, 1877-09-14

knsls her relatives singing in
plaintive dirge. The father on one
side, kept up a conversation with his
dead daughter, and the husband on
the other side, bowed down with
grief. The mother and other rela
tives about the feet. The whole
scene was one of solcmnity aud very
impressive.
At the request Of the chief, / al
dressed them in terms of sympathy,
and to show my respect, l imme-
diately returned on board the Cutter
without visiting any other lodge, or
making any purchases. This was ap-
preciated by the Indians present
who thanked me for respecting their
feelings.
On the 9th day of July, we ran into
Karta Bay to the Indian village of
Kazan. Here l purchased of a trad
er several beautiful specimens of
bead embroidery and shawl work,
and on the morning Of the 9TH we
proceeded to Fort Wrangell, arriving
there at 6:22 p. NJ, and remained
there until the 18th. The Indians
were, like all the rest, earnest in
their entreaties for teachers and mis-.
sionaries.
From Fors Wrangell we proceeded
to Fort Tongass where we landed
some stores for the Customs Officer,
and then preceded to Fort Simp-
son, British Columbia, where we ar
rived at IL A. NJ, on Sunday morn
ing, July 18th. All the Indians ex-
cept some strangers from Alaska had
gone to church, and not wishing to
disturb the congregation, l took
walk to see the new church which Mr..
Crosby was building. AS l passed
the big lodge where we had the we'd
ding feast, about dozen Indians,
men and women, came out all well
dressed. One of them had book
under his arm. l asked them if they
weregoing to church. They said no,
that they belong to Metlakatla mis-
sion, and had been holding service
after the Episcopal form taught them
by Mr.. Duncan. The Indian with
the book under his arm, told me that
he was the minister, and then open
ing his book he handed it to me point
iny to a passage, ''read that" said
he 81 can't read we'll, wish l could"
The book was the bible and the pas
sage was the 18th aud 10Th verses of
the 4th chapter of St. Luke. i
wish l could preach better, said he.
The text was so appropriate and
the serious earnestness of the whole
party together with the profound
stiffness of the village, made deep
impression upon me.
Just as l finished talking with this
Indian minister, the congregation of
Mr.. Crosby's church, came out; there
we're some FIVE or six hundred OF them
all scrupulous!y clean and we'll
dressed. 1t was sight l have never
witnessed before, and it spoke vol
umes to my mind of the efficient
training Mr.. Crosby has given these
Indians, and the wonderful change
wrought in this tribe by Mr.. Dun,
can, Episcoplian at Metlakatla, and
Mr.. Crosby, at Fort Simpson.
partook of lunch at the Fort with
Mr.. and Mrs. Morri son. As we sat
down to the table, Mrs. Morrison
asked a blessing on our repast, and
when we had finished she returned
thanks in the forms common among
English people, and this in simple
and devout demeanour, which showed
that she really felt what she said.
l was so impressed with what l
had seen that day, that l could not
help the thought, that the people
whom we dare to call savages, can
teach the so-callsd Christians, les
sons of humility. l left Fort Simp
son with feeling of respect for those
Indians that l have never before felt
for any tribe l have lived with on the
Northwest coast, and feel confident
il missionaries and teachers are ssnt
them by the various missionary soci-
eties of all denominations of Chris.
tians in the same untrammelleled
manner accorded to Messrs. Dun
can and Crosby, that the Alaska
tribes will not only stay at home and
trade with our own people, but they
will be morally, physically and pc
cuniarily better off than they will be
should our present miserable policy
Of Indian agencies be thrust upon
them.