The morning news., 1892-03-28
ABSOLUTELY PURE
FATHER DUNcAN's MISSION.
Former Csnnibals, Some OF Whom Are
Now Citizens Of the United States

Former Cannibals, Some OF Whom Are
Now Citizens OF the United States
From the San Francisco Ercniiner.
Rev. William Duncan, the English mis-
sionary, is in the city. It is thirty-seven
years since he visited the cahnibals of
British Columbia near the Alaska line, and
civilized the tribe Of Metlakahtla Indians.
Five years ago. owing 10 an attempt of the
Missionary Society to narrow his work, ac-
eompanied by over 800 Of bis faithful fol-
lowers, he removed to the American island
OF Annette and founded republic that Is
the talk of the world.
The venerable Father Duncan, as he Is
known by the Indians, has not been in San
francisco for seventeen years. Many books
have been written about him. Lord Duf-
ferin, in the Encyclopedia Britannica, has
told OF bis great work Ia instructing the
Indians, among whom for years he carried
bis life in his hand, and Of his success 10
teaching them the religion of peace. Father
Duncan is now almost 90 years Of age. He
mas come down to buy an organ, a chemical
engine. some salmon-canning machinery,
and other necessary things for the people Of
his island.
The Island Of Annette, on which he and
his followers have their home, was given to
them by the United States. The aged mis-
president or governor. There ia council
or twenty-five Indians who formulate the
law. There are two constables, two men
who may be called on as aids TO maintain
order and an island guard corresponding to
the national guard nd consisting of thirty
five Indians. There is also a fire company,
steam saw-mill and cannery. The little
republic is prosperous.
The island is about IA miles long and
from to in width. In the centre noun
tains rise TO height Of 1000 or 5000 feet
About dve-sixths of il Is covered with
gigantic trees, consisting mainly of pine
and FIR. The remainder is beautiful valley
land, much OF which is level. Metlakahtla,
where the populace is centered, is situated
ga picturesque bay, affording anchorage
70 The largest ships Fort Simpson was the
place where the Metlakahtlas lived thirty
i've years ago, when Mr.. Duncan
frat went among them. They were
then 50 barbafic that the Hudson
Bay Company. which had a post there. had
stockade 80 feet high, hanked by cannon
on each corner, and twenty-five armed men
inside to keep guard Mr., Duncan stayed
there five years, and BY that time gained
such influence that he removed them some
distance away TO the site of old Mstlakahtla,
where he remained till he founded bis island
republic. The old missionary yesterday
told OF his adventures among the Indians.
when 1 went among them" said be,
1.-THE Indians were cannibals and were sunk
in ignorance and superstition. They had
an idea that to partake Of human flesh pro-
pitiated the spirits, aud that the person do
ing so was made braver and stronger. Only
slaves were killed and eaten. remember
many instances when cannibalism was
praoticed. One was IN the case of a girl
owned by chief.
''The chief thought that he would add to
the rank of his daughter. so the slave girl
was killed and thrown on the beach. At the
stockade we heard that the girl was dead,
and We anticipated they would soon indulge
in their feast. Suddenly we heard a series
OF weird cries combined with strange sing
ing, and from our high gallery secure within
the stockade we saw several bands OF from
fifteen to twenty Indians each rush out and
60 toward the beach.
THE leaders were stalwart savages. They
did not wear single garment. They
rushed along like pack Of wolves scenting
their prey. They gathered around the
| body. Soon the crowd scattered, eacn one
of the naked leaders having in his possession
portion of the poor girls remains.
The Metlakahtlas had custom of biting
and being bitten. They would go forth at
times with their arms and other portions of
their bodies barred and suffer pieces TO he
bitten out of their flesh. The women would
follow after and dress the wounds. It was
| considered an honor TO be bitten.
Sometimes we had the whole place bar
ricaded, and we maintained no fires, lest the
savages, who had obtained swords, knives,
and guns from traders would shoot through
| the interstices and kill those within. We
had to keep watch night and day. On one
| occasion naked savage. one who had killed
four men, forced himself into the stockade
| and merohed about like a maniac, with a
long sword, cutting right and left. At last
| the captain slipped up behind him. carrying
in his hand new blanket, and dexterously
| approaching him slipped 10 over his shoul-
ders. He looked down at 1t like child,
] made some remark in Indian about its be-
| ing nice, and was appeased.
"This illustrates the mental condition in
| which they were then. Now" said the mis-.
| sionary, "they are lifted up by the gospel
| Of Christ, and are monuments OF its power.
had begun teaching them at Fort Simp-
son in their own language, and had issued
some text books, but found that to keep
teaching them 10 their own tongue wss a
mistake. | removed them all to Metlakah-
tia. seventeen miles away. secure from
former influences, and began to instruct
them in English
The Missionary Society of the Episcopal
church under whose auspices Father Dun
can first came to British Columbia five years
ago, sent out a bishop to give directions as
W uOW tbS 1uulaua De taught. lie
knew little about what should be done and
neither the Indians nor their instructor was
satisfied.
Father Duncan went to Washington and
President Cleveland gave bim the island. A
number OF the Indians as we'll as Father
Duncan have become citizens Of the United
States, taking allegiance TO IL, and the Presi-
dent hos recommended law to make them
all citizens. Father Duncan says the solu-
ton Of the Indian question is to keep the
Indians employed. The policy Of maintain
ing them in idleness at a reservation Is, he
says, all wrong.
His people are very happy and contented,
and he is satisfied to die among them, hav-
ing long ago fully determined to renounce
civilization for the good he can do to one Of
tee widest and most dangerous tribes that
| have ever been known.
|
Grand music tonight at Catholic Library
halL-Ad.