Among the An-ko-me-nums, or Flathead Tribes of Indians of the Pacific CoastCrosby, Thomas
History
Among the An-ko-me-nums, or Flathead Tribes of Indians of the Pacific Coast
Crosby, Thomas
Indians of North America -- Missions; Salish Indians
Besides the Methodist Church, the Episcopalian, Presbyterian,
Congregational and Roman Catholic Churches were all doing good work
among the white colonists. I shall never forget the unspeakable delight
with which, after nearly six weeks’ deprivation, I had the privilege
again of attending love feast and sacrament. I was admitted by ticket
from the Rev. Dr. Evans, pastor of the church in Victoria. I was like
a bird let out of a cage, and entered with joy into the spirit of the
meeting. It was afterwards asked by some of the brethren: “Who was that
strange boy in home-spun clothes who had the audacity to disturb the
quiet of the church by his ‘Amen,’ ‘Hallelujah,’ and ‘Praise the Lord’?”
As the spring advanced the lovely climate became apparent. The genial
warmth of the beautiful spring and summer days was followed by cool
nights, when anyone in health might enjoy refreshing sleep.
The extensive timber areas, one of the most valuable assets of the
country, were already attracting capital. A number of sawmills and
spar-camps began shipping spars and lumber to many parts of the world.
No one could go through the primeval forests of those days without
being impressed with their natural greatness. Tall firs abounded, many
of them from two hundred to three hundred feet in height, standing
straight, their stems unbroken by a single branch until they reached
the bushy, spreading tops. Equally tall and gigantic cedars grew side
by side with hemlock, spruce and the smaller vine maple, the shady,
broad-leafed soft maple, ash, birch, cottonwood, apple, cherry and
alder. Such a wealth of foliage caused one to exclaim, “Lo! God is
here! Let us adore.”
These were some of the first impressions of the land which was to be my
home for so many years.
The following eleven months were spent in hard manual labor, by which
I earned sufficient to return the money, with interest, which had been
so generously loaned to defray the expenses of my journey. This gave me
excellent opportunities to gain an insight into the life and needs of
the country and its people--a knowledge which could not well have been
gained otherwise. I was employed on the wharf, at work in the woods,
clearing land, and on the roads being built by the Government, as well
as on rough carpentering work in putting up buildings. All this, in a
measure, prepared me for canoe and camp life, and for superintending
the erection of church and mission buildings, and for assisting the
natives in building their houses--indeed, for all the practical mission
work which lay before me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account