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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Metlakahtla and the North Pacific Mission
+by Eugene Stock
+
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+Title: Metlakahtla and the North Pacific Mission
+
+Author: Eugene Stock
+
+Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6976]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on February 19, 2003]
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+Edition: 10
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+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK METLAKAHTLA AND NORTH PACIFIC ***
+
+
+
+
+This eBook was produced by Avinash Kothare, Tom Allen, Juliet Sutherland,
+Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+METLAKAHTLA
+
+THE NORTH PACIFIC MISSION
+
+OF THE
+
+CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY
+
+WITH A MAP
+
+
+
+
+"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of
+the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead me and Thy right hand shall hold
+me"--Ps. cxxxix 9, 10
+
+    Shores of the utmost West
+        Ye that have waited long
+    Unvisited noblest,
+        Break forth to swelling song
+    High raise the note that Jesus died
+    Yet lives and reigns the Crucified
+
+
+NOTE
+
+The third, fourth, and fifth chapters of this little book are
+substantially a reprint of parts of a pamphlet entitled, "Metlakahtla,
+or Ten Years' Work among the Tsimshean Indians," published by the Church
+Missionary Society in 1868. Almost all the rest, or three-fourths of the
+whole, is new matter--new, that is, in a separate form, for the greater
+part has appeared at various times in the Society's periodicals. One or
+two facts are taken from the Rev. J. J. Halcombe's excellent book,
+"Stranger than Fiction," which has done so much to make the Metlakahtla
+Mission known. For much valuable information I am indebted to Admiral
+Prevost.
+
+E. S.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAP
+
+I. THE FIELD OF LABOUR
+
+II. THE CALL, AND THE MAN
+
+III. BEGINNING WORK
+
+IV. FIRST-FRUITS
+
+V. THE NEW SETTLEMENT
+
+VI. METLAKAHTLA--SPIRITUAL RESULTS
+
+VII.   "         MATERIAL PROGRESS AND MORAL INFLUENCE
+
+VIII.  "         TWO CHRISTMAS-SEASONS
+
+IX. OUTLYING MISSIONS--KINCOLITH.
+
+X.         "           QUEEN CHARLOTTE'S ISLANDS
+
+XI.        "           FORT RUPERT
+
+XII. LORD DUFFERIN AT METLAKAHTLA
+
+XII. ADMIRAL PREVOST AT METLAKAHTLA
+
+XIV. THE DIOCESE OF CALEDONIA
+
+
+
+
+METLAKAHTLA
+
+AND
+
+THE NORTH PACIFIC MISSION.
+
+
+
+
+I.
+
+THE FIELD OF LABOUR
+
+
+British Columbia, now forming part of "The Dominion of Canada,"
+includes within its limits several islands, of which Vancouver's is the
+principal, and that part of the continent of North America, west of the
+Rocky Mountains and east of Alaska, which is included between the 49 deg.
+and the 60 deg. parallels of north latitude.
+
+English connection with this part of the world may be said to date
+from an exploratory voyage made by Captain Cook in 1776, when he landed
+at Friendly Cove and Nootka Sound, and took possession of them in the
+name of his sovereign. He supposed at the time that these places were
+on the mainland, and it was not until Captain Vancouver, an officer in
+the English Navy, was despatched in 1792 to the Pacific, that he
+discovered that Nootka and Friendly Cove were on the west side of the
+island which now bears his name, and which is sometimes spoken of as
+the gem of the Pacific.
+
+In 1793, Alexander Mackenzie, one of the most enterprising pioneers in
+the employment of the North-West Fur Company, who had already
+discovered the mighty river since named after him, crossed the Rocky
+Mountains, and pushed his way westward, until he stood on the shores of
+the Pacific. Some years later, in 1806, Mr. Simon Frazer, another
+_employe_ of the same Company, gave his name to the great river
+that drains British Columbia, and established the first trading post in
+those parts. After the amalgamation of this Company with the Hudson's
+Bay Company, other posts were established, such as Fort Rupert, on
+Vancouver's Island, and Fort Simpson, on the borders of Alaska, then
+belonging to Russia, but subsequently sold by her to the United States.
+
+In 1858, the discovery of gold in the basin of the Fraser river, on
+the mainland, attracted a large number of gold-diggers from California,
+and among them a considerable body of Chinese. To maintain order among
+a motley population of lawless habits, British Columbia was formed into
+a colony, with its capital at Victoria, on Vancouver's Island.
+
+Official returns, made a few years ago, gave the number of Indians in
+British Columbia as 31,520, distributed over the islands and mainland.
+They belong to several distinct families or nations, speaking distinct
+languages, subdivided into a multitude of tribes speaking different
+dialects of their own. Thus the Hydahs of Queen Charlotte's Islands are
+altogether distinct from the Indians of Vancouver's Island, where,
+indeed, those on the east coast are distinct from those on the west.
+Again, on the mainland, the Indians on the sea-board are distinct from
+the Indians of the interior, from whom they are divided by the Cascade
+range of mountains. These inland Indians are of more robust and
+athletic frame, and are altogether a more vigorous race.
+
+Among the coast tribes, however, there are great differences, those to
+the north being far superior to those in the south. Those who know the
+Indians well declare that it would be impossible to find anywhere finer
+looking men than the Hydahs, Tsimsheans, and some of the Alaskan
+tribes. "They are," writes one, "a manly, tall, handsome people, and
+comparatively fair in their complexion."
+
+The Indians on the sea-board of the mainland, and those on the east
+coast of Vancouver's Island who have affinity with one another, have
+been grouped into three principal families or nations. The first of
+these is met with at Victoria and on the Fraser river, and may be
+called the Chinook Indians, from the language which is principally in
+use. In the second division may be comprised the tribes between Nanaimo
+on the east coast, and Fort Rupert at the extreme north of Vancouver's
+Island, and the Indians on the mainland between the same points. The
+Tsimsheans, a third family, cluster round Fort Simpson, and occupy a
+line of coast extending from the Skeena river to the borders of Alaska.
+
+On his arrival at Fort Simpson, on the 1st of October, 1857, Mr.
+Duncan found located there, to quote his own words in a recent official
+report, "Nine tribes, numbering (for I counted them) about 2,300 souls.
+These proved to be just one-third of the tribes speaking the Tsimshean
+language. Of the other eighteen tribes, five were scattered over 100
+miles of the coast south of Fort Simpson, other five occupied the Naas
+river, and the remaining eight tribes lived on the Skeena river--the
+whole of the twenty-seven tribes numbering then not over 8,000 souls,
+though I at first set them down at 10,000. In addition to the Tsimshean
+tribes which I have mentioned, I found that Indians of other two
+distinct languages frequented the Fort for trade. These were the Alaska
+Coast Indians, whose nearest village was only some fifteen miles north
+of Fort Simpson, and the Hydahs from Queen Charlotte's Islands."
+
+The tribal arrangements among the Tsimsheans are very much the same as
+among other Indian clans. Each tribe has from three to five chiefs, one
+of whom is the acknowledged head. Among the head chiefs of the various
+tribes one again takes preeminence. At feasts and in council the chiefs
+are seated according to their rank. As an outward mark, to distinguish
+the rank of a chief, a pole is erected in front of his house. The
+greater the chief the higher the pole. The Indians are very jealous in
+regard to this distinction.
+
+Every Indian family has a distinguishing crest, or "totem," as it is
+called in some places. This crest is usually some bird, or fish, or
+animal; particularly the eagle, the raven, the finback whale, the
+grisly bear, the wolf, and the frog. Among the Tsimsheans and their
+neighbours, the Hydahs, great importance is attached to this heraldry,
+and their crests are often elaborately engraved on large copper plates
+from three to five feet in length, and about two in breadth. These
+plates are very highly valued, and are often heir-looms in families. No
+Indian would think of killing the animal which had been taken for his
+crest. While two members of the same tribe are allowed to intermarry,
+those of the same crest are prohibited from doing so under any
+circumstances. The child always takes the mother's crest: if she
+belonged to a family whose crest was the eagle, thru all her children
+take the eagle for their crest.
+
+The most influential men in a tribe--not excluding the chiefs--are the
+medicine men. Captain Mayne, R.N., thus speaks of them:--[Footnote:
+_Four Years in British Columbia, and Vancouver Island_, p. 260
+(Murray, 1862).]
+
+"Their initiation into the mysteries of their calling is one of the
+most disgusting ceremonies imaginable. At a certain season, the Indian
+who is selected for the office retires into the woods for several days,
+and fasts, holding intercourse, it is supposed, with the spirits who
+are to teach him the healing art. He then suddenly reappears in the
+village, and, in a sort of religious frenzy, attacks the first person
+he meets and bites a piece out of his arm or shoulder. He will then
+rush at a dog, and tear him limb from limb, running about with a leg or
+some part of the animal all bleeding in his hand, and tearing it with
+his teeth. This mad fit lasts some time, usually during the whole day
+of his reappearance. At its close he crawls into his tent, or falling
+down exhausted is carried there by those who are watching him. A series
+of ceremonials, observances, and long incantations follows, lasting for
+two or three days, and he then assumes the functions and privileges of
+his office. I have seen three or four medicine men made at a time among
+the Indians near Victoria, while twenty or thirty others stood, with
+loaded muskets, keeping guard all round the place to prevent them doing
+any mischief. Although a clever medicine man becomes of great
+importance in his tribe, his post is no sinecure either before or after
+his initiation. If he should be seen by anyone while he is communing
+with the spirits in the woods, he is killed or commits suicide, while
+if he fails in the cure of any man he is liable to be put to death, on
+the assumption that he did not wish to cure his patient. This penalty
+is not always inflicted, but, if he fails in his first attempt, the
+life of a medicine man is not, as a rule, worth much. The people who
+are bitten by these maniacs when they come in from the woods consider
+themselves highly favoured."
+
+Mr. Duncan, in 1857, gave the following painfully curious description
+of the medicine men--
+
+"The superstitions connected with this fearful system are deeply
+rooted here, and it is the admitting and initiating of fresh pupils
+into these arts that employ numbers, and excite and interest all,
+during the winter months. This year I think there must have been eight
+or ten parties of them, but each party seldom has more than one pupil
+at once. In relating their proceedings I can give but a faint
+conception of the system as a whole, but still a little will show the
+dense darkness that rests on this place.
+
+"I may mention that each party has some characteristics peculiar to
+itself, but, in a more general sense, their divisions are but three,
+viz, those who eat human bodies, the dog eaters, and those who have no
+custom of the kind. Early in the morning the pupils would be out on,
+the beach, or on the rocks, in a state of nudity. Each had a place in
+front of his own tribe, nor did intense cold interfere in the slightest
+degree. After the poor creature had crept about, jerking his head and
+screaming for some time, a party of men would rush out, and, after
+surrounding him, would commence singing. The dog eating party
+occasionally carried a dead dog to their pupil, who forthwith commenced
+to tear it in the most dog like manner. The party of attendants kept up
+a low growling noise, or a whoop, which was seconded by a screeching
+noise made from an instrument which they believe to be the abode of a
+spirit. In a little time the naked youth would start up again, and
+proceed a few more yards in a crouching posture, with his arms pushed
+out behind him, and tossing his flowing black hair. All the while he is
+earnestly watched by the group about him, and when he pleases to sit
+down they again surround him and commence singing. This kind of thing
+goes on, with several different additions, for some time. Before the
+prodigy finally retires, he takes a turn into every house belonging to
+his tribe, and is followed by his train. When this is done, in some
+cases he has a ramble on the tops of the same houses, during which he
+is anxiously watched by his attendants, as if they expected his flight.
+By-and-bye he condescends to come down, and they then follow him to his
+den, which is marked by a rope made of red bark being hung over the
+doorway, so as to prevent any person from ignorantly violating its
+precincts. None are allowed to enter that house but those connected
+with the art; all I know, therefore, of their further proceedings is,
+that they keep up a furious hammering, singing, and screeching for
+hours during the day.
+
+"Of all these parties, none are so much dreaded as the cannibals. One
+morning I was called to witness a stir in the camp which had been
+caused by this set. When I reached the gallery I saw hundreds of
+Tsimsheans sitting in their canoes, which they had just pushed away
+from the beach. I was told that the cannibal party were in search of a
+body to devour, and if they failed to find a dead one, it was probable
+they would seize the first living one that came in their way; so that
+all the people living near to the cannibals' house had taken to their
+canoes to escape being torn to pieces. It is the custom among these
+Indians to burn their dead; but I suppose for these occasions they take
+care to deposit a corpse somewhere, in order to satisfy these inhuman
+wretches.
+
+"These, then, are some of the things and scenes which occur in the day
+during the winter months, while the nights are taken up with amusements
+--singing and dancing. Occasionally the medicine parties invite people
+to their several houses, and exhibit tricks before them of various
+kinds. Some of the actors appear as bears, while others wear masks, the
+parts of which are moved by strings. The great feature in their
+proceedings is to pretend to murder, and then to restore to life, and
+so forth. The cannibal, on such occasions, is generally supplied with
+two, three, or four human bodies, which he tears to pieces before his
+audience. Several persons, either from bravado or as a charm, present
+their arms for him to bite. I have seen several whom he has thus
+bitten, and I hear two have died from the effects."
+
+One of the most curious and characteristic customs of the the Indians
+of British Columbia is the _giving away of property_ at feasts.
+Mr. Duncan gives the following account of it:--
+
+"These feasts are generally connected with the giving away of
+property. As an instance, I will relate the last occurrence of the
+kind. The person who sent the aforementioned invitations is a chief who
+has just completed building a house. After feasting, I heard he was to
+give away property to the amount of four hundred and eighty blankets
+(worth as many pounds to him), of which one hundred and eighty were his
+own property and the three hundred were to be subscribed by his people.
+On the first day of the feast, as much as possible of the property to
+be given him was exhibited in the camp. Hundreds of yards of cotton
+were flapping in the breeze, hung from house to house, or on lines put
+up for the occasion. Furs, too, were nailed up on the fronts of houses.
+Those who were going to give away blankets or elk-skins managed to get
+a bearer for every one, and exhibited them by making the persons walk
+in single file to the house of the chief. On the next day the cotton
+which had been hung out was now brought on the beach, at a good
+distance from the chief's house, and then run out at full length, and a
+number of bearers, about three yards apart, bore it triumphantly away
+from the giver to the receiver. I suppose that about six hundred to
+eight hundred yards were thus disposed of.
+
+"After all the property the chief is to receive has thus been openly
+handed to him, a day or two is taken up in apportioning it for fresh
+owners. When this is done, all the chiefs and their families are called
+together, and each receives according to his or her portion. Thus do
+the chiefs and their people go on reducing themselves to poverty. In
+the case of the chiefs, however, this poverty lasts but a short time;
+they are soon replenished from the next giving away, but the people
+only grow rich again according to their industry. One cannot but pity
+them, while one laments their folly.
+
+"All the pleasure these poor Indians seem to have in their property is
+in hoarding it up for such an occasion as I have described. They never
+think of appropriating what they gather to enhance their comforts, but
+are satisfied if they can make a display like this now and then; so
+that the man possessing but one blanket seems to be as well off as the
+one who possesses twenty; and thus it is that there is a vast amount of
+dead stock accumulated in the camp doomed never to be used, but only
+now and then to be transferred from hand to hand for the mere vanity of
+the thing.
+
+"There is another way, however, in which property is disposed of even
+more foolishly. If a person be insulted, or meet with an accident, or
+in any way suffer an injury, real or supposed, either of mind or body,
+property must at once be sacrificed to avoid disgrace. A number of
+blankets, shirts, or cotton, according to the rank of the person, are
+torn, into small pieces and carried off."
+
+The religion of the Tsimsheans is thus described:--
+
+"The Tsimsheans, I find, believe in two states after death: the one
+good, and the other, bad; the morally good are translated to the one,
+and the morally bad are doomed to the other. The locality of the former
+they think to be above, and that of the latter is somewhere beneath.
+The enjoyment of heaven and the privations of hell they understand to
+be carnal. They do not suppose the wicked to be destitute of food any
+more than they were here, but they are treated as slaves and are badly
+clothed.
+
+"The idea they entertain of God is that He is a great chief. They call
+Him by the same term as they do their chiefs, only adding the word for
+above--thus, 'shimanyet' is chief, and 'lakkah' above: and hence the
+name of God with them is Shimanyet Lakkah. They believe that the
+Supreme Being never dies: that He takes great notice of what is going
+on amongst men, and is frequently angry, and punishes offenders. They
+do not know who is the author of the universe, nor do they expect that
+God is the author of their own being. They have no fixed ideas about
+these things, I fully believe; still they frequently appeal to God in
+trouble; they ask for pity and deliverance. In great extremities of
+sickness they address God, saying it is not good for them to die.
+
+"Sometimes, when calamities are prolonged or thicken, they get enraged
+against God, and vent their anger against Him, raising their eyes and
+hands in savage anger to Heaven, and stamping their feet on the ground.
+They will reiterate language which means 'You are a great slave!'"
+
+A very curious tradition respecting the first appearance of white men
+on the coast was related some years ago to Mr. Duncan by an old chief:--
+
+"A large canoe of Indians were busy catching halibut in one of these
+channels. A thick mist enveloped them. Suddenly they heard a noise as
+if a large animal was striking through the water. Immediately they
+concluded that a monster from the deep was in pursuit of them. With all
+speed they hauled up their fishing lines, seized the paddles, and
+strained every nerve to reach the shore. Still the plunging noise came
+nearer. Every minute they expected to be engulfed within the jaws of
+some huge creature. However, they reached the land, jumped on shore,
+and turned round in breathless anxiety to watch the approach of the
+monster. Soon a boat, filled with strange-looking men, emerged from the
+mist The pulling of the oars had caused the strange noise. Though
+somewhat relieved of fear, the Indians stood spell bound with
+amazement. The strangers landed, and beckoned the Indians to come to
+them and bring them some fish. One of them had over his shoulder what
+was supposed only to be a stick, presently he pointed it to a bird that
+was flying past, a violent poo went forth, down came the bird to the
+ground. The Indians died. As they revived again they questioned each
+other as to their state, whether they were dead, and what each had
+felt. The whites then made signs for a fire to be lighted. The Indians
+proceeded at once, according to their usual tedious fashion of rubbing
+two sticks together. The strangers laughed, and one of them, snatching
+up a handful of dry grass, struck a spark into a little powder placed
+under it. Instantly flashed another poo and a blaze. The Indians died.
+After this the new comers wanted some fish boiling. The Indians
+therefore put the fish and water into one of their square wooden
+buckets, and set some stones in the fire, intending when they were hot,
+to cast them into the vessel, and thus boil the food The whites were
+not satisfied with this way. One of them fetched a tin kettle out of
+the boat, put the fish and the water into it, and then, strange to say,
+set it on the fire. The Indians looked on with astonishment. However,
+the kettle did not consume, the water did not run into the fire Then,
+again, the Indians died. When the fish was eaten, the strangers put a
+kettle of rice on the fire. The Indians looked at each other and
+whispered, 'Akshahn, akshahn,' or 'Maggots, maggots.' The rice being
+cooked, some molasses were produced and mixed with it. The Indians
+stared, and said, 'Coutzee um tsakah ahket,' or 'The grease of dead
+people.' The whites then tendered the rice and molasses to the Indians,
+but they only shrank away in disgust. Seeing this, to prove their
+integrity, they sat down and enjoyed it themselves. The sight stunned
+the Indians, and again they all died. Some other similar wonders were
+worked, and the profound stupor which the Indians felt each time come
+over them they termed death. The Indians' turn had now come to make the
+white strangers die. They dressed their heads and painted their faces A
+nok nok, or wonder working spirit possessed them. They came slowly, and
+solemnly seated themselves before the whites, then suddenly lifted up
+their heads and stared. Their reddened eyes had the desired effect. The
+whites died."
+
+Among the Indians of British, Columbia no Protestant Missionary had
+laboured prior to 1857. Some Roman Catholic priests, however, had been
+in the country, and of them Captain Mayne writes:--[Footnote: "_Four
+Years in British Columbia_," p. 305.]
+
+"If the opinion of the Hudson's Bay people of the interior is to be
+relied upon, the Roman Catholic priests effected no real change in the
+condition of the natives. The sole result of their residence among them
+was, that the Indians who had been brought under their influence had
+imbibed some notions of the Deity, almost as vague as their own
+traditions, and a superstitious respect for the priests themselves,
+which they showed by crossing themselves devoutly whenever they met
+one. Occasionally, too, might be seen in their lodges, pictures
+purporting to represent the roads to Heaven and to Hell, in which there
+was no single suggestion of the danger of vice and crime, but a great
+deal of the peril of Protestantism. These coloured prints were
+certainly curious in their way, and worth a passing notice. They were
+large, and gave a pictorial history of the human race, from the time
+when Adam and Eve wandered in the garden together, down to the
+Reformation. Here the one broad road was split into two, whose courses
+diverged more and more painfully. By one way the Roman Catholic portion
+of the world were seen trooping to bliss; the other ended in a steep
+bottomless precipice over which the Protestants might be seen falling.
+[Footnote: A fac-simile of a similar picture appeared in the _Church
+Missionary Gleaner_, of March, 1880.] Upon the more sensible and
+advanced of the Indians, teaching such as this had little effect. I
+remember the chief of the Shuswap tribe, at Kamloops, pointing out to
+me such an illustration hanging on his wall, and laughingly saying, in
+a tone that showed quite plainly how little credence he attached to it,
+'There are you and your people,' putting his finger as he spoke on the
+figures tumbling into the pit."
+
+"Of such kind was the only instruction that the Indiana had received
+prior to 1857. Its influence was illustrated in that year at Victoria,
+where a Roman Catholic Bishop and several priests had been resident for
+some time, and were known to have exerted themselves among the Songhie
+Indians who reside there. A cross had been raised in their village, and
+some of them had been baptized; but when these were called before the
+bishop for confirmation, they refused to come unless a greater present
+of blankets was made to them than had been given at their baptism. The
+bishop was said to have been very angry with the priests when this came
+to his knowledge; he having very possibly been deceived by them as to
+the condition of the Indians. I am informed that he had a large heart
+painted upon canvas, through which be drew a blanket, and represented
+it to the Indians as symbolical of their condition."
+
+How the Indians were brought to know the way of God more perfectly,
+and to choose it for themselves, it will be the purpose of the
+following chapters to show.
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+THE CALL, AND THE MAN.
+
+
+The Red Indian is in a peculiar sense, the child of the Church
+Missionary Society. More exclusively so, indeed, than even the Negro.
+In those efforts for the evangelisation of Africa with which the
+Society's name has, from the first, been so indissolubly associated, it
+has but shared the field with other excellent societies. In the Far
+North and Far West of British America, it has laboured almost alone.
+Nearly sixty years have passed away since its missionaries penetrated
+into the then remote regions of the Red River, and since that time,
+nearly the whole of the vast territories, stretching northward to the
+Arctic Sea, eastward to the borders of Labrador, and westward to the
+Rocky Mountains, have been trodden by their untiring feet. It was
+fitting, therefore, that when, in the providence of God, the day came
+for the Gospel to reach beyond the Rocky Mountains to the tribes on the
+shores of the Pacific, it should be carried thither by the Church
+Missionary Society.
+
+But long before that time arrived, the eye of the Committee, passing
+round the globe, had rested upon those distant shores. In their Annual
+Report for 1819-20, the following interesting passage is to be found:--
+
+_From the C. M. S. Report_, 1819-20.
+
+"It has been suggested to the Committee that the Western parts of
+British America, lying between the high ridge called the Rocky
+Mountains and the North Pacific Ocean, and extending from about the
+42nd to the 57th degree of North Latitude, offer a more extensive,
+promising, and practicable field for Missionary labours than any other
+in that quarter of the globe. The climate is, in general, temperate,
+the soil reasonably productive, and the surface of the country level.
+[Footnote: Some of the information given to the Committee at that early
+date was not very accurate. The surface of British Columbia is anything
+but level and the soil is not too productive.] The people are not
+savage, ferocious, and wandering but settled in villages and in several
+respects somewhat civilized, though still in the hunter state, with few
+arts, no letters, no general knowledge, but a great desire to be taught
+by white men, whose superiority they clearly discern. Numbers of them
+are scattered over this great range of country, and it has hitherto
+been very little known that so great a portion of the North American
+continent is covered with a stationary, aboriginal people, still,
+however, very much in a state of nature. The North West Company trades
+through all the great space which lies between Montreal and the North
+Pacific, a longitudinal distance of not less than 4,000 miles, and
+keeps up a direct communication, by sea, between London and the mouth
+of the river Columbia, on the North West coast of America. A member of
+that Company, who is a highly respectable merchant in Canada, informs
+your Committee that he has been frequently among the Indians in
+question, and thinks the prospect of the introduction of Christianity
+very promising, while many of the principal persons in Upper Canada are
+anxious for the promotion of that object."
+
+The Society's work, however, among the Red Indians, which was begun in
+the following year, was concentrated on Red River, and thirty-six years
+passed away before the attention of the Committee was again drawn to
+the more remote field on the Pacific shore.
+
+In the spring of 1856, the late Rev. Joseph Ridgeway, Editorial
+Secretary of the Society, attended, as a deputation, the anniversary
+meeting of the Tunbridge Wells Church Missionary Association. There he
+met a naval officer, Capt. J. C. Prevost, R.N., who had just returned
+from Vancouver's Island. While in command of H.M.S. _Virago_, he
+had been much impressed by the spiritual destitution of the Indians of
+the Pacific coast of British North America and the adjacent islands.
+They were "scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd," and he, like
+his Divine Master, was "moved with compassion on them." No Protestant
+missionary had ever yet gone forth into the wilderness after these lost
+sheep; and in addition to their natural heathenism, with its degrading
+superstitions and revolting cruelties, a new danger was approaching the
+Indians in the shape of the "civilisation" of white traders and miners,
+with its fire-water and its reckless immorality. Capt. Prevost
+earnestly inquired of Mr. Ridgeway what prospect there was of the
+Church Missionary Society undertaking a Mission on the coast.
+
+The reply was not encouraging. The Committee had just determined to
+signalise the conclusion of the Crimean war by planting a Mission at
+Constantinople, to extend their work in the Punjab by the occupation of
+Multan; and to accept Sir Robert Montgomery's invitation to Lucknow;
+and there was little hope of their having men or money to spare for the
+"few sheep in the wilderness" to be found scattered over British
+Columbia. The Editorial Secretary's sympathies, however, were touched,
+and he, at least, did what he could. He invited Captain Prevost to
+write a memorandum on the subject for the _Church Missionary
+Intelligencer_. The offer was thankfully accepted; and in the number
+of that periodical for July, 1856, appeared an article entitled
+"Vancouver's Island," in which Mr. Ridgeway briefly stated the case,
+and introduced Capt. Prevost's contribution. After an interval of
+twenty-four years, and remembering what wonderful and blessed fruit has
+sprung from the seed thus quietly sown, it will be interesting to
+reproduce here the Christian officer's own words:--
+
+_Captain Prevost's Memorandum, July, 1856._
+
+"The country within which the proposed Mission is designed to operate
+extends from about the 48 deg. of north latitude to 56 deg., and from the
+Rocky Mountains on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west. It includes
+several beautiful and fertile islands adjoining the mainland, of which
+the largest, most important, and most populous, is Vancouver's, being
+about 290 miles in length and 55 miles in its average breadth.
+
+"The Government, impressed with a sense of its great commercial, and
+its growing political, importance, combining also great advantages as a
+naval station, erected it into a colony in 1838, and gave to the
+Hudson's Bay Company a charter, conferring on them certain privileges
+on condition of their carrying into effect the intentions of the
+Government. The climate of this island is more genial than that of
+England, its soil is more productive, and its coasts abound with the
+finest fish. It contains, too, the only safe harbours between the 49 deg.
+north latitude and San Francisco, and there have been discovered lately
+fields of fine coal of immense extent, from which the entire coast of
+the Pacific, and the steamers trading there, can be supplied. What has
+been stated with regard to these natural advantages of Vancouver's
+Island applies generally to the mainland."
+
+"The seat of the Colonial Government is at Fort Victoria, where there
+is a chaplain, the only Protestant minister within the limits of the
+above mentioned territories. About three years since a Roman Catholic
+Bishop, a British subject, arrived at the same place, accompanied by a
+staff of Jesuit priests, and purchased a site for a cathedral there.
+Hitherto their success has been very doubtful."
+
+"It is difficult to ascertain, with any degree of accuracy, the total
+amount of the native population, a mean, however, between the highest
+and lowest estimates gives 60,000, [Footnote: Since 1856 many thousands
+have died of disease and from vicious habits (see p. 2).] a result
+probably not far from the truth. It 13 a fact well calculated to arrest
+the attention, and to enlist in behalf of the proposed Mission the
+active sympathies of every sincere Christian, that this vast number of
+our fellow subjects have remained in a state of heathen darkness and
+complete barbarism ever since the discovery and partial surveys of
+their coasts by Vancouver in 1792 1794, and that no effort has yet been
+made for their moral or spiritual improvement, although, during the
+last forty years a most lucrative trade has been carried on with them
+by our fellow-countrymen. We would most earnestly call upon all who
+have themselves learned to value the blessings of the Gospel, to assist
+'in rolling away' this reproach. The field is a most promising one.
+Some naval officers, who, in the discharge of their professional
+duties, have lately visited these regions, have been most favourably
+impressed with the highly intelligent character of the Natives, and,
+struck by their manly bearing, and a physical appearance fully equal to
+that of the English, whom they also resemble in the fairness of their
+complexion, and having their compassion excited by their total
+destitution of Christian and moral instruction, they feel it to be
+their duty to endeavour to introduce among them the knowledge of the
+Gospel of Christ, under the conviction that it would prove the surest
+and most fruitful source of social improvement and civilization, as
+well as of spiritual blessings infinitely more valuable, and would be
+found the only effectual antidote to the contaminating vices which a
+rapidly-increasing trade, especially with California and Oregon, is
+bringing in its train.
+
+"There is much in the character of the Natives to encourage missionary
+effort. They are not idolaters: they believe in the existence of two
+great Spirits--the one benevolent, and the other malignant; and in two
+separate places of reward and punishment in another world. They are by
+no means bigoted. They manifest a great desire and aptitude to acquire
+the knowledge and arts of civilized life; and, although they are
+addicted to some of the vices generally prevalent amongst savages, they
+yet possess some virtues rarely displayed by them. Some of the servants
+of the Hudson's Bay Company, who have married Native women, bear the
+highest testimony to their characters as wives and mothers, and to the
+manner in which they fulfil all their domestic relationships.
+Drunkenness was almost wholly unknown, until lately introduced by
+increasing intercourse with Europeans; but it is now spreading with
+rapid and destructive effect among the tribes. Loss of chastity in
+females was considered an indelible disgrace to the family in which it
+occurred, and was consequently uncommon. But here, again, European
+influence has made itself felt, and this is now far from being the
+case. Persons who are acquainted both with this people and with the New
+Zealanders, are of opinion that the former are mentally and physically
+equal, if not superior, to the latter; and that, were like measures
+taken to convert and civilize them, they would be attended by similarly
+happy results. As to the medium of communication, although the number
+and variety of languages is very great, yet the necessities of trade
+have given rise to a _patois_ generally understood, and easily
+acquired, which might be made available for missionary purposes, at
+least as far as oral teaching is concerned.
+
+"The expense of establishing and supporting a Mission would not, it is
+hoped, prove large. Fish and game are extremely cheap. Fuel, both coal
+and wood, is cheap and abundant. It is proposed that the first
+missionary station should be at Fort Simpson, on the mainland, as it
+offers many advantages for prosecuting the objects of the Mission.
+There the Missionaries would enjoy the protection, and, it is hoped,
+the cordial co-operation, of the Hudson's Bay Company; and, in return,
+the Company's servants would receive the benefit of the ministrations
+of the members of the Mission. The position is central to all the most
+populous villages; and here, in the spring of each year, a kind of
+great national fair is held, where the tribes from the most distant
+parts of the coast and interior assemble, to the number of about
+15,000, and receive the commodities of the Company in exchange for the
+skins collected during the preceding season. On these occasions
+valuable opportunities would be afforded to the missionaries of
+conversing with the natives, and giving them religions instruction.
+Here, too, a school might be opened for the Native children, where they
+would receive an industrial as well as religious and secular education,
+and be secluded from the prejudicial influence of their adult
+relatives."
+
+This earnest appeal was not long in eliciting a response. Shortly
+afterwards, in the list of contributions published monthly by the
+Society, appeared the following entry:--
+
+Two Friends, for Vancouver's Island, L500.
+
+Still the Committee hesitated; but two or three months afterwards,
+Capt. Prevost came to them again with the news that he was re-appointed
+to the same naval station, and was to proceed thither immediately in
+command of H.M.S. Satellite; and, with the sanction of the Admiralty,
+he offered a free passage by her to any missionary the Society could
+send out.
+
+Here was the opening, here were the means; but where was the man to
+go? There did not seem to be anyone available; but, at length, only ten
+days before the "Satellite" was to sail, a student, then under
+training, was thought of. Who was this?
+
+A few years before, one of the Society's Missionaries had addressed a
+village meeting in the Midland Counties. It was a very wet night, and
+but a handful of people attended. The Vicar proposed to postpone the
+meeting; but the missionary urged that the few who had come were
+entitled to hear the information they were expecting, and proceeded to
+deliver a long and earnest speech. Among the listeners were three young
+men, and the heart of one of these was deeply touched that night. He
+subsequently offered himself to the Society, and was sent to the (then
+existing) Highbury Training College to be trained as a school master,
+under the Rev. C. R. Alford, afterwards Bishop of Victoria, Hong Kong.
+That young man's name was WILLIAM DUNCAN, and it was he to whom now
+came the call of the Committee to start in ten days for British
+Columbia.
+
+William Duncan was ready. On December 19th, 1856, he took leave of the
+Committee, and on the 23rd, he sailed with Capt. Prevost from Plymouth
+in the Satellite. [Footnote: An interesting notice of Captain Prevost's
+offer, and of the valedictory dismissal of Mr. Duncan, appears in the
+recently published "Memoir of Henry Venn" p. 137.]
+
+The voyage to Vancouver's Island took nearly six months. It was on
+June 13th, 1857, that the Satellite cast anchor in Esquimault Harbour,
+Victoria. But Mr. Duncan had still five hundred miles to go. His
+mission was to the Tsimsheans, and for them Fort Simpson was the point
+to aim at. Unable, however, to obtain a passage thither at once, he
+remained at Victoria three months, patiently preparing for future work
+by studying the language. Meanwhile the officers of the Hudson's Bay
+Company raised some objections to his settling at Fort Simpson. The
+Indians, they said, could not be allowed to come into the fort to him,
+and it would be quite unsafe for him to venture outside; and they
+recommended him to turn his attention to the tribes of Vancouver's
+Island, who, having been brought more into contact with white men, were
+presumed to be on that account more accessible to Christian influence.
+Mr. Duncan, however, justly felt that the advantage was rather the
+other way; besides which to Fort Simpson he was appointed, and to Fort
+Simpson he would go. The Governor of the Colony warmly entered into his
+views, and gave him letters to the officer in charge, directing that
+accommodation was to be found for him, and all facilities given him for
+the prosecution of his work.
+
+
+
+
+III.
+
+BEGINNING WORK.
+
+
+On the night of October 1st Mr. Duncan landed at the Fort. Like other
+Hudson's Bay Company trading posts, this "Fort" consisted of a few
+houses, stores, and workshops, surrounded by a palisade twenty feet
+high, formed of trunks of trees. Close by was the Tsimshean village,
+comprising some two hundred and fifty wooden houses, well-built, and
+several of them of considerable size. A day or two after his arrival,
+Mr. Duncan had a significant glimpse of the kind of savages to whom he
+was presently to proclaim the Gospel of Peace:--
+
+"The other day we were called upon to witness a terrible scene: An old
+chief, in cool blood, ordered a slave to be dragged to the beach,
+murdered, and thrown into the water. His orders were quickly obeyed.
+The victim was a poor woman. Two or three reasons are assigned for this
+foul act: one is, that it is to take away the disgrace attached to his
+daughter, who has been suffering some time from a ball wound in the
+arm. Another report is, that he does not expect his daughter to
+recover, so he has killed this slave in order that she may prepare for
+the coming of his daughter into the unseen world. I think the former
+reason is the most probable. I did not see the murder, but, immediately
+after, I saw crowds of people running out of those houses near to where
+the corpse was thrown, and forming themselves into groups at a good
+distance away. This, I learnt, was from fear of what was to follow.
+Presently two bands of furious wretches appeared, each headed by a man
+in a state of nudity. They gave vent to the most unearthly sounds, and
+the two naked men made themselves look as unearthly as possible,
+proceeding in a creeping kind of stoop, and stepping like two proud
+horses, at the same time shooting forward each arm alternately, which
+they held out at full length for a little time in the most defiant
+manner. Besides this, the continual jerking of their heads back,
+causing their long black hair to twist about, added much to their
+savage appearance. For some time they pretended to be seeking the body,
+and the instant they came where it lay they commenced screaming and
+rushing round it like so many angry wolves. Finally they seized it,
+dragged it out of the water, and laid it on the beach, where I was told
+the naked men would commence tearing it to pieces with their teeth. The
+two bands of men immediately surrounded them, and so hid their horrid
+work. In a few minutes the crowd broke again in two, when each of the
+naked cannibals appeared with half of the body in his hands. Separating
+a few yards, they commenced, amid horrid yells, their still more horrid
+feast. The sight was too terrible to behold."
+
+Just at the same time another feature in the character of the Indians
+was painfully illustrated. On October 7th he wrote:--
+
+"Immediately after dinner the second officer of the Fort, who had not
+been absent more than a minute, came rushing back, to report that an
+Indian had just been murdered close to the Fort gates. On repairing to
+the gallery, I saw this shocking sight. Several Indians, with muskets
+in their bands, were hovering about the dying man, and one or two
+ventured to go near and assist him. He was shot in the right breast,
+and apparently dying, but seemingly conscious of what had happened. In
+a few minutes two Indians, looking as fierce as tigers, carrying
+muskets, came bounding to the spot, and, after ordering all away, one
+of them immediately fired at the poor fellow as he lay on the ground,
+and shot him in the arm. They then as quickly bounded away. The head
+chief was the murderer. Being irritated by some other chiefs while
+partly intoxicated, he vented his rage upon the first stranger that
+came in his way, and, after shooting him, ordered two of his men to
+finish the horrible deed."
+
+But the young missionary, though saddened, was not discouraged. The
+more barbarous and degraded he found the Indians to be, the more vivid
+was his sense of their need of the Gospel; and was anything too hard
+for the Lord? So he continued vigorously his study of the language,
+assisted by an Indian named Clah. Taking an English dictionary, he
+succeeded, by unwearied industry, in ascertaining the Tsimshean
+equivalents for fifteen hundred of the most necessary words. At the
+same time he set about making friends with the people. During the
+winter, when the severe cold and the deep snow kept them much indoors,
+he visited every house in turn, and on Jan. 14th he wrote:--
+
+"To-day we have finished our calls. I have been inside 140 houses, all
+large and strong buildings. The largest would measure, I imagine, about
+sixty by forty feet. One house I was not permitted to enter, as they
+had not finished their sorceries for the season. However they sent me
+out an account of their family. In all, I counted 2,156 souls, namely,
+637 men, 756 women, and 763 children; and, making an addition for those
+away procuring fuel, and those at the Fort, I estimate the sum-total of
+residents to be 2,325, which is rather over than under the true number.
+The total number rendered by themselves, which of course includes all
+that belongs to them, whether married into other tribes or living
+south, is 2,567. These are divided into nine tribes, but all speak the
+same language, and have one general name--Tsimshean, So far as I am at
+present able to make out, I calculate that there are seventeen other
+tribes, all living within fifty miles of this place, which either speak
+Tsimshean or something very near to it.
+
+"It would be impossible for me to give a full description of this my first
+general visit, for the scenes were too exciting and too crowded to admit
+of it. I confess that cluster after cluster of these half-naked and
+painted savages round their fires was, to my unaccustomed eyes, very
+alarming. But the reception I met with was truly wonderful and
+encouraging. On entering a house I was saluted by one, two, or three of
+the principal persons with 'Clah-how-yah,' which is the complimentary term
+used in the trading jargon. This would be repeated several times. Then a
+general movement and a squatting ensued, followed by a breathless silence,
+during which every eye was fixed upon me. After a time several would begin
+nodding and smiling, at the same time reiterating, in a low tone, 'Ahm,
+ahm ah ket, Ahm Shimauyet' ('Good, kind person, good chief'). My
+interpreter would then ask them to let us know how many they had in their
+family, which was instantly followed by a deafening clamour. Sometimes the
+vociferation was so general that it was really bewildering to hear it.
+Everybody was talking and trying to outdo the rest, and nobody was
+listening. This storm, would be abruptly succeeded by a general hush, when
+I was again pleasantly but rigidly scrutinized. Of course the attempt of
+everybody to count was a failure, and so the business at last was taken up
+by one of the leading persons, who generally succeeded to the satisfaction
+of all. While this was going on, I managed to count and class the inmates
+of the house, and look at the sick. In some houses they would not be
+content until I took the chief place near the fire, and they always placed
+a mat upon a box for me to sit upon. My enquiries after the sick were
+always followed by anxious looks and deep sighs. A kind of solemn awe
+would spread itself at once."
+
+At length, after eight months' patient preparation, Mr. Duncan was
+able to make his first attempt to convey to the Indians, in their own
+tongue, the message of salvation through a crucified Saviour, by means
+of a written address, which he had composed with infinite pains, and
+which he proceeded to deliver at the houses of the different chiefs:--
+
+"_June_ 13, 1858: _Lord's day_.--Bless the Lord, O my soul,
+and let all creation join in chorus to bless His holy name. True to His
+word, 'He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might. He
+increaseth strength.' Bless for ever His holy name!
+
+"Last week I finished translating my first address for the Indians.
+Although it was not entirely to my satisfaction, I felt it would be
+wrong to withhold the message any longer. Accordingly I sent word last
+night (not being ready before) to the chiefs, desiring to use their
+houses to-day to address their people in. This morning I set off,
+accompanied by the young Indian (Clah), whom I have had occasionally to
+assist me in the language. In a few minutes we arrived at the first
+chief's house, which I found all prepared, and we mustered about one
+hundred souls. This was the first assembly of Indians I had met. My
+heart quailed greatly before the work--a people for the first time come
+to hear the Gospel tidings, and I the poor instrument to address them
+in a tongue so new and difficult to me. Oh, those moments! I began to
+think that, after all, I should be obliged to get Clah to speak to
+them, while I read to them from a paper in my hand. Blessed be God,
+this lame resolution was not carried. My Indian was so unnerved at my
+proposal, that I quickly saw I must do the best I could by myself, or
+worse would come of it. I then told them to shut the door. The Lord
+strengthened me. I knelt down to crave God's blessing, and afterwards I
+gave them the address. They were all remarkably attentive. At the
+conclusion I desired them to kneel down. They immediately complied, and
+I offered up prayer for them in English. They preserved great
+stillness. All being done, I bade them good-bye. They all responded
+with seeming thankfulness. On leaving, I asked my Indian if they
+understood me, and one of the chief women very seriously replied, 'Nee,
+nee' ('yes'); and he assured me that from their looks he knew that they
+understood and felt it to be good.
+
+"We then went to the next chief's house, where we found all, ready, a
+canoe-sail spread for me to stand on, and a mat placed on a box for me
+to sit upon. About 150 souls assembled, and as there were a few of the
+Fort people present, I first gave them a short address in English, and
+then the one in Tsimshean. All knelt at prayer, and were very
+attentive, as at the other place. This is the head chief's house. He is
+a very wicked man, but he was present, and admonished the people to
+behave themselves during my stay.
+
+"After this I went in succession to the other seven tribes, and
+addressed them in the chiefs' houses. In each case I found the chief
+very kind and attentive in preparing his house and assembling his
+people. The smallest company I addressed was about fifty souls, and the
+largest about 200. Their obedience to my request about kneeling was
+universal, but in the house where there were over 200 some confusion
+took place, as they were sitting so close. However, when they heard me
+begin to pray, they were instantly silent. Thus the Lord helped me
+through. About 800 or 900 souls in all have heard me speak; and a great
+number of them, I feel certain, have understood the message. May the
+Lord make it the beginning of great good for this pitiable and long-lost
+people."
+
+Mr. Duncan was now beginning to feel his way among the Indians, and
+the head chief, Legaic, having offered him the use of his house for a
+schoolroom, he opened school on June 28th. Twenty-six children attended
+in the morning, and fourteen or fifteen adults in the afternoon. The
+head chief and his wife took great interest, and assisted in every way
+they could. Their house was made clean, and a seat was placed upon a
+mat for Mr. Duncan. The children also came neat and clean; one boy only
+had nothing but a blanket to cover him, and in his case it was not
+poverty, but superstition, that prevented him from having a shirt on
+like the rest. This poor lad had been initiated into the mysteries of
+medicine in the previous winter, and so was forbidden by law to wear
+any thing over him except a blanket or a skin for one year. If he had
+put on a shirt, death would have been expected to ensue.
+
+On Sunday, July 11th, God enabled him a second time to proclaim the
+Gospel in another carefully-written address. He went, as on the first
+occasion, to each of the nine tribes separately, and began and
+concluded with prayer. At the concluding prayer almost all knelt, or
+the exceptions were rare. One man, however, sullenly refused. It was
+Quthray, the chief of the cannibal gang, of whom we shall hear again.
+
+After a few weeks the school was suspended, in consequence of the
+absence of the chief in whose house it was held. It had been used
+sufficiently long, however, to show that it was appreciated by both
+parents and children, and thus encouraged, Mr. Duncan determined to
+commence to build a school-house. The wood had arrived in a raft, and a
+number of Indians were engaged to assist in the building; but scarcely
+had they begun to carry the wood up the hill, when one of the Indians
+dropped dead. The news ran through the camp, and great alarm spread on
+all sides. Mr. Duncan at first feared that owing to the superstition of
+the Indians with regard to such events, the confidence which he had
+secured among the people would be greatly shaken, and his work amongst
+them retarded. But, through God's mercy, his fears were not realized.
+He deemed it prudent to suspend the work for a time, but, after
+repeated invitations from the Indians, he resumed it on Sept. 17th:--
+
+"Yesterday I spoke to a few on the subject, and all seemed heartily
+glad. One old chief said to me, 'Cease being angry now,' thinking, I
+suppose, my delay was occasioned by anger. He assured me he would send
+his men to help. It was quite encouraging to see how earnestly they
+expressed their desire for me to proceed with the work, and I may
+safely say the feeling was universal. This morning I went to the raft
+at six a.m., but only one old man was there. In a little time came
+other two or three, then a few more, then two chiefs. By about half
+past six we mustered seven or eight workers on the raft, though several
+more came out and sat at their doors, Indian like, as though they
+wished only to look on. This seemed greatly in contrast with their
+expressions to me yesterday; but such is the Indian. I knew it was of
+no use to push, so I patiently waited. About half-past six one of the
+Indians on the raft sprang to his feet, gave the word of starting,
+which is a peculiar kind of whoop, and he, with the few so inadequate
+to the work, determined to begin. At this I proceeded up the beach to
+the place for building upon, but what was my surprise when, on
+returning, I met upwards of forty Indians carrying wood. They all
+seemed to have moved in an instant, and sprung to the work with one
+heart. The enthusiasm they manifested was truly gladdening, and almost
+alarming. Amongst the number were several old men, who were doing more
+with their spirited looks and words than with their muscles. The whole
+camp seemed now excited. Encouraging words and pleasant looks greeted
+me on every side. Every one seemed in earnest, and the heavy blocks and
+beams began to move up the hill with amazing rapidity. When the Fort
+bell rang for breakfast they proposed to keep on. One old man said he
+would not eat till the work was done. However, I did not think it good
+to sanction this enthusiasm thus far, but sent them off to their
+houses. By three o'clock p.m. all was over, for which I was very glad,
+for the constant whooping, groaning, and bawling of the Indians,
+together with the difficulties of the work, from the great weight of
+the pieces and the bad road, kept me in constant fear."
+
+But no sooner had Mr. Duncan set up his school, and commenced work in
+it, than the opposition of the medicine men began. They saw that if the
+work progressed, "their craft was in danger of being set at nought."
+The chiefs of three tribes had already declared that they had made up
+their minds to abandon their sorceries.
+
+On November 19th the new school was opened, and it was soon attended
+by one hundred and forty children and fifty adults; but on December 1st
+Mr. Duncan was told by the manager of the Fort that the head chief,
+Legaic, was going to ask him to give up the school for about a month
+during the medicine season. Shortly afterwards he was told that they
+would be content if he would stay school for a fortnight, and after
+that they would all come to be taught; but if he did not comply, they
+intended stopping him by force, and had determined to shoot at the
+pupils as they came to the school. Mr. Duncan had a long talk to two of
+the officers about the matter, giving them plainly to understand that
+he did not intend in the least degree to heed the threats of the
+Indians. "Go on with my work I would, in spite of all. I told them
+Satan had reigned long enough here; it was high time his rule should be
+disturbed (as it is)." On December 20th he wrote:--
+
+"This day has been a great day here. I have heartily to thank that all
+-seeing Father who has covered me and supported me to-day. The devil and
+wicked men leagued to overthrow me this day, but the Lord would not
+have it so. I am still alive. This morning the medicine party, who are
+carrying on their work near to the school, broke out with renewed fury.
+On going to school, I observed a crowd of these wretched men in a house
+that I was approaching. As soon as I got into the school, the wife of
+the head chief came to beg me to give up school for a little time. She
+was certainly very modest in her manner and request, but altogether
+unsuccessful. I spoke to her a little, and then she said (what I knew
+to be false) that neither she nor her husband desired to go on with the
+medicine-work, for, they often cried to see the state of things, but it
+was the tribe that urged them to do what they were doing. When she saw
+she could prevail nothing, not even so much as to prevent striking the
+steel (used as a bell), which they have a peculiar hatred for, she left
+me. I then went up the ladder and struck the steel myself, as I did not
+like to send a boy up. Very soon about eighty pupils were in the
+school, and we went on as usual.
+
+"This afternoon a boy ran to strike the steel, and not many seconds
+elapsed before I saw the head chief (Legaic) approaching, and a whole
+gang of medicine men after him, dressed up in their usual charms. The
+chief looked very angry, and bade the boy cease. I waited at the door
+until he came up. His first effort was to rid the school of the few
+pupils that had just come in. He shouted at the top of his voice, and
+bade them he off. I immediately accosted him, and demanded to know what
+he intended or expected to do. His gang stood about the door, and I
+think seven came in. I saw their point: it was to intimidate me by
+their strength and frightful appearance; and I perceived the chief,
+too, was somewhat under the influence of rum. But the Lord enabled me
+to stand calm, and, without the slightest fear, to address them with
+far more fluency, in their tongue, than I could have imagined possible
+--to tell them of their sin faithfully--to vindicate my conduct--to
+exhort them to leave their bad ways, and also to tell them they must
+not think to make me afraid. I told them that God was my Master, and I
+must obey Him rather than them, and that the devil had taught their
+fathers what they were practising, and it was bad, but what I was
+teaching now was God's way, and it was good. Our meeting lasted for
+more than an hour. I saw a great many people at a distance looking
+anxiously at our proceedings, the school door being open. The chief
+expressed himself very passionately, now and then breaking out into
+furious language, and showing off his savage nature by his gestures.
+Towards the close of the scene, two of the confederates, vile-looking
+fellows, went and whispered something to him, upon which he got up from
+a seat he had just sat down upon, stamped his feet on the floor, raised
+his voice as high as he could, and exhibited all the rage and defiance
+and boldness that he could. This was all done, I knew, to intimidate
+me, but, blessed be God, he did not succeed. Finding his efforts
+unavailing, he went off.
+
+"The leading topics of the chiefs angry conversation were as follows--
+He requested four days' suspension of the school, he promised that, if
+I complied, he and his people would then come to school, but threatened
+if my pupils continued to come on the following days, he would shoot at
+them, lastly, he pleaded, that if the school went on during the time he
+specified, then some medicine men, whom he expected on a visit shortly
+from a distant tribe, would shame, and, perhaps, kill him. Some of his
+sayings during his fits of rage were, that he understood how to kill
+people, occasionally drawing his hand across his throat to show me what
+he meant, that when he died he knew he should go down, he could not
+change, he could not be good, or, if I made him good, why, then, he
+supposed he should go to a different place from his forefathers, this
+he did not desire to do. On one occasion, whilst he was talking, he
+looked at two men, one of them a regular pupil of mine, and the other a
+medicine-man, and said, 'I am a murderer, and so are you, and you'
+(pointing to each of these men), 'and what good is it for us to come to
+school?' Here I broke in, and blessed be God, it gave me an opportunity
+of telling the three murderers that pardon was now offered to them if
+they would repent, and amend, and go to Jesus our Saviour."
+
+It was afterwards found out that Legaic, at the moment of his most
+violent fury, had caught sight of Clah (who, unknown to Mr. Duncan, was
+watching over him with a revolver), and knew that, if he touched the
+missionary, it would be at the risk of his life. So it ever is: "in
+some way or other, the Lord will provide!"
+
+This conduct on the part of Legaic was the more discouraging, inasmuch
+as he had, in the first instance, as we have seen, given up his own
+house for the school. So persistent, however, was his hostility at this
+time, and so great were the difficulties in the way of attending
+school, that Mr. Duncan was at length obliged to close the new
+building, and another chief having offered him the use of his house for
+a school, where the children and others would not be afraid to come, he
+readily availed himself of his kindness, and was soon able to report
+the steady progress of the work. On Christmas Day he wrote:--
+
+"Yesterday I told my scholars to bring their friends and relatives to
+school to-day, as I wanted to tell them something new. We numbered over
+200 souls. I tried to make them understand why we distinguished this
+day from others. After this I questioned the children a little, and
+then we sang two hymns, which we also translated. While the hymns were
+being sung, I felt I must try to do something more, although the
+language seemed to defy me. I never experienced such an inward burning
+to speak before, and therefore I determined to try an extemporaneous
+address in Tsimshean. The Lord helped me: a great stillness prevailed,
+and, I think, a great deal was understood of what I said. I told them
+of our condition, the pity and love of God, the death of the Son of God
+on our account, and the benefits arising to us therefrom; and exhorted
+them to leave their sins and pray to Jesus. On my enumerating the sins
+of which they are guilty, I saw some look at each other with those
+significant looks which betokened their assent to what I said. I tried
+to impress upon them the certain ruin which awaits them if they proceed
+in their present vices. Very remarkably, an illustration corroborating
+what I said was before their eyes. A poor woman was taken sick, not
+four yards from where I stood, and right before the eyes of my
+audience. She was groaning under a frightful affliction, the effect of
+her vices."
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+
+FIRST FRUITS.
+
+
+From the extract last given we can gather that, notwithstanding the
+opposition of some, and the frightful depravity of all, Mr. Duncan
+seemed to be gaining the ear of the people just in proportion as he
+advanced in fluency of speech in their mother tongue. And during the
+following year, 1859, not a few tokens for good were granted him. In
+some parts of the camp open drunkenness and profligacy were
+diminishing, and the comparative quiet and decorum consequent on this
+made a great impression on the rest. In March a meeting of chiefs was
+held at Legaic's house, at which Mr. Duncan's arguments against many of
+their most degrading customs were discussed, and generally approved;
+and a message was sent to him that they wished him to "speak strong"
+against the "bad ways" of their people. On April 6th, Legaic himself
+appeared at the school, not now to intimidate the missionary, but to
+sit at his feet as a learner. Others followed his example; and when, in
+August, one notoriously bad character, named Cushwaht, broke into the
+school with a hatchet, intending to shoot Mr. Duncan, and, not finding
+him there, smashed all the windows, the greatest indignation was
+expressed on every side, and Mr. Duncan had to implore the people not
+to shed the offender's blood.
+
+Nor were only outward changes visible. It was soon manifest that the
+Spirit of God was at work in the hearts of some. On October 10th a most
+encouraging incident occurred:--
+
+"I was informed, on coming out of the school this afternoon, that a
+young man, who has been a long time suffering in consumption (brought
+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 to see him. I found him, as his wife had said, dying. Over twenty
+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 sorrow.
+When I wished to speak, silence immediately ensued. I rebuked the noise
+and tumult, and directed the dying man to fix his heart on the Saviour
+Jesus, to forget the things about him, and spend his little remaining
+time in praying in his heart to God to save him. His reply was, 'O yes,
+sir; O yes, sir;' and for some moments he would close his eyes, and
+seemed absorbed in prayer. 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 years old: her name is Cathi. She has been
+very regular at school since I commenced, and has made nice progress.
+Much to my comfort, a young 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 few directions I desired to utter. What a
+remarkable providence it seemed to me! With tears in her eyes, she
+begged him to give his heart to God and to pray to Him. I longed to
+pray with him, and watched anxiously a long time for the opportunity.
+The opportunity came, and the strength came with it. I knelt down by
+his side. All was hushed, and I prayed from a full heart to the Lord
+our God to have mercy upon the poor soul about to come into His
+presence, for the sake of His dear Son Jesus. I felt sure that the Lord
+heard my prayer, and I can indulge a hope for this poor man's
+salvation."
+
+There was much in the case of this young man which encouraged Mr.
+Duncan in the hope that he was a true believer in Christ. He understood
+the main and leading truths of the Gospel, and he frequently prayed
+much to God. Daring his sickness, he never permitted the medicine folks
+to operate upon him; and this of itself showed a wonderful change in
+him. He died the following night, having reassured the people around
+him of his safety, and had a very solemn parting from his little girl.
+
+Thus, just two years after the solitary Missionary had landed on the
+coast as a stranger, the first fully ripened fruit of his labours was
+gathered into the heavenly garner.
+
+In January, 1860, the first Bishop of Columbia, Dr. Hills, arrived at
+Victoria. Observing the deplorable condition into which the Indians
+fell who flocked thither, and thus came into contact with the vices of
+an outlying colonial settlement, the Bishop invited Mr. Duncan to come
+down and organise some Christian work amongst them. He accordingly
+spent two or three months in the summer there, holding Tsimshean
+services, and opening a school. A good work was thus set on foot, which
+has since been successfully carried on by others.
+
+At this time Captain Prevost returned to England, and as a specimen of
+the results so far of the Mission which his own loving zeal had
+originated, brought home with him a little journal kept, during Mr.
+Duncan's absence at Victoria, by one of the Tsimshean boys at Fort
+Simpson. Here are some fragments of it:--
+
+"_Tuesday, April_ 4_th_, 1860.--If will die my father, then
+will very poor my heart 4 my brother all die; only one Shooquanahts
+save, and two my uncle save. I will try to make all things. I want to
+be good, and I want to much work hard. When we have done work, then
+will please, Sir, Mr. Duncan, will you give me a little any thing when
+you come back."
+
+"_April_ 17: _School, Fort Simpson_.--Shooquanahts not two
+hearts--always one my heart. Some boys always two hearts. Only one
+Shooquanahts--not two heart, no. If I steal any thing then God will
+see. Bad people no care about Son of God: when will come troubled
+hearts, foolish people. Then he will very much cry. What good cry?
+Nothing. No care about our Saviour; always forget. By and by will
+understand about the Son of God."
+
+"_May_ 17.--I do not understand some prayers, only few prayers I
+understand; not all I understand, no. I wish to understand all prayers.
+When I understand all prayers, then I always prayer our Saviour Jesus
+Christ. I want to learn to prayer to Jesus Christ our Saviour: by and
+by I understand all about our Saviour Christ: when I understand all
+what about our Saviour, then I will happy when I die. If I do not learn
+about our Saviour Jesus, then I will very troubled my heart when I die.
+It is good for us when we learn about our Saviour Jesus. When I
+understand about our Saviour Jesus, then I will very happy when I die."
+
+Another encouraging case is that of an old man, of whom Mr. Duncan
+wrote:--
+
+"One night, when I was encamping out, after a weary day, the supper
+and the little instruction being over, my crew of Indians, excepting
+one old man, quickly spread their mats near the fire, and lay down to
+sleep in pairs, each sharing his fellow's blanket. The one old man sat
+near the fire smoking his pipe. I crept into my little tent, but, after
+some time, came out again to see that all was right. The old man was
+just making his bed (a thin bark mat on the ground, a little box of
+grease, and a few dry salmon for his pillow--a shirt on, and a blanket
+round him--another bark mat over all, his head too, formed his bed in
+the open air, during a cold, dark night in April). When everything was
+adjusted, he put his pipe down, and offered up, in his own tongue, this
+simple little prayer, 'Be merciful to me, Jesus.' Then he drew up his
+feet, and was soon lost to view."
+
+Mr. Duncan had now the joy of welcoming a fellow-labourer. The Rev. L.
+S. Tugwell, who had been allotted by the Society to a Mission which
+looked so hopeful, arrived with Mrs. Tugwell in August, and at once
+threw himself with the utmost earnestness into the work of preparation
+for future usefulness. But to his keen disappointment the health of
+both entirely broke down in the damp climate, where sometimes the rain
+falls for ten months out of the twelve, and he was obliged to return to
+England after fourteen months' residence on the coast.
+
+Before leaving, however, Mr. Tugwell had the high privilege of
+admitting into the visible Church its first Tsimshean members. On July
+26th, 1861, fourteen men, five women, and four children were baptized.
+Others were deterred by heathen relatives. Some candidates were not
+passed. But of these, Mr. Duncan wrote, "We truly hope they are indeed
+children of God."
+
+But other fruit, though not so ripe, was now plainly visible, and had
+begun to attract public attention. In January, 1860, Mr. Duncan
+received a letter from the Rev. E. Cridge, the English chaplain at
+Victoria, conveying a message from the Governor, Sir James Douglas:--
+
+"I am requested by his Excellency the Governor to express to you the
+great gratification he has received from conversing with several of the
+Indians who have been under your instruction at Fort Simpson, and who
+are now at Victoria; and his pleasure at witnessing the great
+improvement in manners, bearing, and religion which you have succeeded
+in effecting in their condition. His Excellency trusts you will
+continue to show the same energy, perseverance, and zeal which he is
+sure you must already have applied to the work, and that your labour
+will be rewarded by a still larger measure of success. His Excellency
+also wishes me to say that he would feel obliged by your reporting to
+him from time to time on the progress of your Mission. Any suggestions
+you may make with regard to measures which may occur to you as likely
+to prove beneficial to the Indians under your care, such as settling
+them in any particular locality, or setting apart a reserve of land for
+their use, will receive his Excellency's best attention; who will also,
+if necessary, represent any such measures, with his favourable
+recommendation to her Majesty's Government."
+
+Commander Mayne, R.N., mentions in his interesting book, _Four Years
+in British Columbia_ (p. 212), that Captain G. Y. H. Richards, of H.
+M. S. _Hecate_, who was in command on the coast at this time, was
+so much struck by Mr. Duncan's success, that he said to him, "Why do
+not more men come out? Or, if the missionary societies cannot afford
+them, why does not Government send out fifty, and place them up the
+coast at once? Surely it would not be difficult to find fifty good men
+in England willing to engage in such a work; and their expenses would
+be almost nothing compared with the cost which the country must sustain
+to subdue the Indians by force of arms. And such," adds Commander
+Mayne, "are the sentiments of myself--in common, I believe, with all my
+brother officers--after nearly five years' constant and close
+intercourse with the Natives of Vancouver's Island and the coast."
+
+
+
+
+V.
+
+THE NEW SETTLEMENT.
+
+
+As early as July, 1859, Mr. Duncan had foreseen the necessity, if the
+Mission were not only to save individual souls from sin, but to
+exercise a wholesome influence upon the Indian tribes generally, of
+fixing its head-quarters at some place removed from the contamination
+of ungodly white men. "What," he wrote, "is to become of children and
+young people under instruction when temporal need compels them to leave
+school? If they are permitted to slip away from me into the gulf of
+vice and misery which everywhere surrounds them, then the fate of these
+tribes is sealed." What that fate would be may be gathered from one of
+Bishop Hills' first letters in 1860. He found that of one tribe more
+than half had been cut off in a dozen years by drink and dissolute
+habits; and the traffic in Indian females for immoral purposes was
+openly carried on, from L40 to L60 per head being paid for them.
+"Victoria," wrote Mr. Duncan, "although it is 500 miles from Fort
+Simpson, will always prove the place of attraction to these tribes, and
+to many even further away. There they become demoralised and filled
+with disease; and from thence they return, laden with rum, to spread
+scenes of horror too awful to describe."
+
+The Tsimsheans who had come under Mr. Duncan's influence, themselves
+implored him to devise some way of escape from the ruin they saw
+impending on their nation. And he laid before the Society a plan for
+establishing a colony, where well-disposed Indians might be gathered
+together. His objects are thus succinctly stated in an official report
+presented by him to the Canadian Government some years afterwards:--
+
+"1st. To place all the Indians, when they became wishful to be taught
+Christianity, out of the miasma of heathen life, and away from the
+deadening and enthralling influence of heathen customs.
+
+"2nd. To establish the Mission where we could effectively shut out
+intoxicating liquors, and keep liquor vendors at bay.
+
+"3rd. To enable us to raise a barrier against the Indians visiting
+Victoria, excepting on lawful business.
+
+"4th. That we might be able to assist the people thus gathered out to
+develop into a model community, and raise a Christian village, from
+which the native evangelist might go forth, and Christian truth radiate
+to every tribe around.
+
+"5th. That we might gather such a community around us, whose moral and
+religious training and bent of life might render it safe and proper to
+impart secular instruction.
+
+"6th. That we might be able to break up all tribal distinctions and
+animosities, and cement all who came to us, from whatever tribe, into
+one common brotherhood.
+
+"7th. That we might place ourselves in a position to set up and
+establish the supremacy of the law, teach loyalty to the Queen,
+conserve the peace of the country around, and ultimately develope our
+settlement into a municipality with its native corporation."
+
+The Indians themselves pointed out the locality for such a settlement,
+a place called METLAKAHTLA, [Footnote: Metlakahtla = the inlet of Kahtla,
+Kahtla was the name of the tribe formerly settled there.] occupying a
+beautiful situation on the coast, seventeen miles from Fort Simpson. It
+had formerly been their own home; but they had removed their tents to
+Fort Simpson twenty years before for convenience of trade. Here they
+would be free from the influences of the Fort, which were decidedly
+adverse to the well-being of the Mission; they would have more
+opportunity of social improvement; they would have plenty of beach room
+for their canoes; and they would have plenty of land suitable for
+gardens, which they did not possess at their present station, and a
+channel always smooth, and abounding with salmon and shell-fish, while
+its beauty formed a striking contrast to the dreary country around.
+
+The project met with the entire approval of the Governor, and the
+winter was occupied in preparing wood for the buildings, in the
+expectation that the removal would be effected in the spring. But the
+departure of Mr. Tugwell delayed the accomplishment of the scheme, and
+it was not until the summer of 1862 that Mr. Duncan found himself able
+to carry it out.
+
+On May 18th, 1862, he began taking down the large temporary school
+which had been put up at Fort Simpson, and three days later its
+materials were rafted, and were on their way to the new site. Just then
+a message from God of a most solemn kind came to the coast tribes. Only
+two days after the raft had gone away, canoes from Victoria arrived
+with the news that the smallpox had broken out among the Indians there;
+and, worse still, it immediately became evident that the canoes had
+brought the fell disease with them. "It was," wrote Mr. Duncan,
+"evidently my duty immediately to see and warn the Indians. I had
+previously determined to do this in a farewell visit to each tribe
+before my departure from Fort Simpson, but I now felt doubly pressed to
+call upon all quickly to surrender themselves to God. I therefore spent
+the next few days in assembling and addressing each tribe (nine in all)
+separately. Thus all in the camp again heard a warning voice; many,
+alas! for the last time, as it proved. Sad to relate, hundreds of those
+who heard me were soon and suddenly swept into eternity."
+
+Even at that moment of alarm very few of the Indians could make up
+their minds, when the time for departure came, to throw in their lot
+with the new colony. Nor can we be surprised at this, when we read the
+rules Mr. Duncan had framed for its guidance, admirable in themselves,
+and now abundantly justified by their signal success, but still
+involving a radical change in the habits of the Indians, and the
+abandonment of some of their most cherished practices. They were
+fifteen in number:--
+
+   1. To give up their "Ahhed," or Indian devilry;
+   2. To cease calling in conjurors when sick;
+   3. To cease gambling;
+   4. To cease giving away their property for display;
+   5. To cease painting their faces;
+   6. To cease drinking intoxicating drink;
+   7. To rest on the Sabbath;
+   8. To attend religious instruction;
+   9. To send their children to school;
+   10. To be clean;
+   11. To be industrious;
+   12. To be peaceful;
+   13. To be liberal and honest in trade;
+   14. To build neat houses;
+   15. To pay the village tax.
+
+Nevertheless, when the day of removal came, fifty Indians accompanied
+Mr. Duncan to Metlakahtla:--
+
+"On the 27th May, in the afternoon, we started off. All that were
+ready to go with me occupied six canoes, and we numbered about fifty
+souls--men, women, and children. Many Indians were seated on the beach,
+watching our departure with solemn and anxious faces; and some promised
+to follow us in a few days. The party with me seemed filled with solemn
+joy as we pushed off, feeling that their long-looked-for flit had
+actually commenced. I felt we were beginning an eventful page in the
+history of this poor people, and earnestly sighed to God for His help
+and blessing.
+
+"The next day, the 28th May, we arrived at our new home about two p.m.
+The Indians I had sent on before me with the raft I found hard at work,
+clearing ground and sawing plank. They had carried all the raft up from
+the beach, excepting a few heavy beams; erected two temporary houses;
+and had planted about four bushels of potatoes for me.
+
+"Every night we assembled, a happy family, for singing and prayer. I
+gave an address on each occasion from one portion of Scriptural truth
+suggested to me by the events of the day."
+
+And a much larger number were not long in following. On June 6th a
+fleet of thirty canoes arrived from Fort Simpson, bringing nearly three
+hundred souls; in fact nearly the whole of one tribe, the Keetlahn,
+with two chiefs. Not many days, however, elapsed before the dreaded
+cloud overshadowed the coast. Small-pox broke out at Fort Simpson, and
+seized upon the Indians; and although for awhile they were content to
+ward it off, as they thought, by incessant conjuring, yet when some of
+the leading medicine men themselves fell victims to the disease, a
+great fear fell upon all, and they fled in all directions, but only
+spread the fatal scourge more widely by so doing. Many came to
+Metlakahtla, and though Mr. Duncan refused to receive some, he could
+not refuse all. "For the temporal and spiritual welfare of my own
+people," he wrote, "who now clung to me like timid children, I was kept
+in constant labour and pressing anxiety. Death stared us in the face on
+every hand. But God remembered us in the day of our calamity;" and of
+the original settlers only five were cut off. One of these was Stephen
+Ryan, one of the first group baptized by Mr. Tugwell in the preceding
+year. A touching account is given of his end:
+
+"He died in a most distressing condition, so far as the body is
+concerned. A way from everyone whom he loved, in a little bark hut on a
+rocky beach just beyond the reach of the tide, which no one of his
+relatives or friends dared to approach except the one who nursed him;
+in this damp, lowly, distressing state, suffering from the malignant
+disease of small-pox, how cheering to receive such words as the
+following from him: 'I am quite happy. I find my Saviour very near to
+me. I am not afraid to die; heaven is open to receive me. Give my
+thanks to Mr. Duncan: he told me of Jesus. I have hold of the ladder
+that reaches to heaven. All Mr. Duncan taught me I now feel to be
+true.' Then, saying that he wished to be carried to his relatives, his
+words were, 'Do not weep for me. You are poor, being left; I am not
+poor: I am going to heaven. My Saviour is very near to me: do all of
+you follow me to heaven. Let not one of you be wanting. Tell my mother
+more clearly the way of life: I am afraid she does not yet understand
+the way. Tell her not to weep for me, but to get ready to die. Be all
+of one heart and live in peace.'"
+
+Notwithstanding this heavy trial, the infant settlement grew and
+prospered; and in the following March, 1863, Mr. Duncan, in a letter to
+the Society, summed up the results of the Mission so far in these
+remarkable words:--
+
+"The Lord has sustained His work, and given marked evidence of His
+presence and blessing. Above one-fourth of the Tsimsheans from Fort
+Simpson, a few Tongass, Nishkah, Keethrathla, and Keetsahlass Indians
+(which tribes occupy a circle of about seventy miles round Fort
+Simpson), have been gathered out from the heathen, and have gone
+through much labour, trial, and persecution, to come on the Lord's
+side. About 400 to 600 souls attend Divine service on Sundays, and are
+being governed by Christian and civilized laws. About seventy adults
+and twenty children are already baptized, or are only waiting for a
+minister to come and baptize them. About 100 children are attending the
+day schools, and 100 adults the evening school. About forty of the
+young men have formed themselves into two classes, and meet for prayer
+and exhorting each other. The instruments of the medicine-men, which
+have spell-bound their nation for ages, have found their way into my
+house, and are most willingly and cheerfully given up. The dark and
+cruel mantle of heathenism has been rent so that it cannot be healed.
+Numbers are escaping from under its deadly embrace. Customs, which form
+the very foundation of Indian government, and lie nearest the Indian's
+heart, have been given up, because they have an evil tendency. Feasts
+are now characterized by order and good will, and begin and end with
+the offering of thanks to the Giver of all good. Thus the surrounding
+tribes have now a model village before them, acting as a powerful
+witness for the truth of the Gospel, shaming and correcting, yet still
+captivating them; for in it they see those good things which they and
+their forefathers have sought and laboured for in vain, viz., peace,
+security, order, honesty, and progress. To God be all the praise and
+glory! Amen and amen."
+
+To this may be added some extracts from a formal report which he sent
+to the Governor at the same time, and which gives a most interesting
+account of the material prospects of the settlement:--
+
+"_Metlahkatlah, 6th March, 1863._,
+
+"Sir,--The Tsimshean Indians, who have lately removed from Fort
+Simpson under my superintendence and settled here, are very anxious to
+tender your Excellency their warmest thanks for the liberal and timely
+aid which you have rendered them in building their new village. The 150
+window-sashes and 600lbs. of nails, which came of your bounty of L50,
+arrived quite safely in September last by the Hudson Bay Company's
+steamer 'Labouchere,' and have been duly distributed and appropriated
+as follows:--To thirty-five houses (averaging about 34 feet by 18) four
+window-sashes and 13lbs. of nails each; and to two smaller houses two
+window-sashes and 6lbs. of nails each. Five window-sashes and about
+130lbs. of nails remain.
+
+"In obedience to your Excellency's kind wish, I will proceed to lay
+before you a few particulars respecting our new Indian Mission
+settlement.
+
+"Your Excellency is aware of the dreadful plague of the small-pox with
+which it pleased Almighty God to visit the Indians of this coast last
+year, and by which many thousands of them were swept away. Though no
+fewer than 500, or one-fifth of the Tsimsheans at Fort Simpson, have
+fallen, I have gratefully to acknowledge God's sparing mercy to us as a
+village. We had only five fatal cases amongst those who originally left
+Fort Simpson with me, and three of these deaths were caused by
+attending to sick relatives who came to us after taking the disease.
+Yet so fearful was the amount of death and desolation on every side of
+us till about the end of September, that the Indians had but little
+spirit left for building, or even for the gathering necessary food for
+the winter. Thus it was that they found inclement weather upon them
+long before they were properly housed. In addition to the great amount
+of labour and trouble attendant upon moving and building new houses, we
+have had to encounter great opposition from many of the Indians from
+Fort Simpson, who, in spite of the great warnings they have had,
+continue still to be steeped in drunkenness and heathenism. Nor has the
+conflict been one wholly outward, if indeed mainly so. For to many who
+have joined me, the surrendering their national and heathen customs
+performed over the sick--ceasing to give away, tear up, or receive
+blankets, etc., for display, dropping precipitately their demoniacal
+rites, which have hitherto and for ages filled up their time and
+engrossed all their care during the months of winter--laying aside
+gambling, and ceasing to paint their faces--had been like cutting off
+the right hand and plucking out the right eye. Yet I am thankful to
+tell you that these sacrifices have been made; and had your Excellency
+heard the speeches made by the chiefs and some of the principal men at
+our Christmas evening meeting, alluding to these and other matters, you
+would, I am sure, have rejoiced.
+
+"On New Year's Day the male adult settlers came cheerfully forward to
+pay the village tax, which I had previously proposed to levy yearly,
+viz., one blanket, or two and a half dollars of such as have attained
+manhood, and one shirt or one dollar of such as are approaching
+manhood. Out of 130 amenable we had only ten defaulters, and these were
+excused on account of poverty. Our revenue for this year, thus
+gathered, amounts to 1 green, 1 blue, and 94 white blankets, 1 pair of
+white trousers, 1 dressed elk skin, 17 shirts, and 7 dollars. The half
+of this property I propose to divide among the three chiefs who are
+with us, in recognition of stated services which they will he required
+to render to the settlement and the other half to spend on public works.
+
+"As to our government, all disputes and difficulties are settled by
+myself and ten constables, but I occasionally call in the chiefs, and
+intend to do so more and more, and when they become sufficiently
+instructed, trustworthy and influential, I shall leave civil matters in
+their hands. I find the Indians very obedient, and comparatively easy
+to manage, since I allow no intoxicating drinks to come into our
+village. Though we are continually hearing of the drunken festivals of
+the surrounding tribes, I am happy to tell you that Metlahkatlah has
+not yet witnessed a case of drunkenness since we have settled here--a
+period of ten months. Still, not all with me are true men. Some few, on
+their visits to Fort Simpson, have fallen, and two, whose cases were
+clearly proved and admitted of no extenuation, I have banished from our
+midst.
+
+"On Sabbath days labour is laid aside, a solemn quiet presides, and
+the best clothing is in use. Scarcely a soul remains away from Divine
+Service, excepting the sick and their nurses. Evening family devotions
+are common to almost every house, and, better than all, I have a hope
+that many have experienced a real change of heart. To God be all the
+praise and glory!
+
+"We have succeeded in erecting a strong and useful building, capable
+of containing at least 600 people, which we use as church and school.
+We held our first meeting in this building on the night it was
+finished, the 20th December last. I have about 100 children, who attend
+morning and afternoon, and about 100 adults (often more) in the
+evening. I occupy the principal part of the time in the adult school,
+in giving simple lectures on geography, astronomy, natural history, and
+morals. These lectures the Indians greatly prize.
+
+"On the 6th February we commenced our first works, viz., making a road
+round the village. This will take us some time to complete, as the
+ground is very uneven, and much of it wooded. I propose, after the road
+is conveniently finished, to set about building, out of our public
+fund, two good sized houses for the accommodation of strange Indians
+when they come to trade with us, and thus prevent the interference to
+domestic comfort and improvement arising to the villagers from these
+visits under the old system. I have other public works in view, such as
+fixing proper rests for canoes when unemployed, laying slides for
+moving canoes on the beach and into the water at low tides, also
+sinking wells and procuring pumps for public use, etc., etc.
+
+"I feel, also, that it is of vast importance to seek out profitable
+employment for those with me, and thus keep them away from those labour
+markets which exhibit temptations too strong and vices too fascinating
+for the Indian, in his present morally infantile condition, to
+withstand. Hence, I have already measured out and registered over 100
+plots of ground for gardens, situated in various parts of the channel
+in which we are settled. These, the Indians are anxious to cultivate. I
+have also desired them to prepare salt and smoked fish, fish grease and
+dried berries, which, with furs, will form our first articles of
+exportation. Other branches of labour will arise in due course. But in
+order to set about thus much, we need seed (especially the potato),
+salt, direct means of communication with Victoria, and an agent there.
+
+"I am anxious that even the trading vessel should be in our own hands,
+first, because the Indians would, on that account, feel a deeper
+interest in her, and exert themselves the more to keep her well and
+profitably employed, secondly, the profits of the vessel would redound
+to the village, and, thirdly, it is necessary to avoid having
+intercourse with that barbarous class of men who are employed in running
+the small vessels up the coast, which, by trading in intoxicating drink,
+are all doing a work not easily described, and not readily believed by
+those who do not witness it. Their visits to the Indian camps are
+invariably marked by murder, and the very maddest riots. To purchase the
+vessel we need, I suppose from L100 to L150 will be required. I
+therefore propose that 100 Indians shall subscribe L1 or L1 10s, or the
+equivalent in furs. The Indians are willing to do their utmost, and I
+expect to have to render them little help, beyond seeking out the
+vessel, and I do not intend to give them any pecuniary aid, except to
+procure such things as, through ignorance or inexperience, they despise,
+but such as are, nevertheless, essential to their well-being and
+prosperity.
+
+"Trusting, by God's blessing upon us, we shall go on improving, and
+continue to merit your Excellency's favour and good-will,
+
+"I have the honour to remain, with warmest gratitude,
+
+"Your Excellency's humble and obedient Servant,
+
+"W. DUNCAN.
+
+_"To His Excellency, James Douglas, Esq., C. B,
+
+"Governor of Vancouver's Island and British Columbia."_
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+
+METLAKAHTLA--SPIRITUAL RESULTS.
+
+
+While the work at Metlakahtla was thus prospering materially, and
+increasing in general moral influence, under the blessing of Him
+without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, higher spiritual
+blessings were not withheld. Fresh classes of candidates for baptism
+had been formed during the last winter at Fort Simpson, and were
+continued diligently at the new settlement; and in April, 1862, the
+Bishop of Columbia, at Mr. Duncan's request, took the journey to
+Metlakahtla to baptize as many as might be found ready. But before
+this, one of the most interesting converts, a miracle of grace indeed,
+had been baptized, in the urgency of his special case, by Mr. Duncan
+himself. This was Quthray, a cannibal chief, one of the two men whose
+horrible orgies had met the eye of the newly-arrived missionary, at
+Fort Simpson, four years and a half before, and who has also been
+already mentioned as the one man who sullenly refused to kneel at Mr.
+Duncan's second service. He had, however, become one of the most
+regular and earnest attendants at the services and classes, and gave
+unmistakable evidence that Divine grace had indeed changed his heart.
+He joined the Metlakahtla party, but had not been there long before he
+fell ill. In October he passed away, a ransomed soul, to be a jewel in
+His crown who came to seek and to save the lost:--
+
+"_Saturday, 18th October, 1862_.--Just as I was rising this
+morning I received intelligence that poor Quthray, the young cannibal
+chief, was dying. I have frequently visited him during his illness, and
+was with him for a long time a few nights ago. As he has long and
+earnestly desired baptism, and expressed in such clear terms his
+repentance for his sins, and his faith in the Saviour of sinners, I
+told him that I would myself baptize him before he died, unless a
+minister from Victoria arrived in time to do it. He always appeared
+most thankful for my visits, and, with the greatest force he could
+command, thanked me for my promise. Accordingly this morning I
+proceeded to the solemn work of admitting a brand plucked from the
+burning into the visible Church of Christ by baptism. Though I was not
+sent here to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, yet I had no fear but
+that I was doing what was pleasing to God in administering that sacred
+rite to the poor dying man, as an officially appointed person was not
+within several hundred miles of him. I found the sufferer apparently on
+the very verge of eternity, but quite sensible, supported by his wife
+on one side, and another woman on the other, in a sitting posture on
+his lowly couch spread upon the ground. I addressed him at once,
+reminding him of the promise I had made to him, and why I also spoke
+some words of advice to him, to which he paid most earnest attention,
+though his cough would scarcely permit him to have a moment's rest. A
+person near expressed a fear that he did not understand what I said,
+being so weak and near death, but he quickly, and with great emphasis,
+exclaimed, '_I hear, I understand_' While I was praying his
+expression of countenance was most lovely. With his face turned upward,
+he seemed to be deeply engaged in prayer. I baptized him, and gave him
+the name of Philip Atkinson. I earnestly besought the Lord to ratify in
+heaven what He had permitted me to do in His name, and to receive the
+soul of the poor dying penitent before Him. He had the same resignation
+and peace which he has evinced throughout his sickness, weeping for his
+sins, depending all upon the Saviour, confident of pardon, and
+rejoicing in hope.
+
+"This is the man of whom I have had to write more than once to the
+Society. Oh the dreadful and revolting things I have witnessed him do!
+He was one of the two principal actors in the first horrid scene I saw
+at Fort Simpson about four and a half years ago, an account of which I
+sent home, namely, that of a poor slave woman being murdered in cold
+blood, thrown on the beach, and then torn to pieces and eaten by two
+naked savages, who were supported by a crew of singers and the noise of
+drums. This man was one of those naked cannibals. Glorious change! See
+him clothed and in his right mind, weeping--weeping sore for his sins--
+expressing to all around his firm belief in the Saviour, and dying in
+peace. Bless the Lord for all His goodness."
+
+It was on April 21st, 1863, that the Bishop baptized at Metlakahtla
+fifty-nine adults and some children. On the 19th, Sunday, he landed
+from the "Devastation;" and for two days he was incessantly occupied in
+examining the candidates. His account is deeply interesting:--
+
+"We were met by the whole village, who stood on the bank, in a long
+line--as fine a set of men and as well-dressed as could anywhere be
+seen where men live by their daily toil--certainly no country village
+in England would turn out so well-clad an assemblage.
+
+"At three the bell was rung, and almost instantly the whole population
+were wending their way to church. There were hymns and prayers in
+Tsimshean. They repeated the answers to a catechism in Tsimshean. I
+addressed them, and offered prayers in English, which were interpreted
+by Mr. Duncan. There was much earnest response. The service lasted one
+hour and three quarters. There was an evidence of devotion. Mr. Duncan
+plays the accordion.
+
+"Monday, April 20th.--Got to the Mission-house at eight to breakfast.
+Afterwards engaged the whole day seeing catechumens till one o'clock
+next morning. One after another the poor Indians pressed on to be
+examined. They had been under training for periods varying from eight
+months to three years. They had long been looking for a minister to
+admit them to baptism. It was a strange yet intensely interesting sight
+in that log cabin, by the dim glimmer of a small lamp, to see just the
+countenance of the Indian, sometimes with uplifted eyes, as he spoke of
+the blessedness of prayer--at other times, with downcast melancholy, as
+he smote upon his breast in the recital of his penitence. The tawny
+face, the high cheek-bone, the glossy jet-black flowing hair, the dark,
+glassy eye, the manly brow, were a picture worthy the pencil of the
+artist. The night was cold--I had occasionally to rise and walk about
+for warmth--yet there were more. The Indian usually retires as he
+rises, with the sun, but now he would turn night into day if he might
+only be allowed to 'have the sign,' and be fixed in the good ways of
+God.
+
+"Tuesday, April 21st.--Immediately after breakfast, having had prayer,
+the work again began. Catechumens came in, and, one by one, were
+sifted; some, to their grief, were deferred. One man came and begged he
+might be passed, for he might not live till the next visit of a
+clergyman. Another brought a friend, and said, if I would only admit
+his wife to baptism, they would promise for her she should persevere
+and live to God. Another, a fine child of fourteen, I had thought too
+young to answer for herself--one who had always shown remarkable love
+for instruction, and had stood by the school when the many were its
+foes. She came with tears of entreaty which were irresistible and
+beautiful, and lovely was the sensitive intelligence which beamed upon
+her devotional features when afterwards she received the waters of
+baptism. Till four o'clock was I thus engaged, an hour after the time
+appointed for the baptisms.
+
+"The peculiar suitableness of the questions in the Baptismal Service
+to the case of converts from heathenism was very remarkably illustrated
+throughout the examination. Converts from heathenism can fully realize
+renunciation of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Amongst these
+Indians, pomp of display, the lying craft of malicious magic, as well
+as all sins of the flesh, are particularly glaring, and closely
+connected with heathenism. To them these things are part and parcel of
+heathenism. So are the truths of the Creed in strongest contrast to the
+dark and miserable fables of their forefathers; and heartily can they
+pledge themselves to keep the holy will of God all the days of their
+life, seeing in Him a loving and true Father, of whom now so lately,
+but so gladly, they have learnt to know.
+
+"I first drew forth their views of the necessity of repentance, its
+details, and their own personal acquaintance with it. I then questioned
+them as to the Three Persons of the Trinity, and the special work of
+each, with allusion to the Judgment, and the state of the soul
+hereafter, inquiring into their private devotion, to learn their
+personal application of repentance and faith, I questioned their
+anxiety for baptism, and demanded proof of their resolution to keep the
+will of God for their guide, to speak for God, and to labour for God's
+way all their life long. I sought to find out the circumstances under
+which they first became seriously inclined, and to trace their steps of
+trial and grace. Admitting them to the promise of baptism, I exhorted
+them to earnest prayer and devotion, as a special preparation, until
+the time came.
+
+"The examination concluded, the candidates, to the number of fifty-six,
+were assembled in the church, and ranged in a large circle, in the midst
+of which the ceremony was to take place.
+
+"The impressiveness of the occasion was manifest in the devout and
+reverent manner of all present. There were no external aids, sometimes
+thought necessary for the savage mind, to produce or increase the
+solemnity of the scene. The building is a bare and unfinished octagon
+of logs and spars--a mere barn--sixty feet by sixty, capable of
+containing 700 persons. The roof was partly open at the top; and,
+though the weather was still cold, there was no fire, A simple table,
+covered with a white cloth, upon which stood three hand-basins of
+water, served for the font, and I officiated in a surplice. Thus there
+was nothing to impress the senses, no colour, or ornament, or church
+decoration, or music. The solemnity of the scene--was produced by the
+earnest sincerity and serious purpose with which these children of the
+Far West were prepared to offer themselves to God, and to renounce for
+eer the hateful sins and cruel deeds of their heathenism; and the
+solemn stillness was broken only by the breath of prayer. The responses
+were made with earnestness and decision. Not an individual was there
+whose lips did not utter in their own expressive tongue their hearty
+readiness to believe and to serve God."
+
+The following are some of the Bishop's notes of the examination:--
+
+"Legaic (principal chief), aged 40.--_Answers_:--We must put away
+all our evil ways. I want to take hold of God. I believe in God the
+Father, who made all things, and in Jesus Christ. I constantly cry for
+my sins when I remember them. I believe the good will sit near to God
+after death. Am anxious to walk in God's ways all my life. If I turn
+back it will be more bitter for me than before. I pray God to wipe out
+my sins; strengthen me to do right; pity me. My prayers are from my
+heart. I think sometimes God does not hear me, because I do not give up
+all my sins. My sins are too heavy. I think we have not strength of
+ourselves.
+
+"Neeash-lakah-noosh (called 'the Lame Chief'; he is blind also of an
+eye; fine old man), aged 70--_Answers_:--When asked if he wished
+to become a Christian, said--For that object I came here with my
+people. I have put away all lying ways, which I have long followed. I
+have trusted in God. We want the Spirit of God. Jesus came to save us.
+He compensated for our sins. Our Father made us, and loved us because
+we are His work. He wishes to see us with Him because He loves as. When
+asked about the judgment, said, The blood of Jesus will free those who
+believe from condemnation. _Remarks_--Under regular instruction
+for a year, and before that for some time by his daughter. Is most
+consistent, trying to do simply what is right. The other day was
+benighted on Saturday, on his way to spend the Sunday at Metlakahtla,
+seven miles off. Would not come on, nor let his people gather herring
+spawn, close under their feet, he rested the Lord's Day, according to
+the commandment.
+
+"Lappigh Kumlee, aged 30--_Answers_--I have given up the lucrative
+position of sorcerer. Been offered bribes to practise my art secretly. I
+have left all my mistaken ways. My eyes have been bored (enlightened). I
+cry every night when I remember my sins. The great Father Almighty sees
+everything. If I go up to the mountains He sees me. Jesus died for our
+sins upon the cross to carry our sins away. _Remarks_--Dates his
+change from seeing a convert reading a book, and he felt ashamed that he
+knew nothing, and he determined to learn, and soon he found his own
+system false. In one case, when his spirit said there would be recovery,
+death came; in another, when he foretold death, life remained.
+
+"Thrak sha kawn (sorcerer), aged 50--_Answers_--I wish to give up
+all wicked ways. Have been a medicine-man, and know the lies of
+heathenism. I believe in the great Father who made us, in Jesus who
+died on the cross that God would pity us. I want the Spirit of God to
+touch my heart. We must all stand before God. God will measure our
+ways. No one to be his master but God. I will not keep my eyes on the
+ground any more but will look up to heaven all my life. _Remarks_
+--He has had to bear much scorn, and to go through much struggle.
+
+"Wahthl (wife of Legaic), aged 40--_Answers_--I wish to put away
+evil and have a clean heart. Feel the pain of the remembrance of sin so
+bad I would sometimes like to die. I want to seek God's face, but feel
+little hope, still I determine to persevere, though miserable. Loss of
+relatives, and finding no peace and rest, and feeling in darkness led
+me to look to God. I know that God sent His Son Jesus to die for our
+sins. _Remarks_--About nine months under regular instruction. She
+is evidently anxious for her soul, knows the truth, but her sins are
+such a burden that she has not found peace. She has been anxious her
+husband should go forward in good.
+
+"Loosl (widow of the cannibal chief who died penitent), aged 25--
+_Answers_--I know how blind I have been. Was first turned to God
+by the news of the Saviour. Was struck that He came down amongst us.
+God is a spirit full of love. Christ came to carry away our sins. We
+must pray for the Spirit to help us. I confess my sins to God and cry
+for pity. I pray for my friends. After death the judgment. We must
+stand before God. Jesus will answer for those who trust in Him.
+_Remarks_.--Upheld her husband in his wickedness. Was turned by
+his turning at his death.
+
+"Nishah-kigh (chieftainess of the Nishkahs), aged 45--_Answers_:--I
+must leave all evil ways. I feel myself a sinner in God's sight. I
+believe in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, who died for
+our sins. God sends down His Spirit to make us good. Jesus is in heaven,
+and is writing our names in God's book. I feel God's Word is truth. Have
+been for some time accustomed regularly to pray. _Remarks_.--Two
+years ago she was found giving Christian instruction to a sick and dying
+person. Her husband tells me she passed much time in devotion. When she
+first heard the Word of God her sorrow was great, and her penitence more
+than she could bear. Some five years she has been earnestly seeking God.
+
+"Nayahk (wife of Lappligheumlee, a sorcerer), aged 25.--_Answers_:
+--Answers well and clearly upon the separate work of each Person of the
+Trinity. Prays for pardon--for the Holy Spirit. _Remarks_.--Suffered
+much from the mockery of her husband. At her earnest demand he gave up
+devilry. Been consistent in the midst of opposition; adhered to the
+Mission when many were against. Has been a blessing to her family, all
+of whom have renounced heathenism. Her husband, the sorcerer, laments
+his past life, and would be the first to put his foot upon the evil
+system.
+
+"Ad-dah-kippi (wife of a Christian Indian), aged 25.--_Answers_:--I
+must put away sin. I know I have been making God angry, but must put
+away all my old ways, lies, and the evil of my fathers. God gave us
+commandments. God would not hear us till we put away our sins, Jesus
+would make peace for us and add His Spirit. Am resolved to endeavour to
+live to God all my life. Was much moved last fishing at my sinfulness,
+and then repented strongly, and resolved to walk with God. I pray
+morning, noon, and night for pardon and God's Spirit. _Remarks_.
+--Had opposed her husband, who is a Christian."
+
+One of those baptized, it will be seen, was the famous head-chief
+himself, Legaic, the same who had threatened Mr. Duncan's life four
+years before. He had been a ferocious savage, and had committed every
+kind of crime. After he first began to attend the school, he twice fell
+back; but the Spirit of God was at work in his heart, and when the
+removal to Metlakahtla took place, he deliberately gave up his position
+as head-chief of the Tsimshean tribes in order to join the colony.
+Constant inducements were held out to him to return; and on one
+occasion he actually gave way. He gathered the Indians together, on the
+Metlakahtla beach, told them he could hold out no longer, and was going
+back to his old life--that he could not help it, for he was being
+pulied away--that he knew it was wrong, and perhaps he should perish
+for ever, but still he must go. In tears he shook the hand of each in
+turn, and then stepping alone into his canoe, paddled rapidly away from
+his weeping friends. He went a few miles along the coast, and then, as
+darkness came on, put the canoe ashore. The night was one of such
+misery, he afterwards said, as no words could describe. "A hundred
+deaths would not equal the sufferings of that night." On his knees he
+wept and prayed for pardon, and for strength to return; and next day he
+again appeared at Metlakahtla, to the joy of all.
+
+Legaic, who before was "a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious,"
+was baptized by the name of Paul. In him indeed did "Jesus Christ show
+forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them who shall hereafter
+believe on Him to life everlasting."
+
+The Rev. R. J. Dundas, who visited Metlakahtla six months later, and
+baptized thirty-nine more adults and thirteen children, thus wrote of
+Paul Legaic and his daughter Sarah:--
+
+"I paid a visit to the wife of the chief Paul Legaic. He it was who
+nearly took Mr. Duncan's life at the head of the medicine-band
+attacking the school. They were both baptized by the Bishop last April.
+Legaic was the wealthiest chief of the Tsimsheans at Fort Simpson. He
+has lost everything--has had to give up everything by his conversion to
+Christianity. It was with many of them literally a 'forsaking of all
+things to follow Christ.'--His house is the nicest and best situated in
+the village. A very little labour and expense in way of internal
+fittings would make it quite comfortable. He and his wife have one
+child only, a young girl of fourteen. She was a modest-looking,
+pleasing child--very intelligent--one of the first class in the school.
+She did not look like one who had ever been 'possessed with a devil;'
+and yet this is the child whom, three years ago, her teacher saw naked
+in the midst of a howling band, tearing and devouring the bleeding dog.
+How changed! She who 'had the unclean spirit' sits now at the feet of
+Jesus, clothed, and in her right mind."
+
+On the occasion of a visit paid soon after this by Mr. Duncan to Fort
+Simpson, Legaic, again like his great namesake, boldly preached the
+faith which once he destroyed. Mr. Duncan wrote:--
+
+"Feb. 6, 1864.--I have just returned from a visit to Fort Simpson. I
+went to proclaim the Gospel once more to the poor unfeeling heathen
+there. I laid the Gospel again distinctly before them, and they seemed
+much affected. The most pleasing circumstance of all, and which I was
+not prepared to expect, was, that Paul Legaic and Clah (the one in
+times past a formidable enemy and opposer, and the other one among the
+first to hear and greet the Gospel) sat by me, one on either side.
+After I had finished my address on each occasion they got up and spoke,
+and spoke well.
+
+"Legaic completely shamed and confounded an old man, who, in replying
+to my address, had said that I had come too late to do him and other
+old people good; that, had I come when the first white traders came,
+the Tsimsheans had long since been good; but they had been allowed to
+grow up in sin; they had seen nothing among the first whites who came
+amongst them to unsettle them in their old habits, but these had rather
+added to them fresh sins, and now their sins were deep laid, they (he
+and the other old people) could not change. Legaic interrupted him, and
+said, 'I am a chief, a Tsimshean chief. You know I have been bad, very
+bad, as bad as any one here. I have grown up and grown old in sin, but
+God has changed my heart, and He can change yours. Think not to excuse
+yourselves in your sins by saying you are too old and too bad to mend.
+Nothing is impossible with God. Come to God; try His way; He can save
+you.' He then exhorted all to taste God's way, to give their hearts to
+Him, and to leave all their sins; and then endeavoured to show them
+what they had to expect if they did so--_not_ temporal good, not
+health, long life, or ease or wealth, but God's favour here and
+happiness with God after death."
+
+Legaic had been well known to the traders and others on the coast, and
+the change in him caused the greatest astonishment among them. "Mr.
+Duncan's Grand Vizier" they called him. One visitor wrote in the
+Victoria paper:--
+
+"Take a walk near the church, and you may see the mighty chief of Fort
+Simpson (Legaic) standing under the porch of his well-built house,
+ornamented with fancy casing around where the gutters should be, but
+are not, and also around the windows. Legaic! why, I remember him
+myself, some ten years ago, the terrifying murderer of women as well as
+men, now lamb-led by the temperate hand of Christianity--a Church-going
+example--an able ally of the Temperance Society, though not having
+signed the pledge."
+
+For seven years this once dreaded savage led a quiet and consistent
+Christian life at Metlakahtla as a carpenter. In 1869, he was taken ill
+at Fort Simpson, on his way home, after a journey to Nass River. He at
+once sent this short note to Mr. Duncan:--
+
+"Dear Sir,--I want to see you. I always remember you in my mind. I
+shall be very sorry if I shall not see you before I go away, because
+you showed me the ladder that reaches to heaven, and I am on that
+ladder now. I have nothing to trouble me, I only want to see you."
+
+But Mr. Duncan, to his great sorrow, was quite unable to get away from
+his incessant duties at Metlakahtla. A second and third summons
+followed in quick succession, and presently came the news of his death,
+accompanied by a few unfinished lines:--
+
+"My dear Sir,--This is my last letter, to say I am very happy. I am
+going to rest from trouble, trial, and temptation. I do not feel afraid
+to meet my God. In my painful body I always remember the words of our
+Lord Jesus Christ."
+
+Well may we say, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
+
+Reverting to the history of the Mission, we find that in 1866 the
+Bishop of Columbia paid a second visit to Metlakahtla, and after
+careful examination, baptized sixty-five adult converts on Whit Sunday
+in that year. "I truly believe," he wrote, "that most of these are
+sincere and intelligent believers in Christ, as worthy converts from
+heathenism as have ever been known in the history of the Church." And
+in the autumn of the following year Mr. Cridge, then Dean of Victoria,
+who had from the first manifested the deepest interest in the Mission,
+stayed for some weeks at the settlement, and on September 8th baptized
+ninety-six adult Indians and eighteen children.
+
+Dean Cridge was struck by the advanced age of the candidates presented
+to him. Twenty-six were over fifty; and one man, who was sixty-five,
+said, "I feel like an infant, not able to say much; but I know that my
+heart is turned to God, and that He has given His Son to wash away my
+sins in His blood."
+
+"When he entered the room to be examined, he knelt down and offered a
+silent prayer. While speaking of his sins he showed emotion, and
+covered his face. Amongst other answers, these are some of his words:
+'I repent very much of my past sins before Jesus.' I asked why
+Christians were not afraid to die; he said, 'Faith in God will make us
+not afraid to die,' I baptized him Jeremiah; he is about forty years of
+age. His wife was not less satisfactory in the testimony she gave of a
+true conversion to God, and was added by baptism at the same time with
+her husband to the fold of Christ."
+
+What can we say to such tokens of true knowledge and faith as these,
+but that the words of our Lord to Peter are still applicable to many
+even of the most degraded heathen in our own day?--"Blessed art thou,
+Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but
+my Father which is it Heaven!"
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+
+METLAKAHTLA--MATERIAL PROGRESS AND MORAL INFLUENCE.
+
+
+Metlakahtla is no hermit's cell in the wilderness, removed faraway
+from the haunts of men, and exerting no influence upon them. Rather is
+it a harbour of refuge, whose lights radiate forth into the darkness,
+inviting the bark in distress to seek its friendly shelter, and guiding
+even the passing vessel in its course. Very rapidly it acquired a
+recognized position of importance and influence as the centre--one
+might almost say the official centre--of all good work of every kind
+among the coast Indians.
+
+The growth of the settlement naturally added greatly to the heavy
+burden of accumulated responsibilities which Mr. Duncan found himself
+compelled to undertake. He was lay pastor and missionary, treasurer,
+chief trader, clerk of the works, head schoolmaster, and the father and
+friend of the people. In addition to this the Colonial Government
+appointed him a magistrate, in order that he might have legal power to
+dispense justice, not only at the Christian settlement, but along the
+whole coast, wherever his influence extended. Thee village council and
+constables referred to in the report already quoted (p. 4) were a great
+assistance at Metlakahtla itself. But outside the settlement
+magisterial duties brought sometimes a heavy burden of anxiety and
+responsibility upon Mr. Duncan. In 1864, for instance, the authorities
+desired him to arrest a smuggling vessel, from which some of the tribes
+on the coast were obtaining spirits contrary to the law. He sent five
+of his Indians to arrest the smuggler, but they failed in the attempt;
+and not only so, but one of them was shot, and three others wounded. In
+the following year a shocking incident occurred. The Indian camps at
+that time were "deluged with fire-water," and Metlakahtla, because it
+stood alone against "the universal tide of disorder," was threatened
+with the vengeance of its heathen neighbours. A quantity of liquor was
+landed there by a party of Kitahmaht Indians for sale. It was at once
+seized. In revenge for this, they stole a little boy belonging to the
+village while he was on a fishing expedition with his parents.
+"Horrible to write, the poor little fellow was literally worried to
+death, being torn to pieces by the mouths of a set of cannibals at a
+great feast."
+
+Nevertheless, Mr. Duncan's influence grew continually. In this very
+case its power was, exhibited in his successfully interposing to allay
+the exasperation of his people, and to prevent a war of extermination.
+Even the white traders in fire-water themselves were sometimes touched.
+The captain of one smuggling vessel, who was fined four hundred dollars
+by Mr. Duncan in virtue of his magisterial authority, "afterwards
+became one of his most active friends--a result partly due to the
+impression created by what he saw at Metlakahtla, and partly to the
+fact of Mr. Duncan having obtained restitution for him from the Indians
+at Fort Simpson for injuries done to his vessel."
+
+The moral influence exercised by the Mission is most strikingly
+illustrated by an incident related by the Bishop of Columbia. In 1862,
+H.M.S. "Devastation" sailed up the coast seeking the three Indian
+murderers of the two white men: The Indians gave up two, but would not
+surrender the third. Two lives for two lives was their notion of equal
+justice. But as soon as the ship was out of sight, the murderer left
+his tribe, went to Metlakahtla, and gave himself up to Mr. Duncan.
+"Whatever you tell me to do," he said, "I will do. If you say I am to
+go on board the gun-ship when she comes again, I will go." Six months
+afterwards the "Devastation" again came up to Metlakahtla, and fired a
+gun to announce her arrival. The murderer heard it. Had his resolution
+broken down after so long an interval? He went straight to Mr. Duncan,
+and said, "What am I to do?" "You must come with me a prisoner." He
+went on board with the missionary, and delivered himself to the
+captain. "Thus," justly observed Bishop Hills, "what the ship of war
+with its guns and threats could not do for civilization, for protection
+of life, for justice, the simple character and influence of one
+missionary availed to accomplish." In due course this man was brought
+to trial for his crime, when it came out that he had been an unwilling
+participator, and he was pardoned. On his release he went back to
+Metlakahtla, and was baptized by the Bishop in 1866.
+
+A similar and very interesting case occurred in 1872. Some years
+before, an Indian from a tribe living thirty miles off had come to Mr.
+Duncan, and with great emotion confessed himself a murderer, saying
+that having frequently attended the services, the burden of sin had
+become "too heavy for him to carry," and some Christian relatives had
+advised him to confess his crime and take the consequences. Mr. Duncan
+sent word to the Government at Victoria, but they thought it best not
+to prosecute the man for a crime which was not recent, and which had
+been done under the orders of a powerful chief who was still at large.
+No further steps, therefore, were taken. But at the beginning of 1872,
+a magistrate who was visiting at Fort Simpson detected two men who had
+been concerned in another murder, and the excitement caused by this led
+to further inquiry about the Metlakahtla man's crime, and to the arrest
+of both himself and his chief. The four Indians thus in custody made
+severally a full confession of both crimes to Mr. Duncan and the other
+magistrate, and they were sent to Victoria for trial. They were found
+guilty, and, on being called upon to reply, made most affecting
+speeches in court, acknowledging the sin, and their just liability to
+punishment. Sentence of death was ordered to be recorded, but on the
+recommendation of the judges, it was commuted to five years'
+imprisonment (not confinement) at Metlakahtla.
+
+"So," wrote Mr. Duncan six months afterwards, "they are now with us,
+and all behaving very well. The proud chief has become very docile and
+happy, and he and all declare it their intention to remain at
+Metlakahtla till death. Several of the foremost Christians make it
+their duty occasionally to visit them, and instruct and encourage them.
+Thus can God bring good out of evil."
+
+The charge of the Chief Justice, Sir Matthew Begbie, at this trial is
+a most remarkable document, and must be printed here _in extenso_.
+Had the white man always treated the red man in such a spirit, what
+results might we not have seen. [Footnote: Admiral Prevost writes to us
+respecting another judge in the colony--'Some time ago a right minded
+judge, beloved and respected, both by Indians and white men, had to
+settle a dispute between two persons--as to the equal division of some
+land. In the presence of both he selected one to go and measure the
+land, so as to divide it into two equal portions, at the same time
+telling him (the one sent) the other would have the first choice when
+he had made the division Of course, the division was made as fairly as
+it could be.']
+
+_Charge of the Chief Justice._
+
+REGINA v SEBASSA AND THRACKET
+
+REGINA v NEESKA AND SIMON JOHNSON
+
+"Many years ago there were some poor white men on the sea. Men on the
+sea are always in danger from the wind and the waves, but these men
+trusted in God, who rules the winds and waves, and they were not
+afraid. Neither were they afraid of the men whom they might meet, for
+they did not intend to hurt anybody, and they were ready to do good.
+And, indeed, if the white men intended to do harm to the Indians, the
+whites could destroy them off the face of the earth. The whites could
+send up one man-of-war, which could easily, and without landing a man,
+destroy all their houses and canoes and property, and drive them naked
+and helpless into the woods to starve. No canoe could venture to go
+fishing. In one year the white men could destroy all the Indians on the
+coast without losing a man. One of our cannon could swallow up all the
+muskets of your tribe.
+
+"Now these poor white men on the sea met with some Indians. The
+Indians said they were hungry, and the white men gave them bread. Was
+that the act of a friend or an enemy? Then, when the Indians saw that
+the white men were good and confiding, and saw a little bread, and a
+saw and some tools, and a musket and a pistol, the devil came to them
+and said, 'Kill these white men, do not stop because they gave you
+bread when you were hungry; kill them, and take the saw and the musket
+and the bread.' These things the devil put on his hook with which he
+was fishing for the souls of the Indians, as men put a small fish on a
+hook to catch salmon and halibut. And the Indians listened to the voice
+of the devil, and slew these men, who were not fighting, nor had either
+they or the Indians declared war or anger at all. They slew these men
+while the bread of charity was still in their mouths. This is treachery
+and murder. All people hate murder, all people seek to have revenge for
+murder. This is the law among Indians also. If a white man kill an
+Indian, the Indians desire that white man to be put to death. Now my
+people come to me and ask for satisfaction. The law among the whites is
+that they cannot have revenge unless I permit it. Now my people come
+and ask me for revenge. But many snows have fallen upon this blood, and
+they hide it from my sight. Many snows have fallen also on my head; my
+head is very white, and I have seen many things. When the head is
+white, the heart ought to be prudent and moderate. I will not therefore
+take the lives of these Indians now before me, though they are all in
+my hand, and if I close it, it will strangle them all. My head is
+white, but my hand is strong, and my heart is not weak. If I punish
+them less than by killing them, it is not because I am weak, nor
+because I am afraid. But I want to do good to these Indians. What good
+would their lives do me! Their lives are of no use to me to take at
+present. But I wish to preserve their lives, and to change their lives.
+I wish to change their hearts, and to let them see that our laws are
+good and our hearts are good, and that we do not kill, even when we
+have a right to kill, and when we have the power to kill. There is a
+rock at Metlakatlah, and a rock at Victoria, upon which their old canoe
+has split. Now I offer them a new canoe. When men are sailing in an old
+broken canoe, and have with difficulty got to shore, and made a small
+camp, if anybody offer them a fine new canoe with which to continue the
+voyage of life, they should accept the offer gladly. Now there is a
+much better canoe, as they may see, at Metlakatlah. I wish them to sail
+in such a canoe for the future, and to adopt a better rule of life, and
+a better law of religion. They must at present go back to prison until
+I speak with the other great chiefs of my people, and see what is best
+for them to be done. I shall try and persuade the other chiefs to send
+them away to Metlakatlah, to do what Mr. Duncan shall tell them, and to
+live as they shall direct. And so long as they live well and quietly,
+and learn and labour truly to get their own living, I shall not
+remember the blood which they have spilt.
+
+"The prisoners themselves may see that our law is a better law than
+theirs. For two whole days I have been sitting here listening to the
+voice of my people, complaining of murders and of violence, and of
+robbery and oppression. Whoever has suffered, he comes freely and
+complains to me. Now the prisoners have been in court all this time,
+and they have seen Indians accused, and Chinamen, but they have seen no
+white man accused.
+
+"Yet there are some bad white men, who would, perhaps, steal or commit
+violence, if they were not afraid. They are afraid of our law, which
+fills me and gives me strength, so that if I fall on a man I break him
+to pieces. But even bad white men, through fear, are restrained. Now,
+therefore, I think that it will much more restrain Indians who are
+inclined to do evil, and support and guide those who are inclined to do
+well.
+
+"If the other chiefs listen to my voice, and the prisoners behave well
+at Metlakatlah, it shall be well. But if they do that which is wrong,
+my anger will burn up again very fiercely, and it will melt the snows
+which cover the blood of the men whom they have killed, and I shall see
+the blood and be very angry, and will burn them all up in my anger.
+
+"Let them cease to believe in sorcerers, who have now no strength
+since Christianity is established. Let them become Christians, and so
+their hearts will be made really and permanently good."
+
+A touching illustration of the reputation of Metlakahtla, as a refuge
+for the suffering and oppressed, occurs in a letter of Mr. Duncan's,
+dated March, 1876:--
+
+"A poor slave woman, still young in years, who had been stolen away
+when a child, and carried to distant tribes in Alaska territory, where
+she had suffered many cruelties, fled from her oppressors last summer,
+and, though ill at the time, took to the sea in a canoe all alone, and
+determined to reached Metlakahtla or perish in the attempt. On her way
+(and she had upwards of one hundred and fifty miles to travel), she was
+seen and taken by a party of Port Simpson Indians, who would no doubt
+have been glad to hand her back to her pursuers for gain, but on
+hearing of her case, I demanded her freedom, and finally she was
+received into a Christian family here, and tenderly cared for. Both the
+man and his wife who received her into their home had themselves been
+slaves years ago. They understood her language, sympathised deeply with
+her, and laboured hard to impart to her the knowledge of the Saviour of
+sinners. After about three months her cruel master with his party came
+here to recapture her, but they had to return home unsuccessful. In
+three months more her strength succumbed to the disease which had been
+brought on her by cruelty and hardship. She was a great sufferer during
+the last few weeks of her life, but she died expressing her faith in
+the Saviour, and rejoicing that she had been led here to end her days."
+
+Once during the twenty-three years which have passed away since the
+North Pacific Mission, as it is now called, was begun, has Mr. Duncan
+come back to his mother country; and this visit may most conveniently
+be noticed now. He was only absent a year. He left Metlakahtla, took
+the long journey home, stayed six months, and went all the way back
+again to Victoria, within the year 1870. During his brief stay in
+England, he chiefly occupied his time in learning various trades, and
+purchasing machinery, etc., for the settlement. He went to Yarmouth
+purposely to learn rope-making and twine-spinning; at another place he
+acquired the art of weaving: at a third, that of brush-making; at a
+fourth, "the gamut of each instrument in a band of twenty-one
+instruments." On his way back he stayed two or three months at
+Victoria, arranging with the Government for the allotment of reserve
+lands to the Indians of the settlement, which they might clear,
+enclose, and cultivate for themselves. The Governor entered warmly into
+his plans, and presented $500 himself to the Mission, to be laid out in
+village improvements. At length he set sail again, and on February
+27th, 1871, landed once more at Metlakahtla. His reception must be
+related in his own words.--
+
+"The steamer in which I was conveyed over the last 600 miles of my
+journey had on board a crowd of miners, bound for the newly-discovered
+gold-fields of Omineca, in the interior of British Columbia. These had
+to be landed at the mouth of the Skeena River, about ten miles before
+we came to Metlakahtla. It was Sunday afternoon when we arrived at the
+landing, and though the weather was very stormy--snowing and blowing
+hard--yet I could scarcely restrain myself from attempting to finish
+the remaining ten miles of my voyage in a canoe, and thus take my
+people by surprise, and be able to join them in their evening service.
+After due reflection, however, I decided to remain in the steamer, and
+go in her to Metlakahtla on the morrow. In the meantime, the news of my
+arrival travelled to Metlakahtla, and on the following morning a large
+canoe arrived from thence to fetch me home. The happy crew, whose
+hearts seemed brim full of joy at seeing me back, gave me a very warm
+welcome. I at once decided to leave my luggage and the steamer, and
+proceed at once to Metlakahtla with my Indian friends, who assured me
+that the village was in a great state of excitement at the prospect of
+my return. We were favoured with a strong, fair wind, and with two
+sails up we dashed along merrily through a boiling sea. I now felt I
+was indeed homeward bound. My happy friends, having nothing to do but
+to watch the sails and sit still, could give free vent to their long
+pent-up feelings, and so they poured out one piece of news after
+another in rapid succession, and without any regard to order, or the
+changes their reports produced upon my feelings: thus we had good and
+bad, solemn and frivolous news, all mixed indiscriminately.
+
+"On sighting the village, in accordance with a preconcerted
+arrangement, a flag was hoisted over our canoe, as a signal to the
+villagers that I was on board. Very soon we could discern quite a
+number of flags flying over the village, and the Indians hurrying
+towards the place of landing. Before we reached the beach large crowds
+had assembled to greet me. On my stepping out of the canoe, bang went a
+cannon, and when fairly on my feet bang went another. Then some of the
+principal people stepped away from the groups, and came forward, hats
+off, and saluted me very warmly. On my advancing, the corps of
+constables discharged their muskets, then all hats were doffed, and a
+general rush to seize my hand ensued. I was now hemmed in with the
+crowds of solemn faces, many exhibiting intense emotion, and eyes
+glistening with tears of joy. In struggling my way to the Mission
+house, I had nearly overlooked the schoolchildren. The dear little ones
+had been posted in order on one side, and were all standing in mute
+expectation of a recognition. I patted a few on the head, and then with
+feelings almost overcome, I pressed my way to my house. How sweet it
+was to find myself again in my own little room, and sweeter still to
+thank God for all His preserving care over me. As numbers of the people
+were pressing into and crowding my house, I ordered the church bell to
+be rung. At once they hurried to the church, and when I entered it was
+full. Such a sight! After a few minutes silence we joined in
+thanksgiving to God, after which I addressed the assembly for about
+twenty minutes. This concluded, I set off, accompanied by several
+leading Christian men to visit the sick and the very aged, whom I was
+told were anxiously begging to see me. The scenes that followed were
+very affecting. Many assured me that they had constantly prayed to God
+to be spared to see me once again, and God had answered their prayers
+and revived their hearts, after much weeping. On finishing my visit I
+made up doses of medicine for several of the sick, and then sat down
+for a little refreshment. Again my house becoming crowded, I sat down
+with about fifty for a general talk. I gave them the special messages
+from Christian friends which I had down in my note book, told them how
+much we were prayed for by many Christians in England, and scanned over
+the principal events of my voyage and doings in England. We sat till
+midnight, but even then the village was lighted up, and the people all
+waiting to hear from the favoured fifty what I had communicated. Many
+did not go to bed at all, but sat up all night talking over what they
+had heard.
+
+"Such is a brief account of my reception at Metlakahtla. I could not
+but reflect how different this to the reception I had among the same
+people in 1857. Then they were all superstitiously afraid of me, and
+regarded with dread suspicion my every act It was with feelings of fear
+or contempt they approached me to hear God's word, and when I prayed
+amongst them I prayed alone, none understood, none responded. Now how
+things have changed! Love has taken the place of fear, and light the
+place of darkness, and hundreds are intelligently able and devoutly
+willing to join me in prayer and praise to Almighty God. To God be
+_all_ the praise and glory. Amen"
+
+The troubles and difficulties on the coast, which so often added to
+Mr. Duncan's burdens, were not always the fault of the Indians. As
+often as not they were due to the recklessness of unscrupulous and
+drunken white men. In 1872, a party going up to the gold mines on the
+Skeena River burned an Indian village. This brought the Governor of
+British Columbia, J. W. Trutch, Esq., up the coast with two ships of
+war, the "Scout" and the "Boxer." A deputation of Tsimsheans Christians
+was sent to propitiate the injured tribe, and invite them to meet the
+Governor at Metlakahtla; and there, as on common ground which both
+parties could trust, peace was solemnly made, the Government paying six
+hundred dollars as compensation.
+
+On this occasion the Governor laid the first stone of a new church,
+upon which Mr. Duncan and the Indians alike had set their hearts, as a
+visible crown of the work. The ceremony took place on August 6th, in
+the presence of the whole community and of the officers of the ships.
+But laying the stone was one thing; building the church was another.
+The Governor and Captain Cator saw lying on the ground huge timbers to
+be used in its erection, but how these were to be reared up was not
+apparent. Very kindly they gave Mr. Duncan a quantity of ropes, blocks,
+etc., but even then they sailed away in considerable scepticism as to
+the possibility of unskilled red men raising a large and lofty church.
+In January, 1874, Mr. Duncan wrote:--
+
+"The massive timbers for framing, which Governor Trutch and Captain
+Cator, of H. M. S. 'Scout,' saw on the ground last year, and doubted of
+our ability to raise, are, I am happy to say, now fixed, and fixed
+well, in their places, and all by Indian labour. Especially am I
+thankful to report that, though the work is attended with no little
+danger, particularly to inexperienced hands, as we all are, yet have we
+hitherto been graciously preserved from all accidents.
+
+"The Indians are delighted with the appearance the building has
+already assumed, and you may gather from the amount of their
+contributions (L176) how much they appreciate the work. They propose
+again subscribing during the coming spring, and I only wish our
+Christian friends in England could witness the exciting scene of a
+contributing day, with how much joy the poor people come forward and
+cast down their blanket or blankets, gun, shirt, or elk skin, upon the
+general pile 'to help in building the house of God.'"
+
+By the end of that year the church was finished, and on Christmas Day
+it was opened for the service of God. "We had indeed," wrote Mr.
+Duncan, "a great struggle to finish it by that time--the tower and
+spire presenting very difficult and dangerous work for our unskilled
+hands--yet, by God's protecting care, we completed the work without a
+single accident. Over seven hundred Indians were present at our opening
+services. Could it be that this concourse of well-dressed people, in
+their new and beautiful church, but a few years ago made up the
+fiendish assemblies at Fort Simpson! Could it be that those voices, now
+engaged in solemn prayer and thrilling songs of praise to Almighty God,
+are the very voices I once heard yelling and whooping at heathen orgies
+on dismal winter nights!"
+
+The progress in building operations and the secular affairs of the
+settlement generally at this time are succinctly described in an
+official Report, prepared by Mr. Duncan, and presented to the Minister
+of the Interior of the Dominion of Canada, in May, 1875. The occasion
+of this important document being drawn up was the occurrence of some
+conflict of opinion between the Provincial Government of British
+Columbia at Victoria and the Dominion Government of Ottawa, respecting
+the Indian Land Question. The same thorny problems that have so often
+given trouble in South Africa and New Zealand had presented themselves,
+and the local authorities at Victoria were anxious that the liberal
+treatment of the Indians on the coast, which had marked their own
+dealings with them while the Colony was independent of Canada, should
+be still pursued now that British Columbia was incorporated in the
+Dominion Confederation. But even the liberal plans of the Victoria
+Government had, to a large extent, failed in their object of
+ameliorating the Indians, and Metlakahtla still remained almost the
+only example of success upon the coast. To us it is, of course, obvious
+that the cause of this success was simply its being based on the
+foundation of Christian teaching and Christian life; and Mr. Duncan
+made no secret of this in his Report. He gave a description of the
+Indians as he found them, and a full narrative of the Mission from the
+first. That part of the Report, however, it is needless to print here.
+It only recapitulates what we have already told in greater detail. The
+opening and closing paragraphs we subjoin:--
+
+_Report presented by Mr. W. Duncan to the Government of Canada._
+
+"From a copy of statutes which I lately received from the Indian
+Commissioner, British Columbia, I learn that changes in the management
+of Indian affairs are about to be inaugurated in that province. It is
+in anticipation of these changes that I feel prompted to address to you
+this present letter, my object being to place before you the origin and
+growth of the Indian settlement at Metlakahtla, and from these facts
+thus brought out to deduce a policy, or at least certain principles of
+action, which I am anxious to commend to the Government in the
+treatment of all the Indian tribes in that part of the Dominion."
+
+_[Here follows a history of the Mission.]_
+
+"We number now about 750 souls, and, according to the testimony of
+several medical men, who have had opportunities of judging, form the
+healthiest and strongest Indian community on the coast.
+
+"Next, as to our progress in law and order. It is in this aspect to
+the outward observer, perhaps more than in any other, that our
+advancement appears both real and striking. From a great number of
+lawless and hostile hordes has been gathered out and established one of
+the most law-abiding and peace-loving communities in the province. What
+to the most sanguine minds seemed at least a generation of time distant
+has been brought about in a few years. The isolated germ of a Christian
+community gathered strength year by year, while every opposing force in
+the vicinity gradually weakened and at last succumbed. The law has
+triumphed. The liquor-selling vessels have long since ceased their
+traffic. The Indians who took up the trade with their canoes have also
+been stopped. Drunkenness, or even liquor-drinking, over a very large
+district are now things of the past. The rushing to Victoria has
+subsided into rare and legitimate visits, and peace, order, and
+security reign in all the country round.
+
+"The local means which have been instrumental in bringing about these
+salutary changes were--First, we called out a corps of Native
+constables, and afterwards selected, irrespective of rank, twelve older
+men of good character to act as Native Council, and with these we have
+deliberated upon every matter affecting the welfare of our settlement.
+The Council has no pay, but only a badge of office, worn on stated
+occasions. The constables, in addition to a simple uniform, receive a
+small remuneration when on duty.
+
+"As our settlement increased, and our work in the interests of peace
+became more extended, I have increased the two Native forces year by
+year until they now number over sixty men, and include several chiefs.
+And further, in order to utilize these forces, and have every settler
+under proper surveillance, I have divided all the male community into
+ten companies, each company having an equal number of constables and
+councilmen, who act as guides and monitors.
+
+"Again, in order to enlist the energies of our younger men for the
+public weal, I have organized a fire brigade of six companies and ten
+to each company. These, I trust, will prove of real service to the new
+town which is about to be built. And here I would acknowledge with
+thankfulness the prompt help which has occasionally reached us from the
+Provincial Government, and without which, of course, our local
+machinery would have proved altogether inadequate for all emergencies.
+
+"Lastly, as to our material and social progress. This, too, is already
+encouraging, but by no means so complete as we hope to see it. The slow
+progress of the Indians in this cause cannot be matter for wonder when
+we consider--first, Their ignorance and inaptitude to find out for
+themselves any fresh and permanent modes of industry; secondly, Their
+want of capital, owing to which civilization may tend to the
+impoverishment of the Indians by calling for an increased outlay in
+their expenses without augmenting their income. Having these facts
+before me, I have endeavoured to help and guide the males under my
+influence to fresh modes of industry, and though our success has not
+been very great, it is at least encouraging.
+
+"Our first work of a secular kind was to establish a village store;
+for, having left Fort Simpson, we soon felt the want of supplies. I may
+here explain the Hudson's Bay Company refused to establish a shop in
+our midst, and I feared to encourage the trading schooners to come to
+us, as they invariably carried intoxicating liquor for sale, so we
+determined to keep the village trade in our own hands and appropriate
+the profits to the public works of our settlement.
+
+"To this end we first purchased a schooner, one-third of the money
+being given by the Governor, Sir James Douglas. The schooner took down
+the products of our industry to Victoria, and returned laden with goods
+for our store, proving a pecuniary success and a capital training for
+the Indians who were employed.
+
+"After some years the Hudson's Bay Company were willing to carry our
+freight on their steamer, so we sold the schooner, and I refunded to
+the Government account a proportionate part of the sale money.
+
+"The managing of our village trade, principally by Indians, has given
+me much anxiety, and exposed me to much slander and abuse from white
+traders; but seeing the good results from my efforts in this way to our
+settlement I have kept on, and feel loath to give it up till I can hand
+it over entirely into the hands of the Natives.
+
+"The first profits of our trade I spent in building a large market-house
+and court-house. The market-house was to shelter and accommodate all
+those visiting us from other tribes, and for this purpose we found it to
+be of great advantage. We were thus enabled to keep strange Indians from
+impeding our social progress, having them under better surveillance
+during their stay, and rendering them more accessible to Christian
+instruction. The other works for public advantage to which we have
+severally applied the monies resulting from our village trade, along
+with the contributions of friends of the Mission, are road-making,
+building a saw-mill, blacksmith's shop, soap-house, and large
+carpenters' shops and work-sheds. For the last two years we have been
+engaged erecting entirely by Indian labour a new church capable of
+holding 1,200 people. This we completed so far as to be able to use it
+about five months ago.
+
+"The finishing we hope to do this summer, and when complete we expect
+we shall have spent altogether about 8,000 dollars. Of this sum the
+Indians of the settlement contributed over 800 dollars. We have now
+going up a school-house, 60 by 27, which will be paid for out of the
+trade profits, with the exception of 200 dollars sent us by the Indian
+Commissioner.
+
+"Our latest undertaking is the building of a massive sea-wall round
+the village. The Indians contribute the material, and I pay for the
+labour of putting it up.
+
+"This brings me to mention a few particulars relative to the greatest
+of all our undertakings in building, viz., that of a new town of some
+200 houses. It was hardly to be expected that the plan of our village
+and the first houses erected at Metlakahtla would prove satisfactory to
+us as we advanced in civilization. The people were then in a transition
+state, and I had to be content to see houses go up only a little
+improvement upon their old style of building; but about five years ago
+they began to be dissatisfied with their houses, and I then succeeded
+in persuading them to cease putting up fresh buildings until we should
+all agree upon the right model for a dwelling-house and a better plan
+of a town site. It has taken all this time to educate them up to a
+really substantial plan for both, but-I am happy to say that after much
+discussion we are now agreed. The old village is to be pulled down and
+a new town built up. I have already surveyed the land, and drawn out a
+map showing town lots, which the Indians highly approve. The lots are
+60 by 120, and on each will be erected a double house. One hundred such
+lots are already taken, and builders have begun to work. As the new
+houses are to be substantial and commodious buildings, and beyond their
+means to build without aid, I have pledged myself to assist them to the
+amount of 50 dollars each single house, which will, I anticipate, be
+sufficient to purchase nails, windows, and whatever else they must
+import, as well as pay the workmen at the saw-mill for sawing their
+lumber. Thus the Indians will only be required to bring their own logs
+to the mill and find the labour to erect their houses.
+
+"As our mill is small, and our means limited, we do not expect to
+complete all our buildings in less than three years, but when completed
+we trust to show to the Natives around a real model town, and hope it
+will stimulate them to follow in our steps.
+
+"Having thus very briefly sketched an outline of the history of
+Metlakahtla, it remains for me to say that whatever of moral or
+material progress the Indians there have made, they owe it all to the
+hold which religious truth has obtained over their hearts and
+consciences. It is only because they have felt the inspiring influence
+of the Gospel that they have aspired to a higher degree of social life,
+and are exerting themselves to obtain it.
+
+"Our church and schools (both Sunday and day schools) are well and
+eagerly attended. The appearance of our large Native congregation in
+their new church is a thrilling and heart-gladdening sight.
+
+"Quite a number of intelligent Natives are devoting themselves
+gratuitously to evangelistic work among their brethren, and with much
+success. We have two Native teachers in the day-school and one Native
+evangelist, also over twenty Sunday-school teachers employed in the
+Mission, and thus this little settlement, under God's blessing, bids
+fair to become at no very distant day a happy and thriving Christian
+home."
+
+Accompanying this Report, there was a paper of practical suggestions
+for the provision and administration of Reserve Lands for the several
+tribes. These were embodied in an official Memorandum, drawn up by the
+Attorney General of the Province, which concluded with these words:--
+
+"The undersigned has the honour to recommend that the above
+suggestions be adopted, and that if this Memorandum be approved, His
+Honour the Lieutenant-Governor be respectfully requested to forward a
+copy thereof, and of the Minute of Council referring thereto, to the
+Dominion Government, for their consideration and assent; and he further
+recommends that another copy be sent to the Dominion Government, for
+transmission to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the
+Colonies.
+
+"GEO. A. WALKEM,
+
+_"Attorney-General.
+
+"Victoria, 17th August, 1875."_
+
+The Lieutenant-Governor in Council adopted the following Minute:--
+
+"_Copy of a Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Executive
+Council, approved by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, on the 18th
+day of August, 1875._
+
+"The Committee of Council concur with the statements and
+recommendations contained in the Memorandum of the Honourable the
+Attorney-General, on the subject of Indian affairs, dated 17th August,
+1875, and advise that it be adopted as the expression of the views of
+this Government as to the best method of bringing about a settlement of
+the Indian Land Question.
+
+"(Certified) W. J. ARMSTRONG, _Clerk of the Executive Council._"
+
+The next thing was to secure the adoption of the scheme by the
+Government of Canada; and with this view Mr. Duncan undertook the long
+journey across the continent to Ottawa. The Hon. D. Laird, Minister of
+the Interior, gave the most attentive hearing to his representations,
+and also made him a donation of 1,000 dollars towards the work at
+Metlakahtla; and on May 10th, 1876, Mr. Duncan wrote, "I am glad to
+inform you that the terms set forth in the Report have been adopted
+(with a small modification or two) by the Dominion Government, and so
+the dead-lock about the land question seems in a fair way of being
+removed."
+
+Mr. Duncan's well-timed interposition in this matter was not the least
+of the many services God has enabled him to render to the Indian
+population of British Columbia.
+
+About the same time, the Provincial Government gave another proof of
+its confidence in the Mission, by appointing one of the Christian
+Tsimsheans of Metlakahtla head constable of the district, with a salary
+of 350 dollars per annum.
+
+Year by year the Metlakahtla community has continued to increase, by
+the admission to its privileges of new settlers. New Year's-day is
+especially the time for enrolling them. A general meeting of the adult
+males of the village is held, and before them all each applicant for
+leave to join their body has to stand up and declare his adhesion to
+the rules. He thus cuts himself off from all heathen customs, and
+"places himself under Christian instruction" (to use the Tinnevelly
+term [Footnote: In Tinnevelly, the progress of Christianity has been
+mainly due to the adhesion of whole villages at a time to the Christian
+community. These adherents cannot be called "converts," and the phrase
+used of them is that they "place themselves under Christian
+instruction." Subsequently they become candidates for baptism, and many
+of them ultimately prove to be true converts.]). He probably knows
+something of the Gospel from Christian Indians he has met at the
+fisheries or elsewhere, and thus is already, to some extent, prepared
+for the teaching he will now regularly receive. In course of time--such
+is the frequent experience at Metlakahtla--his conduct and demeanour
+give evidence of a work of grace in his heart; he becomes a catechumen,
+and, after a due period of probation, is admitted by baptism, not only
+into the community, but into the Church. On the New Year's-day of 1875,
+no less than one hundred new comers were registered, and the number has
+frequently been not much short of that.
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+
+METLAKAHTLA--TWO CHRISTMAS SEASONS.
+
+
+Christmas is a joyous time at Metlakahtla, and the accounts we have of
+its services and festivities help not a little to bring the settlement
+before the eyes of our imagination. Two such accounts are subjoined.
+The first is from Mr. Duncan's Report for 1873. Christmas-day in that
+year is memorable for a visit paid to Metlakahtla by the Indians who
+still remained in the neighbourhood of Fort Simpson. These tribes had
+not been forgotten by their Christian fellow-countrymen. Bands of
+evangelists from the settlement frequently went up the coast in canoes
+to the Fort on Saturday to hold services on the Sunday, and their
+efforts received a manifest blessing. This work has since then been
+interrupted by the establishment of a Canadian Methodist Mission at the
+Fort.
+
+The second account was sent home by Bishop Bompas, of Athabasca, after
+his visit to the coast in 1877-8.
+
+CHRISTMAS, 1873.
+
+_From Mr. Duncan's Report._
+
+"This is the first season that the heathen customs at Fort Simpson
+have been generally disregarded, and hence we thought it well to
+encourage Christian customs in their place. To this end we decided to
+invite all the congregation at Fort Simpson to spend the festival of
+Christmas with us at Metlakahtla, that they might receive the benefit
+of a series of special services, and he preserved from falling into
+those excesses which we had reason to fear would follow should they
+spend the Christmas by themselves. About two hundred and fifty availed
+themselves of our invitation, and they arrived at Metlakahtla the day
+before Christmas in twenty-one canoes, which indeed presented a
+pleasing picture as they approached us with flags flying.
+
+"According to a previous arrangement they all clustered to the market
+-house, which we at present use for our church, and which had been very
+appropriately decorated. On our guests being seated I gave them a short
+address, and after prayer, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Collison, shook
+hands with them all. They then were quartered round the village, and a
+very exciting scene ensued, all the villagers literally scrambling for
+the guests. After the scramble, several came running to me to complain
+that they had not succeeded in securing a single guest, while others
+had got more than their share. To settle matters amicably, I had to
+send two constables round the village to readjust the distribution of
+our new friends.
+
+"Our Christmas-eve was spent in practising, with a band of twenty
+young men, a new Christmas hymn in Tsimshean, which I managed to
+prepare for the occasion. About 1.30 on Christmas morning we
+reassembled, when Mr. Collison and myself accompanied the twenty waits
+to sing round the village, carrying the harmonium and concertina with
+us. We sang in seven different places, and three hymns in each place.
+The village was illuminated, and the singing was hearty and solemn.
+This was the first attempt of the Indians at part-singing in their own
+tongue.
+
+"Christmas-day was a great day, houses decorated with evergreens,
+flags flying, constables and council passing from house to house in
+their uniforms, and greeting the inmates. Now a string of young men,
+then another of young women, might be seen going into this house, then
+into that; friends meeting on the road, shaking hands everywhere;
+everybody greeting everybody; hours occupied with hand-shaking and
+interchanging good wishes; nobody thinking of anything else but
+scattering smiles and greetings, till the church bell rings, and all
+wend their way to meet and worship God. The crowd seemed so great that
+fears were entertained that our meeting-house could not accommodate
+them. I at once decided that the children should assemble in the school
+-house and have a separate service. Samuel Marsden kindly volunteered to
+conduct it. Even with this arrangement our meeting-house was crowded to
+excess. There could not have been less than seven hundred present. What
+a sight! Had any one accompanied me to the Christmas-day services I
+held twelve or fourteen years ago at Fort Simpson, and again on this
+occasion, methinks, if an infidel, he would have been confused and
+puzzled to account for the change; but, if a Christian, his heart must
+have leaped for joy. The Tsimsheans might well sing on this day, 'Glory
+to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.'
+
+"After service all the Indians collected near the Mission-house to
+greet us. In order to take advantage of the occasion I had them let in
+by about fifties at a time, the Fort Simpson Indians preceding. After
+giving each company a short address, we again shook hands with all. It
+was three p.m. before we had gone through with them all in this way.
+
+"The following day the young men engaged in the healthy game of
+football, and all the people turned out to witness the sport. Mr. and
+Mrs. Collison and myself were present to encourage them. After football
+a marriage took place. A young woman, formerly trained in the Mission
+-house, was married to a chief. A marriage feast was given, to which
+between four and five hundred people were invited. During the day a
+Fort Simpson young man came to see me and confess a crime of theft he
+committed about a year and a half ago, and for which, when the proper
+time arrives, he will have to go to gaol. In the evening the church
+bell was rung, and all assembled for divine service. Some little time
+after service the bugle was sounded 'Go to bed.'
+
+"I held special services every night while the Fort Simpson people
+were here with us. The subjects upon which I addressed them were as
+follows, viz.:--'Thou shalt call His name Jesus,' 'Thy Word is a Lamp'
+etc.; 'Understandst thou what thou readest?' 'Ye must be born again,'
+'Can the Ethiopian change his skin?' 'What shall a man give in exchange
+for his soul?' 'One thing is needful,' 'Give me thy hand,' 'Quit ye
+like men.' In addition we had a midnight service on New Year's-eve. The
+people attended the services regularly, and seemed to drink in the
+Word. May God give the increase. On one of the evenings before the
+service I exhibited the magic lantern to the Fort Simpson people,
+showing them some Scriptural views and the sufferings of martyrs.
+
+"On New Year's-day, as heretofore, we held a general meeting for the
+business of the village, at which all the males are expected to attend.
+Only some three or four were absent. The male portion of our guests
+from Fort Simpson also attended to witness the proceedings. The ten
+companies, into which all males here are divided, were first examined,
+after which I gave an address bearing upon matters of the past year,
+and introduced the new settlers, who were already seated in the middle
+of the room. This finished, each of the latter came forward in the
+presence of the assembly, made his declaration to be a faithful member
+of our community, and was registered. Speeches were then made by
+several of the council, followed by about twenty speeches from the Fort
+Simpson Indians, which were very interesting, being expressive of the
+new feelings which animated them, and the line of conduct they meant to
+pursue in the future, God being their helper. I concluded the meeting
+with another address. We then adjourned to the open ground in front of
+the Mission-house, stood in companies, two cannons were fired, then,
+with hats off (though it snowed very hard), we sang 'God save the
+Queen,' and dismissed.
+
+"On Friday, the 2nd of January, our guests departed home. When ready
+to start, the church bell rang, and they paddled their canoes to our
+meeting-house, which is built upon the beach. Leaving their canoes,
+they reassembled for a short address and a concluding prayer. This
+over, again entering their canoes, they pushed a little from the beach,
+a cannon was fired, and amid the ringing cheers of hundreds of voices
+they dashed off paddling with all their might. In a few seconds they
+simultaneously halted, and returned as hearty cheers as they were
+receiving. The air now rang with the double cheering, caps,
+handkerchiefs, and flags waving, the whole forming a very animated
+scene. Thus our guests departed."
+
+
+CHRISTMAS, 1877
+
+_By the Bishop of Athabasca_
+
+"The festivities of the season commenced here on Christmas Eve, when a
+party of about twenty-five of the elder school girls were invited to
+meet us at tea. After tea we were all entertained by Mr. Duncan, with
+the exhibition of a galvanic battery and other amusements. This party
+having dispersed to their homes in good time, at a later hour came
+together the singers who were appointed to sing Christmas carols during
+the night along the village street, led by Mr. Schutt, the schoolmaster.
+After their singing they returned to supper at the Mission before
+retiring to rest.
+
+"On Christmas morning the first sight which greeted us was that of the
+constables lengthening to its full height the flagstaff on the
+watchhouse, to hoist the flag for Christmas, and all the village street
+was soon gaily dressed with flags. The constables then marched about
+the village to different houses to shake hands and make Christmas peace
+with all whom they had been called to interfere with in the course of
+the year. At eleven o'clock the church bell rang, and the large church
+was thronged with a well-dressed and attentive congregation.
+
+"After service all the villagers, to the number of about 600, had to
+come and pass through the Mission-house to shake hands with all the
+inmates. In doing this they so crowded the verandah that the boards
+actually gave way beneath them, but the ground being only about two
+feet below no injury resulted. After all the shaking of hands was over,
+the villagers returned home to their own private entertainments, and
+most of us at the Mission enjoyed a quiet Christmas evening together;
+but Mr. Duncan entertained at tea a party of the chiefs and principal
+persons of the village, whom we did not join, from inability to
+converse in the Tsimshean tongue.
+
+"The day after Christmas was again a gay one. The constables, twenty
+-five in number, paraded and exercised on the green with banners and
+music, and about fifty volunteers, in neat white uniforms, with drums
+and fifes and banners flying, went through creditable evolutions and
+exercises. All the strangers who had come from neighbouring villages to
+spend Christmas at Metlakahtla were collected by Mr. Duncan in the
+Mission Hall, and, after a suitable address received, all of them,
+presents of soap, apples, sugar, tobacco, etc. In the evening the usual
+week-day service was held in the schoolroom, always crowded.
+
+"The following day all the children of the schools were assembled by
+Mr. Duncan at his house, first the girls and then the boys, about 200
+in all; and, after being amused by him, were treated to sugarplums and
+apples, and each one received some article of clothing (cap or cape,
+etc.), so as to be sent away to their homes rejoicing.
+
+"Next day all the men of the village, about 300, were assembled in the
+market-house to be addressed by Mr. Duncan. After he had given them the
+best advice he could, their Christmas presents were distributed to them
+in the presence of all the Mission party. These consisted of 1/2lb.
+sugar and six apples to each one, with copy-book and pencil, or tobacco
+for the older men.
+
+"The day after this, Mr. and Mrs. Schutt kindly entertained all the
+widows of the village, about sixty in number, to a substantial dinner.
+It was a pleasure to see even the old and decrepit able to sit at table
+and enjoy their meal, and it made us enter fully into the idea of the
+renovating influence of Christmas blessings, to think in what dark and
+murderous heathenism these aged widows had been reared when young.
+After dinner Mr. Duncan brought them to his Hall to listen to an
+address, so that they might not return home without words of Gospel
+truth and comfort to cheer them for struggling days.
+
+"The morrow, being Sunday, was marked by the usual services; these
+consist, first, of morning Sunday School at half past nine, at which
+about 200 are present, both children and adults, males and females
+being in separate buildings. All the elder scholars learn and repeat a
+text both in English and Tsimshean, and have it explained to them, and
+they are able to use intelligently their English Bibles for this
+purpose. At eleven is morning service in church, attended at Christmas
+time by 700 to 800. Hymns are sung, both in English and Tsimshean, and
+heartily joined in by the congregation. This being the last Sunday in
+the year, the service was made a specially devotional one to seek mercy
+for the offences of the past twelve month.
+
+"After morning service the adults met again in Sunday School to learn
+in English and Tsimshean the text of the sermon, and have it again
+explained to them by the native Sunday School teachers, who are
+prepared for this duty at a meeting with Mr. Duncan on Saturday
+evening. It is very interesting to see about 300 adults gathered
+together in the three schools at midday, entirely in the hands of
+native teachers, and with English Bibles in their hands poring
+intelligently over the text, and following out again the subject of the
+morning discourse. I cannot but think it would be a great gain if this
+scheme of Mr. Duncan's could be largely followed in other Missions.
+
+"Afternoon service is held in the church at three o'clock, with a
+Litany, and after this, when the daylight lasts long enough, there is a
+second Sunday School. The church is as full in the afternoon as in the
+morning, and the punctuality of the attendance is surprising. In the
+evening, at seven o'clock, service is again held in the school room,
+which is crowded, and occasional meetings are held by the elder
+converts for the benefit of any aged people unable to come to church.
+
+"To return to the Christmas doings: On the Monday all the women of the
+village, about 300, assembled in the market-house, and, after suitable
+addresses, valuable presents were made to each, viz., 1lb. soap, 1lb.
+rice, and several apples, etc. so that they return home laden and
+rejoicing. Altogether about L50 must have been spent upon the Christmas
+presents.
+
+"On Monday evening, being the last night of the old year, a suitable
+service was held in church, the subject being Psalm xc., 'So teach us
+to number our days,' etc. On New Year's-day the festivities were
+renewed. Bugle-notes and drums and fifes, and the exercises of the
+volunteers, enlivened the scene. The youth of the village played
+football on the sands. All the men of the village were assembled in the
+market-house, and were permanently enrolled in ten companies, the
+members of each company receiving rosettes of a distinguishing colour.
+Each company has in it, besides ordinary members, one chief, two
+constables, one elder, and three councillors, who are all expected to
+unite in preserving the peace and order of the village. The ten chiefs
+all spoke in the market-house on New Year's-day, and in sensible
+language promised to follow the teaching they had received, and to
+unite in promoting what is good. After the meeting all adjourned to the
+green in front of the church, and joined in singing 'God save the
+Queen,' in English, before dispersing to their homes. The rest of the
+day was spent in New Year's greetings.
+
+"Wednesday Evening was occupied by the usual week-day service, and
+Thursday and Friday evenings were devoted to the exhibition in the
+school-room, first to the women and then to the men, of a large magic
+lantern, with oxygen light, and also a microscope, showing living
+insects and sea-water animalcules, as well as various slides.
+
+"The above is but an imperfect sketch of the efforts made by Mr.
+Duncan for the welfare and happiness of his village,"
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+
+OUTLYING STATIONS--I. KINCOLITH.
+
+
+A glance at the map will show that both Metlakahtla and Fort Simpson
+are situated on a peninsula which juts forth from the coast between the
+estuaries of two rivers, the _Skeena_ to the south, and the
+_Nass_ to the North. The mouth of the Nass River is one of the
+great fishing resorts of the Indians. From long distances the tribes of
+both the mainland and the adjacent islands flock thither every year in
+March and April, the season when the oolikan, a small fish about the
+size of a smelt, is caught.
+
+As many as five thousand Indians gather together on these occasions,
+and encamp for miles along both banks of the river. Having put up their
+temporary bark huts, they dig pits to store the fish in, and then
+quietly await their arrival. Meanwhile, hardly a sign of life is to be
+seen on land or water. The towering mountains, that rise almost from
+the banks, are covered deep with snow, and the river is fast bound in
+ice to the depth of six or eight feet. Slowly the ice begins to break
+higher up, and the tides, rising and falling, bear away immense
+quantities. At length a few seagulls appear in the western sky, and the
+cry echoes from camp to camp that the fish are at hand.
+
+Immense shoals of oolikan come in from the Pacific, followed by larger
+fish such as the halibut, the cod, the porpoise, and the finned-back
+-whale. Over the fish hover the sea-birds--"an immense cloud of
+innumerable gulls," wrote Bishop Hills after a visit to the place, "so
+many and so thick that as they moved to and fro, up and down, the sight
+resembled a heavy fall of snow." Over the gulls, again, soar the eagles
+watching for their prey. The Indians go forth to meet the fish with the
+cry, "You fish, you fish! you are all chiefs; you are, you are all
+chiefs." The nets haul in bushels at a time, and hundreds of tons are
+collected. "The Indians dry some in the sun, and _press_ a much
+larger quantity for the sake of the oil or grease, which has a
+considerable market value as being superior to cod-liver oil, and which
+they use as butter with their dried salmon. The season is most
+important to the Indians; the supply lasts them till the season for
+salmon, which is later, and which supplies their staple food, their
+bread." "What a beautiful provision for this people," writes one of the
+Missionaries, "just at that season of the year when their winter stock
+has run out! God can indeed furnish a table in the wilderness."
+
+It was in the spring of 1860, that Mr. Duncan first visited the Nass
+River. He received a most encouraging welcome from the Nishkah Indians
+--one of the Tsimshean tribes--dwelling on its banks. The account is a
+particularly interesting one:--
+
+"_April 19th, 1860_.--About 4 p.m. we arrived in sight of the
+three lower villages of the Nishkah Indians, and these, with two upper
+villages, constitute the proper inhabitants of the river. On
+approaching the principal village we were met by a man who had been
+sent to invite us to the chief's house. Numbers of Indians stood on the
+bank. When we stopped, several rushed into the water: some seized my
+luggage, and one took me on his back. In a few minutes we were safely
+housed. Smiling faces and kind words greeted me on every side. My
+friend Kahdoonahah, the chief who had invited me to his house, was
+dancing for joy at my arrival. He had put his house in order, made up a
+large fire in the centre, placed two big iron kettles on it, and had
+invited a number of his friends to come and feast with me. About thirty
+of us, all males, sat round the fire. Boiled fresh salmon was first
+served out. All the guests were furnished with large horn or wooden
+spoons: I preferred to use my own. My plate was first filled with
+choice bits, and afterwards large wooden dishesful were carried round,
+and one placed before every two persons. This done, boiled rice, mixed
+with molasses, was served us. Fresh spoons and dishes were used. While
+the dishes were being filled, each person had a large spoonful handed
+him to be going on with. After the feast I had considerable
+conversation, and concluded by requesting that all the chiefs and chief
+men of the three tribes should meet me on the morrow, when I would
+endeavour to give them the good news from God's book. Kahdoonahah,
+suggested that there might be some difficulty to get all the chiefs to
+assemble, unless something was provided for them to eat He therefore
+promised to send out and invite them all to his house, and give them a
+feast for the occasion.
+
+"It was now evening, and the guests went home. Kahdoonahah then
+brought in an old man to sing to me. The old man very solemnly sat down
+before me, fixed his eyes upon the ground, and began beating time by
+striking his foot with his hand. He was assisted by Kahdoonahah, who
+not only sang, but kept up a thumping noise with a large stick. A few
+boys also clapped their hands in proper time. After they had sung two
+or three songs I told them we would have a change. I drew my few boys
+around me. One of them immediately warned the chief and his company
+that we were going to sing songs to God, which were the same as
+prayers, and therefore they must be very reverent. We sang several
+little hymns, some of which I translated. The party soon increased, and
+sat very attentively.
+
+"_April 20_.--After breakfast two men entered the house, and
+stood just within the door. Looking at me, one of them shouted out,
+'Woah shimauket, woah shimauket, woah shimauket, woah.' After repeating
+this twice, they went away. This was an invitation from a chief who
+wanted me and my crew to breakfast with him. I took two of my party,
+and set off. When I was entering the chief's house, he stood up, and,
+beckoning me to a seat, cried out loudly, 'Yeah shimauket, yeah
+shimauket, yeah shimauket, yeah.' As soon as I was seated, he stopped,
+and sat down. These words, rendered into English, are, 'Welcome chief,
+welcome chief, welcome chief, welcome!' We feasted on boiled salmon,
+and rice, and sugar, and molasses, after which the chief presented me
+with five marten skins and a large salmon. When I returned to
+Kahdoonahah's house, he had got three large iron kettles on the fire
+for the feast; and I was informed that an old chief had given me a
+large black bear's skin. The drum began to beat, and a general bustle
+prevailed around me. I sat down to collect my thoughts, and to lift up
+my heart to God to prepare me for the important meeting about to take
+place, at which the blessed Gospel was to be proclaimed to these poor
+tribes of Indians for the first time.
+
+"About twelve o'clock they began to assemble. Each took a place
+corresponding to his rank. We soon mustered about sixty chiefs and
+headmen. Between one and two p.m. we began to feast, which consisted,
+as usual, of salmon and rice, and molasses. I had heard Kahdoonahah say
+that they intended to perform before me their '_Ahlied;_' but I
+requested him to have no playing, as I wanted to speak very solemnly to
+them. He promised me they would do nothing bad; but now that the
+feasting was over, much to my sorrow, he put on his dancing mask and
+robes. The leading singers stepped out, and soon all were engaged in a
+spirited chant. They kept excellent time by clapping their hands and
+beating a drum. (I found out afterwards that they had been singing my
+praises and asking me to pity them and to do them good.) The chief
+Kahdoonahah danced with all his might during the singing. He wore a
+cap, which had a mask in front, set with mother-of-pearl, and trimmed
+with porcupine's quills. The quills enabled him to hold a quantity of
+white bird's down on the top of his head, which he ejected while
+dancing, by jerking his head forward: thus he soon appeared as if in a
+shower of snow. In the middle of the dance a man approached me with a
+handful of down, and blew it over my head, thus symbolically uniting me
+in friendship with all the chiefs present, and the tribes they
+severally represented.
+
+"After the dance and singing were over, I felt exceedingly anxious
+about addressing them; but circumstances seemed so unfavourable on
+account of the excitement, that my heart began to sink. What made the
+matter worse, too, was a chief, who had lately been shot in the arm for
+overstepping his rank, began talking very passionately. This aroused
+me. I saw at once that I must speak, or probably the meeting might
+conclude in confusion. I stood up, and requested them to cease talking,
+as I wished them to rest their hearts, and listen to the great message
+I had come to deliver. Instantly the chief ceased talking, and every
+countenance became fixed attentively towards me. I began, and the Lord
+helped me much. I was enabled to speak with more freedom and animation
+than I had ever done before in the Indian tongue. Much to my
+encouragement the Indians unanimously responded at the finish of every
+clause. The most solemn occasion of this kind was when I introduced the
+name of the Saviour. At once every tongue uttered Jesus, and, for some
+time, kept repeating that blessed name, which I hope they will not
+forget.'
+
+"After I had finished my address I asked them to declare to me their
+thoughts upon what they had heard, and also if they desired to be
+further instructed in God's word. Immediately a universal cry arose of,
+'Good is your speech. Good, good, good news! We greatly desire to learn
+the book. We wish our children to learn.'"
+
+In the autumn of the same year, Mr. Duncan again visited the Nass
+River, and ascended to the upper villages. Everywhere he found a
+readiness, sometimes most touchingly expressed, to receive Christian
+instruction. At one interesting gathering, a Nishkah chief named
+Agwilakkah. after hearing the Gospel message for the first time, stood
+up before all, stretched forth his hands towards heaven, and lifting up
+his eyes, solemnly said:--
+
+"_Pity us, Great Father in heaven, pity us! Give us Thy good! book
+to do us good and clear away our sins. This chief_ [pointing to Mr.
+Duncan] _has come to tell us about Thee. It is good, Great Father. We
+want to hear. Who ever came to tell our fathers Thy will? No, no. But
+this chief has pitied us and come. He has Thy book. We will hear. We
+will receive Thy word. We will obey._"
+
+Four years, however, passed away before regular Missionary operations
+could be extended to the Nass River. In 1864, a Christian Tsimshean,
+travelling up the river as a fur-trader, told the Indians he met with
+of the Saviour he had himself found, and on his return to the coast
+seven young men of the Nishkah tribe accompanied him, that they might
+visit Metlakahtla and hear the Missionary for themselves. They stayed
+there for a few days, listening eagerly to Mr. Duncan's instructions.
+When they left, they begged for some fragment of God's Word to take
+back to their tribe; and Mr. Duncan wrote out for each, on a piece of
+paper, the words in Tsimshean, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy
+of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
+sinners."
+
+In this case the living voice was not long in following the written
+message. On July 2nd, 1864, the Rev. R. R. A. Doolan arrived at
+Metlakahtla from England, and, at Mr. Duncan's suggestion, he at once
+went on to the Nass River to establish a permanent Mission.
+
+With prayerful energy the young Missionary, inexperienced and
+ignorant of the language, flung himself into the conflict with
+heathenism. A sore conflict it was. Ardent spirits had come up the
+river; drunkenness was fast spreading among the Indians; and
+quarrelling and murders were of frequent occurrence. On one occasion,
+after a whisky feast, the Indians on opposite sides of the river set to
+work firing across the stream at one another, in pure wantonness.
+Several were wounded, women as well as men; and next day Mr. Doolan was
+called upon to attend to their injuries. Again and again was his own
+life in imminent danger. One day an Indian rushed out of a hut he was
+passing, gun in hand, and fired at him twice. Both times the gun missed
+fire! "I was so close to him," wrote Mr. Doolan, "that I saw the fire
+from the flint."
+
+If Divine providence was thus exhibited in the preservation of the
+missionary's life, Divine grace was soon to be not less signally
+manifested in a blessing on his labours. A boy named Tacomash was the
+first fruits gathered in. He and another boy came from a village twenty
+-five miles off to live at the Mission-house, and attend school. After a
+few weeks he went home to see his father, and was attacked with
+bronchitis. Mr. Doolan, hearing of this, hastened off to see him. "The
+journey," he says, "was a most painful one. I wore two pairs of
+mocassins, but the ice soon cut through both. I was ten hours walking
+the twenty-five miles. I found the poor lad very weak, and suffering
+much. He had steadfastly resisted the medicine-men from rattling over
+him, saying God would be angry with him if he allowed them." Tacomash
+got better, and returned to the station; and shortly after Mr. Doolan
+writes, "To-day I was rejoiced to hear Tacomash praying to God. He was
+among the trees, and did not know anyone heard him. He asked Jesus to
+pity him, and make his heart strong." Soon, however, the lad became ill
+again, and died trusting in the Saviour. On his death-bed he was
+baptized at his own earnest desire, and named Samuel Walker.
+
+On Mr. Doolan's retirement from the Mission in 1867, the work on the
+Nass River was taken up by the Rev. R. Tomlinson, who had just arrived.
+By Mr. Doolan's efforts some fifty Indians had been influenced to
+abandon their heathen customs and to desire to live together as a
+Christian community; and a settlement similar to Metlakahtla was now
+planned. This settlement received the name of Kincolith; and here Mr.
+Tomlinson earnestly laboured from 1867 to 1878, when he left to go
+forward into the regions beyond.
+
+The work proved to be one requiring much patience and courage. For two
+or three years it was much retarded by hostilities between two tribes.
+But Mr. Tomlinson was encouraged by the zeal and intrepidity of his
+wife, who accompanied him on his visits to the combatants, and
+everywhere disarmed opposition by her presence. Subsequently the
+trading store, which had been established on the Metlakahtla plan,
+turned out a failure, and the Indian settlers, about sixty in number,
+depressed by the losses they incurred, showed signs of wavering, and of
+returning to their heathen friends, who were manifesting the most
+bitter antagonism to the Mission. But towards the close of 1870, by the
+mercy of God, the tide seemed to turn, and when Archdeacon Woods
+visited the station at the Bishop of Columbia's request, in October,
+1871, he found a peaceful Community, an attentive congregation, and
+several candidates for baptism, of whom he admitted twenty adults (with
+seven children) to the Church, making, with nine previously baptized,
+thirty-six altogether.
+
+From that time the Kincolith Mission, though not exhibiting rapid
+success, has been steadily growing, and not a few of the Nishkah Indians
+who were accustomed to attend Mr. Doolan's services, but had fallen
+back, have joined the community, and some have been baptized. The store
+was re-opened in 1874 with improved prospects. A dispensary was
+established by Mr. Tomlinson, and has been highly appreciated by the
+Indians. A saw mill has been erected, which not only supplies material
+for building new houses, but also gives employment to those of the
+settlers who are neither fur-hunters nor skilled workmen. The annual
+fishing seasons have been a time of distinct blessing, the Christian
+Indians holding services for their heathen fellow-countrymen in the
+various camps, and many of the heathen joining them in resting from the
+fishing operations on the Lord's Day. Year by year the number of
+settlers has increased, and now exceeds two hundred, of whom three
+-fourths are baptized.
+
+One chief, who joined on New Year's-day, 1877, was well known as the
+fiercest savage on the river. He was baptized by Bishop Bompas in
+March, 1878, taking, like Legaic at Metlakahtla, the name of Paul. He
+was very penitent for his past life, and was earnestly trying to follow
+good ways, when illness and death overtook him. Just before he died, he
+gave very clear testimony that he had found pardon and peace in Jesus.
+At the funeral service the people sang Sankey's hymn, "There will be no
+more parting there." His son, a young man of twenty, has since been
+baptized, also by the name of Paul, and has been married to the
+Christian daughter of another leading chief--a girl named Rhoda.
+
+As already mentioned, Mr. Tomlinson has now moved forward into the
+interior to carry the Gospel to the Kitiksheans and other tribes up the
+Nass and Skeena Rivers and among the Cascade Mountains, and has
+established a station near a place known as the Skeena Forks, where
+three branches of that river unite. At Kittackdamix also, at the end of
+the navigation on the Nass, a native Christian teacher has been
+stationed, towards whose expenses the Kincolith Christians contributed
+L12 in money and kind. A site has been selected there for another
+Christian village, and several Indian families propose settling on the
+spot. The Kincolith station is now under the charge of Mr. H. Schutt, a
+schoolmaster sent out in 1876.
+
+Mr. Tomlinson, like Mr. Duncan, has lately been appointed a
+magistrate. He writes:--"The proposal was made to me quite unexpectedly
+by the head of the Government, and I did not feel justified in
+declining the offer. Already good begins to result from it. The hearts
+of the well-disposed are strengthened, while the ill-disposed whites
+are restrained from molesting the native settlers."
+
+
+
+
+X.
+
+OUTLYING MISSIONS--II. QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS.
+
+
+On the group of islands named after George the Third's Queen, dwell
+the finest and the fiercest of the coast tribes. The Hydahs are a
+manly, tall, handsome people, and comparatively fair in their
+complexion; but they are a cruel and vindictive race, and were long the
+terror of the North Pacific coast. They even ventured to attack English
+ships, and in 1854 they plundered an American vessel, detaining the
+captain and crew in captivity until they were ransomed by the Hudson's
+Bay Company. No tribe, moreover, has been more fearfully demoralised by
+the proximity of the white man's "civilization." Drunkenness and the
+grossest vices have spread disease and death among them.
+
+But the Hydahs have not failed to recognise the advantages that
+Christianity has conferred upon their neighbours on the mainland.
+Trading expeditions up the coast took them occasionally to Metlakahtla,
+and the peace and prosperity they saw there deeply impressed their
+minds. A striking instance of the moral influence of the Christian
+settlement occured in 1873. Many years before, a young Tsimshean woman
+had been captured by a party of Hydahs, and carried as a slave to Queen
+Charlotte Islands, where, after a while, a son was born to her. Five
+and twenty years passed away, and then she was restored by her owner,
+for a consideration, to her relatives at Fort Simpson. The Hydahs seem
+to have thought this a good opportunity to make friends with their old
+enemies, and they sent a deputation to Metlakahtla with her son, now a
+grown man, to give him up as a voluntary peace-offering. "We had,"
+wrote Mr. Duncan, "a solemn peace-making at the Mission-house. Several
+excellent speeches were made, and a document was drawn up and signed by
+the relatives of the young man, expressive of their reconciliation with
+their ancient foes."
+
+The principal trading post, Massett, is on the northern coast of the
+northern island, Graham Island. Here Mr. and Mrs. Collison, with their
+two little children, landed on November 1st, 1876--
+
+"On our arrival I had intended to have wintered in one of the Indian
+houses, as the winter season was too far advanced for building, but Mr.
+Offut, the officer in charge of the H. B. Co.'s post on the island,
+kindly offered us a small house, in which goods had been stored, and as
+it was within 100 yards of the Indian encampment, I gladly accepted the
+offer. This I immediately put under repair, covering it with barks
+outside, and putting up a stove inside. The house was very small,
+measuring eighteen feet by twelve, and, in order to secure a little
+privacy, I partitioned off eight feet, leaving for all purposes an
+apartment ten feet by twelve. This has usually been well filled with
+Indians, sitting almost on each other, and as we were both to entertain
+such numbers at meals, we have often had to remain without food all
+day. Of course this, with many other difficulties, will be overcome by
+a command of their language, but any attempt to carry out order without
+a fair knowledge of their tongue might only insult and estrange them."
+
+To the privations thus endured were soon added those attendant on
+sickness First, their eldest child was attacked by fever, and for some
+weeks his life was despaired of, and then Mr. Collison himself was
+struck down and brought nigh unto death Both, we need not say, were
+tenderly nursed by the wife and mother, and both, by the mercy of God,
+were raised up again.
+
+In the same letter Mr. Collison describes a remarkable peculiarity of
+the Hydah villages--
+
+"In approaching a Hydah village from a distance one is reminded of a
+harbour with a number of ships at anchor, owing to the great number of
+poles of all sizes erected in front of every house. These are carved
+very well, with all kinds of figures, many of them unintelligible to
+visitors or strangers, but fraught with meaning to the people
+themselves. In fact, they have a legend in connection with almost every
+figure. It is in the erection of these that so much property is given
+away. They value them very highly, as was instanced lately on the
+occasion of the Governor-General's visit. He was most anxious to
+purchase one, but they would not consent to it at any price."
+
+Patiently and prayerfully for the next two years and a half, with one
+or two intervals for visits to Metlakahtla, did Mr. Collison labour
+among the Hydahs, on the same lines as Mr. Duncan had done originally
+among the Tsimsheans; first, diligently trying to pick up their
+language, and making himself known as their friend; then opening a
+school; then seeking to win them from some of their most degrading
+customs. Very quickly he gained a remarkable influence over them, and
+though the medicine-men were, of course, bitterly hostile, greater was
+He who was with the Missionary than those that were with his opponents;
+and the tokens of the working of the Holy Ghost were manifested sooner
+than even an ardent faith might have anticipated.
+
+During the winter of 1877-8, school was conducted daily, women and
+children attending in the morning, and men in the evening, and the
+Sunday services were generally attended by three hundred and fifty
+Indians. Gambling, heathen dances, and the manufacture of "fire-water"
+from molasses, began gradually to diminish; and Mr. Collison's growing
+influence was well tested on the occasion of the death of a principal
+chief:--
+
+"I visited him during his illness, and held service in his house
+weekly for the five weeks preceding his death. On the morning of the
+day on which be died I visited him, and found him surrounded by the men
+of his tribe and the principal medicine-man, who kept up his
+incantations and charms to the last. He was sitting up, and appeared
+glad to see me, and, in answer to my inquiries, he informed me that he
+was very low indeed and his heart weak. I directed him to withdraw his
+mind from everything, and look only to Jesus, who alone could help him.
+He thanked me again and again whilst I instructed him, and when I asked
+him if he would like me to pray with him he replied that he would very
+much. I then called upon all to kneel, and, with bowed head, he
+followed my petitions earnestly. He informed me that, had he been
+spared, he would have been one of the first in the way of God, but I
+endeavoured to show him that even then he might be so by faith in the
+Lord Jesus Christ. Afterwards I sent Mrs. Collison to prepare some food
+for him, and make him comfortable, and about mid day he sent for me
+again, but why he sent for me, or what he wanted to say to me, I never
+learned, as before I reached his house he expired.
+
+"His death was announced by the firing of several cannon which they
+have in the village. On my entering the house, the scene which
+presented itself was indescribable--shrieking, dancing, tearing and
+burning their hair in the fire, whilst the father of the deceased, who
+had just been pulled out of the fire, rushed to it again and threw
+himself upon it. He was with difficulty removed, and I directed two men
+to hold him whilst I endeavoured to calm the tumult.
+
+"I was very much shocked to find that a young man--a slave--had been
+accused by the medicine-men as having bewitched the chief and induced
+his sickness. In consequence of this he had been stripped, and bound
+hands and feet in an old outhouse, and thus kept for some days without
+food. I only learned this about one hour before the death of the chief,
+and it was well I heard it even then, as I learned that they had
+determined to shoot him, and a man had been told off who had his gun
+ready for the purpose. I lost no time in calling the chiefs and the
+friends of the deceased together, and showed them the wickedness and
+sinfulness of such proceedings, and how, by their thus acting, they had
+probably kept up a feeling of revenge in the mind of their friend who
+had just expired. They accepted my advice, and had him unbound, and he
+came to the Mission house to have his wounds dressed. His wrists were
+swollen to an immense size, and his back, from hip to shoulder,
+lacerated and burned to the bone by torches of pitch pine. He was
+deeply grateful to me for having saved him.
+
+"The dead chief was laid out, and all those of his crest came from the
+opposite village, bringing a large quantity of swan's down, which they
+scattered over and around the corpse. At my suggestion, they departed
+from the usual custom of dressing and painting the dead, and, instead
+of placing the corpse in a sitting posture, they consented to place it
+on the back. The remains were decently interred, and I gave an address
+and prayed; thus their custom of placing the dead in hollowed poles,
+carved and erected near the houses, has been broken through, and since
+this occurred many of the remains which were thus placed have been
+buried."
+
+The first Hydah to come out distinctly as a Christian was a chief
+named Cowhoe, concerning whom an interesting incident is related. One
+day he brought a book to Mr. Collison, saying it had been given him
+many years before by the captain of an English man-of-war, and asking
+what it was. It proved to be a Testament, with this inscription on the
+fly-leaf--"_From Capt. Prevost, H. M. S. 'Satellite,' trusting that
+the bread thus cast upon the waters may be found after many days._"
+More than twenty years had passed away, and now that prayer was
+answered, though not by the instrumentality of the gift that bore the
+record of it. Cowhoe became a regular attendant at Mr. Collison's
+services and school, and we are told that at a meeting held on the Day
+of Intercession for Missions, Nov. 30th, 1877, he "prayed very
+earnestly for the spread of the truth amongst his brethren." When
+Admiral Prevost visited the coast in the summer of 1878, Cowhoe and his
+father went to Metlakahtla in a canoe on purpose to see the benefactor
+of their race. Of this visit the Admiral gives the following account:--
+
+"Edensaw, the chief of the Hydah nation, arrived with his son, Cowhoe,
+and Mr. Collison. They had heard of my visit, and were anxious, to see
+me "face to face." I knew him in 1853, when I first visited the Queen
+Charlotte Islands in command of H.M.S. _Virago_. An American
+schooner had been plundered and destroyed by the Islanders; my object
+was to punish the offenders, but, after a searching enquiry, I was not
+able to fix the guilt upon any particular tribe. Some portion of the
+property was restored, and no lives being lost, I was obliged to be
+satisfied by assembling together all the chiefs, and reminding them of
+the power I held to punish the guilty. In my own mind, I believe
+Edensaw was the guilty person. From that time up to this hour, he has
+"been halting between two opinions"--a proud man--he could not give up
+his power, his wealth and standing over the heathens, to follow the
+Lord God; still he knew the Missionary had brought something better
+than he had ever possessed in all his glory, and it was expedient for
+him to be friends with the white men. When Duncan first arrived at Fort
+Simpson, in 1857, he frequently entreated him to come over and teach
+the Hydahs, and when I met him again on board the _Satellite_ in
+1859, he made a similar request to me. I may here remark that anxious
+as we were to establish a Mission amongst that fine race of Indians, it
+was not until October, 1876, the Committee of the C. M. S., were able
+to comply with their request. During that time hundreds, principally
+females, had passed into eternity through vice and disease contracted
+at Victoria.
+
+"I may add, when I visited Massett last October (1879) with Bishop
+Ridley, he left Cowhoe with Sneath to assist him during the winter, the
+first native teacher from the Hydahs. I trust the good seed has taken
+root in many hearts. "God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to
+perform!" It was to show me this book, and to shake me by the hand,
+that the father and son came this long journey."
+
+In the autumn of 1878, some touching evidences of the Spirit's work
+gladdened the missionary's heart. On October 26th he wrote:--
+
+"Not a few are enquiring earnestly for the way of life. At a little
+social meeting which I had a few days past, the principal chief said:
+'I was careless and unconcerned about the message which the white chief
+brought us, but I can be so no longer. Even at night, when I lie awake
+on my bed, I cry to God to pardon my many sins and save me. I know now
+it is true--all true, and I want to be safe in the Ark, even in Jesus
+the Saviour'; and he continued at some length exhorting the others to
+receive the Word.
+
+"Another chief also spoke with intense earnestness and feeling. He
+said, 'A short time since I was blind, and knew nothing of these great
+things. But Jesus has opened my eyes, and now I see. Jesus is the way,
+and I am in that way now. I am happy, very happy; but one thing keeps
+me back, and when that is over, I will seek to be baptized, and live
+only for God.'
+
+"This one thing referred to is a giving away of property on account of
+a deceased brother whose effects he took charge of, and promised to
+give away property, and put up a carved pole to his memory. As he has
+already promised, and given notice to the tribe, he does not wish to
+draw back.
+
+"Another--a young man--is already obeying the injunction, 'Let him
+that heareth say, Come'; and at the salmon fishing and elsewhere has
+endeavoured to gather his friends together for prayer and praise."
+
+And on March 20th, 1879, reviewing the winter's work, Mr. Collison
+again wrote:--
+
+"In October last, having mastered the difficulties of the language, I
+was induced to commence a weekly prayer-meeting. At this meeting we
+opened with a hymn, after which I prayed, and then delivered a short
+Gospel address, at the close of which I invited those of them who
+understood the solemnity and responsibility of prayer, and to whom God
+had given hearts to pray, to lead briefly and successively in audible
+prayer.
+
+"This mode of conducting the prayer-meeting was attended with good
+results, as it united those who were in earnest, and who had received
+the truth into their hearts, more closely together, and led several of
+those who were halting between heathenism and the truth to decide for
+the latter.
+
+"Thus a band was formed (amongst whom were several of the chiefs and
+principal men) which confronted the heathen customs on the one hand,
+and drunkenness and gambling on the other, and, having come out boldly
+on the side of the truth, their influence was soon perceptible.
+
+"I dare not attempt to convey to you in words the intense earnestness
+and fervour of the petitions which they offered up on behalf of
+themselves, their families, and the surrounding villages; whilst, at
+the same time, there was nothing like excitement, but rather a calm
+solemnity and quiet earnestness prevailed amongst all.
+
+"And surely our united petitions were graciously answered, and a great
+change was soon apparent.
+
+"The Lord's Day was observed by the majority, and the services of the
+day attended by almost all encamped, as well as by a number from the
+opposite village, which is about three miles off.
+
+"The flag which I received from the Missionary Leaves Association, to
+hoist on Sundays, in order to acquaint them of the weekly return of the
+day of rest, now no longer hangs alone; but nine of the principal men
+now follow the example shown by the Mission, and have set up their
+banners also."
+
+"Dancing has been abandoned and the medicine work is almost
+overthrown, and, in passing along the village after dark, my ear is now
+often greeted with the Christian hymn or the song of praise where
+formerly the noise of the heathen dance, or the frantic orgies of the
+medicine man drowned all other sounds. Thus a change has been effected
+during the past three years, in the contemplation of which I can only
+exclaim, 'What hath God wrought!'"
+
+Even the chief medicine man himself abandoned his sorceries, and came
+forward as an inquirer--
+
+"The charms and rattles of the leading medicine man are now in our
+possession, he having given them up, and he is now an earnest inquirer
+after the truth and is always present at the services. He was first
+brought into contact with the truth shortly before Christmas last in
+the following manner.
+
+"A young man was brought home very sick, and I went to see him and
+found him suffering from a severe attack of 'brain fever', brought on
+by his swimming for some time in the cold salt water, in order to cure
+a severe headache which he had.
+
+"I did all I could to alleviate his sufferings, and instructed his
+relatives as to how they should nurse him. This resulted in his resting
+more easily and in his obtaining some sleep, to which he had been a
+stranger for several nights.
+
+"Not satisfied, however, with this, they sent off for the medicine-man,
+who was encamped up the inlet. He arrived at midnight, and at once
+commenced his whooping and rattling. This he continued at intervals,
+until the following day, when I paid him a visit.
+
+"The house was full, and the patient evidently much worse. The
+medicine man, or 'Scahaga,' as he is called in their own tongue, had
+just finished another performance, and sat down exhausted as I entered.
+
+"All appeared surprised at my intrusion, but I knelt down beside the
+sick man, and took his hand to feel his pulse. I shook my head, and
+then informed them that he was much worse. The medicine-man then
+answered in his own defence, and commenced by informing me that he had
+found out the cause of his sickness. A man from the other village had
+caused it by snatching the cap from the head of the sick man when up
+the inlet together, which had led to his being smitten or bewitched by
+a land otter. To this statement several agreed, as they stated the
+nervous twitches and convulsive movements of the sick man were exactly
+similar to the movements of the above-mentioned animal.
+
+"I then addressed them all on the power of God and His dealings with
+man, and how that He alone bringeth down and raiseth up. I then called
+upon all to join with me in prayer for themselves and also on behalf of
+the sick man. The medicine-man was evidently humbled and discomfited,
+though ashamed to acknowledge it before so many. Shortly afterwards the
+young man died, and I attended his funeral, and gave an address and
+prayed, according to portions of the Burial Service. The medicine-man
+was present, and most attentive.
+
+"From that time he appears to have lost faith in his profession,
+though he informed me that the 'Scahnawah,' or spirit, appeared to him,
+and advised him to continue his medicine work, which would be a source
+of great gain to him; but that he had replied, saying God's Word had
+come, and he was determined to give up his practice, and seek the
+salvation of his own soul. His long hair, which has never been cut, and
+which folded up serves him for a pillow at night, he speaks of having
+cut off as soon as he can do so with safety to his health. When I see
+him sitting at our services, clothed and in his right mind, I am
+reminded that the Gospel is now as ever 'the power of God unto
+salvation.'"
+
+At Christmas (1878), when the Indians from other villages came in
+canoes to Massett, the usual festive custom of "dancing with painted
+faces, and naked slaves with their bodies blackened," was dispensed
+with, and in lieu of it the visitors were received by a choir of a
+hundred Hydahs, children and adults, chanting the anthem, "How
+beautiful upon the mountains." "The unanimous opinion of all was that
+the new and Christian welcome was far superior to the old heathen one."
+
+In the same letter Mr. Collison mentions his translations, in which he
+had succeeded beyond his expectations. Portions of Scripture, a simple
+catechism, the Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the General Confession
+and Thanksgiving, several collects, ten hymns, and a series of "Short
+Addresses on Great Subjects," had been produced by him in the Hydah
+language.
+
+Mr. Collison had visited several tribes at a distance, both on the
+islands more to the south, and on the coast of Alaska to the north. At
+Skidegate Inlet, which divides the two principal of the Queen Charlotte
+Islands, he had a particularly warm reception.
+
+In a letter, dated March 21st, 1879, he wrote that he had thirty names
+on the list of catechumens, most of them heads of families.
+
+Mr. Collison has since removed to Metlakahtla, to undertake the
+pastoral and school-work there. His place at Massett has been taken by
+Mr. G. Sneath, a zealous young missionary artizan, who twice went to
+East Africa to join the Victoria Nyanza Mission, and twice was ordered
+home by the consular surgeon at Zanzibar, and who has now essayed
+missionary service in a colder climate.
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+
+OUTLYING MISSIONS. III.--FORT RUPERT.
+
+
+Fort Rupert is a trading post at the northern end of Vancouver's
+Island, some three hundred miles south of Metlakahtla. In that
+neighbourhood are found the Quoquolt Indians, and among them a Mission
+has lately been begun. This is, however, but a tardy response to their
+repeated entreaties for a teacher. It has always been a problem beyond
+their power to solve, why, when Mr. Duncan first arrived on the coast,
+he actually sailed past them on his voyage from Victoria, and went
+first to the Tsimsheans, who were so much further off; and on one
+occasion they stoutly remonstrated with the captain of a man-of-war,
+sent to punish them for marauding on the territory of another tribe,
+that they were left without a teacher, and were only visited when they
+had done wrong.
+
+In due time teachers did appear, in the shape of a party of Roman
+Catholic priests; and Mr. Duncan, stopping at the Fort when on a voyage
+to Victoria in 1860, found that two of them had been there and had
+taught some of the Indians "a hymn to the Virgin Mary in the trading
+jargon." "I told them," he adds, "of Jesus the true and only Saviour,
+which the priests had neglected to do." These Romish Missionaries held
+their ground for eleven years, and then abandoned the Quoquolts as
+hopeless. As will be seen however, their hopes revived when at length a
+Protestant Missionary was found to be gaining an influence over the
+tribe.
+
+In October, 1875, the head chief at Fort Rupert took the three hundred
+miles journey to visit Metlakahtla, and once more preferred his
+request. He addressed the Christians of the settlement, and said that
+"a rope had been thrown out from Metlakahtla, which was encircling and
+drawing together all the Indian tribes into one common brotherhood."
+Mr. Duncan planned to go and begin a Quoquolt mission himself; but it
+proved quite impossible for him to leave his multifarious work at the
+settlement, and ultimately the Rev. A. J. Hall, who was sent out in
+1877, volunteered to go.
+
+It was on March 12th, 1878, that Mr. Hall landed at Fort Rupert, and
+was kindly received by the Hudson's Bay Company's officer in charge. A
+large Indian house was purchased for the price of sixty blankets, and a
+school at once opened. On June 11th, Mr. Hall wrote:--
+
+"I have taught them one English hymn, 'Jesus loves me, this I know,'
+and three simple chants in their own language; also three prayers--one
+the Lord's Prayer, four texts which they read from the black board, and
+a catechism, arranged and taught by Mr. Duncan at Fort Simpson. All
+this instruction has been given in their own tongue, translated to me
+by Mr. Hunt's son, who acts also as my interpreter at the Sunday
+services.
+
+"I have been able to hold two services every Sunday since I first
+came, and sometimes I have had perhaps eighty attend. Many are away
+from the village now, trading and visiting other tribes, so that my
+congregation is reduced. I have felt it a great privilege to stand up
+before this dusky assembly and open up to them the Word of Life. They
+are all clothed in blankets, some of them highly ornamented with needle
+-work and pearl buttons. When they enter the building, the men take off
+the bandannah handkerchiefs which are tied round their heads, and squat
+all around me. The men sit on one side, and the women on the other, as
+a rule. This fact is in consequence of the inferior position of the
+women, and because they are not allowed to attend the meetings which
+the men constantly hold to talk over the affairs of the camp. At first
+my congregations came with painted faces, and were little inclined to
+stand when we sang. They are now, however, more clean in their
+appearance, and, with few exceptions, rise when I play the tune on my
+English concertina.
+
+"I have almost exclusively spoken to them from the Book of Genesis,
+and have brought in the work of our Lord from these lessons, e.g., when
+speaking on sacrifices, the offering of Isaac, and the life of Joseph.
+These narratives in Genesis have attracted them very much, and they
+listened very attentively to my interpreter. All my addresses are
+written before I enter my church, and read to the interpreter, and
+therefore, I believe, they are already acquainted with many truths from
+God's Word, which do strike against the immorality in which they are
+living. Sometimes, when I speak in the church, they talk among
+themselves, either approving what is said, but more often because the
+truth spoken is a rebuke to some of them."
+
+In a later letter, dated March 1st, 1879, Mr. Hall further describes
+his interesting congregation;--
+
+"The Indians did not rush to my services at first, and then drop off.
+No! a few came at first, and they have gradually increased, and on the
+Sunday before they all went to Alert Bay there were probably eighty at
+my first service, the majority being men--men who have frequently
+committed murder, and who have bitten each other from their youth
+upwards in the winter dances. Medicine-men were present who have often
+eaten the bodies of dead men, exhumed from their graves, and who to
+this day are dreaded by all the people, because there is not an Indian
+in the camp but that superstitiously believes these doctors can kill
+them by their sorcery. I cannot tell you yet that these wicked men who
+come to my services are earnestly seeking a better way. I cannot tell
+you yet that I can see any change in them. I know that some of them
+hate me and my message, and speak against it; but they come and hear
+the truth; and who can say but that God will give them His Holy Spirit,
+and that they may be turned from darkness to serve the living and true
+God?
+
+"My congregation will not sit upon the forms I have had made; they
+prefer to draw their dirty blankets tightly round them, and to squat on
+the floor. When I am speaking, they generally rest their heads upon
+their bent knees, and fix their eyes upon the floor. Not a muscle seems
+to move, and they appear to drink in every word that is spoken to them,
+as if they thirsted for the truth. In teaching these people I treat
+them as children, but I know they have nothing of the gentleness and
+simplicity of children; they are cunning, 'deceitful above all things,
+and desperately wicked.'"
+
+The Roman Catholics having left a memorial of their abandoned mission
+in the shape of a good school-house, which was standing idle, Mr. Hall
+wrote to them at Victoria for leave to use it. The request was refused,
+"because," they wrote, "our missionaries may require it again." And a
+few months afterwards, when Mr. Hall was beginning to feel his way
+among the people, a priest appeared at Nu-wit-ty, the northern point of
+Vancouver's Island, thirty miles from Fort Rupert, just when Mr. Hall
+was visiting the tribe residing there. He (the priest) called a meeting
+of the Indians, concerning which Mr. Hall writes, on March 10th, 1879:--
+
+"The Indians went to the meeting, and I went as well; probably one
+hundred were present. He told them to kneel down; they did so, and then
+he told them to look at him, and cross themselves as be did, and the
+poor Indians followed him. He then told them about the Fall, and it was
+very good what he said; but soon he spoke of a way that went to heaven,
+and one that went to hell, and he told them that if they followed him
+he would lead them to heaven, and that if they followed me they all
+would go to hell, and I should go with them. He said he wanted to
+baptize them, and then they would be as white as snow. When he spoke
+against me, many Indians interrupted him, and one went up to where he
+was standing and blew a lamp out. They then called out my name, and
+wished me to address them. I did so, and told them all to kneel down,
+and put my hands together, telling them to do the same. We repeated the
+Lord's Prayer, which is very beautiful in the Indian language; they
+call it 'good words.' When the priest spoke I took my hat off and
+listened, but when I spoke the priest kept his hat on, and smoked all
+the time.
+
+"My address had been written some time before; it was about 'Lying,
+stealing, pride, and drunkenness.' Perhaps I did wrong, but I did not
+refer to what the priest had said against me. George Hunt, who was
+present, was indignant at the way the priest spoke, and, directly the
+priest finished, he made an earnest speech in my favour. In coming away
+from Hu-wit-ty, the head chief begged me to come and live among them,
+and I promised I would do something for them."
+
+The work at Fort Rupert is much interfered with by the migratory habits
+of the Indians there. From June to November, 1879, for instance, they
+were almost all away on a visit to Nu-wit-ty River; and at our last
+date, March, 1880, they were gone for a month to Alert Bay. Mr. Hall,
+however, has not been content to be left behind sitting still. He has
+made canoe voyages to other parts of Vancouver's Island, and sought to
+gain access to other tribes; but he describes the vice and degradation
+as most painful, especially amongst the women. In September, 1879, in
+company with Admiral Prevost, who was paying him a visit, he walked
+across the island to the west coast, where the Koshema (or Quatseno, or
+Quatsinough) Indians are found, a tribe hitherto quite untouched. The
+Admiral addressed a large number who gathered together, and said,
+"Thirty years ago I came among you with my man-of-war, but to-day I come
+with a message of peace from the King of heaven." "It was," writes Mr.
+Hall, "an act worthy of an Admiral to struggle, for ten hours, across
+the most difficult trail I have ever met."
+
+It is possible that the Mission may be moved from Fort Rupert to some
+other place more convenient for reaching a large number of Indians.
+That God has a people among the Quoquolts and Quatsenos, as well as
+among the Tsimsheans and Hydahs, we cannot doubt, and in His own time,
+and by His own grace, they too shall be gathered out.
+
+
+
+
+XII.
+
+LORD DUFFERIN AT METLAKAHTLA
+
+
+Four great events have signalised the last four years at Metlakahtla.
+These events were the visits of four important personages. First, Lord
+Dufferin, then Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada, in August,
+1876. Secondly, Bishop Bompas, of Athabasca, in the winter of 1877-78.
+Thirdly, Admiral Prevost, the founder of the Mission, in June, 1878.
+Fourthly, the new Bishop of Caledonia, Dr. Ridley, in October, 1879.
+The following very interesting account of Lord Dufferin's visit is all
+the more valuable as coming from an independent source:--
+
+(From the _Toronto Mail_, September 19, 1876)
+
+"On board Steamer 'Sir James Douglas,' _August 29th, 1876_
+
+"About half-past six in the evening the 'Douglas' and the 'Amethyst'
+dropped anchor in a bay at a place called Metlakahtla. This is an
+Indian village started here about fourteen years ago by Mr. William
+Duncan, under the auspices of the Church Missionary Society in England.
+It has now a resident population of about eight hundred souls belonging
+to what is called the Tsimshean nation. Mr. Duncan, who seems to be
+possessed of an immense amount of activity, combined with deep interest
+in the work in which he is engaged, still remains in charge of the
+station, but has during the past two years had the assistance of an
+English clergyman and his wife, named Collison, [Footnote: Mr. Collison
+was not ordained at the time] who came out from England for the
+purpose of working in the mission field among the Indians. Mr. Collison
+is studying the language of the Tsimshean Natives, when proficient in
+it, which he soon will be, judging from the progress he has already
+made, he will labour among the Indians of Queen Charlotte's Islands.
+
+"Under Mr. Duncan's instructions the Indians of Metlakahtla have
+already made great strides in the direction of civilization and
+Christianity. He has laid the village out regularly, and given to each
+head of a family a large-sized lot of land. The houses, which have been
+erected under his direction, are much more comfortable and convenient
+than Indian domiciles generally, though somewhat accommodated in their
+plans to the peculiar habits and mode of living of the race. The houses
+which Indians build for themselves are without floors. Those of
+Metlakahtla are floored with plank, and in the centre of the principal
+room there is a level stone fireplace, from which the smoke, instead of
+being left to find its way out of the house through a hole in the roof,
+as in the dwellings built in the primitive Indian fashion, rises into a
+sort of square inverted hopper which hangs over the fire, and from it
+passes out of the house by way of a chimney. Under Mr. Duncan's
+supervision the Indians have built a church in the village large enough
+to accommodate the whole population. It is clapboarded on the outside,
+and with its steeple, buttresses, and broad flight of steps ascending
+to the front entrance, presents an imposing appearance. The wood (of
+the interior at least) is cedar, the odour from which greets one's
+nostrils on entering the building.
+
+"Mr. Duncan is a member of the Church of England, and conducts his
+services in accordance with the Anglican form of worship, but it is
+understood declines ordination, although qualified for it. He is an
+autocrat among his people, but his rule, though despotic, is benign,
+and leaves them as full freedom as the members of any white community
+enjoy, except that the use of intoxicants is prohibited, as is also
+their introduction into the place, and the villagers are consequently
+teetotalers "willy nilly." He is a Justice of the Peace under
+commission from the Provincial Government, with a jurisdiction
+including within it Queen Charlotte's Islands. He has a number of
+Indian policemen to assist him in preserving order, and a gaol in
+Metlakahtla, in which he incarcerates malefactors. There is at present
+undergoing a two months' imprisonment in this bastile a white man who
+was caught distilling in Queen Charlotte's Island. In extenuation of
+his offence the prisoner asserts that it was from the Indians he
+acquired a knowledge of the art, which resulted in himself being jugged
+instead of the spirits he was making. In a very neat building,
+specially erected for the purpose, Mr. Duncan conducts a school, in
+which he gives instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic, as well
+as in the doctrines of Christianity, to a large number of the young of
+the village. Both boys and girls attend this school, but when the
+former arrive at about the age of fourteen they are taken from it and
+sent to an industrial school, which is also carried on at the place;
+girls are allowed to remain at the other school beyond that age. To his
+already multifarious occupations Mr. Duncan has just added that of
+running a saw-mill--he was cutting up the first log in it this evening
+when the 'Amethyst' signalled her arrival by firing a gun. Mr. Duncan
+is a bachelor, a circumstance which, to many, will make the energy he
+throws into his work and the success of it all the more remarkable.
+
+"The Indians of Metlakahtla gain their livelihood by fishing and
+hunting. Away up here, above the fifty-fourth parallel of latitude, the
+climate is such as would not admit of agriculture being extensively
+engaged in. Wheat cannot be brought to maturity. Potatoes and other
+root crops seem to grow pretty well.
+
+"Formerly the Indians of the Tsimshean nation offered human
+sacrifices, and it is said that they also indulged cannibalistic
+proclivities. It would seem, however, that they confined their eating
+of human flesh to their 'medicine' festivals, and even then no one, as
+far as I can ascertain, ever saw them do more than, while engaged in
+the demoniacal rites which were customary on these occasions, merely
+bite it. The victims at these celebrations were members of other tribes
+whom they had enslaved. Not only are the teaching and influence of Mr.
+Duncan having the effect of making the Indians fall away from such
+inhuman and heathenish practices, but they are also removing much of
+the deadly hostility which formerly existed among different tribes.
+More Indians are gradually coming in from the country round about and
+making Metlakahtla their home.
+
+"In the administration of the affairs of the village the Indian
+institution of the council is retained, and Mr. Duncan consults with
+them in regard to all matters appertaining to the general weal. Some of
+the Indians when baptized are given English names, while others prefer
+to keep their Indian appellation, and are permitted to do so."
+
+"_August 30th._
+
+"The Governor-General and party proceeded on shore at Metlakahtla this
+morning at half past nine o'clock. The day was a beautiful sunshiny
+clear one, the first without fog and rain that we have had since leaving
+Nanaimo. Although Mr. Duncan had learned that his Excellency was in
+British Columbia, his visit to Metlakahtla was quite unexpected. A large
+proportion of the inhabitants of the village were consequently away
+working at fisheries some miles off, who, had they known of the Governor
+General's visit, would have been present to join in receiving him. It
+was understood that their absence from the village on so auspicious an
+occasion would be a bitter regret to them. However, there was about a
+couple of hundred of the villagers at home, including several members of
+the council--the rest were chiefly young lads, young women, and
+children, with a few old people. They assisted their energetic white
+chief in getting up a demonstration which, under the circumstances, was
+quite creditable to them. Several Union Jacks were hoisted throughout
+the village, and a red cloth, with 'God save the Queen' worked on it,
+was stretched across between two houses near the landing. As the vice
+regal party went ashore a small cannon was fired off several times from
+the gaol, a small hexagonal structure with a balcony round the top. The
+next thing was the singing of the National Anthem to an accompaniment
+supplied by some of the members of a brass band which exists among the
+young men of the community. The latter were gorgeous in cast-off
+uniforms of United States soldiers, purchased at a sale of condemned
+military clothing recently held in Alaska. Half-a-dozen Indian maidens
+then came forward and presented Lady Dufferin with a bouquet, after
+which the distinguished visitors were taken to see the church, the
+school house, and one of the Indian residences. Subsequently all the
+people were assembled in the open air, and the younger portion of them
+sang, under the direction of Mr. Duncan and Mr. Collison, a number of
+songs and hymns, both in their native tongue and in English. They
+pronounced the words of the pieces that were in the latter language with
+a remarkably good accent, although every effort to induce any of them to
+converse in it was futile. Lord Dufferin endeavoured to get some of them
+to talk with him about their studies, but was not successful in
+extracting from any of them, including a young Indian woman whom Mr.
+Duncan has placed in the position of an assistant teacher in the school,
+any more definitely English expression than a simper. Mr. Duncan stated
+that many of his pupils understood English very well, but were somehow
+averse to speaking it. The voices of the singers sounded very well, when
+allowance is made for their bashfulness. Some of their pieces were of a
+fugue character and the time which was kept in singing them was
+remarkably good, considering that there was no accompaniment to them.
+
+"After some time had been spent in singing, a young man advanced and
+read the following address in excellent style:--
+
+_"To His Excellency the Earl of Dufferin, Governor-General of the
+Dominion of Canada_.
+
+"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,--We, the inhabitants of Metlakahtla,
+of the Tsimshean nation of Indians desire to express our joy in
+welcoming your Excellency and Lady Dufferin to our village. Under the
+teaching of the Gospel we have learned the Divine command, 'Fear God,
+honour the King, and thus as loyal subjects of her Majesty Queen
+Victoria we rejoice in seeing you visit our shores.
+
+"We have learned to respect and obey the laws of the Queen, and we
+will continue to uphold and defend the same in our community and nation.
+
+"We are still a weak and poor people, only lately emancipated from the
+thraldom of heathenism and savage customs, but we are struggling to
+rise and advance to a Christian life and civilization.
+
+"Trusting that we may enjoy a share of your Excellency's kind and
+fostering care, and under your administration continue to advance in
+peace and prosperity.
+
+"We have the honour to subscribe ourselves your Excellency's humble
+and obedient servants.
+
+"For the Indians of Metlakahtla,
+
+"DAVID LEASK,
+
+"Secretary to the Native Council."
+
+"The members of the Council all came forward in turn and signed the
+document by making their marks."
+
+The Governor-General replied as follows--
+
+"I have come a long distance in order to assure you, in the name of your
+Great Mother, the Queen of England, with what pleasure she has learnt of
+your well being, and of the progress you have made in the arts of peace
+and the knowledge of the Christian religion, under the auspices of your
+kind friend, Mr. Duncan. You must understand that I have not come for my
+own pleasure, but that the journey has been long and laborious and that
+I am here from a sense of duty, in order to make you feel by my actual
+presence with what solicitude the Queen and Her Majesty's Government in
+Canada watch over your welfare, and how anxious they are that you should
+persevere in that virtuous and industrious mode of life in which I find
+you engaged. I have viewed with astonishment the church which you have
+built entirely by your own industry and intelligence. That church is in
+itself a monument of the way in which you have profited by the teachings
+you have received. It does you the greatest credit, and we have every
+right to hope, that, while in its outward aspect it bears testimony to
+your conformity to the laws of the Gospel, beneath its sacred roof your
+sincere and faithful prayers will be rewarded by those blessings which
+are promised to all those who approach the Throne of God in humility and
+faith. I hope you will understand that your White Mother and the
+Government of Canada are fully prepared to protect you in the exercise
+of your religion, and to extend to you those laws which know no
+difference of race, or of colour, but under which justice is impartially
+administered between the humblest and the greatest of the land. The
+Government of Canada is proud to think that there are upwards of 30,000
+Indians in the territory of British Columbia alone. She recognizes them
+as the ancient inhabitants of the country. The white men have not come
+amongst you as conquerors, but as friends. We regard you as our fellow
+-subjects, and as equal to us in the eye of the law as you are in the eye
+of God, and equally entitled with the rest of the community to the
+benefits of good government, and the opportunity of earning an honest
+livelihood. I have had very great pleasure in inspecting your school,
+and I am quite certain that there are many among the younger portion of
+those I am now addressing who have already begun to feel how much they
+are indebted to that institution for the expansion of their mental
+faculties, for the knowledge of what is passing in the outer world, as
+well as for the insight it affords them into the laws of nature and into
+the arts of civilized life, and we have the further satisfaction of
+remembering that as year after year flows by, and your population
+increases, all those beneficial influences will acquire additional
+strength and momentum. I hope you are duly grateful to him to whom,
+under Providence, you are indebted for all these benefits, and that when
+you contrast your own condition, the peace in which you live, the
+comforts that surround you, the decency of your habitation, when you see
+your wives, your sisters, and your daughters contributing so materially
+by the brightness of their appearance, the softness, of their manners,
+their housewifely qualities, to the pleasantness and cheerfulness of
+your domestic lives, contrasting as all these do so strikingly with your
+former surroundings, you will remember that it is to Mr. Duncan you owe
+this blessed initiation into your new life. By a faithful adherence to
+his principles and example you will become useful citizens and faithful
+subjects, an honour to those under whose auspices you will thus have
+shown to what the Indian race can attain, at the same time that you will
+leave to your children an ever-widening prospect of increasing happiness
+and progressive improvement. Before I conclude I cannot help expressing
+to Mr. Duncan, and those associated with him in his good work, not only
+in my own name, not only in the name of the Government of Canada, but
+also in the name of Her Majesty the Queen, and in the name of the people
+of England, who take so deep an interest in the well-being of all the
+native races throughout the Queen's dominions, our deep gratitude to him
+for thus having devoted the flower of his life, in spite of innumerable
+difficulties, dangers, and discouragements, of which we, who only see
+the result of his labours, can form only a very inadequate idea, to a
+work which has resulted in the beautiful scene we have witnessed this
+morning. I only wish to add that I am very much obliged to you for the
+satisfactory and loyal address with which you have greeted me. The very
+fact of your being in a position to express yourselves with so much
+propriety is in itself extremely creditable to you, and although it has
+been my good fortune to receive many addresses during my stay in Canada
+from various communities of your fellow subjects, not one of them will
+be surrounded by so many hopeful and pleasant reminiscences, as those
+which I shall carry away with me from this spot."
+
+Before he left British Columbia Lord Dufferin delivered an address at
+Government House, Victoria, in which, referring to this visit, he
+said:--
+
+"I have traversed the entire coast of British Columbia, from its
+southern extremity to Alaska. I have penetrated to the head of Bute
+Inlet, I have examined the Seymour Narrows, and the other channels
+which intervene between the head of Bute Inlet and Vancouver Island. I
+have looked into the mouth of Dean's Canal, and passed across the
+entrance to Gardener's Channel. I have visited Mr. Duncan's wonderful
+settlement at Metlakahtla, and the interesting Methodist Mission at
+Fort Simpson, and have thus been enabled to realise what scenes of
+primitive peace and innocence, of idyllic beauty and material comfort,
+can be presented by the stalwart men and comely maidens of an Indian
+community, under the wise administration of a judicious and devoted
+Christian Missionary. I have seen the Indians in all phases of their
+existence, from the half-naked savage, perched, like a bird of prey, in
+a red blanket upon a rock, trying to catch his miserable dinner of
+fish, to the neat maiden in Mr. Duncan's school at Metlakhatla, as
+modest and as well dressed as any clergyman's daughter in an English
+parish.
+
+"What you want are not resources, but human beings to develope them
+and consume them. Raise your 80,000 Indians to the level Mr. Duncan has
+taught us they can be brought, and consider what an enormous amount of
+vital power you will have added to your present strength."
+
+
+
+
+XIII.
+
+ADMIRAL PREVOST AT METLAKAHTLA.
+
+
+Of the four visits mentioned at the beginning of the last chapter,
+with which the last four years must ever be associated at Metlakahtla,
+a very peculiar interest attaches to the third in order of time. To the
+Christian Indians it was naturally the most joyous and memorable event
+in the history of the settlement. It was not a small thing to receive a
+Governor-General, a Missionary Bishop, or the chief pastor of their own
+newly-formed diocese. But since the foundation of the settlement, there
+has been no day like the 18th of June, 1878, when Metlakahtla had the
+joy of welcoming, for the first time, the beloved and revered
+originator of the Mission, Admiral Prevost.
+
+He had never been in that part of the world since the migration from
+Fort Simpson in 1862, and had never seen the wonderful issue of his own
+plan. That he should see it now was a privilege rarely enjoyed. To few
+men is it given in the Providence of God to initiate such an agency of
+blessing, and to still fewer is it granted to behold such far reaching
+results.
+
+Of this happy visit, the Admiral himself has kindly supplied for these
+pages the following deeply interesting account:--
+
+_Admiral Prevost's Narrative._
+
+Three a.m., Tuesday, 18th June, 1878. Arrived at Fort Simpson in the
+U. S. Mail Steamer _California_, from Sitka. Was met by William
+Duncan, with sixteen Indians, nearly all Elders. Our greeting was most
+hearty, and the meeting with Duncan was a cause of real thankfulness to
+God, in sight, too, of the very spot (nay, on it) where God had put
+into my heart the first desire of sending the Gospel to the poor
+heathens around me. Twenty-five years previously H.M.S. "Virago" had
+been repaired on that very beach. What a change had been effected
+during those passing years! Of the crew before me nine of the sixteen
+were, to my knowledge, formerly medicine men, or cannibals. In humble
+faith, we could only exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" It is all His
+doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
+
+It did not take long to transfer ourselves and our baggage to the
+canoe, and at 4.30 a.m. we started against wind and tide, rain, too, at
+intervals; but having much to talk about of past events and future
+plans, the twenty miles of distance soon disappeared, and about noon we
+crossed the bar and entered the "inlet of Kahtla." On the north side of
+the inlet stands, on an eminence, "the Church of God;" on either side
+of it, spreads out the village of Metlakahtla, skirting two bays whose
+beaches are at once a landing-place for its inhabitants and shelter for
+the canoes. As we approached the landing-place two guns were fired and
+flags displayed from house to house--conspicuous by a string of them
+reaching the Mission House verandah, inscribed, "A REAL WELCOME TO
+METLAKAHTLA." Near to this were assembled all the village--men, women,
+and children--gaily dressed.
+
+The choice of this harbour of refuge is one of God's many providential
+dealings with this Mission. It is defended from the storms and heavy
+rolling swell of the Pacific Ocean by large and lofty islands, forming
+a breakwater across its entrance, extending as far out to sea as twenty
+miles, inside of which smaller islands, numbering nearly a hundred,
+form channels leading up to the foot of the snow-capped mountains, 15
+or 18 miles distant, on many of which are the village gardens where
+potatoes and other vegetables are grown.
+
+The rise and fall of the tide is very great, often 25ft. It was low
+water when we arrived, and difficult to land, but this had been
+anticipated. We found a small canoe covered over with pretty mats
+(Indian manufacture from the cedar bark). Into this we were
+transferred, and when comfortably seated, we were lifted quietly on the
+shoulders of the young men, and carried up to a platform close to the
+entrance of the Mission House. We were surrounded by kind hearts who
+had been long expecting us, and the flowers and garlands had withered;
+but joy was depicted in their countenances. The body of constables,
+dressed in a uniform given by the Government, presented arms; the small
+band played; and then all the voices, about 250 in number (the larger
+portion of the population being at the fisheries), joined in that
+beautiful hymn--
+
+  "What a friend we have in Jesus,
+   All our sins and griefs to bear,
+  What a privilege to carry
+   Everything to God in prayer."
+
+Then came the shaking of hands, and let me remind you a Metlakahtla
+Indian can give a hearty shake of the hand!
+
+Rain obliged us to seek shelter indoors. We all met again in the
+church in the evening, changing the weekly service to Tuesday. It was
+my privilege to address more than two hundred from Romans viii. 31--"If
+God be for us, who can be against us?" It was an evening never to be
+forgotten. After 25 years' absence, God had brought me back again,
+amidst all the sundry and manifold changes of the world, face to face
+with those tribes amongst whom I had witnessed only bloodshed,
+cannibalism, and heathen devilry in its grossest form. Now they were
+sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in their right mind. The
+very churchwarden, dear old Peter Simpson, who opened the church-door
+for me, was the chief of one of the cannibal tribes.
+
+Words cannot describe the happy month I spent in this happy Christian
+circle. I can only copy from my rough notes, written on the spot, some
+of the events which occurred to me.
+
+In the Mission House, I found the Rev. W. H. Collison, and his wife
+and two children (whom I had known previous to their leaving England),
+and Mr. and Mrs. Schutt and children. There was plenty of room for all,
+and in addition to our party there were five girls, boarders in the
+house, living in a dormitory upstairs with a cheerful look-out. These
+are industrial pupils training for their future position as wives and
+mothers. Each girl has her own recess. As many as fourteen boarders
+have been in the house at one time, and God has greatly blessed the
+instruction they have received, the Christian young men preferring a
+wife who has passed through the Mission training to all others.
+
+It rained so incessantly the first three days, that nothing could be
+done outside. The meetings for Morning and Evening Prayers, in which
+the boarders joined, were very precious. Sankey's hymns, a portion of
+God's Word, explained by Duncan in Tsimshean, and united prayer, began
+and closed the day.
+
+On 21st June, I met by appointment in Duncan's room eight of the
+twelve elders of the village (four absent at the fisheries) to consult
+about the programme during my stay. It was no formal assembly, but a
+council of wise heads met together, all taking a deep interest in the
+affairs of the village, and all speaking out boldly.
+
+_June 22nd._--Still rain, but all the men and some of the women
+assembled in the school-room, to hear an address from me and to give me
+their welcome in reply. We met at 5 p.m., and did not separate until 8
+o'clock. Let me give one or two of the speeches addressed to me:--
+
+GEORGE USHER (Indian name, Comtsool) said--"I also want to speak,
+though I occupy not the seat of a chief, but only that of a common man
+who sits at the door. Your seat is the seat of honour at the upper end
+of the house. Yet I will address you.
+
+"It is wonderful to us to see what changes have come amongst us since
+your last visit, and it is wonderful to us to see how much good some
+people are capable of doing for others. We think of your good work and
+are amazed. If it shall so be that you leave this world before us to
+see God, remember we are trying to follow you, to be with you before
+long. We shall see you again in heaven."
+
+JAMES LEEQUNEESH (chief) said--"Shimoigit, what we once were is known
+to you, for you saw our state. I was a young man when you first saw us.
+We profited by your visit, but you suffered by us. Which of us is not
+now ashamed when we see your face again, and remember the injuries we
+did to you? But we were then in darkness. We were like the wild
+animals. We were living in mud and darkness. You got a hoe. You got
+seed. You designed a garden, though on a very unfavourable site. It was
+God who touched your heart. Then the workmen came. Your work was among
+thorns, and you suffered, but so did Jesus the Son of God work among
+thorns and suffer. So you then got a spade and turned over the ground
+and put in the seed. God was with you, and now you have come back to
+see what God has done. You are pleased to see that the plants have come
+up a little. Yes, the good seed has grown, and this, sir, is the result
+of your work. God put all this into your heart, and our own hearts are
+deeply affected and aroused within us by your coming again to see us."
+
+ADAM GORDON (Kshimkeaiks) said--"Sir, though I have not prepared a
+speech, I cannot help saying my heart is thankful to tell you how happy
+we all are. It is while we are still in the fight you have come to see
+us. Like as children rejoice to see a father, so we rejoice to see you.
+We are fighting every day with sin, but we shall cease fighting; by-and
+-by, and be happy when we get to the other shore. Then when we reach
+over there we shall be truly happy."
+
+PETER SIMPSON (Thrakshakaun).--"I remember when you put your ship on
+shore at Fort Simpson. I remember how nearly we were fighting, and the
+guns were prepared. You had a rope put out to keep us off, and we heard
+it said that you would fire at us from your ship when you got afloat.
+We knew not what you had rather planned to do. You planned to bring us
+the Gospel, and that has opened our eyes to heavenly things, and oh!
+how beautiful, very beautiful indeed! Metlakahtla is like a ship just
+launched. You are here to give us advice where to put the mast in, and
+how to steer. I address you thus, though you are great and I am poor.
+But Jesus despises not the poor. The Tsimsheans were very low, yet
+Jesus raised us, and we are now anxious for all our brethren, the
+tribes around us, to be made alive. We see them now willing to hear,
+and we are trying to help them. We know God put it into your heart to
+come here, and brought you here; God bless you for coming."
+
+_Sunday, 23rd_.--To me, all days at Metlakahtla are solemnly
+sacred, but Sunday, of all others, especially so. Canoes are all drawn
+up on the beach above high water mark. Not a sound is heard. The
+children are assembled before morning service to receive special
+instruction from Mr. Duncan. The church bell rings, and the whole
+population pour out from their houses--men, women, and children--to
+worship God in His own house, built by their own hands. As it has been
+remarked, "No need to lock doors, for no one is there to enter the
+empty houses." Two policemen are on duty in uniform, to keep order
+during service time. The service begins with a chant in Tsimshean, "I
+wilt arise and go to my Father," etc., Mr. Schutt leading with the
+harmonium; the Litany Prayers in Tsimshean follow, closing with the
+Lord's Prayer. The address lasts nearly an hour. Such is the deep
+attention of many present, that having once known their former lives, I
+know that the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost
+can alone have produced so marvellous a change.
+
+First, there was a very old woman, staff in hand, stepping with such
+solemn earnestness; after her came one who had been a very notorious
+gambler; though now almost crippled with disease, yet he seemed to be
+forgetting infirmity, and literally to be leaping along. Next followed
+a dissipated youth, now reclaimed; and after him a chief, who had dared
+a few years ago proudly to lift up his hand to stop the work of God,
+now with humble mien, wending his way to worship. Then came a once
+still more haughty man of rank; and after him a mother carrying her
+infant child, and a father leading his infant son; a grandmother, with
+more than a mother's care, watching the steps of her little grandson.
+Then followed a widow; then a young woman, who had been snatched from
+the jaws of infamy; after them came a once roving spirit, now meek and
+settled; then, a once notorious chief; and the last I reflected upon
+was a man walking with solemn gait, yet hope fixed in his look. When a
+heathen he was a murderer: he had murdered his own wife and burnt her
+to ashes. What are all these now, I thought, and the crowds that
+accompany them! Whither are they going? and what to do? Blessed sight
+for angels! Oh, the preciousness of a Saviour's blood! If there is joy
+in heaven ever one sinner that repenteth, with what delight must angels
+gaze on such a sight as this! I felt such a glow of gratitude to God
+come over me, my heart was stirred within me, for who could have joined
+such a congregation as this in worship and have been cold, and who
+could have preached the Gospel to such a people and not have felt he
+was standing where God was working?
+
+After morning service, a class of female adults remain in the church,
+and receive further instruction from the native teachers. At the same
+time the male adults meet Mr. Duncan in his own room. At three, the
+church bell again assembles all the village to worship; and again at
+seven, when they generally meet in the schoolroom, the address being
+given by one of the native teachers.
+
+_June 26th._--Evening Service in schoolroom, about 90 in
+attendance, most of the village absent at the fisheries. Some strange
+Indians arrived today from a distance. A large building has been
+erected on the shore, close to the general landing-place, for the
+accommodation of such visitors; here they deposit their property
+(brought for trade), and take up their abode, finding firewood ready
+for use. As soon as they are comfortably housed and mashed (the latter
+a positive injunction), they come to Duncan's room, where he receives
+them, generally having something new and amusing to show them. To-day I
+was present at their interview, when Duncan showed them a mechanical
+picture, in which a "ship at sea," a "wind-mill," and a "water-mill,"
+worked by machinery, are moved at the same time. A galvanic battery is
+also a source of wonder and astonishment. After some time he explains
+to his audience the cause and effects, exposing, too, the tricks
+formerly played upon their ignorant minds by their own medicine men.
+The visit is returned, and in that market-house the good seed of the
+Word of God has been frequently sown by this faithful man of God to
+casual visitors, and through them to the surrounding tribes.
+
+A deputation also arrived from the Fort Simpson Indians to consult
+with the Metlakahtla Indians how to meet the pending difficulties with
+the White men as regards the Indian rights as to the salmon-fisheries.
+The bugle sounded to call together the Council. Both parties assembled
+together in the school-house, and consulted together for several hours;
+and when they had finished, they sent for Duncan to tell him the
+result. I mention this circumstance as one of the blessed results of
+their new life in Christ Jesus. In their heathen days this difficulty
+with white men would have been met with murder and destruction. In
+1859, I was present at an assemblage of chiefs, when gold was first
+discovered in British Columbia, and when more than twenty thousand
+white men rushed into that country, bringing with them vice and
+disease. The question was asked by the head chief, "How shall we treat
+these strangers? Shall we cut their throats?"--going through the motion
+of doing so in an unmistakable manner. In God's providence, the man in
+authority had great influence over the Indian mind and action. A proper
+answer was returned, and the lives of hundreds, nay, thousands were
+saved.
+
+27th.--Visited the village saw-mill, conveniently situated at the head
+of a sheltered inlet about a mile and a quarter from the village. It is
+managed entirely by natives, the head Indian receiving 8 dols., or L1
+12s., the second, 6 dols., or L1 4s., the third, 5 dols., or L1 per
+week. Lumber of all sizes is supplied to the village for building
+purposes at moderate prices. Thus the Indians are kept independent of
+the white man's help. Duncan told me a curious story of an old Indian
+who came to him, when the mill was being erected, and asked him, "Are
+you going to make water saw wood?" He got his answer, and exclaimed,
+"When I see it I die, to go and tell it to my chief."
+
+I visited the widow of Samuel Marsden (Shooquanahts), the first fruits
+of this Mission. He was baptized, 21st July, 1861, and died May 8th,
+1878, a Native elder, a ripe Christian, a faithful follower of the Lord
+Jesus; and the clear testimony he bore on his death-bed to the
+blessedness of the Christian hope and the presence of the Saviour was
+very cheering. Duncan adds, "His parting words to myself and the elders
+were very affecting; his end indeed was peace, and such a funeral the
+Indians never saw." Catherine, his widow, is left with two children,
+and lives in the same house with Catherine Ryan, whose husband died
+about the same time as Samuel, leaving her with four children. I did
+indeed wish for some of the friends of the Mission to have witnessed
+the touching simple faith of these two brands plucked out of the fire,
+as I read to them a few words from John xi., "Jesus wept." after which
+we joined in prayer.
+
+Shortly after my return to the Mission House, Samuel Marsden's father
+called to see me. He was present at my first visit to Fort Simpson in
+1853. Poor fellow! he looked quite cast down; he said his heart was
+sad, he wanted to speak to me. "I have felt," he said, "that I must see
+you. It has been on my heart to see you. I saw your ship long ago when
+you first came to Fort Simpson. I saw you then also. I was a young man
+then. I had a son, an only son, he was then very young. You did not
+forget us. When Mr. Duncan came, I sent my son to learn. I was anxious
+to walk in God's way myself; but I was very wicked. But I was anxious
+that my son should learn; he learned quickly and had but one heart.
+When Mr. Duncan came to Metlakahtla, Samuel was one of the first to
+accompany him, and afterwards, when Mr. Duncan had to punish any of the
+Indians of the villages around who were guilty of crime, Samuel was
+always ready to go and assist in bringing them to justice. I was not
+afraid, because I knew he was doing right, and God would defend him and
+save him. Well, he continued to grow stronger in God's way, and was
+anxious to work for Him, wherever he went telling the people about the
+Son of God, the Saviour; but he became sick and was very weak for some
+time. However, he almost recovered, and when the news came last autumn
+that you were coming, no one was so glad as Samuel. He was rejoiced to
+think that he would see you again; but it was not to be so now. God was
+pleased to call him to Himself before you came. He is in heaven now.
+Chief! this is why I was not present at the meeting to welcome you. My
+strength was gone, my only son, I thought he would strengthen my heart
+now that I am an old man; but God knows it is best. I felt that I could
+not speak with the rest, as my heart was so weak. But there was a
+burden on my heart. I felt so much that if Samuel were alive, he would
+have much to tell you, and I felt that I could not rest until I told
+you all this, as Samuel would have me do were he alive. I thank you
+much for your sympathy and encouragement to us. My heart is very full.
+I am very grateful to you, chief. When you pray, will you ask God to
+make my heart strong? I want to be faithful too, I want to meet my son
+and all of you above. I ask your prayers to help me. My heart is strong
+and glad now, because I have seen you and told you my heart."
+
+One afternoon the girls in the Mission House, five in number, were
+given a half-holiday, to pick berries on the opposite islands. We
+availed ourselves of the fine weather and this picnic to see the
+village gardens. We started in a large canoe (every Indian from his
+earliest childhood can handle a paddle), towards the head of the
+estuary, which leads through a labyrinth of islands, to the pine-clad
+shores of the snowy mountains, nearly twenty miles distance. We landed
+at some of the islands, most of which have some cultivated land. Every
+man and woman had a certain portion of ground measured out by Duncan,
+when the village was first settled, and set apart by him for their sole
+use. As the children advance in years, an addition is made. At present
+only potatoes are planted, and these are not properly attended to, for
+just at the time when labour is required for weeding, hoeing, etc., all
+hands are absent at the fishing stations. Duncan hopes, in course of
+time, to make better arrangements. How we all enjoyed ourselves in that
+holiday trip!--all of us like children escaped from school. Berries
+were plentiful, and we returned by moonlight, paddling and singing
+hymns alternately, till the sparkling wood fire in the Mission-room
+welcomed us to our home.
+
+One evening I was invited by Matthews (one of the elders, and a good
+carpenter), to hear him perform on a parlour organ, which he had bought
+at Victoria for 80 dollars (L16). It was a wondrous sight--the Indian
+and his wife at his side playing and singing many of the well-known
+Sankey's hymns! Had I accepted an invitation to visit an Indian hut in
+years gone by, I should have seen all kinds of devilry, witchcraft, and
+cannibalism, often followed by murder. How strikingly were the words of
+Holy Scripture brought before me, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
+
+Much of the missionaries' time is taken up in visiting and recovering
+the sick. Collison and I went together one morning to visit a young
+woman, a Kitsalass (the people of the Rapids on Skeena river), dying of
+consumption; her husband, an affectionate nurse for four months, and
+most patient, seldom leaving her. I read Ps. xxv. 18, "Look upon my
+affliction and my pain, and forgive me all my sins;" then a short
+prayer, all around her kneeling. From my note-book I copy the
+conversation which followed, noted down at the time. "Do you remember
+what I said to you from God's Word?" She felt she was going to leave
+the world; she was always thinking of Jesus and crying unto Him. "Have
+you any fear of death?" "No! because I love Jesus." We replied, "He
+first loved us!" The husband then spoke. He had been praying three
+times a day. They did not know anything of their sinfulness before this
+affliction. "I was greatly troubled at the thought of my wife leaving
+me, but my heart is satisfied now, my heart is strong now, because the
+Saviour has had mercy on us. He has shown us the way, and though it is
+very hard, yet I know it will be for her gain."
+
+Previous to this interview, her great desire had been to return to her
+own people, but now she asked to be buried with the Christians at
+Metlakahtla. She hesitated before this to ask to be baptized; she had
+it on her heart to ask, but now she felt her time was short, and she
+wished to be numbered amongst the people of God. Baptism was then
+administered to her, in the simple words of our Lord, "Go ye,
+therefore, and make Christians of all nations, baptizing them in the
+name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." As a proof
+of her humility, she asked to be baptized in her heathen name
+("Lukaloosh"), not being worthy of a white woman's name, which is
+always given.
+
+After two days I visited her again, and found her much weaker,
+breathing with difficulty. During a sleepless night she exclaimed, "I
+know where I am going, it is no longer darkness; Jesus is with me."
+These last words were frequently repeated. In the morning her husband
+came to say, "she was fast departing, her heart beating faintly." He
+was comforted by repeating his wife's last words, "Jesus is with me."
+
+Fine weather having now set in, I invited all the village to a feast.
+Two guns were fixed to recall the absentees, who were at their daily
+work. Tables were soon spread on the green in front of the Church, each
+guest bringing cups and spoons. Coffee and biscuit was provided in
+abundance. Before they were seated, all assembled on the steps of the
+Church, and were photographed by Duncan, [Footnote: A picture drawn
+from this photograph appeared in the Church Gleaner of July, 1879.] to
+the amusement of all present. A blessing was then asked, and the feast
+commenced. Games followed, singing, and cheering, the latter very
+hearty. At nine o'clock all separated to go to their homes.
+
+_1st July_.--In the early morning paddled over to the island set
+apart as the burial ground of Metlakahtla. All the graves are
+surrounded with a neat wooden fence, and several marble headstones are
+erected. I copied the three nearest to the landing-place:--
+
+IN MEMORY OF
+
+MARK SHELDON,
+
+_Who was drowned in the Skeena. River, Aug. 15th, 1870,_
+
+AGED 30 YEARS.
+
+"Be ye therefore ready also."--LUKE xii. 40.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+IN MEMORY OF
+
+LOUISA STAVELY,
+
+_Who died May 2nd, 1877,_
+
+AGED 32 YEARS.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+IN MEMORY OP
+
+PAUL LEGAIC,
+
+(Head Chief of the Tsimshean Indians),
+
+_Who died May 6th, 1869,_
+
+AGED 55 YEARS.
+
+"Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On 2nd July I left Metlakahtla in a large canoe, paddled by five
+Kincolith Indians, to visit the C. M. S. Mission at Kincolith, "place
+of the scalps," Naas River, established by the Rev. R. Doolan, in July,
+1864. Since then the Mission has been removed lower down the river, at
+the entrance of the Portland Canal, beautifully situated, hedged in by
+high mountain peaks, 3,807 and 3,385 feet in height. Inland there is
+good farming land, and many native villages, with souls thirsting for
+the Gospel news. The following day we sighted the church; soon the
+houses were visible. Flags were run up, and as we approached the
+landing-place, a gun was fired, and we could see the inhabitants
+hastening to welcome us, dressed in their best, some in very bright
+colours.
+
+Being high water we landed easily. Many were the kind words of welcome
+floating in the bright sunshine. "WELCOME TO KINCOLITH," in large
+letters of the fern leaves; "COME TO NAAS RIVER"; "TIS DAY
+(_sic_), WE ARE ALL VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU, SIR"--their own
+composition and spelling. As we landed guns were fired. We were
+welcomed at the Mission House by Mrs. Tomlinson and her five children.
+Soon after, we all met again in the schoolroom, where I gave a short
+address.
+
+_July 4th_.--Visited the sawmill, which is romantically situated
+near the river, from whence there is a fine view of the valley. Its
+high cliffs, and their snow-capped tops, betoken a severe winter
+residence, though on our return we crossed a meadow where cows and
+calves were grazing. In the meanwhile my invitation to a feast had been
+accepted, all were busily employed, and soon all were seated enjoying
+the coffee and biscuits as at Metlakahtla. During the feast, a canoe
+was seen passing down the river, and the universal wish was expressed
+by all the leading men that the strangers should be invited to join
+them. Oh, how the blessedness of the Gospel is daily brought before one
+among these Christian Indians--"peace, good-will towards all men"! In
+former years a watchman would have told of the approach of an enemy,
+and all would have taken to arms to defend their lives. "Oh that men
+would therefore praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful
+works to the children of men!"
+
+_July 5th_.--This was our last day at Kincolith. At 8 p.m., we
+embarked in our canoe to return to Metlakahtla, taking leave of the
+Mission greatly encouraged, and thankful for the bright prospects
+before them, acknowledging with deep gratitude the Lord's hand in the
+work, and earnestly praying that the young converts may be preserved
+from the many trials and temptations which are brought nearer and
+nearer to them year by year.
+
+_July 10th_.--Before my departure from Metlakahtla, I assembled
+the few who were left at the village, to tell them I was anxious to
+leave behind some token both of my visit to them after so long an
+absence, and also that I still bore them on my heart. What should it
+be? After hours of consultation, they decided they would leave the
+choice to me, and when I told them (what I had beforehand determined
+upon) that my present would be a set of street lamps to light up their
+village by night, their joy was unbounded. Their first thought had a
+spiritual meaning. By day, God's house was a memorable object, visible
+both by vessels passing and repassing, and by all canoes as strange
+Indians travelled about; but by night all was darkness--now no longer
+so--as the bright light of the glorious Gospel, had through God's mercy
+and love shined in their dark hearts, so would all be reminded, by
+night as well as by day, of the marvellous light shining in the hearts
+of many at Metlakahtla. When Duncan first settled at Metlakahtla, even
+the Indians who came with him were in such fear from the neighbouring
+tribes, that they begged him not to have a fire burning at night or
+show a light in his house. The system of murder was then so general,
+that whenever an enemy saw a light he sneaked up to it, and the death
+of the unsuspecting Indian was generally the result. Thus my selection
+was a happy one, and I thanked God for it.
+
+I fear the story of my visit to this interesting Mission will try the
+patience of many of the readers. I would, therefore, affectionately ask
+them to consider it from my point of view, viz., God's providential
+dealings with me from my first acquaintance with the Indians in 1853 to
+the present time. I claim no honour to myself nor to the C. M. S., but
+for Christ--"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give
+glory." Words cannot express my gratitude to God for permitting me to
+see what I have see of the power of the Gospel of the Grace of God. He
+who healed the deaf and dumb when upon earth still lives. When brought
+to Christ, the same power still heals the spiritually deaf and dumb;
+witness the great chief Legaic--He made him to delight in listening to
+the same Gospel which once he so opposed, ridiculed, and despised, to
+love the man whose life he so often attempted, and to join with him in
+prayer and praise; and finally, at the time of his departure, to hear a
+glorious testimony, that the sting of death had been removed, and he
+was safe in the arms of Jesus.
+
+
+
+
+XIV.
+
+THE DIOCESE OF CALEDONIA.
+
+
+As we have already mentioned, when Mr. Duncan went out in 1856 there
+was but one clergyman of the Church of England on the whole western
+coast of British America, viz., the Rev. E. Cridge, chaplain at
+Victoria. The colony of British Columbia, however, grew apace; and in
+1859 it was formed into a Diocese, Dr. Hills being appointed the first
+Bishop. The visits of Bishop Hills and of more than one of his colonial
+clergy to Metlakahtla have been noticed in the foregoing pages. By them
+a large number of the Christian Indians were baptized. The C. M. S.
+Committee have always desired to provide an ordained missionary for the
+settlement; but for some years their effort seemed fruitless. It has
+been before mentioned that the Rev. L. Tugwell, who went out in 1860,
+and was privileged to baptize the first group of converts, was
+compelled by failure of health to return home in the following year. In
+1864, the Rev. R. R. A. Doolan, B.A., of Caius College, Cambridge,
+offered himself for the work. He laboured zealously for three years,
+and began the Mission on Nass River, as already related; and then in
+1867 he, too, had to return to England. Both he and Mr. Tugwell found
+important spheres of missionary labour in connection with the Spanish
+Church Mission. In 1865, the Rev. F. Gribbell was sent out; but the
+climate of Metlakahtla seriously affected his wife's health, and he
+accepted colonial work offered him at Victoria by the Bishop of
+Columbia. In 1867 the Rev. R. Tomlinson, B.A., was appointed to the
+Mission, and he has providentially been permitted to continue in its
+service ever since. He, however, took over the work on Nass River,
+begun by Mr. Doolan, so that Metlakahtla still remained without an
+ordained missionary. But the grace of God is not tied to a regular
+ministry, and the settlement grew and prospered, spiritually as well as
+materially, under the loving care of its lay founder. In 1873, Mr. W.
+H. Collison joined the Mission as a schoolmaster, and in 1878 Mr. H.
+Schutt went out in the same capacity, to leave Mr. Collison free to
+begin new work in Queen Charlotte's Islands. In 1877 the Rev. A. J.
+Hall, a young clergyman in full orders, was appointed to Metlakahtla;
+but he, too, under the advice of his brethren, removed soon after his
+arrival to Fort Rupert, to break up fresh ground. At length Mr.
+Collison, having been ordained deacon and priest by Bishop Bompas, of
+Athabasca, during the latter's visit to the coast in the winter of 1877
+-8, and having been released from the work at Queen Charlotte's Islands
+by the arrival of Mr. G. Sneath in 1879, again took up his abode at
+Metlakahtla as pastor of the settlement.
+
+In the meanwhile, certain unhappy disputes in Victoria, arising from
+the extreme doctrinal views which found an entrance into the Church in
+the Colony, as they have into the Church at home, had resulted in a
+secession to the American "Reformed Church" under the leadership of the
+Rev. E. Cridge. Mr. Cridge was greatly beloved by the Christians of
+Metlakahtla, having given much godly counsel and help to the Mission;
+and they not unnaturally felt much sympathy for him in the painful step
+he had felt it his duty to take. In this state of things, the Bishop of
+Columbia, anxious not to rouse feelings which it might be hard to
+allay, with much wisdom and generosity refrained from visiting
+Metlakahtla, and wrote to Bishop Bompas, of Athabasca, who is a devoted
+missionary of the C. M. S., asking him to come over and visit the
+coast, and to perform episcopal functions in the C. M. S. Mission.
+Accordingly, in November, 1877, Bishop Bompas, reached Metlakahtla
+after a long and difficult journey across the Rocky and Cascade
+Mountains, and the wilderness of lakes and rivers stretching between
+those chains. He remained three months on the coast, visited the
+outlying stations, confirmed 124 of the Christian Indians, ordained Mr.
+Collison deacon and priest, and assisted Mr. Duncan and the other
+missionaries in maturing plans for the extension of the Mission.
+[Footnote: Bishop Bompas' account of the Christmas he spent in
+Metlakahtla is given at page 75. A narrative of his journey across the
+Rocky Mountains appeared in the _C. M. Intelligencer_ of August,
+1878.]
+
+In 1879, Bishop Hills, being on a visit to England, arranged with the
+Church Missionary Society a plan for providing its Missions with
+episcopal oversight. He had come, charged by his Diocesan Synod to take
+steps for dividing his vast diocese into three--Columbia, New
+Westminster, and Caledonia--which would form an ecclesiastical province
+on the west side of the Rocky Mountains, just as, on the east side, the
+four dioceses of Rupert's Land, Moosonee, Athabasca, and Saskatchewan,
+form the province of Rupert's Land. The northernmost of these three
+divisions, Caledonia, would comprise the field of the C. M. S.
+Missions; and the Society therefore undertook to guarantee the income
+of the Bishop for this division, provided that the Committee were
+satisfied with the appointment made. The scheme was happily consummated
+by the choice of the Rev. Wm. Ridley, vicar of St. Paul's,
+Huddersfield, who had been a C. M. S. missionary in India, but whose
+health had been unequal to the trying climate of the Peshawar Valley.
+Mr. Ridley was consecrated on St. James's Day, July 25th, 1879, at St.
+Paul's Cathedral, at the same time as Dr. Walsham How to the Suffragan
+-Bishopric of Bedford (for East London), Dr. Barclay to the Anglican See
+of Jerusalem, and Dr. Speechly to the new diocese of Travancore and
+Cochin.
+
+The Diocese of Caledonia comprises the territory lying between the
+Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, with the adjacent islands, and
+is bounded on the south by a line drawn westward from Cape St. James,
+at the south end of Queen Charlotte's Islands, and on the north by the
+60th parallel of latitude. It comprises, therefore, the mining
+districts on the upper waters of the Fraser and Skeena and Stachine
+rivers, with their rough white population, and many thousands of
+Indians of the Tsimshean and Hydah nations on the coast, as well as
+others in the interior.
+
+Bishop Ridley sailed from Liverpool on September 13th for New York,
+crossed the States by the Pacific Railway, took a steamer again at San
+Francisco, and reached Victoria on October 14th. There he met Mr.
+Duncan, and also Admiral Prevost, who had again gone out a few months
+before, partly to prepare the way for the new Bishop; and a few days
+after they sailed together for Metlakahtla. On November 1st he wrote as
+follows:--
+
+"Metlakahtla has not disappointed me. The situation is excellent.
+There is no spot to compare with it this side of Victoria. During this
+week the weather has been charming. Frosty nights, but the days mild,
+as in Cornwall at this season. Numbers of the worn-out old folk have
+been basking in the sun for hours daily. Squatting in the long grass,
+they looked the very pictures of contentment. They all gazed on the
+sea. No wonder if they loved it. Besides being the store-house from
+which they took their food, it is the chief feature in one of the most
+beautiful views I have ever seen. We are at the entrance of an estuary
+that winds about, labyrinth-like, until it leads up to a stream more
+than twenty miles distant inland. Outside are large islands, their
+lofty heads pine-clad, and the same garment reaching to the very waves
+on all sides. These are God's breakwaters. Inside, wherever the channel
+widens, there are smaller islands, so disposed as to make it impossible
+to say what is island and what continent. These are gems in a setting
+that perfectly reflects the grass and pines fringing the sea's glossy
+surface, as well as the background of snow-patched mountain.
+
+"Yesterday the stillness was reverential, and quite in keeping with
+Sunday rest. Scores of graceful canoes were drawn above the tide. Not a
+paddle broke the silence. As Admiral Prevost and I stood in the Mission
+garden we heard, in the distance, the howls of a pack of wolves. A
+flight of crows or rooks claimed a moment's attention. Besides this,
+nothing disturbed the calm sea, or the stillness, but the wing of some
+wild fowl splashing the sea as it rose. Before we returned to the house
+we were ravished with the splendour of the sunset. The giant that had
+run its day's course transformed the scene. He touched everything, till
+sea and sky vied with each other in glorious effects. The snowy peaks
+to eastward blushed.
+
+"But, after all, the Sun of Righteousness has produced a far more
+beautiful transformation in the character of the Indian, and this
+change is not fleeting. The church bell rings, and, from both wings of
+the village, well-dressed men, their wives and children, pour out from
+the cottages, and the two currents meet at the steps of the noble
+sanctuary their own hands have made, to the honour of God our Saviour.
+On Saturday I had made a sketch of the village. Mr. Duncan remarked, as
+the people streamed along, 'Put that stream into your picture.' 'That
+would never do,' I said, 'nobody would believe it.' Inwardly I
+exclaimed, 'What hath God wrought!' It would be wrong to suppose that
+the love of God alone impelled them all. All, without reasonable cause
+to the contrary, are expected to attend the public services. A couple
+of policemen, as a matter of routine, are in uniform, and this is an
+indication that loitering during service hours is against proper civil
+order. This wholesome restraint is possible during these early stages
+of the corporate life of the community. At present one strong will is
+supreme. To resist it, every Indian feels would be as impossible as to
+stop the tides. This righteous autocracy is as much feared by the
+ungodly around as it is respected and admired by the faithful. Thus are
+law and Gospel combined with good results."
+
+Before leaving England, Dr. Ridley had earnestly appealed for funds to
+provide him with a small steamer--an absolute necessity if his
+episcopal duties were to be performed safely and regularly. Without it
+the long voyages up and down the coast, and among the islands, would
+have to be made in native canoes. The perilous nature of such
+travelling had been sadly illustrated only two years before, by the
+loss of a boat which was conveying an excellent Hudson's Bay officer
+from Queen Charlotte's Islands to the mainland. He and his crew of
+Tsimshean Christians were all drowned except one Indian, who was in the
+water four days and nights, lashed to a piece of the canoe, and was
+drifted on to the Alaska coast. This Indian related how, when they were
+all clinging to the capsized boat, Mr. Williams, the officer, seeing
+death imminent, called on them to pray, and as their strength failed
+they sank praying and singing hymns. The Bishop himself, in one of his
+first voyages, within a fortnight of his arrival, was overtaken by a
+gale in a canoe which two men could lift, and in which ten were huddled
+together, and "as nearly lost as a saved man could be." "How I longed
+for my steamer!" he wrote; "unless I get one, a new Bishop will soon be
+wanted, for the risk in these frail crafts is tremendous, and a short
+career the probable consequence."
+
+The money required, we are glad to say, has been raised, and, the
+steamer will (D.V.) soon be speeding up and down the coast on its
+errands of love--preserved and prospered, we doubt not, by His goodness
+who rules the winds and the waves.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It only remains to add the latest news from Metlakahtla, as
+communicated in the annual letters of Mr. Duncan and Mr. Collison for
+1879. Mr. Duncan writes, on March 8th. 1880:--
+
+"In regard to secular matters, the year past has been one of marked
+progress--the greatest year for building the Indians have ever known.
+We have now eighty-eight new houses up, or in course of erection; and
+when all the houses are erected, roads completed, and gardens, drains,
+and fences finished, we shall have certainly a very attractive home.
+But there remains a good deal to do yet. Our American neighbours are
+being aroused to their duty for the poor Indians of Alaska,--
+encouraged, they tell us, by what has been accomplished at Metlakahtla.
+During the past year I have had several letters from, and interviews
+with, American gentlemen (among whom were three generals of the army in
+active service), who were anxious to learn from me my plans and modes
+of dealing with the Indians. I am afraid they are attributing our
+success too much to secular matters, and too little to the preaching of
+the Gospel. I have strongly warned them not to commence at the wrong end.
+
+"I have already opened up and discussed with the Indians the
+desirability of their endeavouring to take into their own hands all the
+secular work I have begun. If my hopes are realised, it will be a grand
+termination of all my secular work. The Indians are delighted with the
+idea, and will struggle hard to reach the goal.
+
+"Our Church, Sunday School, and Day School are all prospering.
+
+"The surrounding heathen tribes are not being neglected. I paid a
+visit to the Kithratlas, in company with the Admiral, last Autumn, and
+a native teacher--Edward Mather--is now being employed amongst them.
+Other native teachers are about taking up work around, as the seasons
+allow, and as the Indians are accessible.
+
+"In the month of July Dr. Powell, Superintendent of Indian Affairs,
+and Mr. Anderson, Commissioner for Fisheries, paid us their long
+-promised visit in H.M.S. Rocket. Though only a portion of our
+population were at home, our visitors expressed themselves as greatly
+astonished and delighted at all they saw. Dr. Powell has since written
+me an official letter, and read me his official report to the minister
+at Ottawa, both which were highly commendatory, and Mr. Anderson has
+published a long letter in the _Colonist_ newspaper about
+Metlakahtla. The testimony of the latter gentleman was very telling
+upon the community here, as he has lived in this country upwards of
+fifty years, and is considered a great authority on Indian affairs."
+
+Mr. Collison mentions that during the winter he conducted a class of
+catechumens, and that, after due examination by Bishop Ridley, seventy
+-two persons, men and women, were baptized on Sundays, Jan. 25th and Feb.
+1st, of the present year, 1880. During the year under review sixty-three
+children also were baptized. "Thus," writes Mr. Collison, "the visible
+Church increases; but our greatest care and concern is that they may be
+united to Christ by a living faith, and grow up in Him into a spiritual
+temple, of which Jesus Christ Himself is the chief corner-stone."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Such is the story of Metlakahtla and the North Pacific Mission. An
+unfinished story, indeed, the plot of which is still unfolding itself,
+and the issues of which, in this world, are known only to Him who sees
+the end from the beginning. And yet a story which, embracing as it
+does, the separate life-stories of many individuals, again and again
+comes to a true "end," to an "end" for which we may well render
+unceasing praise. What the destiny of Metlakahtla may be, none can say;
+but what the destiny is of soul after soul that has passed away in
+peace and hope, and that owed that peace and hope, under God, to the
+influence of Metlakahtla, we do know. The day is coming--it may be very
+soon--when Metlakahtla will, share the universal fate of the things
+that are seen and temporal, and will have become a mere memory of the
+past, while the men and women, and children, whom it brought to the God
+and Father of all to be washed, and sanctified, and justified in the
+name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, live on and on in
+the power of an endless life. No tall church spire, rising from the
+inlet of Kahtla will then be needed to guide the mariner through the
+Archipelago of the North Pacific coast, "for there shall be no more
+sea." But the great temple of living souls will stand forth in all its
+glory and beauty, and among the stones of that spiritual house will be
+many hewn from the quarry in the Far West. Tsimshean and Hydah, and
+many another Red Indian tribe, shall find a place in the building
+which, fitly framed together, shall then have grown into a holy temple
+unto the Lord. Happy indeed will those then be who have had a share,
+however humble, in the work of raising it, stone by stone, to His
+praise who will make it His dwelling for ever!
+
+
+
+
+CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
+
+
+1776.          Discovery of Vancouver's Island by Captain Cook.
+
+1792.          Further discoveries by Captain Vancouver.
+
+1819.          Attention of the C. M. S. Committee drawn to the Indian
+               Tribes on the North Pacific Coast.
+
+1856. July.    Captain Prevost's Appeal for British Columbia appeared
+               in the _C. M. Intelligencer._
+
+  "            Contribution of L500 received to begin a North Pacific
+               Mission.
+
+  "   Dec. 23. William Duncan sailed with Captain Prevost in the
+               _Satellite_.
+
+1857. June 13. The _Satellite_ reached Vancouver's Island.
+
+  "   Oct. 1.  Duncan reached Fort Simpson.
+
+1858  June 13. Duncan preached his first Sermon in Tsimshean.
+
+  "   Nov. 19. Duncan opened a School for Indian children.
+
+  "   Dec. 20. Legaic's attack on Duncan.
+
+1859.          Bishopric of Columbia founded.
+
+1860. April.   Duncan's first visit to Nass River.
+
+  "   Aug. 8.  Arrival of Rev. L. S Tugwell.
+
+1861. July 26. First baptism of Indians--nineteen adults.
+
+  "   Oct. 10. Return home of Mr. Tugwell.
+
+1862. May 28.  Foundation of the new Settlement at Metlakahtla.
+
+1863. April.   Visit of the Bishop of Columbia to Metlakahtla--Baptism
+               of fifty-seven adults.
+
+1864. July 2.  Arrival of Rev. R. A. Doolan.
+
+  "            Nass River Mission begun.
+
+1865. May.     Second visit of Bishop of Columbia.
+
+1867. May  27. Arrival of Rev. R. Tomlinson.
+
+  "   Aug.     Return home of Mr. Doolan.
+
+  "            Kincolith Station established on Nass River.
+
+1869. May 6.   Death of Legaic.
+
+1870. Jan. 28. Duncan left Metlakahtla for England.
+
+  "   Mar. 13
+      to
+      Sept. 8. Duncan in England
+
+1871. Feb. 27. Duncan returned to Metlakahtla.
+
+  "   Oct.     First baptisms at Kincolith by Archdeacon Woods.
+
+1873. Aug. 6.  First Stone of Metlakahtla Church laid by the Governor of
+               British Columbia.
+
+  "   Nov. 9.  Arrival of Mr. W. H. Collison.
+
+1874. Dec. 25. Opening of Metlakahtla Church.
+
+1875. Aug. 18. Duncan's plans for the Indians of British Columbia
+               adopted by the Provincial Government.
+
+1876.          Duncan's journey to Ottawa to confer with the Canadian
+               Government.
+
+  "   Aug. 30. Lord Dufferin's visit to Metlakahtla.
+
+  "   Oct. 16. Arrival of Mr. H. Schutt.
+
+  "   Nov.  1. Mr. Collison began Queen Charlotte Islands Mission.
+
+1877. Aug.  6. Arrival of Rev. A. J. Hall.
+
+  "   Nov.
+      to
+      Mar. '78 Bishop Bompas's visit to the Mission.
+
+1878. Mar. 12. Mr. Hall began Fort Rupert Mission.
+
+  "   Mar. 17. Ordination of Mr. Collison.
+
+  "   June 18. Admiral Prevost's visit to Metlakahtla.
+
+1879. May   2. Arrival of Mr. G. Sneath.
+
+  "   July 25. Consecration of Rev. W. Ridley to Bishopric of Caledonia.
+
+  "   Oct. 14. Arrival of Bishop Ridley at Victoria.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Metlakahtla and the North Pacific
+Mission, by Eugene Stock
+
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