Rev. Egerton R. Young, a missionary among the Canadian Indians, tells
the following:
The governor of our colony sent out one of his commissioners to
meet the Indians and give them their supplies in accordance with
the treaty. The commissioner sent word to one of our Christian
Indians to bring his people as far as a certain place and he
would be there to distribute their allowances. The Indians
were on hand at the time appointed. They came empty handed,
expecting to receive an abundance immediately, but the big
white commissioner did not arrive. One day passed, then another,
and the Indians were hungry. The food was there in tantalizing
abundance, but the commissioner did not come to distribute it.
The young Indians came to their chief and said, “Pakan, our
wives and children are crying for food; will you not open the
boxes and give us enough to satisfy them?” “No, my children,”
said the chief, “I have never broken a word of treaty and I do
not want to do it now.” Another day passed and the commissioner
did not come. The young Indians’ eyes began to flash forth
something that boded trouble, but the old chief answered, “Have
patience a little longer, my people,” and he called on an Indian
who had a splendid horse to accompany him to find and hurry up
the dilatory commissioner. About noon they met the commissioner
with a large retinue and a company of his friends coming
leisurely along, stopping for sport where the country abounded
in game.
They were just halting for such an afternoon’s sport when Pakan
rode up. “You have broken your promise to my people,” he said
solemnly. “You were to have met with them three days ago. Don’t
stop here, my people are hungry. Come with me and give them
food.”
The commissioner replied with an easy smile, “Oh, Pakan, I’m
glad to see you. Come and dine with us. Meet my friends; have an
afternoon of hunting and then to-morrow I will go with you.”
“No,” said Pakan, “to-morrow is the Sabbath. I and my people
have been taught to keep the Sabbath, and hungry as we are,
unless you come to-day, I and my people will wait until Monday
for the supplies.”
The commissioner quailed before him, and sent a sub-officer back
with him to open the supplies. The next day the commissioner
rode into camp. He expected the Indians to meet him with firing
of guns and waving of flags, but no one came to receive him,
and no guns were fired. The only wigwam where a flag was flying
was the place where the people were meeting to worship God. The
commissioner called a council, but not an Indian responded. The
commissioner wanted Pakan to dine with him with other guests
that day. It is a great honor to dine with a royal commissioner;
but Pakan said, “I dine with my family quietly on the Sabbath
day, for God has said, ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it
holy.’”
(2801)