The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-09-29
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BRITISH C0LC uBIa INDIANS.
From the report Of DR. Powell, Brit
ish Columbia's Superintendent Of In
diaa Affairs. CONSUMING his lsst official
trip among the Indians Of the north.
we get the information following:
st the Mstl.kz.iah Mission Mr. Dan
can accompanied tbs party to bis saw
mill. very complete essablshsrsnt
managed by two native sawysrs. All
tbs lumbsr used in the village is sawed
there. b@ing Supplied to the natives st
actual cost Of production. The differ
snt workshops were subsequently in
specsef. aud tbs cooper's shop, sssh
factory ard casTenssris shop appssred
to be models Of convenience IN every
particular. The streets Of the village
are lighted .. nigh. with coal OIL lamps
presented by Admiral Provost, and the
native police foree and other nsnicipsl
regulations ensure peace and protection
TO life a,d property. Thechurch built
by Indian labor alone. II cspbls 81
seating 500 people. and che scbooi hsuse.
which is also 40 excellentiy constructed
building. accommodates at leas. 500
pupils. The Superintendent examined
anumber of the Indian dwellings and
states tha. their only fault, if such it
be. is that they sre too large. all being
two stories high and consequently re-
quiring much fuel 10 the winter 10 rem
der them comfortable. Most of them
have nice little gardens adjacent. and
are, withal, particularly neat and pleas
ing in appearance. The women ere
well dressed and take pride in regu-
Iating their households. The village
boasts of weaving shoase, reading
room aud q barter house in addition To
other institutions Of pubic nature.
The Indisn village at Fort Simpson,
q post established by the Hudson Bay
Company in 1882. was found to be we'll
laid out and containing many buildings
which would be O credit to more civil
lied ommunities. The cemetery 10
situated in sequesiered spot. is well
kept. aud contains q number of graves.
most Of which are surrounded by neat
psliugs and covered with flowers. Some
have hesdstones. denoting the names OF
the deceased. the carving having been
done by the hands OF natives. The
mission buildings cost some SIC. 200.
but further schoolhouse accommodation
was. the report says. highly necessary.
The Wesleyan Society annually expend
ia mission wsrk $1,000 at the place. the
population Of which 10 about 900, the
church membership being 2jS and the
school attendance loo.
Before leaving the village the visi-
tors were invited to witness sham
battle which wal. commenced by skir-
mishers sttirsd in their ancient native
costumes, and armed TO the teeth with
bows and arrows, spears and old war
clubs. An attack was msde2on . CON-
pany of regulars ian Indian volunteer
company armed with rifles and dressed
in uniform) and soon the sound Of tom
toms and the loud war wLoop Of the
savsges made it evident that the battle
was raging. The melee was general
and. ~ far as could be judged. OF Q
most sanguinary character. Thesquaws
were buslly employed carrying on the
wounded to the native doctors who, af
ter various incantstions. restored the
dying to full. vigor Of life with great
facility. BY o prearrangsment Of which
the Indians were nnA ware the bugle
then sounded general cali 70 quarters
on board the Rocket. which was an
ehored within gunshot of the battle
field. Soon followed the booming of
the 6S-pounders. which produced q
sensation amongst the natives. In
mindful Of their own feuc the volun-
teers and savagesA launched scores Of
canoes snd joined in fierce attack on
the gunvessel. Then came the bugle
calls tn guAsd against bosrders and re.
sort TO small arms. which mingled
wierdly with the incessant War whoop
Of tbs savages approaching the ship in
ell directiona Finally many canoes
were upset and the supremacy Of the
British dag maintained. the rout Of ths
enemy being complete. The drowned
warriors were speedily restored and the
highly amusing proceedings terminated
| in . feast Of biscuit aud tea, aud pipe
Of peace. which were provided BY the
Superintendent in return for the unique
spectacle afforded.