Pathfinding on Plain and Prairie: Stirring Scenes of Life in the Canadian North-westMcDougall, John
History
Pathfinding on Plain and Prairie: Stirring Scenes of Life in the Canadian North-west
McDougall, John
Frontier and pioneer life -- Northwest, Canadian; McDougall, John, 1842-1917; Northwest, Canadian -- Description and travel
"I told him that under the circumstances I could not have done
anything if he and his party had been killed: that he must remember
that all men were now my friends, and especially all missionaries,
and if I ever fought again it would be on the side of the missionary.
That he should have gone from your lodge to steal the horses of your
people made me much ashamed and sorry in my heart. I told your
father about it, and he said the young men were foolish to act in
that way towards you--that you were the Indians' friend; and I
believe that, and I want you to work hard, and will pray the Great
Spirit to help you to gain a power over young men."
I thanked the old Chief for his confidence, and told him I should
always expect his advice and help in my work. Then I gave him my
news, and he told me what the camp's movements were to be, and that
there was to be an immense gathering of several camps for the holding
of the annual festival and "Thirst Dance" of the pagan Indians. He
also told me that the buffalo were coming northward and westward, and
we should move slowly to give them a chance to come in; that the
plain Crees who were coming up country to join us were behind the
herd of buffalo; and further informed me that the peace was
effectually broken on both sides, and we might expect more or less
trouble all summer.
I sat and chatted with the Chief and had supper in his lodge, and
then arranged for an evening service in the open camp. These
services elicited much interest. Paul, who was a good singer and a
fine young fellow, would take his stand by my side. Then as we sang
the people gathered, and our service would begin. I would take
advantage of our surroundings or the occurrences of the day in the
selection of my subject, and then call upon our old Chief or some one
of our native Christians to lead in prayer.
In the meantime warriors and hunters on horseback and on foot and
curious women and children with "tattooed" and painted faces would
come around and watch and listen, but with native courtesy keep
silence and act orderly and seem interested.
Thus day after day we publicly proclaimed the Gospel and teaching of
the Master according to our ability, for I was but a child in these
things myself; and yet the Lord did not despise the day of small
beginnings, but blessed us and our work. While during the week
conjuring and gambling and heathenish riots went on in many portions
of the camp, such was the respect in which Maskepetoon was held by
all these people that they desisted from these things on the Sabbath.
They even gave up hunting on that day because he wished it. Not that
he thus commanded. Oh, no; he was too much of a real gentleman and
too wise in his ideas of chieftainship to do this.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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