, (fitmta IntfaprHtlg IGthranj

KINGSTON, ONTARIO THE HERO

OF THE SASKATCHEWAN.

LIFE AMONG THE OJIBWAY AID CREE INDIA!

IN CANADA.

BY

JOHN MCLEAN, M.A., Ph.D. (ROBIN RUSTLER.)

Author of " The Indians of Canada" — "James Evans, Inventor of the Syllabic System of the Cree Language"— &c., &c.

REPRINTED FROM THE BARR1E EXAMINER.

BARRIE, ONT. : Thb Barrie Examiner Printing and Publishing House.

1891.

GEORGE McDOUGALL, Saskatchewan. The Hero of the THE HERO

OF THE SASKATCHEWAN

LIFE AMONG THE OJIBWAY AND GBEE INDIANS

IN CANADA.

JOHN MCLEAN, M.A., Ph.D. (ROBIN RUSTLER.)

Author of "The Indians of Canada''— " James Evans, Inventor of the Syllabic System of the Cree Language"— &c., &c.

REPRINTED FROM THE BA ERIE EXAMINER

BARRIE, ONT. : Thb Barrie Examiner Printing and Publishing House.

1891.

TO THE MEMORY

OF THE LATE

SAMUEL SOBIESKI NELLES, D.D., LL.D.,

CHANCELLOR OF VICTORIA UNIVERSITY,

MY HONORED INSTRUCTOR AND FRIEND.

PREFACE.

jSjBARLY in the year 1881 the plan of this book was conceived, and materials

^ejll begun to be collected which in the two following years were utilized in the preparation of the manuscript. In 1884 the book was laid aside unfinished and not uutil the present year was it resumed. The task is now ended, some- what imperfectly, but we hope these pages will not have been written iu vain.

MOOSEJAW, A.SSINIBOIA, Canada, December 10 th, 1890.

JOHN McLEAft.

CONTENTS

Preface.

Chapter I. Birth and Boyhood 1

II. Youth and Early Manhood 3

III. Missionary Preparation 5

IV. Alderville 7

V. Garden River . . 9

VI. Rama 11

Vil. Norway House 13

VIII. Maskepetoon 17

IX. Victoria 19

X. Edmonton 27

XI. TheBIackfeet 35

XII. The Last Hunt 38

XIII. The Departed Missionary ... 44

XIV. The Falleu Mantle 46

:

^Tfye 5ero of tfte Saskatchewan.*-

LIFE AMONG THE OJIBWAY AND GREE INDIANS, IN CANADA,

BY JOHN MoLEAN, MA, Ph.D. (Robin Rustler.)

CHAPTER I. The tempting snares in the shape of wealth that presented themse'ves before BIRTH AND BOYHOOD. him, especially duiing his residence in the vast territory of the North- West, ASTER missionaries are not born J caused him not to swerve from the path Jevery day. When a missionary of duty, and the poire encroachments of ^ifPgeniu si eaves his imps ess on heathen- bigots or the daring bravado of immoral ism, and the influence of a leader is felt in frontiersmen were unable to deprive him the transforming power exhibited in tem- of the defiant and heroic spirit of his poral, moral and spiritual things, the eyes valiant ancestors. In hut and hall he of the multitude are directed toward the retained the proud mien of the Celtic happj possession of principles, which de- race, tempered with the refining influences signate him as divinely appointed and of the relipion of Christ. Thus, in the guided in his intensely earnest efforts for language of the national poet of Scotland, the amelioration rA humanity and the he found expression for the language of salvation of souls. We are all learners, the heart and the study of mankind is one of the most profitable studies in life. The lives "What tho' on hamely fare we dine, hodden-grey, a' that of missionary leaders become therefore Wear and ; eminently fitted lor perusal, imparting Gie fools their bilks, and knaves their accurate information, guiding against wine, error, generating a passion for souls A man's a man, for a' that." which culminates in a burning enthusiasm, Iiis father was a non-commissioned that smiles at difficulties and ensures officer of the Royal Navy. He performed success. naval service on the lakes on our frontier, The noble and enthusiastic GIeorge during the war from 1812 to 1815. When McDougall was one among the gifted peaceful times settled once more upon the spirits that have adorned the cause of country, and there was no longer any missions, and worthy is his name to find need for the defence afforded by the pre- a place in the missionary annals of the sence of the Royal Navy, his father with nineteenth century. many others were at liberty to forsake (jIeorge McDougall was born in the military life for that of peace and pros- city of Kingston, Ontario, in the year perity, as farmers, in the districts newiy 1820. opened up. When the resources of the During the tender years of childhood, country were becoming more fully devel- pious influences were thrown aiound him oped, and the enterprising settlers were in his home, whiuh left a lasting impres- preparing homes for themselves amid the sion upon his mind, and caused him in early forests, the family located on the Pene- manhood's years to rely implicitly upon tanguishene Road, above where the town the care and wisdom of a devoted mother, of Barrie is now located. The family and ultimately to revere the memory of consisted of two boys and three girls at the one dearest to him on earth. His this period. Two sons died before George parents were natives of Scotland, and was born. The guiding influence in the from them he inherited that spirit of per- household toward religious matters was severance and self-reliance which was the presence of the pious mother animated often put to severe te*ts, yet always con- by her prayers and enforced by her exam- quered, amid the wintry storms, and ple. Jt was her loving counsel that saved arduous duties «>f missionary life in her boy when treading the slippery path Kewatin and tiie Saskatchewan. of youth, and it was to her energy and pious enthusiasm that much of the success among the p or nobles of ihe earth, whose of her missionary boy s to be ascribed. heritage a id fortune consists in a good Her thrift and maternal devotion secured name and virtuous (beds. Jn the iunoc nt

1 for him an elementary educatio », and he; days of cuil linn d, the old log cabin was to

Christian fortitude and tact led him in hiii i palace. Tnere, in his forest home, early manhood to yield his noblest powers he was learning those lessons that were to as a joyous sacrifice to Go I. During t .ese become .-o useful to him when the mantles boyhood years, as the bone and muscle of of fall- n missionaries had rested upon

the embryo pioneer were > ein^ ot \ eloped, him. It wa» the truths taught him by the country was enjoying a season of rest poverty and perseverance that pre- which was well improve- i b^ the hardy pared nim for his life-wot k, and enabled colonists in enlarging their resources, cre- him to pmsue a career, notable for its ating new industries, sueing for religious exciting adventures, civilizing influences equality and increased po itieal power. ami spiritual results. As he romped

Emigiation was encouraged, an I with among the trees, and sported in his child- such success that within a score of ye «rs ish glee with the squirrels anri butfei flits, after the war the population had nearly he exhibited ihose characteristics of his doubled. There were political dangers manhood, a joyous and earnest spirit en- which for a ume threaten* d to impede the cased in a poweiful physical frame. He progress of Upper and Lnvver Canada, was a child of the country. Th

in her own home. When the two brothers tions make lasting' impressions upon the were old enough they walked to school, mind, and such was the power of compan- live miles distant. David was a much ionship, that evil 'results would, have fol- better scholar than George, and being the lowed, marring a noble lite, had not ex- younger, had greater opportunities of im- emplified piety, at home, counteracted proving himself. George possessed a strong this influence and pointed to a higher physical frame, a determined 1 will, and destiny, in practising virtue and seeking was general y in quest of fun. These truth. While the youthful spirit; of qualities, added to a dislike for study. George McDougall was being agitated prevented him from making much progress by the persuasive voices of gpod and evil, in education, especially as he had vj work the country was in a sate of unrest, on the farm in summer, and only had the through the exciting controveisy on the winter months to go to school. David question of the Clergy Reserve, and the had a weaker constitution, a more cropping out of strong republican senti- thoughtful disposition, and a love for ments among a tew politicians of that

study. time. In 1 *33 the lute Rev. Egertdn Ryei

W ith these advantages Da?id became a son. L/L D. . visited England Mb a delegate'

; superior fchol«r. Brothers will have dif- from the conference of the Methodist de- ferences of opinion, and the McDougall nom -nation, in Canada, to secure Uniori bi others, exhibiting different dispositions, with the British'Meth' dists. He carried drifted into the appUpper Canada Assembly, but ultimately ized him through life, no sooner was his the rights of tiuth and justice prevailed. year's work finished than he started to In 1835 this eminent minister again visited throw himself into the embiaces of his .hngland to secure a charter and funds faithful friends. Though only fourteen tor an institution of learning, now well years of age at this time, he d'd not ^pend known as Viororia Universi y. During a cent of his wages, nut took them home his residence there for one year and a when he returned, and handed at once all half, he learned that the English people that he had earned to his devoted parents. had conceived wrong ideas concerning There was joy in that household over the the loya ty of the Canadians, through the prodigal's return. The penitence, devotion republican and revolutionary opinions ex- and manliness, that were shown on t l ns pre.-sed by Messrs. John Henry Papineau occasion, enlarged with his growth until and Willi i m Lynn McKenzie, supported they were fully developed upon tne bound- b> their representatives in Britain. In a less prairies of the Great North- West. senes of six letters to the /'imes, Dr. The summer months were spent by the Ryeison ably advocated the cause of 'he ' two brothers in farming and trapping, Canidian people proving their loyalty to and in winter they continued to walk long theB itishorown, and th ir nod -committal distances to obtain the mental preparation tothesepar >ti^t views of revolutionary poli-

' necessary for acquiring success in life. ticians. These letters were reprinted and widely scattered with very beneficial '

results J he rebellion that followed in' CHAPTER, II. Upper Canada, under the leadership of Lyon McKenzie was speedily' YOUTH AND EARLY MANHOOD. William checked tnrough the prompt measures' jijpsHE absence of the brave and merry taken by the loyal majority of the people. lj||| youth had been keenly felt,but when It was during the exciting times of the.se $$p> .-igain the family was united joy few years that George McDougall, then ' reigned supreme. These early years were sixteen years of age, joiritd the Jfopal pregnant -vith conflcting influences which Foresters in w'hich he served nearly rive ' might have proved serious in retarding months, receiving his discharge on May, 12, the progress of the work amongst the 1838. He was then residing in the Township '

Indians, by the withdrawal of this indi- o f Flos. Previous to e disting ia the" vidual life from engaging in the great militia, he and his brother h d become contest against heathenism. Early associa- members of a temperance society. The —

grave deportment and serious disposition One week after his conversion he led a of David proved to be safeguards against prayer meeting, and the first hymn he the temptations of youth, which were gave out, was the one commencing more difficult for the susceptible nature "Shall I, for fear of feeble man, of Georue to overcome. Th*1 two The spirit's course, in me restrain." brotheis had been successful in their trap- ping expeditions and it was thought ad- His soul now burned with a zeal that was visable that the younger should ace mpany intense in seeking to do good to the souls the elder on his way to join his regiment, of men Having tasted of the good fruits and after disp- sing of the furs return of the kingdom of God, he longed to tell home. While on their journey sev- others of the rich blessings that wee in eral of George's old militia associates store for them. He sought out opportuni- met him, and his buoyancy of spirit ties of doing good. When the new-born caused him to yield to the entreaties ot soul obeys implicitly the teaching of the his comrades and break his pledge, while Holy Spirit, a. life of earnest Christian Divia boldly answerad the persuasions of activity is the result. The soul ot this his friends by saving. " No ! '' "I belong youthful disciple had b-ien*touche.d, and to a Teetotal Society." Amid the many he must needs seek out the lonely way- and peculiar temptations of military life, farer to tell him of the tender sympathies the youthful spirit of the future of the Man of Nazireth. This zeal found missionary was too proud to stoop to vme expression in nob e actions rather than in and too noble *o submit to be conq lered words. Regular religious services having by the evil geniuses of si iful habits and been begun iu the McPoug'all home wordly strife. Without the guiding in- by the Rev. Thomas McMullen, George fluences of the Holy spi- it, however, there proved himself to be a willing helper in is lacking in the h^art of every young all matters pertaining to the Salvation of man the inspiration that will lead to men's souls. noble actions and ultimately to an honor- Wherever he could increase men's- in- ed life. Golden opportunities are met terest in the work of God he was found ty everyone in life, but too often are pas- ready to add his influence to ensure suc- sed by.stilljthere are favorable circumstan- cess. Thus he b cine an earnest advo- ces that come to all, apparently to us, pre- cite of temperance and fully exemplified senting irresistible impulses thatlaunchthe its principles in his duly life. .The turn- soul into the ocean of Tivine goodness ing point in life having betn leahed and and life. One of these p; culiar seasons hi« mind fully directed toward a career of was near at hand, to direct the active usefulness, it became necessary for wandering heart of George McHougall him to mark out a path for himself and to the resting pla«-e at Calvary. A field- aw lit not the help of others to supply his meeting was held by a local preacher need or poiiu w lure duty called. named Peter White, which was attended The two brothers had arriv. d at an age by t^e young farmer and trapper, who, when thev must bid adieu to the old home- uuder the preaching of this man of God, st< ad, and begin the struggle for existence was convinced of sin. Returning ho.ne in a world of hope and fear. in the evening, he entered his room to They took up a farm and labored together, pray, but Mt afraid. Three times he and now that their connection with the went in on'y to be repulsed by the terror heme of their childhood was partial'y that wa.i in his he nt. His mother observ- fevered, Gedrgk was seldom with those ing his strange manner, enquired the he loved. The stern duty of earning an reason for his peculiar actions and receiv- honest crust of bread is so inevitable, ed a reply given with characteristic bold- that it causes the tenderest memories of ness, revealing the state of his mind, and childhood to fade through a compulsory his intense desire for salvation Rejoicing residence amongst strangers whose bitter as only a christian mother can, she bowed words severely pierce the heart. Honest with him at a throne of g^ace, and be- iudust.y, therefor-', prevented the elder sought pardon and peace for her penitent brother from dwelling with his parents son. A short time atterwatd at a centen- and making the household merry with his ary celebration, held in Barrie, he was joyous shouts. enabled to rejoice in a knowledge of sins The spiritual power that now rested forgiven, ami from that period upou him, awakened the dormant facul- began a life of intense energy and untir- ties of his nature and his intellectual self ing zeal, devoted to the interests of hu- cried for nourishment. Conversion prov-

manity, but especially to the benighted ed to be an incentive to his mind . He

red me i of forest and pla'n. Truly became a nniser of time and imbibed characteristic of his whole life was his earnest views of life. His intellectual entrance upon the field of Christian toil. and spiritual nature developed rapidly. At once he became an avaricious reader. shrewd and observant, he cultivated the Fvery spare moment found him poring habit of studying mankind, so that he over his books. Night and day he increas- soon acquired a very extensive knowledge ed his knowledge. of human nature. Just at the time when So fully did he realize the necessity of he began to think and act for himself, he securing an education, and so enthusiastic was thrown amongst a class of people did he become as a student that often- noted for their intelligence, desire for in- times were his business hours encroached formation, and genuine good sense. Con- upon in order to hold converse with the tact with other minds gave zest to his in- spirits of the past, who had left their im- tellectual appetite and strength was given press upon the speaking page. The time to his reasoning and conversational thus spent in earnest study was pioduc- powers. tive of good results. Mental strength, Farm life taught him the use of tools enlarged acquaintance with literature, which enabled him in his missionary grander ideas concerning God and man, work to build mission premises with little inspiration for future tod, refined tastes or no expense to the missionary and subject-matter for exercising his society. Manual labor in early life placed native eloquence, ate some of the benefits a power in his hands which was well em- accruing fioin the intense love of study ployed in teaching the Indians to be- that took possession of his soul. come self-supporting. Determined to make up for the Trading with the Indians gave him an lack ot educational advantages in early insight into Indian character and supplied years, he set about providing the very the means for acquiring a slight knowledge best remedy for removing the evils aris- of the Indian language by which he could ing from this defect, and that lay in a engage in conversation with the natives of course of self education. lie began this the country, although in his work of course with energy, and his improve- preaching the gospel, he was never able to ment became apparent, as he gathered dispense entirely with the services of an wisdom from all soutces, and treasured interpreter. The ingenuity and enterprise every germ of knowledge, conscious ot of the former Indian trader were often its Utent power. tested in sailing the rivers of the North- West and in being equal to any emergency in the many break-do^ns consequent upon CHAPTER III. travelling over the prairie. God was undoubtedly preparing our MISSIONARY PREPARATION. subject for an earnest and successful car- ^|MHE first efforts of the great workers eer as> a missionary of the Gospel of Jesus jS5% in life have oftentimes been so very Christ. ^yi feeble, that to mortal e>es they have On January 10, 1842, he was united in been tot 1 failures. marriage to Miss Elizabeth Chantler. She Christian people have been led astray had come to reside with her brother, who by false impressions and de.^pised those had erected a mill and began business oper- whom God has chosen. Deeper into these ations near Barrie natures than men can see has GrO I looked, Miss Chantler was a birth right member and from the dross of life has he taken of the Society of Friends, but that she these treasures and reserved them f<»r him- might enjoy the privileges of religion, she self. Tnese workers ate prepared by the cast in her lot with the Methodist people. po'ishing processes of God's providence. At a watch-night service conducted by the Vacancies are filled, but not by them, and Rev. Thomas MoMullen at Barrie in 1840- new paths are opened for them, hitherto 41, she became fully impressed that it was Untrodden by men. Livingstone wished to her duty to engage in Christian labor with go to China, but God reserved him for the people of God and not to wait until a Africa. sufficient number of members of the George MoDougall was one of the Society of Friends should form a congre- divine chosen ones, whose life was mould- ga'ion Having had instilled into her ed for his great mission among the children mind from childhood holy principles, of sorrow in he Canadian wilds. Life which became intensified by her relations on the farm trading on the lakes, sojourn- with the Methodistpeople, she threw herself ing with Indians and minging with men at once among the Christian laborers who of intelligence and sterling piety, all com- rejoiced at her devotion and were quick- bined to develop i noble manhood, well fit- ened by her enthusiasm in working for tedfor enduring the hardships of a pioneer's God. Such an helpmeet could not but in- life and giving inspiration amid arduous fluence the life of George McDougall toil. Much of his educatiou was gained for good. For some time after their mar- from men rather than books. Naturally riage they lived on a farm, where now is located the Owen Souud cemetery. Farm plane of thought. His future plans of life was ultimately given up when a part- action were, no doubt, unfolded to him nership was entered into with Messrs. in these years of toil. His ideas on Frost ami Neehndsof Owen Sound. Our Indian matters enlarged with his exper- subject had felt impressed for a long time ience, but the germ was implanted in his that it was his dnty to give himse f up as mind during his business relations with a missionary for the indian work, and in- them. tended saving enough funds to enable him The religious enthusiasm that was burn- to secure an education preparatory to his ing intensely within his soul found expres- entrance upon his life-work. Mr. Nee- sion in the formulating of indivi lual rules lands strongly persuaded him to go into for holy living. He determined by the business and after due deliberation he yield help of Gcd to rise daily at five a.m., to ed, still he felt that he was not in the begin the day with prayer, to memorize a sphere in which theGreat Master would have passage of scripture that his mind might him woik. To him was allotted the trading be fn'lv employed throughout th-s day and department which included the sailing of to aim in all things to glorify God. a schooner upon the lakes and the visiting His task for self-improvement consisted of varions bands of Indians. in a systematic study of English gram-, A schooner called "Indian Prince" m tr, the enlargement of his knowledge of was bui't and the religious captain carrie I English literature and of the Indian lan- to the Chippewas food for body aad soul. guage. Inheriting the natural tendencies of a His z j al for doing good was intense.: sailor and being trained for a time in the He became President of a Temperance toils and pleasures of this class of men, it Society and was appointed to the office of is to be expected that he would become Class- leader. expert in the management of a small craft On the temperance platform he strongly upon our northern lakes. advocated the claims of total abstinence Mr. Frost having gone out of the upon all classes, but espo^ially asserted firm, Messrs. Neelands and McDougall that it was the duty of Christians to throw *>old the Indian Prince and bought the their influence with the temperence party.. " Sydenham.'* In this vessel he sailed in All through his life he was an inveterate the Geogian Bay, Lakes Huron, Erie and enemy of the liquor traffic. Boldly he Michigan, going as far as Detroit and stood up in defence of the Indians in this Cleveland. matter by exposing the tricks of unprin- During these trips and in his business cipled men in selling liquor to them, relations with the Indians he became a and the moral courage displayed at this practical hunter. The ability thus ac- time increased with his experience and as quired was very much needed, when in t e dangers of his situation were multi- the happy days of halfbreeds and buff ilo, plied. In public and private he unflinch- the missionary had often times to rely up- ingly j^ave hi* testimony against the sale on his gun for supplying himself and party and use of intoxicating drink. with the necessaries of life as they travel- His piety was masculine and energetic. led over the boundless prairie without He discovered paths of usefulness or made seeing a solitary habitation for hundreds them. On his trading visits to the Indian of miles. camps, he labored earnestly for the salva- lie learned much concerning the Indians tion of the souls of his red brethren, and also when trading with them As the gre^t for their physical, mental, moral and work of his life was to be performed social welfare. amongst the aborigines of Canada he Religion and business went hand in hand could not have teen placed in a better aiding each other Whilst spesking of training school than that of experience. the value of his goods, he forgot not to

Having much t > do with them in these tell his friends of the p^arl of great price. early years enabled him to study their He preached the gospel by precept and habits, modes of thought, social customs example. The culture of the heart became and religious ideas and to utilize the know- his first duty. His life was a continual ledge thus gained in his missionary work. '* dare to do right." These manifestations As he associated with them ani witness- of zeal were developing his talents for a ed their greatest needs, he could devise wider and more important field of toil. means for assisting them, many of which Upon the dissolution of the partnership of methods would take years of study before the firm of Neelands and McDougall, he reaching perfection. His mind became removed with his family to the Indian vil- assimilated to that of the Indian, never, lage of Newash, now called Brooke, where however, to modify his religious principles he spent the winter and following summer to suit their tastes^ but to seek by sterling collecting the outstanding debts of the integrity to raise their minds to a higher late firm. Now that he was free from the .

cares of business, the higher responsibil- with a worthy ho^t of local preachers ities of his spiritual nature weighed upon amongst whom were Conr^l Valid nam his mind, demanding an answer to the and G< orge ivIcDougall. The year 1S49 great question of giving h : s life to the work was spent in enthusiastic study at the of saving the suuls of men. college, and such was the success that re- The husband and wife talked the matter- setted from his toil, that he began his over prayerfully and earnestly and they career as missionary assistant to the both felt impressed that duty demanded venerab'e Elder Case at Alder ville. The that their united lives should be offered as impetus given through his residence in Co- sacrifices for the spiritual restoration of the bourg enabled him throughout his life to Indians of mounta ; n, forest and plain. Up- glean in his leisure moments which were few permost in their minds rose the mat- through the fields of literature and derive ter of education. Funds were low, the profit and pleasure in the pursu't of know- family must be supported, but an educa- ledge. He bade adieu to the classic shade? tion also must be obtained To ollege of "Old Vic" and went forth to his then he determined to go. In order to work, inspired by that same heroic spirit secure the financial help necessary, he that animated ohamplain and impe'led went the following autumn to the fishing him to sav " Tne salvation of one soul is grounds at Horse Island, near ManUoulin. ol more value than the conquest of an There he toiled hard and made money suf- empire." ficpnt to enable him to go to Cobourg, where he became a student in Victoria CHAPTER IV. College. Two weeks before he returned ^LDERVILLE. from the fishery the first great sorrow fell N" upon the household, that was in after years | various parts of the Province ct Pill to have its cup filled to the brim. The flpl Ontario thete resided bands of the babe of the household, aged thirteen wii§& Missisangah Indhns. War and months, Moses, their third child, in the whiskey had done much io degrade them, father's absence s?ckened and died, and and many of the most influential was buried in the Newash burying men had passed away. Their religious ground ideas were similar to those of other In- The fishing being over, preparation was dians, most notably at the present time, made to bid adieu to comme;cial life and the three tribes of the important Black- to enter on his great missionary enter- foot Confederacy. prise American Indian theology presented a Before the departure of the missionary Great Spirit, a large number of lesser family a letter of removal was pive:i by divinities, as the sun, mountains rivers the Rev. James Hutchinson at Owen and trees, sacrificial offerings to the sun, Sound. and an immortal life. In this he stated that for several years There was a sensual heaven, where the Mr. and Mrs. McDougall had been " pious Indians' love for hunting would be fully t and faithful members of the Wesleyan gratified. This heaven was different from Methodist Church," that brother Mc- that of the white man. As no special Dousrall had " abilities which if properly revelation had been made for the Indian, cultivated and exercised will qualify him he concluded that the Christian religion for considerable usefulness in the church was not for him, and that the Great Father of God, especially in the Indian depart- had intended a different course through ment of it, inasmuch as he has acquired life and a separate heaven for the Indian an acquaintance witU the Indian lan- and white man. guags." Through the labors of Seth Cra-vford, Mr and Mrs. McD»ugallwenttoCobourg Alvin Torey and others, many of theOjib- alone, leaving their eldest son, John, with way Indians had been converted, amongst Mrs. Cathay, a higjily respected friend, whom were Peter Jones and John Sunday. that he might attend school, and David Wh^n the Indi ms had become partakers found a home with his aunt. The Rev. of the grace of God they earnestly desired Dr. Mc^abb was President of the Uni- to learn the "ways of the white man" versity ana during this year resigned that and enjoy the benefits of civilized life. position. They were therefore anxious to give up Whilst pursuing his studies, George their wandering habits and settle down to McDougall paid special attention to the de- agricultural pursuits. Some of the Objib- partment of homiletics, and sought con- ways in the Bay of Quinte leased Grape tinually to exercise his gilts in doing good. Island and in a short time began to reap The Rev. John Bredin was minister on the the results of their labois. Cobourg circuit and on the circuit plan The Rev. Wm. Case, the Father of In- for 1849 there were eight appointments dian Missions in Canada, with Peter Jones 8 visited the Grape Island Indians and car- stands a son of Augustus Jones, of the ried on a successful mission amongst them. Grand River, amongst the converts. Now Mr. Case visited the United States in the is the door opened for the work of con- interests of the Indians, and on his return version among his nation!" Mr, Case brought with him two ladies to instruct found out George McDougall and beheld the Indian women in sewing and domestic in him the qualities necessary for be- duties. coming a successful missionary. A small book of twelve hymns translat- At the Conference of 1850 the college ed into the Chippewa tongue was printed student was " received on triul" and ap- and used by the people in their woiship pointed as assistant to the Arostle of with much delight. The school progressed Canadian Indian missions at Alderville. favorably, the rude wigwams soon gave Several months previous to his reception place to comfortable log dwellings and the by the Conference had been spent on this interior of these was made light and clean- mission, and such had been the impressions ly, so that the people were happy. made upon the venerable missionary that The men were taught faiming. despite the objections of 3ome against They learned to make axe handles, receiving married men into the ministry, shovels, ladles, trays, and brooms. his influence secured him a place among It was deemed advisable far the Indians probationers. to leave Grape Island owing to the in- George McDougall began his year cf crease and proximity of the white popu- probation determined to profit by his lation. Through an arrangement with position and to do good. While at Vic- the Government they placed their lands toria College he had done a large amount in the hands of the authorities to be sold, of historical reading apart from his studies their value to be put into a fund and the in connestion with his classes. Important interest to he given annually co the facts gleaned in his reading he jotted down members of the band. in acommonplacebookforfuture reference. A reserve of nearly iour thousand acres During his residence at Alderville he con- wis selected in the Township of Alnwick tinued this method. Choice passages and in the county of Northumberland, and al- suggestive thoughts found in his general most at the head of Rice Lake. A Council reading were also preserved by this Hall, church and several cottages were method, and thus did he lay by in store built by Government, and to that place for his work, helps toward inspiration in the Indians were transferred. The Indians moments of despondencv His hours for went there in 1836-7, and the new mission study were few, but he was able in the was named Alderville, after one of the spare moments to gather " Thoughts secretaries of the missionary Society, the that breathe, and words that burn." As Rev. Dr Alder. he sailed from port to port in his schooner The Rev. VVm Case was appointed during his trading career, he was accus- missionary, and at once he began to tomed to keep a record of the important develop his methods for helping the peo- events of these trips upon the lakes, and ple he loved. An Indian Industrial School when the sailor became transformed into was organized chiefly for Indian girls in the missionary, he scanned the missionary which they were taught the various sub- literature of his day, and utilized the jects common in day schools, to which facts and anecdotes in his public and were added sewing, knitting, cheese aud private work. These items of missionary butter making. These girls were sent intelligence in after years were delivered from Indian missions throughout the in a new dress, and fairly glistened with country, and being separated from the beauty, when enraptured thousands heard associations of their childhood learned them at the missionary meetings, as they rapidly these branches of industry. Mr. were exemplified and received additional Case was a man of intense enthusiasm in illustration from the intensely earnest life all matters related to the elevation of of the speaker himself. Having fully the Indians. In his old age he wrote ''Oh entered upon the work of an Indian if I were again young, I would be delight- missionary, he resolved to spend three ed iu the work of preaching to people who hours daily in the study of the Chippewa had never heard the Gospel." He was ever language. on the alert to enlist the sympathies of This resolution was faithfully kept, people on behalf of the Indian work, and until the increasing responsibilities of the to secure the services of men and women work compelled him to lay aside for a well adapted to lead the Indian mind to more suitable time these studies in the a higher plane of usefulness. language and literature of the Indians. When Peter Jones was converted at That period never came, as he ever carried the Ancaster cump meeting in 1823, Mr. on his shoulders more than his share of

' Case cried out Glory to God ! there care and toil. Only occasionally was he permitted to CHAPTER V. enlarge his Indian vocabulary by short GARDEN RIVER. periods of study, as his life was chiefly spent in beginning new missions amongst URING the days of Evans and Hurl- half-breeds and Indians, U burt, the Indians living In the vici- His work as assistant at Alderville |pp nity of Lake Huron had beecome the necessitated the supervision of the In- "^ subjects of the prayersytrs of the mis- dustrial School in Mr Case's absence, and sionaries. Little had been done for their, the general affairs of the mission. His save some visits paid by Pet-r Jones time was fully occupied with preaching, (Kahkewayquonaby),John Sunday (Shaw- the pastoral care of the Indians, keeping andais), and Thomas Hurlhurt (Sauhgoh- the accounts of the mission, attending to nash), but these had been of short dura- the wants of the school, exclusive of the tion, and although little could have been teacher's duties and various other matte r s expected, lasting impressions were made known only to those initiated into the upon the hearts of many of the red mv. mysteries of an Iudian missionary's life. The Conference of 1851. beirg fully Often times he preached the Word of Life aroused to the needs of the Indians, and to the people in the surrounding circuits, sensible of the responsibility resting upon and though adding much to his work, the Church to carry the Gospel to the cheerfully he performed it, sustained by a heathen, instructed George McDougali to good constitution and the grace of God. establish a m'ssion among the Indians of As he faithfully toiled for the salvation the Lake Huron region locating at some of men, he ceased not to enquiie earnestly suitable place. Obedient to the command, after the true culture of the heart. By he left his family and friends and proceed- fasting and prayer he sought to develop ed to his mission field, followed by the his spiritual nature and gain a deeper in- prayers of God's people. Impressed with sight into the ways of God. Full well he the importance of the work assigned to knew that nomissionary could be^ucoessful him he sought help at the throne of as a soul-winner who neglected the culti- grace, and went forth trusting in the vation of his own soul and he determined protecting and guiding power of the to use the Divine means for getting, and Father of all. Preaching and making doing good. explorations as he travelled he finally Such was the manifest progress made reached Garden River, where he called by him in the development of his talents, the Indian Council together, setting be- and so great the success attending his fore the Indian chiefs, the benefits of labours, that he was deemed a tit and religion and their duty as Itaders of the proper person to go out unaided to win people. He agreed to become the mission- the red men for Christ and his religion. ary to the Indians at Garden River and The Alnwick Seminary at Alderville, shortly after proceeded to O^ven Sound where he had been engaged as assistant fo»- his family, returning with them, missionary was a large building, thiee without any delay. Their reception was stories high, sixty three long by forty anything but pleasant, nearly the whole four feet wide, having sixteen rooms above of the population being frenzied with the basement, well heated and ventilated. liquor, and great was the fear which fell William Jase, was missionary and upon the mission family. "Never despair" Superintendent of the Seminary, George was the motto of the intrepid missionary, McDougali assistant Missionary, and John and at once he repaired to the bush, cut Cathey master of the School. logs, prepared all the necessary material, These three earnest men had toiled and speedily erected a large mission house, faithfully together for the elevatLn of the and school house. The mission house was Indian youth, and not the least important nineteen feet wide and twenty seven feet part of the work had been the training of long, with a kitchen added, fourteen feet missionaries for missionary work upon the wide and twenty feet long. Indian Reserve?— George McDou gall's ap- There were residing at Garden River prenticeship had practically come to an two hundied and eighty Indians, with one end. Upon the 8th of July 1851 he bade band fifteen miles distant on Lake Superi- farewell to his dusky fiiends at Alderville, or ; and another, twelve miles distant at and started on his journey tor his new the foot of Lake George. There were mission field. other tribes of Indians along the North Shore, so that the mission became a centre of missionary effort and consequently the choice of the location was an excellent one. Within two years a great change had taken place among the people. Seyer&l not ble persons were convert* d; the ,

10

Council appointed ten Indians fco act as the success of the enterprise, but of greater constables, who should seize and spill any importance was the declaration of the liquor brought into the village, temper- principles of Gospel Temperance, Faith in ance principles spread rapidly, insomuch Christ became more potent than faith in that the prevalent dissipation soon disap- an organization or in any set of principl s. peared, and instead peice, harmony and Christ was revealed to them as the Saviour sobriety reigned. A chapel was built of the body, as well as the soul, and Gospel through the help of the Indians, the temperance became an established fact. children were taught in the school, some A monotonous life is that of the Indian of them being able to read the Scripture? upon a reserve, tending to develop a spirit and sing very sweetly the hymns in their of laziness and dependence. The advent own language. Thirty members were of the white man destroys their former received on trial, one young man died habits of living and consequently triumphant in the faith of the Gospel, and help must be given in the native transition many expressions of love for the truth had state. been given. About forty dollars had The missionary at Garden River found been subscribed by the young converts to- many of the boys and young men growing ward the funds ot the missionary Society. up in ignorance and idleness, a condition of Rapid had the progress been in temporal affairs tending to produce crime and and spiritual things and the heirts of the materially retard the progress of mission- mission family were filled with gratitude. ary work among the Indians. H« louged Having strong faith in the civilizing in- therefore for a Manual Labor School such fluence of Christianity, the missionary as had been establLhed at Alderville. prepared fields and taught the Indians by There was in contemplation the erection precept and example how to become self- of such an institution at Owen Sound supporting. Amongst all the Indian George McDougall desired greatly that tribes where liquors were easily obtained this should be fully realized. There is intemperence prevailed, smiting the peo- not the least doubt that had such an in- ple as with a scourge, demoralizing them stitution at that time been built and the as a foul monster of sin, and promoting young men and boys belonging to the disease and death. In the old whiskey Northern and western tribes drafted trading days in Manitoba, ana the North there, the civilizing of these natives of West Territories, the Indians repaired to Canada would have been moie speedily the forts and trading posts to barter for accomplished. But there Was no use of goods, where for a short time the repining and it was only needlessly spend- formalities of savage life were strictly ing euergv and time to wait listlessly for adhered to, but these were quickly dis- such an institution, so the iudefatigable pensed with when whiskey and rum were missionary with the assistance of Mr.Dagg given to the red men, and then the mid- the school-teacher, taught the children in night air resounded with hideous howls the school and gathered the young men in of debauched men and women, and the the evening for a " night school " where scenes witnessed were too foul for lan- they were instructed. guaga to describe. The Indians manifested a spirit of The Garden River Indians were not any loyality to their teachers and faithfulness exception to the rule. Men, women and to the Great Master of Life, Jesus Christ. children drank freely and the inevitable Several of them died rejoicing in the faith cousequences followed of immorality and of the Gospel and these had been rescued death. Mothers maltreated their off- from the depths of heathenish superstition spring or forsook them, so that death and vice. Some who had listened to the followed, and young and old men in their truths of divine revelation and had yield- continuous carousals fell into the camp- ed their hearts to uhrist, were strangers fires and were either crippled for life, or to the camps which the missionaries visited burned to deith. yet in the pagan camps they retained The missionary became fully persuad- their faith, and in their last hours they ed that something must be done and tnat sought not the incantations of the medi- right speedily for the salvation of the cine men, but went home to God "washed people. Meetiugs were held and Couucils in the blood of the Lamb." called for the purpose of enlisting the An English Church clergyman called to support of the chief men and inculcating visit two Indians at the point of death, temperance principles among the peop^. during the cholera plague among the Temperance lectures were given, Societies Indians around Lake Superior,foi>nd them formed, young and old pledged to total rejoicing in the hope of immortality. Up- abstinence, and the support of Government on enquiry he learned that several years officials sought to make the Indian Tem- previous, they had listened to the preach- perance movement a success. Great was ing of the Gospel and had been baptized by the Rev. Thomas Hurlburt, and after sionary's care. Earnest labor won the years of temptation they were still trust- hearts of the natives from their heathen ing in God, faithful even unto death. orgies and immoral practices, implauting A similar circumstance has come to love in their hearts, and arousing them light in later days through the labors of with the hope of better things. Grati- the Rev. Silas Huntingdon, who while tude arose in the hearts of the people travelling over his district in 1886, found toward their Christian benefactor, which a band of Indians near Chapleau, a station was expressed in their changed attitude on the Canadian Pacific Railway on the toward him and the Gospel, and became shores of Lake Superior, concerning whom a source of blessing to all. In the coun- he writes : "The Hudson Bay Company cil one of the chiefs named Ogestah made has an important post established at this a very effective speech, thanking the point, in connection with which I have missionary for his kindness and devotion, found a band of Indians, numbering and urging the Missionary Society to es- seventy-two souls, who were converted tablish an Indian Industrial School among from paganism at Michipicoton over the Garden River Indians, so that the twenty years ago under the labors of the children might be educated and taught late Rev. George AlcDougall. They to work. Ogeshtah, and Pahahbetahsung, claim to be Methodists and through ail another chief of the same tribe of Indians, these years, although separated from the in a letter to the missionary, sent, sub- body of their tribe, they have kept their sequently to the speech, expressed their faith, and maintained their religious wor- love for the Gospel, appreciating ship without the aid of a missionary. highly the benefits which had resulted The testimony of Mr. Black, the Hudson from its acceptation, and rejoicing in the Bay Company's officer, on their behalf .vas fact that the fire-water had now no power given in these words : 'These Indians are over them. Peace and harmony reigned a godly people. I ofren attend their in the camps, where formerly drunken- services, and find their prayers and ad- ness and pven cannibalism were prevalent. dresses fervent and intelligent, and they The Rev. Dr, Sanderson visited the Indi- have not been corrupted by the vices of ans and was greatly surprised at the ra- the white men.' pid improvement made in material things, Persistent efforts have been made by and abundantly satisfied with the mani- bigoted ecclesiastics to seduce them from festations of piety and the earnest lives their allegiance to Christ, but hitnerto of the people. they have resisted all such overtures I One source of great spiritual enjoyment baptised five of their children and pro- amongst the nitives was the camp meeting mised to do what I could to obtain a — ministering to the emotional part of teacher for them.'' their nature, tor it is a singular fact, that More than thirty years previous to this although in their savage state, they are visit of Mr. Huntingdon's, George Mc- trained to suppress their emotions, there Dougall hid gone amongst these Indians are none mote excitable in religious ser- preaching Christ, and for a time the peo- vices when the Gospel has touched their ple rejected the truth, but when the hearts. chief had lost two of his children, and Filled with love to God, they abandon- heard for the first time the doctrine of ed all pretensions to piety, and sought in the resurrection, he became submissive simplicity and sincerity to do the will of and yielded his heart and life to God. God. Faithful all through these years have these people remained to the truth, an CHAPTER VI. examp'e worthy of admiration, and one destined to remain in our recollection as RAMA. a notable illustration of devotion to the N the 12th day of August, 1857, a cause of Christ. letter was sent by the Rev. Enoch About forty miles above Sault Ste. ^PH W°°d> D. D., Superintendent ot Marie, the Methodists of the United ^few Methodist Missions, to George Mc- States had a flourishiny mission among Dougall, instructing him to proceed to the Indians, and an excellent boarding Rama asnrssionary to the Indians located school so efficiently conducted and suc- there. With the characteristic loyalty of cessful, that the missionary of Garden his race, the missionary left, not without River eagerly desired the funds necessary feelings of regret, his Garden River Indi- to carry on a similar enterprise. ans, and proceeded to his new field of toil. During the six years spent at Garden In this land of the lakes, he trod upon River, the education of the young and ground made classic by its Indian lore, the methods adopted for civilizing the venerated by the student of Canadian people were the chief objects of the mis- history, because of the martyrs' blood —

12

which had stained the sod. such men as the missionary Isaac Jogues Between Lakes Simcoe and Huron were had endured great tribulations. After the villages of the gentle Huron and war- the lapse of years, when the Huron and like Iroquois, inhabited by not less than Iroquois had forever departed, George twenty thousand Indians. McDougall taught the Ojibways of Rama There was St. Joseph or Ihonauria lo- the way of the cross. Time has surely cated on a point running out into Lake dealt very severely with these sons of the Huron, on the west entrance to Renetan- forest, and we would fain confess that we guishene Bay. have caught the falling tear, and our The Indian village of St. John the Bap- hearts have beat fast when thinking of the tist, called also Cahiague or Contaraea, sad fate of these plumed warriors of former was the frontier town of the Hurons ou days. Charles Sangster fitly expresses our the east, situated north of Lake Simcoe feelings when musing upon this sacred or Ouentaron, near Orillia, in which theme : abode nearly two thousand Indians " My footsteps press where, centuries From this village Champlain to advanced aijo, attack the Iroquois in their own country. The Red Men fought and conquered ; lost Upon the right bank of the River and won, Wye, east of Penetanguishene, there was Whole tribes and races, gone like last erected a fort by thj Jesuit missionaries year's snow, in 1639, which they named St. Mary. It Have f jund the Eternal Hunting-Grounds, was surrounded by stone walls, contained and run a chapel, mission house, wherein resided The fiery gauntlet of their active days, the missionaries and the French people, Till few are left to tell the mournful tale ; and store houses for provisions. Outside And these inspire us with such wild of the fort was a small garden, a amaze Christian Indian cemetery, and an en- They seem like spectres passing down a closure well protected, which was used as vale an hospital for the sick, and a resting Steep'd in uncertain moonlight, on their place for travellers. Upon the West coast way of Hogg's Bay, on one of the rivers run- Towards some bourn where darkness ning into it, there was a village called St. blinds the day, Louis, where in 1649 Brebeuf and Lale- And night is wrapped in mystery pro- mant were captured by the Iroquois, and found. in the village of St. Ignatius, distant We cannot lift the- mantle of the past ; about two and a half miles, they were put We seem to wander over hallow'd ground; to death, under the most cruel tortures, We scan the trail of Thought, but all is their captors. by In the very heart of overcast. the Indian country, where Champlain and his allies attacked their enemies, where There was a Time—and that is all we missionary enthusiasm dared' to visit the know. Indian camps to cell the story of the No record lives of their ensanguin'd deeds; cross, and brave men died for the love of The past seems palsied with some giant Christ and human souls, are found the re- blow, mains of the ancient lords of (janada, the And grows the more obscure on what it natives of our Dominion. In the County feeds, of Simcoe, from Barrie and Orillia on the A rotted fragment of a human leaf ; east, northward and westward, the Huron A few stray skulls ; a heap of human Ossuaries are still discovered. Native re- bones ! lics aud articles of French manufacture These are the records—the traditions are turned up, and anon we read the brief story of toil and triumph, of deeds of 'Twere easier far to read the speechless daring and thrilling adventure enacted stones. among a dominant race of red men who The fierce Ojibways, with tornado force, inhabited this region nearly three hund- Striking white terror to the hearts of red years ago It is a sad, sad story, braves ! these treasures of the dead are ever re- The mighty Hurons, rolling on their lating to us, and one which we can never course,

forget. Compact and steady as the ocean waves !

Upon such sacred soil, baptized with The fiery Iroquois, a warrior host ! blood, in the Village of Rama, the Pro- Who were they ? whence ? anrl why ? no !" testant missionary McDougall began his human tongue can boast work in 1857. Two hundred years before A mission to the Ojibway Indians had that time the Roman Catholic mission- been organized in 1845, by the Rev. Wm. aries had suffered the martyr's fate, and Herkimer, upon an Indian Reserve in the 13 township of Rama, on the eastern shore with the position of Chairman of of Lake Couehiching, in the County of the District, including Rossville, Ox- Ontario, The work had been successful, ford House, Edmonto::, White Eish the return of membership for 1846 being Lake, Lac-La-Pluie, and other mission one hundrod and twenty -six, the largest stations. In those early years the au- number ever reported in the history of the thorities of the missionary societies be- mis-don. lieved in extensive districts and missions The Garden River missionary, trans giving full scope for tne energy and ferred to this new field, entered upon his talents of the faithful missionary. A duties with enthusiasm. The influence short time sufficed to make all necessary of the white men had become injurious to arrangements for the journey, and with a the welfare of the Indians, and stringent hasty farewell, followed by the prayers measures had to be adopted for suppres- and good-wishes of Christian friends, the sing drunkenness and crime. By faith- missionary and his family embarked at ful dealing, many were reclaimed from the Colling wood on an Ametican steam boat paths of vice, and constrained to live de- for Milwaukee, then by rail to La Crosse, yotedly to God. where they engaged passage for transpor- On June 13th, 1859, Georpe MePougall tation up the Mississippi to St. Paul. was appointed to the office of Local Sup- By overland route they reached the Red erintendent of the Townships of Mara River, and placing their tent and all and Rama by the County Council. Ever earthly possessions on a barge, by dint of anxious to do good, he did not confine his severe work, for eight days and nights at labors to the Indians, nor to that which is the oars, they landed at Fort Garry, the strictly called sacred. In many ways, present capital of Manitoba. Such was and at all times he labored for the weal of the prospects at that time, and so great the red and white races, ever striving to the spirit of progress manifested bv the inculcate right principles and lead them settlers, that the missionary was more in the path of peace and fortune. In a than delighted with what he saw, pre- great measure he was successful, and there dicting that "the day is not distant was cause for rejoicing, through being when the limitless prairies which environ favored with striking evidences of ma- the banks of the Assiniboine will rank terial and spiritual prosperity among the amongst the finest wheat-growing coun- people. tries of British North America." Leaving On October 28th, 1859, he was invited Winnipeg (Fort Garry) they proceeded by to Toronto to attend missionary meet- boat to Norway House, Governor ivlc- ings, and the untr »ined eloquence of the Tavish, of the Hudson's Bay Company, missionary won all hearts, greatly ex- kindly assisting them, and after ten days' tending his influence, increasing the mis- journey they reached their destination. sionary revenue, and deepening the inter- Home at last ! Although far from their est of the people in the new phase kindred, surrounded by thousands of In- of life. The foundatio is laid among dians, deprived of many luxuries, and the Ojibways of Rama have remained subjected to many inconveniences, they sound, and the successors of Mc- rejoiced that tne end of the journey was Dougall have beeu faithful men, who gained, and that before them lay fields of have sought the Indians' welfare irrespec- usefulness wherein they might labor, and tive of threats of censure or promises of glorify God. reward. In 1874 a vice-regal visit was Norway House was one of the 3hief de- paid to the mission station, and after that pots of the Hudson's Bay Company, period during the incumbency of the de- situated at the north end of Lake Winni- vo ed Thomas Woolsey, several notable peg,nearly four hundred miles north from visitors sought health and knowledge up- the City of Winnipeg. Norway House on the eastern shores of Lake Couehich- was founded in 1819 by a party of Nor- ing. The late Senator John Macdonald, wegians who established themselves at of Toront >, received the Indian cognomen Norway Point, having been driven in of Wah-sa-ge shig, which means Btight 1814 15 from the Red River settlement. Day, from the chief men of Rama, during The fort was built at the mouth of a a vifit made to the Indians. small stream called Jack River. This was an excellent location for a mission, and CHAPTER VII. justified the choice of James Evans, the founder of the mission. From the widely NORWAY HOUSE. scattered regions of the North -West, the |N the month of June, 1860, George Indians of different tribes and the Halt- each year visited | McDougall was appointed to the far Breeds once and twice distant mission at Norway House, the Fort, the brigade of boats from North *y*v in the Hudson's Bay Territory, Factory and Red River for Athabasca 14 and Mackenzie River passed to and fro " Fort Frances, Lac-La-Pluie, on their annual trip, and to the represen- June 8th, 1857. of tatives of several tribes the Gospel To our Missionary : Christ was preached, and the story of You have come to this part to look for Calvary was repeated around the camp us, but our relatives will not do as you fires mission in the far frozen north. The wish. station was located about two miles from Now, we Indians on the British sidf de- the company's fori, and was named by sire you to establish a mission at the Fort James Evans Rossville, in honor of Don- of Lie- La- Pluie, Little Rapids, where ald Ross, Factor of the Hudson's Bay Com- * we wish to cultivate the soil and build pany, resident st Norway House our houses, where you may teach wisdom our The Indians among whom George Mc- to children, aud where we may hear the Word. Dougall was destined for a short time to We are poor ; we do not wish our re- labor, belonged to the Cree confederacy. latives to throw us down , we wish Their language sounds sweetly to the ear, you to use all the power help us, especially when the Chtistian hymns are you have to for we need help in tools, alsj clothing to sung in the native tongue. James Evans cover us from the heat of the sun ; and had invented in 1841 a syllabic system of may our good ways go up to the sky. the language, by means of which an un- Signed by the their cultured Iudi.au of the Northern forests Chiefs by marking respective totems. could master his language, and within one week read the Bible fluently in' his own Gabagw us. (Buck.) tongue. Hymns, catechism, and the Wuzhitshkoonce. (Turtle.) Bible had been translated into the Cree Shinuwigwun. language aud .printed in the syllabic Oabagwunashkung, Speaker. (Beaver.) characters.t Witnesses, John McDonald, P.M. Nichol Chantellan, his x mark, In- William Arthur, M. A., in his attractive terpreter

volume on the Mysore Mission, says : Addiessed to Allen Salt, Wesleyan " Every missionary ought at the very out- Missionary. set to determine that, by the help ot God,

he will preach to the people in their own The Speech of Pauyaubidwnviash , Chief tongue as well as if he weie a native. To oj Naumakaun, to Allen Salt. Wesleyan fix an aim lower than this is suicidal to Missionary. his own respectability and influence." Now I speak to you, my friend. Give The early missionaries to the American me that which will be useful to my child. Indians attempted this and succeeded. Give me that which Kishamunido has Evans and Hurlburt were effective speak- given you to tell. I pull you to help me. ers of the Ojibway language, and theie I put that into your head. are no white men to be found who can Now I speak to you missionary. Help taJk more fluently and forcibly in the me, for the white man is coming ver> fast Cree tongue than Johu McUougall and to fill my country. You who speak the O'rrin German. word of God, I want you to see m? every time Kishamonido brings the day. Now The foundations having been laid, we will listen to each other. I desire to George McD.mgall entered into the work follow your ways, so that ray children with love and enthusiasm, as the succes- may have the benefit. I want seed, that sor in the mission of Robert Brooking, children may plant and raise food. who had toiled bravely and with success, my Though little speech is like shooting as he had formerly done as a missionary my on the run parsing by me on your way for seven years on the Western Coast of Africa. home, yet lisren to me. I have confidence in your person, in Despite the difficulties attending mis- your high office, and that you will help sionary work in the North- West, and the me so that I may be able to subdue the indignities heaped upon the Indians by ground. white, many of the red men were anxious Now I desire to raise my children in ior the Gospel. one place. Now look out for the best place for me, my friend. The Rev. Allan Salt, a native Ojibway. Now I delight in seeing the sky which labored for three years at Lac-La- Pluie, Kishamunido has made. I desire you to and although many hindrances were give me a domestic animal, for an Indian thrown in his way, he was encouraged in is not able, to do what ought to be done. his work by the Indians, as shown by the You missionary, hav.e you not the following letteis : means so that you might let my children * McLean's "James Evans Inventor of the Syllabic System of the Cree Language," pages 149, 152, 154. tMcLjan's •« The Indians of Canada, "pages 255, 343 —

ir> have something to cover themselves from by the grace of God, on the established the muskitoes. missions. Considering the age aud obstin- Now my dish is stone. I wish to be as acy of former habits, the fascinations of I see you. I desire to- have dishes like Paganism, their imperfect knowledge of you. It I see according to my words, I the English tongue, the civil impositions will listen to what you saj to me. they have to bear, and the snares which some professed Christians lay for their Signed by marking his totem, entanglement, it is not certain that the Pauyaubidwawash, Chief.* defections among the Indians are more numerous than among the white people. George McDougall by means of temper- It is a libel on the Author of the Gospel ance lectures and sermons, and by setting to avow that Christian Civilizition injures the people an example of energy, before a Pagan people, either numerically, aroused them from their lethargy and in physically, socially, or religiously. The time the mission was in a flourish- a short Wesley ans have been specially favoured ing condition. by Providence in their attempts at Indian missionary was not inclined to The evangelization. The triumphs of Indian favor the location of the mission, although death-beds if there were no other reasons good and true had toiled there, but men for sftisfaction are an ample remuneration the lack of farming lands, the prospect for all the outlay and labour. The pro- of the ultimate failure of the fisheries, portions of the good done among the and thft rawness of the climate, induced Aborigines would stand out to the as- him to urge upon the missionary authori- tonishment of objectors if the Sabbath ties the removal of the mission to a more and the Bible Mere abolished on the Southerly location. The proposed chauge Society 'smissions,themissionariessilenced, never took place and Norway House Mis- Day and Sabbath schools closed, and tea- rem tins until the preseut day, the sion chers and interpreters discharged, the de- best American Indian Mission under the votions and experience of the prayer and auspices oi the Methodist Church. class-meetings terminated, the axe no \Vise and timely were the words penned longer reverberate and the plough cease by the Missionary Secretary in the Mis- to turn up the virgin soil, the songs of the sionary Report for 1862. relating to Cana- saved be unheared, and the Red families dian Indian Missions. The report states: with all their faults left to fall back to "The Society's Indian Missions in Canada the darkness and baseness and misery of have long and properly obtained much Paganism. But a better and brighter attention, and elicited an unwearied destiny awaits them." liberality from all classes of the popula- Through the labors of James Evans, tion, aud they have been repaid with the Hurlburt, and Thomas Woolsey the evangelizati m of thousands of untutored foundations had been laid among the and degraded pagans, whose stability and members of the Cree Confederacy for es- maturity in knowledge and virtue had tablishing very successful missions. The been wished, and after a short period in a existence of the Cree Syllabic Characters good degree maintained. The plans of Evans, the translations of the Scrip- adopted for this end have been scriptural tures by Steinhauer and Sinclair and the and the agency employed In the case of faithful preaching and pastoral work of Native Labourers though not always former laborers had prepared the way for highly intellectual has in all cases been George McDougall and others to carry on pious and fitting, energetic and efficient, the work. The successes which followed aud the local superintendence of the mis- the ministrations of these worthy men, sions has been committed to devoted were striking evidence of the value of the ivlimsters of prudence and probity. There principles taught and the liberality and has been, and is, scepticism on the sub- soundness of their schemes. ject of Indian conversion and consistency, and th^re ought to be care but not doubt. George McDougall's report for Norway Facts show that Canadian Pagans have House for 1861-2. was very encouraging. cast away their superstitions, received It is as follows : Bible truth into the mind, become devout "Both our European and Native con- worshippers of God, lovers of Christ, gregations present pleasing indications of and sober, industrious, and respected men, prosperity. At Norway House the Lord females have been advanced to their right has raised us up a band of zealous young place in domestic life and many children men. Many of these are now leavinp for have received useful knowledge. distant parts, and having received their There have been defections and there spiritual birth through the instrumentality are uneradicated evils to be deplored. or the love-feast, class and prayer meet- The good,nevertheless,has the ascendency ings, they have become acquainted with

•Canadian Wesley an Methodist Report. ,

16

our system, and are pledged to work for toms, and was a leader in all vicious the Saviour. practices, but about the year 1850 he had At Rossville, the Indian village, it has heard the Gospel and ultimately became not been our happiness to witness especial a christian. outpourings of the Holy Spirit, but the He was a faithful class-leader dealing Lord has been most gracious, our quarterly gently with the erring, aud boldly de- meetings have improved, our services have nouncing sin. In his exhortatious he was been most faithfully attended, and heathen true to the souls of men. For a few been gathered into the fold of Christ. years his health was failing, and he suffer- Our School may saf-dy be considered ed keenly. While absent from Oxford one of the brightest spots in this land. House he became seriously ill, but in the During the severest part ot the winter midst of his pain and weakness he was the attendance was regular: upwards of constantly rejoicing and praising Jesus. 30 of these interesting youth can read the When failing strength no longer per- Word of God. Our Sabbath School de- mitted him to manifest his joy, he request- mands special attention : about one hun- ed his nephew to read to him, and as he dred are constant in their attendance. To read the words " Thou shall see greater the ladies and friends at Norway House things than these" the patient sufferer we are deeply indebted for their valuable passed away to be forever with the Lord. services in this work of love. The cause The red men die well sustained by the of temperance has been kept before the faith of Chnst. Doubts have been enter- public mind and a goodly number of both tained regarding the success of the Gospel whites and Indians have pledged them- among the Indians, and yet striking selves to total abstinence. evidence;, have been given of the powei In secular matters we have made some peace, and purity given to vhe dying red advancement, and our church has been man. enlarged and improved: the Mission pre- West as well as East of the Rocky mises erected by the Rev. James Evans mountains, the Gospel has won many we found in a most dilapidated condit- trophies among the red. Sterling exam- ion. During the past winter every ples of true piety have been found among available hour has been employed in col- the red men belonging to Duncan of lecting material for a new house. In the Metlahkatlab. and Crosby of Fort Simp- village there are the marks of an improv- son. As early as 1861, success had at- ing people, new houses have been erected, tended the efforts of the early mission- and new fields have been enclosed with aries. substantial fences. The Rev. Mr. Robson graphically des- There is one subject that has sometimes cribed the work he had done during that oppressed us, the loss of some of our most year among the Indians at Nanaimo. promising young people by death: yet in He stated that there were about twenty these the great object of missions has been thousand Indians in British Columbia and accomplished. They all died in the Lord, only two protestant missionaries laboring A successful effort has been made to in- among them. And he continues " It troduce wholesome reading. A box of is not true that all our Indians are more books received from Dr. Green was at once degraded t-~an the vJanadian Indians prior disposed of, and another is daily to their conversion and improvement. expected. Our good people have not That may be true of those around Victoria been unmindful of their obligations to the and the lower Eraser, who live on clams Head of the Church for the Gospel. and fish., and have much with ungodly Norway House sends you a check for whiles: but it is not true of all. There £34 16s. sterling. And Ro-sville In- are no tribes in Canada t3 surpass the dians theirs for £ 6, 5*. Number of mem- Queen Charlotte Island Indians, Tshimp- bers, one hundred and sixty seveu: in- shians, Bella Bellas, Tongas, and Thomp- crease twenty-seven. son's River Indians. I have seen many The missionary toiler at Oxford House of them who stand six feet two inches, had toiled during the same year with well built and capable of trotting with great earnestness, and many tokens of three hundred pounds of flour on their success had been given. Some of the In- backs: and they are capable of being edu- dians had read the new Testament in the cated. Cree Syllabic Characters entirely through, I know a girl of ten years of age, who and the study of the Divine Revelation committed to memory tne Romish mass had produced a higher type of piety and service in three days. It now takes her civilization. Amongst the number who a full hour to go through it at railroad had died was John Coland. Born a pagan, speed ! Numbers have perfectly learned healthy and energetic, he became an adept the alphabet (large and small) in one in vice. He delighted in heathenish cus- evening. I did not do that when I learn- —

17

ed it ! They also soon learn to write and baptized men and women to devote them- understand arithmetic readily. And some selves to this work, and a great and glor- of the tribes are large and remote from ious harvest will be gathered. I have a the blighting influence of civilized people. number of invitations from other tribes to Contact with the whites at Victor! x and visit them, and have promised some that other towns has made much evil. M:.y I will go to them and tell them of the God have mercy on them and the deluded Saviour". victims of their sin ! But you ask 'what All the success of the Indian missions have you done' ? Well I have tried to do had not been told, Sbme of the mission- what I could. During the past year I aries were extremely modest in recounting built a house 20x26 feet in size adjoining their hardships and enumeiating their the Indian camp at Nanaimo. Most of evidences of success. Inpartial travellers the work was done with my own hands t noted the tokens of pood, when compared for in this country we are not only tent with mission work in other land?. Mr. makers but house buildeis. It cost be- Boyce one of the Greneral Secretaries of sides my own labour, one hundred and the Wesltyan Missionary Society of Great thirty dollars, thirty dollars of this Britain, after visiting soma of the Cana- amount I raised here, and 1 hope yet to dian Indian Missions stated that he had get some more, but will probably be com- seen missions in South Africa, New pelled to ask some help from you, as I Zealand and various other parts of the cannot well go this warfare at my own world, and he had never witnessed such charge. In this house I assemble the In- etfecty as had been produced among the dians each Sabbath, after the morning JNative tribes of Canada through the service is over in the town, and preach to labours of Protestant missionaries. them. I use the Chinook language, and Not the least successful of our Canadian one of the Indians renders it into Nanaimo. Indian missions have been those among tfirst, I pray in English, (all kneeling), the Cree Indians in Kewatin and Sas- then repeat the Lord's Prayer in Nanaimo, katchewan. Around the camp fires the all repeating with me. Then I explain thrilling tales of adventure have oftentimes the commandments, and selecting asuitable been forgotten in the narration of the portion of Scripture, preach to them as story of the wondrous loveof the Christian well as I can: after this we sing a versj Master of Life. The songs and stories of in Chinook, and the closing prayer is the olden days have been rejected for- the translated by the interpreter. The In- sweeter songs and truer tales of the men dians attend often in large numbers, and of faith who have done Cod's will. are very serious, often deeply attentive. Sometimes they shed tears, an<< utter CHAPTER VIII. exclamations of wonder or joy at what MASKEPETOON. they hear. I am very hopeful of several of them. These are fair blossoms, but In the year 1862. the zealous mission- what the finish will be remains to be seen. ary whose life and labors we have teen Some fruit we have had in the restraining describing first met the noble and warlike of vice and visible reformation of life. chief Matikepetoon or Broken Arm.

! for the converting power of the Holy Oftentimes the devoted servant of God

Spirit to rest upon them ! My heart had gone out upon the plains visiting the is sometimes melted to hear the moving Indian camps and preaching to the people, speeches of some of them in their councils. the Gospel of the Crucified. His name

Such ! eloquence Such earnestness ! O! had been mentioned with honor by the if they were but converted, we should dwellers in the lodges, who ever held in have preachers of the right stamp, Jones grateful remembrance the man who lived and Sunday reproduced ! I also teach Day for their enlightment and prosperity. School when I can do so, and there are Upon one of these visits he entered the now about ten scholars in attendance, but camp of Maskepetoou, and declared to they are away fishing, voyaging, planting the people the Christ as the Great Sacrifice and digging potato-es.or working with the for Sin, A Story has been related ot the white people more than half of their time. influence of God's grace over the heart 1 have visited some other tribes besides of this powerful and haughty chief. the Naaalmos. They all seem ripe for the George McDou gall had been preaching to Gospel. I have often witnessed scenes of the Christians and heathen in the camp of thrilling interest among them —crowds of Maskepetoon, who «had entertained him almost breathless listeners— falling teais well, giving him the most dignified places shouts of gladness —entreaties tc come and the choicest portions of their food. again—shaking hands with hundreds—but The aged chief who was the head chief I cannot enter into all the details. What had mastered the Cree Syllabic characters, is wanted is earnest.self- denying, heaven- and when the missionary vis't^d him he. 18 was found reading the eighth chapter of fire as he detected the murderer of his Romans from a copy of the New Testa- son, and his whole boly was tremulous ment which had been given to him by the with emotion. Drawing his tomahawk Rev. Thomas Woolsey during the winter he rode quickly toward the young man. and of 1861. whilst everyone expected to see the culprit The aged chief listened intently to the dashed to the ground, they were amazed to story of the Cross, and especially to the hear him address him as follows: "Young power of forgiveness manifested by Christ, man ! By the law of our camps you are and this made a lasting inpression upon doomed to die. 1 trusted you as a brave his mind. Every day the old warrior read and honourable young man, choosing you two chapters in the New Testament in the above all others as the companion of my Syllabic Characters, and earnestly he was son. You betrayed your trust and shed seeking the light. The camp was moved; innocent blood. Yon have become an and as the company rode on, during the enemy to the tribe,and your name is hated days when they were seeking food, and by my band of wa.riors. I determined also revenge, one of the subordinate chiefs when first I should meet you to dash my went up to George McDougall and re- tomahawk into yonr brains, but I heard quested him to fall back in the rear, as the Praying man tell the story of the love they did not wish him to witness the suf- of the man called Christ, and the book of ferings and agon y of a young man whom the Great Spirit tells us to love our they weie determined to punish. Instead enemies. That story has softened my of falling back, the intrepid man went heart, and I forgive you. But go from forward and kept close to the head chief. my presence, and never let me look upon Maskepetoon seemed to be lost in deep your face again, lest I should be tempted meditation and his heart was evidently to avenge the death of my son." deeply stirred by the power of the truth. Oftentimes in the camp of Maskepetoon The reason for the precaution manifested did Woolsey and George McDougall point by the minor chief very soon became the Indians to the Lamb of God and many evident for they were approaching a band of the dusky braves became devoted fol- of Indians among wnom was a young man lowers of Christ. The songs of Zion arose who had murdered the son of Maskepetoon. on the evening air, as they gathered Early in the spring the aged chief had sent around the camp-fires, and with reverence his son to briug in a band of horses from they studied ' the word of God in the one of the valleys of the Rocky Moun- Evans' Syllabic Characters. When the tains, where they had been left to procure missionaries visited the camps the aged good pasturage during the winter. chief Broken Arm aud his companions He selected a young man to accompany gathered around them asking questions as his son, and to help him in the work. to the probable departure of the buffalo They started together and not many days and the advent of civilization. When afterward the young man returned, saying they departed the red men longed for the that as they were travelling along one of return of their friends who were able by the dangerous pathways in one of the their superior knowledge to predict the mountain passes, the son of Maskepetoon probabilities of the future. loosing his balance fell over a precipice Maskepetoon became a true Christian. and was dashed to pieces. The young Incessantly he studied his Cree Bible and man being alone could not drive the devoted much of his time for the welfare horses, and after several ineffectual at- of the Cree Confederacy. Especially did tempts they became unmanageable, and he become a peacemaker among the war- fled, so that he was unable to recover like tribes of the plains. Abouc the year them. The story was indeed very plau- 1865. a party of Blackfeet went north and sible, but not long afterward the true stole some horses from Maskepetoon's version was given. The young man had camp. He determined to enter into an opportunity to sell the horses, ?nd the negotiations with the Blackfeet and if temptation became so great that he slew possible secure his stolen horses. Accord- the chief's son, hid the reward of his ingly he set out for the Blackfoot camp, crime and returned to camp to tell the accompanied by his son and a few of his tale wnich covered his guilt. The aged followers. As they moved southward and chief determined to punish the offender, had reached Battle River, they ascended a and in accordance with Indian law and small hill and descried a band of Black- custom, that implied death or compen- feet coming toward them. It was a sation by means of gifts. mutual surprise, for neither party suspect- Maskepetoon's band was now moving ed the presence of the other. The few toward a party of Indians in which the Crees who were with the chief fled and murderer had found a place. The hid themselves, while the Blackfeet threw eye of the haughty chief flashed aside their blankets and rushed upon their 19 enemies. Suddenly they stopped and from the natural advantages of the place, gazed in amazement at the strange actions In 1862, George McDougall and his son of the brave chief. There he stood in the John, made a long journey from Norway way with one of his sons, deserted by his House to the banks of the North Saskatch- people, and reading quietly his Cree ewan visiting Indian and half-breed Testament. Be moved not and seemed camps, encouraging the despondent, re not to regard their presence. Thev pioving the vicious, and pr tying with the thought that he must be a great medicine sick and dying. As early as 1791, the man who bo»"e a charmed life, protected Norih-West Fur Company had trading by his guardian spirits. posts along the North Saskatchewan. The Blackfeet gazed in astonishment North East of Edmonton stood Lac upon the aged man, and then called upon d' Original and about 1793, another post him to tell them his name. "Maskepetoon!" named Fort George was built. Vast he replied, and the sound of that name herds of buffalo, and deer, and even sent terror to their hearts. They remem- grizzly bears roamed on the banks of the bered his former prowess, and they ad- Saskatchewan, and nearly seventy Years mired the fearless spirit of the brave chief. later when the Methodist missionary from Laying aside their hostile intentions they Norwav House visited the valleys of the proached the undaunted hero, and be- West, he saw large numbers of these came friends. The chief's followers crept animals. Wherever the trading posts from their hiding place, and together the were established, the Indians congregated at company travelled to Broken Arm's camp. stated seasons of the year for the purposes A treaty of jeace was made amid much of trade, and occasionally they made a rejoicing and many festivities. Under ra:d upon the establishments which were the guidance of the old man The Blackfeet seldom successful. visited Cree camps near Fort Pitt, Victoria The employees were of Scotch, French, and Saddle Lake, where further negotia- and English extraction, who joined the tions were entered into. Upon their company in their youth, lived lives of return Maskepetoon went with them to endurance, with short intervals of the Blackfoot camp and had all his stolen plef sure, and in old age retired to the horses restored. more thickly sett'ert parts of the country, This treaty of peace lasted for about or returned to the home of their childhood three years, when hostilities were re- to spend the remnant of their days. Some newed. Again he went southward to of them lived freely with the Indians, or secure peaceful relations, but failed. took to themselves dusky maideES from As he was travelling southward upon the camp, and apparently happy and con- his mission of peace, a party of Blackfeet tented were they surrounded by the smil- met him, among whom was his inveterate ing countenances of half-breed children. enemy Natos. The old chief and his son Through intermarriage a distinctive half- were shot down by the Blackfeet. His breed population sprang up, varied in its body was cut in pieces, and fastened to the tastes and intellectual ability according to horses' tails, was thus dragged into the the peculiar characteristic of the paternal B'ackfoot camp. nationality. These half-breeds became The Crees in retaliation killed over one the Voyageurs and Bourgeois of the fur hundred of their enemies, and for some trading companies, and the trappers and time afterward both pirties were evfr hunters of the North, famous rivals of the ready to start on the war-path. Many bravest of the Indian tribes. still remember the brave Christian chief The French half-breeds were generally of the Cree Indians, whose influence, members of the Roman Catholic Church, after his conversion, was ever on the side the Scotch half-breeds adhered to the of right. Kirk and Creed of their fathers and the English were divided between the Metho- CHAPTER IX. dist and English Churches. Through lack of religious teachers how- VICTORIA. ever the progeny followed the teachings fine hundred and twenty miles north of the earliest missionaiies. and west of Winnipeg stands the Victoria was a famous resort of the In- prairie village of the Saskatchewan, dians and half-breeds. fitly named Victoria. Robert Terrill Rundle in 1840, travell- It lies in a beautiful valley having rich ed toward the Saskatchewan country, as soil, abundance of timber of all kinds the first Methodist missionary sent to the suitable for early settlement, excellent west. He came from England that same pasture and a good climate. The Crees year, and was stationed at Edmonton and and half-breeds were naturally drawn to Rocky Mountain House, It was he, who this lovely spot about thirty years ago, began the Methodist mission at Pigeon 20

Lake latterly known as Woodville, which Steinhauer, Woolsey and John Mc- was finally abandoned owing to the Dougail began in earnest the preparation hostility of the Prairie Indians. This of the materials for the new premises. mission renamed after the Rev. Dr Enoch The lumber was cut by hand, and the Wood, father-in-law of Dr. Nelles, timber prepared sixty miles up the river. Chancellor of Victoria University, was When everything was almost completed reorganized by John McDoupall and is a prairie fire consumed the material, and still in operation, the location however the workers had to begin anew. Nothing having been changed within the past three daunted, they bravely encountered the years. task, and were successful. Robert Rundle was compelled to leave Within two years after the establishment the cjuntry through injuries received of the mission at Victoria, a church and from a horse, having labored in the west mission- house were erected at a cost of for eight years. This pioneer Methodist two thousand dollars, the whole sum be- missionary to the Rocky Mountains is ing defrayed by personal effort and local remembered iu the Indian camps by the contributions. songs of Zion which he taught the natives In the summer of 1863, George Mc- to sing, and the tourist gazes wibh admir- Dougail left Norway House with his family, ation upon Mount Rundle, as he glides having secured a passage with the along iu his palace car through the Rocky Saskatchewan Brigade of the Hudson's Mountains, little dreaming of the patient Bay Company, It vas a long journey, toiler who first taught the Crees and but undsrtaken in the interests of men's Stonies the name of the Blessed Christ. souls, there was strength enjoyed, greater Thomas Woolsey was stationed at than is usually borne when the object Edmonton when George McDougail visit- "ought is material wealth. ed the Valley of tie Saskatchewan. When the missionary and his family ar- vVoolsey had built a log house at Smok- rived, they stdl remained in their Indian ing Lake, about thirty miles north from lodge, no building being ready for shelter. the present site of Victoria, aud intended A house was speedily built, temporary yet establishing a mission there, but it was durable, and the work was energetically beguu. The Mountain Stonies latterly decide 1 to start on the bank of were the river, although this was on the path sought out, some of whom had become of the warlike Biackfeet. John McDougail devoted Christians, through the labours of had gone to visit some other places, and Rundle and Woolsey, and all of them had when he returned, he found that his avowed their attachment to the Methodist father had gone to Norway House, not Church. Blessed results followed the being able to remain longer, and the son labours of the missionaries. The class was instructed to stay and assist in erect- meeting was established at Victoria, and ing buildings for the new mission. so effectual were the ministrations of these spiritual advisers, that in a short Sixty miles north of Victoria was time, Indians, whites and half-breeds Wnitefish Lake where Henry B. Stein- united in giving their relation of Christian hauer, an Ojibway Indian, educated and experience, and six classes were in oper- pious, bad established a mission. ation at one time. The summer was spent Steinhauer was born near Rama about upon the prairies with the Indians, preach- 1820. He spent a year at Grape Island ing Christ to them. When the Indians Indian School, three years at Cazenovia were at home the services were very well Seminary, returning to Canada he taught attended. The children assembled in the school for two years, and then atteuded day school, where they learned English Upper Canada Academy for a short time. rapidly, the sick 3ame to the mission In 1840, he accompauied Jares Evans, house for mediciue and food, and in all the famous North West Missionary on his domestic and camp troubles the mission- journey to the west, spending some time ary and his family were the trusted as Interpreter at Lac la Plnie. advisers who were "eagerly sought for He was at Norway House in 1850, and counsel. in 1854 he spent a few months in Eng- Early on Sunday morning the bell sum- land. In the summer of 1855, he was moned the worshippers to the house of ordained in London, Ont., and with prayer, where reverently they sat, singing Thomas Woolsey, left for the Saskatch- the hymns in the Cree Language, reading ewan district. In Juna 1857, he pitched the Bible printed in the Evan's Syllabic his tent at Whitefish Lake and began characters, and listening bo a sermon in there his mission, which he maintained their native tongue. faithfully and successfully until he died, Several Roman Catholic Missions were a few mouths before the Riel Rebellion of located not far from Victoria, the mem- 1885. bers of which were chiefly French Half- 21

breeds. South-west from Victoria is an settlement of the valley in which nature extensive lake named Grand Lac upon has multiplied picturesque scenery that the shores of which there is a Half-breed challenges comparison with the most re- settlement and a Roman Catholic mission markable of its kind in the world. 1 can called St Albert. The site for this mission understand the exclusive attachment of was selected by Archbishop Tache, and it the children of the Saskatchewan for their was begun in 1861 by the Rev. Albert native place. Having crossed the desert Lacomb, the zealous missionary of the and having come to so great a distanc-e Order of Oblates. Subsequently the mis- from civilized countries, which are oc- sion developed until it became the See of a casionally supposed to have a monoply of Bishopric with Bishop Grandin at its good things, one is surprised to find in head. A Convent was established with the extreme West so extensive and so several Sisters of Charity under whose beautiful a region. The Author of the care there has been placed a large school universe has beeu pleased to spread out, for the children of the settlement. by the side of the grand and wild beauties At Lake St Anne not far distant an- of the Rocky Mountains, the captivating r other Roman Catholic mission Mas estab- pleasure grc unds of the plains of the lished in 1844, by the Rev. Mr. Thibault. Saskatchewan." The writer can add his In the early history of the Victoria testimony to those already given, as to mission George McDougall wrote in glow- the abundance and excellent quality of ing terms of the wonderful capabilities of the coal, the salubrity ot the climate, the the Saskatchewan district and his langu- richness of the soil, the magnificence of age has become almost prophetic in its the rivers and the picturesqueness of the fulfilment. scenery. These cannot be surpassed in In Sandford Fleming's Report of 1879, any part of the world. it is stated that Victoria is 1,900 feet When George McDougall visited On- above the sea. The soil is a light sandy tario and told to delighted audiences black loam, not as heavy as at Edmonton. the story of his life and described to the Wheat and barley sown in May was very few-acred farmers the beauties of tne fine, and all garden vegetables grew west, luxuriantly. "Much they marvelled to hear his tales of The locations of many of the missions the soil and the climate, were selected with care, and evinced the And of the prairies, whose numberless excellent judgment of "the missionaries. herds were his who would take them Victoria was no exception to the rule, in ; Each one thought in his heart, that he, too the matter of good soil, climate and many would go and do likewise." other advantages. The literature of the period corrobor- An interesting event took place at Vic- ated the testimonies of the missionaries toria on September 20ch 1865, in the mar- regarding the wonderful possibilities of riage of Mr. McDougall's eldest daughter the' Saskatchewan Valley. Lord Miiton to Richard Hardisty, Factor of the Hud- and Dr. Cheadle in 1865, published an son's Bay Company, Few books have accurate and interesting report ot their been written about the Saskatchewan travels through the country in the"North- Country in which there is not a kindly re- west Passage by Land." The authors ference to this genial son of the soil. He were loud in their praises of the Saskatch- was born at Moose Factorv, James Bay, ewan district as an agricultural country about 1830, his father being employed in never having seen such root crops even in the Hudson's Bay Company's service, England. They saw coal-beds of enor- having originally belonged to the south of mous thickness on the banks of the Saska- England. Along with two brothers he tchewan and other rivers, and they furth- was 3ent to a school taught by the Rev. McCallum now known as St John's • er testify that ''the climate is milder W. than that of the same portion of Canada College, Winnipeg. At seventeen years of which lies within the same latitudes while age he entered the Hudson's Bay Com- stationed at the soil is at least* equal, if not of greater pany's service and was Lake fertility." Manitoba, Carleton, Prince Albert, Ed- Archbishop Tache of St Boniface in his monton, Calgary and other places of "Sketch of the Northwest of America" trust. speaks with the tongue of an optimist The writer first met him in the spring about the beautiful land of the North. of 1882, ana during a few days residence Language of mine would fail to convey so at the Company's post at Edmonton perfectly the ideas of the Archbishop, who learned to love him, His extensive says "The coal fields which cross the dif- travels over the northern country as a ferent branches of the Saskatchewan are Chief Factor of the Company gave him a great source of wealth, and favour the opportunities for acquiring knowledge 22 enjoyed by few, and he with that peculiar McDougall left Ontario with a band of modesty which was the leading trait of devoted missionaries and teachers for his character freely impxrted to saint and Manitoba and the North-west. sinner useful knowledge out of the abun- This was the day of small things, but it dance which his mind possessed. Half- was the beginning ot an era of prosperity. breeds and Indians respected him as a This goodly band of men consisted of Rev. man of honour who was kind to all, and George Young, E. R. Young, Peter ever true to his word. In the camps of Campbell, Ira Snyder and his brother. the Cree and Blackfoot Indians he was George Young began his work in the Red ever held in grateful remembrance and River Settlement, on Notre Dame street, oftentimes has the writer listened to the Fort Garry. He was in labours abundant, aged chiefs speaking of this man with his mission extending more than one hun- admiration. He lived to become Inspec- dred and twenty miles along the Assini- ting Chief Factor of the Company, and a boine and Red Rivers. The first Metho- Senator of the Dominion. In the Senate dist class was organized at High Bluff in Chamber he rendered eminent service to December, 1868. The first Methodist his country, his advice being sought on churches in the Red River Settlement f all questions affecting the North-west were built at Poplsr Point and High Suddenly was he temoved from us in the Bluff by the Rev. Matthew Robison who fifty -ninth year of his age, through in- came to Manitoba in 1869, as assistant to juries received at Broadview by being Rev George Young. from his conveyance. In the thrown The name of Dr. George Young is prec- hospital surrounded his Winnipeg by ious to the Methodists of Manitoba, for it wife, daughter, youngest son and numer- was he who laid so effectively the foun- ous friends he quietly passed away, dations of the Church during his and the North-west lost one of her noblest eight years residence in the country. son*. Blameless he lived amongst men, E. R. Young went to Norway House doing good in unostentatious ways "His where he toiled earnestlj' among the Cree life was gentle : and the elements so Indians, spending eight years among them mixed in hinn, that Nature might stand in that Northern L*nd. up and say to a'i the world : This was " Peter Campbell and the Snyder brothers a man ! Such a son-in-law did George McDou- travelled westward to the Saskatchewan, gall find beside the North Saskatchewan. under the guidance of George McDougall, Mission work in the Saskatchewan Dis- the former to preach to the half-breeds trict rapidly developed under the foster- and Indians, and the latter to teach the ing care of the Chairman. New missions Indian children. were being formed and improvements During this year the trading post fam- made in old ones. A mission was begun ous in the history of the Blackfoot Indians, at Pigeon Lake, named VVoodville after was built. Fort Whoop-Up, was erected Rev. Enoch Wood, D. D., Missionary at a cost ot ten thousand dollars by Ham- Secretary, which was manned by John ilton and Healy, at the junction of the St McDougall, son of the hero of the Sas- Mary and Belly Rivers, seven miles west katchewan. Indian schools were estab- of the present town of Lethbridge. The lished in connection with the missions' massive stockade has been the scene of two being at this time very successful, at several contests, and rough days and Whitefish Lake under E. R. Steinhauer, nights some of the old timers have ex- and at Victoria. perienced in the vicinity of the fort. The In the regions beyond, the missionaries old bell still peals forth its call to dinner had bravely toiled and now they looked and the old caunon lies there, but it is Eastward to witness the tide of civilization harmless, its days of warfare are at an advancing rapidly toward the Red River end. Oftentimes has the writer sought Valley, and anxiously did they request food and rest within the old stockade and help from Ontario. The appeals for men dreamed of the stirring times when buffalo and money, though pressing failed to roamed the prairies in thousands and the secure prompt answers, and George Mc- redskins were masters of the plains, but Dougall leaving his home in the far west, all this is changed. Nc longer do the proceeded Eastward where his native dwellers in the Southern Lodges scour eloquence thrilled the hearts of thousands the plains, on savage conquest bent, but in Ontario and Quebec. with downcast mien and faltering seep During the winter of 186/-8 the Metho- they walk a conquered race despised and dist Church acceded to the urgent request forsaken. of the missionary and decided to begin One year later the Hudson's Bay Com- work amongst the white settlers of the pany sold their title to the North-west, tc Red River District. In May 18G8, George the Dominion Government. 23

Matters did not always run smoothly sing. Let the schools on all our Protestant among the Indians, for Indian raids were Missions be veil su3tained, and we have frequent, and the Blackfeet hated inten- little to fear from Popery. son has passed most of sely the Crees and Stonies. The My the winter amongst the Plain Indians. When we Ami Blackfeet prowled around Victoria, and heaid of the outbreak at Red River we felt threatened to invade the post, but super- that his winter's work was clearly defined. stitious dread prevented them from com- Numbers of false reports had reached these mitting any depredations. Indians, all calculated to slir up the worst In the winter of 1869, came the Riel feelings towards the whites. It has been Rebellion with its numerous injurious my son's privilege to meet these roving in their councils consequences, disastrous alike to whites, tribeJ ; and after preach- half-breeds ajid Indians. The martial ing to them the Gospel of peace, explained to them that their rights will be faithfully spirit of the Methodist patriot was arous- protected by the Government ; and in doing ed as he heard the mutterings of discon- this be has been very successful, for, as far tent in the Saskatchewan and at last as we can see,a spirit of loyaltv is generally learned that there was open rebellion in among our people. the Red River Settlement. Anxious for Report hi s reached us that smadpox is the safety of the missionary families he prevalent among the Blackfeet, and that started for Fort (J any to ensure the safe one of their small camps, numberir^ about arrival of supplies for the year, and obtain thirty tents, was lately attacked by the American miners, and all cut off but the if possible military protection in the Chiefs, these were first put in irons and west. — then burnt to death! This was done in The following letters will reveal the retaliation for wrongs received by the state of matters during this period : — immigrants since last fall. We have been informed that the smallpox was gradually Victoria Mission, April 5th, 1870. making its way north, exterminating whole I often find my mind wandering across bards in its course. Having once witnessed the plains to now troubled favored peaceful its ravages among the Indians, I tremble in Canada and though I cannot ; complain of view of the future. If God does not avert a spirit of repining, y.et tiiere is much in thw calamity, we shall see suffering greater our experience exceedingly trying to flesh than ever witnessed in this country. The and blood. In the past winter we have had vaccine received from Engl tnd will not take to live on flesh and pemmican and ; though eflVo\ Please forward us i-ome by letter. the young folks enjoy good health, I can As, none of the brethren will have an clearly see the effect is quite otherwise opportunity of writing n^w, I would just with Mrs. McDougall. At present we are add that I have lately heard they were making strenuous efforts to put in a crop. all well. 'Bed Seed has been carted from Riyer and We are all in the dark as regards Red other places. Providence has favored us with River, but are daily looking for an express. plenty of snow, and if spared till next fall I wrote Governor McDougall a statement we hope to rejoice once more over potatoes of facts regarding the country, urging the and barley cake. On this Mission the good importance of sending in Commissioners to work is deepening and widening, and there treat with the Indians. Let no surveyors is a constant ingatherirg. We have had or anv other class of white men show them- especial outpouring of Holy no the Spirit, selves till this is done, or some of us will but the word is heard with deep interest, pay the penalty with our lives, for we have and our prayer and class^meetings are well plenty of the same kind of "roughs" that our average attended ; congregation, when h ive given trouble jn Red River; and I the hunters are on the plains, numbers t.vo might add, they have the same kind of hundred. By local effort we built an end teacher, a hatred to everything that bears gallery in the church, which accommodates the name of English. We are not in a sixty persons,and yet we are uncomfortably position to inform our friends of all we crowded. At bath White Fish .Lake and know. here we are favored with thi best of school This goes out with a free-trader. teachers; and when we remember the Winnipeg, Red Riveb, former state of their pupils it is impossible June 18th, 1870. to over-estimate the value of the work they are accomplishing. Here are at least one 1 left Victoria with the resolve to return hundred children who, but for your benevo- as soon as possible. For eight months all lence, would now be in the Cree camp, communication has been cut off. Your covered with a piece of dirty robe, and letter reached us the week before I started exposed to all the demoralizing influences for Red River. The past year has been one of the most; debasing Paganism. Mark the of great hardship and much anxiety. The United contrast ; these boys and girls remain at Blackfeet have been diiven by the home, with clean faces and well combed States troops across the lines- The Company all forts that have hair : and though many of their garments have withdrawn the remind you of Joseph's yet they are clean, traded with them. I was at Edmonlein, and their attendance at school is regular, when from two to three hundred attacked and there are few pieces in the "Sunday the fort and fired four or five hundred School Harp " that these little ones cannot shots at us. We have a population of 24 seven hundred French half breed families stand readj to improve the first opportunity. and we know not when these might rise. The Crees, so far, are quiet ; but by all Priests and Fenianb have disturbed the means allow John to remain with them for minds of the Crees. John has speut a hard the presont. Our trouble is, that most of winter amongst the Plain Crees. and has the French half-breeds will run for the done much to remove bad impressions. I Saskatchewan when the troops arrive- left him in charge of Victoria ; but I cannot many are going now. How much Popery describe my feelings when I think cf my woufdJiKe to frighten us out of the country! family. I wished my wife to come with Thank the Lord, our Mission was never me, but she felt it her dnty to remain at the more prosperous. Mission. I must now tell you why I visited Red Rivek, June 19th. last Ked River soring. We received a letter The Fenian flag is still up. Last week Gov. Mcl?avish, stating fom that the they lowered it half matt when they received Company's outfit for the Saskatchewan the news from Canada. • Priest Kichot would be all destroyed, and the northern arrived on Friday, when a salute was fired. districts must look out for themselves ; There is still a guard between here and this was telling twenty thousand half-breeds Penbina turning back Canadians. and Indians that thjy must starve. Give Yesterday, after service, I was notified ball and no powder,and death by thousands that I was reported as having prayed for must be the consequence A council was the soldiers. held at Edmonton, and the priests called Brother Young is held in the highest to declare their upon intentions. They esteem by the loyal. Churchmen have said were informed that it was our determina- me again and agaiu. when our clergy come to tion, what would, not to take the oath counselled submission to the tryant, " Mr. prescribed by Kiel his and ruffians. For the Young stood by the old flag, and by every of these sake people they agreed to join means assisted the loyalists." us, and that Mr- Christie, a priest, and returned to myself should load a party to Fort Beaton, Before George McDougall Victoria, the dreadful plague of small pox and try aud procure ammunition ; and 300 devastating whole carts and 100 armed men were t ) start May came from the South, 23rd. Five diys after our meeting, a letter camps of Blackfeet, and entered the reached us announcing that the Company lodges of the Crees. Religious services had compromised with Riel, and a British were dispensed with for a time, for many subject might, if very civil, come to Winni- lay dying and many were dead. In the peg. Hoping the Government would be midst "of the trouble the missionary ar- established, and ceitain thit if something rived from Fort Garry to witness heart was not done war and destitution were be- of 1870 was fore us, I accompanied an H. B. Company's rending scenes. The summer officer, with the determination, if possible, one of great sorrow, but as the winter be- to accomplish t'ie disease abated and the hopes of two objects. First : the gan

appointment of 100 soldiers t-» Fort Ed- the people became bright. Alas ! they monton. We have many loyal people, but were soon to be doomed to disappointment, no combination. Most* of the roughs of tor the fell destroyer returned with renew- last winter are going to the Saskatchewan. ed strength, breathing the foul air and Second: I wished to impress on the Govern- scattering the inmates of the lodges, ment the importance of sending a commiss- ioner to visit the Crees. I would not "Blown by the blast of tate, advise that their lands should be treated like a dead leaf over the desert." for now; this might be premature; and they Those were sad days. Three hundred would be satisfied for the time if informed died at St Albert. Hundreds of the that they would be justly dealt with. If Stonies perished, the Blackfeet this is delayed, trouble is before us. There Mountain being no chance of getting anything from fled in dismay leaving many ol their un- Canada at that time, we felt that something buried, and the Cress stood and helpless might be prjeured here. We learn that as hundreds of their kith and kin went Mr. Sanford is forwarding them all right, if down the valley of the shadow of death. they get in in for time the carts. Our W. S. Gladstone an old employee of the schools are all we can expect : well attended Hudson Bay Company, and a true friend and well taught, but very short of books. of the missionaries, told the writer that From Bishop McCray I purchased $40 worth the Sarcee camp at the — this is very fortunate. he passed by were one hun- Ana Mere let me say tor my brethren, Marias river where there that until thn country is in a settled state, dred lodges left standing and all were there Ch,r be no regular correspondence with deserted. There were not less than ten the Board. We appointed our District dead persons in every lodge. John Mc- Meeting for April 25th, but such was the Dougall was laid low, but recovered after state of the country we had to defer. And a long sickness. if the Government does not send us protec- The missionaries went out upon the tion I know not what we shall do. My prairies keeping the people isolated and orinion as to the Blackfeet is, that* cut off aiding in destroying the disease. by the United States and also by the Com- thus and still it pany, they will soon come to terms, and we Every precaution was used 25 spread. Steinhauer, Campbell and John striking examples of masculine Chris ian- McDougall went with their people and ity. "Duty" was their watch ward, and successfully prevented thf terrib'e scourge "Never Despair" their motto. These from carrying off all the people. men were invariably quick to detect mis- When distant upon the plains the mis- takes and mishaps and ready in every sion house at Victoria was visited, and emergency with a newly invented ap- George McDougall with several members pliance as a remedy. of the family fell siok, and the sickness When the Indians left the settlement was nigh unto death. It was during the the missionary and teacher closed the months of October and November 1870, church and school, and travelled with the th^t the Destroying Angel visited the people in their camps as from place to mission-house. Flora the youngest daugh- place they went, hunting and fishing. In ter aged eleven years was stricken down an Indian lodge the schoolmaster gathered and died on the 13th of Octohei, rejoic- his pnpi's, teaching them to lead, write, ing in the love of God. On the 28th of count and sing. Sweet voices had tr-ey, the same month Anna, an adopted daugh- and the songs from the Sunday School ter aged fourteen years was buried, and hymn books were sung with zest, in the on November 1st their beloved daughter northern forests and out upon the plains. Georgina aged eighteen passe a away. The missionary travelled from camp to Anna was the daughter of a Cree chief camp preaching to the scattered bands, named Ogamahwahohis, who gave her to and ministering to the sick. As the George McDougall before he died, that iiurning sun arose the Indian song of she might have friends to love her She thanksgiving was heard clear and strong, was a lovely girl, to whom the McDougall sung in the melodious Cree tongue by the family were much attached. natives in their tents. Georgina was beloved by the Indians, The white traveller who has ever listen- as she understood the Cree language and ed to these Cree Indian hymns, sung in was ever desirious of doing good in ev< ry church or forest, or in the ledges on the legitimate way. In the mission garden plains ca>i never forget the thrill of satis- George McDougall and his son Divid dug faction which he has felt, nor is he able to graves and buiied the dead. When John describe the emotions which made the lip was scill on the plains he heard the sad quiver and the eyes rill with tears. news and started for home, but was not- When the missionary party left Ontario permitted to enter bv his father, until all in J 868 for the North- West, a young man danger was past. Sad were the hearts of named Enoch Wood Skinner was among the missionaries, still their trust was the number. Several years were spent in the living God. by him in the country, lesiding in the The people slowly recovered from this McDougall family, ami during this period dire plague, but after many weary months he learned the Cree language, studied the all were free to move about without any manners and customs of the Cree Indians fear. The work of the mission was be- and obtained much information relating gun with renewed energy. to the country, and missionary life in the Hard work was the order of the day, great lone land. He returned to Ontario for young and old in the mission field. and shortly after his return was led to Should there be any leisure it was used in trust in Christ as his Saviour His soul mental improvement. The missionaries burned with love for others, and he long- set a good example to others in being es- sd to work for God. Naturally his soul pecially earnest in every duty. The mis yearned for the salvation of the Crpe In- sionary at Victoria sought to improve dians in the valleys of the Saskatchewan. himself by means of study, desultory no After prayer and consultation it was decid- doubt owing to his absence from home, yet ed to send him as assistant to R^v. John of such a character as refined and intensi- McDougall. Starting upon his journey, fied his intelleDtual nature. His Index he arrived safely at Winnipeg, secured the Rerum contains many apt and striking necessary conveyance and outfit and push- classical allusions, and these are good in- ed on toward the Saskatchewan, He dications of the mental calibre and liter- joined a company of police and travelled ary tastes of the man. His Journal and with them, but subsequently had a half Letters abound with evidences of his read- breed as a companion. After passing Fort ing, showing ability and tastes in striking Pitt and not far from Carlton they camped contrast to nomadic life upon the plains. together. Early in the morning his com- Many days has the writer spent reading panion left to catch the horses which v ere his journals and manuscripts, and the left to graze upon the prairie and had conviction has deepened, that the mis- wandered away. When he returned, sionaries were noble men of sterling piety, Enoch Wood Skinner lay dead, his gun fertile imagination.strong in intellect, and having accidentally been discharged, as he 26

raised it, its contents entered his body. laden with fur to trade, and during this He was taken to the English Church visit, accompanied by about twenty of his Cemetery at Prince Albert where he was men he went to the Mission House. He laid to rest. held a long conversation with George Mc- Dougall and then made up his mind to "Never again to awaken, be baptised. He arose and raising his To the Conqueror's awful tread, hand delivered a speech nearly as follows: He passed alone and forsaken, "I have been a foolish man, going to To the echoless land of the dead. kill the Blackfeet and steal horses. You young men used to follow me. I could not Did he hear the soft, soft whisper, get off unnoticed, though I wished to do E'er the star of his life bank down, so sometimes, lest I might get you into That the Master was needing a jewel, trouble. Now I am going to do better. I To gleam in his holy crown. am not going to steal any more. I am going to follow this Christian religion, for Out on the lonely prairie I believe it to be good. How many of you Pillowing the martyr's head, will follow me ? " His son volunteered to He lay while the stars gleamed softly, accept the Christian faith, but not a single On the upturned face of the dead. member of the 'tribe accepted the. Chief's invitations. On the Sunday following, For he died as the hero dieth, Little Squirrel and his son were baptised On the crimsoned, the blood stained sod, by George McDougall. They received But he lives in the quenchless splendor, as baptismal names George McDougall and In that city, the city of God." John McDougall, after the missionary and his son. Ever faithful did the old chief Several notable conversions took place prove striving by his influence to lead among the Indians, during tnese years, his Indians toward the nobler way, and one of these being that of a Cree chief seeking by precept and example to deter named Little Squirrel. This chief had them from their pagan feasts and cus- been a famous "conjuror who prayed and toms. beat upon his low-lorn, to drive the buffalo In his frequent journeys to the Red into the buflalo pound. Several times had River settlement the hero of the Saskatch- he conversed freely with Christian Indians ewan met the Rav. John Black, with and half-breeds, and especially with whom there sprang up a friendship severed George Flett, who is now an English only by death, la 1851, John Black Church missionary, about the Christian came to Kildonan as the Presbyter ian religion, contrasting it with the native minister, and was gladly welcomed by religion of the Indians. Gradually his his countrymen who had patiently waited faith in the practices of the medicine men thirty-three years for a minister of their was weakened, until he saw that without own faith. This devoted man laid the the aid of the conjuror the buffalo could be foundations of Presbyterianism in Mani- killed. He kept up his practice of con- toba, originated the educational work of his juring until challenged to give it up. denomination in the same province, toiled When at last he determined to test the re- earnestly for the welfare of the descend- ligion of the white men and not to drive ants of the Selkirk settlers, and sought the buffalo into the corral by means of the temporal, intellectual and spiritual charms and prayers, fearing that he might well-being of the Indians and half-breeds be disappointed, he laid in a stock of pro- of Manitoba. It was he who took such a visions, and awaitel anxiou3ly the day of great interest in the Sioux Indians of huntiug, when the buffalo were near, he Manitoba. By his representations and stood among the people, as one of them- entreaties a native missionary was sent to selves. the Sioux near Birtle where he laboured As the buffalo drew near the people with much success. urged him to begin hi3 prayers and en- In the midst of labour, but in great chantments, but he gently refused, until feebleness of body he laid himself down at last when pressed to do so,he told them to rest on February 4th, 1882. Presby- the reason, which was to test the Christian terianism owes much to him and Method- religion. Without his songs and prayers ism ever found in him a true friend. The the buffalo were caught and there was Methodist missionary from the Saskatch- abundance of food. Gradually he lost ewan and the Presbyterian pastor from faith in the native religion, and became Kildonan, were as brothers, loving each more fully convinced that the Christian other and toiling for the common weal religion was true. He resolved to become of men. Another of the missionary's a christian. In the spring he came to friends was Pakan,the chief of the White- Victoria with a large number of his men fish Lake Indians where labored faithfully ;

27 the Rev. H. B. Steinhauer. Pakan is a feel we have improved wonderonsly. We tall fine looking man, with the dignified want to be like the white people and bearing of an Indian chief, and withall is make progress in civilization, and that an eloquent speaker. It will be remem- which shall be everlasting in its benefit. bered that during the rebellion ot 1885,he As I feel that you are my friends in listen- was approached by some of Big Bear's ing to me as I speak and in welcoming me Indians, and one of them becoming in- as I come before you, I ask you still to be solent and rebellious was slain by Pakan. my friends that not my band only, but After the rebellion was over, he was ad- my whole nation may rise in the scale of mired for his loyalty. He visited some civilization and Christianity." of the principal towns and cities of On- All the years spent at Victoria were tario along with two other Indians under rilled with useful labor, and the mission- the guidance of the Rev. John McDougall. ary was enabled to look back with joy After taking a ride on the street cars upon the toils, trials and triumphs of through Toronto, he was asked what im- those stirring days on the banks of the pressions weie being made on his mind Saskatchewan. '* by his visit, he replied : It has opened the eyes of my mind. I had some thought before I left home that this would be the CHAPTER X. case. My strong desire was that my EDMONTON. should mind be enlightened, and that I |0VVO hundred and twenty five miles might be made to understand many things miff north of Calgary, stands the town of which I was in darkness. I have been ||1|| of Edmonton in one of the finpst delighted to witness the power and -«w^ wheat growing regions of the whole wonderful working of the white man. Of North- West, and there also 3tands a Hud- course I feel that it is Christianity which son's B-y Company's fort, which was '.es- has made this possible to the white man. tablished about 1795. The location for a this is and what I want for myself and my village, trading-post or mission was a people. I am bewildered with the ride most excellent one. 1 took to-night, and I do not know what Captain Palli^er in 1858 explored the to say." When attending a public meet- Saskatchewan Valley and in his report ing in the City of Winnipeg, he give an he speaks of the Edmonton District as "a interesting address as follows: — belt of land varying in width, which at "As nearly as I can learn I am now one period must have been covered by an forty -six years of age, therefore I date be- extension of the Northern forests, but yond the incoming of the first missionary: which has been gradually cleared by suc- and even after he came,l was distant from cessive fires, him and only heard by rumor of his hav- It is now a partially wooded country, ing come. Therefore, I saw much evil : I abounding in lakes and rich natural pas- was with my people, far away in heathen- turage, in some parts rivalling the finest ism, and in everything that was wrong. park scenery of our own country." It Lat^r the r* issionary reached our 3amp, was through this same region that Milton and a cha.. 6 e be»an to be apparent : and and Cheadle travelled and the latter f bye and bye, though wild and stubborn wro e a<* follows : and wicked, the change affected me. Jesus "At Edmonton, eight hundred miles Christ touched my heart, and I al*o em- distant from Fort Garry, near the west- braced his religion : and I have made him ern extremity, wheat grows with equal my chief from that day unto this. I owe luxuriance, and yields thirty to fifty a great debt to my old missionary who re- bushels to the acre, in some instances cently left us, Mr. Steinhauer : he and even more. The root crops I have never other missionaries have done me great seen equalled in England ; potatoes get to good, and have also done a great and an immense size and yield enormously. grand work for my people. Liter on my Flax, hemp, tobacco, all grow well ; all people asked me to stand up for them, and the cereals appear to flourish equally well I became their chief. They said try and plums, strawberries, raspberries and goose- help us on and do not set us any foolish berries, grow wild. The herbage of the example. prairie is so feeding that corn is rarely

Last spring an opportunity came : we given to horses or cittle. They do their were approached with guns and asked to hard work, subsist entirely on grass, are take up our guns against the .vhite man. most astonishingly fat : the draught oxen We were dared to do so, but I said in my resemble prize animals at a cattle show. heart I want to keep his law, as I have The horses we took with us were turned embraced the law of the God he worships. adrift at the beginning of winter, when

I shall not go with you nor shall any of my snow had already fallen : they had been people. My people want to improve : I overworked and were jaded and thin. In 28 the spring we hunted them up, and found the single building at the edge of the them in the finest condition, or rather too river, owned by Mr. Macpherson, trader fat." and freighter, we had concluded that the In the spring of 1882, the writer made Red Deer District was the best which had a trip +o Edmonton, from Fort Maeleod, been seen in the Canadian North- West. via Calgary, and Morley. The journey There was ice in the river, and the was made to Morley alone as on several water was deep, but we forded v\ ithout previous occasions. At Morley, the party any mishap. Some of the party were was made up of Rev. John McDougall, timorous, and there was sufficient cause one or two members of his family and a for fear. The soil in this section of coun- Stoney Indian. We travelled from try is a rich, black loam, the timber of all Morley, following the valley running sizes, good hay lands and abundance of north trom beyond Ghost River, until we water. Not another spot in the North- reached the Lone Pine, and then struck West has the writer seen, save the coun- the Calgary trail to Edmonton. Nothing try lying between the Red Deer and Ed- eventful occurred upon the way, except monton, and especially south of Battle passing through a valley where stood River, which more closely resembled old about one hundred immense trees, leafless English parks. In this region there are and well nigh branchless, the last of the most excellent sites for aristocratic man- giants of the forest which formerly grew sions, Nature lavishing her bounties in in this favored spot. As we rode along, profusion. We passed several lakes cover- we had to ride between fallen trees hidden ed with ducks and geese. Some of the partly by the tall grass, the massive lakes were not thawed out, and the ice trunks showing few signs of decay, being still remained ou parts cf some of them, exceedingly dry, and hard. We were and upon the open 3paces the wild fowl pissing through a large forest which would swam in thousands. These were grand soon be entirely destroyed by the prairie sights to witness, almost equalling the fires, leaving not a single vestige of its inspiring scene of tens of thousands of former glory or even existence. .Nothing bufTalo which we saw in the summer of now remained but these grim sentinels 1880, upon the prairies of Montana as we mutely gazing upon their fallen com- sailed up the Missouri River. At the rades. It must be confessed a feeling of Battle River Methodist Mission we met sadness came over the writer as he rode Chief Factor Hardisty of the Hudsou's Bay on and thought of their stately grandeur Company, who was on his way to Calgary, in the former years. but was detained by the swollen rivers. Other thoughts also filled the mind, He returned with us to Edmonton, an I a suggestive of the former condition of the week was spent at the Hudson's Bay prairie belt. Oftentimes in travelling Fort. It took the writer five weeks to over the prairies, solitary clamps of trees travel from the Blood Reserve to Edmon- were seen, and always along the rivers ton and return including the detour to were fringes of timber, protected from Morley and the time spent at Edmonton. the fires by the moisture. Freely has the It was a journey of nearly eight hundred writer conversed with honest John Glen miles to attend the District Meeting. of Fish Creek, Alberta, Sam. Livingston, The Saskatchewan District of the Metho- William S. Gladstone, and other notable dist Church included at that time the old timers, and these have asserted that whole of the North West Territories. in many place? upon the prairie where This one district had an area larger than timber formerly grew, there is none to be the combined areas of England, Wales, fimnd, owing to its destruction by the Scotland, Ireland, France, German Em- prairie fires. What is true concerning pire, Italy, Portugal, Spain. Switzerland, the timber is still more conclusive regard- Japan, Norway and Sweden. ing the grasses. In the excellent hay The Methodist missionary of that period bottoms prairie fires have destroyed the could without boastiug say : "No pent soil and burned almost wholly the roots up Utica contracts our powers." The of the grasses. In places where hay has soil was good, and all the agricultural been cut for two or three seasons, and advantages desired by the farmer were especi? lly before the hay seeds fell, the there except a market for his grain. We glasses have been destroyed and several were informed that on the bars of the years passed by, before these lands had North Saskatchewan, the miners washed good crops of hay. for gold, and for a distance of one hundred From Morley to the R-d Deer River we miles up and down the river*from Edmon- passed only one house and that was un-< ton, the men made from three to five dol- occupied. The solitary dwelling was lars per day. Since that time we have within two or three miles from the cross- seen several ornaments, including a watch ing of the Red Deer. Before we reached chain and finger rings made fromSaskatch- —

29

e\van gold. Upon our advent to Mae stands on an elevation behind the tort, leod in the summer of 1880, we were told about one hundred feet higher, and on of a cow having been killed there during the prairie level. The bank's of the river that summer in whose stomach was found are from two hundred to two hundred some gold. The supposition vas, that, and fifty feet high, densely wooded and some miner crossing the mountains had almost perpendicular. lost a Lmall bag of gold dust, which the In 1840, Robert Terrill Rundie was cow had eaten. In the month of August s^nt as Methodist missionary to the In- of that year, we met a party of English dian tribes of the Saskatchewan. Ed- gentlemen who had been prospecting for monton House became a centre from gold in the mountains, and were return- which he went to the Indian camps. In ing. They were panning as they travell- 1855, Thomas Woolsey brother-in-law to ed in the mountains, and in oue section Mr. Rundie was sent as missionary to where they had been working, they found Edmonton House. He became an inmate some nuggets whieh were reported to be of the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort, and valuable, but they were unable to tell the in his missionary work most of his time exact spot whore they had gathered the was spent upon the plains with the Indians. dust. There were several prospectors Earnestly did he toil for the salvation of who went out every year to search for the red men and much good w as done gold, but they invariably returned empty under his ministrations, In 1857 he handed. It was tantalizing to listen to stationed himself at Pigeon Lake where their stories of the old timers who almost he preached faithfully the word of life. discovered their millions, but as if pos- The following account of the trip from sessed of life, the gold evaded their grasp. Red River to Edmonton in 1855, by An uld friend spake to me of the Comstock Thomas Woolsej is worthy of being read

Mine, and said he: "My old shanty was at this date with much interest : right over the spot where the great dis Our arrival in Selkirk, alias Red River covery was made." We saw at Edmon- Settlement, was, to me, an event long to ton the coal cropping out of the banks of be remembeied, as I began to realize that the river, and theie was a mine upon a I was iudeed"a stranger in a strange land," small scale, from which the settlers ob- though my colleague had been there prev- tained their coal. We thought nothing vioitsly, and. consequently, was quite at of this, for had we not seen the immense home. It was then that I could institute coal fields along the Belly River, and a comparison between a former residence, were there not private mines in operation for ten years in thaf'vast emporium of a long time before any company was organ- the world, the city (if London," England, ized to work the coal fields. There was but, in doing so, I became quite a cosmo- ihe "Sherin Mine" on Belly River, the politan in regard to life in its varied "Kanouse Mines" on the St Mary's River, phases. A travelling companion, of and the "Healey Mine" at Whoop Up. Scotch origin, Mr. -James Ross, a gentle- There was coal everywhere, even the In- man of more than ordinal y education, dians were learning its use. soon introduced us to the Rev. John It is estimated that "in the region Black, Presbyterian minister, who gave west of Edmonton, bounded on the north us a most hearty w elcome, and regarded by the Athabaska River, and on the south me as his guest during our stay, He by the Red Deer River, there exists a fbon after favoured us with an interview vast coal field, covering an area of not with the Bishop of Rupert's Land, that less than 25,000 square miles: and beneath distinguished prekte giving us the right a large portion of this we may expect to hand of fellowship in a way and manner find workable seams of coal at depths purely evangelical, seldom exceeding 300 feet, and often, as in Our next interview was with Governor the case of the thick seams above described, McTavish, to whom we presented letters very favorably situated for working by of introduction from Canada. Our recep- levels from the surface." tion was the most gratifying, with the Even then, the Indians had discovered assurance that he would, as far as practi- localities where minerals were to be found. cable, facilitate our journeyings to the re- The Stoney Indians and the Blood Indians gions beyond. Little did I then think have shown uhe writer Mineralogical that we had then entered upon a territory specimens, but never could they be per- three millions of miles in extent, a con- suaded tc tell where these were to be siderable portion of which was in the found. hands of the Hon, the Hudsan Bay Com-

Edmonton House, the fort of the Hud- pany, who, by virtue of a, charter, granted son's Bay Company is on the left bank of by Charles II. to Prince Rupert and a the north Saskatchewan, about one hun body of adventurers, trading into Hudson dred feet above the river. The town Bay, had territorial possession, as well as a

30 absolute commercial right of such portions "The noblest type of man is the Christian; of the country as were drained by the The noblest type of the Christian, the Christian minister Hudson Bay. Like privilege*, commer- ; And the noblest type of the Christian cially considered, were also possessed by minister, the Christian missionary.' a license from the Imperial Government, renewable every twenty- one years, over The following notes relating to Woolsey such portions as were not drained by the and Steinhauer, with a letter from the aforesaid expanse of waters. former, appeared in the Missionary Re After a very agreeable stay in the port for 1857. Woolsey's letter was Settlement, we crossed to the north shore written at Edmonton House :•- of Lake Winnipeg, where we had a very The Natives gave Messrs Woolsey and hearty reception from the Chief Factor of Steinhauer a joyous reception; and though Norway House. This was the principal they are inordinately addicted to super- depot of the Northern Department of the stition and cupidity, Mr. Woolsey's con- H. B. Co. A great number of trading gregations on the great Plains aie very boats used to arrive there, en roiite to attentive, and not a few have been York Factory, a distance of 500 miles — baptized, and some of the adults added to most difficult traverse, as no less than 45 the Church. Mr. Steinhauer, who like- portages had to be crossed, involving wise traverses the Plains in search of considerable delay and expense. Ross- souls, is actively engaged at Lac-la-Biche, ville Mission being proximate we had a where preaching and the administration very delightful but brief sojourn with the of the sacraments have resulted in an Rev. Thomas Hurlburt and family. He accession of members. Mr. Woolsey's was then Chairman of our entire mission new post, Pigeon Lake, is on the south of work in that land. But the time for the Saskatchewan, and Mr. Stcinbauer's voyaging to Edmonton House, nearly on the north, and they are three or four

1,000 miles distant, arrived ; and we, hundred miles apart. At present they through the courtesy of Chief Factor Sin- appear in the Stations under one desig- clair, became deck passengers. We soon nation, but practically they are two reached the Grand Rapids, near Cedar Missions, and of great importance. It is Lake, when I found that all the merchan- contemplated to remove the Lac-la-Biche dise, baggage, etc., had to be carried over station to a position isolated from Papal a portage, three miles in extent, and that influence, which it is not now, and more all the boats had, by Herculean hand?, to convenient, because of its proximity to be drawn across the carrying place and the buffaloes, for procuring food, and for then launched at the head of the rapids pushing the work forward to the Moun- and re-loaded. Then began in reality the tains : and while the establishment of rowing or hauling up of the boats along these two Missions must be most expen- the Saskatchewan River, involving con- sive and toilsome, the friends of Indian siderable labour to evangelization have a duly to discharge, the men employed ; but as soon as we came to good tracking from which they cannot shrink but to the ground, the employees took their respec- neglect of the too-long neglected Tribes tive shoulder straps, secured each to a from the Saskatchewan to the Pacific long rope fastened to the boat and then coast. jumped overboard, waded to shore, and Although a certain writer has declared commenced to haul in right good earnest; that— "It is daring and adventurous to but, as soon as we got to the end of the explore the primeval forests of America, tracking ground, the men re-entered the the interminable prairies of the Far West, boats and began to row most vigorously. scorching deserts of Africa, the wilds of This was repeated several times during Borneo, or the jungles of Madagascar and the voyage, interspersed with occasional New Zealand," yet such feats have been crossing of portages. All this seemed performed, and these remote regions, to me "passing strange." where nature revels in unbounded majesty, Considerable variety stood connected and where the impress of human civili with visiting Cumberland House, Carlton zation has been unfel! and unacknowledg- House, Fort Pitt and other places, prior ed for aajes gone by, are now being to reaching Edmonton House. The mails traversed by the heralds c.f the Cross; and were received with open arms, as only two I, as one, am honoured in venturing a deliveries were at the command of the little further into the Fat YVest,and estab- residents of forts, etc., each year. Ed- lishing a mission between this and Rocky- monton . House was at length reached on Mountain House. In taking this step I the 26th of September.when an enthusias- shall have to make sacrifices of which I tic reception was given to the mission- formed hut little conception twelve aries, Indians and whites apparently re- months ago. During our ramblings we alizing that have to camp in the open air for a suces- "

31 sion of nights, with no covering but a movements, as to nullify my Sabbath

fragile tent ; no resting place but the exertions. Added to this, as it was car- cold earth. There are.«no kind friends to ried on in the veiy room where Divine

welcome us in the vast plains ; no bland worship was performed, I was led to

smile to meet us ; no fair hand to give speak freely on the subject. Having the friendly greeting, or to spread a seriously pondered over the matter, I at bounteous supply for our refreshments. last told the gentleman in charge, that I

No ; our table is God's green cushioned could no longer conduct public worship in earth ; dependent upon a kind Providence that hall, giving him my reasons for tak- giving success to the chase ; and, to ing such a step. He very kindly placed crown the whole, none but Divine pro- the dining- hall at my disposal, where we tection (although that is sufficient) from have woi shipped ever since. Though I the prowling wolf or the ravenous bear would not place an undue estimate upon or from man more wild than they. any building, yet I believe, with Bp. In projecting this Pigeon-Lake Mis- Home, that— "While man is man, re- sion, it is supposed that we shall have ligion, like man, must have a body and

access to the Stone Indians and the Black soul; . . . and the two parts, in feet as w ell as the Crees. I am not ap- both cases, will ever have a mutual prehensive of any danger,except from the influence upon each other."

Blackfeet ; but these have been so long It is exceedingly annoying to find the dreaded, that I think it is about time priests rendering null and void any they were given to understand that they Protestant ordinance as administered by

are but men ; although I must confess me. And while I wish to entertain all that when I look at this strongly-built the personal respect possible for these fort, at Edmonton, and see a piece of Romish ecclesiastics, yet, as the ordinance- mounted ordinance in the centre ot it, of baptism, administered a few weeks ago, and pieces in each of the bastions, and am was declared nugatory by the priest, I given to understand that when these des- spoke rather plainly upon the subject, peradoes come, the fort gates are barred especially as the parents had promised and locked, and only a few allowed in at that the child should not be re-baptised. a time for purposes of trade, I am led to I said — As a general thing, I would care- ask what David can do with his sling nnd fully avoid saying or doing anything that stone ? Or I should rather enquire, what might prove offensive to any one in the

can he not do through the Captain of fort ; but that when I could not keep Israel's hosts ? True it is, that the silence without violating my own con- Jesuits, in their earlier movements in science, or sacrificing my own religious California, "deemed it rash and inex- principles, they might rest assured I should pedient to encounter the heathen with swing Saxon battle axe without fear or spi.itual arms only, and therefore enlisted favour. soldiers in their service, —a kind of fellow- Mr. Rundle's late interpreter was de- labourers unknown to St. Paul's mission- sirous of being married to a Romanist. ary experience." But we, I trust, go Her father (who is a French Canadian) forth with "the sword of the Spirit, which did his utmost to cause him to give up is the Word of God ;" and if our bodies Protestantism. This he would not do. fall in the conflict, our spirits will the He wished to be married by his own

sooner join the noble army of martyrs minister ; but this could not be tolerated

"who were slain for the Word of God at all ; so at last he agreed to be married and for the testimony which they held ; by thepriest,on condition that he retained and, therefore, we calmly await the his own principles. The priest was sent issue. for, all preparation made, and the marriage

If I were to consult my own personal expected to come off at once. But no ! ease and comfort, I might wish probably just at the last it was made known to him to remain at the fort ; but, in the first that he must abandon his religion, or she place, I should have but little access to would not have him. In an instant, with the Indians ; and, secondly, as the major- a magnanimity of soul the most dignified, ity of the residents are Roman Catholics, he said, — "A'o / J will not give up my re- " and one or other of the priests very often ligion for any one ! In conversing with here, I am afraid I should be of little him subsequently, I was delighted to hear service to them, for they will not attend a repetition of it. May his providential our services. These people are most path be opened up ! strangely given to dancing, which was During the Riel rebellion of. 1885, carried on to such 'an extent at the begin- Thomas Woolsey wrote the following let- ning of the year, as not only to disturb ter which was published in the Christian my rest but also distress my mind, as my Guardian: — hearers were mixing so much in these Whilst I deeply deploro the action 32

taken by any of the Indians in the recent the Crees and Stone Indians in the neigh- out-break, I am quite certain that there borhood of Edmonton House and the has been an undue prominence given Rocky Mountains ; and, consequently, do thereto, as my nine years' sojourn amongst not regard ourselves as having ministered, the respective nationalities greatly pre- except casually, to the Blackfeet and possessed me in their favor, though I other pagan tribes. must admit that one P. J. DeSmet, a Thomas Woolsey. Jesuit priest,has designated the Blackfeet as "murderers, robbers, traitois, and Edmonton as a mission proper was be- " everything that is vile ! I have, how- gun by George McDougall in the spring of ever, the greatest confidence in our Chris- 1871. Rundle and Woolsey chose Ed-

tianized Indians ; and have yet to learn monton House as a centre, but did not anything contrary to the utmost loyalty erect any buildings or seek to make it a ou their part. It may not be generally separate mission. George McDougall saw known that more than forty years ago the advisability of beginning work earn- the late Rev. James Evans had a form of estly in this place, as he felt certain that prayers translated for the Crees and it was destined to be a place of import- printed in the syllabic characters, the ance. It was the head of a Hudson Bay said form including the prayers for the District, a rendezvous for Indians and Royal Family and others. Many of the half-breeds, and a centre of attraction. Crees and Stone Indians were members The enterprising missionary erected with of our Church in 1864, and would have the help of his friends mission premises, been chronicled as such had I remained. and the cause of God prospered among In fact, my successor, the late Rev. Geo. the people. McDougall, returned 300 as members The following letter reveals the incep- the following year, that bruthei being tion of the work at Edmonton as a district satisfied that the labors of his predecessors mission : — had not been "in vain in the Lord," But, yet, many of the friends of our missions are "Edmonton N. W. T. Oct 23rd 1871. wondering that greater results nad not A party of Canadian Pacific Railway been brought about. This I will endeavor Engineers returning to Manitoba, kindly to explain, by showing that the Rev. R. offer to take charge of our letters. For T. Rundle, sent out by the Parent Society five months we have had no direct com- in 1840, was the first missionary in the munication with the new province. Our whole of that Saskatchewan Valley, and circumstances when compared with last had at length, in 1848, to return home, year, demand unfeigned gratitude. Then as he affirmed, "crushed by the climate the terriblg epidemic was upon us, and and exposure." The work then remained the wretched Cree and Blackfoot, driven to desperation in the hands of a local preacher —an In- by the plague, clamored dian —until myself and Bro. Steinhauer for the blood of their enemies. For eight months these tribes have been at peace reached there in 1855. when we at once ; entered upon that self-sacrificing field of and since last March, I have not heard of labor, ana nuitedly co-operated in carry- a case of small-pox. Buffalo have been ing on the work in that extensive region plentiful, and the harvest good. The peopled by thousands of the aborigines. forerunner of civilization is now inspect- ing our rich plains the engineer taking But what were we amongst so many ? — — The brethren who have for the last twenty the altitude of our mountains,and slowly, years roamed over that country have but surely opening a way to the great furnished their respective reports, and Pacific. For many years the Wesleyan have, doubtless, accomplished much good, Missionary has labored to direct public but, had the work been more extensively attention to the vast and fertile plains of carried ou, by more laborers being sent British Central America. Now, men of into that vine-yard, the heart-rendiugs of the wo^ld will corroborate their state- many a family would have beeu prevented ments, and consummate the work. and the drain upon our national ex- We expect to complete the new Mission- chequer been uncalled for. The workiogs house by the first of December. The of my mind for some days p^st have beeu building is 23 by 33 feet ; two stories so peculiar, that were I younger I would high, and ceiled with boards. Altogether, practically endorse the sentiment express- it will be one of the best fiuished build- ed years ago by the venerable Dr. Wood, ings in the country. We have also com- that "not only in the army, but in the pleted a stable, —dimensions, 30 by 15 Christian Church, there are men ready to feet. These erections, not including our fight their battles over again !" It may own labor, will cost over twelve hundred not be generally known that our labors dollars ; of this sum we have collected were to a very great, extent confined to seven hundred and fifty dollars, and we —

33

expect our good friends in the Saskatch- the Chairman oi the District left Victoria ewan will help us to make up the bal- for Edmonton, when re sent Mr. lanca. Campbell to occupy Victoria. This This winter we hope to procure faithful worker was zealous in the materials foracommodiousschool-house,as discharge of his duties, heedless of danger we hive thought it best not to attempt a and never sparing himself in preaching

1 church for the present. The general thegospe . Before leaving Wpotiville for opinion is that Edmonton will be the Victoria, when the Chairman whs living capital of the Western Province. One at Edmonton and John Me Don trail was thing is evident, it will be the head of stationed at Victoria, Mr. Campbell wrote

navigation ; and in view of these facts, as follows respecting his work : we must act for the future. At present ** I have tried as regularly as possible our prospects, are hopeful, the shadow to go to the Mountain Home once every of death that covered the land is gone, rronth, but the distance being about \'2d and the great sorrow has been sanctified. miles by the summer trail, and ;i great For the first time, in many years, peace part of the road almost impassable espec- reigns on the Plains, and the Missionary ially if the season is wet— it is l>y no has access to all the tribes. Our schools means an easy journey to perfotm. are doing a good work but what are we However, at the risk of injuring my amongst so many ? Not ten miles from animals and exposing my health. 1 have Edmonton, ani at one Mission, there are tried to keep my appointments, knowing eight priests. Popery stands ready lor the reward was sure and the r< cord on every opening. Friends of truth, to you high. Such assurances are worth more

we appeal ; through your liberality, and than gold to the servant of God. Often in obedience to the great command, we in my long and wearisome journeys have came to this far off land. Will you sus- such reflections cheered the lonely hours tain us by increasing our number, by and strengthened my heart for greater enabling us to rescue the multitude of toils. The people of the Fort are always suflering children ? Our only hope for very glad +o see me, and listen attentively the future success of these missions de- to the truths of the Gospel. Most of them pends upon the moral and religious train- are Protestants, and in their fatherland ing of the young, of whom scoies, it not received instruction in the truths of the hundreds, might now be gathered into Bible. Frequently we me*>t the Stoneys our schools. Nor are the claims of the there, as it is the post where the majority natives the only ones that demand immed- of them do their trading. In September, iate action : our noble country will I spent six days at the Foit ; had set vices shortly be the home of tens of thousands four times en the Sabbath, —twice for of the sons and daughters of Canada — the the benefit of the English-speaking portion broad field ou which they will find amp'e of the people, and twice for the Stoneys, scope for their energy. Already the who had pitched in a few days before, adventurous Canadian mingles with the and remained for the purpose of seeing mixed blood and the native in our Sabbath the minister, as I was, according to pro- services. To meet the wants of theii mise, expected at that time. During the ever-increasing numbers, we must have week days we had two services, so that more men. my time was .spent in trying to lead these Above all, we beseech you pray for us, poor wanderers to God. In the six days, that a baptism of the Holy Spirit may I held fourteen services and* baptized rest upon your agents, and upou the three children. I left for home on the struggling Missions of this land. 24th of the month, promising to meet the Mountain Stoneys again about the 2<>th of Gfc'ORGE MCDOUGALL. October, as they all expected to be at the Fort then to do their fall trading, and Numerous settlers were to be found obtain supplies for the winter. On the around this post, as well as tin* employees 15th of October, I started again for the of the Company. The religious services Mountain Fort, and found many of the were therefore well attended, and much Stoneys already there and a few tents of appreciated. Before and after the Mis- Blackfeet. I spent twelve days at the sion-house was built and until a church Mountain Fort, and during that time I was erected the Sabbath School and baptized eight children and two women, public services were held in the Fort. and married one couple. I also took the In 1868 the Rev. Peter Campbell was names of all the men, women, and child- stationed at Edmonton but he made his ren belonging to the Mountain Stoneys ; home at Pigeon Lake, now c tiled Wood- also the names of all w ho are trying to ville. He preached at Woodville, Rocky- "lead new lives," as I thought it would Mountain House and Edmonton, until be an item of interest to you." .

34

Peter Campbell removed to Victoria which had for chairman, His Excellency and John McDougall went to Woodville. Governor Archibald. The history of the latter, we shall treat Several important measures were intro- of separately before our task is done. duced to the Conference. It was felt The former spent five years in the Sas- desirable to establish a College at Winni- katchewan, striving to elevate by the peg, and John Macdonald, Treasurer of preaching of the Gospel half-breeds, the Missionary Society was requested to Indians and white people, and those years wait upon Donald A. Smith, Esq., M.P., so full ot toil, hardship and danger were Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, not lacking in spiritual fruits. and lay the matter before him. This was An important event in the history of done and the enterprise seemed to impress Methodism took place, namely the as- the Govern- r so favorably, that he gave sembling of the first Conference for Mani- his assuiance,that if the Wesleyan Church toba and the North-west Territories. established a College, the Hudson's Bay The Conference assembled on the morning Compiny would provide, gratuitously of July 26th, 1872, in the Wesleyan sufficient land for this purpose. Church, Winnipeg, with the following The establishment of a new mission

members : — upon the Bow River, as a favorable point The Rev. Wm. Morley Punshon, LL.D., to operate among the Blackfeet was re President of the Conference. commended. This mission was subsequen- The Rev. Enoch WoodD.D., tly established, and was named Morley-

Secretary of the Missionary Society : and ville after Wm. Morley Punshon. John Macdonald,Esq,Treas. of the Society. An interesting event took place in the ordination of John McDougall. Deputation from the Committee and The Toronto Globe correspondent in the Conference: issue of August 16, 1872. in a letter under The Rev. George Young, Winnipeg. the heading "Manitoba Affairs : Winni- Chairman of the Red River District. peg, August 1st, 1872," stated that the The Rev. George McDougall, Edmonton Wesleyan Church in Winnipeg was far in House, Chairman of the Saskatchewan advance of that of any othei denomination District. there, and its dsvelopment had been so The Rev. Michael Fawcett, High Bluff. rapid, that it would be creditable to any Tire Rev. Henry B. Steinhauer, town in Ontario. White Fish Laka. George McDougall and his party turned The Rev. Peter Campbell, Victoria. their faces toward the Saskatchewan on The Rev. John McDougall, Woodville. the second day of August 1872. Upon The F„ev. E. R. Young, Rossville, the same day the Sandford Fleming Ex- Norway House. pedition left Fort Garry for the trip The Rev. Matthew Robison, High Bluff, across the plains. That memorable jour- The Rev. A. Bowerman, Winnipeg. ney has been well described by Principal George Edwards, a Candidate for the Grant of Queen's College, the Secretary ministry, employed by the Chairman, was of the Expedition, in his book "Ocean to

1 also present. Ocean.' '' George McDougall with his Those in attend ince comprised all the Cree servant Souzie overtook the. party missionary workers in the country, except when thirty-three miles beyond Winnipeg. J. Sinclair, Native Teacher at Oxford They parted for awhile at Rat Portage House. Long distances had some of these but were reunited at Fort Ellice. The men to travel to reach Winnipeg, some of missionary party travelled more leisurely them being twenty days and one party under the guidance of John McDougall. twenty-five ou their journey. Instead of During the early part of the journey, Mr. being billete I as in these better days, the McDougall did not know that in the ex- ministers from the Saskatchewan District pedition there was a minister in the per- c imped out, preferring to stay in the out- son of the Secretary, consequently, he skirts of Winnipeg where they could acted as spiritual adviser and preacher, have their horses in pasture, rather than but genuine religion always will become occupy any of the homes of the people. manifest. Souzie observed one day the During the stay of the deputation from author of Ocean to Ocean upjn his knees the East, —some four or five days — Dr. in prayer in secret, and he very speedily Punshon gave two of his famous Lectures informed his master that there must be a "Daniel in Babi/lon" and "The men of the praying-man in the camp. From that Mayflower." One of these Lectures was hour Principal Grant and the Cree Indian delivered in the Methodist Church, pre- Missionary conducted the services in sided over by James W. Taylor Esq., unison. Agreeable to a resolution passed United States Consul, and the other in the at the first Winnipeg Conference asking Hudson's Bay Company's new warehouse, the General Missionary Committee to 35 send an officer of the Society or a Senior Early in the summer of 1874, George member of the Conference to visit the McDougall visited Victoria and Athabaa- remote missions, Lachlin Taylor D. D., ka, and then went to cheer the mission Secretary of the Missionary Society Lett family at Morley. In tho autumn he de- Toronto on May 5th, 1X73. upon this parted with his family across the prairies minion. Nine days afterward Dr. Taylor on a visit to Ontario. Mrs. McDougaU with two companions, Rev. J. B. Arm- had not been air ong her friends in the strong and Jacob Hains Esq of Morrisburg east for fourteen years, and the trip reached Winnipeg. A congregation of though long and arduous was cheerful nearly three hundred listened to the through hope of meeting old friends. Doctor's morning sermon. In his report For several years the zealous mission- of his trip he speaks of Dr, George Young's ary had earnestly endeavoured to fru- faithful ministration among the people, strate the hopes and plans of tlie whiskey- and his forethought in anticipating the traders. The trade in buffalo robes had necessities of many of the missionaries in assumed such proportions that several the country and his kindness in granting traders from the United States had been relief. Refering to the dark days of the induced to enter the country of the Riel Rebellion and the murder of Scott, he Blackfeet to carry oti their trade. In bears testimony to the fact that Dr. trading with the people, the temptation George Young stood by the side of the proved too strong for their trader to evade poor man, tying at his request the the Indians' liking for liquor, and accord- bandage more tightly over his eyes, and ingly whiskey of the worst kind was in- administered spiritual consolation to him troduced, and some terrible scenes follow- a minute or two before he was shot. ed. Many ot the Indiaus drank the After a visit to Norway and Oxford liquor until they died, and murders were House, Dr. Taylor started across the frequent. Fifty ' thousand robes, the plains with John McDougall as his guide missionary said, were annually traded and companion. At Fort Pitt they met for among the Indians, which were worth George McDougall, Peter Campbell and two hundred and fifty thousand dollars their Indian boys. All the missions were and the Indians received for them noth- inspected, the district now named Albert* ing but alcohol. Not alone were the was passed through, the site fur the robes sold, but the horses which they Morleyville mission was visited. Anight owned were given for liquor and the few was spent with some whiskey traders at necessaries which sufficed to sustain life. Fort Whoop Up, and ultimately Fort Ciime increased and the Indians decreas- Benton on ihe Missouri reached, when ed, The Blackfeet and Crees beheld the Dr. Taylor bade farewell to George Mc- fearful consequences of this traffic and Dougall, his sun John, Bro Snyder and were anxious for its suppression. A their servants. The homeward journey meeting was held at the call of George was attended with danger, but Edmonton McDougall and Chief Factor Christie of wa3 reached in safety, and work prosecut- the Hudson's Bay Company, at which a ed with energy, relying upon the blessing petition was drawn up, to be sent to the of God in the saving of men. Dominion authorities, requesting measures to be adopted for the overthrow of the liquor trade among the Indians, and the CHAPTER XI. maintenance of law and order in the country. This petition asked that a THE BLACKFEET. military force be sent to the country for short time after the visit of Lach- this purpose. The missionary by letters lin Taylor to the valley of the Bow, and interviews sought the object he de- the new mission to the Stoney In- sired. Chief Factor Christie had in 1871, dians was commenced. In Novem- brought the matter before.Governor Archi- ber, 1873, Morleyville became a reality bald, and Chief Sweet Grass, head chief and the erection of buildings was begun of the Crees in his message sent to the in earnest. John McDougall, his wife Governor at the same time, said among and three children located there. In the other things "We want you to stop the hills about three miles back of the present Americans from coming to trade on our site of the mission, among the trees, they lands, and giving firewater, ammunition built the first mission premises. When and arms to our enemies the Blackfeet." visited by the writer they were arranged The Dominion authorities had issued a on the plan of a square fort, all the build- proclamation prohibiting the traffic in ings opening into the square. This was spirituous liquors to Indians and others done for protection against enemies. The and the use of strychnine in the destruc- location was fully twelve miles from the tion of animal life, but the evils of the site of the Old Bow Fort. liquor traffic still existed. In 1873, the —

36

Dominion Parliament passed an Act to As George McDougail was on his way establish and appoint a military force for home, he learned that the Indians in the toe North West. This force, known us Saskatchewan Valley were very uneasy. the JSorth West Mounted Police, numbered This had arisen from the presence of at first, three hundred men, with the parties constructing a telegraph line and proportionate complement of officers. At in the survey of the Canadian Pacific the time George McDougail and his family Railroad and a party belonging to the were crossing the plains, the Mounted Geological Survey. Not understanding Police were making the famous " Trip of the reasons for the presence of these parties and the work in which they were Leaving Dufferin on July 8th the first engaged, there had been collision and se- column of the force began its march across ious consequences were expected. Lieu- the plains under the command of Colonel tenant Governor Morris obtained permis- French. About the middle of September sion from the Dominion authorities to the main column reached the Old Man's send a messenger to treat with the River. A. B. C. and F. divisions being Indians, and he at once selected the man, left there under the Assistant-Commis- whom we are attempting tD describe. sioner Lieut-Colonel Macleod, during that Although he was anxious to reach home winter temporary quarters were built with his family, when the Lieut-Governor which finally became Fort Macleod. One requested him to visit the Indian camps, dozen men under Colonel Jarvis parted he patriotically took his wife, leaving the from the Main column at Roche Percee other members of his family to follow him for Edmonton where they arrived on the and set out upon his mission. He bore second day of November. Under th3 with him a letter from Governor Morris, efficient administration of the Commis- stating that Commissioners would visit sioner Lieut-Col. Macleod, law and order them during ths summer, to. confer with was established in the couutry, the them asto a treaty. He visited the In- whiskey traffic among the Indians entir- dian camps, comprising four thousand ely suppressed, and life made secure. nine hundred and seventy six souls, and The missionary reached Toronto in was verv successful in his mission. September during the session of the First His report to the Lieutenant-Governor Geueral Conference which began in the is as fodows : Metropolitan Church on the sixteenth day of that mouth. Morleyville, Bow River, The autumn and winter were spent in Rocky Mountains, % addressing meetings in the interests of Oct. 23rd, 1875. missions. Great enthusiasm was aroused To His Honor Lieutenant-Governor Mor-

among the people by these addresses, and ris : the missionary cause was greatly blessed. Sir, —In accordance with my instruc- In the spring a visit was made to Scot- tions, I proceeded with as little delay as land and England. interest in our Deep possible to Carlton, in the neighborhood Northwest Indian Missions was the result of which place I met with forty tents of of several he addressed in meetings which Crees. London. Early in July, 1875, the mission- From these I ascertained that the work ary and his family left Toronto for the I had undertaken would be much more Saskatchewan. About the same time the arduous than I hid expected, and that Rev. President of the Dr. Enoch Wood, the principal camps would be found on Toronto Conference started for Winnipeg the south branch of the Saskatchewan to ordain several young ministers whose and Red Deer Rivers. term of probation had expired and who I was also iuformed by these Indians connection at had been received iuto full that the Crees and Plain Assiniboines the conference previously held. About a were united on two points : week before this time the missionary Board 1st, That they would not receive any of the Methodist Episcopal of Can- Church presents from Government until a defi- ada met in Hamilton, Ontario,and decided nate time for treaty was stated. to ex- to begin a mission in Manitoba, and 2nd. Though they deplored the neces- tend its operations to the Saskatchewan. sity of resorting to extreme measures, Between three and four thousand dollars yet they were unanimous in their deter- were subscribed toward this object, the mination to oppose the running of lines, pro- Rev. J. Gardiner was instructed to or the making of roads through their ceed to witu a view to begin- Miuitoba country until a settlement between the ning the enterprise and a missionary Government and them had been effected. was to be sent to the field, as soon as all I was further informed that the danger of the arrangements had been completed. . a collision with the whites was likely to 37

arise from the officious conduct of minor me that Big Bear and his party were a Chiefs who were anxious to make them- very small minority in camp. The Crees selves conspicuous, the principal men of said they would have driven them out of the large camps being much more moder- camp long ago, but v ere afraid of their ate in their demands. Believing this to medicines, as they are noted conjurers. be the fact, I resolved to visit every camp The topics generally discussed at their and read them your message, and in order council and which will be brought before that your Honor may form a correct the Commissioner are as follows in their jndgment of their disposition towards own language. "Till the Great Chief the Government, I will give you a synop- that we are glad the traders are prohibit-

sis of their speeches after the message was ed bringing spirits into our country : read. Mistahwahsis, head chief of the when we see it, we want to drink it, and

Carlton Indians, addressing the principal it destroys us ; when we do not see it we Chief of the Assiniboines, and addressing do not think about it. Ask for us a strong

me, said : "That is just it, that is all we law, prohibiting the free use of poison wanted." 7 he Assiniboines addressing me (Strychnine).

said : "Our heart is full of gratitude, It has abncst exterminated the animals foolish men have told us that the Great of our country, and often makes us bart Chief would send his young men to our friends with our white neighbors. We country until they outnumbered us, and further request that a law be made, that theu he would laugh at us, but this equally applicable to the Half-Breed and letter assured us that the Great Chief will Indian, punishing all parties who set tire act justly toward us." to our forest or plain. Not many years Beardy, or the Hairy Man, Chief of the a jo, we attributed a prairie fire to the

Willow Indians, said : "If I had heard malevolence of an enemy, now every one these words spoken by the Great Queen is reckless in the use of fire, and every I could not have believed them with more year large numbers of valuable animals implicit faith than I do now." The Sweet and birds perish in consequence. We Grass was absent from camp when I would further ask that our chiefships be reached the Plain Crees, but his son and established by the Government. Of late the principal men of the tribe request- years almost every trader sets up his own ed me to convey to the Great Chief at Chief and the result is we are broken up Red River, their thanks for the presents into little parties, and our best men are received, and they expressad the greatest no longer respected." loyalty to the Government. In a word, I will state in connection with this, I found the Crees reasonable in their de- some of the false reports I had to combat mands, and anxious to live in peace with in passing through this country, all calcu- the white men. I found the Big Beir, a lated to agitate the native mind. In the Saulteaux, Jryiug to take the lead in their neighborhood of Carlton an interested council. lie formerly lived at Jack Fi^h party went to considerable trouble to in- Lake, and for years has be°n regarded as form the Willow Indians that I had $3,- a troublesome fellow. In his speech he 000 for each band as a present from the

said : "We want none of the Queen's Government, and nothing in my long jour- presents; when we set a fox-trap we ney gave me greater satisfaction than the scatter pieces of meat all round, but manner in which these Indians received when the fox gets into the trap we knock my explanation of the contents of my

him on the head : we want no bait, let letter of instructions. At the Buffalo your Chiefs come like men and talk to us." Lake I found both Indians and Half- These Saulteaux are the mischief makers Breeds greatly agitated. A gentleman through all this western country and passing through their country had told some of them are shrewd men, them that the Mounted Police had recei- A few weeks since, a land speculator ved orders to prevent all parties killing wished to take a claim at the crossing on buffalo or other animals, except during Battle River, and asked the consent of the three months in the year, and these are Indians. Que of rny Saulteaux friends only samples of the false statements made sprang to his feet and pointing to the by parties who would rejoice to witness east, said : "Do you see that great white a conflict of races. " man (the Government) coming ! "No" That; your Honor's message was most said the spectator. "I do " said the timely, there are ample proofs. Indian, "and I hear the tramp of the A report will have reached you before multitude behind him, and when he comes this time that parties have been turned you can drop in behind him, and take up back by the Indians, and that a train con- all the land claims you want : but until taining supplies for the telegraph contrac- *hen I caution you to put up no stakes in tors, when west of Fort Pitt, were met our country." It was very fortunate for by three Indians and ordered to return. 38

Now after carefully investigating the white settlers, and he held a few services matter and listening to the statements of at Pincher Creek. In 1880, the wtiter all parties concerned, my opinion is, that was ordained as missionary to the Black- an old traveller amongst Indians would foot ludians and went to Fort Macleod, have regarded the whole affair as too as successor to George McDougall, Re- trivial to be noticed. I have not met a gular services were held at the Indian Chief who would bear with the responsi- Farm, Pincher Creek, and at the Mounted

bility of the act . , Personally Police Barracks, Pincher Creek. On the I am indebted both to the missionaries first Sunday in August, 1880, service was and the Hudson's Bay Company's officials begun at tne Mountain Mill, fifty miles for their assistance at the Indian Coun- west of Macleod, and subsequentiy regu- cils. lar appointments were made at the Gait Believing it would be satisfactory to Saw Mill in the Porcupine Hills. your Honor and of service to the Com- Two months aftci the mines were open- missioners, I have kept the number of ed at Lethbrjdge by Mr. Wm. Stafford, all the tents visited and the names of the foreman of the mine, the writer began places where I met the Indians. By regular service there. which was maintain- reckoning eight persons to each tent, we ed until the Indian work on the Blood will have a very close approximate to the Reserve became too heavy to allow of any number of Indians to be treated with at outside work. The beginnings of mission Carlton, and Fort Fitt. There may have work in Southern Alberta among the

J been a few tents in the forest, and I have ' white settlers and Indians, will be found heard there are a few Crees at Lesser fully described in the author's Hiatory of Slave Lake and Lac la Biche, but the the Blackfoot Indiana. number cannot exceed twenty tents. All too soon to our human vision, the All of which is respectfully submitted. strong man was laid low, and the Play- G. McDougall. ground Mission was never developed, the sheep becoming scattered and the wander- The missionary before leaving Toronto ing tribes left to mourn the loss of one they had been authorized to estaolish a new whom had trusted and hoped to find a teacher friend. mission one hundred miles south of the and a Bow River. Towards this object the Methodist Sunday School at Charlotte- CHAPTER XII. town, Prince Edward Island, had volun- THE LAST HUNT. teered to support the new mission to the |f§f§N this wonderland ,of the west, the extent of one thousand dollars a year. A tefl|| missionary had to depend upon his trip was made into the country of the J^p energy and good judgment to secure Blackfeet and a site was selected for the ^ success for his various enterprises, mission at Pincher Creek, Southern Alber- and from his small salary to support the ta, thirty miles west of Fort Macleod. mission family. It was named the Play-ground Mission, During the autumn and winter the fro n Old Man's River wnich was known preachers of the Cross donned their suits at the time as Play-ground River thus of buckskin and away to the plains they named from a Blackfoot tradition of rode in search of buffalo, heeding not the Napioa, the Old Man having sported him- ha/d work nor the necessary endurance. self like a child, using large rocks for Brave, generous and kind were the mis- marbles. The Indians still show the tra- sionaries of the early days, as the men veller the large stones which Napioa are to day. Life upon the prairie, how- played in his game. The site of the mis- ever, in times of solitude united men more sion is now in the centre of the finest olosely and firmly than is possible to be stock-raising district in Canada. There done in this aga of railroads, when each is nob to-day in the whole Dominion a man is too much occupied with his own better district T for stock-raising than the affairs to be able to giv e any time to his stock ranges of Pincher Cteek. Alas ! neighbor's plans. In January, 1876, herds the mission was never established by the of buSalo were reported to be on the plains, faithful man, for ere' his plans were laid, and a party from the Morley Mission was God called him home. This Play-ground organized, consisting of George McDougall, Mission was the mission to the Blackteet. his son John and his nephew Moses, who The project was never carried out. started out to get the winter's supply of After the death of the missionary, Miss meat. Barrett went to Fort Macleod and started An Indian, and his son about twelve a day-school for Indians and half breeds. years of age, joined the mission party. Six months afterward Henry M. Manning Away they sped with great hopes of suc- arrived as the first missionary to the cess, each member of the small party 39

being in good health and of an active dis- bore it to his lodge, where an Indian position. woman kindly covered it with her shawl. On Monday, January 24th, the party That Sunday afternoon was a sad one to was about eight or ten miles from Fort the missionary family. Sadly the funeral Bresboise, now known as Calgary. Upon procession travelled toward Morley, bear- the afternoon of that day John McDougall ing the remains of one of Canada's peasant ran the buffalo, killing six animals after sons who had toiled nobly for the uplifting much hard work, and darkness came on of men, and died amid labors abundant. before they were all skinned, the meat Although the hearts of the mourners dressed and placed upon the sleds. The were filled with sorrow, it was the march camp was about eight miles from the place of a conquering hero. where the buffalo were killed, and about Vanquished he was not, for he entered thirty miles from Morley. Father and triumphantly the "home over there." son worked hard preparing the meat to By a strange Providence the noted take home, and then the former made prairie traveller and hunter lost his way. some coffee and a hasty meal was eaten. The man who had crossed the plains many One of the animals was generously given times, and always felt at home upcn the to the Indian, as he had been unsuccessful boundless prairies, at last lay down upon in the hunt. The last animal was dressed the beautiful snow, stretched out his and placed upon the sled and the party limbs and arranged his body as if for started in Indian fashion for the camp, burial, conscious to the last that all hope the Indian and his son leading and the had fled, and now he must go home to others following, all being guided by John God. McDougall. Father and son conversed A stranger might have fallen, but this awhile as they travelled camp-ward, and man, above all others, to think that he when within two miles of their destination should fail, we did not expect it. Nay, the aged missionary told his son that he we thought that storms could never deter would go ahead ami get supper ready for him from duty, and danger only nerved the party. Pointing *o a star which stood him to undertake greater things for God over the camp, and assured that the way and man, God's ways are mysterious, was short and easy, he rode off into the and we abide the dictates of His Provi- darkness. The test of the party followed dence, for, "He doech all things well." slowly with their loads of meat, but they Several years ago a half-breed informed were not long in getting to the lodge. Ail the writer that he saw George McDougall was dark. The tire which they had hoped walking through the snow during the to see blazing was out and Moses was heavy storm, leading his horse, but knew sound asleep in the lodge. Father was not that he was lost. We shall never not there, and the heart of the son was know what befel him, and why he lost his quick to perceive the imminent dauger of way, until in the great recognition time the veterau missionary. Guns were fired, we meet again in our Father's House. a search was made, hut there was no re- The eountry was deeply stirred when sponse. It was a cold night, and hope they heard of the sad occurrence. Far died not in the hearts of the brave men. and wide the news spread, and great was Early in the morning the search was con- the lamentation. tinued, but the energetic attempts made Various accounts were given of the were fruitless. death of the devoted missionary, but we A severe storm set in, such as would give place to an account rendered by the destroy any human being. His faithful widow in her hour of bereavement. horse was found five days after he started Mrs. McDougall wrote the following for the lodge, but the master was not letter to her mother which gives in detail found. The settlers in the country were au account— of the loss of the devoted mis- aroused, and aided by the Mounted sionary : Police, Half-Breeds and Indians, the MORLEYVILLE, BOW RlVER, country was scoured. Twelve days passed by and no tidings of the lost man. It was Feb. 15th, 1876. Monday evening that he had lost his way, My Dear Mother, —I have just come and two weeks had nearly passed by. from the grave of my dear husband, who

Upon the thirteenth day, which was Sun- was buried last week, on the i Oth of this day, a half-breed who had been out hunt month. I hardly know how to give you ing, and was going for the buffalo which a detailed account of his death, but I he had killed, accidentally found the body must try and do so. It is very sad to have of the sainted missionary of the Saskat- the painful duty of writing. Four weeks chewan, not far from the camp which he ago from this day my dear husband left had earnestly but unsuccessfully sought. home with our son John, and his nephew Reverently placing it upon his sled, he Moses McDougall, and two Indians, for 40 the purpose of hunting and bringing in knelt down for some time, holding the meat, the buffdo being now not more than horse by the rein, then he re-mounted thirty mites from this place. The snow and went on th^ way, as the boy thought, being deep and the weather cold they had to a place called Elbow, where some fami- but little success till the next Monday, lies are staying. Saturday the horse came when late in the afternoon they killed six to a tent that stood near the toad home- animals. These had to be skinned and ward, without any saddle. All these days, cut up and loaded upon the sleds. When the dear boys enduring so much distress done, they started for the tent, nearly and suspense, I was from nome. I had four milss distance. Having left Moses gone down the river sixty miles, on a visit at the tent, who was complaining of not to our daughter Nellie's home. The first being well that morning, his uncle was Sabbath I was there mv dear husband anxious about him and expressed his de- wa« with the mounted police and preached sire to hurry on and see how matters were twice for fiem. On Monday he< came to and have a good fire ready when Tohn and Nellie's and staid till Wednesday morn- the Indians should come. At first John ing. When he left for home he was so objected, as they were still two miles from well and hearty, little did we think we the tent, but his father urged it would be were bidding him good bve, looking on better. So being on horseback he rode his smiling face for t^e last time. Ar- off at a gallop. John and his party fol- rangements were made that I should meet lowed slowly. When they reached the him in two weeks from the next Saturday, tent, what was their surprise and con- at the mounted police station, as he would sternation to find no father, only Moses be there tr. preach at the appointed time. fast asieep and fire about out. The slaep- Accompanied by Nellie. I went, expect er was awakened, but he had not seen his ing to meet him. Instead we found John uncle. The night being clear they and David with others ; they had just judged from the stars that it was about come from a general search for their ten o'clock. They re-loaded their guns father. Thev greeted us, I thought, with and went upon the highest placps they rather a sad salutation, but it being dark, could and fired a great number of shots, we did not see their faces ; nothing was and also in the valley ; but to no purpose. said to give us any clue that there wag After passing a sleepless nig'nt, at early anything wrong that had transpired. The dawn John started out in quest of the family at whose house we stopped were horses, for he thought his dear father very kind. Supper being ready, we all drew might have been thrown, and if so, his round the tab'e. Conversation was very horse would be with the others. He was dull. When near through supper a priest greatly relieved to find his father's horse came in, and the first words he uttered was not with the band. He spent the were. speaking to John: "Mr. McDougall, day in riding in every direction ad firing I am verv sorry for your misfortune." shots till late in the evening, bur. n o The cold chills ran through me, and look- father was to be found. This was Tues- ing at Nellie, I was startled ; she was day. Wednesday was very stormy, fear- very pale. Turning to John, I mustered ful drifts, no leaving the tent. Through up courage to ask what misfortune had " the day he thought it possible that his happened. David spoke : Mother we father, in his wanderings the first night, may as well tell you first as last, father had been going in the direction of home, left John on his way to go to the tent, and when day-light came, he wou'd find lost his way and has not been found yet, the road and have gone there. This led and this is the 9th day." You mav judge him to come home, but no father wan tin re. my feelings and Nellie's. But still there

Next morning early, he started out with was a ray of hope ; as some Sarcees were David and two otht-rs, and went down to oamped a little further north, he might be

where the mounted police are stationed, there ; a party was out to see. In the forty miles from this.'in hopes they 'might meantime we came home, John and David find him there. He was not there and had to get fresh horses and a supply of pro- not been heard of. A number of the police, visions. All the men in the place went. with captain and officers, and others They travelled two together for three all sig- turned out and rode over for mdes ; days ; on the fourth day near noon, but no vestige of our dear one could be nals Were made, they gathered at -the tent, found. Some of the party came to some there to find the body of my dear husband, tents occupied by half-breeds, among A party that were out had found it. and whom was a boy who said he had seen a brought it to his sorrowing sons. He was white man riding a dark colored hor^e on found lying as if some kind hand had been

Tuesday afternoon. He rode around in a there ; one hand lay on his breast, the circle, then stopped his horse, got off, and other a little on the side, his eyes and lips —

41 closed, and a smile on his countenance, lighted with the prospect he beheld from his legs aud feet in the right position ready the gorge in the mountain, through which the river flows, that he sat flown for burial ; when he lay down to die he aud must have bad great presence of mind. played with some stones. We were shojvn Our comfort is we feel assured that Jesus a collection of rocks, some of them mure was with him in the trying hour. When than a ton weight, that the old man had the corpse was brought home, and I was placed in a row, and a vast granite pile feeling so bad, my dear son George put near the opening into the plain the wonder- " ful placed there his arms around me saying : Mother, worker haa as a monu- don't weep, father was not alone, the ment in memory of his visit. You will angels of heaven were hovering over him, have learned fiom the papers that I was waiting to take him home to be with Jesus." commissioned by the Ottawa Government We all think he could not get lost. The to visit the Creesand Plain Stonies, with opinion of every one is that he became the view of effecting a treaty with them next summer. snow-biind ; some think he was taken ill; it is a mystery to all. It has been i severe I was three months continuously travel- trial to write, but dear mother, tor your ling amongst these Indians. I found them sake 1 have tried to do my best. I close very reasonable ; with one exception, they with dearest love to brother and sister expressed themselves delighted with the and yourself, in which George unites. prospect of having a settlement with the Elizabeth McDoug^ll. Government. Bro. Manning only arrived in time to The following is part of a letter written save us from utter ruin at Edmontou. On by George McDougall to Dr. Lachlan Tay- the very spot selected at Morleyville when lor, and received by him about the time yon were present, the body of a church that news reached Toronto that the North- now stands erect ; and a little to the east West missionary was frozen to death : of that spot a mission house and a small MoRLEYVILLF, Bow RlVER, schoolhouse. David and young McKenzie Mountains, Rocky have an establishment just across the little Nov. 8th, 1875. creek, and the H. B. Co. one ac Ghost Dear, Dr. Taylor, —Strike, but hear River. Not far below where we crossed me. Ever since I parted with you in the Bow River, the mounted police have Glasgow, with the exception of three fine a fort, where there is a fine opening for days on the Atlantic, 1 have been inces- doing good, as a large number of people santly engaged. In Montreal I spent a are collecting in the neighborhood. Dr. Sabbath with your old friend of Great St. Verey, the gentleman from whose mother James, then hastened on to Kingston, only I received a letter while at 17 Gough to be there one evening ; thence to To- Square, as you will remember, is, strange ronto, where preparations had to be made to say, teaching our mission school, and for the North West. Our schoolmasters takes a deep interest in the young people; and their families required no small as- our medical friend is a valuable member sistance in getting ready. On reaching of the community. You will be glad to Winnipeg, we ascertained that the freight- learn that the alcohol trade has nearly ers had all left, and our only resource was subsided. 1 learned a good deal about the to buy up a bull-train, and drive it up to " roughs " that you saw at '.* Kipp " and the Rocky Mountains. In this we " W hoop up," during my visit to McLeod. have been successful, reaching Morleyville The Spaniard that gave you the can fruit on the 21st of October. Since then, John was killed by the German who told you he and I have visited Fort McLeod, which had seen you in South America ; ahs ! stands on the very spot where the fight took for the wicked ; more than half of the place at the time th^t we crossed Play- men that you saw collected on that oc- ground River. We were very kindly re casion have passed into eternity. There ceived, both by the officers and men, has been a great deal spoken and written seventy in number. A wonderful change about the mounted police, but the fact is, has come over the s^ene ; quite a village they have performed a grand work in this has sprung up, large stores, rilled with country, and now that they have a chain English goods, have been erected. We of posts located at McLeod, Bow River, purpose locating our new mission about that valley on the Red Deer, where you thirty miles west of that point ; the pro- fired at the bull, and Fort Edmonton, the spect is magnificent, rich land and abun- prospect is, that security for life and pro- dance of timber. Perhaps we cannot give perty will be guaranteed in the future. I the new Mission a better name than the must now, I suppose, tell you about our literal translation of the Indian name. plans for the winter. We reached here Tradition tells us that Nabneboshyon, in too late to build at Playground River, so passing over his great works, was so de- we decided to winter at Morleyville; my 42

MOF.I.EYVILLE, Bow RlVKR, schoolmaster is a carpenter ; I am, as you are aware, a piece of one, so that we have Rocky Mountains, Dec. 23rd, 1S75. decided to stay and help John through with I have frequently conversed with you his church. John is now off for BufTaJo and also with other lead.ug men.bers of meat, and I am engaged in the erection of our Mission Board, as to tha practicability must have a church a workshop. We ; of establishing an Orphan House for the there are six hundred Stonies that regard destitute children of the I'lain tribes. this place as their home. I visited one of The stringent state »f the money market, their camps last week where there were and the changes taking place in our Church four hundred and sixty. These worthy organization, combined to make our children of the mountain deserve en- worthy officials very cautious about em- couragement, and I hope before the end barking in any new scheme ; but, though of April a snug little church will be open- nothing formal was done, I received great ed for their benefit. encouragement from not only members of I am sending Dr. Wood and Mr. Suther- our section of the Christiau Church, but land a full list of all donations received as you see by the attached list, Irom for Western missions, in which honorable Christian ladies and gentlemen both in reference is made to a dear friend whose Great Britain and America. valuable assistance was 30 freely given in In England, the Rev. Dr. Punshon earnestly the fatherland. I hope the day is not far recommended the Orphanage ; distant when I shall have the pleasure of and had I been at liberty to have taken bidding you welcome to the new mission' his advice, and remained in Britain home. The road is growing shorter almost during the summer, 1 have no doubt but large every day ; five or six days from Toronto that a sum could have been obtained. to Bismarck, then up by a magnificent river I was greatly indebted to our own Dr. steamer to Benton, then three or four Taylor, a gentleman who has a practical days' ride by way of Sun River, and the knowledge of the sad condition of the

traveller will reach Playground ; and if western natives. The princely gifts of you do not pronounce it one of the grand- dear friends both at home and in the Do- est locations in all the mission field, I minion are gratefully acknowledged. For shall be greatly mistaken. Our trouble is their information I would just state that the severe financial crisis in America, the object for which their gifts were ob- which has seriously affected our funds, tained will be put in practical operation

and may cripple us in our operations for as soon as possible ; a beautiful location a time. I left all the moneys collected in has been selected on the Playground the hands of the Secretaries until plans River, west of Fort McLeod, a spot well adapted for an Indian settlement. for building, " &c, were matured. If life Next is spared I shall push the work next spring we hope to commence the erection spring. of buildings, and at once open a school. Had we now accommodation for fifty Please present my kindest regards to scholars, more than that number could be our excellent hostess and her worthy collected from the Blackfaet, while both daughter, and also the young gentlemen. the Crees and the Stoneys have numbers I should like to have the pleasure of of little orphans hanging on to their camps. tendering them the hospitality of one of To the ladies of Montreal, Kingston, our prairie missions ; the bill of fare would and Toronto, we tender our grateful be a little out of the ordinary —buffalo acknowledgements for the clothing so tongue, beaver tail and wild mutton would generously provided. I alsj received a be on the list. Well, laying all jokes package of clothing from Minesing, Barrie aside, I shall never forget the four weeks Circuit, forwarded by John Moran, Esq. po pleasantly spent at 17 Gough Square. With the geuerous gift of our Kingston If Providence permits us to get settled friends I have taken the liberty of apply- "down, I shall send you a long letter de- ing it to another object, and have written scriptive of what I have seen and heard to the ladies making the explanation. amongst the redmen, and I also intend to When we reached Morley ville the sea- send a letter to the Recorder, expressing son was far advanced, our animals, after gratitude to our English friends who have their twelve hundred mile journey, re- remembered these far-off missions. quired rest, so we resolved to winter at I remain, reverend and dear sir, this place. Yours very respectfully, I found mv son earnestly at work on the mission buildings, and was gratified G. McDougall. to find that a large amount of building Ths Methodist Missionary Notices con- nraterial had been procured. The pressing tained the following, as one among the last want of the mission is the completion of letters written by the sainted missionary: the church. For which purpose at least a "

43

$2,000 boards, in addition to those already allowed the use of intoxicating drinks ; collected, will be required. nothing could be more disastrous to the The appropriation for the entire mission best interests of this country than to al- [premises] w.is only $500.* It will require low the sale of intoxicating liquors at lour times that amount for the church Government establishments. Since last alone, and the work cannot be delayed August I have visited almost every Indian without serious loss, as a congregation of camp between Manitoba and the Rocky at least 600 natives have long anticipated Mountains, and never missed an opportu- the time when they shall worship the nity of conversing with the chiefs on the "Great Spirit" in the new house of prayer. subject of temperance, and their reply has To employ workmen is utterly impossible, invariably been, " We are grateful to the wages being enormously high, so we have 'Great Chief ' for prohibiting his people resolved to do the work ourselves, and I from bringing fire-water into our camps. have handed over to my son the clothing We love the fire-water. When we see it so generously provided by the Kingston we want to drink it, and then all kinds of ladies, requesting him to employ mixed troubles come upon us. When we do not blooda, or Indians, or anyone willing to see it we do not. think about it, and we all saw lumber, in order that the Lord's know we are better without it," house may be finished. An appropriate monument was erected Our prospects are brightening in this to his memory in the Morley Cemetery, western land. Contrasting the past with where are laid some of the Stoney Indians the present we are greatly eucouraged — awaiting the call upon the resurrection spirit of peace rests upon the tribes. The morn. present policy of our Government.if faith- In the Methodist Church at Edmonton, fully carried out, will without doubt be Alberta, a plain memorial table: of white eminently successful. The Mounted Po- marble set on black slate was placed, hav- lice have done a good work, and we are ing the following inscription in the Eng- " grateful for their services, but at the same lish and Cree languages : 'Let not your time we would most earnestly recommend hearts be troubled.' In memory of Rev. the strictest vigilance on the part of the George McDougall. ' I am the Resurrec- authorities. The small number of whites, tion and the Life,' amidst the overwhelming number of abori- The Rev. Enos Langford, who for eight gines, who but a short time ago received years was an Indian missionary to the the harshest treatment at the hands of Cree Indians, in the Hudson's Bay Terri- the pale-face, and who saw their country, tory, and amid universal regret passed which to them was a terrestrial paradise, away duriug his pastorate, in the city of changed by the whiskey trader into an in- Winnipeg wrote the following pathetic fernal region, these men are not going to poem upon the death of George Mc- short months all past — forget in a few Dougall : grievances. In view of these facts we have felt that a strict discipline was neces- Cold was the night and clear the sky, sary on the part of the military, and that Whila homeward bound,he looked on high. pointed out it would be for the good of both natives And saw the btar which The place he sought where sure he thought and soldiers if there was less familiarity To rest him for the night. between the forts and the Indian camps. On the American side there is no danger He spurs his horse but soon to find, left behind in this diiec'ion ; the Indian looks upon The heavy trains are ; out of sight and sound ! the American soldier as an enemy, and How quickly Where now is he ? we soon shall see not avoids him in every possible way ; so No traces can be found. in this country — the red-coat was received as a friend, and the wild Blackfoot at this When to the camp bis friends draw near— hour regards him as such. To perpetuate '• No traces of his footprints here ;" "What! where! ! can he have missed his way this friendly feeling the soldier must be ' " Haste thee, torch, gun, and faster run. 1 with !'• kept from too familiar intercourse the . 'Call from the highest hills natives. We are profoundly grateful for the com- In vain they searched, in vain they cried, trace was found, no voice replied prehensive proclamation prohibiting the No ; Sad was that night, but sadder still, importation of intoxicating liquors into the When days had passed, and all at last, North West, and we sincerely hope there Must count him with the dead. will be no modification of these laws. There are those in this country who have And is he lost who oft had trod Those hills and plains o'er snow and sod recommended that canteens should be He lost ! who others homeward led 1 opened at each Fort, and that under Yea, lost is he though strange it be. certain restrictions white men should be Who was himself a guide.

*An error. Over $900 have already been appropriated. —

44

Search, search for the remains at least, a kind of missionary bishop, and was apt Of one so brave but now at rest ; A hero on the field strife to press his own convictions to the fiont, of ; The spirit's sword—the written word, and this was not always satisfactory in a He wielded as for life. church whose organization was fmiuded upon the principles of With unrelenting zeal and care, democracy. He was Some search here and others there faithful to duty, and in a time of lawless- Nor do they stop till they have found ness faithfulness implies true nobility of —Tbe place of rsst where angels blest- soul. His corpse upon the prouud Mauy testimonies have beenrecordtd Him dangers never ceased to >ield, of his worth and daring, and we would N'or bound'ries knew his mission field, not needlessly refer to any of these, still As kind, as brave, each lingering trace it is well to heed On George McOougall's smiling face, the argument of silence, Of goodness beaming still. for w.hen the censorious fail to establish their charges, or find nothing to complain CHAPTER XIII. of it is just that notice should be taken of these things. THE DEPARTED MISSIONARY. The following eloquent tribute to the HEN the Stoney Indians returned memory of the faithful missionaiy wasgivm by the Rev. Leonard Gaety, iu a public II from their hunting expeditions in the mountains, they first learned address : wm I* their loss. With sorrowful We have not come together to-day hearts the chiefs with their followers merely to indulge in eulogy. We are met solemnly visited the grave. Few were to pay a deseived tribute of honour to their lamentations, but as they dropped the memory of a devoted mis&ionary and the prairie flowers of the early spring a truly noble man. Whatever we may time upon the mound, they showed the say or leave unsaid, the name of George grief the heart experienced but which the McDougall will be written among "the lips could not tell. S:>me of them did not few immortal names." That name is so return until the early spring, and great deeply engraven upon the history of the was their sorrow of heirt, tor they had North-West, and upon the hearts of its trusted the departed as their master and aboriginal races, that the pen of the his- friend. The news spread to the camps of torian will haste to do it honour, and the Crees, Sarcees, Bioods, Piegans and even the untutored Indian will hand Blaekfeet, and many of the red men spake down to his posterity the memory of an

«oftly, as they related the story of zeal honest official ; a zealous peacemaker ; an and devotion, the words of love and tender- unselfish friend ; and, above all, an heroic ness to which they had listened, and the minister of Jesus Christ. The death of noble example which had been given to such aman is not only a loss to the Church, them by the man who had sacrificed his but to the country in fc'hich lie lived. life for the dwellers in the lodges. Elisha looking longingly after the flaming The writer has conversed with the equipage which bore hence the prophet of dusky riders of the plains as together we Horeb, from the privations of the wilder- sat in the buffalo skin lodges, and vivid ness and the rage of kings, cried "My were their remembrances of his acts of de- father, my father, the chariots of Israel votion and heroism. Sometimes amid the and the horsemen thereof." He felt that coldest nights of the winters spent at a prophet's undaunted message and all- Morley messengers have come to the mis- conquering prayer were often mightier in sion house' from some distant camp, bear- the nation than her military forces. The ing the news of a sick or dying Indian, real strength of a country does not lie in and in a short time, the sound of the arsenals and ammunition, but in the ill- sleigh-bells would arouse the weary occu- corruptible integrity and God-fearing de- pants of the mission establishments as out votion of good men. The recognition of into the darkness, and across the snow this truth is at least implied in the fact clad prairie the faithful missionary on- that from all quarters, men of every shade ward sped. The latter years of his life of ecclesiastical creed, and political opin- were full of labour, and stronger was his ion, have vied with each other in acknow- love and more prayerful his spirit, than ledgement of the sterling worth of our in the earlier years. Friends and foes lamented brother McDougall. One way united in saying that a good man had in which we may honour the memory of a fallen. They acknowledged that he had good man is to mark his virtues and learn strong convictions and great courage. to imitate them. Our own short ac- He was not faultless. His independent quaintance with the deceased left upon spirit, strong will and optimism aroused our mind the portrait of a man of rugged opposition. At times he stood alone as honesty, as little flattered by a favor 45 as daunted by a frown. Calm and deli- practical sympathy for his bereaved fam- berate in his judgment, and practical in ily ; the sharers of his toils, privations his plans. With the rare gift of perceiving and sorrows. No Christian heart could an opportunity, and a strength of purpose have been unmoved at the touching story resistless as fate. With his whole soul which the widow tells of her husband's in his entei prise, and mighty faith in God, death and her heart's desolation. But for he threw his energies against the the grace of God how could she endure the most appalling obstacles, never dream- picture of her faithful, heroic husband, " roaming, probably blind, ing of defeat. To him The primal over the plains ; duties shone aloft like stars," and faint, weary, and cold, alone with Go-1, eclipsed all lesser lights of policy and for days and nights together, until the self-interest. Full of generous impulses last hope of earthly home and friends died and incapable of being false to friend or out, and in growing weakness he made foe. We need not wonder that such a hane to commend his spiiit to God who man succeeded in his holy calling. It gave it, and laid him down to die. would be an unaccountable anomaly if he The Church has lost a devoted mission- should, fail. We venture to hope that ary. The country has lost a great aud some author, worthy of his subject, may be good man. But the family has lost husband inspired with the purpose of giving to the and father in a lone land, and under circum- public, as early as possible, a faithful re stances more than ordinarily sad. But his cord of the life and missionary labours of ashes will slumber as peacefully in the Val- Rev. Geo. McDuugall. Such a book ley of the Saskatchewan as in the vaults of •would be warmly welcomed in almost Mount Royal. In death the providence of every Methodist home in the Dominiou. God kindly shielded him from the osten- It would ba a valuable addition to our tation of pompous obsequies, and in the Sabbath School libraries, a blessing to our moving of the resurrection he will have rising ministry, and a stimulus to the the further honour of rising with the cause of missions. kindred dust of the tribes for whom he Another way in which we may honour sacrificed even life itself. 'They o^ase the memory of a good man, is by pushing from their labours and their works do " forward the loved work which his death- follow them.' palsied hand compelled him to leave un- The Rev. Dr. Enoch Wood to whom finished. In the restless enterprise of his was assigned the task of preparing a sui- great heart our lamented missionary table biography, but owing to pressing pleaded to the latest hours of his life for duties and physical disability never ac- the reinforcement of old stations, and the complished this purpose, said that "Mc- Duugall was devoted location of new. Like a great general to his work ; poss- planning the conquest of the entire coun- essed of strong love for souls ; absorbed in try, he judiciously selected his position the welfare of the Indians ; most unsel- and strove to plant his forts. On the fish ; noble and generous ; bold and un- plains and among the mountains, by the flinchingly courageous ; has great powers rude pathways of the emigrant and in the of endurance ; was firm in his friendships ; centres of a «canty trade. Amid the huts and graphic in his written descriptions, of the settler, and on the hunting grounds and very eloquent upon the platform. of the savage, he marked out the positions He was zealous and enterprising in en- which commanded the widest usefulness, larging the work, and his plans were and were likely to insure the most speedy generally marked by good practical sense. conquests. But his plans of labour and The officials of the Hudson Bay Company thoughts of love are left to other hearts had unlimited confidence in him, and de- and hands. Directly or indirectly they servedly so." are left to ours. What more beau- Principal Grant of Queen's University tiful, or to him a more grateful tribute of travelled over the prairies accompanied by our love, than for the Methodist Church George McDougall. The record of the of Canada to fulfil the latest and deep- journey was subsequently published under est purpose of his heart, and rear on the the title "Ocean to Ocean." He spoke distant plains of the North -West the enthusiastically of the sainted missionary "orphanage" for which he awakened such as a man of reputation, full of ready res- deep sympathy on both sides of the Atlan- ources, thoroughly acquainted with the tic. The accomplishment of that most country, and an obliging fellow traveller. deserving object is within the reach of the With admiration he has stood on the mis- Methodists of this Dominion, without pre- sionary platform and in rapturous tones judice to a solitary interest of the Church. charming and eloquent he has referred to Who will direct the effort? this man as "one of our simplegreat ones." The memory of a good man may be Lieutenant Governor Laird employed him further honoured by a tender regard and to carry a message to the ludian tribes —

46

scattered throughout the valley of the Sas- work and the life is cherished as a rare katchewan, and in his report, he eulogises blessing. him as one of the most devoted friends None have been more heroic than the and intelligent advisers the Indians ever missionaries who have consecrated then- had. As the Stoney Indians in their lives to the pagan tribes of the remote hunting trips called at the homes of the lands. settlers, oftentimes they presented the Heroic have been the men who have Bible in the Cree Syllabic Characters to stood in the front, when danger threatened

: the white men to look at.and a few of them their country ; but treasured tattered class tickets bearing the '' Not less heroic they who face signatures of Rundle, Woolsey and Mc- All deprivations and disease, Dougall mementos of the days gone by, To break to a benighted race and the men who have toiled so nobly in The Gospel of the Prince of Peace.' the defence of the faith. The Church to which the fallen miss- CHAPTER XIV. ionary belonged mourned deeply its loss, and from many pulpits the name of our THE FALLEN MANTLE. hero was reverently spoken. The mission- {gf^pHERE have been many earnest ary zeal of the people was aroused as they |r||| workers in the mission field, who remembered his urgent appeals for help ||||l| have made great sacrifices for the all over the land. "^^ sake of the heathen, and seldom The following Resolution was unani- have their achievements been recorded for mously adopted at a meeting of the Com- the benefit of the Christian public ; never mittee of Consultation and Finance in have we heard their names mentioned up- connection with the Methodist Missionary on a missionary platform. The wives of Society. the missionaries toil in solitude amid "The Committee have heard with deep many discouragements and although I have sorrow of the unexpected and melancholy seen them fading away as a leaf and suf- death of the Rev. George McDougall, fering keenly through the hardships of Chairman of the Saskatchewan District, missionary life, I have never heard from who, on the night of the 24th of January, their lips a single murmur, but always a 1876, missed his way when searching for determination to stand firmly at the post the encampment which they had occupied of duty and ever do the will of God. for a few days, and perished upon the The lives of missionary women are seldom plains about ten miles from the tent. His written and especially the wives of mis- frozen body was found on the fourteenth sionaries. In the solitude of the mission day after he was missed, and is buried on house they toil when the missionaries are the Morleyville Mission-grounds. This abseut on distant tours. Seldom does a mysterious visitation deprives the Church friendly face cheer their hearts, but from of a most enterprising and devoted labour- early morn till late at night for days, er, who, from the commencement of his weeks, months and sometimes for years Ministerial career, has devoted himself, they perform all the work at home, be- soul and body, to the Indian work, —first sides teaching the women .and girls to in Ontario, then at Norway House, and sew and cook, preparing also nourishing for the last years of his useful life, to the food for the sick and aged. The mission- wandering Tribes of the North- West aries receive strength from the various Territory. The mystery with which such scenes and fa°.es seen in their visits from an event is shrouded is a trial to our faith; camp to camp, and the monotony and but carries with it an admonition to 'cease isolation of life among the heathen is com- from man, whose breath is in his nos- — pensated by the study of new customs trils,' 'to work while it is day,' —and to and beliefs passing daily before the eyes recognize with simple trust and meek of these men who toil tor God. J he wo- submission the authority and wisdom of men do not visit the camps as often as Him who 'doeth all things well.'

their . husbands, their work compelling "In this sad visitation the Committee them to be keepers at home. When upon tender to Mrs McDougall and family ; missionary furlough the missionaries listen their warmest sympathy, and fervent to the plaudits of the Chiistian public, prayer for that consolation in this hour of and receive abundant encouragements, trouble which Christ alone can bestow, but the women who have made many and in this they are joined by many sacrifices and suffered intensely receive thousands of our Israel throughout the few words of sympathy. Thsir names Provinces of the Dominion of Canada." are not mentioned in the pages of the mis- Sadly have we toiled since those days sionary magazines£and they toil on unob- of grief, but the remembrance of the served, heroines of the cross, and uure- 47 warded by men. Even the Christian God and sought to help the women toward women at home seem to have forgotten a nobler life. She held meetings, buried their devoted sisters, an epistle of mercy the dead, attended to the sick, read ser- reaching the mission honses only once a mons on the Sunday to the assembled year never more than twice. The writer congregations, and conducted prayer does not plead for unseemly adulation, meetings. In these duties she was nobly but for honest and healthy recognition. assisted by the mission teacher. At one These Protestant Sisters of Mercy have period she looked after twenty babies toiled as nobly as the most devoted when their mothers were l>ing sick with ascetics of any country and age. They scarlet fever. During the small pox- court not praise and they do not even seek plague she was alone for neatly two mouths. T recognition or sympathy still that does not W nen George McDougall was absent relieve the women at home from their res- nearly all the work of the mission de- ponsibility in this matter. When tne volved upon his wife. S'ie taught the writer labored among the Blood Indians, women to knit and sew and Georgina her he felt keenly at times the need of a eldest daughter who died of small pox, friendly word and sometimes it seemed being able to speak the Cree language as if the world was dead, or asleep. That was a great help to her mother in all this same feeling has been experienced by missionary work. The years spent among other missionaries and the isolation of the the Cree Indians were full of suffering and mission field has whitened the locks and toil, still there have been many seasons of furrowed the brows of some of the bravest joy, and better than everything else, and noblest of the missionaries of the there has been the consciousness of duty Cross. In these days when many of our done. Since the death of the Hero of the Christian women are asking how they can Saskatchewan the ayed widow has resided work for God, a brief reference to one among the Stoney Indians ac Morley, striking circumstauce will not be out of where in the declining years of her life, place. Every Christmas there arrived at 3he has enjoyed the presence of her sons the mission house a package of beautiful John and David with their wives and Christmas cards, one for each member of families, and occasional visits from her the family, with the name of the sender., daughters in the north. and expressions of love and sympathy John McDougall went to Norway House written in the donor's handwriting. We with his father when a boy. His early years expectantly waited for those cards every had been spent among theOjibway Indians year, not so much because of their beauty, and fluently could he speak in the Indian but that handwriting told a tale. Here tongue. A short time spent at Victoria was a lady who could find time amid the College laid the foundation of future ex- numerous duties of a city pastorate to cellence combined with his early training write upon those cards, sending them to among the Indians which fitted him the lonely mission houses scattered widely specially for work on an Indian Mission over the Great North West. Our lips field. The transition from the Ojibway trembled, our hearts beat fast and we to the Cree Language was so slight, — both could hardly keep back the tears as we of these languages belonging to the Al- opened the package, for it reminded us of gonquin stock, —that very soon he was home, of Joved ones far away, and of the able to speak the Cree tongue. When a pleasant memories of the past. We were lad he accompanied his father on his long human, and felt as others, very keenly missionary trips, acting as cook and in- the separation from home and early terpreter. Gradually was he initiated in- associations, and every token of love to the work as a missionary, first as a and remembrance nerved us more mission school teacher and subsequently strongly for duty to God and the heathen. as an ordained missionary to the Indians. Is it any wonder that the world seemed His first wife— the daughter of the late empty and our hearts were filled with Rev. H. B. Steinhauer died suddenly sorrow when we read in the newspapers during his absence from home. He was that our Christmas friend —the wife of ordained at Winnipeg during the first the Rev. T. W. Jeffrey, of Torouto— had Conference held there by Rev. Dr. Wm. passed away to the other side of life. Morley Punahon. In labors abundant During the early years of missionary and in sufferings oft, has he followed the work in the Saskatchewan Mrs. Mc- path of duty. Upon his father's death he Dougall labored hard in her own sphere, was elected Chairman of the Saskatch- and many blessings came to her as a true ewan District, a position which he has reward. At Victoria she spent thirteen always held. The writer first met him in months alone with her Eamily, her hus- Cobourg, Ontario, in the year 1879, and band being absent. Frequent were these when requested by him at the desire of periods of absence, still she trusted in the Rev. Dr. Alexander Sutherland, Mis- . —

48

sionary Secretary, to become the successor fit in it. But when I listen to their sing- of the late George McDougall as mission- ing, and see them look so neat and clean, ary to the Blackfeet, he consented after I am thankful to the missionaries, and to much thought and prayer, and together all the people that help us, and to God. we left civilized Ontario for the distant Our people are poor,but we are glad to be West in June 1880. A record of the able to give to the cause of missions, and journey was published by Dr. Alexander we give what we have with a cheerful Sutherland in l 'A Summer in Prairudand." heart." Frequent have been our travels together A thrill ran through the large audience in the west, in the early days, but in when all the Stonies sang, with intense these latter times our paths lie in different enthusiasm, a hymn that they had learned directions. from the Hps of the devoted Rundle.

. In March 1884 the departing snows of Over two hundred and sixty dollars hoary winter found the writer travelling was subscribed at the meeting. This was over the prairie, having the Devil's Head one of the grandest missionary meetings as a notable landmark aud our destination the writer ever attended. the mountain village of Morle>. Next day we visited the school under The iron way running along tlie valley the care of Miss McDougall, and a feeling of tl^e Bow, auakened reminiscences of of surprise took possession of us when, the days that are gone, and g tve indicat- after examining the children thoroughly, ions of prospective vvealth, populous cities, we became aware of the difficulties t'j be rustic health and happiness amid the rug- overcome and noted the success. ged glory and graudeur of our Canadian We conducted examinations in reading, Alps. spelling, geography and arithmetic, and The setting sun shone brightly on the the results were creditable to all concern- snow-clad mountains as we crossed the ed in aiding this Indian school. Ghopt River madly rushing on to swell In the evening a lecture, "Might and the waters of the Bow, aud through the Right," was delivered to a very good aud- deepening gloom we rode into the har- ience by the writer. The collection taken monious settlement to enjoy the sounds of up in aid of the Blood Indian Mission the pleasaut voices that first we heard in was excellent. days of yore. We visited the orphanage, and found A royal welcome, a pleasant chat, and over a dozen boys and girls, clean, neatly we entered the church to partake of the dressed, and happy. There was a fami- intellectual repast afforded at the mis- liarity amongst the children that made sionary meeting. Excellent sermons it feel like home. One little fellow was were preached on Missionary Sunday by brought in, a Stoney arab, in rags the Rev. Mr. Robertson, Presbyterian and filth. In two hours he had pass- minister of Calgary. Addresses on mis- ed through all the initiation ceremonies sions were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. of hair-cutting, washing, and donning a Robertson and the writer. suit of cloths. The change was amusing, An important feature rn the meeting and full of interest to Indians and was the addresses by the Stoney chiefs whites. This lad was subsequently nam- and the singing of the orphanage children. ed George McLean.

Chief Bears- paw said : It was interesting to witness the mis- "When I look upon you I am happy. sionary euthusiasm of the Stonies. The I remember when we were all in heathen- day after the meeting some of them went ish darkness, and now we are in a mis- out amongst their friends as volunteer sionary meeting with three missionaries collectors. One friend returned with a to talk to us of the love of God. My dollar he had received from a Blaekfoot h^art is full. I am thankful to God for woman. all his goodness." The work among the Stoney Indians Chief Chiniquy said: —"I am glad to has continued satisfactory, the Orphanage be here. I love to hear of what God is named after the Hero of the Saskatchewan doing in saving men's souls. We ought has been enlarged, and a blessed future to be thankful tor ail that God has done awaits all such industrial institutions, for us. I am glad to be allowed to give when well equipped and properly man- something to send the Gospel to those aged. who know nothing of the— Saviour's love." Tne mantle of Elijah has fallen upon Chief Jacob said : "When I look on Elisha and we pray that many red men these orphanage children, I am indeed may find through this zealous missionary very happy. We have never received an the way of peace. education, and we did not care much about our children being taught, as we did not see that there would be any bene- in

CREE HYMN.

NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.

Ke-se- wog-ne-man-toom,

Ke-nah-te-tin ; Ah-ye-man-ook-ke-yam,

Ne gah-we-koon ; Ah-yeeh-wak-gah-ge-ga, Ne gah-se ne gah-moon, Ke-se- wog-ne-man-toom, Ke-nah-te-tin.

Ah-tah-pe-mooh-ta-yan,

Pah-ke-se-moog ; Ah-tah wan-te pis kog,

Ne-pah-yah-ne ; Ke-tah-pah-woh-te-tou, Tah-se ne-gah mooh-yon, Ke-se- wog-ne-man-toom, Ke-na-te-tin.

Ah-pooh-ah- kooh-se-win,

Ne-bah-win ik ; Ne-pe me-se-me-goon,

Ne-ne-yah-wik ; Ah-yeeh-wak-ne-ta-chok Tah-nas-qua-ah-mah-gao, Ke-se- wog-ne- man- tooui, Ke-nah-te-tin.

Me-na ne booh we-nik,

Ooh te tah nion ; Woh-weesh ah-gooh tah,

• Nah-he-pah-yew ; Ooh-Jesus-ne-man-toom, Tah-ne-gah- moos-tab -tan, Ke-se- wot; ne-man-toom, Ke-nah-te-tin.

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