books to be used by the scholars at home. [The day on which the main body of the people had started for their ling-grounds was destined from that time forward to be a red-letter in Mr. Duncan's calendar. The constant stress which he had laid )n the evils resulting from rum-drinking, and from the frightful 304 MISSION LIFE. rMUfilon 1,1' I Juno 1, i>: on immorality which prevailed on nil siilca, and the contrast which the scoik of riot and drunkenness afforded to the order and general decorui which had now hecomo the rule of some few parts of the camp, had at Ini decided the chiefs to take some i,.-.ps in the matter. Accordingly, meeting was held at the house of the head chief Legaic, at which i Mr. Duncan's arguments were fr'^oly discussed and entirely approvec In the end, the chiefs agreed to send a message that they hoped lij; Duncan would continue to " speak strong" against the bad ways of the people, and that they would themselves second what ho said wit ** strong speeches." But the grand climax of all was that Legaic hiii self sent word that ho intended to come to school — an intention which 1: happily soon carried into effect. " Jpril Gth, 1859. — The head chief," writes Mr. Duncan, "was r. school to-day. His looks show that ho well remembers his past ba> conduct ; but I try to disregard the past, and show him equal kindnes with the rest." Legaic's example was quickly followed by others, so that in the conif of the summer as many as four or five of the chiefs were often at scho at the same time. One old chief (Neeslakkahmoosh), though he held back himself for long time, either from coming to the school or Sunday services, went; far as to urge Mr. Duncan strongly to try and get another teach to come out and help him. ** "We are willing," he said, ** to give y( our children to teach ; but as for the grown people, we think it is m for us to die as we are." The daughter of this old chief was one of the most intelligent at regular attendants at the school, and never failed to repeat to her fatlit all that she heard and learnt. Gradually softening under this influenc he at last consented to come himself to school. The first day he mat his appearance he formally presented Mr. Duncan with a token of li good-will, in the shape of a carved spoon of his own workmanship— a ofl'ering which, though of no great intrinsic value, must, from his aj and dimness of sight, have cost him no little time and labour. On the whole, the general state of feeling throughout the settlemei towards Mr. Duncan underwent, in the course of the summer of 18yl a very marked change for the better. This was particularly manifeste on one occasion. A notoriously bad character named Cushwaht, c being refused some medicine at the fort, on account of his recent h conduct, had, Indian-like, sought to revenge himself on the first propert belonging to a white man which he could get at. Taking a hatchet, 1: had broken into the school, and smashed all the windows. On Mr. Duncan going on to the beach with the chief who had con to tell him what had happened, he found the people in a state of gre excitement, one old man calling out to him ** that the whole camp w dfing bre 1 Sucl tioOB a of Mr. His time h Bttperst ■^ha ITott b Happily, so far from acting injuriously on Mr. Duncan's work, these equal kindne> and such-like scenes only tended the more powerfully to awaken the minds of those who had been regularly under instruction, and to deepen t in the coiiis Um impression of the teaching they had received ; whilst to all they often at scho served as a practical illustration of the truth which he was so con- stantly pointing out to them, viz., that even on the lowest grounds of k himself for expediency a thorough reform was desirable. !i*vices, went? nother teacli. Such, so far at least as it can be estimated from such outward indica- , ** to give v( tions as we have enumerated, was the general result of the first two years hink it is m of Mr. Duncan's work. His own views as to the nature of the foundation which up to this intelligent ai ^VBQB he had laid we shall perhaps best understand by glancing at the it to her fatlii superstructure which he hoped to rear upon it. this influenc What, then, at this time were his hopes and plans for the future ? Jt day he mnc l^othing more or less than to propose a general exodus of the whole a token of li ^'^^ of those who had been brought more immediately under his teach- 'kmanship— 8 inf» *o l>id them come out from among their heathen brethren and form a , from his aj s«|»rate Christian settlement, where their young children could be our. brought up in a purer atmosphere, and their young men and women the settlemci «^d be freed from the contaminating influences which then surrounded nmer of 18d' uch, in its briefest outline, was the plan, then first, put forward, fih during the next two years and a-half we shall see gradually as- ing shape and consistency, until it finally issued in the establishment he native settlement, the singular and successful development of which already constituted it one of the marvels of the day, and promises, long, to rev<>lutionise the whole policy of American statesmen towards Indian races, and to lead them to commit to the messengers of Gospel of Peace a tusk for which in turn every other agency has ed wholly inadequate. vol.. n. . 20 rly manifestt Cushwaht, c his recent h e first proper! I a hatchet, 1: who had con L state of gre 'hole camp w « 300 rMiHHlon l.iif, LiMiiiu 1, iH'i. l|l>f>lon Talyl, n venerai climate ''|'«' the raj '){■; chiefly , 1 They 1 nncomi locatioi oomforl Such j' the cap pojpnlat \^ the pri every ti seen : ( Danes, Irii .sial GMlian nffnians |j« Jfcliuclei eflit an( .1|]| I, till unff '^' \^i Doiiers Into 1 VOL "¥ rMiHHliiii i,iif, LiMiiiu I, ih;i. Mliiilon Lltr,-{ Tnly 1, 1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 363 ^\/» ^ 1 \> ■• INDIAN MISSION AT VICTUlilA. STRANGER THAN FICTION. By thk Editoh. CHAPTEU VI. A VISIT TO VICTORIA. ~ ICTORIA must be, I think, tlie most lovely and beau- tifully situated place in the world. In tlio summer it must be exqui- site. There is every sort of scenery. Sublime mountains, placid sea, noble forest trees, undulating park-like glades interspersed with venerable oaks, inland lakes and rivers abounding with lish. The climate is thoroughly English — a little milder. It is astonishing to see the rapidity with which the place grows. The houses at present are chiefly of wood, but can be made very comfortable and picturesque. They run up with great speed, and sometimes run alonfi, for it is not uncommon to meet a house proceeding down the street to some other location. The shops are excellent : there is nothing — no luxury, no comfort — which you cannot procure." * Such were the first impressions produced upon the traveller on entering the capital of British Columbia some ten years back. Describing the pojpulation of the city, another writer says : " One cannot pass along the principal thoroughfares without meeting representatives cf almost every tribe or nationality under heaven. Within a limited space may be seen : of Europeans — Russians, Austrians, Poles, Hungarians, Italians, Pftnes, Swedes, French, Germans, Spaniards, Swiss, Scotch, English, a^ Irish ; of Africans — negroes from the United States and West Indies ; .Asiatics — Lascars and Chinamen ; of Americans — Indians, Mexicans, ilians, and citizens of the North American Republic ; and of Poly- iHpians — Malays from the Sandwich Islands. Thus Victoria has become %j^ucleus for the waifs and strays of humanity, drifting thither from the and west. What could be expected of a population so constituted, unfavourable elements of which are continually stirred by an influx of ers migrating to and fro?" to this vortex of vice and dissipation — for such it was — the Indians, * From a letter of the Bishop of Columbia. VOL. II. 23 t 354 MISSION LIFE. -Vl««ti.|| III, L July 1, i»;i. linn •I.I both from the coast and tho interior of British Columbia, were continuallv rrj drawn, only to return to their homes tainted with evil tho moat degi'adiiir m^ ^^ and destructive, and possessed with a cravin'» for ardent spirits, whitli giijak the traders who first encouraged it took every opportunity afterward; impj-o' of gi-atifying. l^„ ^ In tho first instance the visits of tho natives to Victoria had been solo];, ^^ ^j^^ for the legitimate purposes of traffic. Now they came with their wivc^ gjj^] and daughters for the express purpose of keeping, with tho white settloiis. ^^g „ a carnival of debauchery, and to obtain money, often in large sums, fron « j^ the most profligate of tho settleis, which they would generally spend n- n|)|g j soon as it was obtained in the compound of the whisky-seller, or accu Engiia mulate to take back to their native villages. ji|g j^^^ Shortly before the time of which we are writing, the Bishopric a g^Q Columbia was founded by the noble oftering from Baroness — then Mis pl^gji, — Burdett Coutts of the sum of i>25,000 by way of endowment. Or trade i Dr. Hills, the first Bishop, going out in 1860, one of the first objects t lodbe which he directed his attention was the state of the Indians in and iioii. j g^^ ^ Victoria. His first impressions are thus given : ** The tribes have niiui puyed, decreased since 1846. More than half of the Songish are gone — tlios agJigj f live here ; their destruction is occasioned principally by drink and dissc went wi lute habits. Those nearest the whites are tho worst. Slavery liii from F increased ; female slaves are in demand ; distant tribes make war upo: the Pra each other, and bring their female slaves to the market. You will hardl bread credit it, but it is strictly true, women are purchased as slaves to let thei of a c out for immoral purposes. A female slave has been known recently t pleased be purchased for 200 dollars (£40). The Indians buy their wives, k a(juouuf slaves are more costly. Upon an Indian woman recently killed in repeat brawl was found 300 dollars (.£60), the wages of iniquity. There is could t( .vhite man, we trust not an Englishman, near Langley, who owns sue. interest slaves, and hangs out a sign over his door to signify the horrible iniqiiit knelt d< there pursued. An Indian named Bears'-skin makes large profits by tlsame, a traffic in female slaves. The language uttered by Indians is sometimt upwi th very bad. They will exclaim in violent oaths when put out, but, to oithetti, t shame, the oaths are in the English language, which they have learne paitake; from Englishmen and Americans. They have no oaths in their o\(:8irrible iniquit knelt down : he put his hands together, made his wife and child do the profits by tl same, and I prayed our heavenly Father's blessing upon our plans and is sometimi upon these poor Indians ; that He would cause His truth to be known by lit, but, to 01: them, that all might be brought to have the same hope, and be meet y have learnt partakers of heaven through His dear Son. I see John Clark occa- in their ov^sionally at church. This pleasing result is owing a good deal to the y these horrizeajous and successful exertions of our Church Missionary Catechist, y-school weiMr» Duncan." other, * "Wbi lD"nder these circumstances, the Governor had urged strongly upon Mr. I words shoulDailcan the service which he would render by coming down to Victoria, aii4 advising on the best measures to be taken to rescue the Indians from d had becoKthlW state of degradation into which they had fallen. Accordingly, as ng men in tlsoOft as the great body of his people left Fort Simpson for their fishing vigorous efiffgrO^nds, Mr. Duncan, after making two expeditions,'^ to which wo shall have to refer hereafter, started for Victoria. ;| lii 356 MISSION LIFE. rMloMon Lit ««i„,„„ [Julyl.is;; 'ag'i';^ On Gk)vei- strong a Mis Mlillh. ii'fM'iilii ■Hi;v^:;';!iii':'.';",li ^. , 1...''. :i;'i|l , '■ Viiji i.l!/I",^rl ii;l';ili;Mi! ec sabscr work ( people Am sideral the d Just b their and CO detern] eight c « Sate biscuit gtms, i the Qu t most e: an boa appreei whicl'i 1 S their sc Oaptaii It mj a simp] Missioi who ha one of mnch c influeuc courteo Engl: in doiu^ be doub Oolumb extreme nugr so £arl;y Simpso] it iras d in rMlsMon Lit LJuiyM.; %?1^^;M STRANGER THA>i FICTION. 357 m' '^Ivii '% "SS' Hi »^ i'lii, ii i\^ On bis arrival tliere, he at once entered, with the Bishop and the Governor, upon the object of bis visit, and, in deference to their strongly expressed wish, consented to remain a sufficient time to organise a Missionary settlement near Victoria. A public meeting upon the subject was then called, and a sufficient sum of money having been Bnbscribed to build a school-house, Mr. Duncan at once entered upon the work of organising the new Mission, preaching, teaching, and visiting the people, just as at Fort Simpson. Amongst the Indians congregated at the new settlement were a con- siderable number belonging to the Tsimsheean and Niskah tribes, who at the close of the fishing season had come down for trading purposes. Jnst before starting for Victoria, Mr. Duncan had visited tne Niskahs at their main camp on the Naas river, and as he had been very hospitably and courteously received, Captain Prevost, whose ship was now in harbour, determined, by way of returning their hospitality, to ask some twenty- eight of the chief men of the two tribes to an entertainment on board the ** Satellite." After being regaled with rice and molasses, strong tea and biscuit, they were shown over the ship. The size and weight of the gons, the quantit}^ of powder in a cartridge, and especially a portrait of the Queen, are enumerated by the Victc ria Gazette as the objects which most excited their wonder and admiration. The fact of their being invited ry uld indt * thank God, and take courage. I have never seen - .. ai jlish C( gregation more orderly and attentive. With but few exceptions, both t children and adults corr.e clean and neatly dressed. The children si: several hymns very sweetly — a morning and evening hymn, composed Mr. Duncan ; a hymn to our Saviour ; and another, beginning ' Jesus my Saviour,' ' Here we suffer grief and pain,' &c., and some others, English ; also one in Tsimsheean. The Indians all up the coast ; crying out for teachers: * Come over and help us.' " Writing about the same time, Mr. Duncan urgently presses t necessity for more men being sent out, especially urging that with :: Missionary clergyman should bo scat a Missionary schoolmaster, alu teach some industrial occupation, with a view to finding employii t ' the Indians, and thus keeping them from that "sink of con/:^ ' Victoria. " There should be," he writes, "six stations north of Fort Rupert : ( for the Tsimsheean, one for the Niskah Indians, two for Queen Cli lotto's Island, one for Fort Rupert, and one on the adjacent mainland. Hitherto, owing to the want of funds, the work thus indicated has bi 'eft in a great measure unattempted. Is it unreasonable to hope ti. the record of the result of Mr. Duncan's own labours may yc stir t hearts of some of those whom God has blessed with this wor;.'>' '^oo to dedicate some portion of them to an effort so manifestly teiiuing His glory, and the welfare of His creatures ? rMlMlon I, L July 1, u: m the 13th n a steamer f( pert, where tl er having let s heyond thee jsionary settlt ot to return : to remain foi ^ain in a can& ian settlemer possible for hi: t, he received f, that a clei-fr evote himself ) progress up in a letter frc . England cou y uld indt u ..aglish C( ptions, both ' e children si: m, composed nning 'Jesus some others, p the coast ; tly presses t that with j: Imaster, al -a employn • it ' of corir,^: ort Eupert : ( or Queen Cli int mainland. Heated has h le to hope ti. lay yc' stir t s worl'*'*'' a;oo 'estly tenuiiig Wion Life,- lly 1,1871. . STRANGER THAN FICTION. CHAPTER VII. BUILDING rP. 359 Mr. and Mrs. Tug^vell joining Mr. Duncan at Fort Simpson — the Hudson's Bay Company being no longer able to offer the requisite ac- commodation — it became necessary to commence at to build once a FORT SIM1'.S0N dwelling-house. For a payment ot* a shilling a-day a sufficient number of native work- men were obtained, and by the end of February, 1861, the foundation of the house was laid, the planks adzed, and the frame ready for putting up. Towards the end of February Mr. Duncan was absent for some weeks on a visit to Victoria, and on his return found the house finished, and Mr. and Mrs. Tugwell already located in it. As it had been built on a plan " to accommodate Indians," it was decided that, durii:;; the summer months, when the school would be small and the congreg.ition on Sunday would seldom exceed a hundred persons, school and Di\ine Service should be held in it, instead of in the old school-house. The old school-house having been found to be too small for the various purposes for which it was required in the winter, pre^ arations were next made for erecting a new one. Taking s'xteen men and several boys with him, Mr. Duncan himself superintended the cutting and squaring the requisite timber, camping out for that purpose for about a fortnight at ^i spot some distance along the coast. At the end of that time the wood '.•^s formed into a raft and drifted down to the settlement. The old Jii/ildiug was then pulled down and a fresh site chosen farther from the **:t,dnip." The new building was 70 feet long by 36 feet broad, and was estimated to CO t 250, a considerable portion of which was subscribed by the Indians themselves dishes, &c., which U|cessant rains during the summer the completion of the building was 4|Iaycd till quite the end of the year (1861), by which time Mr. Duncan ms again left, as will be explained in the next chapter, to labour single- Imnded. in the form of native work — baskets, spoons, were always saleable at Victoria. Owing to the .0^ 860 MISSION LIFE. r Mission I.i' L July l,i8;i '■J ■ ■'^!j'.:..:;iji'l|;|' W: '■■'** July l,l8;i JfiMlon I.lfe.i ^dy' 1,1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 361 ml ^ I 16 'J On the first day of opening the now achool-hoiiso upwards of four hundred Indians were present — the lar<.(ost number which, up to this time, had ever attended one service. One object of the present narrative is, as far as possible, to enable those wiio may be engaged in any work of a kindred character to form 8(1(1 opinion as to the advantages and disadvantages of the particular methods adopted, and to contrast the results attained with those which they have themselves known to follow efforts made i;nder conditions more or less similar. With this view, and especially in order to register as accurately as poflsible the extent of the progress made at particular pei'iods, we must again, at the risk of seeming tedious, dwell separately on the different influences brought to bear upon the people, especially preaching, school- work, visiting the sick, and constant personal intercourse with individual members of the community. During the whole of the winter 18G0-61 the attendance at the Sunday services was most encouraging — the congregation always numbering from 200 to 300. The strings of well-dressed Indians going to and from their homes had a very home-like, English look, and, as was constantly remarked by the officers at the fort, served more almost than anything else to mark the change from savage to civilised life, which had already fairly set in. There were always three s.'^rvices on the Sunday — two for adults and one for children. Prayers and a hymn, and a portion of Scripture read and explained, all in Tsimsheean, made up the service, which generally lasted about three-quarters of an hour. But Mr. Duncan by no means confined his preaching to Sundays. True, he could here speak to those who would coinr to hhn, but he wanted to get at all, especially at those most committed to the observance of heathen rites, and who would be least likely to come to any regular sendees. Sere are some notes made from his journal, which will show the plan he from time to time adopted to secure the Gospel message being pro- claimed to all : — "Jan. 7th, 1861. — Decided to call each tribe together again separately, as some would not come to school or church. First went to tribe of head chief, called Heeshpokahlots. Got there at five o'clock. Found a large fire, and many round it. House neatly arranged, and a seat placed for me. Spoke to 200 for two hours. Many answered. "Jan. Sth. — Addressed Kitlahn tribe. 200 present. Spoke at length. Many replies. Children sang Tsimsheean hymn. "Jan. 9th. — Visited Keetseesh tribe. 150 present. Several spoke. One chief said — * Our forefathers did not have the book sent to them ; it haa come to us, and our children will understand it.' Children sang hymns. 862 MISSION LIFE. [Misnion L July I, If togi\ duty, in bo has p< iMpii Th( perfec c'rN:S;\" N Mr. Tugwell's first arrival (in August, 1860), Mr. Duncan had proposed that he should, as soon as possible, move to a place called Metlahkatlah, some twenty miles down the coast, and tjiere gather round him, as the nucleus of a new Christian settlement, such of the converts at Fort Simpson as could be induced to join him. The formation of this new set- tlement had been contemplated by Mr. Duncan as early as 1859, when he wrote : — " What is to become of the children and young people under instruction, when temporal ne- cessity compels them to leave school ? If they are permitted to slip away from me into the of vice and misery which everywhere surrounds them, then the fate these tribes is sealed, and the labour and money that has already spent for their welfare might as well have been thrown away. The ■thinking part of the Indian people themselves see this, and are ig, nay, craving a remedy. The head chief of one tribe (a very •disposed old man) is constantly urging this question upon me, and that steps may be taken which shall give the Indians that are led, and especially the children now being taught, a chance and a to become what good people desire them to be. In the present of afiairs, no real or permanent good, in my humble opinion, can be ted. Victoria, although it is 500 miles away, will always prove the of attraction to these tribes, and to many even much farther away. jfe they become demoralized and filled with disease, and from thence return, laden with rum, to spread scenes of horror too awful to ibe. It is easy to see that if this state of things receive no check, roL. II. 27 '^^ f I 'Ifl'i 418 MISSION LIFE. L Auk. 1. then ruin, utter ruin, to them all is not far distant. Numhers, even n are bcj-ond the reach of hope, being impregnated with disease, a enslaved to their vicious courses. But hope looks up, and says then a generation of them left as yet uncontaminated by these self-dcatrov vices, and to the rescue of these, at least, we would beckon the off( the Christian. " And now, permit me humbly to suggest how I think Christian cff ought to 1)0 directed. At once, I say, a colony ougat to be establisl on some spot where industry would be taught and rewarded, and wl; intoxicating drinks should be excluded. Such a spot exists (the Indi are frequently talking about it to me) about thirty miles from hero ; : a goodly band of well-disposed Indians, I feel sure, are ready to cn^i hand and heart, in the work ; and several adults, who look upon tl own case as hopeless, are exceedingly anxious about their children. Tl desire to hand them over to me (or, to use their own words, to rfire tli to me), to teach and bring up in my way, which, they see, is ^(t Now, if such a place as I have spoken of were established, then we mi. reasonably expect the Gospel tree to take root, and, when once rooted would spread forth its branches of peace on every side, until all the k basked under its shadow. If no such place is established, then I fei./ must live and see the dear children I have taught destroyed before j eyes." After-events had only tended to strengthen the opinion here express) and to develope additional reasons for acting upon it. These latter tl\ be thus stated : — 1. The discovery of gold in the northern districts of itish Coluii^ promised to attract a large mining population to t sighbourho' many of whom would make their head-quarters at Fort Simpson. 2. The sea frontage at Fort Simpson was so crowded that no H houses could be built. 3. There was no available land for garden purposes and indust^ training for the young. 4. The proposed settlement would be central for six tribes of IndLl speaking the Tsimsheean tongue, while it would be near enough to Simpson to enable a constant intercourse to be kept up between the:| places. 5. The Christian Indians were most anxious to escape from the si.| and thraldom of heathenism, and from the persecution consequent nj their having to live in the same houses with heathen and drunkards. 6. School operations would be put on a more satisfactory footing^ the imparting of secular knowledge would thus be limited to those' had embraced the Gospel, whereas the sowing it broadcast among heail who, having heard, had rejected the Gospel, seemed to Mr. Dui:| likely to result in much evil. \*t tl w kal du II iter bi srie li th the id %1 M, iish th [tyi rh( m •ion Life, t 1,1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 419 js and indusd [** All wo want," says Mr. Duncan, in summing up tlio arguments for proposed effort, " is God's favour and blcssinfif, and then wo may )c to build up, in His good time, a model Christian village, reflecting |[ht and radiating heat to all the spiritually dark and dead masses of lanity around us." ^With a view to carrying this plan into effect, Mr. Duncan had already ule his first visit of inspection to the proposed site of the new station, [May, 18G0, just before going down to Victoria. Going back to this int in our narrative, we must now describe this visit, jcaving the school at Fort Simpson in charge of two of the elder boys, f. Duncan started in a canoe, with a crew of three boys and ten young ^n. He found tli 'listance to be about twenty miles. About noon on second day they . rrived in the beautiful channel of Metlahkatliih, ^ee or four miles long, in which were situated the sites of the villages jinally occupied by the Tsimsheeans, before they had been induced to ire for trading purposes to Fort Simpson, which, as affording the most benient place of call for the sailing vessels, had been selected by the [dson's Bay Company as their chief trading depot on .the coast, hit we must let Mr. Duncan here tell his own story-: — [* May 2, 1860. — These villages have been deserted about twenty-five rs, and the few remains still standing consist of massive uprights and pzontal beams of the chief houses, which are now so rotten, that I Id easily push my walking-stick through many of them. I could see the houses have been large, and, in some cases, ornamented by an wooden figure, set up on each of th*. front corners. I saw, too, that ^ral of the houses have been sunk ten or twelve feet, to afford protec- during war. I landed, and \iewed the scenery from several points, and oh, hoAV ly did it appear ! A narrow placid channel, studded with little pro- stories and pretty islands ; a rich verdure, a waving forest, backed by but densely-wooded mountains ; a solemn stillness, broken only by sries of flocks of happy birds flying over, or the more musical notes of little warbler near at hand. But how strangely did all this contrast the sad reflections which the history of savage heathenism suggests ! thought that every foot of ground I trod upon had been stained with Kd crime, that every little creek was associated with some dark jdy, and those peaceful waters had oft been stained with human made my feelings soon change from delight to gloom. What j|d, indeed, those rocks unfold if all the horrid yells and cries of lish they have echoed were but written ? or who can even faintly the scenes of savage riot committed on these beaches when blocd- [ty marauders have returned with human heads for booty ? ^he number of souls left is about 100. Their proper village, which I 36 from here, is quite deserted, and will be for a few months. The 420 MISSION LIFE. rMission I; L Aug.l.lv :,il!n,f;i:;;i||;^iii..itr':;h II';. i'l'!'.! ',, : .1 HPffiflpMBP'--''-?-!' .' •■'■' '■ ■■ I' if'i'i ''ii;'!i'' i'. '' I ' '■ Vi '^i!Mi!!lllf^!¥:.|';^iji:illii['r Mil [<'■'! / %■■ J Av : ii^.l.'].! 0m^m^ki ;- ii(f' fill --> &i?if ' ^iljitr.! ij ill} 'ii ""■ '''"*''ii.:#Mi ; «v;[i!||f 1.: rMlssion L L Aug.l.lv Blon Uf'i,-] . 1, 1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 421 ifi' ii!!'- m H>i ief at the head of this partv iuvitecl mc into his house, and also all his ^ncipal men, to feast with mo. Ho complained of having bad health, no wonder, for I found out that ho is a cannibal by profession, one of horrid gang who, in the winter months, awe and astonish the tribe hunting for, exhuming, and eating corpses ! " |Mr. Duncan's address concluded, supper was served. It consisted of ree courses -^ oiled dried halibut; herring spawn, and broiled sea-weed th fish grease (the latter delicacy is a siaplo article of food amongst the [dians, and one main result of the annual fishing expedition, boxes of [being ranged round tho walls of every Indian house). At 7 p.m., r. Duncan asked the chief to invite some more of the people into his ise, and again addressed them. This time the women also attended. [The next morning, the wind being favourable, the Indians wore all rd at work pulling down their houses, and lading thoir canoes, ready [start to their fishing station. They had been waiting some days for a wind, and if Mr. Duncan had been a few days later in visiting them, a soul would have been left. [The next visit to Metlahkatlah was made in the autumn of the same ir, shortly after his return from Victoria, when he spent a fortnight, [ping and directing a number of Indians, whom he took with him, in ring and draining the proposed site for the new village. ?he latter step was takon under the impression — to whieh we have jady alluded — that in the course of the summer of 1861 Mr. Tugwell lid be able to move to the new station ; but this was not to be — the isture and constant rains, which were the chief feature of the climate •"ort Simpson, having before that time told so prejudicially upon his IHi, that he was obliged to make immediate arrangements for returning higlund.* [r. Tugwell's departure not only involved the postponement of the )osed removal until the spring of the following year (1862), but left Duncan no alternative but to revert to his original idea of going iself to the new settlement. [The climate of this part of British Columbia is thus described by Mr. Duncan in one of his est letters : — lin is the chief feature of the weather here. Oat of 125 days which I have spent here, only -nine have been fair, or entirely free from rain ; and 1 may add, that by far the gi-eutest er of those days on whi",h it I'ains at all it rains nearly the whole day. We had no snow till th'! be^mning of January, and since then abou l.fty inches have fallen. The weather een, on cbe whole, remarkably mild. It is now t)n last week in February, and we have not |>ver twenty cold days during the winter. All thi,-, is accounted for by the fact that the pre- »g wind here is from the south-east, which is the return cuiTent of the north-east trade I falling in this latitude, and coming, loaded with moisture and warmth, from the tropics Ring also just to the west of a high range of mountains, has naturally to do with our 80 much rain during the year." climate at Fort Simpson is the more remarkable, from the contrast which it affords to that I districts lying a few miles inland. On the Naas River, for instance, thirty or foity milea 1, the snow lies for months, and the only travelling is on the frozen rivers, along which a track is generally formed in the snow. 1 ! I 422 MISSION LIFE. don t,IJ( fMlnHloii Lii g. 1,1871 I Aug. 1,1,;;"" CHAPTER IX. A TIME OF TRIAL. ATER on in the winter which succeeded Mr. Tugwell departure (1861-62), Mr. Duncan commenced constai meetings of those who were inclined to move with him Metlahkatlah, and strongly impressed upon them the a cessity of framing some regulations of a social nature to adopted in the new village. The following were the rult eventually laid down, indicating the least required of all wi wished to join the new settlement : — 1. To give up their " Ahlied," or Indian devilry ; 2. To ceai calling in conjurors when sick ; 3. To cease gambling ; 4. ij cease giving away their property for display ; 5. To cease painti their faces ; 6. To cease drinking intoxicating drink ; 7. To rei on the Sabbath ; 8. To attend religious instruction ; 9. To seel their children to school ; 10. To be cleanly; 11. To be industrious] 12. To be peaceful ; 13. To be liberal and honest in trade ; 14. To hm neat houses ; 15. To pay the village tax. By the 12th of May, 1862, everything was in readiness for the moTi Mr. Duncan then commenced pulling down the large school-house ai forming the materials into a raft, which, two days later, he sent offtj the new site. Before any further preparations were completed, a cam arrived from Victoria announcing that small-pox had broken out thei and that many Tsimsheeans had died. Next day several other cam followed, bringing mournful inf:elligence of the virulence of the diseas| which prevailed even amongst those who had thus fled from it, hav carried oflF many of their number during the voyage. Mr. Duncan had previously determined to pay a farewell visit to eai tribe separately, and he therefore spent the next few days in visiting fi house to house, and in addressing the tribes assembled in their chii houses. In spite of the great improvement which had taken place, a large \\ portion of the Indians still continued steeped in drunkenness heathenism. But the struggle involved by the abandonment of heathenism was no means wholly an outward one, if indeed mainly so. To many surrendering their national customs, ceasing to give away, tear up, receive blankets, &c., for display, dropping their demoniacal rites, vb bad hitherto and for ages filled up their time and engrossed all their during so many[]months of the year, giving up the ceremonies perfor] over the sick, laying aside gambling, and ceasing to paint their faces, lion Life,-) . 1, 1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 423 :e: 14. TobJ le cutting off the right hand or plucking out the right eye. Still, many had already made these sacrifices, and had borne so well the rsecutions in which they had involved them, that many others were |w more than half inclined to follow their example. The presence so terrible a disease, and the dread of its spreading amongst them, turally gave additional weight to the earnest warnings addressed to em, and it wus evident that many who had hitherto either vehemently 30sed, or at least held aloof from the proposed movement, began now [look upon it with very different feelings. 5y the 27th of May the final preparations for the flitting were com- kted. Those who had prepared to go, embarked in six canoes, and ibered in all about fifty souls, men, women, and children. Many lers gathered in groups on the beach, sitting down and watching the 3arture with solemn and anxious faces, whilst not a few were earnest Itheir protestations of their intention to follow very shortly. " As we shed off," writes Mr. Duncan, *' the party with me seemed filled with [emn joy, feeling that their long looked for flitting had actually com- }nced. I felt that we were beginning an eventful page in the history this poor people, and earnestly sighed to God for His help and Jssing." Jy 2 P.M. the next day the little fleet of canoes arrived safely at its stination. They found the Indians, who had come on before with the b, hard at work clearing ground and sawing planks. With the excep- of a few heavy beams they had already carried all the raft from the ich, erected two temporary houses, and planted a quantity of potatoes. i'or the next few days all were actively engaged in selecting and Irking out sites for the gardens and houses, and making the requisite kparations for building and planting, whilst every night they " assembled happy family — for singing and prayer," Mr. Duncan addressing them ^n each occasion from some portion T scriptural truth suggested by events of the day." Jut the effect of Mr. Duncan's parting exhortiitions, and the fruits of his previous work at Fort Simpson had yet, it seemed, to appear. the 6th of June, to the great joy of all, a fleet of about thirty canoes, tch were at once recognised as coming from Fort Simpson, mad their l>earance. They proved to contain some 300 souls, formiug nearly the )le of the tribe Keetlahn, with two of their chiefs. [itherto, it seemed, the small-pox had not spread, as was expected. 3W days later, however, another canoe arrived, bringing tidings which a heavy cloud over all. The disease was spreading rapialy, and had ^ady taken a fearful hold of the camp. i'urther tidings only served to confirm the anxious forebodings which intelligence created. For a time the Indians had " sought refuge leir charms and lying vanities." They dressed up their houses with 424 MISSION LIFE. rMisslon i, J 1 ^ feathers and rind of bark stained red ; they sang their heathen sonp j and kept the rattles of their conjurors perpetually going. But all tht| deceits proved of no avail ; several of the charmers fell a prey to t:| disease, and death and desolation spread far and wide. Amongst those which were foremost in resorting to every superstiticj observance was the tribe of the head chief Legaic. For a time members had gone almost unscathed, a fact which filled their conjurj with pride and boasting words, and caused no little perplexity to tli(| who had partly shaken off their heathen superstitions. When, lioi ever, the disease did seize upon them, the very practices to wliil they had resorted, by increasing the unhealthiness of their dwellii],J seemed to give it double power, and in the end the tribe suffered more than any other. In the whole camp, the total number of deaths was no fewer than o(| or more than one-fifth of the entire population. Many nov/ began flee ; but it was too late, as the scourge accompanied them. Those vii had been more or less impressed by Mr. Duncan's teaching, and mal even of the declared heathen, now came crying in great fear to the iitj colony. Amongst the latter was the head chief Legaic. ThorougL humbled by the misfortunes which had fallen upon him, and the loss so large a part of his tribe, he resisted every effort which was made i detain him at Fort Simpson, and virtually retiring from the chief taiusij] of the Tsimsheeans, he settled down with his wife and daughter at Metk katlah, and become from this time forward one of Mr. Duncan's m{ earnest and active supporters. The painful anxiety consequont upon the uncertainty how far infection was still likely to spread was greatly increased, in Mr. Duucaij case, by the difficulty which he felt in dealing with those who thus fledj him from Fort Simpson. " For the safety of those with me,'* he writes, "I was obliged toj very cautious in receiving any fresh comers ; and some I could not recel at all. For the temporal and spiritual welfare of my own people, who ff| clinging to me like timid children, I was kept in constant labour pressing anxiety. The heaviness which I felt I cannot describe. DeJ stared us in the face on every hand. But God remembered us in tliecjj of our calamity." During the whole summer the effect of the death and desolation wli:| prevailed on all sides exercised a most depressing influence upon the i| settlement, and prevented the Indians from throwing themselves ri spirit into the work of building, or even of laying up the requisite sto:^ of provisions for the winter ; and it was only as the autumn came ou, i all fear of the disease continuing to spread subsided, that any i progress was made in the various worivs which were so absolutely esv tial to their very existence. ' 'm rMl8»lon lL L Aug. i.in-^ heathen sonf; But all tbt [ a prey to i;^ )ry superstitiol For a time their coiijurij ■plexity to tlicl When, h(A ctices to whiij their dwelliii!; fibe suffered fewer than oi^j y uovi be;;au 3m. Those vii hiug, and mai fear to the iitj ic. Thorou^lJ and the loss| Lch was made j the chieftainsli ghter at j\IetluJ . Duncan's \M ity how far in Mr. Duncaij who thus tledj as obliged to|i could not rcctll people, who wd tant labour iescribe. Def ed us in tlie i i^lon Ltfe,] Bg. 1, 1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 425 Reviewing this period of trial, Mr. Duncan says : — *' I have gratefully to acknowledge God's sparing mercy to us as a llage. We had only five fatal cases amongst those who originally left )rt Simpson with me, and three of these deaths were caused by tending to sick relatives who came to us after taking the disease." Nor were there wanting reasons for encouragement and thankfulness ^sJug from the conduct of those amongst the earlier converts who fell ider the power of the disease. Here, e.g., is the record of the death of [Stephen Ryan," one of those who were first baptized at Fort Simpson Mr. Tugwell. " He died in a most distressing condition as f r as the body is con- Irned. Away from every one whom he loved, in a little back hut on a icky beach, just beyond the reach of the tide, which no one of his |latives or friends dared to approach, except the pne who nursed him : this damp, lowly, distressing state, suffering from the malignant [seaso of small-pox, how cheering to receive such words as the following )m him : — ' I am quite happy. I find my Saviour very near to me. I not afraid to die : heaven is open to receive me. Give my thanks to . Duncan ; he told me of Jesus. I have hold of the ladder that iches to heaven. All Mr. Duncan taught me I now feel to be true.' len, saying that he wished to be carried to his relatives, his words ^re — • Do not weep for me. You are poor, being left ; I am not poor : im going to heaven. My Saviour is very near to me. Do all of you low me to heaven. Let not one of you be wanting. Tell my mother )re clearly the way of life. I am afraid she does not yet understand |e way. Tell her not to weep for me, but to get ready to die. Be all one heart, and live in peace.' " jBut we must pass on to the brighter days of success and prosperity by lich, in the Providence of God, this time of heavy trial to the infant lony was to be succeeded. desolation tv1i| ce upon the i^ themselves 3 requisite sti - ran came on, i, that any absolutely ess| 426 MISSION LIFE. rMicPlou Mil L Aug. I.IWI I I.. il.-l CHAPTER X. BRIGHTER DAYS. VERYTHING at the new settlement began now to sett! down into a regular routine. The population numbercj between 600 and 700 souls, consisting of about one-fourtl:| of the former native population of Fort Simpson, and few representatives from several tribes — the Zangass: Nishkah, Ke-Keethrahtla and Keetsahlass — living witbii;| seventy miles of that place. All of these, in taking the stij, they had done, had made great sacrifices, and gone througl;| much labour, trial, and persecution. The most notable of these new settlers were three chiefs ol different tribes — Legaic, Neeahshlakah-noosh, and Leeguneesl;^ and the leading man amongst the cannibals, by name Quthrayl the latter was one of those who had taken a prominent part in tlitl revolting scene which Mr. Duncan had witnessed on his first arriYali and had for a long time been one of the most bitter opponents of the iief| teaching. The first undertaking was necessarily that of building the new village Great assistance in this work was rendered by a liberal contribution fioii| the Governor of British Columbia of 150 window sashes, and 600 lbs. c:| nails, which arrived in September (1862). A further contribution in money was received from the officers &iM crew of one of H.M.'s ships stationed on the coast, as a mark of the higl'l opinion which, during a stay of some days at Metlahkatlah, they haJi formed of the importance of the work being carried on there. All the dwelling-houses were built outwardly after the European model | but in the internal arrangements few improvements could as yet k^ effected. Several families still lived under the same roof, nor could thej^ as yet be persuaded to partition their houses into separate compartmeDt;|j economy of fuel, and the love of company, being the chief inducementi^J to their adhering in this respect to their former habits. Thirty-five houses, averaging thirty-four feet by eighteen, and eacl having four windows, were soon erected. One hundred plots of garden ground, situated on the islands in varioii'l parts of the channel in front of the settlement, were also duly measuret ' out and registered, and prepared for cultivation. The next work taken in hand was a large and strong octagon buildinj intended to serve, for a time, the purposes both of a church and school 1 and capable of holding nearly 700 people. This was finished, and tk first service held in it on the 20th of December. Up to this time Mr. Duncan had had service three times every Sunday lion Llff ,1 , 1, 1871. J 8TRAN0ER THAN FICTION. 427 ; 11 ler in the open air or in his own log-house, and a class for religious ^tructicn and worship every week-day evening. Jhortly after the opening of the new building, Mr. Duncan writes : — '• About 400 to 600 souls attend Divine Service on Sundays, and are pg governed by Christian and civilised laws. About seventy adults twenty children are already baptized, or are only waiting for a lister to come and baptize them. About 100 children are attending day-school, and 100 adults the evening-school. Al>out forty of the mg men have formed themselves into two classes, and meet for prayer exhorting each other. The instruments of the medicine men, which ire spell-bound this nation for ages, have found their way into my ise, and are most willingly and cheerfully given up. Customs which the very foundation of Indian government, and lie nearest the lian heart, have been given up because they have an evil tendency. ists are now characterised by order and good-will, and begin and end \,h the offering of thanks to the Giver of all good. . . . Scarcely a soul lains away from Divine Service, excepting the sick and their nurses. [ening family devotions are common to almost every house ; and, better in all, I have a hope that many have experienced a real change of irt Thus the surrounding tribes have now a model village before ^m acting as a powerful witness for the truth of the Gospel, shaming correcting, yet still captivating them. For in it they see those good igs which they and their forefathers have sought and laboured for in 1, viz., peace, security, order, honesty, and progress. To God be all praise and glory ! " fr. Duncan had now, besides about 100 children who attended morning afternoon, a class of aboul 100 adults, to whom he gave " simple tures on geography, astronomy, natural history, and morals," a plan pch he found that the Indians greatly appreciated, the attendance being m much larger than that given as the average. the meantime, the week-day meetings for candidates for baptism, imenced in the previous winter, were continued with very satisfactory ills. Indeed, so large a number were now prepared and anxious to [baptized, that as there was iio immediate prospect of another clergy- being sent out from England to take Mr. Tugwell's place, Mr. lean wrote to the Bishop of Columbia, asking him to make arrange- its at as early a date as possible for a clergyman to visit the settle- it. before, however, this request could be granted, Mr. Duncan was called [n, under circumstances which did not admit of delay, to administer I rite of baptism himself. iuthray, the cannibal chief to whom allusion has more than once been le, had now for some time been one of the most earnest and regular idants at the instruction class for candidates for baptism. Towards ■ i n It 428 MISSION LIFE. rMlifiion I L Aug. 1, r ■ tlio end of the summer of 1862 he had been seized with a dangers ilhiess, from which there was evidently little hope of his recovery. ^1 Duncan had visited him constantly; and as ** he had long and earnest desired baptism, and expressed, in the clearest terms, his repentance f his sins, and his faith in the Saviour of sinners," had promised that I would himself baptize him, unless a clergyman should in the meantiiij arrive from Victoria — a promise for which he had expressed his gratitu;^ ** with the greatest force he could command." " Though I was not sent here to baptize," Mr. Duncan writes, " I li no fear but that I was doing what was pleasing to God in administerii that sacred rite to the poor dying man, as an officially appointed persi ' was not within several hundred miles of him." Towards the end of October, Mr. Duncan felt that he could no l(m^ delay in redeeming his promise, intelligence being brought to him oil morning that the sick man was much worse, and apparently dying, lil thus describes his visit : — "I found the suflferer apparently on the very verge of eternity, h quite sensible, supported by his wife on one side, and another woman i the other, in a sitting posture on his lowly couch, spread upon the grouiil^ I addressed him at once, reminding him of the promise I had made: him, and why. I also spoke some words of advice to him, to which 1| paid most earnest attention, though his cough would scarcely permit lii; to have a moment's rest. A person near expressed a fear that he did eJ understand what I said, being so weak, and near death ; but he quicklf and with great emphasis, exclaimed, * I hear — I understand.' While was praying, his countenance was most lovely. With his face tura- upward, he seemed to be deeply engaged in prayer. I baptized him, m gave him the name of Philip Atkinson. I earnestly besought the Lo: to ratify in heaven what He had permitted me tc lo in His name, and| receive the soul of the poor dying penitent before Him. He had ttj same resignation and peace which he has evinced throughout his sic ness, weeping for his sins, depending all upon the Saviour, confident | pardon and rejoicing in hope. - " This is the man of whom I have had to write more than once toi Society. Oh, the dreadful and revolting things which I have witness him do ! He was one of the two principal actors in the first horrid sceij I saw at Fort Simpson, about four and a-half j'ears ago, an account which I sent home, namely, that of a poor slave woman boing murdertl in cold blood, thrown on the beach, and then torn to pieces, and eatt by two naked savages, who were supported by a crew of singers and t ' noise of drums. This man was one of those naked cannibals. Glorio; change ! See him, clothed, in his right mind, weeping — weeping sorei his sins — expressing to all around him firm belief in the Saviour, ail dying in peace. Bless the Lord for all His goodness." ; ^ rMlislon I 4 I Aug. 1, 1 • ith a dangero' i recovery. ^1 ng and earnest s repentance f jromised that I! in the meantiil sed his gratituj n writes, " I lij in administeriii appointed persi ) could no Ions-; Light to him 01^ antly dying. of eternity, bJ iiother woman . upon the grom 3 I had made him, to which l| ircely permit hii ir that he did eJ but he quicklj ■stand.' WhikI his face turE.; laptized him, aL| (Sought the Lo:1 lis name, andj m. He had ttj mghout his sit iour, confident than once to t| I have witness first horrid see: JO, an account 1 boing murdeii )ieces, and eatt f singers andtlj Qibals. Glorio; -weeping soref the Saviour, ai' Hon Ll(c,i ,1,1871. J STRANOBR THAN PICTION. 429 ^e must now turn for a while to the secular affairs of .no settlement. assist him in these, Mr. Duncan selected ten men, whom he consti- jd constables, and who, with the three chiefs, formed a sort of village incil. No intoxicating drinks were admitted, and drunkenness was refore a vice entirely unknown. Some few, on their visits to Fort ipson, transgressed, and " two, whose cases were clearly proved, and litted of no extenuation, were banished" from the settlement. ifter due consviltation, an important decision was arrived at by the [age council, viz., that a yearly tax of one blanket, or two and a-half lars, for every adult male, and one shirt, or one dollar, for such as ire approachicg manhood, should be levied for helping to carry on the [ious public works which it was proposed shortly to commence. ?his tax was first levied on New Year's Day, 1863. Out of 130 suable, there were but ten defaulters, who were excused on the ground )overty. ^he revenue thus gathered amounted to "one green, one blue, and ^ety-four white blankets ; one pair of white trousers, one dressed elk I, seventeen shirts, and seven dollars." order to give the chiefs as much support as possible, and to increase |ir influence with their Christian brethren, it was at first proposed that should act as village magistrates, deciding all civil cases which ^ht arise, and that in return for these services they should receive onc- of the annual tax. Experience, however, soon showed that their ly inconsistencies made their sitting as judges very anomalous ; and jiheir views of justice were often very oblique, it was soon found neces- to dispense with their assistance in such matters, [ence the community, seeing no benefit likely to accrue from their rices, objected to the plan of dividing the tax. " Kather let the |>lic works take it all," Ihey said. So accordingly it was settled. ihe chief publio works which it was proposed to undertake were : — To make a road round the village. As the ground was uneven and bkly wooded, this was expected to be a work of considerable labour. To build two good-sized houses for the accommodation of strange lians coming for the purposes of trade — the object being to prevent interference with domestic comfort and improvement, arising from visitors being lodged under the old system. To fix rests on the shore for canoes when unemployed, and to lay 5es for moving the canoes along the beach and into the water at low To sink wells, to form a public playgi-ound, &c. her and above the evident advantage to the community at large of works as the above, one main object with which they were under- ^n was to provide profitable employment for the adult population, BO to keep them away from those labour markets which presented 430 MISSION LIFB. rMlll«^n^ .^:!i temptations too strong and vices too fascinating for tho Indian in then morally infantile condition to withstand. With tho same view tho preparation of articles for exportation Victoria, such as salt, smoked fish, fish grease, dried herries, furs, „ I was cncourngcd. At the same time, as the only means for the succosvj prosecution of this hranch of labour, Mr. Duncan commenced to lay plans for securing facilities for trading operations, which would render settlement independent of the visits of tho barbarous class of men va ployed in running small vessels up tho coast, and whose chief trade in intoxicating drinks. The evils resulting from the visits of tl: 1 coasting vessels, and the consequent necessity for providing for Indians some other method of disposing of their own goods, and obtii ing what they required in return, are thus explained : — ** The visits of these traders to the Indian camps are invariably maii; by murder and the very maddest riots. Family ties are broken. A yoi:J man, under the influence of fire water, will shoot his wife or his motl: his sister or his brother ; and, if he be spared through the revel, awakens to bitter remorse, and becomes desperate. The peace of tril is b.oken, war begins, blood is shed, and wounds made which will ts generations of time to heal, and for which many innocent lives may k to compensate." The plan proposed was to obtain a small vessel, to be subscribed for the Indians themselves in yums of .£1 or .£1 lOs. or the equivalent in fir^ An indirect advantage which seemed likely to arise from the adopt! ■ of this plan was that, having the vessel in their own hands, the India: would be sure to take more interest in it, and be more ready to esj themselves to keep it well and profitably employed. The reader will probably feel just as Mr. Duncan did, that, howet] great the apparent necessity for some such step as the above, nothing 1 success would really justify a Missionary in the eyes of the public undertaking such an experiment. We may as well, therefore, so : anticipate the actual chronological order of events as to show howt tirely the result bore out his strong conviction of the feasibility a: ' advantage of the plan suggested. In the course of the summer of 1863, Mr. Duncan, having explait his views to the colonial government, received a gi-ant of ^100 towar, the required vessel. • The Indians subscribed a further sum of iV^ Making up the deficiency himself, he purchased a schooner at a cost £300, and commenced, at his own risk, to supply the villagers wi; goods, and to convey their produce for sale to Victoria. The first few trips of the "Carolina" proved entirely satisfadon Carrying down a cargo of " fish oil, furs, Indian food, cypress plants," k] it returned with all the various requisites for a village store, and:^ traffic with the Indians of the surrounding tribes. At the end of a ft I nn :.l'o.n i.:h7.. J STRANaER THAN FICTION. 431 iths a mcotlnpf of all those intcrcstotl in the vohhlA was callotl, when, \r provision had heen made for the various expenses, new sails, lors, &c., a dividend was declared of .£5 upon each share. This part [he proceedings somewhat puzzled the Indians, who, when the money given them, imaginet? that they must necessarily bo parting with ir interest in the vessel. As soon, however, as the matter was satis- korily explained to them, they evinced their appreciation by proposing five the schooner the name of the " Ahah," or ** Slave," signifying she did all the work and they reaped all the profit. [is own share of the profits Mr. Duncan devoted entirely to the objects 10 Mission. That they were not inconsiderable, may be judged from fact that two years later he was able to write — ** You will be happy lear our village trade prospers. I had hoped to have transferred this [artment to other hands, but have been disappointed. Had I done so, link I should now have had upwards of £1,000 surplus, which I had jndod laying out in the village, and in building a new church, and |s raising a substantial monument of the industry of the village during past four years of its existence." Iv.hvG this time the actual management of the vessel had been rusted to the Indians themselves, and on every voyage the conduct of I crew whilst at Victoria had been everything which could be desired. I Indian was also registered as master, and another as supercargo. Phe whole question is thus reviewed in a letter by the Dean of toria : — ' No step of a temporal nature was, perhaps, so loudly demanded, or conferred such important benefits on the people of Metlahkathih, in lucing to their comfort and contentment in their new home. Instead laving to go seventeen miles for supplies to a heathen camp, they can sure them at their own doors at a cheaper rate. Persons who come ^er to trade carry away some word or impression to affect their coun- len at home. During my sojourn at Metlahkatlah, there has not a single Sunday in which there have not been hearers of this Bription attendant on the word of life. This is one of those branches le work taken up by Mr. Duncan, simply because it was pressed upon by the force of circumstances as necessary to his entire success. The has passed away when he felt himself humiliated at being offered [sale of a fur. A striking benefit of the trade is the disposition of the profits, for with jw to transferring it, when possible, to other parties, he has always lucted it on business principles, in order that the parties so assuming light be able to live by it. Hitherto the profits rgalised on this [ciple, absorbed by no personal benefits, have been expanded on objects lucive to the public benefit, in the erection of public buildings, in iiidies to the people, in aid of improving their roads, and wharves for 482 MISSION LIFE. rMliiloB' I Aug. l,|. canoes, in charity to the poor, and even in the redemption of slat The sum of .£600 has been already expended on such objects, and .i\ are in hand ready to be applied to similar uses. In fact, the only per? who suffers is Mr. Duncan himself, who has sacrificed his comfort, ; repose, and almost his health, for the sole benefit of the people, but I been more than compensated by the rich reward of feeling that God [ owned and blessed the sacrifice. Besides this, the trade affords industr occupation for the people, and thus aids them in a more steady advan: mcnt in the comforts of civilised life. It is quite a lively scene to witnt the various parties of labourers engaged, some in bringing the ron timber in rafts from the forest, others in sawing it into planks, otbt ' planing, others cutting the shingles, others with nail and hammer erect the building — all devoting themselves to their daily task rather with : | constancy of the English labourer than with the fitful disposition of [ savage." As we shall not have occasion in the next few chapters to refer agi; to the secular affairs of the Mission, we may conclude the present not of them by the following account of the second New Year's Day meet: given in the Victoria Colonist, Feb. 24, 1864, by a correspondent \t \| had recently visited the settlement : — " On New Year's Day, after a devotional meeting, there was u busiii > meeting, attended by the whole settlement, when Mr. Duncan annouDi the expenditure of "l-he last year's taxes, and read the village rules a regulations. An outline was also furnished of the proposed expenditi the current year, which met with general approval. Immediatt | after the meeting, the tax of 2.50 dollars (or a blanket) for adults, i 1.50 dollars (or one shirt) for boys, was paid. Some feeble old ml who could hardly walk, came tottering along with their blanke's, p'lxit to become good citizens, but were exempted from the levy." The same writer adds the following description of the general progif j made up to this date : — ** Mr. Duncan has been working hard to ascertain what his peop!?| inclinations and abilities are, so as to class their ccupation, and basi a great measure succeeded. He has now a number at work, malcl shingles, building a new Mission-house, road-making, hunters, sawrf &c. He has also taught them to make clogs for themselves, which much prized. Those who break the laws are tried for the offence, anil found guilty, are sentenced to labour on public works. The settleiii' is assuming quite an imposing aspect. There are at present eight s:( stantial houses in the course of construction, and many are inquiring- sites. The constables, eighteen in number (who are volunteers A desire no pay), do their duty admirably, without fear, favour, or prejudif and are held in awe by transgressors. It was truly encouraging to ^1 ness the many earnest entreaties made by the people of the village tP 1 rMlMlon j|Mi„„ 1.1 (c. STRAXOER THAN riJTUN. 4'";^' O" ption of filar ijects, and .i\ tlio only per? bis comfort,: people, but I ifT that God [ .ffords industr steady advaL: scene to witnt iging the ron, ) planks, othtijj tiammer erect : rather with ; isposition ofi •s to refer &p le present not ar's Day meet >rrespondent t re was u busiii mean annouc rillage rules a osed expendit: il. Immedint- ) for adults, a: feeble old m, )lanke'<=», rnxiiv general progif f| vhat his peorll ation, and has at work, mat| lunters, sa^nt selves, whicli ;| le offence, anil The settleffil resent eight s:j are inquiring I volunteers i rour, or prejudif couraging to' the village ir friends in Victoria might be urged to floe from the snares and vice" Jch load them astray here, and to return to their homes. Several rs wore written by themselves in English, and couched in ferven'. iguago, beseeching relatives to return there, and thus save both body soul, which thoy say must bo inevitably and irretrievably lost by theii- ding there. No sooner was it announced that the vessel was about rocccd to Victoria and was prepared to receive orders to execute, than people flocked to it with commissions for every conceivable variety of s, including even wall paper and household furniture, to adorn their residences." ut it is time we turned again to trace the directly religious influences ch had been at work during this time, and had rendered possible the ding up of so substantial a fabric of industry, prosperity, and social er, from materials originally so unpromising. CIIArTEU XI. THE INDIAN FISHING STATION. ■V'V •ijy u.^- ARLY in 18G3, Mr. Duncan received tidings that the Bishop of Columbia had arranged to come himself to visit Metlahkatlah. The Bishop arrived on Tuesday, April 14, 1803, and thus describes his meeting with Mr. Duncan : — f^.«.'» •iii*li' " The Christian Indian settlement of Metlahkatlah lies retired upon a recess of the bay, and is marked by a row of substantial wooden houses. An octagon building is the school, and a flag-staff stands near, upon which ascended the national flag when we hove in sight and fired the We could soon distinguish a canoe [ing off to us, and presently it approached, flying a flag. It was a canoe, which had a warlike appearance, manned by ten Indians, in it was seated Mr. Duncan, the Missionary of Metlahkatlah. re was placed, too, by his side a murderer, who had last year committed [Id-blooded murder upon an Englishman, and who had given himself [igainst the coming of the man-of-war. Among the crew was one who had been a noted [drunkard and a violent chief, a slaughterer human victims in his day — indeed, the head man of the Tsim- fou u, %B 'VJiliiiaiBfiif INDIAN HOL'tiE, {See 2><'!/t 4o(J.) to a.'inounce our approach. 404 UISSION LIFE. LAug. i.iri •^1 sheean tribe — who had given up all evil ways, and was now ps a litl, child, a candidate for baptism." As the Bishop had been unable to fix the exact time of his arrival, and! was now the height of the Indian fishing season, most of the Metlahkatk| people were away fishing on the Naas river. It was, therefore, decide that Mr. Duncan should go with the Bishop to visit the fishing statioci and invite the candidates for baptism to return at once to Metlahkatlab, Passing Fort Simpson, they arrived at ihe mouth of the Naas rivi on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 15th. It was at first proposed ik they should go up in a man-of-wai's boat, which Captain Pike, of ti ** Devastation," the ship which had brought the Bishop from Yiotori; ofiered to place at their disposal ; but as there had recently been sot trouble with the Indians aboit seizing a trading schooner, Mr. Dunc; suggested that the sight of 'J. man-of-war's boat might excite alarm, ui lead to the object of their coming being misiind^ "stood. They, therefor started the next morning, Thursday, at seven o'clock, in tlio canoe, wi; the crew whicn had come on with them from Metlahkatiah. ** The day was bright and cheerful : the scenery of the lofty sno- capped mountains rising up on either side was grand and striking. "^ glided over the sparkling waves, the expanse 'f waters varying in wid; from a mile to two miles, and after three xicnrs and a-half paddlin. came to the fishing village of the Metlahkatlahs." •*»^ At this village they found some 5,000 Indians, collected from all par — from the islands of the sea, from the Kuseian territory, from the cca> and from the interior. They were decked out in all their finer " xheir costr.mes were strange and fantastic, their faces were paiut^ | red and black ; they were feathers on their heads, and imitations of m beasts on their dresses. The scene was altogether a singular and ai mated one." It was the " small-fish" fishing season. These fish, called eulack are about the size of a smelt, and very rich, and had come up, ps usui | in vast quantities. The Indian custom is to meet the fish a^ they con | and speak to them, *' You fish, you fish ! you are all chiefs; 30U arc, y are all chiefs." After the small fish, had come up larger fish fromt: ocean. There was the halibut, tlic^ cod, the porpoise, and the fiiiiii back v\hale. " Such a scene of life," writes the Bishop, *' maii-li: bird-life, fish-lit'e, I hoc* never before C(>nceivcd. Over the fish was immense cloud of innumerable gulls — so many and so thick were tliov. they hovered ubout looking for the fish, that as they moveri to ai?d 1 up and down, the siglit resembled a heavy fall of snov. Over the f were eagles soaring about in noble fligl:t, looking for their prey." *• The fish are caught in vast quantities. I saw hundreds of tons c lected together, and the nets hauled in bushels at a tim-^ The IiiJis:^ dry some in the sun, and j^^css a much larger qaantity for me sake oi" Wp^ rMiwlon l; L Aug. 1, ijr. low PS a litt i arrival, and ) !^^etlahkatk irefore, decide shing station: VIetlahkatlali, the Naas riv: ■j proposed ih a Pike, of t. from Victor itly been sol ir, Mr. Dune cite alarm, .;: ?hey, therefor rhe canoe, wi; ;he lofty sno- strikin ion Llfeii . 1, 1871. J STRANQEB THAN FIOTICN. 435 6' ^I rying in wiJ ■half paddliii from all par from the cca> 1 their finer were paint' tations of m gular and ai ailed eulaclia: le up, V6 usus 1 Ha they cott s; you arc, y r fish fromt nd the finiii op, " maii-li: he fish was: ik were they, veci to aiKl t; Over the j:!' 'f prey." eds of tons c The Indiii: •Jie sake of':l or grease, which has a considerable market value as being superior to -liver oil, and which they use as butter with their dried salmon. The ison is most important to the Indians ; the supply lasts them till the ison for salmon, which is later, and which supplies their staple food — }ir bread." I His first meeting with the Metlahkatlah Indians and his general im- jssion of them is thus described by the Bishop : — ' ** The Metlahkatlah Indians were expecting us — a number of well- }8sed and^intelligent Indians were on the shore waiting to receive us. mi through their temporary village and witnessed the operation of ring the fish, after which, an assembly of 200 gathered to us. The iter part sat on the ground, but most of the men stood up. It was a ice where potatoes had beer cultivated, but some snow was now upon ground. Fortunately the day was fine, and the sun shone brightly ; reral hymns were sung in Tsimsheean: a Tsimsheean prayer was fered by Mr. Duncan. |"I addressed the assembly, and was interpreted by Mr. Duncan, who ide himself also an earnest and telling discourse. This change is the jult of four and a-half years of his faithful and earnest work as a fctechist. Beyond the expectation of all persons acquainted with |d'ans, success and blessing have attended his labours. All who have le to him have professed their readiness to be instructed ; they have away all tokens of heathenism. I addressed them as three classes — the hearers, catechumens, and )tized ; and encouraged them, urged them to the knowledge and grace of )d. Marked, indeed, was the difierence between these Indians and the ithen. They were clean, bright, cheerful, intelligent, well-mannered ; had evidenth risen in the scale of human creatures. Christianity Id looking to God and their Saviour had elevated them intellectually, )rally, and even physically. Here, too, they were under the disadvan- je of being away from their village, and in a temporary abode. There \i'e a fevr* heathen with them, relatives who had been used in former ^s to fish with them. These were painted red, or blackened, and were ty and forbidding, and served io make the contrast more striking." Writing at a later date, the Bishop, after dwelling upon the great jitcment which always prevailed at this season, and the importance of &ry hour's work, adds, "But what did the Christian Indians do when Sunday came ? The first Sunday of their first fishing season as ristiaiis, although the fish had come up in greater abundance than ever the season was so short, the Christians said, * We cannot go and riie heathen were full of excitement, gathering in the spoil ; but Christians -^.lid, * No, wc are God's people, God will jirovide for us, we will .,pend His day as He tells us to do.' And they kept holy \h Lord's Day in the midst of the fishing season." 1 if i\ ! iWF ;;1; 436 UISSION LIFE. rMisMon L!ii L Aug. 1, ib;: ^ m As Mr. Duncan had anticipated, although it was now the most critics part of the season, none of the candidates made the least difficulty abou arranging to leave their nets and travel the eighty miles back to Metlal katlah to meet the Bishop. Before returning to the " Devastation," the Bishop and Mr. Duuc^ determined to push on and visit the Niskah, or Naas Indians, livin, some miles further up the river, and amongst whom were many wli: during their occasional visits to Fort Simpson, had been brought undt the influence of Mr. Duncan's teaching. The first village of the Niskah s was reached in about two hours. ' consisted of three clusters of houses, situated in a considerable bay the river. Opposite to it was an island covered with the cotton-wood: lofty trees. On the banks were low willow flats, whilst the backgrc r towered up into lofty and grand snow-capped mountains. In front , many of the houses were elaborately carved poles. Some of the hous: had their fronts built in the form of an animal's head. The whole of ti front of one house was shaped like a wolf's head (the crest of its owner the nose being the porch, and the mouth the door. As a serious quarrel had lately been raging between two of the Nislik tribes, and several of those who had been killed, including two chiefs, w then lying dead, Mr. Duncan expressed some little doubt as to the oppi tuneness of the visit. Every preparation, however, was found to k been made to receive them. This was due to the influence of the sist of one of the leading chiefs. Having resided for some time at Fi Simpson, she had there come under the influence of the truth, and \ now an earnest and thoroughly well-instructed candidate for baptisi Being herself the owner of the house in which her brother lived, s: received the Bishop and Mr. Duncan with every mark of respect. ** All was in order. There were three seats, with the middle o: (>levated at the end of the room. It reminded me of an Eastern custo: which places his two honoured friends on the riglit-liand and on the i of a chief personage. The chief man, the brother of Niskah-kigh, L a seat also in a prominent place. One hundred and sixty assembk There were chiefs ; there were medicine-men, with their red rings bark on the head ; there were cannibals and dog-eaters, some with fai painted fierce red, others black, some black and red. Two men came bound in wounds ; these had been shot in the recent fight, There ca: in, also, the man who had wounded one of the two. The meeting L drawn together the hostile parties; it was for paace. There was ori. and respect ; but it was in marked contrast ^\ itli the scene I had ^ nessed at the Metlahkatlah. It was the heathen, and heathen, too, v knew something of what we had to say. There were those who L shown tokens of a wish to give up heathenism. Some had asked to admitted to be leariiers of the new way. They had said to Mr. Dudc. rMi88lon lit L Aug. 1, IK: lion Life, I 1. 1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 437 le most criticj difficulty aboc )ack to Metlal id Mr. Duuca: Indians, livit ere many wli brought und; two hours. ; iderable bay cotton -wood i the backgrtjt s. In front e of the hous^: he whole oft: ;t of its owner I of the Nislik two chiefs, Ave as to the oppc found to ha ice of the sist e time at l\ truth, and w; ite for baptisi other lived, s: respect, the middle o: Eastern custo: and on tliel liskah-kigh, h sixty assemblr eir red rings some with far vo men cam: It There ca: he meeting I There was or cenc I had t; euthon, too, w those who I had asked to to Mr. DuDC. 4 e will come out from this our old home, and go and live iin a new spot ;enever you will go before us and be with us.* But others were the re hardened ; there were those who derided and sec '.od : their faces wed contempt and pride, and nowhere is pride so erect as in heathenism. * I addressed them ; Mr. Duncan interpreted. * Our fathers had been e in darkness ; they trusted in fables ; they knew not of the true God. the light of Christ came and the darkness fled, and peace and rest e found, and the future was bright and joyful to the good, and God spered them, and instead of many tribes contending, all became one at nation ; and you can see how superior we are, how powerful, how sperous. This religion taught us to spread the glad tidings, and now have come to you. You are like our fathers. You know not God ; believe fables, the future is all uncertain, you see all things die. n dies into darkness, and you have many sorrows, and nothing to er you in those sorrows and in death. Now, we can tell you this iok is God's Word. This tells us of a Saviour from sin, and of light guidance, and strength to love good and to do right. "We bring this ipel of Light to you, and if you receive it, God will bless and prosper . Desire, then, this Word ; ask us to come amongst you. Seek to w the only true God and Jesus Christ.* ' Mr. Duncan, besides interpreting my address in a forcible manner, ressed them also himself, and spoke strongly upon some of the ring evils that prevail, and which now some of them see and acknow- ge with fear. There was a manifest impression made upon the nge assembly, and thera was much talk amongst them afterwards.'* n the assembly breaking up, the Bishop had a long conversation ,h the chieftainess Niskah-kigh, and being satisfied with her fitness, niised to admit her to baptism on her presenting herself at Metlah- lah with the other candidates. t the next village about 130 Indians assembled on the beach, and Mr. ;ncan addressed them from the canoe. They then went on to the age where the two chiefs, lately killed, were lying dead, their bodies g kept in their houses that the feeling of revenge might be encouraged. le hundred and twenty Indians quickly assembled on the beach. old man, standing forward, spoke with much force and feeling : e are in a sad way," he said ; *' who will now stand up and speak for Our chiefs are killed, and we have no one to speak to these chiefs stop to visit us." r. Duncan replied : * Truly their case was sad ; it was sad their fs wore killed, but the fault was their chiefs'. Why did they allow the water to come ? They had been the iirst to bring in the fire-water, ead of taking care of their people, like good fathers. They caused der and sorrow to come, and now themselves were both killed.' was now 5 o'clock, and fifteen miles against a strong wind had to be \ 488 MISSION LIFE. rMlMtoQ ii LAug.i.ii accomplished before the ship, lying at the month of the river, was agL reached. The canoe-men did their utmost, and " as they glided aloi and the twilight passed away, they sang, in Tsimsheean, Christian hjini The stars shone bright, and the deep dark mountain gorges contrast with the snow." It. was just 10 o'clock as the whole party, fairly tired out, agt climbed on board the " Devastation." Leaving the Naaa river the m morning at half-past 9, the ship reached Fort Simpson at 4. Here meeting of Indians [was again held, and the child of a Christian Indi baptized. A visit was also paid to the fort, where, besides the ust occupants, the Bishop found "two Iroquois Indians from Canada, African, a half-cast Tongas, a Scotchman, an American, and save: Englishmen." On the afternoon of the next day, Saturday, the " Devs tation " again dropped anchor off Metlahkatlah. i CHAPTER Xir. AN INGATHERING. j^gl^ HE nextlday, Sunday, April 19th, 1863, the Bisk | after holding service on board the " Devastatioi | went on shore accompanied by Captain PI " We were met," he writes, " by the whole villa; who stood on the bank, in a long line — as fict set of men and as well dressed as could anywL be seen where men live by their daily toil — certai: no country village in England would turn out ■. well-clad an assemblage. " At 3 the bell was rung, and almost instat: the whole population were wending their way church. Most of the people are away at Naas, 1 130 assembled. There were hymns and prayers in Tsri sheean. They repeated the answers to a catechism Tsimsheean. I addressed them, and offered prayers English, which were interpreted by Mr. Duncan. TIijI was much earnest response. The service lasted one li and three-quarters. There was an evidence of devoti. Mr. Duncan plays the accordion." The examination of the catechumens, commenced onS Sunday, was continued without intermission throughout: next two days, lasting on the Monday till 1 o'clock; night. " Monday, April 20th.— -Bay fine. Got to the Miss^ House at 8 to breakfast. Afterwards engaged the whole day set.;^ rMlMion k L Aug. 1,11 Ion Life, , 1, 1871. . STBANOEB THAN FICTION. 439 nver, was agi ley glided aloi Ilhristian hjini orges contrast. tired out, agi IS river thene Q at 4. Here Christian Indi esides the ust rem Canada, chumens till 1 o'clock next morning. One after another the poor ians pressed on to be examined. They had been under training for ods varying from eight months to three years. They had been long [king for a minister to admit them to baptism. It was a strange yet nscly interesting sight in that log cabin, by the dim glimmer of a 11 lamp, to see just the countenance of the Indian, sometimes with ifted eyes, as he spoke of the blessedness of prayer — at other times, h downcast melancholy as he smote upon his breast in the recital of penitence. The tawny face, the high cheek-bone, the glossy jet-black ing hair, the dark, glassy eye, the manly brow, were a picture worthy pencil of the artist. The night was cold — I had occasionally to rise an, and sevc 9^ walk about for warmth — yet there were more. The Indian usually lay, the "Devt iith-es as he rises, with the sun, but now he would turn night into day if M might only be allowed to ' have the sign,' and be fixed in the good Hys of God." '" " Tuesday, April 21st. — The day dawned bright, and so continued. 5|iniediately after breakfast, having had prayer, the work again began. techumens came in and, one by one, were sifted ; some, to their grief, e deferred. One man came and begged he might be passed, for he ght not live till the next visit of a clergyman. Another brought a nd, and said, if I would only admit his wife to baptism, they would mise for her she should persevere and live to God. Another, a fine d of fourteen, I had thought too young to answer for herself — one o had always shown remarkable love of instruction and had stood by school when the many were its foes. She came with tears of entreaty ich were irresistible and beautiful, and lovely was the sensitive intel- [encj which beamed upon her devotional features when afterwards she ived the waters of baptism. Till 4. o'clock was I thus engaged, hour after the time appointed for the baptisms. The pecrJiar tableness of the questions in the Baptismal Service to the cane of verts from heathenism was very remarkably illustrated throughout the mination. '* Converts from heathenism can fullv realise renunciation of the world, flesh, and the devil. Amongst these Indians pomp of display, the g craft of malicious magic, as well as all sins of the flesh, are par- lularly glaring, and closely connected with heathenism : to tiiem these gs are part and parcel of heathenism. So are the truths of the Creed strongest contrast to the dark and miserable fables of their forefathers, heartily can they pledge themselves to keep the holy will of God all days of their life, seeing Him a loving and true Father, of whom now lately, but so gladly, they have learnt to know." he questions asked by the Bishop were generally somewhat as ows : — ** Do you wish to be a Christian ? 863, the Bisk ^ 3 " Devastatioi i Captain Pii the whole villa; ^ ig line — as fint IS could any\sli. ily toil — certai: rould turn out almost instar: ling their way iway at Naas, prayers in Tsi:^ a catechism BFered prayers Duncan. Tt lasted one I Buce of devoti ommenced on: )n throughout tiU 1 o'clock )t to the Miss vhole day set j.'iA'.* ;i m 440 MISSION LIFE. L Aug. 1, 1^- J " Do you feel your sins, and want a new heart ? ** How came you first to turn to God ? ** How do you expect remission of sins ? ** Are vou afraid to die ? " Do you pray to God ? ** To whom do you look to save you ? ** What hope have you when you die ? " How do you know God will pity you ? " When weak, what must we do ? " What will happen to us when we die ? " What makes it difficult to pray ? " Is there any special hindrance to your turning to God ? " How do you hope to have your sins pardoned ? " *' I first," the Bishop writes, " drew forth their views of the necessity ^.1 repentance, its details, and their own personal acquaintance with it. ^.| then questioned them as to the Three Persons of the Trinity, and tb special work of each, with allusion to the Judgment, and the state of tli soul hereafter, inquiring into their private devotion, to learn their p[:| sonal application of repentance and faith. I questioned their anxiety fij haptism, and demanded proof of their resolution to keep the will of Gtl for their guide, to speak for God, and to labour for God's way all thc| life long. I sought to find out the circumstances under which they firl became seriously inclined, and to trace their steps of trial and gracl Admitting them to the promise of baptism, I exhorted them to" camel prayer and devotion, as a special preparation, until the time came." The following extracts from the Bishop's notes on the various caEdi| dates bear testimony to the very thorough character of the examinatioif We should, perhaps, say that the names of those who have been pre| viously mentioned in the narrative are placed first, though not occurritii in this order in the Bishop's journal : — MALES. Klah, aged 35. — Answers : — I h-ive made up my mind to live a Christian. Must try top away all our sins. I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for our sins, God is p-^* to us, and made us, God gives us His Spirit to make us clean and happy. I pray to God to cl ; my heart, and wipe out my sin from God's book. It will be worse for us if we fall away afters hnve begun. I repent I was not baptized a year and a-half ago. Leoaic (principal chief), nged 40. — Answers : — We must put away all our evil ways, I war] to take hold of God. I believe in God the Father, who made all things, and in Jesus Christ, constantly cry for my sins when I remember them. I believe the good will sit near to God nfti^ death. Am anxious to walk in God's ways all my life. If I turn back it will be more bitter f:^ me than before. I pray God to wipe out my sins ; strengthen me to do right ; pity me. 1'^ prayers are from my heart. I think sometimes? God does not hear me, because I do not giver all my sins, My sins are too heavy. I think we have not strength of ourselves. Remarks. — Under instruction about nine months. On two occasions before attended for a ?hi1 time, but fell aw.ay, Mr, Duncan says this man has made greater sacrifices than any other in ths^ village. Is the principal chief, and has left his tribe and all greatness. Has been a most savi.^ And desperate man ; committed all crimes. Had the offer of forty blankets to return to his tri' I.Ke.-i 1.1871. J STRANOER THAN FICTION. 441 Iw bears the ridicule of his former friends. Yet his temper, formerly ferocioos, bears it lUy, and he returns kindness, so that some have melted and are ready to come with him. l-QU-NEESH (a chief), aged 39. — Anstoers: — When young was brought up in sin. No one Did me the good news. Cannot tell how great a sinner I am. I believe in God, and cannot »ck to any of my old ways. The great Father Almighty, Maker of the earth. .Tesus the only Son of God, died for our sins that God might pity us on that account. God is a I full of love and goodness ; but we must pray for God's Holy Spirit. We must all stand I God. God will know who are good and bad. By-and-bye I shall know if God hears mo. wt is dark ; I cannot clearly tell now. A long time I felt I was contrary to God, and when , the good news I gave up evil ways. Iash-lakah-xoosh (called " the Lame Chief)" ; he is blind also of an eye ; fine old man) ; fO. — Answers: — When asked if he wished to become a Christian, said — For that object I liere with my people. I have put away all lying ways, which I had long followed. I have , in God. We want the Spirit of Qod. Jesus came to save us. He compensated for our [Our Father made us, and loved us because we are His work. He wishes to see us with Him He loves us. When asked about the judgment, said, the blood of Jesus will free those elieve from condemnation. irh. — Under regular instruction for a year, and before that for some time by his daughter, bt consistent, trying to do simply what is right. The other day was benighted on Saturday, [way to spend the Sunday at Metla-katla, seven miles oft. Would not come on, nor let bis gather herring-spawn, close under their feet : he rested the Lord's Day, according to tlie Imdment. lAUKSH, aged 22. — Answers: — I believe in Jesus as my Saviour, who died to compensate f sins to God. trks. — Appears very earnest ; speaks devoutly and freely. Long time under serious im- as. Brought out from heathenism three of his relations. Eight months under special ion. P, aged 25. — Answers: — I feel my unworthiness, but trust to God's pity. We must pray tttly to God. I have not two hearts ; have given myself to God. trks.— Was in the " Cariboo" steam-ship when blown up : turned to God then. Three years linstmction. Son of a chief. Much tempted to go to heathen feasts, but has steadily :h not occurrki |GIKL, aged 22. — Answers: — T am striving against my sins, determined to follow God's way. vaj good and right, without doubt. Our way full of mistakes. Christ searched out Bd) man's way, and showed God's way, and then was punished to make satisfaction for our " pray for a good heart and for pardon from my sins. trks. — Four or five years ago under instruction j fell away. A year preparing for magic ; id a-half earnest, iH-CLAH, aged 35. — Answers: — I have not long come forward for baptism, but have long shing to be fixed in God's way, and have been struggling against my sins. God punishes ked who persevere in their sins. I'must pray for God's Spirit. God teaches ns humility, llove one another. I pray for God to pardon my sins, and to dress me in his'righteousness. pr*s.— Confesses he has been very wicked. Lately his child died. As it lay dying, with 1 touched it, and said, " This is for my sins." Was moved strongly to turn to God by the his child. Belongs to a leading family. His brother, a heathen chief, tells him he will ly if he becomes a Christian. 16H Kttmlee, aged 30. — Answers : — I have given up the lucrative position of sorcerer. fered bribes to practise my art secretly. I have left all my mistaken ways. My eyes bored (enlightened). I cry every night when I remember my sins. The great Father sees everything. If I go up to the moimtains He sees me. Jesus died for our sins I cross to carry our sins away, rks. — Dates his change from seeing a convert reading a book, and he felt ashamed that he ling, and he determined to learn, and soon he found his own system false. One case, I spirit said there would be recovery, death came ; and another, when he foretold death, ined. LL-LAH, aged 50.— Answers :— A Christian must put away sin, lies, drunkenness. I had i come forward at the last baptism, but was held back by those around. I have now ►way, and am ready to give myself to God. God is the maker of heaven and earth. Qad 442 MIB8I0K LIFB. t(i [M :!« pitied our siiiB and sent Jesus to save us. The Spirit helps our weakness. If we follow God j wo shall find God after death. All must stand before God and receive according to their wo. Was struck at the dark death of many of his relations. He and they knew nothing about] future. So when Mr. Duncan came and spoke about those things, ho gladly heard, andc mined to follow him. QuiirAH-BHKAHKS, aged 2&,— Answers ,— I have put away my sins. I have long sinned ap God. I am afraid of my sins. Ck>d sees me. Jesus has opened the door of heaven to us. sends His good Spirit to help us. God will measure our ways when we die. So long as I tl will try to give the news of God to others. The word of God has taught us to hope. Iij simimer saw the people die from small-pox. Saw the hand of God, and trembled and reaolvi turn to God. We are not strong to resist the hand of God. Nbeabh-ah-pootk, aged 35.— Answers:— I have long followed sins which make God angrjj have put away sin, but if I am ever so ignorant in my endeavours 1 will persevere. Used toil great drunkard. Have given up magic and display of property. Felt God last summer, have turned back to our great Father. He sees all ; His Spirit is with us. The blood of J| cleanseth us from all ein. How happy the angels will be to see us good, and how they willc we are sinful ! At the last God will divide us. Lost ten relatives by the small-pox last year,] it opened my eyes to my sins. God's hand was strong to cut down sinners. EJSHUr-KBB-AJlKS, aged 36. — Ansioers:—! will fight against my sins, and continually cry to^ God. I will endeavour not to retaliate when ridiculed. I believe in the Lord in heaven,) made the earth and heaven, and us, and the food we eat. Jesus the only Son of God died tc j us from our sins. God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us to contend against the evil spirits] come against us. If we are sinful when we die, God's face will be against us. Wherever I p j mind is fixed to serve God. At the last God will divide the good from the bad. Used tol God's Word, and always went back to my sin. But at last came away with the others, ani!| fixed then. Kow-KATTH, aged 18. — Answers: — We must leave all sinful ways, and take hold of God's I have long carried sin, but must not carry sin to God. God is a great Spirit. Made earttj heaven. Jesus died in our stead. The Spirit of God ever with us ; the hand of God ever 3 If we carry our sin till we die, God will punish us. We must all meet God when we die. will show us our ways. My father was cut down in his sins. I purpose to do differently. Kahlp, aged 35. — Answers: — I shall fight against my sins. My heart truly says I wilj from sin to God. God is perfectly right in His ways. Sees all, good and evil. God mai things, heaven and earth and us. The Son of God our Saviour, Jesus. The blood of Jesus [ cleanseth us from sin. God does not withhold His Spirit when we cry for it. Whosoever bell in God, the Spirit of God lives in his heart. Those who die in their sin go to darkness and til I will fear Gtod as long as I live. I pray for God's Spirit and light to lead my own spirit if the path to Himself when I die. Was a slave ; was poor in spirit, and was drawn to cry toj to take my heart. Remarks, — Answers freely. He was taken slave by the Hydahs ; brought back and 8old:j own chief, and was some years a slave. The chief's son sold him to his own friends, who sei free, Skulloh, aged 30. — Answers: — From my birth I have been a sinner. I cannot understai size of my sinfulness. Cannot of myself give up my sins, but God will help me. Jesal Saviour came from heaven ; that is the reason why we can be saved. I feel God sees and : stands all we do, and think, and speak. Am not afraid of the judgment, for God is full oil and mercy, and the Son of God has made our peace. I pray God to prepare my heart to swl Remarks. — Was in a canoe with a child, who fired a gun by carelessness. A portion of th:| turned the shot from going into his back. He was led to think why a little piece of woods thus save his life ; he became thoughtful ; heard Mr. Duncan was come to speak about Gccl at once joined. OOSHI NEEYAM NAT, aged lA^.— Answers :— I will try to take hold of God's ways, and lea^ When I remember my sin my heart cries. I believe in God, who made heaven and earth, ; is almighty. Our sins were the death of Jesus. The blood of Jesus cleanseth us from sinj must pray to Ghxi to put our hearts to Him. Jesus will dress us in His goodness. God secif Spirit to make us good. I am not afraid of the judgment, for I hope my heart will be rigb:^ God before I die. If our hearts are not right to see God, he will cast us into darkness. KiSHBBSO, aged 16.— Answers .-—A duty to give up the ways of the Chymseans. W» LUe.i 1871. J STRAMOER THAN FICTION. 443 when quite young. Will try to put away my sin. I cannot eat again what I have vomited. almighty. Jesua the Son of God, our Saviour. God will hear me if I cry to Him. We lek God first before any other thing. My father and mother still in heathenism, but I , go back to them. I rather cry when I think of them. I pray night and morning for God and to pardon me. irit«.— Came by himself in a tiny canoe, across the sen., away from home, to join the jan people. lAK-b'iA-KAWN (sorcerer), aged 60. — Answers :— I wish to give up all wicked ways. Have medicine-man, and know the lies of licutheniHin. I believe in the greiit Father who mode I Jesus who died on the cross that God would pity us. I want the Spirit of God to touch my We must all stand before God. God will measure our ways. No one to be his master but I will not keep my eyes on the ground any more, but will look up to heaven all my life. xrks. — He has had to bear much scorn, and to go through much struggle. -TL-NOH, aged 19. — Answers : — I wish to put aw.iy all sin, lies, drunkenness. Have erred in ing man. Must now try to follow God. I believe in Jesus Christ, who died for our sin. Spirit prepares us for baptism. We shall rise from the dead and see God's face, if wo are I children. I am wishful to serve God as long as I live. FEMALES. LHTHL (wife of Legale), aged 40. — Answers: — I wish to put away evil and have a clean Feel the pain of the remembrance of sin so bad I would sometimes like to die. I want to od's face, but feel little hope ; still I determine to persevere, though miserable. Loss of res, and finding no peace and rest, and feeling in darkness, led me to look to God. I know }od sent His Sun Jesus to die for our sins. irks. — About nine months under regular instruction. She is evidently anxious for her knows the truth, but her sins are a burden, that she has not found ^xiace. She has been her husband should go forwards in good. 8L (widow of the cannibal chief who died penitent), aged 25. — Answers : — I know how blind ►e been. Was first turned to God by the news of the Saviour. Was struck tliat He camo amongst us. God is a Spirit full of love. Christ came to cany away our sins. We must for the Spirit to help us. I confess my sins to God and cry for pity. I pray for my friends. [ death the judgment. We must stand before God. Jesus will answer fur those who trust in irks. — Upheld her husband in his wickedness. Was turned by hia turning at his death. tODAHSL (wife of Clah), aged 30. — Answers: — We must give up all sin. God sees and us all through. Jesus died in oiu: stead because we were bad. By the Spirit of Jesus we [ learn to walk in the good way. I feel struggle in my mind, but persevere. I pray for Will do all I can to keep God's way. God's own Word promises that He will hear. lAH-KlQH (chieftainess of the Nishkahs), aged 45. — Answers: — I must leave all evil ways. I myself a sinner in God's sight. I believe in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, lied for our sins. God sends down His Spirit to make us good. Jesus is in heaven and is ^g our names in God's book. We must stand before God and be judged by Him. I feel I Word is truth. Have been for some time accustomed regularly to pray. irks. — Two years ago she was found giving Christian instruction to a sick and dying Her husband tells me she passed much time in devotion. When she first heard the f God, her sorrow was great, and her penitence more than she could bear. Some five years been earnestly seeking God. TAHK, aged 30. — Answers : — I have been a great sinner, but God has opened my heart to od, and I am resolved by His help to put away all evil and live to God. I pray for pardon i's Holy Spirit. I feel unhappiness now amongst my heathen friends, and have pleasure lith. God's people. irks. — Her husband has been sent away. She remained, although at the cost of much n to herself ; but she would not go back to heathenism. Replied well as to the special each Person of the Trinity. TAHK, (wife of Lapplighcumlee, a sorcerer), aged 25. — Answers: — Answers well and clearly le separate work of each Person of the Trinity. Prays for pardon — for the Holy Spirit, iris.— SuflEered much from the mockery of her husband. At her earnest demand he gave Under eighteen months' regular instruction. Been consistent in the midst of opposi- ! '1 444 MISSION LIFE. L Aug. 1,11 tion ; adhered to the MisBion when many were against. Has been a blessing to Iter family, a;| whom have renounced heathenism. Her husband, the sorcerer, laments his past life, and W({ be the first to put his foot upon the evil system. Ad-DAH-KIPPI (wife of a Ciiristian Indian), aged 25. — Ansioers:—! must put away sin. I knowIh.ivc been making God angry, but must put away all my old ways, lies, and the cvj my fathers. God gave us commandments. God would not hear us till we put away our J Jesus would mil ke peace for us and add His Spirit. Am resolved to endeavour to live to Gk my life. Was much moved last fishing at my sinfulness, and then repented strongly, and resij^ 1 to walk with Ood. I pray morning, noon, and night for pardon and God's Spirit, Remarks. — Had opposed h^r husband, who i^ ii Christian. Wah tee boo, aged Ifi. — Anxwe.n : — Have been sorely tompted. Jesus came down from hca| to save sinners, and to make our peace with God. Jesus shed His blood for our sins. Jesus- be as a ladder for us to heaven wlien we die. We must stand before God. We must cry to 'A before we die, and not put off. I pray for a clnan heart to God. Remnrkt, — Made a touching confession of her sins, when applying for baptism. Paiek (wife of Slulloh), aged 'J6. — Answers .-—Want to find God. I repent of my sins. F:] led to think by the shock of my father being shot in the house by another Indian. Sought ] and came to Metla-katla. God is almighty, full of goodness, and truth, and love. Jesu!i.i Son of God, died for our sins. Asked what we should ask God for. She said, light. The : | will dwell w ith God for ever, the bad be cast away. Lahsl, aged 22. — Answers: — I wish to be a Christian. Must put away all sin. I belieT-ij our Iiord Jesus Chri,' the move here was made I followed. Did follow evil, but am changed. Oo-AH (wife of Thrnk-sha-kaun), aged 38. — Ansroers : — I wish to be a Christian. Was '\ time in sin, but now hope to give up every sin. Jesus died for our sins. Our Father madt| and all things. The Spirit helps us. We shall find God when we die, having lost our i Those who remain in their sins will be carried away. I prayed to God for salvation. jj The examination concluded, the requisite preparations were made : administering the rite of baptism. The candidates, to the number] fifty-six, were assembled in the church, and ranged in a large circle, the midst of which the ceremony was to take place. '* The impressiveness of the occasion was manifest in the devout reverent manner of all present. There were no external aids, soci times thought necessary for the savage mind, to produce or increase \ solemnity of the scene. The building is a bare and unfinished octaif of logs and spars — a mere bam — sixty feet by sixty, capable of contaiiil _.. Life,; BTRANaER THAN FICTION. 415 persons. The roof was partly open at the top ; and though the thcr was still cold, thoro was no firo. A simple table, covered with a ke cloth, upon which stood three hand-basins of water, served for the I, and I officiated in a surplice. Thus there was nothing to impress Iscnses, no colour, or ornament, or church decoration, or music. The mity of the scene was produced by the earnest sincerity and serious )ose with which these children of the Fur West were prepared to themselves to God, and to renounce for ever the hateful sins and ^1 deeds of their heathenism ; and the solemn stillness was broken by the breath of prayer. The responses were made with earnestness decision. Not au individual was there whose lips did not utter in own expressive tongue their hearty readiness to believe and to servo will, of course, be understood that so entire an absence of all tterual auls " to devotion was the result of circumstances rather than moice, just as was the nature of the building in which the ceremony performed. On the following day, the services of the liishop were [in requisition to unite in marriage three native couples. Nothing could be more pleasing than the m:inner in which the young )le conducted themselves. The services evidently impressed both and their friends who came to witness the ceremouv. The custom le ring was quite novel to them in councxiun with marriage. Kings have in abundance generally. I have counted thirty on a single of hands. All rings were, however, absent on this occasion, except- |the one to be used : two had silver, the third had a gold ring. There no confusion : all evidently were properly impressed. Two of the ig ladies had white dresses. I presented each of the couples with a •pound bag of flour aud five pounds of sugar. It is customary ^ngst Indians for the newly married pair to give presents to their ids, sometimes to their own impoverishment. We desire to establish ker the more healthful practice of encouraging the new home by sub- itial help." \n the same day fourteen children were also baptized. It was pleasing to see the strong desire of the Christians for the fission of their children to the same privilege of union with Christ's rch as themseves. They all took places — parents, sponsors, and Iren — in the same ring as the adults of yesterday, and came up, leading [little ones between two, and, on returning, reverently knelt down, lining in private devotion for a while, as was tlie case with the adults, jral questions were necessary to be decided which arc not incidental Id-established countries. Parents, still unbaptized, sought baptism their children ; prudence prevented this. Children of one parent Utian, the other heathen, were admitted. Two parents, still unbap- l, came to say they had given their child to a sister who was a 446 mSBIOM LIFE. rMlMlonj I- Aug. 1,1 Christian, and who had adopted it for hor own, that it might be baptJ and trained as a Christian. This I allowed. Children over seven I { not admit, considering they might bo imbued with heathen ideas,! should undergo training in Christianity as a preparation for bapti<| though to bo baptized as infants. It was interesting to see, afterwarj children brought by their parents, and coming of their own accori] have their names set down for preparation." Before his departure, the Bishop gave a feast of rice and molasgeij all the village. ** They assembled in the octagon. Cloths were laid ; all brought tJ own dishes and spoons. There were three tables, at each of which ODtj the chiefs presided. Their custom is to eat little at the time, but away the principal part of the allotted portion : all rise before and i the meal for grace. Singing was then introduced, and excellent, certai: were the strains of harmony poured forth in the English tongue. ScTtJ well-known rounds were capitally sung. First, a boat-song. Then-| " When a weary task you find it, Persevere, and never mind it." , " Come tell me now, ewect little bird, Who decked thy wings with gold ? " " See our oars, with feathered spray." And last, **God save the Queen." In this they were as quick lively as any children in the world, the men joining, too, in good tin voices sweet and soft. Mr. Duncan afterwards addressed them ioj earnest speech." We have thus traced Mr. Duncan's work through its initial stages,j tending over a period of five years (1857 — 63). We cannot better i elude this part of our narrative than by quoting once more the worij which the Bishop of Columbia expresses the opinion which his owns sonal experience and the unanimous testimony of those who hadlJ able to watch the work in its gradual development had led him to fif "All former work, varied, and interesting, and impressive as ministerlalj is, seem insignificant before this manifest power of the Spirit of God, toc[ ing the heart and enlightening the understanding of so many recej buried in the darkness and misery of ignorant and cruel superstitioD.| " To a worthy, zealous, and gifted lay brother, is this the reward ofj loving and patient labours. Few would believe what Mr. Duncan j gone through during the past four and a-half years, labouring ail amongst the heathen. Truly is the result an encouragement to usj It will probably be the commencement of an important moven amongst other tribes, of which we already have signs, and should I forth a very earnest effort on the pai-t of the Church to send fori faithful and efiicient band of additional labourers for this hamsl immortal souls." .l,l«7.. J fiTRANQEn THAN FICTION. 481 STRANGER THAN FICTION. liv TUB EniTon, CHArTKU A' III. PAUT. T.EGAIC. PAUL LGUAIC (from (f photof/rajifi). HK name — Paul — clioscn at his baptism by Legale, was a hIii- gularly appropriate one. Poh- sessed of great power and in- iluence, for a long season he had used them only for the pur- pose of hindering the progress of the Gospel, and had made himself notorious as a " per- secutor and injurious." From henceforward, however, we shall see him showing as much zeal in promoting as he had before done in hindering the Faith. l^ut before this change was brought about a period of severe trial had to be passed through. Head in the light of his after history, Legaic's answers at the of baptism acquire an especial interest, as showing how real was I struggle with the peculiar temptations which beset him. "If J back it will be more bitter for me than before. I pray God rengtlicn me to do right. My prayers are from my heart. We have strength of ourselves." The temptation to return to Fort Simpson issume his former rank as Head Chief of the Tsimsheean tribes, at les very strong, seemed on particular occasions well-nigh irresistible ; kind of inducement was held out to him by his former friends and fdinate chiefs. le time after his baptism it seemed as if these inducements likely to prevail. On one occasion he actually gathered his Is at Metlahkatlah together, and told them that he felt he must ray and return to his former life. The canoe waited on the L and many came down to see him off. Taught from infancy to roL. II. 81 d 482 MISSION LIFE. I >iiit.i,: regard him as thtir leader, all were sorrowful, and some seemed to v.aTi Making his farewell address before stepping into his canoe, he told ill that he could not help what ho was doing, that he v/as jvilled am he knew that he was doing wrong, perhaps he 3hould perish for ever.ii still he must go. Tears cume into his oyes as he shool. them all liv: hand. Then, aviidst a general mourning and dismay, his canoe disi] peared from sigh ;. Such was the iescription of the scene given to the Bishop of Coluttj by one of the Metlahkatloh Indians who had left for Victoria the sa: day. "After describing the scene," the Bishop writes, "he said; Christian Indians held a great talk amongst themselves about it, and] general impression was that Legale would '-eturn. He himself tlionj so scrongly. I was therefore most anxious to know the result, and to^ joy I found th«> such had been the case. Legaichad not proceeded Levj a few miles when he turned his canoe iu-shore and landed, and ti| underwent a night of misery, such, he said, as no words can describt; would die a hundred deaths, and not all would reach the amouii;] suffering ho experienced in that night of remorse. He wept bcl'oit Qod, and prayed earnestly for jjardon. On his return he came to! Mission-house. Mr. Duncan received him. purposely at first with cj uess, but soon found him in the deepest distress and misery, euivm his pity and forgiveness. He has since been most earnest, and it is \m tlirough God's help, he will now go forward without halting ii: Christian course." *-,.-.. • . , -v From this ^imo forward Lcgaic's conduct seems to have been ev] thing that could have been wished. Not only did he set an exanr; steady industry in the calling which he hau chosen — that of a caiptj !4iul cabinetmaker — but he was always on the watch for every opporto of seconding Mr. Duncan's oflfoits. Here, for instance, is an nccij given by the liishop on the occasion of his second visit to Metlalika in 1BG5, of the wav in which he used his influence : — '' To-day M . Duneiin brought before me a young man, Edv.ard, '.vj I had baptized in 1803, who, to the great grief of his Cliristiaii rek at Metlabkatlah, had fallen into bad habits at Victoria and Fort Sin^jj Mr. Duncan spoke to him very earnestly, and brought him to tea'' ; tlu^ young man still excused himself, and, admiiling lu.'v bad iw professed he had not strength to amend, but must go on, eren thou. his destruction. Paul Logaic, too, gave him some very earnest nU rt was pleasing to sec and to hear that once ferocious savage, iu)«| only gentle and in his rij^dit mind, loving; to be on the side of («. hop of Cohiii. ''ictoria the saj s, "ho said uhout it, audi himself tlion) 'esult, and to; iroceeded Levi anded, and tl| can describe; 1 the amoum ^e wept hcfoiii he came to! i first with c;| nisery, entreaii| b, and it is hj t halting ir have been t4 set an cxanip at of a caiptj every opportu ce, is an nccii , to .Metlahk^'^ n, Edward, 'a! ybvistiiiii rol;i: 11(1 Fort Siivj: him to tear ; Ik.'v bad ill' )n, e/en ViMV.] ry cu^rnest al';^ IS savfjgc, iio«j side oi Ciiii.j ; to promote i-| , and Edwaiiii tion, he askouj ) promise l)Ov| lion .' Ke,T .1,1 in. J STRAVaER THAN riCTION. 483 .*^ f,his time amend. I do trust, through God's mercy, he may yet bo vcred.'' peaking of Legaic's general conduct, the Bishop says: "He is indus- us, and gains a good livelihood, and lives in a comfortable house of own building, with good glass windows and a verandah. Chairs were for visitors, and we had much talk about the Mission, and the work, the tribe. His onl; child Sarah is one of the most promising girls Mission-house." nother clergyman, the Rev. R. Dundas, alluding to a visit which he Legaic, says : *' He and his wife have one child only, a young girl of een. She was a modest-looking, pleasing child — very intelligent ; of the first class in the school. She did not look like one who had been * possessed with a devil ; ' and yet this is the child whom three s ago her teacher saw naked in the midst of a howling band, tearing devouring a bleeding dog. How cliangod ! She who * had the ean spirit, sits now at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in licr right d,'" bout the same time Mr. Dune "n^ incidentally notices the assistance tantly rendered him by Legaic on the occasion of his going to preach ort Simpson. Describing one of these visits, he says : " Paul Legaic Clah sat by me, one on either side. After I had finished my address acli occasion, they got up and spoke, and spoke well, Legaic com- ly shamed and confounded rii old man, who in replying to my address Slid that I had come too late to do him and other old people good ; Lad I come when the first white traders came, the Tsimsheeans had since been good. But they had been allowed to grow up in sin, they seen nothing among the first whites who came amongst them to |ttle tliem in their old habits, but these had rather added to them sins, and. now their sins were deep laid, they (he and the other old e) could not change. Legaic interrupted him, and said, * I am ji ', a Tsiinsliceun Chief. You know I have been bad, very bad, as bad y one here. I have growii np and grcwn old in sin, but God has ed my heart, and He can change yours. Think not to excuse your- in your sins bv savinp; you are too old and too bad to mend. ng is impossible with God. Come to God, try His way. He can ou.' He thon exhorted all In taste God's way, to give their hearts ni, to leave all their sins; a id then endeavoured to siiow them what ad to expert if they did so, not temjiorul good, not health, long life, e, or wealth, but God's favour here, and happiness with God after > >» ler records show thai at every public meeting, whether at Fort son or Metlahkatlah, Legaic always took an active part in the pro- Jgs. Of the various speeches made by him of which any it has been preserved, the following one, made on the occasion of h 484 MISSION LIFE. r.MJjisfonl LSei)t.l,i,| the Dean of Victoria's visit to the settlement in 18G7, may be taken asf fair specimen : — *'We have heard your speech, sir; we will obey. Mr. Duncan showed us God's Word : he has taken our hands and led us to God. come dripping away from sin, but our hearts are not yet clean. "SVc ; still craving the blood of Jesus to cleame us from sin. How can- return to evil ? To God wo will go. The ladder has been set up. JtJ is that ladder. Here let us die, put our bodies in the ground when (ij calls us. In conclusion let me say, God has given you to work for; because wo are sinners. May you be prospered." Nor is it only in the distinctly Missionary records that we find this ol stant allusion to the changed character of Legaic. In the various articj or letters contributed from time to time bv travellers to the Victoria ncv] papers, "Paul Legaic, Mr. Duncan's Grand Vizier at Metlahkatki always comes in for a kindly notice, " Take a walk near the cliurc: writes one, "and you may sec the mighty Chief of Fort Siniji- ( Legaic) standing under the porch of his well-built house, ornamcrl witli fancy casing around where the gutters should bo, but are not, also around the windows. Legaic ! why, I remember him myself, si ten years af];o, the terrifying murderer of women as well as men,:; lamb-led by the temperate bund of Christianity — a Church-going exau : — an able ally of the Temperance Society, though not having sigiioil. pledge." Another writer, speaking of the care with which !Mr. Duncan l* studied the tastes and capibilities of those whom he set up in vn; trades, says, "Accordingly, as you pass into Metlahkatlab, you niuv old Legaic, the former Chief, busily working under a sign-board, \\i\ informs passers-by that he is a carpenter and cabinetmaker." Legaic's end was such as might iiave been expected froL '.be coe| tent life which he had now for some years led. In the course of year 18(0, he had gone on a visit to the Naas river, and on bis ri;.j was takvni seriously ill at Fort Simpson. He immediately wrote following short note to !Mr. Duncan : — " Dear Sir, — I want to see you. I always remember you in my m\ I shall he very sorry if I shall not see you before I go away, becaiisri slio\.ed me the ladder that readies to heaven, and I am on thatliii now. I have nothing to trouble me, I only want to see you." To his great sorrow-, Mr. l^uncan was quite unable to obey summons ihus sent to him. The entire management of the settlciii in all its departments of work, and the care of several other casti serious sickness, made it impossible for him to leave just at that t^ He was obliged, therefore, in answer to this, and a second and tif summons which followed in quick succession by separate messenpfor.'lj content himself with sending messngcs of love and counsel to the sicl; < ■ t. Won Life,] It. 1, 18.1. .1 STRANGER THAN FICTION. 485 ^hen a few days later the tidings of his death were brought to ^thihkatkh, there came with them the following unfinished letter : — My dear Sir, — This is my last letter to say I am very happy. I am ig to rest from trouble, trial, and temptation. I do not feel afraid to |et my God. In my painful body I always remember the words of our rd Jesus Christ." ?hoso who had been with him during his illness said that the one ^cial subject of thankfulness to which lie was continually referring, was it God had held back his hand from hurting Mr. Duncan at a time ni he had determined to take his life. Juch was the end of this once " haughty, fierce, savage murderer and jerer." In no age or country probably has Mission work had any more dug instance to point to of the power of redeeming lovo and grace. Contrasting the closing scenes of liis life with those in which he first [•cars in our narrative — now as a reckless murderer, uvA again as the ler of the savage band of medicine-men who threatened Mr. Duncan's -remembering him as one v.ho boasted of the number of lives which been sacrificed to gratify his fierce passions — the very posts of whose ^se had been planted each upon the bleeding body of a slave slaughtered [the occasion ; and then calling to mind the circumstances of his aftrr kory, — the entire surrender of all that an Indian holds n)ost dear; jresoliite battling with the powers of evil; his steady perseverance for jral years, and the earnestness with which, during all that time, he jht to bring home to others the saving knowledge of the truth, by 3h he liad himself hccn made free, we 'lannot resist the conviction, such a history as this afford.- not only th(j most unansvrerablc Iinent in favour of Mission work in general, but the most distinct [tatioii of tlie idea which now-a-days m-o too often hoar put forward, in the ca.je of those who have already grown old in the ways of sin, [Gospel is not "powerful to the pulling down of strongholds," and it is M-ith the young onltj that it cau be expected to have its full )r. le case of Paul Legaif was, be it remembered, no exceptional one, igh rendered somewhat more remarkable by Lis former rank. His )ry is ojdy one out of a very large number of a similar kind which the krience of tliis Mission would furnish. is to this fact, indeed, that Legaic's history owes its importance. any point of view it would be one of considerable interest, but rded as an illustration of IIm^ effects actually produced under particular knistaiices by MissUuiary labour, it affords a singularly valuable lesson lesson at once of warning and encouragement. Of warning, not for )nient to allow the idea that the case of any is hopeless ; and of nagenu'iif in the persistent reiteration of the Story of the Cross in the Jfnyi i'\l'U uf the most apparently hardened. That, humanly speaking, f !'i I' -. > i i 486 MISSION LIFE. LSept.i.ir,? a great part of Mr. Duncan's success, especially at first, was due tot; persistency with which he went to those who would not come to him, a: to his resolute determination to declare to all, " whether they would h or whether they would forbear," the counsel and will of God regardi; them, there can be no doubt. When the Word of God is not " glorified" in the manifestation of: power, may it not sometimes be because it has not thus " free course? CHAPTER XIV. THREE YEARS' WORK. E now must return and take^ our narrative at the poici' which the name of Paul LckI tempted us to anticipate it. the close of the year 1863.. rangements were again for the baptism of a consii able number of converts, officiating clergyman this t:| was the Rev. R. Duudas, i of the clergy of the " Bni Columbia Mission." His ti account of his visit will i^ indicate the state of the t sion at this time : — " Sunday, Oct. 25th, 1^ — It was a pretty sight toj the whole population, old young, at the sound of the t| thronging to worship God. AN INDIAN WOMAN (from a photograph). -i Y ^ ^ i p n j ^ ' ^ need to lock doors, for tb(:| no one to enter the empty houses. Every soul is assembled in the place, and for one purpose. As they entered, the men took the right m women the left hand of the great circular hall. I was surprised tolrll from Mr. Duncan afterwards that he had never bidden them to do t: they seemed to have adopted the arrangement instinctively. S< : •. 'cclfc with a hymn in Tsimsheean. He led with his concertina. The airj very plaintive and beautiful — sung by some 200 vf)ices — mei), woe and children ; it thrilled through me. Then followed Prayers in "T, sheean, at the close of which all joined in the Lord's Prayer in En^l Then followed a chant : one of the Psalms he had translated and t«: lis ift( [i< resf n\ rOl !Jo irv It ro( §0 rMlnsIon I Lsept.i.iftJ was due tot; >ine to him, a; they would Li God regard: lifestation of ' freo course ? loii Mfe.i |l. 1,1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 4B7 turn and take; at the poim| le of Paul Lep anticipate it. be year 1863.^ rere again ;m of a consiii| if converts. I| gyman this tii R. Dundas. of the " Bm ision." His is visit will i^ state of the % me : — Oct. 25th, 1^ retty sight toj pulation, old' sound of the l| worship God. doors, for the* mhlcd in the ^^ k the right acd^ surprised to ' 1 them to do t: ely. Sfi'-'ccki ,ina. The airj :es — rnci), wor Prayers in Prayer in E^?! asla'ted and tfi' |m, to a fine old Gregorian. His address, or sermon, of nearly an r, was upon the story of Martha and Mary. His manner and gesticu- lon was animated and striking, very much after their own style. Their ntion never seemed to flag throughout. He asked me to addresB m, which I did, shortly, upon their present light as compared with ir past darkness, and the difficulties they must expect in their new \se of Christian discipleship. Mr. Duncan interpreted for me. Before arating, they sang again in Tsimsheean a sort of sacred air, which cd familiar to me, and was exquisitely heautiful. I found afterwards as the anthem, ' I will arise and go to my Father,' somewhat altered made more Indian in its character. It suited their voices admirahly. osed with a short prayer in English, and pronounced the Benediction. The service was most striking. It was hard to realise that three s ago these all had been sunk in the deepest heathenism, with all orril)le practices. What hours, what whole nights of wrestling in prayer, ! l)een spent by this single-minded faithful servant of God, in humble [plication that he might ' see of the travail of his soul,' and how has been answered ! There is nothing too hard for the Lord. Service , Messrs. Duncan and Yerney joined me in partaking of the Holy niunion. After the B'shop's next visit there will be, I hope, Indians y to communicate whenever opportunity is offered. Tiicsfhiif, Oct. 27 ih. — I went on shore in the afternoon, to take up quarters with Mr. Duncan. About four o'clock the bell was rung, the whole village assembled at the schoolhouse, when Mr. Duncan them that on the ■ dlowing Sunday, those who desired it, and also xiimination approvec themselves, would be admitted to Holy Baptism. didatos were to assemble that evening at seven, to give in their names. is address to them he was very pointed and stringent — fencing in, as ftorwards told me, the door of admission. He told them the strict, nipromising requirements in those who thus sought to join themselves hrist and His service. Better that they should postpone so solemn and 1 a stop than come to it unprepared. At the hour appointed the idates were assembled. Fiftv-tive mive in their names. Several absent who would have come forward had they been there ; but, as oming was not anticipated, at least 150 to 200 were iiway for their buntng and fishing excursions before the winter, and would not be for some weeks. Saturday, Oct. Qlst. — I was hard at work with candidates the whole from nine a.m. till 11 p.m. Out of fifty-five who oftered I accepted eight ; twenty-one males and seventeen females. I was strongly essed with the real earnestness and devotion of those who came rd, and with their acquaintance with the simple, saving truths of ospcl message, few answers may interest you. IJomkahgwum, aged about twenty-five, a fine young man — to iue ry, what led him first to think of Christ — said, * It was the winter e last. The new school was l>uilt at Fort Simivson. Air. Duncan all the Indians one Sunday to come to church. I liad never been, t then. He told us of our evil ways, and of (Jod who loved us. It ood to my heart ; I was dcf// in the ut His blood saves us. I must leave all my sins, for Jesus suffered;! them. We shall stand before God ; we nmst see God's righteousm j He will give His hand to the good, but He will put the wicked away t'lcj Him.' This woman, who cannot be less than fifty, has had no instruct: from Mr. Duncan, save what she has heard in church. It has coLj chiefly from her own daughter of fifteen, who is one of the Mission-lioJ inmates, and has been with Mr. Duncan for four years, his best and imj promising young convert. She has been baptized by the Bishop, and '. now been the instructress of her parents, both of whom will be baptizj by me to-morrow. " From two or three elderly men I got of course answers less full, is hard for them to remcmher truths so as to give definite answers. words. They feel and know more than they can exi)lain. In a f-.^v ciisj Mr. Duncan said, if I would allow him, he would not put any qucstk to them formally, but would leave them to tell in their own way why til sought for baptism. And very touching it was even to listen to tlu'j though I could not understand them. One, with tears streaming doff said he was very old, and must soon die ; but he wanted to be at peai with God. He knew his ways had been bad all his life ; but he had liiulj light ; and now he wanted to belong to Jesus, for he knew Jesus lovj him and died for him. Of course I could not hesitate in such a case, q gladly accepted him. Some I rejected, because, being capable of instri tion, tlicy hardly came up to the standard required, and it was bettor tl| they should bo more fully taught as catechumens before aflmissiou. few who satisfied me in their knowledge I rejected, because their chiinu:! for steadiness and goodness was not satisfactory ; and one young wonisi of about eighteen, I refused to examine at all. She was guilty of a m net of dishonesty last summer, and then left the settlement and rctuni| to the heathen at Fort Simpson. A few weeks ago she came baric; iHlon Life,] pt. 1,1871. J STRANOER THAN FICTION. 489 [r. Duncan was hardly aware of licr return till last week. She received severe reprimand for coming' forward at all (her name was not our first list), and an intimation from him that her offence had yet to taken notice of. The choosing of names and other preliminaries of \e arrangements for to-morrow occupied us for nearly two hours. In the [so of those who had relatives already baptized, — mothers, or sisters, parents, or children — the same family name was kept. One y(jung lad sixteen, whose answering had much pleased me, was called llobert mdas. Lieut. Verney was allowed to name two candidates after liim- llf and his brother. Two very pleasing young women, of not more than Ltoen, I was anxious to name after my sisters, but I found that they had ready borne English names, being in Mr. Duncan's class (tirst) in the loul, and as they were known by these he did not wish them altered. r'Siinchnj, Nor. Isf. — All Saints' Day. To-day I was privileged to [rform the most interesting scene I have ever taken part in since I left iglaud. Fifty-two souls have been baptized with water and tlie Spirit, [d added to the Church of Christ, most of whom were walking a few irs ago in the darkness that might be felt of degraded heathenism. ['* After service on board, Lieut. Verney accompanied mo on shore. le Baptismal Service was arranged to take place at two, for adults, of lom there were thirty-nine. A second service was lixod for the infants S(mie of tho Christians, thirteen in number, at live o'clock. A large [nibcr of tho sailors from the gunboat were present, and seemed greatly kerosted in the solemn rite. A small table was arranged on a low plat- ^ni at one side of the great circular Mission -house. On it were placed ir silver dishes, containing water, which Lieut. Verney lent for tho Msion ; thev were the best substitute we could obtain for a font. I wore surplice, stole, and hood. The service of course had to be gone rough twice : after each prayer and exhortation, in the adult form, had HI offered or spoken by me in English, Mr. Duncan repeated it iu Hmsheean. The candidates were arranged in rows — the men behind, women in front. On cither side of them, all round the hall, were tho |lt of the congregation, Lidians and sailors. At the proper point in tho rice, one by one, tho candidates stepped forward in front of the assem- M congregation. Mr. Duncan called up each by his heathen name. In swer to my request, * Name this person,' he gave the new Christian 10, and by it I baptized him. As I held the hand of each, while re- [ving him or her into tho Churcli of Christ, and signing him with tho of the Cross, I could often feel that they trembled with deep emotion. returning one by one to their places, each knelt down in silent prayer. [e Baptism being ended I offered up the two concluding prayers, all ling in the Lord's Prayer in English. I then addressed the newly- )tizcd. [* Fridajf, Nov. Gth. — Up anchor, and started at seven. Mr. Duncan 10 oft' in his canoo to say good-bye. The Indians ran the British ^ign u]) as wc passed the flag-statT, which Lieut. Verney acknowledged hoisting all his colours — red, white, and blue — at main, fore, and Ren. And so I bid good-bye to this most interesting place. It takes position now as one of the civilised towns or villages of British lumbia. But it is more than that : it is tho enduring witness of tho i 1 490 MISSION LIFE. L8cpt.i.jfti i if faith and patience and love of one unaided Christian teacher, whose sol^ reward (the only one he has ever coveted) is the souls he has been tb honoured instrument of brinp^ng from darkness to light. ' I have seeij Missions in various parts of the world before now ' (said Lieut. Verney I me), * but nowhere one that has so impressed me with the reality of whs has been accomplished.' " The history of the next two years (1864 — 66) is one of uninterrupi progress, both in spiritual and secular matters. Six months after Mij Dundas's visit, Mr. Duncan writes : — ** A great number are now preparing for baptism, and I hope that vei soon the whole settlement will be Christian. All the baptized have bi and are greatly tried. Many we can rejoice over exceedingly, but so: few have fallen and have been excommunicated ; but, with one exceptioi all such have bitterly repented, and are struggling to regain their footing, The Sunday services continued to be attended by congregations varyi from 300 to 400. On Sunday evenings a meeting was also held, which, after singing and prayer, one or two of the young men exhorti the others, making the addresses given by Mr. Duncan in the earlier pi of the day the basis of their remarks. About 100 usually attended these occasions. But perhaps one of the most encouraging signs of the reality of tl work which was going on was the conduct of many of the converts whei absent from the settlement. Mr. Duncan writes : — "Nor is it only in our own settlement that good is being doni Wherever these Indians go they carry their religion with them, aha; assembling themselves together for worship on the Sunday, and gettii as many of the heathen to join them as possible. An Indian of Fc! Simpson, who liafi received a good deal of instruction from me (thouj he is not a resident at our new village), came here a few days a?i bringing seven young men with him from one of the highest villages the Naas River, over 100 miles from here. He brought them that the; might witness for themselves the things of which they had heard lii| speak. He has been residing at this village as a fur-trader, but he also diligently employed his talents for God, setting forth the Gos] where it had never been preached before, and has met with great enco:| ragement and apparent success. I had the whole party at my he last Wednesday evening, when I endeavoured very solemnly to impi upon their minds and hearts the first principles of the Gospel of Chris Thoujrh intending to return home on the following day, they decided '4 remain over the Sunday, that they might receive further instruction carry back vnih them to their waiting and thirsty tribe. " They were anxious to carry in their hands a portion of God's WoP* so I wrote out for each, on a piece of paper, — ' This is a faithful sayii| and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world kulon Ltfr,-| bpt. 1, 1071. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 491 Ive sinners.' I also gavo tho Indian trader and teacher some farther [structions, and pointed him out portions of Scripture suited to him and flock. Before he arrived hero he wrote me a very encouraging letter, Ir I have taught him to read and write." Amongst the natives who still remained at Fort Simpson the influence the Metluhkatlah Indians was also constantly exerted for good. From le to time a ** deputation " of Christian Indians made special visits the Fort ** for the purpose of arousing their slumbering brethren lere." The result was, as fur as it went, entirely satisfactory. " The ^athen there put away their own absorbing and heathenish work and tended the meetings the Christians held, and listened with gi*eat Terence and attention." [Early in 1864 Mr. Duncan was again cheered by the arrival of a low-labourer — sent out by the Church Missionary Society — the Rev. A. Doolan, of Caius College, Cambridge. lit was at once arranged that Mr. Doolan should take up a distinct ^rk amongst the Indians of the Naas River, to which district, accom- lied by a native catechist, Samuel Marsden, he accordingly pro- sded. [Thus was the first distinct offshoot from Mr. Duncan's work happily inted. Of the results of this venture we cannot here speak at length ; |d it must suffice to say that, aided by several Christian Indians from Btlahkatlah, Mr. Doolan was soon able to establish a flourishing fssion station, which is still (1871) doing a most important work. )f the progress made at Metlahkatlah in special departments of work, uh as training native catcchists, educating the elder girls, and the organ- Ition of the various secular aftairs of the settlement, we shall hope to give [etailed account in future chapters. By dealing with these subjects sepa- jly, we shall be able to give our readers a clearer view of the methods )pted in each case, and of the measure of success which attended >m. '"itli regard to the outward appearance of the settlement at the period R'hich our narrative has arrived (18G6) we may make one or two quota- is from the letters of those who visited it about this time. The hop of Columbia writes : — I* Great improvements have taken place since my visit in 1863. A neat of lioures faces the beach. At one end is the bastion with flagstaflf, jMission- house, and a large school chapel. From that end another Bet of houses extends at right angles to the former, facing another pretty bay. Groups of well-dressed Indians were waiting to receive With many of the men I shook hands, having baptized most of The great octagon was well filled. It was a thankful sight to )ld the clean, neat, and orderly flock gathered with a devotional :t to the Christian house of prayer. In a front row were ten young ;»■' :| 492 MISSION LIFE. rMUnInn I,!' girls, all with English Bibles in tlioir hands, as modest and devout could bo seen in any village church of old England. I was glad to str| many children, and never have I seen better behaved ones anywhcr The first hymn was in English, ** How sweet the name of Jesus sounds I I then said some prayers, and Mr. ])uucan said the Ijitany in TsirashccatI after which a hymn in that language was sung ; I then gave an addrep>. It was pleasing to hear the fervent Amens, both to the English aiij Tsimsheean prayers, and also the responses to tho Litany univcrsi made. Wo afterwards walked round the village, and admired the gardtil which are attached to each house." During the same j'ear (18GG) a Roman Catholic gentleman, who k] spent some months in visiting the northern parts of ]3ritish Columbi; wrote to the Nauaimo Trthunc an interesting account of tho impressioij made upon him by a visit lO Metlahkatlah : — *' Though not," he says, ** of tho same denomination as Mr. Duncatj and having no interest to subserve by my advocacy of his great claims; the respect and gratitude of all true Christians for his meritorious scj vices in the good cause, it is with feelings of tho utmost pleasure tliiit; bear testimony to the gi'cat good effected by this worthy man during \\A period of self-exile at Metlahkatlah. Some time ago reports were it] dustriously circulated that his influence over tho aborigines was rapid!] on the wane, and that ho used every mejins to prevent his people fioLJ trading with the vessels calling at tho Mission. With regard to the firJ assertion, it is simply ridiculous. The confidence reposed in Mr. Duncd bv his dusky flock ha" never for a moment been shaken, in fact, is (lni!i t/ %, 7 7 on the increase, as the many additions to the population from outsiii sources will attest, as well as the alacrity with which he is obeyed i:| every command having for its object tho good of tho community, notable instance of tho latter I witnessed in the ready manner in wLicJ they turned out to do their quota of statute labour on the streets, or paij its equivalent in blankets, Sec. : no coercion, all was voluntary, for tlit" see the benefit in front of their own doors. Their hearts seem to I centered in their little town, and you can inflict no greater punishmeij on them than to exile them from it and its founder. ** In regard to the allegation about the prohibition to trading, I havi only to remark that it is as groundless as tho other. I myself was oni trading voyage, and stopped ten days at Metlahkatlah, and had cTer! facility afforded mc by Mr. Duncan in trafiiclung with tho natives. Ti:| reason is obvious enough : our trade was not in whisky. That brand of trade is certainly discouraged at tho Mission, hcnco tho outcry abo;| * interfering with commerce.' .... ** A word or two now about Metlahkatlah and its be.iutiful environs, blooming with tho blossoms of that useful esculent tho potato, soffi| twenty acres of which were under cultivation and looking splendid. B Minn Life,] pt. i,im;i. J STRANGER THAN' FICTION. 493 ►wii is trianjijuliir in Rhtipe ; the Mission lniil(linp;8 beinj? located on u )1(1 promontory forniingf the apex. The view from tlio southern entrance tho harbour, lookinj^ townward, is extremely pretty. The church, of Btngonal form, luivini,' a handsome portico and belfry, and surmounted [itli the emblem of Christianity and peace, occupies a prominent position the foreground ; adjacent to this are the parsonage, store, and sawpits, ic latter supplying lumber of good quality, the product of native labour, the rate of fifteen dollars per 1000. The houses, numbering about ftv, are nearly all of a uniform size — IG by 2-4 feet — good frame, leatherboarded and shingled, glazed windows, and having neiit little irdens in front ; the whole forming two handsome esplanades, one [onting the outer and the other the inner harbour. '* The interior of the houses did not belie the jn-omise held out by the itorior. Everything was neat and scrupulously clean. Tlu^ inmates ;rc as well supplied with the requisites to make life comfortable as any our labouring class here. Cooking-stoves and clocks were common to irery dwelling, and, in a few instances, pictures adorn the walls of the [ore luxuriously inclined. " Th(> sight at church on Habbath morning was pleasant to behold. |he congregation numbered about 800, the females preponderating, the jnjor ])ortion of the males being at that time out fishing. They were well clad — the women in their cloth mantles and merino dress(!S, and keir heads gaily decked with the graceful bandanna ; the men in sub- mtial tweeds and broadcloth suits, and having the impress of good Siilth and contentment on their intelligent features. Their conduct ning divine service was strictly exemplary, and would have done credit many a more pretentious edifice than that at Metlahkatliih. " As a whole, Mr. Duncan's people are industrious and sober; they are [urteous and hospitable to strangers, and, if properly protected by the )vernment against the poison-venders of this land, will in time become lumerous and wealthy people." [At the risk of its involving some little repetition wo must make one )re quotation. It is from an account, publisiied in the Columbia ncws- Ipcrs, of a " Prospecting Tour on the North-west Coast of liritish plumbia," conducted by a Scotch gentleman, Mr. McKenzie : — I" On reaching the Metlahkathih settlement, on the coast, about scven- 5n miles from Fort Simpson, the party were astonished to witness all external and internal evidences of civilisation. There are about 000 Itives residinsjr in the settlement, and thev live in comfortable wooden juses, buiU in modern style, and with glass v.indows. The interior of sh dwelling is divided into separate apartments, and what little furniture By contai.i is 1 ept in good order, and clean. There is a garden attached [each house, which the owner cultivates, and in them all Mr. McKenzie excellent growing crops of potatoes and turnips. ->. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A I/., 1.0 I.I l^|2£ 12.5 IL25 i 1.4 1.6 '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WtST MAIf STMiT WESlTfR,N.Y. I4SM (7)6) 873-4503 ■<*. ) rf- £?. 7. 494 BIIgSION LIFE. -Mission l4 LSept. l.ij " The people, both male and female, are all comfortably clad, the resn of their own industry and provident habits. *' The village contains a church, part of which is used as a schoi during the week. Mr. McKenzie attended Divine service on Sunday, aJ was amazed at the sight of the large congregation of native converts a| sembled. Their deportment and solemnity during the service ho declan could not be excelled by any Christian congregation which he had evJ previously united with in worship. Mr. Duncan read the Church ServicJ and afterwards preached in the Indian language. It was evident to M McKenzie and his companions that the natives took a deep and intelliged interest in the services from beginning to end. The apathy and listles.| ness which is observable in the countenance of an untutored Indian entirely departed from the Metlahkatlahs. Most of their faces are ta markable for an animated appearance and intelligent expression. ** Mr. Duncan teaches school during the week, and instructs the nativJ how to use the appliances of modern civilisation in cultivating tliej gardens, building their houses, and sawing timber, as well as many otliJ useful arts. He also superintends the village store, acts as magistral! settles all disputes that may arise, and, in fact, has his hands full performing the arduous labours which devolve upon him, and which ha resulted in such complete success as scarcely to be believed, unless, Mr. McKenzie states, it has been witnessed. " Tbe contrast between the Fort Simpson Indians, among whom M| McKenzie resided last winter, and the inhabitants of Metlahkatlah, like that between darkness and light: at Fort Simpson all is grcj ignora'.ce, barbarism, degradation, filth, and evil; whilst at Metlahkatlij ciulisation, progress, enlightenment, cleanliness, and Christianity a:l evervwhere observable. " The Indians belonging to the settlement live by fishing, hunting, ail trading. The Mission store, which Mr. Duncan superintends, suppli| all their wants, and at rates much cheaper than similar goods can procured from the traders who infest the coast. The profits arising o:^ of the store, Mr. McKenzie is satisfied, goes to the benefit of the Misski fund, Mr. Duncan having no personal intc-;cst in it whatever. Nativl have now the exclusive management of the Missionary schooner Carobr^ and the other small vessels built at the settlen.ent. Several of tl| Indians act as constables, and have performed their duty with muii intelligence and strict integrity. So mur'i confidence has Mr. Duiicif in them, that he would have no hesitation in sending them to arw their own near relatives. Mr. Duncan has lately built a house for liitl self, or whoever may take his place hereafter as resident Missionary. 1| intends erecting ere long a sawmill, soap-factory, bakery, smithy, m^ having the Indians trained to perform all the work connected with tin- 1 branches of manufocturing industry. Mr. INIcKenzic bears willug 1 »ion i-ifo,"| \t. 1, liiri. J STUANGER THAN FICTION. 496 ny to the amaziug amount of substantial good done by Mr. Duncan. ,e beneficial influence which he exerts over the natives is not confined those under his charge alone. The improvement, which he has been zealous instrument of bringing about, has become extensively known ong the wandering Arabs who inhabit the British possessions of the ific, and the tribes are now desirous of being instructed by Mission- es. Mr. McKenzie, in his travels up Naas and Skeena rivers, has rd the Indians express the most fervent wishes to have * good men ' ouring among them. Mr. McKenzie in his narrative has only spoken what he witnessed himself, and he is not a bad witness to facts coming or his own observation. He is an intelligent Scotchman, who has veiled a good deal, and, like most of his countrymen, is not easily eived, being of * an inquiring turn of mind.' " n making such quotations as the above our main object has been to ble our readers to realise the nature and extent of the visible results ch, up to the date at which our narrative has arrived, had followed from Duncan's labours. But an indirect object we have had in view has n to give an illustration of the fallacy of the popular idea that few, if , branches of Mission work would stand the test of a close inspection unprejudiced observers. To use the words of another writer who was ught into close personal contact with Mr. Duncan and his work — mander R. C. Mayne : " The labours of men of his [Mr. Duncan's] iBS among the distant heathen are undervalued by the world, which ses to credit the fact that savages, such as these coast Indians un- ibtedly are, can receive and retain impressions so utterly at variance their nature and habits."* There are few of us who do not ber amongst our friends or acquaintances some who have taken sceptical view of Mission work. Only a few weeks since the writer rd a clergyman at a largely-attended ruri-decanal meeting say, " I fess I have for some years given up doing anything for Missions, for ave so often heard of their failure that I have lost all confidence in im." If such opinions are held even by the clergy— and that they are Id by at least a large minority of them there is unhappily no room to ibt — how can we expect any hearty co-operation from the laity ? Ivcry one knows how extremely difficult it is to answer these general jrtions, or to remove such vague and undefined impressions. The sent narrative of facts will, it is hoped, afford at least one clear and jLinct illustration of the injustice of so sweeping a verdict. Would any one could answer the question, Why is it that more illustra- is to the same effect are not forthcoming ? The sceptical will iredly say, because anything like real results attending Missionary nir arc not the rule but the rare exception of the work. Those who ^w that this is not the case can only admit that, in not producing their * Four Years in British Columbia, p. :>.".7. I sr 496 MISSION LIFE. L«ept.i,itl witnesses, and thus allowing judgment to go by default, our Missioci' Societies do, as a matter of fact, justify the sceptic, and give apparj ground for his unbelief. That in a country ruled by the pvei Missionary Societies, expending nearly £'300,000 a-year, should tj from year's end to year's end be able to find material for anytbij approaching a distinct history of their work in any particular field: labour, maybe — and, strange as it may seem, we know is — consistent mtJ those materials being in existence ; but that the public at large A suppose such to be the case is perhaps more than we can reasoiial| expect. If only our societies would spend in leavening public opinii through the press a tithe of what they now spend in *' Deputatioi;< whose voices, save from the pulpit — when few facts can be given — rarell if ever, reach those whom it should be their especial object to influenccj new era in the history of Missionary cflbrt would, we believe, be \i\ speedily inaugurated. But so long as those who alone have the pOAver | produce the requisite testimony to the results of the national expenclitcl on Missions refrain from doing so, so long will the great body of tj English laity remain more or less sceptical as to the real value a{ importance of what is being done. We do not by any means undervalue the usefulness of such publicatlcl as our societies already produce. They doubtless have at least a m servative influence ; but their aggressive power upon the general ml ticism of the day is absohitely nil, and that from the simple fact, t'J they are not, and perhaps from their nature cannot be, adapted to J reading of any but those possessed of a considerable amount of previoi information on the subject of which they treat. What we want are Lo(| ]>i'epared by those whose names will carry weight, and of sufficient pij tensions to secure the attention of educated men, and of the secull press. If our societies persist in hiding their light under a buslia they have no reason to complain if the public do not recognise the goti work which they are doing. Let them once place it on a candlestii and we have no doubt that the public will quickly recognise an," tal a more active interest in the efforts which they are so perseveriiifj making. ;>/V-.>.. ■\ 'V^.M ^^^ir-V/'* *< l»!i|on Llfo,"i ct. 2, 1871. J THE SALISBURY ANNIVERSARY. 679 id were educated in what were called central schools. What was jquirc:" was schools, schoolmasters, readers, and catechists. The uhoolm asters of course looked after the schools, and the readers and itechists went into the villages and taught from house to house. That ^as the system as he had seen it carried on in Bengal, and to which the loney given in this countrj was in great part devoted. Ho had ideavoured to tell them as briefly as he could what it was that Mis- [onaries had to contend with when they went out to India, what progress lere had been made in the .Missions, and he had also endeavoured to low them something of the system upon which Missions were conducted. )ecial responsibility attached to Missionary work in India. In our kher colonies, such as America and Australia, the Europeans invariably rove out the original inhabitants, took their places, and, in fact, became le dwellers in the soil. But that, so far as Europeans were concerned, kuld never take place in India. There the climate was so deadly to ke European constitution, that it was impossible that Europeans could rer till the soil. It was also, he believed, a notorious fact that Euro- bns did not live in India beyond the third generation. Well, then, lat remained ? That we must, whilst we are the rulers of India, teach natives eventually to rule themselves ; that we must contemplate a le when we should have to leave India for good and all, and when the 3 would themselves be the governors of the country. AVe were ^eady working towards that end. We were everywhere placing natives I India in offices of trust, and he was bound to say that in his judgment By fulfilled the duties of those offices excellently well. But, as he had |d, the end would be that wo should leave the natives the rulers in pir own country; and how should they leave them? Would they [ve them as the Mahometans left them when they were rulers, heathen or would they leave them, as they were bound to do. Christians Itead of heathens ? If they thought they were uound to do all they yd to leave them Christians, they must do it now when they had io, and not wait till that time had passed away." 'he Bishop of Manchester thought that it would greatly help to iken a more intelligent interest in Missions if more information were lainable of the work being done by the very various agencies other than S.P.G. and C.M.S., especially of the Wesleyan and the London ssionary Societies, the American, Scotch, and German Missions, and of the Roman Catholic Missions. He regretted that there was not. Ifiir as ho was aware, any general conspectus published of the work le by different Christian communities, 'lie Chrhi'ian Year Book, published by Jackson, Walford, and Hod-lor, [Paternoster Row, is " a first attempt to present in an extended form [statistics of all the principal societies of every denomination thvough- tlie world that are dircctlv enga;T;cd in the work of cvanr^clisation." book is well worth the 5.9. or Gs. wliicli is about its cost. — Ed.~ 580 MISSION LIFE. rMlsslon L L Oft. s.ifrij STRANGER THAN FICTION. Bt the Editor. CHAPTER XV. LAW AND POLICE. ilNE of the first things which genel-ally attracted the notice of visitor to Metlahkatlah was the regularly organised body constables. They were twenty in number, and "as fine a si of young men as you would wish to see — the very pick of the ChristiaDsj Their uiiiform was a dark blue surtout with brass buttons and gold-twi epaulettes, a scarlet stripe on each leg, a white belt, and band roiii| the cap. These men, with the council of twelve and the chief, Legale, consj tuted the executive, over which Mr. Duncan presided. Great care being taken in the selection of the constables, admissij into the force was regarded as the greatest distinction which could conferred upon the younger members of the community. The kind of discipline which was kept up, and the influence of pull opinion amongst them, is well illustrated by the following incident, me| tioned in a letter written in 1865 : — ** The constables, as a body, are very true and faithful. Last -wiD!! they were severely tested. One of their own body, and a very influenti one too, having gone wrong, was brought before us, and that by his vJ bosom friend ; and we had to sit over his case till after midnight [ reclaim him. I punished him by fining him five blankets, and shol have kept him in custody unless he had confessed his error and hem pardon. If you had heard the kind and powerfully melting langusT which, one after another, his brother constables poured upon himj convince and subdue him, you would have rejoiced, I am sure. Iti really wonderful. They triumphed, and with tears the prodigal retural But part of the sentence was, that he was to leave the settlement fof short time, as I could not allow him to be seen in our midst. The after, a deputation of constables waited upon me to beg for this partj the sentence to be cancelled. They came direct from a meeting to ^^i he had been called, and after hearing his sorrowful words and g| resolutions, they promised to use their influence to obtain permissioDJ remain at the settlement, but not to go from his own house for soj time, or until J. gave him leave. Having pleaded so well and so earneij for him, I consented to their proposal. " About three weeks after this he came to me, in company witli accuser — his bosom friend — saying that he wished to see my face. |«.loii M'e.] STRANGEn THAN FICTION. 581 efore all the Christiaus that night. So after the adult school IS over, I ordered all to leave the room who were not Christiana. This IS done, and the penitent then came in, aid made a very afifoqtiiiS |)eech indeed. It was very wonderful to see and hear him, a naturally foud and a very inliuential man, from his eloquence and general charac- , H'j bitterly deplored his sin, praised God for His mercy, thanked and all his friends for the trouble we had taken with him, expressed |s sorrow and shame that he had given us pain, and disgraced the name Christian, and resolved, in God's strength, to lead a new life, and bo )ie watchful. He then warned all present against sin, begged them to ttch and pray, confessed ho had found the hiding of God's face more jiter than death ; and again and again besought them to avoid all inner of sin, and the first approach of it. The Christians then shook hands with him, and some, I have no ibt, were in tears. Thus the wanderer was restored." [t might at first sight seem that in a peaceable and well-ordered village ^re would scarcely be found occupation for so large a " police force ; " it must be borne in mind that not only all disturbances, and even irrels and disputes which arose in the village itself had to bo settled [the Mission-house, but that the Indians living in the neighbourhood In learnt to resori, to it in every case of anything like a serious nature, amoi it of labour, patience, energy, and explanation, which these ics invol . ed, necessarily proved a serious tax upon Mr. Duncan's time strength. At the same time he felt that the satisfaction of seeing cc and quietness prevail, not only in his own village but amongst thu rounding tribes, was quite a sufficient compensation. I'rom an early period of his residence at Metlahkatlah, Mr. Duncan at the request of the Colonial Government, consented to act as a istrate : an office which, especially as he was the only person acting [hat capacity along several hundred miles of coast, involved duties of a serious, and <• .Iways of a very anxious character. |ne or two illustratioiis will best serve to indicate the character of this of his work. fere, for instance, is an extract from a letter written in October, 1865, le of the officers of the Colonial Government : — jFor the last few months clouds of trouble have been setting in thickly id us, and I am fully expecting the coming winter will bo one of un- jdented horrors. The Indian camps about us are deluged with fire- r, and, of course, every kind of madness is rile, tt is iust because our village makes a stand against the universal tide 3order that we are being threatened on every side. [n July last I apprised His Excellency the Governor that we had in Spring seized a quantity of liquor, which a party of Kitahmaht IS brought here for sale. 682 MISSION LIFE. [ Ml Ml on I,i|.| Oct. 2, ib;i, I "In revenge for the loss of their liquor (lam sorry to inform you these Indians, in the summer, stole a little boy belonging to this place, while he was away with his jDarents at a fishery on the Skeena riveri And, horrible to write, the poor little fellow was literally worried to deatlJ being torn to pieces by the mouths of a set of cannibals at a great feast, j " This atrocious deed would have met with summary vengeance i'rortl the relatives of the boy had it happened a few years ago. In this casej however, though highiy exasperated, they would not allow themselves I do anything till they had seen me. In order to prevent blood being she at random, I ordered them to wait till the arrival of a ship of war, wW I promised to refer the matter to the captain, and hoped they would haTij justice done them in a civilised way. " Last week, however, an Indian (uncle to the unfortunate boy, but noJ a 3Ietlahkatlah man), arrived here from Victoria, where he had beeif living for the last two years and a-half. On his learning of the Kitahma atrocity, it seems he secretly resolved to take the law in his own hf nds] and, for that purpose, proceeded two or three days ago to Fort Simpson, to where a party of Kitahmaht Indians had recently arrived. " This morning, at two o'clock, I was awoke, and informed thati Kitahmaht Indian had fallen a victim to this man's revenge, and tliij great excitement was occasioned at Fort Simpson. Nor is it known wl will be the next to fall, to feed the stream of blood which has commencej to flow, but every Indian around me is in fear for his life. " I might enumerate several very serious matters which have latel occurred around us, which are loudly calling for justice. " I can only mention one more. The Rev. A. Doolan, Missiona stationed at Nass, on landing at Fort Simpson, a few days ago, was upon by an infuriated and drunken Indian, vao twice attempted to fireij him. Both times his gun missed fire, and before he could make a tt attempt, the gun was secured, and fired off into the air. ** Mr. Moffatt, chief officer at Fort Simpson, writes to me in gre^ alarm. ** I do earnestly beg that a ship of war may visit us this winter, such is not the case, much blood will be spilt, and no life or property i be safe." On another occasion, two miners having been murdered at Fort Simj son, the chief officer of the Fort despatched a canoe for Mr. Duncan | the middle of the night, asking him to go up and assist in securing !■ murderers. When he arrived there two ships of war were already on I spot. After a time the Indians gave up two out of the three who w^ implicated. Their idea of justice was & life for a life, and so notb would induce them to give up the third. The sequel of the story j gather from two passages in the journal of the Bishop of Columbia;! the first he is describing his approach to Metlahkatlah in 1863 in i luci.a, isTi. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 58)5 hich have latd I to me in giei jame ship which had a lew months hctbro vainly endeavoured to secure 10 surrender of the third murderer :— •* When the gun of the ship I was in sounded her approach, wo saw a uioo coining from the shore. She was manned l)y ten Indians ; and us le came nearer us wo perceived that in the midst, as is the custom in luocs, sat a white man, our earnest catechist, Mr. Duncan. As the )at came nearer, an Indian was observed sitting side by side with him, lot engaged in paddling the canoe. Who was that ? He was a niur- lercr. Six months before the * Devastation ' ship of war, in which I was, [ad been in those waters, seeking the three Indian nuirderers of two Irhitc men. The Indians gavo up two, but they would not give up the lird. The ship of war planted her guns against the village, threatening with annihilation ; but still they would not give up the third murderer. ^8 soon as the ship of war was gone, the murderer came and gave imself up to Mr. Duncan, saying, ' Whatever you tell me co do I will If you say I am to go on board the gun-ship when she comes again will go.' For six months he had been there at large, and when our m sounded he might have escaped, but he said, * What am I to do '? ' id the answer was, * You must come with me a prisoner.' He was Bcordingly handed over to us a prisoner, to be taken to New Westminster be tried for his life. The scene was touching when his wife and lildren came to bid him farewell, and she earnestly besought Mr. bncan, the captain, and myself, to say some one word which might give Br a ray of hope. Thus we see that what the ship of war with its guns id threats could not do for civilisation, for protection of life, for ^stice, the simple character and influence of one Missionary could pcomplish for all those important objects." The second extract is from the Bishop's journal in 1866, when this le man was found amongst the candidates presenting themselves Metlahkatlah for baptism. After alluding to the above circumstances, says : — " He was taken to New Westminster, and it was found that he had Ben drawn into the murder through fear ; he had protested against but when one of the others had tired and killed one white man, he IS impelled by fear lest the others might now turn upon him, and iued in killing the second, but succeeded in preventing his companions irsuing the third white man, who was in their power. All these rcumstances came out, and he was pardoned. After his release he Lme to dwell at Metlahkatlah, and now I have admitted him, a sincere |id humble believer in Christ, into the Christian Church. When entered the room to be examined he knelt down and offered a silent lyer. [** While speaking of his sins he showed emotion and covered his face. longst other answers, these are some of his words : * I repent very I? ir -"-"■■•»■ 58-1 UISSION LIFE. L Oct. a, In;, i inucli of my past sins ; I remember my sins before Jesus.' I askej why Cliristiuns were not afraid to die ; he said, * Faith in God will maktl us not afraid to die.' I baptized him Jeremiah ; ho is about forty yearJ of age. His wife was not less satisfactory in the testimony she gave (,'] a true conversion to Crod, and was added by baptism at the same tiiut with her husbai^d to the fold of Christ." A single illustration of the less important cases continually broiifjli;! before Mr. Duncan must suftice to indicate the general character of tlibl ])art of his work. It is taken from an account by Dean Cridge, given iil the British Columbia reports of his examination for baptism of a largtl number of Indians at Metlahkatlah : — " Clahs, aged 21. Her history is rather singular. Her parents m\ natives of Nass, at which place she was herself brought up. Her littltf sister was shot when she herself was a child, in revenge for an ins received at a feast. Her father instantly shot the murderer, and, as tlk| latter was a chief, a feud sprung up, till the balance of revenge should kj restored, which was arranged by the payment of forty blankets, and tlij promising this daughter to the chief's son when he should grow m When the time arrived, Clahs refused, but to save her father's lifcl which was thereupon threatened, she went to live with a man she hated] When on her way to the Skeena River, in company with this man m her father, she found a pretext for being left at Metlahkatlah, and laiil the case before Mr. Duncan, who, on the return of the man, Lad k. brought up, and bound him over in seventy blankets to keep the peacJ (he ■ "ng threatened the father's life) ; she, by Mr. Duncan's advicfj rer' 1 at Metlahkatlah. *' She showed a clear knowledge of the elementary truths of tliJ Gospel." [She had been for some time under instruction by Mr. Doola:j at the Nass River Station.] But perhaps the most serious source of anxiety in connection with tliij department of work arose from the constant attempts of smuggling sloofi to sell spirits to the Indians. On one occasion Mr. Duncan, hearing the presence of one of these vessels in the neighbourhood, at onii despatched a warrant for the apprehension of the captain. In this casJ **the sad result," he writes, "was, that the five Indians serving tliJ warrant were fired upon by the three white men on board the sloop, oti being killed on the spot, and other three severely wounded. The ska got away, and it was not till the following day that the Indian unhuij returned to the settlement, bringing his three wounded companions inj canoe. " Unfortunately at the time I had very few people left in the villajiJ so that we were unable to follow the murderers while within a reasonalji distance of us. " After I had doue all, and the best I could for the wounded men,! t. V, 1»71. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. r)85 companions wounded men, jtermined to run doAvn to Victoria, it being unsafe, from the unsettled ^ate of the coast, to send the Indians alone. " On the 25th August I started for Victoria in a small hoat, and on 10 5th September, by 7 a.m., I was in Nanalnii, the nearest white ^ttlcment, having been brought, by a gracious God, safely through Uny perils on the sea, and perils by the heathen. ** I need scarcely say that as soon as possible I communicated the locking tidings to the Governor of each colony, to Admiral Denman, id to all our friends. All deeply sympathised with us ; and Governor Bymour, of ]Jriti8h Columbia, lost not a moment of time till all the Bedful despatches vrcre written, and forwarded to the two neighbouring rernments, Russian and American, and to the Admiral of the station, [Uing upon all to do their utmost to seize the murderers, and hand |eni over to justice. The Governor j.lso engaged a doctor to visit the )unded men, and Admiral Denman sent up H.M.S. * Grappler,' with |e doctor and myself on board, to the settlement. I" I cannot express to you the anxiety I felt while away, and how jtloss I was to return to the sick men. But God was better to me lu my fears. We arrived on the 4th instant at Metlahkatlah, and, to groat relief, I found the wounded men doing well, and all the settle- 5ut going on prosperously. I called a meeting of the village on the juing of our arrival, to return thanks to Almighty God that He had lombered us in our affliction." Lt the same time, even such events as these were made to subserve one object which Mr. Duncan ever held so steadily in view, viz., setting forth the manner in which the reception of Gospel truth )uld influence men's conduct in every position, and under the most ying circumstances in life. ■ ' In my addresses, both before going to Victoria and since my return, lave been greatly helped in opening to the Indians the passages and [ths from the Scripture, which this late dispensation of Providence |strated ; and I have been shown by unmistakeable signs that this |ere chastisement, with which it has pleased God to visit us, will be luctive of great good to us. I* It would take me too long to detail to you the series of Indian laws revenge and compensation which this sad occurrence and its sequences je revived, met, defeated, and dispersed for ever ; and how the Chris- laws on tlnse matters have been put forward in strong contrast — proved, magnified, and made to triumph ; and how, for the first time, fclamity, which would have called forth only savage fire and relentless in the Indian as heathen, has only called forth patient endurance lawful retaliation in the Indian as Christian." will be easily understood that the determined and persistent opposi- thus offered by Mr. Duncan to the illicit traffic in spirits with the 586 MISSION LIFE. fMI».i.l(.n I,. L (> <>»:t. ;;, if;i nati\os gained for him for a time no little ill-will jiniongst a largo da;.! of the trading community at Victoria, liut it is satisfactory to lind th;; I the wisdom and justice of the course he adopted, and the good results t[ his work amongst the nafives, came at last to be so generally admittt: .iS to disarm opposition, and in some cases even to secure for him tlj support of those who had most bitterly opposed him. One instance \\ mentioned by Dean Cridgo of the captain of a trading sloop, whom Mr] Duncan had fined 400 dollars for unlawful trading, but who aftcrwani became one of his most active friends — a result partly duo to the iitj pression created by what ho saw at Metlahkatlah, and partly the fact cj Mr. Duncan having afterwards obtained restitution fur him from ILJ Indians at Fort Simpson for injuries done to his vessel. Thus acting in turns " as minister, schoolmaster, physician, buildcJ arbitrator, magistrate, trader," yielding to "no consideration of comfor;.! taste, interest, reputation, or safety (in all Avhich respects he has ktl severely tried)," did Mr. Duncan labour on year after year resolutekl sacrificing himself and his own interests to the work Avhicli he had undttj taken, and refusing to decline or abandon any undertaking which lij believed to be, under the providence of God, essential to its succes Who that reads the story of what the strong will and entire selll devotion of one man has efftcted will deny that it is indeed " stmiiiit than Jictioii" ? THE POLYNESIAN SLAVE TRADE. BISHOP PATTESON'S MEMORIAL. E have received a copy of a Memorial, addressed by Bisliij Patteson to the General Synod of New Zealand, on the subjej of the Polynesian slave trade. Speaking of the so-called cj gagements, or contracts, made with the islanders, he writes : — ** Much is said about engagements and contracts being made wij these islanders. I do not believe that it is possible for any of traders to make a bond fide contract with any natives of the Nortkj New Hebrides, and Banks, and Solomon Islands. I doubt if any cue! these traders can speak half-a-dozen words in any of the dialects of thoj islands ; and I am sure that the very idea of a contract cannot be m\ intelligible to a native of those islands without a very full power] communication readily with him. More than ten natives of Mota Isla; have been absent now nearly three years. The trader made a contn with them by holding up three fingers. They thought that three sm lUMiOIl liifO,-] ?. 1, 1H71. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 609 m ^^?. STRANGER THAN FICTION. By thk Editor. CHAPTER XVI. GALA DAYS. NTIL wo have seen a community in their hohday dress, and marked the general character of their festivities, we are hardly in a position to form a fair opinion of the standard to which, in social and religious matters, it has at- tained. Let us, then, glance for a moment at the various festivities and ob.sprvauces by which, from time to time, particular days and occasions were observed at Metlah- katlah. Of ordinary holidays, the one most observed is the Queen's birthday. We will choose for our description an occasion on which one of H.M. ships, the ** Sparrow- hawk," was anchored off the vil- lage, as it doubtless served to give additional eclat to the proceedings. I At an early hour a party from the ship landed, to help in decorating Mission-house and bastion with a festoon of flags of various nations, le day was delightful; the sun shone bright, and all the beautiful snery of the islands, placid sea, and distpnt mountains, contributed to charm. 'he proceedings of the day commenced in the house of God, where renteen children were baptized. ** It was pleasing," writes the Bishop Columbia, who officiated, " to witness the devout manner of the )nsors, and to hear their audible responses. None anywhere could ive better, or show more appreciation of this sacrament of the ^spel." distribution of gifts then took place. First came 140 children, as ^erly and nicely dressed as the children of the best village school in ifland. After singing " God Save the Queen," in English, they were VOL. II. 39 • Jfe-aj ' jn mi c ' -^W^ If ^'^^ m; \]^M IH mi '1 IC'-J! "U :'i^ /-.'», QUOQIJOLT INDIAN. See tiert pa/je. (From a I'hotoc/raph.) 610 UISSION LIFE. rMlsslon LiJ LKov.l.iRf each presented with a biscuit. Next came 120 elderly men and women] to whom a few leaves of tobacco were an acceptable token of friendlif feeling ; the sick, too, were remembered ; and last, not least, the councilj men and constables. Precisely at twelve o'clock a royal salute of twenty-one guns boom&ij forth from the ship, to the great satisfaction, and some astonishment, a the groups of Indians, who, in their Sunday best, had gathered to tli village square; to join in the festivities, which now commenced in earnej Children playing at ball, and taking turns at a merry-go-round ; youiij men competing at gymnastic bars ; the eighteen policemen of the villanej in regimentals, ready for review ; and the elders walking about, coeJ paring the old time and the new, made up a scene which, for inteiesj and enjoyment, could not well be surpassed. But the most exciting part of the programme for the day was tJ regatta. The course was about two miles, round an island. In the firsj race, five canoes, manned by forty-one young men in their prime, toJ engaged. The canoes flew through the waves, throwing the white foaif on every side ; and right gallantly were the efforts sustained until tlij goal was reached. Three canoes, rowed by women, also contended a prize. Next came foot races, running in sacks, blind-man's buff, and su(| like amusements. It so happened that on this day a large body Quoquolt Indians came to Metlahkatlah. As they landed from tbd fleet of Bella Pella canoes, the contrast which they presented to tlj well-dressed and respectable Metlahkatlahas was very striking. Tk were clothed in tattered blankets which scarcely covered their nakednesl Their faces were painted black and red, and their hair [was matted aij dishevelled. Not a little astonished at all they saw around them, tkj eventually retired, as though wishing to hide themselves from obsti vation. Their chief, a stately personage, alone remained, as the gm\ of Legaic. The evening was devoted to a public meeting, and a magic-lauteij entertainment. At the meeting several of the officers from the " Sparrowha^il addressed the Indians. Some of the chief men replied : Mr. Duiicl acting as interpreter on both sides. The time being short, the speakei were limited to a few minutes each. Two or three quotations will seij to give some idea of the general line of the addresses and the higli figurative language peculiar to Indian oratory : — Abraham Kemskah. — " Chiefs, I will say a little. How were v;c ; hear, when we were young, what we now hear ? And being old, and loci fixed in sin, how are we to obey ? We are like the canoe going agaiiij the tide which is too strong for it ; we struggle, but, in spite of oj efforts, we are carried out to sea. Again, we are like a youth watclii: Ilsiilon Life,] Jov. 1, 1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. Gil skilled artisan at work : he strives to imitate his work, but fails ; so we try to follow God's way, but how far we fall short : Still we are icouraged to persevere. We feel we are nearing the shore ; we are )ming nearer the hand of God, near peace. We must look neither to ic right nor left, but look straight on and persevere." Peter Simpson {Thrak-shah-kaicn—once a sorcerer). — " Chiefs, I will )Ciik. As my brothers before have intreated, so do ye. Why have you ^ft your country and come to us ? One thing has brought you here : 10 thing was the cause. To teach us the way of God, and help us to lalk in it. Our forefathers were wicked and dark ; they taught us evil, ley taught us ald'ied (sorcery). My eyes have swollen. Three nighto I have not slept ; I have crept to the corner of my house to cry, reflecting God's pity to us in sending you at this time. You are not acting )m your own hearts : God has sent you. I am happy to see so many my brothers and sisters newly born to God. God has spoken to us : let us hear.' " I Richard Wilson. — " Chiefs, as ye have now heard, so do ye. Indeed, ther" (addressing Mr. Duncan), "we are sinners before you; we often ike your voice bad in calling us ; we must persevere, we must try, [ough we are bad ; we are like the wedge used in splitting the trees, we making the Avay for our children : they will be better than we are. le sun does not come out in full strength in early morn ; the grey light I first spreads itself over the earth ; as it rises the light increases, and, -and-bye, is the mid-day sun. We shall die before we have reached ich, but we shall die expecting our children to pass on beyond us, and ich the Avished-for goal." )aniel Baxter {Neeash-ah-pooth). — " Chiefs, I am foolish, I am bad, in your sight. What can our hearts say ? What shall we do ? We only pray and persevere. We will not listen to voices on this side hat, but follow on till we reach our Father in heaven." vUEEVosT {Jacob). — " Chiefs, we have heard you. Why should we to mistake the way you teach us ? rather we must try to follow on ; |)ugh our feet often slip, Ave must still try ; we have rocks all round us ; sins are like the rocks, but the rudder of our canoe is being held. Avill not drift awav. We are all assisting to hold the rudder and kp her in hor course. What would she be without the rudder ? — Soon jrrcck upon t]ie rocks. So we must cry to God for help to follow on. must beg God's Holy Spirit to strengthen us and to guide us. lefs, do you but speak, and we will obey." VooDEEMEESH {Simcou). — "I wiU speak to my brethren. What has done to us ? What does He see in us, that He should be working Jus ? We are like the fiiUen tree buried in the undergrowth. What lihese chiefs gain by coming to us ? Did we call them ? Do we know whence they are, or did we see the way they had come ? Yet they i 612 MISSION LIFE. rMlsslonLlid LNov. i,i8:|l j'l ^1 ■ 1 i ii. Lit VI ( 1 !l 1:' ' '1- ! 1 I have arrived to us. They have torn away the undergrowth ; they havtl found us ; and they have Hfted up our hands and eyes to God, aoil showed us the way to heaven." The day concluded with an exhibition of the magic lantern, which, n is needless to say, caused the greatest excitement and amusement, whi( was not lessened by a remark of the chief of the Quoquolt Indians, the effect that he found the "King George men" eould conjure i well as the Indian. New Year's day was another annual holiday, which was kept vit'l somewhat similar festivities, save that they were varied by a businesl meeting, in which the financial affairs of the settlement were discusseil taxes paid, arranged, &c. The completion of a new house, a marriage, or baptism, presentel frequent occasions for minor festivities. Here is the description of sutj an entertainment, which Mr. Doolan attended during the tempoiar absence of Mr. Duncan in 1867 : — *' Feb. 4th. — Attended a feast of biscuit and tea, given in honour d the completion of a new house : the roof anything but watertight, ai as it was raining very hard, I had to put up with occasionally largv drojj falling down my neck. Such a noise ! the master of the feast bawliEj out the number of biscuits given to each person ; others busy at the firJ stirring the molasses — a substitute for sugar — in the tea ; men and womJ talking, children crying; while, to crown all, a kettle full of tea ra upset on the fire, filling the house with steam. However, perfect goiJ humour prevailed, and every one seemed happy. One of the IndiaiiJ at the conclusion of the feast, spoke very well, and was clapped; first time I have heard the Indians at feasts use this means of expressiij their approbation. The purport of his speech was, that God had pitifj him, having given him strength to finish his house : though he was veij ill, God had not called him away. Before his house was finished he ; like a bird without a nest. He hoped God w ould ever be with him ; ai| concluded by thanking us all for our attendance." Bread and tea, and tarts made from the juice of the native berritj formed the usual provision at such gatherings, and speech-making chief amusement. The observance of Christmas, again, is thus described : — "Dec. 25th: Christmas-day. — This morning, between twelve andoij o'clock, a band of young men, attended by Mr. Duncan, paraded village, singing hymns suitable for Christmas. The night was very fiij and the voices sounded very pleasantly in the still frosty air. " After Morning Service, all the people, with the exception of a ftj who had misbehaved, came to the Mission-house to shake hands withi and wish us a happy Christmas. It was very pleasant to see the peo[j looking so happy. They were all dressed in their best : the won fUiilan Llfe,l r>-ov. 1,1871. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 613 rearing good gowns, and different coloured shawls, and the men with strong pilot cloth coats. "We invited to dine with us the chiefs and their wives, in all six. Lfter entertaining our guests with a microscope and some stereoscopic news, we closed with singing and prayers. " Dec. 26th. — To-day being fine, the young men had a good game of Ifootball on the sand. After they had finished, the old men made sides, sind seemed to enjoy the fun highly. "A gi-eat many feasts of tea and bread are being given: by these (easts a friendly feeling amongst them is fostered." At rare and uncertain intervals, the visits of a man-of-war, bringing kome special visitor, caused a variation in the ordinary routine of the laily life. For instance, in 1867 the settlement was visited by the rovernor of Victoria, an honour which was highly appreciated by Ihe Indians. One or two extracts from the speeches made on the l)ccasion of his reception will speak for themselves. Addressing the Assembly as " Councillors, Constables, and Friends," Governor Seymour lid— *'It gives me great pleasure to meet you for the first time in your own ^ome, and to see the great progress in civilisation which you have made. )epend upon it, the arts and habits of the white men are good for the idians also. As long as you continue doing well, you shall have the [upport and assistance of the Government. '* Continue to fear God, to obey the authorities, to abstain from liquor, make roads and houses, to cultivate your gardens, and you will lo well." The following is an epitome of the speeches made by the Indians in Bply to the Governor : — Paul Legaic. — ** We have heard the good words of the great chief low sitting here with us. We are children, not yet strong or wise lough to guide ourselves. Let the chief speak to us, and tell us what jre ought to do, and what we ought to avoid doing, and we will obey, "e beg, we all beg one thing from the chief, that he will use his power stop the Indian custom of giving away property, as that custom is the reat barrier to all improvement among the Indian tribes. It is to ipport and carry on that custom that the Indians rush into every kind vice. We therefore wish the Governor to stop it. If he says it is stop, it will stop ; if he will not forbid it, it will still go on." Peter Simpson. — " The chief has heard from Paul what we all krongly beg for. We are anxious to see peace established around us. phe chief has kindly promised to take care of us. As the bird watches [ver its eggs, so do you watch us. You are strong : we are weak ; you lort us to persevere in the way we are going. So long as God shall )are us we are resolved to follow in the track we are going. We ! If 'v< 614 MISSION LIFE. rMlsRjon i,i|,l L Nov. 1, isn.j long expected to see the great chief here. We see him now: iTt| rejoice." Daniel Baxter. — " We are happy to-day. We ask what wo can pari with from our bodies to give the chief who has visited us ? He has madJ us glad with his words. Yes ; we are weak ; we are yet shallow ; M we are feeding on God's Word, but not yet satisfied. We have not eatoj enough. The chief has done well to come to see us, though he may but a short stay. It is good that his feet have walked our village roaJ and touched our soil. He has heard from Paul Legale about the greaj barrier that stops the way of the si. -rounding Indians from follo\viii| with us. We hope the chief will move it away." Some other speeches followed ; and the Governor replied : "I A going away. What you have said I shall bear in mind. Though, aj you say, you are poor and oung as a people, yet you have made giej progress towards equality with white men. You worship the same Goilj you are acquiring the same habits and customs ; you have houses \\\\ them ; you will have good roads ; you own a vessel ; you have a shop will possess a saw-mill. If you continue in thi. way you will do well I pust now leave you, with the assurance that my heart is good towarj| you." CHAPTER X-N'II. SOCIAL PROGRESS. E have before spoken of the schooner which Mr. Duncan assisttj the Indians to purchase, and of the trade carried on bv means. By the year 1867, besides large sums paid over froJ time to time to the Indian shareholders, the profits accruing to llj Mission had sufficed to build a large market-house, a soap-house, a blaca smith's shop, and a saw-mill, representing together, with some improvij ments in the Octagon School Church, an expenditure of nearly £800. The most important of these buildings was one about 90 feet by o| erected on the shore near the upper end of a large jetty, and divitlt into two portions, the smaller designed for a court-house, the larjj for village assembliers, a market-house, and for the accommodation strangers. By this means, strange Indians, who often came in lai| numbers to trade, instead of being scattered over the village, to the grt discomfort and detriment of their more civilised brethren, were coij fortably housed and properly cared for, whilst frequent opportuuitl were thus given of addressing large bodies of the heatlun from the sii rounding country. "The good," Mr. Duncan writes, "which the nifj ket-house is doing in facilitating the preaching of the Gospel to cj fe^ilisll*'] STRANGER THAN FICTION. 615 heathen neighbours is very great, more than would, I think, arise from |au itinerating Missionary. It used to be almost impossible to get strange hndians to assemble for any special effort in instruction. Now all is |changed. The men who come for trade to us occupy this house, and are, in a sense, my guests, and I can find them ready and happy to hear me )r the young men of our village address them after the hum of trade has eeased." Many, too, of those who came to trade would remain over the Sunday, ind attend the services in the church. The advantages of the ''store," or "trade shop," were very great, [n the first place, it demanded and obtained quietness and courtesy in jlace of the savage altercations common to Indian trading. All goods mswering the conveniences of civilised life, and tending to -elevate the istes and improve the appearance of the people, were obtainable at a price to which they had before been quite unaccustomed. For instance : — " My soap manufacture." Mr. Duncan writes, *' is quite a success. I low let the xxidians have a bar of soap for 6d. They are astonished at \hc jirice ; such a bar cost them a few years arjo 40s. in furs. Now that leir habits require more soap, here it is ready at hand and cheap." Apart from these advantages, the continued employment which the [arious branches of trade gave was of the greatest service ; the Indians radually acquiring the habit of following their daily avocations — some of lem very laborious — more in the steady manner of the English labourer lan with the fitful disposition of the Indiin. Next in importance amongst the new buildings was the Mission-house, frame building of cedar, 64 feet by 32, containing seven apartments on le ground floor, besides outbuildings ; also a spacious dormitory -stairs, looking pleasantly out on the islet gardens. "The rooms on the ground floor," writes Dean Ciidge, "are lofty id commodious ; that in which I am writing, andwhirh forms one of le suite of apartments prepared for the exclusive use of a married [issionary [whom Mr. Duncan hoped to associate with himself in the ^ork], is as comfortable as any room in my own residence. If we add a lentiful supply of game, fish, &c., in the season, imported goods in the pore, quite a large flock of goats, yielding a profusion of excellent milk, ' ^^^^^ ^^ ^"^ ^^ ^^^S that I would forbid the ;y there seems t 'l^iWrcu to go on. I called them into my house, and, at their request, Barnest efforts t( 'l^^*- *^^" ^'^°"^ ^^^^'' *^^^* others might not hear. We had a long and brethven. Mei ici'iow« talk over the whole matter. . . . They left me in a friendly matter of couisjay' ""^^' -'- *^^^ ^"^'^' ^ ^ood deal out of love with their false position." I induce to listeii (7w be concluded in the December Number,) bllSSION WORK IN THE WEST OF ENGLAND. HERE are few counties in England which contain more striking contrasts in natural scenery, or whose inhabitants are dis- tinguished by more marked peculiarities, than Cornwall. A junicy I'rom Plymouth to Penzance presents a continuous change. After laving the former town, the traveller is carried along, past rich woods, n'ough lovely valleys, on to the bleak land of the mines ; whence passes onwards to Penzance, with its mild climate, blue bay, and bundant vegetation. But though the inhabitants vary in these various localities, there is a Irong resemblance between them, a strong family likeness, so to speak, ^tweeu the Cornish miners, fishermen, and agricultural population. icre is the same sturdy independence, the same contempt for [foreigners" {i.e., all persons born out of the county), the same strong btli in local superstitions, and the same love of hospitality and social litheriugs. Unhappily there is, in general, also the same low tone of )rals. Wesley may be almost said to have revived Christianity in the [est of England, but lie failed to teach a Church system in its beautiful ipleteness, and modern Methodism is too much addressed to the lotions to grapple eff'ectually with sin, and lead to reformation of life Id home. King Arthur's task, " to drive the heathen from the land," [still in great measure unperformed, for in too many places the people living without God in the Avorld, and are therefore practically ithen. iTlie attempt to elevate the lowest class by means of one of themselves ]cl been tried with much success in London and elsewhere by the ^irochial Mission Women Association."* It was founded in 1860 by ir ladies, who assumed the title of Managers of the Fund entrusted to bm by the public for the maintenance of certain poor women who, ier the direction of the local clergy, were desirous of devoting them- res to the active service of their own class. When experience had * See Advertisement. T ■ ; I. I G20 MISSION LIFE. rMliilon iJiJ LKov.l.iK.I proved the usefulness of this work in London, two ladies possessini considerable local influence desired to plant, by God's blessing, in til West a branch of that tree which was producing such good fruit in tj East, and the London managers gladly agreed to assist in extending tluif machinery into Devonshire and Cornwall. The plan was laid before tJ late Bishop of Exeter, and, having obtained his Lordshi])'s cordiJ approval, a Branch Association was formed in November, 1802, undtj the same rules, and governed by the same principles as the paitd Society, with which it is still in close connection and constant commuKJ cation.* It is not intended here to give a complete account of the work of tlJ Diocesan Association, but merely a few instances to prove the suitaLilii of the means employed for the end attempted, by showing the good iIolJ not only in " the three towns," but in the heart and on the shores oft two counties, especially Cornwall. The readers of Mission Life may probably remember a paper witttj by the Honourable Mrs. J. C. Talbot (President of the Society), wliiJ appeared in January, 1870, and in which the objects of the work, ail the persons among whom it is carried on, are described. They n have noticed that women are both the agents and the subjects of ih Missions, while the scene of their operations is the homes of the EngllJ poor. According to whether she is working in town or country,! Parochial Mission-woman may be found living in a lodging or Id cottage ; but it is essential that she should herself be on the same soeil level as the persons among whom she labours, and to whom she is siil posed to be a model in dress, home, character, and conduct. She oil receives from the Association the few shillings a- week she was in t habit of earning ; and, as the rate of female labour is low in the ¥ej this sum there in no instance exceeds Is. or Is. 6d. a-day, to wMj sometimes, a trifle for rent is added. In short, she is maintained,] reivarded, by her richer fellow- workers, and still remains the hondji poor woman she Avas when selected by her clergyman. Her work teJ by collecting deposits for the purchase of Bibles and Prayer Booj clothing and bedding in the homes of the people, and in her visits f this purpose to the lowest, she gains an opportunity of doing ma a kindly act for the sick, the aged, or the neglected, as well as of sa}j a word in season not only on the advantages of thrift and cleanliness, on the duties of sobriety and chastity. It is difficult to realise the position of a poor, ignorant womaiij whose heart for the first time has been awakened, by God's grace,| * The Exeter Diocesan Branch is iinder the Management of the following ladies, by a:j whom further information will be willingly afforded, and further assistance thankfully receivff Lady Louisa Fortescue, Boconnoc, Lostwithiel ; Lady Agnes Wood, Powderham Castle, EiJ Lady Duckworth, Wear House, Exeter; Mrs. Pole Carew, Antony, Tori^oint, Devonport; Glanville, Hon. Sec, Scoimer, St. Germans, Cornwall. Ion I-lfe.T ,1,18;.. J jKl.i4lon I-lfe.' IK'C, STRANGER THAN FJCTluX. g:;) STRANGKIl THAN FICTION. the shores of til gnorant AYomai), fe 1!y the Eihtuk. ClIArTER XVI I r, CONCLUSION. i^H^MBJ^HE history of the setlloment at Metluhkiitlah duriii;,^ the last five years may be summed up iu two words, " stead 1/ j>/-o//r<'.s.s-." Of difficulties, drawbacks, and occasional discouragemeuts, there has been no lack. The spirit in which they were met as they arose, is well indicated in Mr. Duncan's own des- patch of November, 1808: "The enemy is only permitted to annoy, but not to destroy us, only to make us stand mure to our arms and look more imploringly and constantly to heaven : nor is he permitted to triumph over us. To Ciod, to our Triune God, is all the praise and glory." One of the latest signs of increased religious earnestness was a spontaneous movement amongst the young and middle-aged Indians to form adult Sunday-classes for liible- ^ jj reading. " The adult males, numbering about one fyy hundred, are superintended by four native teachers, and ^ the females, who assemble in separate houses, are taught by the young women who have passed through a course of training in the Mission Home. All the teachers come to me at the close of each service for special instruction for a few minutes, and then proceed to the several classes. All read over carefully the text, translate it word by word ; simple comments and addresses are offered by the teachers, )ncluding with singing and prayer." The next important step in advance which Mr. Duncan contemplates '.he sending out native teachers to the heathen tribes around. " Many the tribes," he says, " are stretching out their hands for help, and ^od seems preparing His servants at Motlahkatlah to carry it to them. ^hole tribes talk of soon joining us ; but this I do not anticipate will the case yet — the way is very difficult and the door narrow for lem." Still, the constant communication with Metlahkatlah, and je unmistakable evidence there presented to them that godliness has VOL. II. 43 671 MISSION LIFE. [ Dec. 1,1.;; ' ) m^ 11 the promiso of this world as well as of that which is to come, addel greatly to the cflect of the occasional preaching of the Gospel amonf;J them, and it was evident that it only needed some suitable opportunitf to present itself to bring about a great national movement in favour Christianitv. In the meantime Mr. Duncan has formed tlio plan of developing verl considerably the material resources of the settlers at Metlahkatlah, nil making it a nursery, not of Christianity only, but of the arts aJ employments of civilised life. Ho thus expresses his views on the subjectl " The spirit of improvement which Christianity has engendered witliij this people needs fresh material and knowledge in order to develoj itself. The sources of industry at present in the hands of the Indiail are too limited and inadequate to enable them to meet their increastf expenditure as a Christian and civilised community, who are no longJ able to endure the rude huts and half-nakedness of the savage. Agaii numbers of young men are gi*owing up in the Mission who want worl and work must be found for them, or mischief will follow ; the mischil being, that these now promising youths will be attracted to the settlemeij of the whites in the colony, where numbers of them will be sure to becoE the victims of the white men's vices and diseases." As the first step in carrying out this view, Mr. Duncan determintj himself to come to England and acquire a knowledge of several siiiif: trades, and purchase such machine^ as he required, and then goiij back to his people erect workshops, ond inaugurate those new modes' industry upon which he hoped to build up a material prosperity, and; develop that self-respect and self-reliance which can hardly be found any great degree amongst a wholly uncivilised people. With this view he sailed for England at the end of January, 18i| The scene on his departure showed how great a hold his thirteen yea labour amongst them had gained for him upon the people. ThouJ he had previously gone round to every house to take leave of them, tlij collected in crowds as the time for his leaving drew near, and even aftj he had said his ** last farewell and last prayer upon the beach," they st| followed him in their canoes to the ship. Arriving in London on the 13th of March, 1870, Mr. Duncan at onj set to work on his self-imposed task, going about to different parts of country, and, as far as it was possible in a limited time, making hims^ master of the branch of industry there prevailing. Thus, when visitiif Yarmouth, he learnt rope-making and twine -sp inning, and at anotl| place at which he stayed, weaving, at another brushmaking, at anotll "the gamut of each instrument in a band of twenty- one instrumentl At the same time he set on foot, amongst those whom he succeeded j interesting in his work, a subscription for defraying the expenses of soij of the more important works which he contemplated. ij III^hIm!! I. lie, I Dec. 1,1«-71. I stranqeh than fiction. G75 Chief amongst these were a new church and school. Ho also pioposed io {?ive the Indians such assistance in the matter of window-frames, nails, ic, as would induce them to rehuild their houses alter a more suhstantial ind permanent model than was possible on the first formation of the nllage. To carry out these plans, ho estimated that not less than t*G,000 would 1)0 required, and he fairly enough challenges the Christian philanthropist assist him with this amount of capital. Before he left England, which Jie did at the end of six months (i.e., in September, 1870), he had received [bout £400 towards the amount he required. For the credit of English [bilanthropy it may well bo hoped that the whole amount required will Tcntually be forthcoming. There must be many English capitalists ^ho, if they really knew all the circumstances of the case, would consider a privilege to be associated with such an undertaking. On the I'lth of October, 1870, Mr. Duncan arrived at San Francisco his return journey, " very weary and dusty, having been a second-class issenger, and therefore without sleeping accommodation for over two ^ousand miles." Here he was delayed for three weeks. *' The time," he rites, "proved very useful. I made several new and very warm friends, 10 promised to help mo, and who, indeed, have helped mo exceedingly. the woollen mills the manager supplied me with shuttle, reeds, eddies, and spindles, and carding materials, and promised me another [pply, free of cost, whenever I may apply for it." Arriving at Victoria on the lltli November he found it necessary to lain there for some weeks, in order to carry out arrangements with the )verumcnt about the Indian reserves and other matters connected with settlement. As one of the vessels of the Hudson Bay Company was just starting the coast he was able to send letters to Metlahkatlah, and in about tee weeks received a batch in return. " Yesterday," he writes, " I got |)atch of thirteen loving letters from my people. All going on well ; all ciously looking for my return. One says : * How we shall thank God [en He brings you back to us ! The people were together in the rket-house to hear the news from you [they had assembled to hear letter read] , and when they heard that yon are coming back they made feh a great noise by jumping on the floor.' t* One of the letters from Metlahkatlah to me was from (and signed by) Council, expressing their joy at the prospect of soon seeing me. I* Another was from the notorious chief Leeguneesh, who has given me luch trouble of late years, and was expected to make use of my absence ajure the Christians all he could. In this letter (signed by his own hand) he says ho owes it to God's [cy that he has the hope of seeing me again. He thanks God for l:ing with him, showing him his sins, and making him to hate the ti I 676 MISSION LIFE. 'ii'i ways he once so much loved. He says, too, he has resolved to join God'sl people at Mctlahkatlah, and remain faithful till death, looking up tJ heaven as his home. " All the other letters express to me the great joy that spread over tlij village when the steamer arrived, and the sore disappointment when tlitJ learnt I was not on hoard. ** They thank God for my safe arrival at Victoria in answer to tlieil prayers, and pray constantly for my return amongst them. *' With their furs I have had a good deal of trouble, as the fur mark) has fallen lately ; but I am happy to say that, by inaugurating a mi mode of disposing of them, I have realised (and thus saved to the villagej nearly one thousand dollars above the offer made to the agent in the usua] way. Their requisition for goods I am yet busy procuring." Mr. Duncan's chief object in delaying at Victoria was to procure froij the Government power to allot to individual Indians of the setty ment a portion not exceeding ten acres of the native reserves rouBJ Metlahkatlah, with the right to clear, enclose, cultivate, and personaEJ own such portion. Not only did the Governor readily grant this request, but gave himsel personally a donation of 500 dollars to be spent upon the constables ail council of the village. Whilst the negotiations with the Goveriimeif were pending Mr. Duncan occupied himself in taking lessons and practij ing on a band of brass instruments given him in England, and also in coc piling new Indian services in Tsimsheean. Before he left he also ''pii chased a steam boiler and pipes, &c., to carry out a new system of makid the celebrated Oolachan oil so much used by the Indians, and the proeeij of manufacturing which (mainly owing to their superstitions) is destructive to health and degrading to the females."* W bilst still at Victoria, Mr. Duncan had the pleasure of hearing tliatj suggestion which he had some time before made to the President of tij United States was likely to be carried into effect. *' Great changes,"' ^ writes, "have lately taken place in the Indian Agency of the UiiiiJ States. Fancy my joy on hearing at San Francisco of the two foil Tongas and Wranzel, both being abandoned now, and that the PrcsiJt[ had determined to remit the Indian Agencies into the hands of various Missionary Societies." Since his return to Metlahkatlah no letters have been received in Eij land direct from Mr. Duncan. From intelligence coming indirect!}, appears that he found that everything had gone on in his absence m satisfactorily. With the conduct of the Indian Council and constalj he was especially gratified. Not only had they proved themselves vij * With regard to the Indians at Victoria, Mr, Puncan writes : "Nothing at all at iirc- being done for them. They have thoroughly relapsed into their old heathenism and &.'! customs — eating dogs, &c., on the beach riglit in front of Victoria — a proof how iici:f| lielpless civiliaution is to elevate the poor savage without the Gospel." I Uec. l,187i. J STRANGER THAN FICTION. 677 zealous iu preserving law and order during tlio twelve months of liis labsence, but during that time some of them had scarcely ever left the Ivillage even to gather supplies of food for the winter, lest in their absence [anything should go wrong. Of the real value of the work which Mr. Duncan has been permitted to lo a more crucial test than this year's absence could not well be imagined. We shall look with interest for some particulars of the domestic history }f the settlement during this time. We know, however, enough to assure 13 that there must be a far greater amount of stability of purpose and ehiu-acter amongst those new converts to Christianity than most persons iould have been inclined to give them credit for. How far the moral and social elevation of the whole Indian race may \)G affected by what is being done at Metlahkatlah, and what may be the tesult of the formation of a sort of native capital and model settlement, it Is impossible to predict. That with God's blessing it may result iu the kaving of a goodly remnant of u noble race we would fain hope. What Mr. Duncan's own plans are, and how fur ho will hereafter levote himself to the extension of the great work which he has so liicccssfully inaugurated, we have no means of judging. He speaks [oiitinually of the time of his own retirement from the work as being bar at hand. Being himself a layman, ho naturally wishes to see a llergyman permanently established in chargo of the settlement. That a man possessed of such singular administrative ability, such feat earnestness, and such unusual power of influencing others, and tlio has jjaincd so tliorouojh a mastcrv in the lanfjuajxe as *' to think TO O *j O O pd dream " in it, should entirely withdraw himself from the work to rhich he has hitherto devoted himself would be a cause of general and Bep regret, and we may well express the hope that the day for his so )ing may yet l^o very far distant. Great as has been the work \/hich IS been already done, a greater still remains to be accompli«lied. Metlahkatlah is really to become the centre of any widely-extended [lorts to evangelise the native tribes of North "West America, it must mider the guiding and controlling influence of such a mind as that ]\Ir. Duncan. j\Iost sincerely do we trust that he ,'ill meet with ich. encouragement and assistance as will enable him to complete that fiich he has begun so well, and that the Christian community which have seen so successfully organised may only be the first of many her settlements modelled on the same plan and shoAving the same signs material prosperity, combined Avith a thorough appreciation and prac- cal application of the saving truths of Christianity. 678 Misiueir xtiiii. i?a A THOUSAND YEARS OR THE MISSIONABY CENTRES OF THE MIDDLE AGES CHAPTER XI. GLASTONBURY AND NORMANDY. HE conquests to Christendom of Russia and Poland, Spain audi Portugal, the island of Sicily and the shores of the Levant,! have not heen assigned a place in the foregoing pages, either! because the traditional accounts of those conquests are too vague aDdl legendary to be closely followed, or because in none of those countries! does early Mission-work appear to have tended to the establishment on any Missionary Centre of signal importance. The same may be said, witlil respect to the countries inhabited by the Scandinavian race, or by the! remaining Teutonic and Sclavonic nations. Spain, perhaps, forms some exception. It is believed, that, when Lerinsj first flourished, monasteries or more probably hermitages existed in the] north of Spain. And, doubtless, the Benedictine Rule and its civilizing spirit was introduced, soon after St. Benedict's time, into the souther districts, which, during the latter half of the Middle Ages, became the! kingdom of Castille. Monasticism, however, made no impression in thej Iberian peninsula, until the conversion of the Visigoth kings began help on Christianity. In the sixth century, under the auspices of St. Gregory, Bishop of Rome, the brothers St. Leander and St. Isidore^ successively Bishops of Seville, founded several smaller monastic house in and about their episcopal city, and contributed to the institution of i model abbey at Agalia, close to Toledo. The labours, stated to have heeij undergone by these two bishops, would seem to bear a family resemblanci to the labours of St. Austin of Canterbury amongst the Saxons. ButJ widely differing in exactnesc from Anglo-Saxon history, the contemporai] chronicles of Spain do not furnish much insight into the working of itj Centres, either at that era or at later periods of Spanish civilizatioE St. Isidore left, besides other discursive writings, a treatise On the Dub of Monks, in which he says : — " Our (monastic) Tmy recruits its rank not only with freemen, but particularly vdth men oi servile conditiou, wh come to seek freedom in the cloister. It would be a grave -fault, not admit them." The crude condition of Isidore's Mission-houses is thn exhibited. But, the general tone of his treatise leads also to the legiti mate conclusion, that Missionary operations were primarily conducted a Spain, upon a system analogous to the methods employed elsewhen Indeed, since Austin and Leander came forth as branches from one comnmi Ifeffl E AGES ,nd, Spain and I Df the Levant,] g pages, either] too vague andl ,hose countries! itablishment of| ay be said, m race, or by the! at, when Lerinsj existed in the| id its civilizing o the southeral fes, became thd ipression in im kings began he auspices o| md St. Isidore] Lionastic house institution ofi ted to have beeij lily resemblanci Siaxons. But] le contemporar working of itj lish civilization je On the I>«^ cruits its rani e condition, ^vbj ive fault, not L-houses is thu 30 to the legiti ily conducted ioyed elsewheJ :om one cominoi •■i