Oowikapun, during the days and weeks following, in his pleadings for a
missionary had a great helper in Memotas, who had become very much
interested in him. This devoted man had often thought about the young
wounded Indian who long ago had come to his hunting lodge, so far away,
to be cured of the injuries inflicted by the savage wolf.
Since his arrival, he had drawn from him many of the vents that had
occurred in his life since they had knelt down in the woods together.
He had opened to Memotas his heart, and had told him of his feeble
efforts to live the better life, and of his complete failure. He told
him of Astumastao, and made the heart of Memotas and others glad, who
remembered the little black-eyed maiden from the far North who had dwelt
a year in the village. They all rejoiced to hear that she still
treasured in her breast so much of the truth and was so anxious for a
missionary.
These were happy weeks for Oowikapun. Under the faithful instructions
of Memotas he was being rapidly helped along in the way to a Christian
life. Perplexities and mysteries were being cleared up, and light was
driving the darkness and gloom out of his mind and heart. Frequently
did the faithful missionary, who had also become much interested in him,
have long conversations with him, giving him much assistance, as well as
arranging for the comfort of the old Salteaux whom he had rescued from
such a dreadful death. The plan of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus
was unfolded to Oowikapun, and the necessity of a firm and constant
reliance upon God for help in times of need was so explained to him that
he saw where his failures had been, because, in his own strength, he had
tried to resist temptation, and thus had so sadly failed.
The Sabbath services intensely interested him, and he took great delight
in them. The Sunday school was a revelation to him, and he gladly
accepted the invitation of Memotas, and became an interested member of
his class. He seemed to live in a new world, and when he contrasted
what he had witnessed nearly all his days amid the darkness and evils of
the pagan Indians with what he saw among this happy Christian people,
instructed by the missionaries out of the book of heaven, his dream came
up vividly before him, and now it had a meaning as never before. Here,
in this Christian village, were the people of his own race whom he had
seen in the bright and happy way, with Jesus as their guide, and the
beautiful heaven beyond as their destination.
As he studied them more and more, the more importunate and anxious he
became to have the missionary of this station go and visit his people,
and thus prepare the way for their own missionary when he should come to
live among them.
Oowikapun's anxiety for light, and his intense interest in everything
that pertained to the progress of the people, and, above all, his
resolve to succeed in getting the missionary, created a great deal of
interest among the villagers. With their usual open-hearted
hospitality, they invited him to their comfortable homes, and from many
of them he learned much to help him along in the good way.
So marvellously had Christianity lifted up and benefited the people that
Oowikapun with his simple forest ways, at times felt keenly his
ignorance as he contrasted his crude life with what he now witnessed.
A genuine civilisation following Christianity had come to many of these
once degraded tribes, and now comfortable homes and large and happy
family circles are to be found where not a generation ago all was dark
and degraded, and the sweet word "home" was utterly unknown.
The conversion of some of these Indians was very remarkable, and the
recital of how they had come out of the darkness into the light was most
helpful to him.
When there is a disposition to surrender we are easily conquered, and
such was the condition of mind in which was the missionary to whom
Oowikapun had come with his earnest appeals. The decision to go was no
sooner reached than the preparation began to be made for the long
journey, which would occupy at least a month. Four dog-trains had to be
taken. A train consists of four dogs harnessed up in tandem style. The
sleds are about ten feet long and sixteen inches wide. They are made of
two oak boards, and are similar in construction, but much stronger than
the sleds used on toboggan slides.
There are various breeds of dogs used in that country, but the most
common are the Eskimos. They are strong and hardy, and when well
trained are capital fellows for their work; but beyond that they are
incorrigible thieves and unmitigated nuisances.
Other breeds have been introduced into the country, such as the Saint
Bernard and the Newfoundlands. These have all the good qualities of the
Eskimos, and are happily free from their blemishes. Some few Scottish
stag-hounds, and other dogs of the hound varieties, have been brought in
by Hudson Bay officers and others; but while they make very swift
trains, they can only be used for short trips, as they are too tender to
stand the bitter cold and exposure, or the long and difficult journeys,
often of many days' duration, through the wild and desolate regions.
The various articles for the long journey were speedily gathered
together and the sleds carefully packed. Preparing for such a journey
is a very different thing from getting ready for a trip in a civilised
land. Here the missionary and his Indian companions were going about
three hundred miles into the wilderness, where they would not see a
house or any kind of human habitation from the time they left their
homes until they reached their destination. They would not see the
least vestige of a road.
They would make their own trail on snow-shoes all that distance, except
when on the frozen lakes and rivers, where snow-shoes would be exchanged
for skates by some, while the others only used their moccasins. Every
night, when the toilsome day's travel was over, they would have to sleep
in the snow in their own bed, which they carried with them. Their meals
they would cook at camp fires, which they would build when required, as
they hurried along. So we can easily see that a variety of things would
have to be packed on the dog-sleds. Let us watch the old, experienced
guide and the dog drivers as they attend to this work.
The heaviest item of the load is the supply of fish for the dogs. As
this trip is to be such a long one, each sled must carry over two
hundredweight of fish. Then the food for the missionary and his
Indians, which consists principally of fat meat, is the next heaviest
item. Then there are the kettles, and axes, and dishes, and numerous
robes and blankets and changes of clothing, and a number of other
things, to be ready for every emergency or accident; for they are going
to live so isolated from the rest of the world that they must be
entirely independent of it. One thing more they must not forget, and
that is a liberal supply of dog shoes, and so on this trip they take
over a hundred.
In selecting his Indian companions, the missionary's first thought is
for a suitable guide, as much depends on him. The one chosen for this
trip was called Murdo, a very reliable man, who had come originally from
Nelson River. Very clever and gifted are some of these Northern guides.
Without the vestige of a track before them, and without, the mark of an
axe upon a tree, or the least sign that ever human beings had passed
that way before, they stride along on their big snow-shoes day after
day, without any hesitancy. The white man often gets so bewildered that
he does not know east from west or north from south; but the guide never
hesitates, and is very seldom at fault. To them it makes no difference
whether the sun shines or clouds obscure the sky, or whether they
journey by day or night. Sometimes it is necessary to do much of the
travelling by night, on account of the reflection of the dazzling rays
of the sun on the great, brilliant wastes of snow giving the travellers
a disease called snow-blindness, which is painful in the extreme. To
guard against this, travelling is frequently done through the hours of
night, and the sleep secured is during the hours of sunshine.
Yet the experienced guide will lead on just as well by night as by day.
To him it makes no difference what may be the character of the night.
Stars may shine, auroras may flash and scintillate, and the moon may
throw her cold, silvery beams over the landscape, or clouds may gather
and wintry storms rage and howl through the forest; yet on and on will
the guide go with unerring accuracy, leading to the desired camping
ground.
With this guide, three dog drivers, and Oowikapun, the missionary
commenced his first journey to Nelson River.
The contemplated trip had caused no little excitement, not only on
account of its dangers, but also because it was the pioneering trip for
new evangelistic work among a people who had never seen a missionary or
heard the name of Jesus. And so it was that, although the start was
made very early in the morning, yet there were scores of Indians
gathered to see the missionary and his party off, and to wish them
"Godspeed" on their glorious work.
The hasty farewells were soon said, and parting from his loved ones,
whom he would not see for a month, the missionary gave the word to
start, and they were off.
Murdo, the guide, ran on ahead on his snow-shoes. The missionary came
next. He had with him Oowikapun, the happiest man in the crowd. When
the missionary could ride--which was the case where the route lay over
frozen, lakes or along stretches of the rivers--Oowikapun was his
driver, and rejoiced at being thus honoured. Following the missionary's
train, came the other three in single file, so that those following had
the advantage of the road made by the sleds and snow-shoes in front.
Where the snow was very deep, or a fresh supply had recently fallen, it
sometimes happened that the missionary and all the Indians had to strap
on their snow-shoes, and, following in the tracks of the guide, tramp on
ahead of the dogs, and thus endeavour to make a road over which those
faithful animals could drag their heavy loads.
When our travellers began to feel hungry a fire was quickly kindled, a
kettle of tea prepared, and a hearty lunch of cold meat or pemmican was
eaten and washed down with the strong tea. So vigorous are the
appetites in that cold land, that often five times a day do the
travellers stop for lunch. Then on they go until the setting sun tells
them it is time to prepare for the wintry camp, where the night is to be
spent. If they can possibly find it, they select a place where there
are green balsam trees, and plenty of dry dead ones. The green ones
will furnish the bed, while the dry ones will make the fire.
When such a place is found a halt is called and everybody is busy. The
dogs are quickly unharnessed and gambol about close to the camp and
never attempt to desert.
From the spot selected for the camp the snow is quickly scraped by using
the great snow-shoes as shovels. Then a roaring fire is made, and on it
the kettles, filled with snow, are placed. In the larger kettle a piece
of fat meat is cooked, and in the other one tea is made. While supper
is cooking the dogs are fed. They are only given one meal a day, and
that is at night. Two good whitefish constitute a meal. These are
thawed out for them at the fire; and after eating them they curl
themselves up in their nests and sleep or shiver through the cold night
as best they can. The supper, which consists principally of fat meat,
is then eaten, and after prayers preparations are made for retiring. A
layer of balsam boughs is placed on the ground; on this the robes and
blankets are spread; and then the missionary, wrapping himself up in all
the garments he can well get on, retires first and is well covered up by
additional blankets and fur robes. So completely tucked in is he that
it is a mystery why he does not smother to death. But somehow he
manages to survive, and after a while gets to stand it like an Indian.
Persons unacquainted with this kind of life can hardly realise how it is
possible for human beings to thus lie down in a hole in the snow, and
sleep comfortably with the temperature everywhere from forty to sixty
below zero. However, difficult as it is, it has to be done if the
Gospel is to be carried to people so remote that there is no better way
of reaching them. Such travellers are always thankful when a foot or
eighteen inches of snow falls upon them. It is a capital comforter, and
adds very much to their warmth.
One of the most difficult things in connection with this kind of
travelling is getting up. The fire which was burning brightly when they
retired was but a flashy one, and so it expired very soon, and did not
long add much to their comfort. And now when morning has come, and they
have to spring up from their warm robes and blankets, the cold is so
terrible that they suffer very much. No wonder they shiver and quickly
get to work. Soon a roaring fire is burning, and breakfast prepared and
enjoyed. After morning prayers the sleds are packed, the dogs are
harnessed, and the journey is resumed.