prefer to draw their dirty blankets tightly round them, and to squat on
the floor. When I am speaking, they generally rest their heads upon
their bent knees, and fix their eyes upon the floor. Not a muscle seems
to move, and they appear to drink in every word that is spoken to them,
as if they thirsted for the truth. In teaching these people I treat
them as children, but I know they have nothing of the gentleness and
simplicity of children; they are cunning, 'deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked.'"
The Roman Catholics having left a memorial of their abandoned mission
in the shape of a good school-house, which was standing idle, Mr. Hall
wrote to them at Victoria for leave to use it. The request was refused,
"because," they wrote, "our missionaries may require it again." And a
few months afterwards, when Mr. Hall was beginning to feel his way
among the people, a priest appeared at Nu-wit-ty, the northern point of
Vancouver's Island, thirty miles from Fort Rupert, just when Mr. Hall
was visiting the tribe residing there. He (the priest) called a meeting
of the Indians, concerning which Mr. Hall writes, on March 10th, 1879:--
"The Indians went to the meeting, and I went as well; probably one
hundred were present. He told them to kneel down; they did so, and then
he told them to look at him, and cross themselves as be did, and the
poor Indians followed him. He then told them about the Fall, and it was
very good what he said; but soon he spoke of a way that went to heaven,
and one that went to hell, and he told them that if they followed him
he would lead them to heaven, and that if they followed me they all
would go to hell, and I should go with them. He said he wanted to
baptize them, and then they would be as white as snow. When he spoke
against me, many Indians interrupted him, and one went up to where he
was standing and blew a lamp out. They then called out my name, and
wished me to address them. I did so, and told them all to kneel down,
and put my hands together, telling them to do the same. We repeated the
Lord's Prayer, which is very beautiful in the Indian language; they
call it 'good words.' When the priest spoke I took my hat off and
listened, but when I spoke the priest kept his hat on, and smoked all
the time.
"My address had been written some time before; it was about 'Lying,
stealing, pride, and drunkenness.' Perhaps I did wrong, but I did not
refer to what the priest had said against me. George Hunt, who was
present, was indignant at the way the priest spoke, and, directly the
priest finished, he made an earnest speech in my favour. In coming away
from Hu-wit-ty, the head chief begged me to come and live among them,
and I promised I would do something for them."
The work at Fort Rupert is much interfered with by the migratory habits
of the Indians there. From June to November, 1879, for instance, they
were almost all away on a visit to Nu-wit-ty River; and at our last
date, March, 1880, they were gone for a month to Alert Bay. Mr. Hall,
however, has not been content to be left behind sitting still. He has
made canoe voyages to other parts of Vancouver's Island, and sought to
gain access to other tribes; but he describes the vice and degradation
as most painful, especially amongst the women. In September, 1879, in
company with Admiral Prevost, who was paying him a visit, he walked
across the island to the west coast, where the Koshema (or Quatseno, or
Quatsinough) Indians are found, a tribe hitherto quite untouched. The
Admiral addressed a large number who gathered together, and said,
"Thirty years ago I came among you with my man-of-war, but to-day I come
with a message of peace from the King of heaven." "It was," writes Mr.
Hall, "an act worthy of an Admiral to struggle, for ten hours, across
the most difficult trail I have ever met."
It is possible that the Mission may be moved from Fort Rupert to some
other place more convenient for reaching a large number of Indians.
That God has a people among the Quoquolts and Quatsenos, as well as
among the Tsimsheans and Hydahs, we cannot doubt, and in His own time,
and by His own grace, they too shall be gathered out.
XII.
LORD DUFFERIN AT METLAKAHTLA
Four great events have signalised the last four years at Metlakahtla.
These events were the visits of four important personages. First, Lord
Dufferin, then Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada, in August,
1876. Secondly, Bishop Bompas, of Athabasca, in the winter of 1877-78.
Thirdly, Admiral Prevost, the founder of the Mission, in June, 1878.
Fourthly, the new Bishop of Caledonia, Dr. Ridley, in October, 1879.
The following very interesting account of Lord Dufferin's visit is all
the more valuable as coming from an independent source:--
(From the _Toronto Mail_, September 19, 1876)
"On board Steamer 'Sir James Douglas,' _August 29th, 1876_
"About half-past six in the evening the 'Douglas' and the 'Amethyst'
dropped anchor in a bay at a place called Metlakahtla. This is an
Indian village started here about fourteen years ago by Mr. William
Duncan, under the auspices of the Church Missionary Society in England.
It has now a resident population of about eight hundred souls belonging
to what is called the Tsimshean nation. Mr. Duncan, who seems to be
possessed of an immense amount of activity, combined with deep interest
in the work in which he is engaged, still remains in charge of the
station, but has during the past two years had the assistance of an
English clergyman and his wife, named Collison, [Footnote: Mr. Collison
was not ordained at the time] who came out from England for the
purpose of working in the mission field among the Indians. Mr. Collison
is studying the language of the Tsimshean Natives, when proficient in
it, which he soon will be, judging from the progress he has already
made, he will labour among the Indians of Queen Charlotte's Islands.
"Under Mr. Duncan's instructions the Indians of Metlakahtla have
already made great strides in the direction of civilization and
Christianity. He has laid the village out regularly, and given to each
head of a family a large-sized lot of land. The houses, which have been
erected under his direction, are much more comfortable and convenient
than Indian domiciles generally, though somewhat accommodated in their
plans to the peculiar habits and mode of living of the race. The houses
which Indians build for themselves are without floors. Those of
Metlakahtla are floored with plank, and in the centre of the principal
room there is a level stone fireplace, from which the smoke, instead of
being left to find its way out of the house through a hole in the roof,
as in the dwellings built in the primitive Indian fashion, rises into a
sort of square inverted hopper which hangs over the fire, and from it
passes out of the house by way of a chimney. Under Mr. Duncan's
supervision the Indians have built a church in the village large enough
to accommodate the whole population. It is clapboarded on the outside,
and with its steeple, buttresses, and broad flight of steps ascending
to the front entrance, presents an imposing appearance. The wood (of
the interior at least) is cedar, the odour from which greets one's
nostrils on entering the building.
"Mr. Duncan is a member of the Church of England, and conducts his
services in accordance with the Anglican form of worship, but it is
understood declines ordination, although qualified for it. He is an
autocrat among his people, but his rule, though despotic, is benign,
and leaves them as full freedom as the members of any white community
enjoy, except that the use of intoxicants is prohibited, as is also
their introduction into the place, and the villagers are consequently
teetotalers "willy nilly." He is a Justice of the Peace under
commission from the Provincial Government, with a jurisdiction
including within it Queen Charlotte's Islands. He has a number of
Indian policemen to assist him in preserving order, and a gaol in
Metlakahtla, in which he incarcerates malefactors. There is at present
undergoing a two months' imprisonment in this bastile a white man who
was caught distilling in Queen Charlotte's Island. In extenuation of
his offence the prisoner asserts that it was from the Indians he
acquired a knowledge of the art, which resulted in himself being jugged
instead of the spirits he was making. In a very neat building,
specially erected for the purpose, Mr. Duncan conducts a school, in
which he gives instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic, as well
as in the doctrines of Christianity, to a large number of the young of
the village. Both boys and girls attend this school, but when the
former arrive at about the age of fourteen they are taken from it and
sent to an industrial school, which is also carried on at the place;
girls are allowed to remain at the other school beyond that age. To his
already multifarious occupations Mr. Duncan has just added that of
running a saw-mill--he was cutting up the first log in it this evening
when the 'Amethyst' signalled her arrival by firing a gun. Mr. Duncan
is a bachelor, a circumstance which, to many, will make the energy he
throws into his work and the success of it all the more remarkable.
"The Indians of Metlakahtla gain their livelihood by fishing and
hunting. Away up here, above the fifty-fourth parallel of latitude, the
climate is such as would not admit of agriculture being extensively
engaged in. Wheat cannot be brought to maturity. Potatoes and other
root crops seem to grow pretty well.
"Formerly the Indians of the Tsimshean nation offered human
sacrifices, and it is said that they also indulged cannibalistic
proclivities. It would seem, however, that they confined their eating
of human flesh to their 'medicine' festivals, and even then no one, as
far as I can ascertain, ever saw them do more than, while engaged in
the demoniacal rites which were customary on these occasions, merely
bite it. The victims at these celebrations were members of other tribes
whom they had enslaved. Not only are the teaching and influence of Mr.
Duncan having the effect of making the Indians fall away from such
inhuman and heathenish practices, but they are also removing much of
the deadly hostility which formerly existed among different tribes.
More Indians are gradually coming in from the country round about and
making Metlakahtla their home.
"In the administration of the affairs of the village the Indian
institution of the council is retained, and Mr. Duncan consults with
them in regard to all matters appertaining to the general weal. Some of
the Indians when baptized are given English names, while others prefer
to keep their Indian appellation, and are permitted to do so."
"_August 30th._
"The Governor-General and party proceeded on shore at Metlakahtla this
morning at half past nine o'clock. The day was a beautiful sunshiny
clear one, the first without fog and rain that we have had since leaving
Nanaimo. Although Mr. Duncan had learned that his Excellency was in
British Columbia, his visit to Metlakahtla was quite unexpected. A large
proportion of the inhabitants of the village were consequently away
working at fisheries some miles off, who, had they known of the Governor
General's visit, would have been present to join in receiving him. It
was understood that their absence from the village on so auspicious an
occasion would be a bitter regret to them. However, there was about a
couple of hundred of the villagers at home, including several members of
the council--the rest were chiefly young lads, young women, and
children, with a few old people. They assisted their energetic white
chief in getting up a demonstration which, under the circumstances, was
quite creditable to them. Several Union Jacks were hoisted throughout
the village, and a red cloth, with 'God save the Queen' worked on it,
was stretched across between two houses near the landing. As the vice
regal party went ashore a small cannon was fired off several times from
the gaol, a small hexagonal structure with a balcony round the top. The
next thing was the singing of the National Anthem to an accompaniment
supplied by some of the members of a brass band which exists among the
young men of the community. The latter were gorgeous in cast-off
uniforms of United States soldiers, purchased at a sale of condemned
military clothing recently held in Alaska. Half-a-dozen Indian maidens
then came forward and presented Lady Dufferin with a bouquet, after
which the distinguished visitors were taken to see the church, the
school house, and one of the Indian residences. Subsequently all the
people were assembled in the open air, and the younger portion of them
sang, under the direction of Mr. Duncan and Mr. Collison, a number of
songs and hymns, both in their native tongue and in English. They
pronounced the words of the pieces that were in the latter language with
a remarkably good accent, although every effort to induce any of them to
converse in it was futile. Lord Dufferin endeavoured to get some of them
to talk with him about their studies, but was not successful in
extracting from any of them, including a young Indian woman whom Mr.
Duncan has placed in the position of an assistant teacher in the school,
any more definitely English expression than a simper. Mr. Duncan stated
that many of his pupils understood English very well, but were somehow
averse to speaking it. The voices of the singers sounded very well, when
allowance is made for their bashfulness. Some of their pieces were of a
fugue character and the time which was kept in singing them was
remarkably good, considering that there was no accompaniment to them.
"After some time had been spent in singing, a young man advanced and
read the following address in excellent style:--
_"To His Excellency the Earl of Dufferin, Governor-General of the
Dominion of Canada_.
"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,--We, the inhabitants of Metlakahtla,
of the Tsimshean nation of Indians desire to express our joy in
welcoming your Excellency and Lady Dufferin to our village. Under the
teaching of the Gospel we have learned the Divine command, 'Fear God,
honour the King, and thus as loyal subjects of her Majesty Queen
Victoria we rejoice in seeing you visit our shores.
"We have learned to respect and obey the laws of the Queen, and we
will continue to uphold and defend the same in our community and nation.
"We are still a weak and poor people, only lately emancipated from the
thraldom of heathenism and savage customs, but we are struggling to
rise and advance to a Christian life and civilization.
"Trusting that we may enjoy a share of your Excellency's kind and
fostering care, and under your administration continue to advance in
peace and prosperity.
"We have the honour to subscribe ourselves your Excellency's humble
and obedient servants.
"For the Indians of Metlakahtla,
"DAVID LEASK,
"Secretary to the Native Council."
"The members of the Council all came forward in turn and signed the
document by making their marks."
The Governor-General replied as follows--
"I have come a long distance in order to assure you, in the name of your
Great Mother, the Queen of England, with what pleasure she has learnt of
your well being, and of the progress you have made in the arts of peace
and the knowledge of the Christian religion, under the auspices of your
kind friend, Mr. Duncan. You must understand that I have not come for my
own pleasure, but that the journey has been long and laborious and that
I am here from a sense of duty, in order to make you feel by my actual
presence with what solicitude the Queen and Her Majesty's Government in
Canada watch over your welfare, and how anxious they are that you should
persevere in that virtuous and industrious mode of life in which I find
you engaged. I have viewed with astonishment the church which you have
built entirely by your own industry and intelligence. That church is in
itself a monument of the way in which you have profited by the teachings
you have received. It does you the greatest credit, and we have every
right to hope, that, while in its outward aspect it bears testimony to
your conformity to the laws of the Gospel, beneath its sacred roof your
sincere and faithful prayers will be rewarded by those blessings which
are promised to all those who approach the Throne of God in humility and
faith. I hope you will understand that your White Mother and the
Government of Canada are fully prepared to protect you in the exercise
of your religion, and to extend to you those laws which know no
difference of race, or of colour, but under which justice is impartially
administered between the humblest and the greatest of the land. The
Government of Canada is proud to think that there are upwards of 30,000
Indians in the territory of British Columbia alone. She recognizes them
as the ancient inhabitants of the country. The white men have not come
amongst you as conquerors, but as friends. We regard you as our fellow
-subjects, and as equal to us in the eye of the law as you are in the eye
of God, and equally entitled with the rest of the community to the
benefits of good government, and the opportunity of earning an honest
livelihood. I have had very great pleasure in inspecting your school,
and I am quite certain that there are many among the younger portion of
those I am now addressing who have already begun to feel how much they
are indebted to that institution for the expansion of their mental
faculties, for the knowledge of what is passing in the outer world, as
well as for the insight it affords them into the laws of nature and into
the arts of civilized life, and we have the further satisfaction of
remembering that as year after year flows by, and your population
increases, all those beneficial influences will acquire additional
strength and momentum. I hope you are duly grateful to him to whom,
under Providence, you are indebted for all these benefits, and that when
you contrast your own condition, the peace in which you live, the
comforts that surround you, the decency of your habitation, when you see
your wives, your sisters, and your daughters contributing so materially
by the brightness of their appearance, the softness, of their manners,
their housewifely qualities, to the pleasantness and cheerfulness of
your domestic lives, contrasting as all these do so strikingly with your
former surroundings, you will remember that it is to Mr. Duncan you owe
this blessed initiation into your new life. By a faithful adherence to
his principles and example you will become useful citizens and faithful
subjects, an honour to those under whose auspices you will thus have
shown to what the Indian race can attain, at the same time that you will
leave to your children an ever-widening prospect of increasing happiness
and progressive improvement. Before I conclude I cannot help expressing
to Mr. Duncan, and those associated with him in his good work, not only
in my own name, not only in the name of the Government of Canada, but
also in the name of Her Majesty the Queen, and in the name of the people
of England, who take so deep an interest in the well-being of all the
native races throughout the Queen's dominions, our deep gratitude to him
for thus having devoted the flower of his life, in spite of innumerable
difficulties, dangers, and discouragements, of which we, who only see
the result of his labours, can form only a very inadequate idea, to a
work which has resulted in the beautiful scene we have witnessed this
morning. I only wish to add that I am very much obliged to you for the
satisfactory and loyal address with which you have greeted me. The very
fact of your being in a position to express yourselves with so much
propriety is in itself extremely creditable to you, and although it has
been my good fortune to receive many addresses during my stay in Canada
from various communities of your fellow subjects, not one of them will
be surrounded by so many hopeful and pleasant reminiscences, as those
which I shall carry away with me from this spot."
Before he left British Columbia Lord Dufferin delivered an address at
Government House, Victoria, in which, referring to this visit, he
said:--
"I have traversed the entire coast of British Columbia, from its
southern extremity to Alaska. I have penetrated to the head of Bute
Inlet, I have examined the Seymour Narrows, and the other channels
which intervene between the head of Bute Inlet and Vancouver Island. I
have looked into the mouth of Dean's Canal, and passed across the
entrance to Gardener's Channel. I have visited Mr. Duncan's wonderful
settlement at Metlakahtla, and the interesting Methodist Mission at
Fort Simpson, and have thus been enabled to realise what scenes of
primitive peace and innocence, of idyllic beauty and material comfort,
can be presented by the stalwart men and comely maidens of an Indian
community, under the wise administration of a judicious and devoted
Christian Missionary. I have seen the Indians in all phases of their
existence, from the half-naked savage, perched, like a bird of prey, in
a red blanket upon a rock, trying to catch his miserable dinner of
fish, to the neat maiden in Mr. Duncan's school at Metlakhatla, as
modest and as well dressed as any clergyman's daughter in an English
parish.
"What you want are not resources, but human beings to develope them
and consume them. Raise your 80,000 Indians to the level Mr. Duncan has
taught us they can be brought, and consider what an enormous amount of
vital power you will have added to your present strength."
XIII.
ADMIRAL PREVOST AT METLAKAHTLA.
Of the four visits mentioned at the beginning of the last chapter,
with which the last four years must ever be associated at Metlakahtla,
a very peculiar interest attaches to the third in order of time. To the
Christian Indians it was naturally the most joyous and memorable event
in the history of the settlement. It was not a small thing to receive a
Governor-General, a Missionary Bishop, or the chief pastor of their own
newly-formed diocese. But since the foundation of the settlement, there
has been no day like the 18th of June, 1878, when Metlakahtla had the
joy of welcoming, for the first time, the beloved and revered
originator of the Mission, Admiral Prevost.
He had never been in that part of the world since the migration from
Fort Simpson in 1862, and had never seen the wonderful issue of his own
plan. That he should see it now was a privilege rarely enjoyed. To few
men is it given in the Providence of God to initiate such an agency of
blessing, and to still fewer is it granted to behold such far reaching
results.
Of this happy visit, the Admiral himself has kindly supplied for these
pages the following deeply interesting account:--
_Admiral Prevost's Narrative._
Three a.m., Tuesday, 18th June, 1878. Arrived at Fort Simpson in the
U. S. Mail Steamer _California_, from Sitka. Was met by William
Duncan, with sixteen Indians, nearly all Elders. Our greeting was most
hearty, and the meeting with Duncan was a cause of real thankfulness to
God, in sight, too, of the very spot (nay, on it) where God had put
into my heart the first desire of sending the Gospel to the poor
heathens around me. Twenty-five years previously H.M.S. "Virago" had
been repaired on that very beach. What a change had been effected
during those passing years! Of the crew before me nine of the sixteen
were, to my knowledge, formerly medicine men, or cannibals. In humble
faith, we could only exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" It is all His
doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.