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GEORGE MILLWARD McDOUGALL,
THE PIONEER,
PATRIOT AN"D MISSIONARY.

BY
JOHN McDOUGALL,
' • *
MORLET, ALBERTA,

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ALEX. SUTHERLAND, D.D.

TORONTO:
WILLIAM BRIGGS, 78 & 80 KING STREET EAST.
MONTREAL: C. W. COATES. HALIFAX: S. P. HUESTI8.
1888.

Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-eight, by William Brioos, Book Steward of the
Methodist Book and Publishing House, Toronto, at the Department of
Agriculture,

PREFACE.

TO the Canadian public and the Christians of
every Church this humble volume is respect
fully presented, the writer apologizing that he did
not earlier detail the facts herein given.
The subject of the following sketch was a true
patriot, and one of the pioneers of our great Dominion.
He was a faithful missionary, and his whole life was
spent in the vanguard of Christian work.
That this short recital of the events of his life may
stir someone to go and do likewise is the earnest wish
of his loving son,
JOHN McDOUGALL.
Morley, Alberta, 1888.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
Introduction  v
Chapter 1  9
Chapter II  15
Moves to Owen Sound — Makes business connections — Starts
for college — Received as a probationer for the ministry
— Is appointed to establish a new mission in the far
North.
Chapter III  20
Starts to explore for and establish a mission — Locates at
Garden River — His work during six years' residence at
this place.
Chapter IV  62
Moves to Rama — Three years' residence at this place.
Chapter V  64
Appointed to the Hudson Bay Missions — Is made Chairman
of same — Three years with Norway House as Head
quarters — Describes several missionary trips made dur
ing these years.
Chapter VI  104
Moves from Norway House to Saskatchewan — Settles at
Victoria— Eight years' pioneer work at this place.
Chapter VII  179
Moves to Edmonton — Three years' residence at this place —
Journeyings and experiences connected with this new
field.
Chapter VIII  201
Visits Ontario — Pleads the cause of Missions — Takes a short
trip to the Mother Land — Once more sets his face West
ward — Is employed by Government to conciliate the
excited Plain Tribes — His tragic end.
Manitoba and the North-West  231

INTRODUCTION.

IT is with mingled feelings of pleasure and pain that
I have consented to write a few words of introduction
to these memorials of a consecrated and useful life : of pleas
ure, because the task recalls days of delightful intercourse
with one whom to know was to esteem and love ; and of
pain, because it revives the sorrow caused by the tidings
of his tragic end.
Among those whe have " served their generation by the
will of God," few names are more worthy of remembrance
than that of George McDougall. He was emphatically a
man of one work. To carry the gospel to the heathen, to
seek out the Indian in his wigwam, and, by the story of
the Cross, win him to a better life, was the Christ-like
task to which his energies were consecrated ; and having
put Iris hand to the plow he never looked back. Unlike
many whose zeal abated in presence of the hardships and
isolation of missionary life, he never wavered from his
first love, but lived aud died an Indian missionary. Hard
ships and sorrows, in no stinted measure, fell to his share,
but he was never known to murmur or complain. The

VI INTRODUCTION.
dark side of missionary experience he seldom referred to,
and then only to show, by vivid contrast, the power of
the gospel to comfort and sustain. In all his efforts to
evangelize the Indians he was admirably seconded by his
devoted wife, whose name, with his, will ever be held in
loving remembrance.
In early life George McDougall enjoyed but few educa
tional advantages, and when converting grace awakened,
as it always does, a thirst for knowledge, adverse circum
stances gave but slight opportunity to repair the defects
of the past. Even when, in the face of obstacles that
would have daunted less resolute men, he forced his way
to college, the needs of the mission field allowed him but
a few months' respite before he was called away to an
Indian station. From that time onward his life was one
of incessant toil, but by the diligent use of odd moments
in his humble home, or by the camp-fire in forest or prairie,
he amassed no small store of useful knowledge, and be
came a workman who needed not to be ashamed. He
possessed, as his letters show, intellectual powers of no
mean order, while as a missionary pioneer lie had few
equals, and, perhaps, no superior. At Rama, at Garden
River, at Norway House, and in the far West, his name,
among the Red men, is still "as ointment poured forth,"
while his heroic labors and tragic end have embalmed his
name in the memory of the Church forever.
Although the greater part of George McDougall's life
was spent on the frontiers, and in thinly-peopled regions,

INTRODUCTION. Vll
yet his days were full of stirring incident "by flood and
field," and one could wish that a much larger number of
these had been interspersed throughout the narrative.
But as the author's aim has been to present a plain, un
adorned portrait of the man, he has wisely allowed him to
tell his own story in extracts from reports, and journals,
and letters, some of which were written with the freedom
of personal friendship, without any thought of publication.
These memorials will be read with eagerness throughout
the Church, and will, by the blessing of God, be an inspira
tion in missionary effort. They are commended, more
especially, to the study of our rising ministry, with the
earnest prayer that they may lead some to tread in George
McDougall's footsteps, and win a like imperishable renown.
A. SUTHERLAND.
Toronto, May 10, 18S8.

GEORGE MILLWARD McDOUGALL.

CHAPTEE I.

GEORGE McDOUGALL was a native of the
City of Kingston, in the Province of Ontario.
His parents were Scotch ; his father was a sailor by
profession, who, becoming connected with the British
navy, found himself and his family stationed at Kings
ton, which was at that time a naval depot.
While George was very young, the family moved
into the wild north country of Ontario, and located
upon a portion of land near Penetanguishene road, and
not far from the Georgian Bay.
Here in the primitive condition of this forest coun
try, the subject of our sketch began really his struggle in
life, for, in common with very many of his compatriots,
poverty, as regards the things of this life, surrounded
him on every hand.
At this time wild and semi-savage Indians roamed the
country, wild animals abounded, and settlers were few.

10 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
The sailor-life of the father kept him away from his
home the most part of the year, which inspired George
with the feeling, while still very young, that upon hiin
devolved the duty of bestirring himself for the support
of the family. He, though only a boy, cleared the
forest, worked on the farm, hunted deer and bears, and
in the season trapped the fur -bearing animals, and in
every way possible to him worked in the interests of
his mother and the rest of the family.
There were no common schools in those days in that
country, or if any, only for a short time in the winter ;
thus George in early life was debarred the blessings of
even an ordinary education. All his early surround
ings partook of the wild freedom of frontier life.
An occasional visit to the neighborhood of some
pioneer missionary who had picked his way across the
corduroy road, or had been guided thither by the
blaze on the tree, was the only connecting link be
tween these early settlers and civilization; notwith
standing, in the heart of the boy there were yearnings
after better things, but the opportunity for his acquir
ing an education was slow in coming.
In the meanwhile, he became a first-class pioneer;
his knowledge of woodcraft became great, he became
renowned as a hunter, many a deer fell, shot by his
unerring rifle, many a bear was either shot or trapped

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 11
by him. He could handle a birch canoe or a pair of
snowshoes like the natives. Without his knowing it,
he was, in the hand of Providence, going through a
course of education, which would pre-eminently qualify
him for his life work, as this developed.
The following copy of a document still extant, will
show how little he knew of ordinary schooling, not as
yet being able to sign his own name, and yet, while
very young, in stature and in other requirements
fitted to do battle in the interests of loyalty and order :
HER MAJESTY'S REGIMENT OP ROYAL
FORESTERS.
incorporated militia.
Whereof Aethur Caethew, Esquiee, is Lieutenant-Colonel.
These are to certify, that Private George McDougall,
in Captain Armstrong's Company, in . the Regiment afore
said, residing in the first concession, forty-four lot, of the
Township of Floss, in the District, hath served in
the said Regiment, for the space of months and six
teen days, and that he is now discharged from further service
in that corps, by order of His Excellency Sir George Arthur,
Knight Commander of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic
Order, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Upper
Canada, Major-General Commanding Her Majesty's Forces
therein, etc., etc., etc. ; And to prevent any improper use
being made of this Discharge, by its falling into other hands,
the following is a description of the said ; — ¦

12 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
He is about seventeen years of age, is jive feet six and a-
half inches high, dark hair, gray eyes, dark complexion, and
by trade a
Given under my hand and seal at Toronto, this twelfth
day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty -eight.
A. Carthew,
Limttnint- Colonel Commnnding.
The aforesaid thereby acknowledges to have re
ceived the undermentioned clothing and pay to thirty-first
instant inclusive.
One coat ; one cap ; one trowsers ; one shoes ; one pair
socks ; one shirt ; one mitts. HIS
GEORGE X M°D0UGALL.
MARK.
Witness, Robeet C. Stewaet,
Lieutenant, Royal Foresters.
Returning from the war, our hero alternated be
tween the farm and the adjacent towns and settle
ments, finding employment wherever he could. He
became famous as a chopper, and purchased for himself
a horse by clearing a number of acres of a neighbor's
farm in this way.
In the meanwhile a night school came within his
reach. This chance the young man eagerly grasped.
In his nineteenth year the grand event in his life took
place. He was soundly converted. There were meet
ings held in a little school-house. One of the neigh-

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 13
bors, a Mr. White, who was a local preacher, seemed
to have been the instrument in the hands of God in
bringing George to seek and find salvation.
Going home from one of these meetings, he entered
the house, and his mother and the rest of the children
were rising from their evening worship. They noticed
that he was excited ; and after a while his mother
said, " Well, George, what is the matter ? " " Why,"
said he, " Mother, I want to tell you, I have given
myself to Jesus," and again the good old '' Scotch
matron " knelt in prayer with George and the others,
and together they praised God.
After this, George took his part in the family wor
ship of the house, and presently he is heard witnessing
in public, and before long is requested to conduct the
public prayer-meeting in the neighborhood.
About this time he became acquainted with a family
by the name of Williams. Three of these, brothers,
later on, entered the ministry of the Methodist Church.
Association with these Christian people greatly helped
George in his new career, and also inspired him with
a strong desire for a higher sphere of usefulness.
Often have we heard him in later years speak of those
who gave him such willing and much-needed help in
the days of weakness.
In the meanwhile he became acquainted with an

14 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
English girl — a member of a Quaker family who, a few
years previously, had come across from England to
cast in their lot with this new country. The family's
name was Chantler. The daughter was keeping
house for her brother, who was running a grist mill at
a place called Tollendale, not far from Barrie, on the
shores of Lake Simcoe.
This acquaintance ripened into ardent affection, and
the result was, George McDougall and Elizabeth
Chantler were married at Tollendale, in the autumn
of 1842.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 15

CHAPTBE II.
Moves to Owen Sound— Makes business connections — Starts for
college — Received as a probationer for the ministry — Is ap
pointed to establish a new mission in the far North.
HE was now twenty-one years of age. The
same winter George's pioneer spirit prompted
him to push on into the wilds of Ontario. On snow-
shoes, and pulling his hand sleigh after him, he crossed
the Blue Mountains and came to Owen Sound. Here
he took up land and formed business connections, and
to this place as early as possible the following season
he brought his wife.
Their route was from Barrie across to the Notta-
wasaga river, thence down that stream to Georgian
Bay, and along the coast to Owen Sound. At this
time there were three houses, consisting of an emi
grant shed and government employee buildings.
There the writer was born. Here father and mother
remained for six years, and may be fairly classed
among the first settlers of this part of Ontario. Dur
ing this period two more boys were born to them, one
of whom died in childhood, the other, following in the

16 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
footsteps of his father, in his turn became a pioneer
in the still farther portions of the great North-West,
and to-day is a respected citizen of the commonwealth
of Alberta.
Father, in connection with his partner in business,
built and sailed the Indian Prince, the first vessel
sent out from Owen Sound ; also later on sailed the
Sydenham, and in this vessel took the first load of
exports from Owen Sound direct to Toronto. She was
laden with maple sugar, potash and grain. About this
time father had been licensed as a local preacher by
the Rev. John Neelands, the pioneer missionary of that
country. Among the earliest recollections of the writer, is his
accompanying his father through the heavy forests to
a small settlement in the back country, where the
young local preacher conducted service in a shanty.
His business at this time took him out among the
Indian population frequenting the islands of Georgian
Bay and Lake Huron, and here no doubt began the
life work of the missionary.
Coming in contact with these ignorant and pagan
peoples, he tried to impart to them a knowledge of the
true God, and already his heart was prompting him to
seek his way into the Christian ministry, and thus
more fully devote himself to this work of preaching

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 17
Christ to the aborigines of our country, and, steadily
keeping this in view, we find him in the winter of
1848 recording in his journal :
Owen Sound, December 29th, 1848.
We now commend our children and friends to the protec
tion of Providence, and to-morrow morning commence our
journey to Victoria College, relying on the protection of
that God whose we are and whom we desire to serve.
The writer well remembers the next morning, which
was stormy. Horse and sleigh are at the door, and
presently father and mother having bidden my brother
and self good-bye, get into the sleigh and start east
ward from Owen Sound to Cobourg, through the
boundless forests of old Canada. The object of their
journey is that father may attend college. He has
been working away through the years, but the diffi
culties have been great. The migratory and wild life
he has led has almost shut him off from any chance
to study. But now the opportunity has come, and
throwing up his business, he leaves his children with
friends, and with his wife enters college. Here we
turn to his journal again, and find on record the
following : Victoeia College, January 15th, 1849.
Deeply indebted to God for kind friends, and a thousand
other manifestations of His mercy and Providence, I would

18 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
anew dedicate myself to His service, praying for a deeper
work of grace.
From another extract we take from his journal, the
reader will see that the long-looked-for opportunity
for acquirement of an education, by the force of cir
cumstances is nipped almost in the bud. Father barely
puts in a term at college.
This morning I leave for Alderville, to enter upon the
arduous task of a missionary life, to fill the two-fold offices of
preacher and superintendent of the boys of the industrial
school. May my grace be proportioned to my day, and by
that grace I hope to perform the duties enjoined upon me ;
but in every possible way to further that great cause to
which I have devoted my life, may the all-wise God make
up that which is deficient in me. Amen.
From college he went to Alderville, which was then
the seat of a large industrial institution, under the
supervision of the Rev. William Case, to whom father
became assistant, having a special charge over the
boys of the institution.
Here he made himself so useful that very soon al
most all the responsibility in connection with the in
stitution devolved upon him, as also prosecuting the
¦adjoining circuit work. Keeping his object before
him of becoming a missionary to the aboriginal tribes
of the land, he was very much exercised by two things :

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 19
one, getting into the ministry, a barrier having arisen
in the fact of his being a married man ; the other, the
field wherein most acceptably and successfully to
labor. In the one case, friends in the Conference, notably
Elder Case, rallied round him, and he was accepted as
probationer; in the other, the growing missionary spirit
of the Church found him the field.

20 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,

CHAPTEE III.
Starts to explore for and establish a mission — Locates at Garden
River — His work during six years' residence at this place.
Alderville, June 23rd, 1851.
I WOULD again record my indebtedness to God for
His goodness and mercy to unworthy me. During
the past two years my labor has not been in vain in
the Lord. Souls have been converted, and the Church has
extended her influence. To God be all the glory.
June 29th, 1851. — My destiny is the far North, among
the benighted pagans. This is what I have long desired,
and sometimes dared to pray for, but now that the path is
opened, I feel myself to be a little child. Oh Thou Great
Spirit, magnify Thy power in my weakness. Do Thine own
work. At this time the northern portions of Lake Huron
and Lake Superior were without any Methodist mis
sions, and though Peter Jones, John Sunday, and
Thomas Hurlburt had long years before pointed out
these fields as being ready unto the harvest, yet up to
the present no missionary had been sent.
However, the time had now come. The Conference
of 1851 commissioned father to explore this region,
and to establish a mission. He accordingly set out,

THUNDER CAPE, LAKE SUPERIOR.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 23
his route being by team from Alderville to Cobourg,
from Cobourg to Toronto by steamboat, from Toronto
to Holland Landing by stage ; thence down the Hol
land river, by steamer across Lake Simcoe to Orillia,
from thence across Portage, by stage to Cold water,
then on to the old steamer Gore, which was the only
representative of steam navigation in the Canadian
waters of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.
Proceeding as far as Owen Sound, father left his
family and went on to explore. The following ex
tracts are from his journal about this time :
Cobourg, July 8th, 1851.
This morning parted with the Alderville friends. The
scene was truly affecting. May God preserve His own
people. Lake Huron, July 20th, 1851.
This morning called at Owen Sound. How changed the
prospect. Nine years ago I was the only member of the
Methodist society, the only teetotaler. Now the Sons of
Temperance are strong, and the descendants of " Wesley "
are erecting a large stone church.
Lake George, July 22nd, 1851.
The sun is just setting. On the left hand, in boundless
perspective, we have Brother Jonathan's great Western
Territory, a land of forest and plain. On the right, the in
terminable mountains of the North. Beneath our feet rolls
that mighty river whose mouth is the Gulf of St< Lawrence;

24 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
its shores dotted with the wigwams of that race whose
numbers have dwindled away before the " white man's
curse." July 23rtf, 1851. — Walked across the Portage and stood
on the shore of vast Superior. I have now passed the
bounds of civilization. All ahead is both a natural and
moral wilderness. May God make me the honored instru
ment in preaching Christ to thousands of the benighted
sons and daughters of these wilds.
Sabbath, July 21th, 1851. — Preached twice at the Bruce
Mines, and though severely indisposed, yet greatly sustained
in declaring the truth as it is in Christ.
Garden River, July 29th, 1851.
Have met the Indians in council, and agreed to become
their missionary. I have sought the direction of Heaven,
and now see the finger of Providence. Oh, Thou in whom
all fulness dwells, help me to be more abundant in labors.
Amen. He finally decided on establishing at Garden River
some ten miles from the Sault Ste. Marie. Returning
for his family to Owen Sound, he proceeded with them
on the next trip of the boat, and eventually reached
the destination of the party. He hired a shanty from
one of the Indians, to be a temporary home while he
should endeavor to build a mission house.
Well do I remember the night of our arrival at
Garden River. The whole population, with the ex-

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 25
ception of three men, were drunk. Hideous yells and
noises were around our new home during; all the
night, and I, in common with all our family, shall
never forget the hours of terror we passed through.
The missionary was on the ground, and now his
early training came in good. He had some of the
language. He was as one of the Indians in his know
ledge of the woods and waters. To work he went,
both by precept and example. He preached the
Gospel, and the Lord blessed his efforts, and soon there
was a change.
With his axe on his shoulder, he went into the
woods and hewed the logs for a mission house. His
boys, with a yoke of oxen, " Whoa-haw-gee'd " them
out, and before many weeks had elapsed, he moved
his family out of the humble shanty into a large, com
modious log building, which in itself was, as it stood
there on the banks of the stream, in the centre of the
Indian settlement, a preacher of civilization to these
semi-barbarians. Here we think it proper to give
some more extracts from his own journal :
November 15th, 1851. — Nearly four months have rolled
away since we landed here. Many have been the vicissi
tudes through which we have passed. Methodism has now
a home and a footing in this place. A comfortable house
erected, a school-house well on the way, and all these efforts
3

26 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
have been marked with the special providence and protec
tion of God. No accident has occurred. Our meetings
are well attended. Last evening the presence and power
of God was felt by all. Two out of three of our chiefs were
heard pleading with God for mercy.
December 2nd, 1851. — Held the first temperance meeting
in this most intemperate place. Tried to impress upon the
" red man '' the fact that he is a descendant of a race once
fearless and independent, capable of enduring the greatest
hardship. Tried to point out to them the terrible sorrow
entailed upon their people by the use of lire- water.
December 5th, 1851. — Last evening met the chiefs of the
tribes in private council at the parsonage, for the purpose
of devising means for stopping the bringing spirits into the
village. A proposition was made to appoint ten soldier-men,
whose business it would be to destroy all spirits brought
into the village.
Night after night Gospel and temperance meetings were
held. Other points in the vicinity were visited, and, as to
the change effected, let the following letters, written
by the missionary and others at the time and on the
ground, indicate the nature of the work carried on:
Bruce Mines Mission,
Garden River, August 15th, 1851.
Rev. and Dear Sir, — In accordance with your request,
I write you the first opportunity. I left my family at
Owen Sound until I should know our destiny. On the

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 27
23rd July, I called at the Bruce ; here I was most kindly
received — found a society organized, and a young man em
ployed as school-teacher and local preacher. In this
capacity he has labored for the last nine months. He re
ceives £100 a year — £25 from the Company, and the re
mainder from the miners, who subscribe each two shillings
per month for the maintenance of the Gospel. Leaving two
appointments for the coming Sabbath, I started for the
Sault Ste. Marie. Here I met with the Rev. J. H. Pietzel,
Superintendent of Michigan Episcopal Missions, to whom
I was much indebted for information relative to the missions.
He strongly recommended Garden River. On the 20th, I
returned to Bruce ; met the society in the evening ; learned
that arrangements were made for the Sabbath, sacrament
to be administered, and about a dozen children to be
baptized. They appeared disappointed when they under
stood my position, having expected an ordained agency
amongst them. This, however, appeared to be forgotton
when I stated the interest taken by the Conference in their
welfare, and also the prospect of your paying them a visit
shortly. There are in all 120 Cornish miners here, and
though the members of society are but few, yet more than
half of the above number have once been members. The
inhabitants of the Bruce number in all 300.
Sabbath morning the little chapel was well filled, which,
by the way, holds about as many as the Alderville chapel.
In the afternoon I attended the Sabbath-school, which is
purely Wesleyan in its character ; the children number
thirty-five, with an efficient staff of teachers.
Sabbath evening the village appeared to be present. The
best singing I ever heard. At the close of the service, the
English part of the congregation requested I should tender

28 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
their thanks to you for the interest already manifested in
their behalf, with an urgent request that you visit them soon.
The young man employed by the miners appears to be
useful ; yet I think a more experienced person might be
more so ; at least they want an ordained minister, and
without a change in the mining appropriation, they would
support one. Money is plentiful. If the young brother
could be changed, and taken under your control, it might
be better. I enclose the Superintendent's order for books.
They want Wesleyan hymns, that the children may use
them in the congregation.
Dr. O'Meara (Episcopalian) repeatedly offered his service,
but was rejected. Several disgreeable circumstances have
arisen out of this.
On the 29th I met the Indians of Garden River in council,
and stated to them the object of my coming-amongst them.
I then left them till evening for an answer. From the
preachers at the Sault, I received a note of introduction to
a Mr. Church, with whom I found a comfortable home
while staying here. In company with this gentleman, I
met the Indians in the evening, when the principal chief of
this vast country arose and spoke nearly as follows : —
" We are glad to see this black coat amongst us. We
hope he won't soon get home-sick. Twenty years ago Peter
Jones first, by-and-by John Sunday, afterwards, one Sauh-
gob-nash (T. Hurlburt), came to see us ; but they all got
tired and went away. By-and-by the big black coat sent
one here (Capt. Anderson) ; but they all got tired, not one
of them started a school. Two years ago I went to Mont
real; 1 called at Alderville and Rice Lake, and a great
many more places. At Alderville saw the old black coat,
saw the Indians were very wise, they all knew paper. Now

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 29
we want a school. We have sixty children here ; they all
learn to fiddle and drink fire-water, but not one ever
learned a book." This is the experience of one of the oldest,
and, it is said, most intelligent Indians in North America.
Garden River is a most desirable location for several
reasons ; first, there are two hundred and eighty Indians
residing here : there are two other bands, the one about
fifteen miles up Lake Superior, in all twenty-five miles from
here ; the other, about twelve miles below this, at the foot
of Lake George. Another reason is, that in case of no
change being made at the Bruce,. I can visit it once a
month, the distance is thirty-five miles. Another import
ant thing is, there is good land here, I think not less than
three thousand acres. There is another opening at the
Munedooning, at Maple Pond.
The Indians are all pagans. Both the land and fishing
are good. If the ground could be taken up by a suitable
agency, a number of Indians might be collected, as the
North Shore tribes have no tilled land. It would be an
effort worthy of our Missionary Society, to have at least one
station on that vast island, containing a population of more
than two thousand, divided into seven villages.
I was disappointed on arriving at Owen Sound, to find
that my interpreter had not arrived. I am now on my
way to Garden River with my family. Please pardon the
imperfections of this scrawl. I make no profession of pen
manship at best, but to write on board the old Gore is all
but impossible. We have had one constant blow all the
way up ; and I must either send this, or miss the post for
another week.
August 6th. — I have rented a shanty which will have to
do till a house can be erected. A school might be com-

30 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
menced, but for the want of books. If this want could be
supplied by the next boat, we could then commence opera
tions. I have sent an order from the mines for books.
They can all be sent in one package. I heartily join the
miners in their request for a visit from you. If we may
hope for this, I would put off selecting the ground for a
chapel and parsonage till your arrival. Asking your coun
sel and an interest in your prayers, I am, your obedient
servant,
G. M. McDougall.
To the Rev. E. Wood, Toronto.

Garden River.
Appreciating the deep- interest which the friends of Wes
leyan missions have ever manifested in the welfare of the
native tribes of our country, I have designed to be explicit
in referring to the work of God as connected with this dis
tant point of missionary labor.
Twenty months ago I made my first landing among this
people, and never shall I forget the circumstances connected
with that period. Our voyage from Penetanguishene had
been unusually boisterous ; and having arrived at our place
of destination, we disembarked in the midst of a heavy
rain, without house or friends to receive us. The Indians
were on the eve of starting for the Mahnetooahning to
receive their presents ; many of them at the time in a state
of intoxication ; and we soon ascertained that but three
individuals out of three hundred abstained from the fire
water. They were, in fact, a drunken community.
My first effort on arriving at Garden River, was to pro
cure a place to shelter us from the inclemency of the weather.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 31
I rented a shanty, but it being unplastered and roofed with
bark, was by no means proof against the driving storms.
These difficulties, however, were small, compared with
others of a different character, which soon presented them
selves. Soon after our arrival here, our village was visited by a
professing Protestant clergyman, who, strange as it may
appear, spared no pains in misrepresenting our mission, and
endeavoring to destroy our character and influence, and, in
the midst of heathenism and dissipation, he claims for him
self a " holy and apostolic " church, comprising almost the
entire community. Believing, however, that God has called
us to labor among the people of Garden River, we resolved
to hold controversy with no man, but with a humble depen
dence on God for Divine influence to labor on at His
command, and trust Him for the issue, and, blessed be God,
notwithstanding the combined opposition of Jesuitism and
Puseyism, the good seed has not been sown in vain, but has
taken deep root even in this once barren soil. Where once
there was dissipation and wretchedness, there is now tem
perance and comfort. Instead of the dismal clatter of the
pagan drum, accompanied by midnight scenes too terrible
to mention, there is now heard the voice of prayer and
praise. So powerful has been the influence of the Gospel,
that most of the Catholics have given up their intemperate
and Sabbath-breaking habits ; and though many of them do
not attend our services, yet a spirit of inquiry is being ex
cited among them, and we believe the way is being prepared
for their conversion. Our school, though subject to many
drawbacks, has been made a great blessing to many here.
Most of the young people can now read the Scriptures and
hymns in their own tongue.

32 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
We have received on trial, during the past year, thirty
members. Many more are almost persuaded. One young
man, after enduring great affliction, died in the triumph of
faith. Our band of believers, who never before had witnessed
the power of religion in the trying hour, were greatly en
couraged. The sum of £9 has been given for missionary
purposes, and if we take into account the amount of labor
which, during the past year, has been given to the mission,
it would amount to more than £25.
Last winter the Indians got out the timber for a chapel,
25 by 35 feet, and this spring the building was put up.
The society has a property now at Garden River, worth
several hundred dollars. It was found to be impossible to
work the mission without first erecting buildings for the
accommodation of the missionary, as none could be rented.
We built a house for the missionary family, 19 by 27 feet,
with a kitchen 14 by 20 feet ; a house for the teacher, now
occupied by the former, 18 by 28 feet; a stable, 16 by 30
feet, and the body of a workshop, 14 by 20 feet.
In connection with the mission premises, we have cleared
and fenced two acres for the use of the preacher, and by
way of preparing for the anticipated farms, eight acres of
land have been cleared, and are now under crop. From the
farm we expect much good result. If properly conducted,
it will amply sustain itself, and at the same time serve as a
means of imparting instruction in agricultural pursuits to
the Indians. Such are some of the blessings conferred on,
and the improvement made at, Garden River mission. But
what is one solitary mission compared with the wants of
this vast country 1 I would that we had the power to con
vey to the friends of Indian missions a correct idea of the
suffering condition of the pagan bands of this country.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 33
Degraded and oppressed by the white man, thirsting for the
fire-water, full of all the uncleanness of heathenism, they
are fast passing away. Nor are they ignorant of it. Many
of them are now ripe for the Gospel. They have long
looked to their idols for help, but looked in vain. For the
last hundred years they have hoped for help from the Jesuit,
but, to use the words of one of the old men, " He brought
no heart religion with him." The Indian wants Christianity
in earnest. There are strong reasons why they should have
it now. Yearly their minds are becoming more and more
corrupted by false teachers. Yearly scores of them are
dying in their sins, and in their blood.
"0 Christians, to their rescue fly,
Preach Jesus to them ere they die. ''
Difficulties in the accomplishment of this work we may
expect. Satan will, doubtless, hold on to his old posses
sions ; but " the Lord is a man of war, the Lord is His
name." Let the Church of Christ use the means, and hell shall
yet tremble at, and heaven rejoice in, the full salvation of
this people Amen. George McDougall.

Garden River.
Rev. and Dear Sir, — Our work is encouraging. The
Lord is evidently preparing our way amongst this people.
Our school is now in full operation, and, considering the
severity of the weather, is well attended. The building of
the school-house was a difficult task — the snow came on be
fore we o-ot it covered in — yet convinced of the importance
of having a room solely appropriated to religious and school

34 GEORGE MILLWARD MDOUGALL,
purposes, we made every effort. The Indians acted nobly,
and, with the thermometer some fifteen degrees below zero,
we put in the door and windows, laid the floors, chinked,
plastered, whitewashed, and finally had the pleasure of con
gratulating each other as the proprietors of a comfortable
little school-house, free from debt, with the exception of
£3, and this we hope to cancel before Conference ; for we
go upon the principle that it is the duty of all men to help
themselves according to their several abilities,
We are deeply indebted to P. S. Church, Esquire, for a
gratuitous supply of lumber, use of oxen, and other favors.
May the Great Head of the Church abundantly reward him
and his kind lady for the deep interest they have taken in,
as well as the valuable help they have rendered, this infant
mission. Our watch-night was conducted by the Rev. J. H. Pietzel,
Presiding Elder of the Ste. Marie District, and though not
largely attended, the night being exceedingly cold, yet it
was a time long to be remembered. By the Garden River
people, New Year's eve has ever been a season which, above
all others, w;as spent in revelry and drunkenness ; but by a
number the Gospel has been heard, and its power felt, and
old things have passed away, and now, for the first time,
these red men, surround the table of our common Lord, and
anticipate the dawn of a new year in earnest prayer to the
Great Spirit for His blessing. To God we would ascribe
the praise.
The good seed sown on watch-night we have been endea
voring to cultivate, by holding a protracted service. The
God of revivals was present to own our humble labors.
The cry of penitence and the song of praise were heard in
our midst. Eleven profess to have received good ; most of

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 35
them heads of families. Some of them are related to other
bands, thus enlarging our prospect of usefulness. Intem
perance is the great barrier to the Gospel in this country.
Could we persuade those civilized and refined gentlemen
who sell the Indians whiskey, to stop their nefarious traffic,
the work of evangelizing these tribes would soon be accom
plished. Chief C'hinggwuk can name upwards of a score of
his own relatives who have either been drowned, burned,
or frozen to death, while in a state of intoxication. Last
winter, not less than five women were burned to death in
their camps.
Since I commenced writing this letter, I have been in
formed of the death of a young man belonging to the Sioux
band, who, in a state of drunkenness, fell across the camp
fire, and before rescued, his abdomen and legs were burned
to a cinder. To stay this dreadful scourge of the Indian,
we have used every means in our reach — the temperance
pledge, the co-operation of the custom-house officers, in pre
venting it being brought from the American side, and also
the influence of those favorable to the cause of temperance.
Yet the only sure antidote against this vice is the Gospel;
and though a large majority of the people are strangers to
its saving power, yet such is the influence it exerts over
their minds, that more than half of this vast community
abstain, and those that still persist in drinking are ashamed
to do so openly. As a proof of this, my family have not
been alarmed at hearing the wild war cry for the last two
months. January 15th. — With my blanket, provisions, snow-shoes,
— all assorted — and a faithful old Ojebway for a companion,
I started for the Bruce. The first day we reached the north
end of St. Joseph's Island, and on our way we spent some

36 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
time with the Pumpkin Point Indians, a band numbering
about forty, still in a state of paganism, and, as a consequence,
in wretchedness and poverty, but willing to hear the Gospel.
On the 16th we called at Hilton, a young but rising.
settlement on the north-east point of St. Joseph. Here our
way was closed up. The erysipelas, or some disease very
similar, had assumed the aspect of an epidemic, and almost
every family was afflicted. Visiting all within our reach,
and distributing some tracts, we started for the Mine.
St. Joseph's Island, if the mining operations are continued,
is destined te become a place of importance ; the land is
good ; almost all kinds of vegetables grow luxuriantly, with
a ready market for all that can be produced. Crossing from
the island to the mainland, we were caught in one of the
most terrific snowstorms I ever witnessed. The drift came
flying over these vast fields of ice so thick, that for miles we
were obliged to shape our course by observing the quarter
from which the storm came. But, conscious that we were
under the protection of the Arm Omnipotent, we pursued
our way, and nightfall found us quite at home amongst our
Cornish friends ; and a more off-handed, kind-hearted class
of people are not to be found.
Saturday we spent in visiting, and a more suitable time
could not have been chosen. Almost every family were
afflicted with the disease already referred to ; one adult and
three children had died, and several others were dangerously
ill. On Sabbath, the services were well attended, notwith
standing the cold, for the thermometer stood at 25°. The
class is in a healthy condition, Brother Hooper, the leader,
is faithful to his charge. The Sabbath-school, under the
influence of the same brother, is well supplied with faithful
teachers, and is in a prosperous condition.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 37
Here is work for one missionary. A people prepared —
many of them once happy in God ; but leaving their native
land and the regular means of grace, they have lost their
enjoyments by drinking into the spirit of the world — yet
still they linger about the courts of Zion. May God speedily
revive His work among them !
I am, Rev. Sir, yours respectfully,
G. M. McDougall.
To the Rev. E. Wood, Toronto.

[From the Christian Guardian, May 5, 1852.]
The letter from the missionary at Garden River and
Bruce Mines, which appears in last week's Guardian, con
tained a very gratifying account of the successful operation
of the mission, as well as the openings for the more exten
sive cultivation of the promising fields for missionary labor
in that part of the country. The following letter of a later
date, from the same place, will be read with interest and
pleasure by all who love to hear of the prosperity and the
encouraging prospects of this department of our work : —
Garden River, March 18th, 1852.
Rev. and Dear Sir,— As I have now an opportunity of
posting a letter, and that for the last time till navigation
opens, I feel it a duty to send you a brief account of our
proceedings. Throughout the past winter I have visited
the Bruce monthly. On my last visit I was accompanied
by Bro. H. Pietzel, of the Sault.
On Saturday we held a temperance meeting, when twenty-
five took the pledge. Sabbath was a high day amongst
the miners. God in a very special manner owned the

38 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
ordinances of His Church. Backsliders were reclaimed, and
sinners convinced, and the little church greatly raised. Five
lovely babes were dedicated to God in baptism.
Before leaving, I received from the Sabbath-school chil
dren £1 17s. 6d., as a juvenile missionary offering, and 17s.
6d. from the class. I was also presented with a purse con
taining £4 12s. 6d., as a present. This came in place, for
I had spent considerable in travelling to and from the
Bruce, though I knew not from whence it would come.
Last fall, when the change took place in the mining opera
tions, we had but two members at the Bruce, but God has
owned our humble labors ; we have now a thriving class of
thirteen. Yesterday I returned from Lake Superior, where in com
pany with Brother Pietzel, we visited several bands of In-.
dians, and spent the Sabbath at Na-yah-mah-young, a flourish
ing mission, some forty miles above the Sault. Here they have
a boarding-school in operation, and preparations are being
made for farming. The American brethren are prosecut
ing the work with great energy. Their missions extend
from Sault Ste. Marie to the head-waters of the Mississippi.
How humiliating to the Canadian missionary is the fact,
that while" the south shores of vast Superior is dotted with
missions, all in efficient operation, the Canadian coast, with
its tens of thousands of inhabitants, is still a moral waste.
In order that the Indians of both countries may be use
ful to each other, we have appointed a camp-meeting to
commence on the 4th of August. A committee has been
appointed to make the necessary arrangements. We hope
that a meeting of this character will bring out many of the
pagans who will not attend the ordinary means of grace.
As regards personal improvement, though I find my acquaint-

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 39
ance with the language daily increasing, yet I have not
made that proficiency that I had hoped for.
The first three months after my arrival was taken up in
building and other preparatory arrangements. The Bruce
requires me monthly from six to ten days. But this, I hope,
will be remedied in another year. The miners intend to
petition Conference for a missionary, and I know of no
place where one might be so useful. I have several times
heard you anticipate the erection of a Manual Labor School
at Owen Sound.
If this measure could be consummated, and the institution
placed upon a footing, so as to receive children from mis
sions in this country, the prospect of educating the youth of
these wandering tribes would appear under a happier as
pect. The Indians are willing to send their children south
to be educated, and appear delighted with the thought that
a school of this character may yet be placed within their
reach. Please pardon all imperfections, and believe me, Reverend
Sir, yours respectfully, Q M McDouGALL.
To the Rev. E. Wood, Toronto.
p.S, — To-morrow morning I start for the Bruce, where
I am appointed to hold a missionary meeting on Saturday
evening.

Bruce Mines, March 22nd, 1852.
The work here is onward. I received seven on trial
yesterday. Missionary meeting resulted in £4 2s. 10d.,
making in all between £5 and £6. The temperance cause
is doing wonders. G M McDougall.

40 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
Garden River, September 28th, 1852.
Reverend and Dear Sir, — Your favor of the 16th
instant came safe and the contents were duly appreciated.
In answer to your enquiries as regards the farm, I would
just remark, that I view the appointment of R. Sutton as
providential ; his past training will fit him for present use
fulness. A tolerable acquaintance with the Indian language,
industrious habits and experience as a Christian will, I
trust, by the blessing of Heaven, make his example and ac
quaintance with business a great benefit to the community.
The effort towards preparing the farm appears to me to
be beginning at the right end of the work. The prospect
of establishing a manual labour school, as well as the im
provement of the Indian in agricultural pursuits, depend
wholly upon the management of the farm. As to its pros
pects, I believe, if properly conducted, it would not only
meet the attending expenses, but when fairly started would
prove a source of profit to the mission. Vegetables of all
kinds find a ready market at a high price, and roots of the
most useful kinds — as potatoes, turnips, carrots and onions,
etc. — yield an abundant crop. Some expenses must be in
curred in providing seed, farming implements and provisions;
for though much can be done towards clearing the land, in
the way of making bees, yet the red man must have some
koo hoosh, pork and bread. Openings for extending the
work in this country are numerous. The Pic, a point once
occupied by the society, is still an open field.
Port William is now a Jesuit station. To the Indians at
the Pic they have frequently offered their services, but
Ah Tick Rouse, the leader, is faithful to Methodism. I was
informed a short time ago, by a clergyman of the Church of
England, of a circumstance worthy of notice. Some three

THE PIONKER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 41
years since, when the cholera raged severely throughout the
country, many of the Indians fell under its influence. On
one occasion, the gentleman referred to was called to visit
two men said to be dying ; he found them fast sinking,
but trusting in Christ for salvation. Upon enquiring, he
found they were from the Pic, and that several years pre
vious they had been baptized by the Rev. T. Hurlburt.
These forest children, though exposed to much temptation,
and surrounded by heathenism, had not forgotten the teach
ings of the missionary ; and now, under the most trying cir
cumstances, they rejoiced in the hope of immortality.
Maple Point, on the north-east extremity of the Mahnea-
dooahning, is distant some forty miles from any other mission,
so that it could not be considered an encroachment to oc
cupy it as a station. It is well calculated for a mission, the
land is good, fishing excellent, and the situation convenient
to the steamboat route. The Indians call for sympathy,
they are at present in a most wretched condition. Dissi
pated, destitute and friendless, they are fast melting away
before the Indians' deadliest foe, the fire-water. M ay God
move His Church to greater efforts in behalf of these poor
people. Many enquiries are made about the expected chapel.
Nothing would consolidate our movements here, in the
estimation of the Indians, more than the erection of a com
fortable house of worship. By way of improvement, we are
preparing to survey these lands, so as to designate to each
man his lot. I have taken the liberty of writing to several
friends, soliciting aid in behalf of a class of this community,
who are truly objects of charity. I have reference to the
aged and young orphans Could those benevolent ladies,
to whose efforts the missionary enterprise is so much in
debted, have witnessed one-tenth of the destitution that
4

42 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
your missionary at Garden River was an eye-witness of last
winter, especially amongst the aged, I believe efforts would
be made to prepare these unfortunates to meet the severity
of the coming winter. Old clothes, second-hand bedding,
would be highly appreciated and thankfully acknowledged.
I could have induced the Indians last spring to have
planted twice the amount of garden stuff, but for the. want
of seed. That which had been supplied by a few kind
friends was well attended to, and has yielded an abundant
crop. If the friends of missions would collect a box or two
of seeds, and forward them to the mission before naviga
tion closes, they will confer a benefit on those who cannot
help themselves. With sentiments of respect, I am, Rev
erend Sir, yours sincerely,
G. M. McDougall.
To Rev. E. Wood.
The speech made by Ojesh Tah, one of the chiefs of
the Garden River bands, in a general council, prior to
the missionary's leaving for Conference :
" Black Coat, I want to say a few words. I want to say
them strong. We want you to repeat them to the Big
Black Coat and Black Coats assembled in council. The
Indians down south have fathers and mothers. We are
orphans. The Great Spirit has done a great deal for them;
He has given them a rich country. He has also sent them
missionaries, who have been parents to them. The Great
Woman Chief has been a mother to them. She has assisted
their missionary in building large schools amongst them,
and in teaching them how to work. They are not poor,
they have plenty of kind friends. Not so with us, we are
orphans ; we who live on the north shore of Huron and

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 43
Superior. The Great Spirit has not given us a rich coun
try ; the missionary has not taught us the white man's reli
gion ; no teacher has been sent us, nor school-house built
for us. We are poor. We have no kind great fathers or
mother to protect us ; we are worse than our forefathers
were many years ago. Our forests were full of wild ani
mals, deer, bear, beaver, etc. ; but the white man came and
induced us to kill off all our furs. He brought his steam
boats and large nets, and drove the fish from our shores.
We are poor, and we are becoming more so every year.
Now we want you to say to the Big Black Coats, that we
ask them to help us. We want them very much ; we want
our sons and daughters to understand paper and to learn to
work. Tell them that we live in a large country, and that
there are a great many of us. Tell them about this place,
that it lies between Huron and Superior ; that the land is
good ; that we raise potatoes, oats, turnips, etc., and all sell
for a great price ; but that the Indian knows little about
making gardens. Tell them we ask for a school, like the
one some of us saw at Alnwick, when we went to Money-
aung (Montreal), three years ago. We are willing to give
some of the best of our land for a farm, and assist in build
ing the houses ; but we must have the white man to teach
us the way."
The following letter to the President of the Confer
ence, from a .gentleman at Garden River, contains a
very pleasing testimony to the good effects attending
the labors of the Wesleyan Missionary amongst the
Indians at that place :

44 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
Sugar Island, opposite Garden River,
February llih, 1853.
Rev. and Dkar Sir,— You will pardon the liberty of a
total stranger in addressing a few lines to you, as the sub
ject is one in which, I trust, we both feel an interest, and
together offer our mutual prayer for its success, viz., the
Wesleyan Mission at Garden River. I became acquainted
with the Indians at Garden River in 1846. They were at
that time a very poor, degraded, intemperate band of In
dians. They had usually done their "trading at Sault Ste.
Marie, where they obtained the fire-water in abundance. I
trust that God made some use of me in benefiting them in a
temporal point, as they have, since I came amongst them,
cultivated much more ground, built better houses, and be
gan to get for themselves horses, cattle, etc. I furnished
them work at all seasons of the year, for which I paid them
in provisions, etc. ; still much intemperance continued. I
long saw and felt they needed a faithful missionary to teach
them the way of life and light through Jesus. I hailed
with joy and thanksgiving the arrival of the Rev. George
McDougall in 1851, since which time God has seemed to
crown the labors of this indefatigable missionary with great
success. Intemperance is known to only a limited extent.
In many houses, where scenes of drunkenness were often
beheld, may now be heard the voice of prayer and praise to
God. The Indians are very much elevated in the scale of
human society, and seem far advanced in civilization.
As to the number now connected with the mission house,
I am not informed. The congregation on the Sabbath is
very respectable as to numbei-s, and sometimes quite large,
so much so that the school-house is much crowded. The
house now used as a place of worship and school-house

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 45
is one of the most uncomfortable imaginable. Many days,
as we have in this hyperborean region, it is impossible
to make it comfortable; and as it is not suitable in size,
locality, etc., I think it not worth trying to improve by
repairs. I cannot but think that the erection of a comfort
able and respectable chapel would add to the usefulness
and influence of the mission. I am not acquainted with
the state of the funds of your Board, but fully believe it
worth a strong effort to build a chapel at Garden River the
coming summer; and if so, it should be commenced early, as
our seasons are short, and not at all times easy to get help
necessary for work of that kind.
I think five hundred dollars would be required to build
and finish a chapel suitable to the place, with its present
prospect of increase. Should the Board appropriate that
amount for the purpose, I will contribute fifty dollars to
wards it, or in the same proportion for a less sum. I under
stand from Mr. McDougall, there is to be a camp-meeting
another summer very near my house, when I hope we may
see you, and have the pleasure of your acquaintance.
I wish to say a few words on the subject of Mr. McDou
gall's salary. I understand that he receives but $320 per
annum from the Board. I am satisfied he cannot live at
least comfortably on that amount, with his present family.
I believe, should you increase his pay to $400, that with
such contributions as would be made here, he would be able
to get on very well. You may think I take quite too much
liberty in making such suggestions with regard to the mis
sion. I do it, I trust, in Christian meekness, as a well-
wisher of the success of the work at Garden River.
Though of a different denomination, yet I pray God that
much good may be done, not only to the Indians at this

46 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
place, but also through all this upper country, through the
instrumentality of the missionary enterprise.
One word more, and I will have done. I know not what
the practice is with the Wesleyan Methodists of Canada
with regard to their missionaries. I think, on our side,
they too often change them amongst the Indians. It would
take a long time, I think, for any other man to get the
confidence and gain the influence over the Indians at
Garden River that Mr. McDougall has now.
T am, Sir, yours in Christian affection,
P. S. Church.
To Rev. E. Wood, Yorkville, C. W.
[From the Christian Guardian, April 27, 1853.]
The following letter from the Wesleyan Missionary
at Garden River, to Mr. J. Macdonald, of Toronto,
giving an account of the destitute and perishing con
dition of some of the Indians in that part of the coun
try, will, we trust, excite the active sympathies of
those who possess the means to supply the wants of
the needy. We are requested to state that Mr. Mac
donald will receive and forward to Garden River the
benevolent offerings of those friends who may desire
to assist in relieving the necessities of the poor and
suffering Indians of that place :
Garden River, March 2nd, 1853.
Dear Brother, — My object must be my apology for the
present letter. For some months past, I have felt a strong
desire to do something more for the aged and afflicted in

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 47
this community. A short time since, in conversation with
the Rev. B. Shaw, Presiding Elder of the Sault Ste. Marie
District, upon the subject, I was informed that they
received yearly large supplies of second-hand clothing,
garden seeds, medicines, etc., from different benevolent
societies throughout the Union. These, when judiciously
dispensed, not only relieved the sufferings of the destitute,
but also exerted a happy influence in favour of religion.
The Indian makes no provision for old age or affliction, and
when once incapacitated for the chase, his case becomes truly
wretched. Many of the inland Indians are now in a state of starva
tion ; the rabbits, which were their main dependence in
winter, having, from some unknown cause, died off. I lately
visited a band, where one of their women was driven to
such a desperate state through starvation, that she ate her
own child ; and I have good authority for stating that
several cases of the kind have occurred during the past
year. Accidents often occur which place individuals in circum
stances of great affliction and destitution. A short time
since, within sight of the mission-house, a widow woman
got her camp burned, and a fine active little child roasted
alive in it. Now this unfortunate not only suffered the
grief peculiar to a mother, but, as regards food and cloth
ing, was left totally destitute. We believe that were the
right agencies employed, God, through His Church, would
enable the missionary to relieve such cases. But with me a
difficulty presents itself; for my junior position as » mis
sionary, together with my crcumscribed acquaintance with
persons suitable to co-operate in this work, prevent me from
taking that active part in the work that I might otherwise do.

48 . GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
Trusting in God, however, I have resolved to write several
friends on the subject, asking their assistance. Now, my
dear sir, if you can enlist the benevolent of your acquaint
ance in our behalf, you will confer a great favor, and
relieve the sufferings of the destitute.
It is necessary to be an eye-witness in order to form any
thing like an idea of the suffering condition of the pagans
of this region. Dissipation, poverty, severity of climate,
all combine to augment their misery. As regards our pro
gress in religion, we have reason to be encouraged. Our
society numbers about fifty members ; and among a people
who, less than two years ago, were noted for drunkenness,
only one case of drinking the fire-water has occurred this
winter. They have raised upwards of £10 for missionary
purposes during the past winter. We have got out timber
for a chapel 25 x 35. To our Heavenly Father we desire
to be thankful, and to ascribe all the praise of our success-
Trusting you will pardon the liberty I have taken, by re
membering the object I have in view, I remain, yours very
sincerely.
Geo. McDougall.
John Macdonald, Esq., Toronto.

Garden River Mission,
November 25th, 1853.
Rev. and Dkar Sir, — Our chapel has been the object of
interest with the Garden River people for the last year.
We hope soon to enjoy the fruit of our labor. Christmas
is the day appointed for the dedication. The Rev. J. Shaw
will lead in the services. The Rev. C. McCulloch, Presby
terian minister of the Free Church, has offered his services.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 49
C. P. Harvey, chief agent for the Huron and Superior
canal, the chief engineer, with a number of Christian
gentlemen, wish to be present. Should the day be fine it
will be one of much interest to the mission, for Christians
of every name have taken a deep interest in our humble
efforts for the natives. The Indians are not less interested ;
they have given 145 days' work towards its erection. I
hope, dear sir, you will not receive the impression that we
are prodigal, because we live up to our income and some
times in advance of it. I believe there are few families
more frugal than my own. The fact is, I have incurred
responsibilities in endeavoring to advance the interest of the
mission ; but we are more than compensated. God has
given us many kind friends in temporal matters ; and He
lias given success to our feeble efforts for the good of His
people. During the last two years I have received more
than $200 from different parties for this mission, all of
which I have endeavored to lay out for its advancement.
The Kaloola broke her machinery three weeks ago. We
have no Canadian mail. This is an unexpected favor by a
traveller to Detroit ; the boat stays but a few minutes.
G. McDougall
To Rev. E. Wood, Yorkville.
Extract from a letter from the Rev. G. McDougall,
dated January 28th, 1857 :
Residing as we do in a part of the country where Popery
preponderates, and where festival days are characterized by
scenes of drunkenness and dissipation, we have ever looked
forward to the holidays with anxiety, especially as regards
the young of our congregation. The past, however, were

50 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
seasons of pleasing remembrance. Christmas was a happy
day at Garden River.
Our morning service was well attended. In the after
noon, with two exceptions, every individual belonging to
the band assembled in the Wesleyan church for the purpose
of enjoying their Christmas feast. The good things were
provided by the young of our congregation. The evening
was spent in the defence of temperance principles, and a
most effective meeting it was. Our watch-night was a
season of deep interest. How happy the change wrought
in this people, when a comparison is made with the man
ner in which they formerly anticipated the new year. On
the 2nd of January, at the suggestion of Mrs. Church, and
at her expense, a pic-nic was got up for the mission school,
and to this, not only the little people, but all their parents
were invited ; every variety was provided for their enter
tainment — nuts, raisins, apples, and cakes of various kinds ;
and to these you may be sure ample justice was done.
Fifty-four children, and some 150 of the grown-up ones,
were made glad on this occasion ; and, while speaking of
the little folks, I would just remark that, without being in
vidious as to others, our school is decidedly the best we have
seen ki this country ; our indefatigable teacher, Mr. Dagg,
has drawn around him, not only the children of our own
people, but almost all the Romanist children within reach.
Would that the friends of the Indians could witness the
improvement in many of those children. The class in
grammar, geography and arithmetic, would bear comparison
with most of those of the same age in our favored country.
Intent on doing good, Mr. Dagg commenced a night-school
for the young men, which bids fair to be of much service.
These are some of the lights connected with our work in

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 51
this country, and to God we ascribe all the glory, and yet
we are not without our shades.
Twenty-five years ago, when a Sunday, a Jones, and a
Hurlburt first proclaimed the great salvation to this people,
the way was clear; there were but few opposing influences;
but now every inch of ground is contested. Popery, the
blight of Christianity, has been aroused to greater exertion
since the increase of our mission ; Bacchus is greatly in
creasing the number of his agents ; not a village, however
insignificant, a fishing point or a mine, but has its vendors
of fire-water. The holy Sabbath in many places is shame
fully desecrated. To meet these soul-destroying influences,
and also secure an increase of numbers in many parts of
this wild country, a new order of things is about being
introduced. Those points which we now view as distant, such as
Michipicoton, the Pic, or Fort William, stand in about the
same relationship to the civilized world as did Owen Sound
or Saugeen some ten or twelve years ago. Already the
tide of emigration has passed the falls of Ste. Marie, and the
roar of its waves is distinctly heard on the north shore of
great Superior.
Yesterday we conversed with a party already equipped
for a journey on the north shore ; they intend visiting
Montreal river, and to select a place for a settlement, and
as soon as possible erect a saw mill. Many others with
whom we are acquainted are looking towards that section
of country as their future home. The unequalled fisheries
and inexhaustible mineral wealth of that region are the
objects of attraction. Now the solemn questions suggested
to the mind, of the Christian are as to what will be the char
acter of these rising settlements ? under what auspices

52 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
will they grow ? shall the inhabitants, and the sons of the
forest, by whom they are surrounded, receive and obey the
truth, and be brought into the freedom of the sons of God ;
or be ignorant of the great Redeemer, and left to their own
lusts, and sink deeper into the thraldom of crime and sin 1
These are questions which must be practically met by the
Church of Christ.
Sabbath the 18th we held our quarterly meeting, Brother
Price, of the Shawville mission, being with us. Next
Sabbath, Providence permitting, I shall spend at that
mission. Brother Price has kindly consented to accompany
me to the Bruce Mines, at the earnest request of the Pres
byterian church. Sault Ste. Marie this winter is destitute
of a pastor, and, in connection with Brother Price, I preach
for them every third Sabbath.
March 15th we have an appointment at Ma Mas, Mont
real Mining Company location, on Lake Superior. In meet
ing these engagements, we expect some hard beds and cold
nights ; yet labor is rest, and pain is sweet, because my
God is here.
Extract from a letter from the Rev. G. McDougall,
dated July 24th, 1857 : Gardfn River.
We have just closed the Lake Superior camp meeting.
The weather was favorable, and quite a number attended,
and, best of all, the Master was present and souls were con
verted. Amongst the many that were blessed, two cases
are worthy of special notice : the first, a Frenchwoman, a
very respectable person, but a bigoted Romanist. On this
dark mind the spirit of conviction fastened, and one of the
most powerful conversions we have ever witnessed was the

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 53
result. The lady there and then declared that henceforth
neither priest, saint, nor Virgin, should stand between her
soul and the all-sufficient Saviour. The next was that of a
young man, decidedly the hardest case at Garden River.
His father, a valuable native brother, stated that for the
last three months he had daily in secret besought the Lord
to convert his son. In the clearest possible manner that
prayer has been answered, and great is the joy of that
family. We are now hourly expecting the death of a young man,
the son of our oldest chief, who spent the last three years
at Alnwick School, having suffered from consumption for
several months. He is now, to use his own words, " very
near home." I was much gratified to hear last evening this
dying youth express to his family and friends his gratitude
for the kindness and faithfulness of those tried missionaries,
Brother and Sister Hurlburt.
A camp-meeting was expected at the Pic. Brother Ash-
quabe writes that two hundred and fifty Indians had waited
there three weeks for the Big Black Coat. From Brother
Blaker I received a letter yesterday, in which he states that
thirteen families of the New Brunswick Indians had waited
there for some time, in view of going to the Pic camp-meet
ing. The iron mine located four miles from the Michipico-
ton mission, has been started under favorable circumstances.
" Garden River.
" Dear Father, — Ke-che-me-ticg, — Our minds have long
been to write you letter. Our missionary, Ah-Yah-Bans,
has often told us that you was the first talk to him to come
to this country. We thank the Great Spirit that He put
it into your heart. Before this missionary came we all

54 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
drank the fire-water; we were very wretched; we were very
poor, we sometimes worked ; but we gave our money for
whiskey ; then we fought. Sometimes some of us were
drowned, some were burned to death. Some of our children
died while our women were drinking ; and when we were
sober, we were much troubled in our minds.
" We have often wished we were dead. Sometimes the
Church missionary preach to us, in the morning we went to
meeting, and at night we all drink. But now is great
change. The Great Spirit has blessed us, most all have put
away the fire-water. A great many of us feel the Great
Spirit in our hearts, we are very happy ; our young people
have learned to sing good hymns, they like to sing; most of
them can read the hymns in the Great Book. Last summer
Ah-Yah-Bans told us to send two of our boys to your big
school. We have just got good letter that they are happy.
The Black Coat is good. His wife is very kind, their teacher
is the great friend, we thank you for our boys.
" We want to tell you we have a large, good chapel. We
helped to make this house. We all worked hard. We
were glad when we meet in that house. No white man,
but the missionary and the farmer, help us to this house.
We think very strange, when we remember how quick the
Great Spirit has done so much for our people.
" We like our missionary very much, he is our great
friend. We want to tell you little more. We know the
white man is strong aud wise. We were strong. We not
strong now, we become weaker and weaker; the poor Indians
want you to help them ; the great chief many times send us
wise man to tell us good things, but we forgot them ; what
we want is religion in our hearts. Send us more missionary,
send to the poor Indians all along the shores of our big lakes,

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 55
then they will become happy, and our children will grow wise
like the white man.
" We want to tell you little more; twenty years ago John
Sunday, Kahkewaquonaby and Negig came to this country,
we remember them, our children do not remember them.
Since Ah-Yah-Bans come here, some good Black Coats come
to help them.
" We like camp-meetings very much, we will not forget
the one at Namekong; we had a great one last summer, the
big missionary from Owen Sound brought a great many
with him ; we want you very much to come and see our
country when we have our meeting next summer on Lake
Superior. " We have told our interpreter to write these words.
" Your friend, " Ogeshtah,
" Pahahbetahsung, " Chiefs of Garden River.
, "James Ashquabe, "Interpreter..
" To Rtsv. E. Wood, Toronto."
P. S. — The term Ah-Yah-Bans, is the Ojibway for
" Little Buck," the name given to father by the Indians,
because of his having won in a race with one of their best
runners, whose name was " Little Buck," and who at once
surrendered his claim to this because of having lost the race.

Garden River Camp-Meeting.
Reverend and Dear Sir, — At the earnest and kindly
invitation of the Chairman of the District, and the resident

56 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
missionary, I made arrangements to attend the Indian camp-
meeting held in the vicinity of our Garden River mission,
and to visit the mission, our most westerly one in Canada.
Anxious to know more of the state of our work in that
region of the country, to witness for myself the condition of
the Indians in the vicinity and region of Lake Superior, and
to contribute in some humble degree to the advancement of
the work of God in that distant part, I gladly availed myself
of the company of the esteemed chairman, Rev. C. Vandusen,
and proceeded towards the mostdistantof our Indian missions
in this fine province. Fearing a want of connection in the
steamers on our northern lakes, Brother Vandusen and myself
took the route by Detroit, while Bro. Peter Jones, more for
tunately, proceeded by the northern route, and arrived at the
camp-ground nearly a day earher than we. The ground was
well chosen, near the junction of the Garden and Sault rivers,
and contiguous to Indians both of Canada and of the
United States.
Two bands of American Indians, with their missionaries,
were present, and an equal or larger number of Canadian
Indians from Garden River, and other Indian settlements,
swelled the number to a goodly host, such a one as would
at one period in our country's history have filled a stouter
heart than mine with terror.
But these hundreds of Indians of different nations and
living under different flags, met in amity. Many of them
converted, they met as brethren beloved; while all, free from
hostile feelings, met on the ground of a common or general
brotherhood. It was no ordinary sight, a sight calculated
to awaken no ordinary emotions. My heart rejoiced in the
omnipotence of Christianity, in the lovely fruits and glorious
triumphs of Christianity.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 57
There were no whites present save the missionaries and
their families, with one or two exceptions. The Rev. Mr.
Shaw, Presiding Elder in the Michigan Conference ; Rev.
N. Calendar, Presiding Elder among the Germans ; Rev.
L. D. Price, missionary at the Sault Ste. Marie, all of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, were present, and rendered
valuable service during the meeting ; Rev. C. Vandusen,
Rev. P. Jones, Rev. G. M. McDougall and myself, together
with Brother Blaker from the Pic Mission, repiesented
Canadian Methodism, and in all our intercourse with the
beloved brethren of the Methodist Episcopal Church, we
felt that we were one with them. Noble men of God ! may
they be more successful than ever in the heroic and martyr
work in which they are engaged. We listened with pleasure
and profit to the addresses of the brethren named ; and
witnessed some of the effects produced by their ministra
tions. Habitual as it is to the Indian character to conceal all
evidence of emotion, nevertheless the sigh, the tear, the
exclamation of joy told how effectual was the Word of God,
while thus faithfully preached and accompanied by unction
from above. Many hundreds there were of living evidences
of the power of the Gospel of the Son of •'¦'od ; and, during
the progress of the meeting, many pagans were induced to
. give up their idols and seek the Lord " with full purpose
of heart."
-No case was more thrillingly interesting to us than that of
a venerable chief, nearly eighty years of age, and the most
influential of any chief in his own or adjacent tribes. Fot
many years this chief had resisted all the efforts made to
induce him to renounce paganism and sin, and to give his
heart to the Lord. Many of his tribe were converted, and
5

58 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
yet he was an idolater. On Monday afternoon, the last day
of the camp-mseting, the rock was smitten, the old chief
bowed in penitence ; all night prayer was made to God for
him. Ere the morning sun shone upon us, the Sun of
Righteousness had risen upon his heart. He was made
happy in the love of Jesus, and on the following morning
received the holy sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and was
baptized by the Rev. Peter Jones. During the protracted
prayer-meetings, as well as during preaching, the power of
God was present. I could not but note that the Indians
in regard to prayer, were very much like some of us in re
gard to preaching; they were not afraid of being "too
long" or "too loud," yet, whatever might be said of the
preaching, good John Wesley himself would not have con
demned the devoted or penitent Indians for the fervor,
vehemence or perseverance of their prayers.
Sometimes the meetings continued in the tents the whole
of the night. The love-feast was a happy season ; and
when we parted, never to meet again on earth, " eyes un
used to weep " were suffused with tears. Few, if any, upon
the camp-ground but wept as they bade a final adieu to
each other. I know not the number converted during the
meeting ; but I was informed that there were many brought
to God. The result will be seen after many days ; but not
fully until the day of eternity.
Before I left the ground, the chiefs present honored me
with an Indian name, Wah-bah-noo-sa. I was at no loss to
discover that my valued brother, Vandusen, had as much
influence with the western Indians, and he richly deserves
it all, as he had with the senate of a western university,
and that not only to his recommendation was an old friend

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 59
indebted for the honorary degree, but myself for my Indian
cognomen. I visited the mission near the head of the Sault, some
ten miles from the Lake Superior. It is lovely in its aspect
and scenery. A more suitable location could not have been
made. The scenery is among the finest I ever saw, the soil
is of a superior quality, the streams abounding with fish,
and the salubrity of the climate unrivalled. In company
with the chairman and missionary, Brother Jones having
returned home, we visited many families in their houses and
prayed with them there. The houses, about forty, have all
been put up, 1 believe, within three or four years, or since
the commencement of the mission. A church and mission-
house have also been erected, chiefly by Brother McDougall
himself, who is, without adulation, one of the best mission
aries in our important work. He is in labors more abun
dant. Could our friends a thousand miles away visit this
mission, as it was my happy privilege to do, and see with
their own eyes, and hear with their own ears, the evidences
of the wondrous work effected in a few years, they would
not only rejoice in having had the opportunity of contri
buting to such a work, but would resolve to do more than
ever for a cause so owned and blessed of God.
I may say, so delighted was I with the evident improve
ment made by the Indians of Garden River, and with the
desire evinced still further to improve, that when a wish
was expressed to have a communion service some day, that
I pledged myself to procure for them a suitable service and
send it, together with books and other presents for the
mission, this autumn.
I shall be happy to be the medium of conveying to the
missionary there any donation for the use of the mission

60 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
which the readers of this hasty sketch may wish to have
conveyed there. Fraternally yours,
G. R. Sanderson.
Toronto, August, 1855.
The reader will now have seen that the missionary
was not content with his work at Garden River ; he
went eastward to Bruce Mines and intermediate
points, and westward to the Sault Ste. Marie and away
beyond it. He heard of tribes all along the north and
south shores of Lake Superior ; he visited the camps
and saw Indians on the American side; and stirred
up American Methodism by his representations and
efforts for the salvation of these. He was the moving
spirit in the inaugurating of a series of camp-meetings,
to which the Indian tribes came, some thoroughly
interested, others merely to satisfy their curiosity,
but at which all received good.
He succeeded in enlisting the sympathy of his own
Conference, and the Chairman of his District was
authorized to accompany him in visits on evangelistic
tours along the north shore of Lake Superior, where
at different points the Indian tribes of the interior,
for the first time in their history, listened to the
Gospel, and many believing were saved.
It was on one of these visits that the tribe which

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 61
Brother Silas Huntingdon discovered in the interior
not long since was reached by my late father, and
because of his then teaching and preaching to them
the Gospel, though isolated and without a missionary
ever since, yet, as Brother Huntingdon affirms, they
have proved faithful.
It must be some thirty-three or thirty-four years
since these men were thus reached by my father. He
was ordained at the Conference which sat at Kingston
in 1852. He came under what are termed special
ordinations.

62 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,

CHAPTER IV.
Moves to Rama — Three years' residence at this place.
AFTER six years of missionary work at Garden
River, father was appointed by Conference
to Rama, an old mission, one that had been very much
run down by the dereliction to duty of its former
incumbent. Here there was not the paganism and
crudeness of the previous mission to contend with, but
there were as great difficulties in the way of the mis
sionary ; these consisting in the fact that very many
of the people had backslidden, that very many of the
surrounding whites were irreligious and intemperate,
and that the facilities for obtaining the intoxicating
liquors were more abundant.
Our missionary went to work to face these evils.
Not only was his own mission very much quickened
and strengthened, very many of the Indians being
reclaimed, and a strong temperance sentiment culti
vated ; but also work among the whites was engaged
in by him, resulting, during his three years' term at
this mission, in the establishing of two large circuits.
In the meanwhile the Church began to appreciate

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 03
him as a missionary advocate, and during the winter
months they called him out into the large centres to
plead before immense congregations the cause which
lay so near to his own heart. At the end of his term
at Rama, in the June of 1S60, to his great surprise, the
Conference appointed him to Rossville, Norway House,
in the Hudson Bay Territory, and also making him
Chairman of the Missions in that distant land.

64 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,

CHAPTER V.
Appointed to the Hudson Bay Missions — Is made Chairman of same
— Three years with Norway House as Headquarters — Describes
several missionary trips made during these years.
Toronto, July 10th, 1860.
THE bearer, the Rev. George McDougall, has been
appointed by the Canada Conference of Wesleyan
Ministers to take charge of Rossville station, Hud
son Bay Territory, in the room of the Rev. R. Brooking, who
returns to Canada. Mr. McDougall is also appointed Chair
man of the District embracing the mission stations of the
Wesleyans at Rossville, Oxford House, Edmonton, White
Fish Lake, Lac la Pluie, etc. I recommend him to the
Company's officers, to extend to him their wonted courtesies
in forwarding himself and family to their destination, and
facilitating the object of his mission — the welfare of the
Indian tribes within the Honorable Company's territory.
Enoch Wood,
Gen. Sup't. Wesleyan Missions,
Canada Conference.
Making his arrangements, and leaving two of his
family to attend school in Eastern Canada, as soon as
possible after his appointment he started for his new
field. The route was by train to Collingwood, for in

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 65
the meanwhile railways had been built in Canada.
At this point a number of friends had met to bid the
missionary and his family adieu; among these were
the Rev. Drs. Enoch Wood, Superintendent of Missions,
and Stinson, President of Conference. Receiving the
benediction of these brethren and friends, the mis
sionary and his family embarked on an American
propeller, which took them on the journey as far as
Milwaukee, Lake Michigan, where he and his party
took railway train for La Crosse, on the Mississippi
river, which, at this time, was the most northerly and
westerly point of railway enterprise on the American
continent. Here the party went to one of the large
Mississippi steamers, which were then almost the only
means of transport into the interior of America.
Steaming up the magnificent Mississippi, the mission
party met with the usual experiences in those days —
tying up to other boats for the purpose of social con
viviality, unloosing and running exciting races with
the late partner ; witnessed slavery ; saw the manage
ment of steamboat employees, which seemed as bad
as slavery ; finally reached St. Paul, which was the
limit of navigation at that time. Here the problem of
the big overland journey, from this point to the Red
River of the north, met the missionary. This he
solved by chartering a newly organized stage line to

66 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
transport him and his family on one of their coaches
from St. Paul, on the Mississippi, to the Hudson Bay
post, named Georgetown, on the Red River.
The party left St. Paul very early in the morning ;
breakfasted opposite where the present Minneapolis
stands, then a few houses indicating the site of a
future metropolis and the greatest wheat market in
the world. The first day brought the party to St.
Cloud, where the missionary learned it would be wise
for him to remain a short time, in order that he might
make connection with a steamboat in the Red River.
Accordingly he camped his party for a short time at
St. Cloud, andj purchasing a bolt of cotton, improved
the time, like Paul of old, by making a tent, which he
and his family very successfully accomplished, stitch
upon stitch (for there were no sewing machines in
those days).
Continuing their journey, the party rolled over
the plains and hills of Minnesota, making passing
acquaintance with the stage-house keepers, and the
few solitary settlers at that time situate in this new
land, many of these a short time afterwards to become
the victims of the terrible Sioux massacre. After six
days' rapid journey, changing horses every twelve or
fifteen miles, the missionary and his party found them'
selves camped on the banks of the Red River, where

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 67
they in a sense entered the Hudson's Bay domain, for
here they found a Mr. Murray in charge of the Hudson's
Bay Depot. Here the missionary found, notwithstand
ing his previous stay-over at St. Cloud, that the only
steamboat on the Red River was behind-hand ; which
delay was compensated by the profuse hospitality of
the Hudson Bay Company's officer, as also the grand
opportunity for the pioneer spirit of the missionary to
explore this new country ; thus several days passed,
and at last the steamboat came, but having arrived,
the captain said the water is too low, the boat can
not possibly go down the river again until the water
rises. Here was another dilemma, which was passed
by loading a barge, upon the deck of which the mis
sionary and his family pitched their tent. Four
immense sweeps were attached to this barge and were
used as the propelling power. They were now on the
famed prairie lands of the far west. Pemmican had
become a staple in their food ; this was made out of
the meat of the buffalo, large herds of which were
almost within hearing distance from the banks of the
river. They were right on the neutral ground between
two warlike tribes ; the Sioux on one side and the
Red Lake plunderers or Ojibways on the other. The
party on the barge kept the middle of the river as
much as possible, and were very careful as to the spot

68 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
they landed on when it became necessary to go on
shore for firewood for the cooking-stove upon which
they prepared their meals.
Eight days and nights of pulling down the river;
leaving Minnesota and Dakota, entering what consti
tutes to-day Manitoba, the mouth of the Assiniboine
was reached. Here the party came to Fort Garry, the
capital of the Hudson Bay country, the seat of govern
ment of the said Company, and the centre of the Red
River, or Selkirk settlement, of the north. Here the
missionary and family met with a kind reception from
Governor McTavish, and through whose assistance,
very little delay was found by them in obtaining
transport to their yet distant post further north. Let
the following letter, written shortly after, convey
the impression of the missionary as to the capabilities
and future of this great country :
Rossville, September 17th, 1860.
The three days spent by our boatman between Fort Garry
and Lake Winnipeg gave us a fine opportunity for observa
tion. We conversed with traders, farmers and travellers on
the character of the country; we witnessed the system of agri
culture, passed through their fields of grain ready for the
reaper, and the impression we received was, that for fertility
of soil, and readiness of cultivation, the banks of this
western Nile could not be surpassed. It must be admitted
that the system of agriculture is very primitive, the banks

8- o
S >

Rlllifc

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 71
of the river often remind one of the shores of the St. Law
rence fifteen years ago, when the French-Canadians either
carried the manure into the middle of the stream, or
tossed it over the banks. This, however, will soon he
corrected. Farming implements are now being imported ;
a progressive spirit is being manifested ; and the day. is
not distant when the limitless • prairies which environ the
banks of the Assiniboine will rank amongst the finest
wheat-growing countries of British North America.
And here is a home for the hundreds of sturdy Canadians
who live on rented farms, or who may not have means to
purchase homesteads in Canada. The best of land can be
obtained at a nominal sum.
A word to those wishing to emigrate to this country.
At present we would recommend the St. Paul route. A
through ticket from Toronto to St. Paul by Milwaukee
and La Crosse, costs twenty dollars and fifty cents. A
family would do well to purchase a team and waggon, not
forgetting a tent. Provisions can be obtained cheaper
eighty miles further on, at St. Cloud. The road is good,
feed abundant ; and in company with half-a-dozen there is
no danger. In this way, the journey can be accomplished
at a trifling expense. We were much gratified to learn
that the cause of temperance was beginning to exercise an
influence, and that several of the clergy heartily advocated
its claims. On this subject there ought to be no uncertain
sound ; the missionary that would be useful in this country
must abstain.
As an illustration, when we were coming down the river
our men stopped at the lower fort, and procured a small
quantity of spirits ; singing, shouting, and a great deal of
noise followed. The wind being fair and very fresh, my

72 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
son assisted me in the sailing of the boat, leaving our un
ruly crew to swallow the demon. Subsequently, I conversed
with them on the impropriety of drinking.
August 22nd. — Our brigade was obhged to seek shelter
on an island opposite Bering's river. Being anxious to
visit the Indians, and see the location, we got up a party
and went up the river. There were but few Indians at
home, and only one of the Company's servants. In Canada
we have frequently received gifts from our good-hearted
farmers, from the inmates of their sheep and pig-pens ; but
here we were presented with a fine sturgeon from the fish:
pen. The Indians of this location are pleading for a mis
sionary. The young people here expressed themselves as
willing to renounce heathenism and become Christians.
Though we could not recommend Bering's river as a suit
able place for a mission, yet there is a river a short distance
south of it which possesses all the advantages of good
timber, good soil, and an excellent fishery. Friends of
Christ, will these poor Indians have a missionary? We
plead for nothing expensive, but let it be said of the Church
of Christ that she hath done what she could for them.
23rd. — We are now opposite the mouth of the Saskatche
wan, the future highway of nations. A gentleman has just
enquired of us, why the Grand Rapids as a mission station
has been overlooked. " Here," said our informant, "is the
place for active operations " among the Indians. A large
body is located there. Past this point all the traflic of the
Saskatchewan and the Mackenzie River country has yearly
to be conveyed. Now is the time to secure this ground ;
soon all the important places along this great river will be
occupied by the commercial world. Dear Christian friends
of Canada, we have no time to enlarge upon this subject, or

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 73
to plead with you in behalf of the suffering inhabitants of
this country. Fields of usefulness there are almost without
number, and thousands of precious souls who have never
yet heard of the sacred name of Jesus. Now the Indian
missionary naturally looks to Canada for a favorable re
sponse upon the subject. By the Methodists of Canada
almost incalculable sums have been spent in the Christian
izing and civilizing of the natives. Through their instru
mentality thousands of precious spirits have been loosened
from the bondage of heathenism and gathered into the
paradise of God. And, Christian friends, what is your
command to us, your agents in this distant field 1 Is it not
to go on until the last western wigwam has been entered,
and the last pagan brought to the feet of Christ 1 Yes, yes,
blessed be the name of our God, this is what we understand
to be our commission, as given us by Christ and His Church.
2ith. — We reached Rossville, but could hardly realize the
fact. We are now in a Wesleyan Mission House surrounded
by old acquaintances ; and then to feel that in this vast
moral wilderness there is a place where one day is hallowed,
and one assemblage convened to honor the Triune God, and
to know that the veracity of heaven is pledged to make the
little one a thousand. Bless the Lord for all His mercies.
G. McDougall.
The next morning found the missionary and party
in one of the inland boats used by the Hudson Bay
Company for the transport of their trade to and from
the interior. Still continuing down the Red River, the
party reached Lake Winnipeg, and coasting along the
shores of which, after ten days' voyage from Fort

74 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
Garry, reached " Norway House." This was the end
of the journey ; here was the station to which the
missionary had been appointed. As it was already
late in the season, it became the previous missionary,
the Rev. Robert Brooking, who was now relieved, to
make haste and get out of this northern clime before
winter would set in, which he accordingly did.
Rossville was the oldest mission station in the coun
try in connection with the Methodist Church. James
Evans, Thomas Hurlburt, Henry Steinhauer and
Robert Brooking had labored at this point ; a great
deal had been done in the transforming of the people
from paganism and barbarism to Christianity. A
walk through the village, a visit to the church on the
Sabbath morning ; a trip with the male population of
this band to York factory on the Hudson Bay and
back ; any one of these experiences could not but im
press the thoughtful beholder with the fact that the
previous missionaries had not labored in vain ; and
yet there remained a great deal to be done. At this
time the Hudson Bay Company were still trafficking
in rum, and this, as always, was proving itself the
greatest bane of the native.
The immediate predecessor on the field had slack
ened his grip of the people in this respect, and there
fore the present missionary found plenty to do ; and

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 77
the Lord was with him in the preaching of the Gospel,
in the holding of temperance meetings, in the improv
ing of the church and mission-house, and general
material appearance of the mission, in the stimulating
of the people to better their surroundings ; he found
that in all these lines there was plenty to be done, and
characteristic of him he did it, and was blest in so
doing. The missionary's earnest desire to make provisions
for the future of this people, will be seen from the
following letter written at this time :
To the Editor of the Christian Guardian.
It is generally admitted that the great misfortune of the
Canadian natives is their scattered position ; this is not
only their weakness politically, and a large additional ex
pense to the cause of missions, but it has also greatly re
tarded their civilization. The time was when these bands
might have been collected in one community ; and we be
lieve had our fathers, thirty years ago, possessed the experi
ence and influence of our Mission Board at the present day,
the work "of centralizing would have been accomplished.
The opportunity for such a consummation is now forever
gone ; the fair lands of the Indian have passed into the
hands of the " Pale-face," and all Christianity can do for
them now is to watch over their spiritual and educational
interests. This we are glad to know is not the position of
the Indians of Hudson's Bay. What might have been
done for the Chippewa, may still be accomplished for the
numerous tribes of this country. In presenting this sub-

78 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
ject to the friends of the Indian, we lay no claims to origi
nality; we know that the enterprise has been for years
entertained by some of the most experienced members of
the Conference ; we are also aware that the able Superin
tendent of Missions has done more than merely speculate
upon the subject. The good men who founded these mis
sions were not in quest of farming locations ; their great
object was to save souls. Leaving the rich valleys of the
south, they pushed their way through Lake Winnipeg down
the Nelson River, and finding at Norway House and at
Oxford a wild, neglected people, they applied themselves to
the arduous work of Christianizing them. Rossville and
Jackson's Bay were not selected because of their adaptation
to agricultural pursuits, but because of their proximity to a
heathen people. And here we will illustrate the position of
these missions by a comparison. Our friends -in the fron
tier cities of Canada can boast of the salubrity of their
climate, and the fertility of the lands by which they are
surrounded ; but just suppose a point five hundred miles
north of Toronto, or Montreal, amidst a vast wilderness of
limitless swamps, and barren granite rock — a country that,
for seven months in the year, is covered with a dreary
mantle of snow — and then you have no more than a parallel
to Rossville or Oxford. In Rupert's land there are millions
of acres of the richest soil ; but the Red River and Saskat
chewan are far south of us. There are a number of reasons
why a suitable location should be selected for the poor
Indians of this high latitude.
The first we shall notice is the scarcity of food, and the
painful fact that the quantity is yearly decreasing ; the fur
bearing animals are now no longer numerous, and the
rabbit, an animal as necessary to the inland native as the

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 79
reindeer is to the Icelander, is very uncertain. When we
lived in the Lake Superior district, for several years they
entirely disappeared, and for the last two years they have
caught none here. Fish is the principal article of food in
most parts of this country, the hunter and his dog both live
on fish ; the quantity required for the winter supply of
Norway House and Rossville is 70,000 annually ; about
twice that number are destroyed. Now, all past experience
prove that fisheries worked in this way fail.
Thirty years ago the rivers flowing into Lake Ontario
were at certain seasons full of salmon. When the Credit
mission was established, it was nothing uncommon for one
canoe to take 300 in one night.
From these waters the salmon has entirely disappeared.
Twenty years ago, when I first visited Owen Sound, an
Indian in our employ by the name of Na-bun-e-qum, caught
by the light of one flambeau one hundred trout ; I will
venture the assertion that last fall, the most expert spears-
man on that fishery did not, in the same length of time, kill
ten. Fisheries at all our stations have failed, and the same
causes are producing the same results here. The day is not
far distant when the Indian must live by tilling the soil, or
perish. The next fact to which we would direct attention,
is the disposition of the native to emigrate south. Our
journey from Red River to Norway, was made in company
with the York Factory Brigade. Ten boats were manned
by eight Indians. A few of these were Salteaux, the princi
pal part were Crees, and most of the latter belonged to the
Episcopalian mission. In conversing with these men we
ascertained that many of them were from the north, not a
few from our own missions. The prospect of better land,
and a larger supply of food, had prompted them to move to

80 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
Red River. On reaching Rossville we pursued the enquiry,
and learned that one-third of our congregation were from
regions farther north, some of them from the seaboard,
Forts York and Churchill. They had left the hunting
grounds of their fathers in search of a better country.
At present the great centre of attraction is Red River,
and the reason is, there is no other settlement in this coun
try to attract the attention of the Tndian. Now, in our
opinion, there is not in all the widespread dominions of our
noble Queen, a worse place for the native. A large portion
of the inhabitants are French half-breeds, these are all
Romanists, and since their country has been opened to the
American free-trader, they have become fearfully demoral
ized. The Protestant Indian must be provided with a
better home. There is much to encourage the friends of
missions in their efforts to save this people. The Cree, when
brought under the influence of Christianity, is industrious.
In order to better the circumstances of their families, they
willingly spend the summer in making long and laborious
voyages for the Hudson Bay Company. Unlike the Cana
dian native, he will hire himself out for a year, and faith
fully fulfil the engagement. Only let the Cree have fair
play, and he will be a credit to his benefactors. But we
must not linger ; all we wish to do is, to introduce the sub
ject, and then leave it for abler hands to take hold of it.
The present time is auspicious. This country is now in its
transition state, the eyes of the speculator and the farmer
are turned towards it ; already the pale-face trader and
trapper have traversed its plains to the very base of the
Rocky Mountains. Soon its rich valleys will be changed
into fruitful fields.
Shall a home be secured for the original proprietors 1 or

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 81
shall they be left to drink the bitter cup of poverty and
neglect, and at last perish as a people1! Philanthropists,
Christians, you whose hearts bleed for others' woes, we. look
to you, and may_the God of the oppressed speed the right.
G. M. McDougall.
Rossville Mission, December 2ith, 1860.
During my father's stay at Rossville, he made
several trips into the country still farther north, as
also westward to the mouth of the great Saskatchewan,
where there are a considerable number of Indians
located. The accompanying letters will describe some
of these tribes, also some of the circumstances connected
with them.
Letter from the Rev. George McDougall, Chairman
of the District, to the General Superintendent of Mis
sions, dated Rossville, March 22nd, 1861.
We started on the 5th of the month for Oxford.
My kind neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, placed-a car
riole at my service, but to travel in Hudson's Bay style, I
would have to employ an extra train of dogs to carry provi
sions and blankets. To avoid expenses, I preferred footing
it until our load was sufficiently reduced to allow me to ride.
In this country when the traveller returns by the same roads,
to avoid carriage, provisions for men and dogs are deposited
at each sleeping place ; to prevent these from being destroyed
by the thievish wolverine, who constantly hangs upon your
track, a hole is dug under the camp-fire ; there the stores

82 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
are concealed, the warm ground covered with snow, which
soon becomes a body of ice.
My son, who since our arrival here has taught the school
without the loss of a day, gave his little folks a vacation and
accompanied us. My interpreter and a young Indian made
up the party. The distance from Norway House to Oxford by
water is upwards of two hundred miles, by land one hundred
and fifty. A few hours after leaving home, we met Mr.
Clair, the gentleman in charge of York Factory, on his way
to Red River to attend the general council; this we regarded
as providential, for it gave us a track, and made snow-
shoeing much easier ; and also suggested the question, Shall
Britons, in pursuit of legitimate gain, display a greater
energy and endure greater hardships than we are willing to
do who profess to go forth for the love of the Redeemer,
and the extension of His cause ? As the hotels of the north
are very similar, a description of one will be sufficient.
The traveller selects the thickest clump of trees, in the
centre of which he makes his resting-place. After shovelling
away the snow, the ground is covered with boughs, a few
branches stuck up in the rear, and a fire in front, the roof
the one erected by the Great Architect, and the wayfarer's
home is complete. Never shall I forget some of the nights
spent in this high latitude under these circumstances. The
peerless Queen of Night smiled down upon us with a bril
liancy and beauty I never before witnessed, while the count
less multitude of the celestial host marshalled around their
sovereign. These at times are almost eclipsed by the
Aurora, which here displays an assemblage of gorgeous
forms never seen in Canada. Now shooting forth a stream of
silver light, in a moment the color changes to that of a
deep red, representing scenes of living fires, while at the

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 83
same time these different shades are all reflected by the vast
fields of ice and snow beneath ; while gazing on this inimi
table picture, painted by the finger of God, with what joyful
emotions does the Christian exclaim, " My Father made
them all."
Wednesday, 6th. We crossed Winepegoosis, a fine sheet
of water, nearly as large as Lake Simcoe. In the afternoon
we reached the camp of a large family of natives. They
were all our people, and heartily glad to see us ; we all
joined in a hymn of praise, and after commending them to
our common Parent, resumed our journey.
Thursday, 7th. This is emphatically a land of lakes and
rivers, one portage follows another. We have seen a few
cariboo tracks, and one beautiful black fox ; but animals of
' all descriptions are fast disappearing from these forests.
Alas for the poor Indian of this inhospitable clime.
Friday, 8th, was a terrific day. To give the Ojibway
idea, Nan-a-bush-you had shook his blanket, the old giant
was mad. The sun looked pale and feeble through the thin
scuds that swept across the sky, the drift was so fine and
so penetrating that no amount of clothes was proof against
it. We struggled on until we reached the Oxford River.
Here we found a family of the Jackson Indians ; they had
heard that a strange missionary was expected. In view of
the visitor a fine young beaver had been kept. This was
now taken from its birch-bark wrapper, prepared in back
woods style, and very soon disposed of. My mind has often
been greatly encouraged when visiting those families who,
in search of food, spend the winter away from the missions.
By them the Sabbath is strictly kept, even when employed
by the Honorable Company. Nothing will induce them
to violate the sacred day. Another characteristic is their

84 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
deep anxiety that dying friends should give unmistakable
evidence of their acceptance in Christ, their last words are
treasured up, and reported to the missionary. Most of
these wandering families possess parts of the word of God ;
in this way the noble James Evans "being dead yet speak.
eth." The very simple yet practical character of his sylla
bic letters can scarcely be realized. Not infrequently the
pagan procures a part of the New Testament, and learns to
read and write in these characters, before he has received
the teachings of a missionary.
Saturday, 9th. We reached Jacksonville, and once more
enjoyed the fellowship and hospitality of a mission family.
Sabbath forenoon we spent among the natives, and in the
afternoon, in company with Brother Stringfellow, crossed
the fifteen mile portage to Oxford House, where we received
a hearty welcome from Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. These kind
friends did everything in their power to make our visit
pleasant. In the evening I conducted an English service,
at the close of which my interpreter astonished his friends
by giving in " Cree " almost all I had said, word for word.
May the bread cast upon the waters return after many
days. Monday morning we returned to the mission. In
the evening, Brother Sinclair preached; and on Tuesday
morning we commenced our homeward journey.
We had spent three days with our esteemed friends, and
after surveying their field of labor, and to some extent the
work accomplished, I feel compelled to congratulate the
Society in their having such agents at Oxford. Brother
Sinclair has made a respectable acquaintance with a lan
guage that gives him access in preaching to hundreds.
With his own hands he has done much to complete their
now comfortable church. I was also much gratified to wit-

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 85
ness the efforts made by this worthy family to reduce the
expenses of the station. When the importance of procur
ing certain necessaries was suggested, the reply was, How
can we spend the Society's funds while so many suffering
bands are crying, " Send us the Gospel 1 "
Friday, 15th. We reached home, thankful to God for all
His mercies. In two weeks I hope to start for the Grand
Rapids, the mouth of the Saskatchewan. This will pro
bably close our winter travelling for this year.
Extract from a letter from Rev. G. McDougall, dated
Saskatchewan River, Grand Rapids, July 23rd, 1861 :
Last winter I received three deputations from this people,
all pleading for a missionary, and I am now fulfilling a
promise made to visit them; having spent a week amongst
them, I must hasten back to Rossville ; but next winter,
Providence permitting, I shall return, and, with the help of
my interpreter and hired man, make the timber for a dwel
ling-house and school-house.
We must have a mission here, and have already com
menced operations, but for the present year shall ask no
additional help from the Society. It would be highly
gratifying to you to have witnessed the effects produced by
the simple preaching of the Gospel to this poor people. " It
is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the
Lord of hosts," and, glory to His name, that Spirit has not
been withheld. Frequently the language of my heart has
been, — ' ' In these deserts let me labor,
On these mountains let me tell
How He died, — the blessed Saviour,
To redeem a world from hell. "

86 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
From where I am now seated, I have a full view of these
majestic rapids. Along the banks of the river the half-
naked natives are posted, each with a gaff in his hand,
ready to hook out the sturgeon ; the doleful pelican floats
leisurely among the eddies, while the black cormorant in
flocks are hovering above these troubled waters, — every
thing indicates that the visit of the white man is only
transient. But what of the future! Once above these rapids, and the
noble river is navigable to the foot of the Rocky Moun
tains, a country for agricultural purposes equal to the best
parts of Canada, while recent explorations prove that gold
on this side of the mountain is abundant. Several of the
Company's officers with whom I have conversed speak con
fidently of the future ; they all expect stirring times next
summer. Dear Sir, can we not do something more for the thou
sands of Indians in the neighborhood of Edmonton 1 Meth
odism alone represents Protestantism in that country.
From 500 of the Stony Indians the cry comes, " Send us a
missionary." This noble band have their hunting grounds
in the gold region. They were first visited by Rundle,
and subsequently repeatedly by a Woolsey. Many of them
have embraced Christianity. We want a practical mission
ary instantly for this important field.
Chief Factor Christie, of Edmonton, is spending two
weeks at Norway House, and having heard that your mis
sionary intended visiting our missions in the Saskatchewan,
kindly offers to place means at our disposal next spring for
that long journey. This generous offer, the Lord willing,
we shall accept.
G. McDougall.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 87
On one of these northern trips, taken in the
autumn, the missionary and party came very near
losing their lives ; they had made a portage, and re-
embarking in their canoe, were crossing one of the
rivers above the rapids, when an unexpected ripple
upset the canoe, and thus the whole party was carried
over the rapids. Father had on his overcoat and was
otherwise clothed, so that it was almost impossible for
him to swim; but the inverted canoe fortunately came
swinging round within his reach, and he grasped one
end of it which floated him into an eddy. In the
meanwhile one of the Indians came to his rescue, and
took hold of the other end of the canoe, and working
for life, they succeeded in getting ashore, just a little
before reaching another and far more dangerous rapid.
Guns, ammunition, provisions and, in short, every
thing they had in the canoe was lost, and had it not
been that a small piece of pemmican which was tied
up in a bag, and thus floated on the water, and which
they subsequently secured away down the river,
starvation would have been the consequence ; as it
was, the missionary and his party reached Rossville
in a very low condition.
The second summer of father's stay at Rossville,
he visited the missions in the Saskatchewan. The
route going up into the country was southward to

88 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
Fort Garry in open boat, then westward across the
plains on horseback. The first part of the overland
journey was very tiresome ; travelling in the saddle at
the jog trot, up hill and down dale, fifty and sixty
miles a day, was pretty hard on one unaccustomed to
it. The route from Fort Garry to Saskatchewan
overland was merely a pack trail. There were no
ferries on any of the streams, means of crossing hav
ing to be improvised at every one of these ; some
times a raft of sticks, sometimes a buffalo's hide,
at all times the traveller running more or less risk
of life and property. Then westward through
Manitoba and onward into the greater North-West,
crossing the South Saskatchewan where the present
Batoche is ; touching at Carlton, which was at that
time one of the principal distributing posts of the
Hudson Bay Company in the Saskatchewan district.
Crossing the North Saskatchewan at this point, and
traversing the country lying to the north of this mag
nificent stream, touching at Fort Pitt on the north
bank, and continuing westward and northerly from
this point, the missionary eventually reached White
Fish Lake, one of the missions under his charge. He
was now, by the route he had come, nearly 1,200 miles
from home, and found himself on the borders of the
great plains of the west and the forest lands of the

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 89
north. Both westward and eastward of this point,
the prairie and the woodland alternately give way,
the one to the other.
There was the Rev. Henry Steinhauer. His mis
sion at this point would then be about five years old ;
and notwithstanding all his difficulties, he had done
considerable in the establishing of a mission settle
ment. Quite a number of Indians had built houses, and
already there were to be found among this people
many evidences of the converting power of the Gos
pel of Christ. A few days spent at this place by our
missionary were seasons of mutual encouragement.
Then making arrangements with Mr. Steinhauer
and his people to meet them later away out on the
big plains among the buffalos, the meat of which was
the staff of life, the missionary and party continued
their journey, and after two days' travel succeeded in
reaching the Rev. Thomas Woolsey, who was attempt
ing the establishment of a mission at a place called
Smoking Lake, some twenty-five or thirty miles north
of the present Victoria. Here another of the vicissi
tudes of missionary life cropped up. The travelling
missionary and party were out of food when they
reached Bao. Woolsey, who, if he had not the same
afternoon killed one of his work oxen, would have had
7

90 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
none for either himself or his friends ; as it was, tough
beef, with very little salt, and without any vegetables
or bread, was the only food.
Here arrangements were made with Bro. Woolsey
to accompany father out on the plains, where the
Indians were congregated, and at which point it had
already been arranged to meet the Rev. Mr. Steinhauer.
Accordingly father's party was augmented by Mr.
Woolsey and his interpreter. The route was now to
the south, and the first day's journey brought the
party to the North Saskatchewan, where the present
Victoria settlement is situated. Here father exercised
his authority as " chairman," and instructed Bro.
Woolsey to move his efforts to establishing a mission
from the Smoking Lake to this point. Camping on the
spot, the first difficulty that presented itself the next
morning was this «mighty river to cross. Here was a
mission party without any boat, canoe, or anything
else; but the guide soon discovered a way of ferrying
his passengers over this rapid-running stream. The
means used were these : a large hoop about six feet
in diameter was made out of two willows ; the only oil
cloth carried by the party was then spread out on the
beach, the hoop was placed on it, and the corners and
sides were turned in on to the hoop, thus. leaving the
hoop as the rim of the affair. Into the centre of this

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 91
ring was put the travelling outfit of the party, saddles,
axe, kettle, frying-pan, guns, ammunition, etc. Several
of the party then, instructed by the guide, took a
hold of the hoop and carried it out into the water.
The weight of the material inside caused it to sag.
However, to the great astonishment of some of the
party, the whole thing floated buoyantly on the water.
The guide now said to the missionaries, " Gentle
men, get into the boat," which they did by wading out
into. the stream and stepping into this thing, which
looked like a huge nest floating on the water. The
guide then tied a piece of buffalo line to one edge of
the rim of the queer craft, and catching one of the
horses, he led him up close, and tied the other end of
the line to the horse's tail, and then leading the horse
out into the water, he swam beside him out into the
stream, and the big nest floated serenely along behind
the horse. Father and Mr. Woolsey sitting believingly
in it, the rest of the party drove the horses in behind
this craft, and, each one grasping a horse's tail, were
safely towed through the water to the other side ; thus
this difficulty was passed. Stopping a little to let the
horses' backs dry, the party saddled up and resumed
the journey. Great caution was now observed, for this
was the war-path of the contending tribes. Vigilant
watch was kept through the day as the party travelled,

92 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
and at night camp-fires were put out and horses staked,
and each one alternately kept guard. The beef brought
from Mr. Woolsey 's home was devoured very soon. A
bear and a buffalo were killed ; and after several days
of travel which bring the party out into the prairie
lands of the Battle River country, the large " Cree "
camp was reached.
Before proceeding any farther, we will insert a letter
written from this point by father to the Rev. Enoch
Wood. Blackfoot Country, Sept. 2nd, 1862.
Dear Sir, — We are now in the country of the dreaded
Blackfeet, and in the centre of the great prairie. All
around us is strange. One seems to be carried back to
some remote, long past age. Never before have I felt so
forcibly a consciousness of my own insignificance. Hourly
expecting an attack from a war-party, living upon the
providence of Heaven, our covering the vaulted sky, our
only refuge God — and blessed be His holy name, we are
witnesses of His watchful providence over the wants of
helpless man.
Our approach to the great camp was very exciting. On
the little hillocks that surrounded the little hamlet sat the
wild sentinels, each with a loaded gun. Many scores of
horses grazed on the adjacent plain. The vast circle of
tents, all made of the dressed skins of the buffalo, and many
beautifully ornamented, presented a fine appearance. Once
inside of the enclosure, and we caught a gleam of savage

e>o> 2
?a

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. §5
life under one of its happiest aspects. The day's hunt had
been successful.
Many fat animals had been captured, and stages in every
direction were covered with the richest meat. Woman, the
slave in all heathen lands, was hard at work, while her lord,
robed and painted, sat smoking. An old conjurer fearing
his craft was in danger, drummed and sang most lustily.
We were received with the greatest kindness. Mas-ke-pe-
toon, the head chief, set before us a kettle full of the choicest
flesh. O-nah-tah-me-nah-oos, his second, placed his tent at
our service. The feast over, the pipe of peace was passed
round, and arrangements were made for evening service.
How solemn, how burdened with the interests of eternity
appears the hour when the Indian herald announced to his
tribe the commencement of this first camp-meeting.
For ages these virgin plains had echoed to the hideous
cry of the warrior and the dismal dirge of the conjurer,
but now they resounded to the praise of the most High God.
The appearance of the congregation was deeply interesting.
The native Christians collected around the missionary. In
the back-ground sat the heathen, their fierce restless eyes
and blood-stained faces proclaimed their allegiance to the
Prince of Darkness. Yet for these degraded and benighted
ones there is hope. The earnestness they manifested while
listening to the Word cannot be described. Seventeen
times we pointed them to the Lamb of God which taketh
away the sins of the world; and our last service was not only
- the best attended, but, we trust, the most effective. O, God
of mercy, have mercy upon this perishing people ; their cry,
though unheard in Christian lands, is heard by Thee ! By
many a camp-fire, and in many a smoky lodge, our faithful
missionaries have taught these natives the message of sal-

96 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
vation, and who can estimate the fruit of their labor ? Many
of the pagans understand the syllabic characters, and have
procured parts of the Book of God; and in this way in many
hearts the heavenly leaven is spreading. The head chief,
a fine old man, received a New Testament from Mr. Wool
sey last winter. Every day he reads two chapters. He was
reading the eighth of Romans when I visited his tent.
While at the Cree camp, I attended, in company with
my brethren, a funeral. The deceased was a little girl,
and the parents were Christians. It was u, sad and mourn
ful spectacle, and powerfully demonstrated that the dark
places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty ;
and yet such are the anomalies of heathenism, that men
who regard it a merit and glory to murder a disarmed
and helpless foe, and afterwards subject the lifeless body to
the most shameful treatment, are no strangers to the
tenderest sentiments of compassion for their relatives. The
loss of parent or husband must be deplored with blood. A
finger is cut off, or the arm pierced with a sharp flint, and the
deeper the incision the more sincere the sorrow.
At the burial we joined in in order to prevent the enemy
from discovering the new-made grave. Every effort was made
to obliterate any sign thereof. If it had been winter time,
a fire would have been built over the grave. In this case
the sod was cut with a knife, the earth placed on a buffalo
skin, and after the body was deposited the grave was filled
and the sod perfectly replaced, the surplus earth being re
moved to a distance. Yesterday Mr. Steinhauer left for
his station. The company of our intelligent and useful
Brother was very encouraging, and often reminded me of
the venerated Wm. Case. By that man of God the Ojibe-
way boy was rescued from paganism and placed in a

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 97
position to receive a respectable education, and now, while
the benefactor rests from his labors, the Indian lad is
a successful messenger of salvation to his wandering breth
ren. Parting with the Crees was very affecting. The
native Christians cheerfully supplied us with provisions.
The fierce pagans seemed to forget their natural ferocity, as
one by one they came to bid us good-bye. The head chief
and a number of his warriors escorted us some distance on
the way. Farewell, ye simple children of the plains. May
the Holy Spirit accompany with converting and sanctifying
power the living truths to which you have listened.
We are now on our way to Fort Edmonton. The scenery
is extremely beautiful. Judging from the appearance of
these grassy plains, the soil must be very fertile. Animals
are abundant. A herd of buffaloes allowed us to pass
within fifty rods without showing fear. The elegant
antelope bounded past us with incredible swiftness. More
than a score of wolves were feasting on the carcass of a
bull. The coyote, or smaller wolf, is frequently seen.
Numbers of whitened antlers, some very large, show that
we are in the neighborhood of the elk ; but the king of the
plains is the grizzly bear.
G. M. McDougall.
Here father met for the first time with the Cree
chief, Mas-ke-pe-toon, or Broken Arm, and was wel
comed by this hale old warrior to the Cree camp and
buffalo country. Here were a few Christian natives
surrounded by an overwhelming number of pagans.
On every hand were seen savages in their original cos
tume—feathers and paint and trinkets forming the

98 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
principal part of their clothing. In this camp services
were held by the missionaries in the open air, and while
a number were gathering at the services, the whole
detail of savage camp life would be going on in other
portions of the large encampment. The conjurer's
drum, the gambler's "hi-he-yar," and the winner's exult
ant whoop can be heard, while on every hand buffalo
meat was being handled in all stages of the curing
process. Here, without an ounce of salt, 'thousands of
pounds of provisions, in the shape of dried meat,
pounded meat, and pemmican, were being cured ; this,
if preserved from the damp, would keep for many
years. The next day a great hunt was organized by Broken
Arm. The missionary and party joined in the hunt ;
thousands of buffaloes were chased by hundreds of
Indians. Several hundred buffaloes were killed; and the whole
party returned to the big camp the same night, having
made a successful hunt. Several days passed, being
occupied by the missionaries in holding meetings and
councils with these Indians. Very many questions were
asked. Already Broken Arm and some of the older men
of his tribe felt that a change before long must come,
and father had seen enough of their country to know
that so rich a land could not possibly remain as it had

THE PIOXEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 99
been very much longer ; and he told these men, anxious
to get at the truth, that the day would soon come when
the buffalo would be gone and white settlement come
in. Leaving these children of the plains, the route
of the party was westward and north. After several
days' travel, they reached Edmonton, the head post,
and practically the head of navigation on the Saskat
chewan river in this western district. It was now
autumn, and it became necessary for father, if he would
reach home before winter, to make haste. He accord
ingly procured a skiff, and, having two men, started
down the river. Travelling in this way for several
hundred miles, he changed his skiff for a birch canoe,
and eventually reached the Grand Rapids, and, cross
ing along the northern shore of Lake Winnipeg, arrived
at Rossville a short time before winter set in. Father
wrote the following letter to the Superintendent of
Missions shortly after his arrival from this trip :
Rossville House, December 25th, 1862.
Dear Sir, — I left the Saskatchewan, deeply regretting
that it was not in my power to visit the Stony Indians.
While on the plains we ascertained that they were camped
on the South Saskatchewan, at the base of the Rocky Moun
tains. To reach that part of the country, and then return
to Norway House before the close of navigation, was impos
sible. At Edmonton we met with a family of these In
dians and was informed by them that the noble native,

100 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
referred to by Lord Southesk in his correspondence with
the Church Missionary Society, was killed by the Blackfeet
last spring. For years this faithful man had been the spir
itual guide of his people, directing their worship morning
and evening. We were also told, that since his death the
tribe had been visited by the Jesuits, and the priest had
offered to place a missionary among them and build them a
church. The chiefs replied, we have been Protestants for twenty
years, and though our greatest want is a teacher, we shall
wait one year longer, hoping our old friends will remember
us. This statement was corroborated by an intelligent officer
of the Hudson Bay Company, who has a thorough know
ledge of the facts. Assisted by Mr. Woolsey, I wrote them
a letter, exhorting them to be faithful, and assuring them
that we should represent their case to the elders of the
Church, and if permitted, I would myself become tbeir mis
sionary next summer. Here is purely a case of urgent need.
Five hundred anxious souls crying for help, many of them
still beset with the errors of paganism, yet earnestly feeling
after truth.
Yearly they are dying without a missionary to guide their
groping souls. Shall these simple followers of our common
Saviour be allowed to implore for help in vain? The
Stonies have strong claims on the sympathy of the Meth
odist Church. From the time of William Rundle's first
visit they have gladly received our missionaries. Unaided
they have translated from the Cree some of our hymns.
In many a pass and valley of the Rocky Mountains these
humble sons of nature have sung these spiritual hymns of
Wesley. It was on September 9th that we took leave of our hos-

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 101
pitable friends at Edmonton. In a small skiff, we com
menced our homeward journey of 1,000 miles. Mr. Wool
sey accompanied me as far as Victoria. On parting with
our esteemed missionary, I found it difficult to suppress
my feelings. Friends in the civilized world cannot realize
the privations and sufferings which have been endured by
these noble-hearted men. Blest in youth with the best of
society, favored with the comforts of life in abundance, how
great the contrast presented by his present position. For
years most of the time a homeless wanderer amongst sav
age tribes, exposed to all the vicissitudes of Indian life, more
than once escaping death by a special interposition of Provi
dence. Herein the fact is apparent, that the Divine appro
bation has ever accompanied self-sacrificing labor. Many
poor Indians have been made wise unto salvation, and not
a few, after years of earnest Christian life, have finished
their course, and have attained-the heavenly rest.
Many were the cheering incidents that came to my notice
while in the Saskatchewan. One day, as we were approach
ing a beautiful lake, my guide pointed to the grave of a
chief, and remarked, "That is the resting-place of one of
our head men. He was a great friend of Mr. Woolsey's, a
good man, and died happy."
Of the lamented chief, La-patack, a Christian gentle
man said to the writer, '' I spent a week in the tent of the
good old Indian, and shall never forget the impression
made on my mind by his Christian conduct. Night and
morning he called his people together for prayer." But I
must not linger. After a journey of fifteen weeks, I
reached Norway House on the 6th of October. Nature
had already assumed her winter dress, and a severe snow
storm made it very desirable to reach quarters.

102 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
With feelings of devout gratitude to God, I review the
work of the past summer. From the officers of the Hud
son Bay Company I received the greatest kindness, and,
without exception, the Gospel has been preached at every
fort visited. To William Christie, Esq., a gentleman in
charge of the Saskatchewan district, I am under great
obligation, also to Richard Hardisty, chief trader in the
same district. Through the kindness of these officers these
far-off missions have been visited without expense to the
Society.
G. M. McDougall.
Thus a journey covering about 3,000 miles, in the
saddle, boat or canoe, had been accomplished, and
father had seen the country, had visited the mission
stations and Indian camps, had estimated the great
North-West in some sense as to its value, and had
fully made up his mind to cast in his lot for life in this
western country.
Being conscious of Divine guidance in this matter,
he conferred not with flesh and blood very much, nor,
owing to the difficulty of communication with the
east, did he have time to obtain the sanction of those
in authority as regards his contemplated movements,
but went on making arrangements for the moving of
his family into the Saskatchewan during the coming
season, and for the securing of some one to take up
the ground he would vacate by this move.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 103
The latter he secured by bringing the Rev. Charles
Stringfellow from Oxford to Rossville, and by filling
Brother Stringfellow's place at Oxford with the
appointment of a native missionary.

104 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,

CHAPTER VI.
Moves from Norway House to Saskatchewan — Settles at Victoria —
Eight years' pioneer work at this place.
HAVING secured the permission of the Hud
son Bay Company, he took passage with the
Saskatchewan brigade in the summer of 1863, and after
a long and tedious trip, arrived with his family at
Victoria, where he at once joined forces with Brother
Woolsey, and took charge of the mission. At this
time there was not a building ready to move his
family into, the whole party was living in buffalo
leather tents ; into one of these father removed his
family out of the boat, and then went to work with
his accustomed energy to put up a shanty in which
they might live. As soon as this was accomplished he
started out with his interpreter and one companion,
for the western and southern country, and if possible
to reach the mountain Indians, the Stonies, to whom
Bundle and Woolsey had occasionally gone in the
years past. These people had long been without a
missionary, and yet with very little light were hold
ing fast to what they knew of the Gospel. Roman

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 105
Catholicism on one side and paganism on the other,
had done their best to change them, but up to this
time, they had remained firm in their adherence to
the teaching of the first missionary.
Father was very anxious that before their patience
wearied they should again be reached. He had writ
ten to them from Edmonton one year before, encour
aging them, and holding out the promise that he might
be able to reach them before long. Having put his
family under the cover of a roof on the banks of the
Saskatchewan, at Victoria,, he started for the moun
tains. The whole country south and west of Edmon
ton was entirely devoid of settlement, not a solitary
settler could you find in- all that region. There was
not even a trading post south of the Saskatchewan
river. A great many years before, the Hudson Bay Com
pany had maintained a post on the Bow River at the
foot of the mountains, but this had been abandoned,
because of the hostility of the Indians some twenty-
five or thirty years since. The party struck south
and west, and crossing the Battle River, between
where the Battle River and Woodville missions are
now situate, and continuing on, crossed the Red Deer
river, some few miles west of the present line of road
between Calgary and Edmonton. Up to this time,
8

106 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
though signs of parties of Indians were seen, not a
lodge had been reached. Striking south-easterly from
Red Deer, the party came across a trail which they
followed ; but which, owing to the autumn weather,
and to the dryness of the season, proved to be older
than they thought, and finally brought them out again
at Red Deer, near what is commonly known as the
Big Canyon. Here father met with an accident from
the gun of one of his party, being severely shot in
the breast and leg ; some of these bits of lead he car
ried to his death. Owing to the intense pain and
swelling of the limb, the party stayed over a day and
two nights at this spot. This was truly dangerous
ground, being the dividing line of territory between
the Blackfeet tribes and the Crees, and the scene
of frequent encounters between these two contending
parties. The missionary feeling somewhat better, the
party concluded to strike back towards Battle River.
In the meanwhile, what little provision they had taken
with them, was consumed, with the exception of about
two pounds of flour. The party was literally depend
ing on their guns for support.
Reaching the Battle River on Saturday evening,
every effort was made to secure food, if possible, for
the coming Sabbath, and the very first shot that was
fired for this purpose received an answering shot from

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 107
the thickly wooded hills away to the eastward.
Quickly another shot was fired from the missionary's
party, and immediately there came the answer from
the hills. For many days the missionary and his
friends had been seeking the Indians. This was the
first actual evidence of the vicinity of a human being.
Truly this little party of pioneers were in the great
lone land; and now, upon second thought, the question
immediately came up, " are these friends or foes ? "
and the little council in the party came to the conclu
sion that if foes, they must be numerous, or else they
would not give themselves away by firing a signal shot.
However, the party made every disposition for the
worst, though only three in number. The best spot
was picked, the horses tied up, the ammunition and
guns made ready, and then trusting in Providence,
they calmly awaited the issue.
Presently two stalwart young Indians, who evidently
had reconnoitred the missionary's party, made their
presence known by speaking to us from the brush on
the other side of the river. The interpreter answered,
and immediately they emerged from the thicket, and
plunging into the river, came over. They proved to
be Stonies. With eager faces, and with hearty ex
clamations of joy they greeted the missionary. The
missionary in his turn was delighted, the object of his

108 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
long trip would be consummated ; through these men
and their camp he would reach the whole tribe of
Mountain Stonies.
His words of encouragement and advice, as also as
surances of future missionary help for their people,
would be carried by these men to the different branches
of their tribe in the still farther west, and along the
mountains south and north for many a league would
be discussed around the camp-fire, would be the text of
many a council, and the people would feel comforted
and say, We are not forgotten ; the praying men of
the East still remember us, and by-and-by, as they
have often told us, will give us a missionary in our
own country. As soon as possible the Indian camp
from whence these young men came joined that of the
missionary. A delightful Sabbath was spent among
these people, and many lessons of faith, hope and
charity, never to be forgotten, were inculcated. As the
Indians had plenty of dried elk meat, the missionary's
party was relieved of immediate anxiety as to a food
supply. Sunday evening the missionary said to the interpre
ter, " You had better take that little mite of flour and
make a cake." Accordingly he shook the bag out on
to another. The young Indian lads standing around
looked in wonderment at this white stuff, and presently

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 109
one of them ran off to the camp to tell his people that
the missionary had some of the whitest of white earth
he had ever seen. Most of this camp had never seen
flour, much less tasted bread. The missionary remained
several days with these Indians, constantly preaching
and teaching. In the meanwhile, with one of them as
a guide, they explored the Battle River to its source; his
object being to see for himself where would be the
best point to establish a mission for this people. Four
days of heavy riding were spent on this trip of explora
tion from the camp.
Then, as the season was far advanced, and the ulti
mate objects of the trip accomplished, the missionary
and his party set their faces homeward, and travelling
direct across the country, made all haste for the new
»
mission on the banks of the Saskatchewan. On their
way back they passed through herds of buffalo, but
turning neither to the right nor left, they found them
selves, on a Saturday evening, within about twenty
miles of the mission.
Travelling on in the night, they camped short, deter
mining to go on on Sunday morning. Early next day
they proceeded on this journey, and had not gone far,
when from a clump of willows, the smoke of a lodge
was seen ; this proved to be old Stephen Ke-che-yees,
one of Rundle's converts, whom the missionaries

110 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
found by later experience to be one of the best of men.
The old man and his family were delighted to see the
missionary, and without knowing it, he administered
a reproof as to Sabbath desecration which the mis
sionary and his party have never forgotten. Said
the old patriarch, " You have God's Word, you under
stand its meaning, you know exactly how far you can
go in any matter ; all I know is what the missionary
told me, — Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
On that day refrain as much as possible from moving
camp or doing any manner of work. Now, I under
stand that, and I don't know any more, and therefore,
wherever the sixth day night finds me, I remain until
the first day morning also finds me." The missionary
sang and prayed -with Stephen and his family, and
then pushed on to the mission in time to join in ser
vice with the people and friends, who were delighted
to see them once more. But neither he nor his party,
while memory lasts, will forget old Stephen and that
Sabbath morning.
Having spent some twenty-one days on this trip,
the missionary now saw the necessity of making
arrangements for the winter for himself and party.
More accommodation in the way of building must be
found, provisions secured; to obtain the latter a buffalo
hunt must be organized and a fishery established. No

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. Ill
one, unless they have passed through the experience,
can possibly conceive of the amount of meat food
that will be gone through with by even a small party.
No vegetables of any kind whatever ; no flour, or at
least very little, which is carefully put away in case
of extreme sickness. The ordinary ration, under these
circumstances, at any of the Hudson Bay Company
posts is either three large white fish, or three rabbits,
or two pounds of pemmican, or three pounds of dried
meat, or eight pounds of fresh buffalo meat per day
per man.
A full practical knowledge of this was ever present
with the missionary, who felt that upon him, under
Providence, rested the responsibility of the success of
the enterprise, especially, as in his case, he had no
wealthy company or government to back him. At best
the means placed at his disposal were small ; accord
ingly, father stirred himself to provide for the now
rapidly approaching winter.
The first thing was to go up the river, and cut
and raft down timber, as also manufacture lumber,
every foot of which had to be sawn by hand, which
is one of the most laborious duties within the range
of manual labor. The next thing was to organize a
party, and go out on to the plains for the purpose of
obtaining buffalo meat. This was called the fresh

112 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
nr;at hunt. The weather being cold, the plan of
action was to procure the meat, next haul it home ;
and then having built a big stage, spread the meat
upon it, and though winter might not really set in for
weeks, yet such was the nature of the meat and the
climate, that with plenty of air above and beneath it,
the meat would keep splendidly for months. Starting
for the plains, the missionary and his party, the
second day out, met chief Broken Arm, their acquaint
ance of the year before. The old man was delighted .
to see his friend back again. Father had intimated to
him the previous summer, Providence permitting, he
hoped within a year to meet him on his native plains
again. The first exclamation of the old man was, on meet
ing him, " You are a man of one word. My people
and myself are glad to welcome you to our country."
This fact here illustrated one of the reasons for father's
influence with the red men, — he invariably made every
effort to reach his appointments, to fulfil his promised
word. Storms might come, difficulties pile up one
upon another, long distances intervene, he would put
forth his whole energy to keep his word with these
simple people ; and thus, by long years of effort, he
gained their confidence.
The chief, Broken Arm, ordered some of his young

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 113
men, the best hunters in the camp, to accompany
father and his party on the hunt. These went for the
two-fold purpose of assisting in the hunt and of help
ing to guard the camp, for the common enemy might
be expected to strike a blow at any minute ; and con
stant vigilance must be exercised to keep the stock
out of the hands of these, the most expert of horse
thieves. On the fifth day out the buffalo were sighted, and
every hunter was soon ready, and presently the charge
was made upon the buffalo. When on the run after
these animals the hunter must of necessity accept the
risk of many dangers ; the horse may fall, the hunter
break a limb, or worse, both horse and rider may be
gored by the infuriated beast ; a chance bullet from
the gun of a brother hunter may strike either man or
horse. Then, in the hunt, each man becomes isolated
from his companion, and he knows not from which
point the ever-watchful enemy may charge upon him.
Cavalry officers who have experienced war, coming
upon the plains, and joining in a buffalo hunt, have
told me that there is no more danger in the ordinary
cavalry charge upon the enemy. Our hunters this
afternoon escaped pretty well; one horse is hurt a little,
and several of the party have some pretty severe turn-

114 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
bles, but the hunt is, in a great measure, successful,
and the animals are fat.
Away on into the night all hands are engaged, work
ing with might and main, in butchering and hauling
the meat to camp, for the big prairie wolves, and
the smaller coyote, are in hundreds and thousands all
around. Three days of such work, with moving camp,
in the meanwhile to reach the buffalo; and every
cart and waggon is creaking with its load. The party
starts for home, and have not gone far when a restive
ox runs his heavily laden cart against the hind wheel
of the biggest waggon ; the consequence is, the axle of
the waggon is broken ; but father gallops off with an
Indian to a hill of timber some miles away, and pre
sently returns with a good stout piece of birch, and
in an hour or two a new axle is put in, and on we go.
In due time the party reaches home, the meat is
ferried over the big Saskatchewan in a small skiff, the
best means of transport as yet. The carts and wag
gons are taken to pieces and crossed in the same way,
and thus, after about fifteen days, the meat is on the
stage, and the missionary party, with all their possible
dependents, have food for some weeks to come. The
next thing is to organize a fishery for the food of both
man and beast, for as soon as the snow falls and ice
makes, dogs will become the means of transport for

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 117
the most part; at any rate, all long distances and quick
journeys must be made by these hardy animals. The
ordinary feed for one dog being from one to two white
fish per day, the time of feeding at night after the
camp is made, and the journey is over.
Father travelled many thousands of miles with dog-
trains, both in the Hudson Bay region, as well as in
the Saskatchewan country. Two of the little mission
party are sent away to a lake about forty miles dis
tant, and these set themselves about catching fish.
At the time of which we speak, nearly 2000 white
fish were secured ; these, later on in the winter, were
hauled home by the dog-trains, each train taking from
100 to 150 fish at a load. Having made these arrange
ments, and having in the meanwhile worked in the
camp of Indians, who had stopped for a few weeks
in the fall beside the mission, and then pitched
away again on to the plains to live among the buffalo,
father made several trips, visiting the Hudson Bay
posts and adjacent mission and the large Indian camps,
these trips occupying from six to fifteen days each.
In the meanwhile working with saw and axe, getting
out and hauling timber and lumber for mission-house
and church and necessary out-buildings, all of which
entailed an immense amount of work and planning;
for the place is nearly a thousand miles from a saw-

118 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
mill or a hardware store, or any base of supplies ; and
thus the winter passes.
The blessing of heaven rests upon the enterprise.
Each member of the little community is mercifully
preserved from the many dangers that surround; for
the reader will keep in view the fact that this whole
region, for hundreds of miles, is in a lawless condi
tion. Crime of every kind is perpetrated, and, except
as overtaken by the avenger, goes unpunished; and yet
notwithstanding all this, this little nucleus of Christi
anity and civilization witnesses the snow melt, and the
spring flowers bud, and all is well. Father from the
word " go " believed in his missionary career, believed
in the broadest interpretation of the word " mission
ary ; " he believed that himself, and everything sur
rounding his mission, should teach the practical lessons
of Gospel life.
Everyone must move, everything that the hand as
well as the heart could find to do must be done ; the
resources of the country experimented upon and
developed, and all within his range and capability
must be done for the rescuing of these peoples from
the barbarism, and shiftlessness, and ignorance, and
superstition of centuries, and the removing of the
debris that lay thick upon them ; and the lifting of
these, the aboriginal tribes of our country, up into the

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 119
scale of being that Jesus Christ lived and died and
lived again to make possible unto them in common
with all men.
In the face of the greatest difficulties he never
whined, he never made a poor mouth ; he believed in
God, he believed in the missionary enterprise of the
Church, he believed in himself ; and thus every day,
and every hour, found him reaching out and bending
every energy to the accomplishment of the grand
object he saw before him. During the months of the
winter the honorable Hudson Bay Company, owing to
the difficulty of transport into the country, and hav
ing enough to do to bring in their own material, had
intimated to the various missionaries in the country,
that they would bring no more material for them, for
the time being at least.
This is a new difficulty that must be met. The Hud
son Bay Company's boats will come up the waters of
the Saskatchewan from their mouth almost to their
source ; the Hudson Bay Company's carts will roll
from St. Paul, on the Mississippi, via Fort Garry,
across the two big Sackatchewans, almost to the
shadows of the Rocky Mountains, but not a pound of
the necessaries of life will be carried in these for the
missionary ; therefore father must split his little party,
and send part of it to Fort Garry in the interests of

120 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
his own and Brother Steinhauer's mission. To travel
across the country, to purchase cattle and carts, to
equip these, and load on the scanty outfit for the
next eighteen months for two missions; then to retrace
the long road, with the now heavily laden vehicles,
improvising ferries and mending carts, and travelling
as best you can, takes from the first of April until the
middle of August. This father arranges, and success
fully accomplishes. In the meanwhile the Indians
have come in with the spring from the plains. The
whole valley is a busy scene. The buffalo leather
lodges dot the prairies everywhere, the hundreds of
ponies and thousands of dogs mix with the humanity
of the encampment.
Father, and those who remained at home with him,
are endeavoring to teach agriculture as one of the
lessons of Christianity. Some seed has been hauled
by dog-train from Lac la Biche, and from White Fish
Lake in the north, also from Edmonton in the west.
A few garden seeds have been carefully put away by
thoughtful mother. A small portion of turnip seed
is doled out by thimbles full. All the hoes the mission
party can scrape up, and the one plough they possess
are constantly worked, and the beginnings of the mis
sion farm and the first garden patches of the Indians
are the result.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 123
The reader will understand that, during the winter,
earnest effort has been put forth for the erecting of a
building which will serve as church and school-house ;
this has been accomplished. In this, and in the lodges of
the people, Gospel meetings and councils for instruction
are being held night after night, Sabbath after Sabbath.
Thus father and his interpreter and everybody else
around the mission are engaged until planting time is
over, and the Indians again take down their tents and
start for the plains ; for by this time the provisions
they have brought in with them are consumed, and of
necessity they must move. The Indians gone, Bro.
Steinhauer comes over from White Fish Lake, joins
father and his interpreter, and the trio start for the
west to hunt up the mountain Stonies and all in
termediate people. Edmonton is taken in on the route.
On travelling southward, they strike about three
hundred of these people at the crossing of the Battle
River. Some one has seen them coming ; who else can it be
but the missionary; he told some of our people last fall,
God willing, he would hunt us up this summer ; here
he comes. The whole camp is astir, the chiefs and the
braves and hunters all mount their best horses ; the
old man of the mountain rides at the head of the
column, and thus they advance to give the little mis-

124 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
sionary party a right royal welcome. Almost as quickly
as the repeating rifle, in the hands of the skilful hun
ters the old flint lock is made to sound forth, volley
upon volley. What cares the thoughtless Indian, that
perhaps to-morrow, or in the near future he may shake
his powder-horn in vain, for no powder is there ;
enough for him now his heart is glad, his friends have
arrived, an epoch in his life has come, and he thinks
not of to-morrow. Years afterwards he will awaken
to the thought that these humble men now approach
ing the camp of his people have come to make him
think, and cause him to make provision for the mor
row. Such shaking of hands. Every man-Jack of the
whole party shakes hands with the preacher; then
wheeling into a line they escort our heroes to the camp
in the valley. Here there is still more of hand-shak
ing, the women and the children must also touch the
hands of the praying men. Days and nights are spent
in preaching, singing and praying; souls are converted.
As the missionaries express a wish to see more of
this people and their country, tidings having come into
camp since their arrival that another portion of the
tribe is now several days' journey nearer the moun
tains, the missionaries and the Indians all move in this
direction.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 125
For three days they travel in company, during which
time they have passed the scene of a recent fight, where
in some Stoney boys were attacked by a large war party
of Blackfeet. It seems that some of the Stonies were
cutting up buffalo which they had killed that morn
ing. Their shots had been heard by the scouts of this
war party, and these Blackfeet were now stealthily
approaching the unsuspecting Stonies, but fortun
ately, as was their custom, one of these went out to
reconnoitre the country while his friends continued
their work, and he in his turn discovered the enemy,
and returning to his party, he said to them, " Come,
young men, let that alone for a while, here is better
game for us." And they charged the Blackfeet and
totally discomfited them, killing two of their number
and wounding others, and securing their robes, blankets,
horse-lines and shoes; for, like all such parties, they
were thoroughly equipped for the purpose of stealing
horses. Here were the remains of these dead Indians
still unburied. Our missionaries took this as a text,
and on the ground preached to the Indians the words
of our Saviour, " Love your enemies," and practically
enforced the teaching by having the Indians reverently
take up the bodies of their enemies and bury them.
As the movement of the whole camp was slow, and
the time of the missionaries precious, and the distance

126 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
yet to be travelled long, father and his friends, taking
an Indian guide with them, continued their journey
and reached the other camp. Here they went through
like experiences, but under different surroundings.
They were now in the vicinity of the Rockies, and
were actually camped in one of the valleys of the foot
hills. For the first time in their lives the missionaries
beheld the grand mountains ; the very sight was an in
spiration. Ah, said they, no wonder the Mountain
Stoney loves his mountain home. Having visited with
these people, having preached to them continuously,
having encouraged the hearts of these wandering men
in the faith of the Gospel, they bade them good-bye
and turned their faces homeward. By this time the
rivers were high, snows on the mountains were melting,
and many a thrilling experience was passed through
by our mission party as they crossed and ferried and
swam these mountain torrents on their homeward
journey. By the way they made a big detour, con
tinuing the exploration father had begun the year
before. Crossing over from the source of Battle River they
came out upon the shores of Pigeon Lake, a sheet of
water covering a space of about seventy-five square
miles, and abounding in fish, on the northern bank of
which they located the site of a mission yet to be estab-

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 127
lished, which they hoped would prove a centre for the
Mountain and Wood Stonies, as also many Crees. The
whole trip had taken about a month. Reaching home,
the garden, fields, haying, and many other things oc
cupied their attention. Wandering bands of Indians
coming and going, all requiring instruction; apply
ing to the missionary for legislation and medicine.
He must be judge, and settle their disputes ; he must
be doctor, and administer medicine to their sick,
morning, noon and night. The work of the pioneer
missionary must never cease. The preparations for
the winter are as imperative now as last year, and
thus the summer and autumn pass and winter has
come. One or two of the Indians have already been seized
with an ambition to build a house. The missionary
is there to show them how, and though he did expend
a great deal of time and hard labor in this style of
teaching, yet father felt that he was doing as much
good in this way as in any other branch of his work.
During the year two schools had been organized,
one at White Fish Lake, and the other at Victoria.
Herewith we put on record that father organized the
first Protestant mission schools west of Portage la
Prairie. The fall and winter of this year were spent
very much as last ; building, securing food, travelling

128 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
from post to post and from camp to camp, getting
acquainted with the people, acquiring a knowledge of
the country, and also preparing for a new mission to
be established at Pigeon Lake. During the month of
March some of the material was transported from
Victoria to Pigeon Lake by dog-train. The wood
work of a plough, made out of birch, was put together
at Victoria. This was taken up to Edmonton, and
there as a great favor it was ironed by the Hudson
Bay Company's blacksmith, then taken on dog- train
from Edmonton to Pigeon Lake. In the early spring
father sent his son to take up work on this new ground,
and here is another instance of his reaching out beyond
orders. For two years he kept his son at Woodville,
without any assistance from the missionary funds.
Early in the, spring he started for the Red River
settlement, the one object being to bring in the sup
plies for the following year, as the Hudson Bay Com
pany's ruling in this matter still prevailed; the other
was to meet two of his children, a son and a daughter
whom he had left in a school in Ontario, and who
were to come to Fort Garry this season. This trip
occupied some three months of the spring and summer.
In the meanwhile the mission at Victoria was grow
ing. The Hudson Bay Company had established a
post, and were carrying on a large business. A colony

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 129
of English-speaking half-breeds moved from the Red
River settlement and settled there. All this increas
ing responsibility resting upon the missionary. The
following season the Hudson Bay Company compro
mised the transport business by bringing the necessaries
for' the three missions as far as Carleton, thereby sav
ing to the several missionaries more than fifty per
cent, of time and trouble.
Let us look into the missionary's house ; let us visit
himself and wife and growing family. We will be
very welcome. Few and far between are the visits of
those speaking the same tongue and hailing from the
same country as this missionary family. While every
thing about and in the house is made as neat and clean
as possible, rude benches and rough home-made chairs,
and very few of these, comprise the furniture. We
are invited to take a meal with the family. We see
the meat upon the table ; grace is said, the meat is
served, the tea is poured, but there is no milk or sugar.
There is a little salt on the table. We look for the
coming of the bread, but it comes not ; we would enjoy
a potato, or a turnip even, with this meat, but the
meal is ended and they are not forthcoming. We are
surprised, yet so common is such fare with these our
hosts, they don't notice what is a surprise to us. Let
us go in another day, and this time we see something

130 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
upon the table that we never saw before. Will you
take some pemmican? we are asked. We look in vain
for anything else, and perforce, because of necessity, we
take some of this queer-looking stuff, which we are
told is called pemmican. We cannot say we relished
it very much at first, but we will, no doubt, if we stay
long enough, for our friends and their children seem
to eat it with a hearty good-will. We go in another
day, and we gather with the family around the board,
and, to our greut astonishment, a great big dish filled
with boiled eggs is put upon the table. " I am sorry
we have not anything else," is the humble apology of
our hostess. We eat eggs and eggs until we have
enough. We come along another time, and, having
travelled far, are hungry. As before, we are welcome
to this hospitable table. A big plate of potatoes is
put before us, and some milk is poured out and placed
beside us. Again we are told, " We are sorry there is
nothing else in the house." Yet another time we reach
this pioneer home, and a big dish of boiled fish is put
upon the table, and we are asked to make our meal of
fish, sometimes with salt, sometimes without it. Such
were the constant and ever recurring experiences of
the people who lived in this land in those days.
Did the patient mother ever utter a word of com
plaint ? No ! We have already said the father was

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 131
never known to whine, and as like begets like, there
is very little complaint among the children. Some
times there is very little of anything, and sometimes
dire hunger makes the little ones cry out. Gradually
the missionary is working his way to a better state of
things, but this takes time and long years of patient
endeavor. Many are those depending upon him. The
weary traveller, who never is turned away; the starv
ing families and camps of Indians, who fall back upon
the mission as their house of refuge ; all these handi
cap him in his struggling upward — we mean material
climbing, for spiritually such experiences are as wings
lent wherewith heavenward to fly.
During the next winter father works hard among
this people, visits the Indian camps far and near, takes
a trip with old Broken Arm and a large following
of Crees out into the Blackfoot country, and is instru
mental in effecting a peace with the enemy, which
gives the whole country for some months a respite
from the terrors of war. Some three weeks were
spent on this trip, and a great many Indian camps
visited in the meanwhile. With spring comes the
stirring up of the people by the missionary to agricul
ture. In doing this he must take the lead, he must
furnish the seed, he must set the example in his own
field.

132 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
Anyone visiting the chairman of this immense dis
trict, reaching from the Hudson Bay to the Rocky
Mountains, and from the boundary line as far north
as you can go, would have hardly recognized him,
except that they saw the one white man among a
crowd of Indians. Coat and waistcoat off, up to his
eyes in work, from morning until night; this was
the daily experience of father at these times.
Farming, doctoring, law making, teaching, preaching;
truly his duties were legion. The following summer
the monotony of this life was varied. The report
comes to the mission that his son, the one that is
breaking in for mission work at Pigeon Lake, and who
has gone out with a small camp of Indians into the
Blackfoot country, is lost. Again the report is differ
ent, " he is killed," and father organized a little party,
and starts out to make sure. To his great joy, he meets
his boy when he is about 120 miles from home, com
ing in with the party loaded with provisions for the
coming winter.
In a country where there are but few men to spare,
the reader will readily imagine the experiences of those
few weeks to these fond parents and friends. Other
matters now demand father's attention. His family
has grown. Three daughters are ready for school, and
there is none in the country. The work is growing.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 133
Some parts of this district want re-manning, and other
points should be taken up. Often has he written ; but
we are so far off, that the written cry for help loses
its emphasis before it reaches its destination. Accord
ingly he makes up his mind to start for Eastern
Canada. Making his arrangements, and bidding a portion of
his family good-bye, he takes three girls with him,
and another, whose father also is anxious she should
be educated. With two Indian boys as his help,
father started as the summer was waning, and drove
the 1,800 miles across the big plains of the North-West
and Minnesota to St. Paul, on the Mississippi. Here
he placed his two Indian boys with farmers to learn
some of the arts of civilization during the winter
months. Continuing his journey, he reached Ontario.
Putting his children to school in the Wesleyan Female
College at Hamilton, he became subject to the Mis
sionary Secretary, and travelled the country in the
interests of missions ; and, as very many Canadians
will remember, awakening them for the first time to a
knowledge of this immense country.
On previous visits to the Red River settlement, as
also on his way down this time, father had noted with
sorrow the fact that the Methodist Church was not
represented in the whole Red River country. Our

134 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
missions were north and west, but in this, which he
very well knew was, geographically, placed by Him
who created it to become a radiating centre, there was
not even a solitary Methodist preacher. He had
written about it, and now he was going to speak
about it. His importunity produced results, and we
see him the next summer leaving Ontario at the head
of a party of missionaries and teachers for Red River
and the country to the north-west of it.
He brought with him the Rev. G. Young, whose
history in connection with Manitoba, Canadians are
proud of. If Methodism has done anything for Mani
toba and the North-West ; if Methodism is an estab
lished fact in the growth and make-up of this develop
ing country, we claim that to father falls the honor of
inaugurating this work.
He had with him Egerton R. Young, who spent
eight years of zealous missionary toil at Norway
House and Beren's River ; also Peter Campbell, who
labored for five years on the Saskatchewan, and whom
the Indians remember and speak of with respect and
friendship as '' Blackhead," because of his coal-black
hair. He had with him the two Snyder brothers, who
for some years taught schools on the Saskatchewan,
one of whom is to-day an honored minister in the
London Conference. It took a long time to travel

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 135
from the Mississippi by waggon and cart, and these
heavily laden, to Fort Garry, and the 1,000 miles
beyond it, on to the Upper Saskatchewan, but early
autumn saw each and all at work in their respective
fields. A winter in Canada had but stirred to greater
heat the missionary heart of our father. The same
fall, after his return, he visited his son at Pigeon Lake.
Many of the Indians before his arrival pitched away
into the timber countries of the North-West. In these
camps that had gone away there were some people
who wished for Christian marriage.
There were also a number of children, whose parents
desired for them Christian baptism. The night of
father's arrival at Pigeon Lake, the people there were
gathered for service. Father addressed them, and a
blessing rested upon the meeting. After the meeting
the young missionary spoke of the camp that had
already gone into the thickets and muskegs, which lie
away to the North-West. "Let us follow them up," said
father, and the next morning away went the party on
the trail of the hunting camp. The third day the
missionary party came up with the Indians. No one
could imagine how delighted these people were to see
the old missionary. Glorious meetings were held in
that camp, and the writer can think of quite a number

136 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
whom he believes are in heaven to-day as the result
of that visit.
Through with this work, we started on the home
ward journey. The first night out from the Indian
camp father had a dream. He had been talking about
a mutual friend, a man who was once a minister in
the Methodist Church. This man had gone up that
fall into the Lac la Biche country, and father had
said to me, "I am anxious about Mr. Connor ; he is very
energetic, but at times very rash also."
Well, this night father dreamed that Mr. Connor
had been drowned. He told me of it the following
morning as we were eating our breakfast in the camp,
and to my surprise, and to his also, on his way
home, at Edmonton he met with the news, and writ
ing to me from this point, said : " How strange
that I should have dreamed about Connor as I did.
To-day I have heard that he is actually drowned."
The place where he dreamed was 280 miles from the
locality where our friend had lost his life.- I will say
here, that I never in all my recollection knew a man
further removed from superstition of any nature than
father was.
The following winter was one of hard experiences
all over the Saskatchewan country. The buffalo left
the region and went south. The mission family at

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 137
Victoria fared hard in common with the rest. Our
missionaries, with their people, organized a general
hunt the following spring.
This was to be turned, as much as possible, into the
shape of a camp-meeting. In those days the only
place where large companies could congregate for any
length of time was in the vicinity of the big herds of
buffalo, as no other food supply in the country would
be adequate. While this was being organized, and as
the spring opened up, the sad tidings came in from the
plains that Broken Arm had been killed. The old
chief, the white man's friend, the man who worked
harder in the interests of peace than any other Indian
in the whole country, aud who now, with a flag of
truce in his hand, was negotiating peace with the
Blackfeet, had been treacherously shot by them.
The savages had cut the old man to pieces, and had
dracro-ed his remains at the tails of their horses into
their camp.
Our hearts were sad because of the loss of Broken
Arm, and, moreover, we knew that the coming season
would be one of intense hostility between the tribes.
Vengeance would demand it. However, from each
mission both missionary and people, immediately the
spring work of seeding had been done, started for the
rendezvous on the plains. This point was about 200
10

138 * GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
miles southeast of Victoria. The objects, for the most
part, were accomplished. Provisions were made, the
people from the different localities of the country
became acquainted with each other. This tended to
break up old feuds, and to enlighten the people as to
the population of their own country. Gospel meetings
we^e held, the word was faithfully preached by the
various missionaries, and this famous gathering on the
plains is often referred to by the Indians and half-
breeds all over the country.
Here we will insert a letter written by father within
a few months of this gathering, which will also con
tinue the narrative in the subsequent experiences of
the season, and will explain the state of the country
at that time.
It was during this summer that quite a number of
horses were stolen from the mission and its vicinity
by the Blackfeet.
To Rev. De. Wood, Methodist Mission Rooms, Toronto.
I wrote you in August, giving a brief account of a nine
weeks' journey in the plains. Since that date we have had
no communication with the frontier world, and now expect
none until January. Our spring hunt was a success. In a
camp of one thousand people, five thousand buffalo were
slaughtered ; and one hundred and twenty thousand pounds
of dried meat secured. All felt that if our crops should be
as abundant as in years past, there would be no starvation

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 139
for some years to come ; but there was room for anxiety.
Two hundred miles from the Saskatchewan, scarcely any
rain had fallen. The oldest in the camp had never wit
nessed the like before.
The rich valleys hitherto encumbered with vegetation are
now parched and burnt. Fifty miles south of Victoria we
met parties who informed us that our fields were a failure.
The seed had dried up in the earth. This was sad news.
The season was too far advanced to send to Red River.
Benton is much nearer, but between us and that place the
merciless Blackfeet ranges the plains. There was but one
course open, and that was to strike for the buffalo country.
For months we had lived on flesh and fowl, and for eighteen
months to come we have no prospect of a change. A coun
cil was held, and it was determined that as soon as our
animals were rested we should return to the hunt. In the
meantime, the Blackfeet made a raid upon Victoria, and
some of our people suffered severely. Since the murder of
our lamented chief, the Crees have killed nearly one hun
dred Blackfeet, and in retaliation the enemy has resolved to
carry the war into the Cree country. They have sent us
word that they have spotted the Company's posts on the
Saskatchewan; and in particular Victoria. Pray for us.
Our dangers and difficulties at times are almost insurmount
able. We deeply feel that nothing but an ardent love for
souls, and a strong trust in God's mighty power, not only to
'.ave, but to restrain, will carry us through these times,
August 16th. — Starting for the plains.
In old times crossing the river with a large camp was a
tedious affair, and to the uninitiated trying to the nerves.
A leather tent, or, as in my own case, an oil-cloth, was spread
on the beach, the travelling kit was placed in the centre,

140 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
then the cloth gathered up and tied at the top, giving the
appearance of a huge pudding-bag. The raft is then shoved
into the water, and attached by a line to a horse's tail ; the
traveller then mounts the boat and guides the swimming
steed to the opposite shore. In this way and in a very
short time, I have crossed large rivers. We have now a
good scow, and the novel scenes of yore have passed away.
August 18th. — For years pemmican has been the staple
dish on our table, yet I must confess, I have very little
relish for tallow and pounded meat. My wife says that it
is better not to think of bread, while we cannot have it, as
the thought might cause impatience. I shall not controvert
her opinion, but judging from my feelings this morning, the
sight of a four pound loaf would produce in my poor heart
the liveliest gratitude.
With my horse and gun, I shall leave the brigade to move
on, hoping to join them in the evening with something fresh
for supper. A little while before sundown I reached a
round hill that rises about three hundred feet above the
level of the plain. From the top of this little mountain the
magnificence and profusion of the prairie met the eye. The
silence and solitude is overwhelming, and this feeling in
creases with the conviction that we have only entered into
the vestibule of Nature's great temple ; for this is but the
margin of the plains, and now, the mirage adds to the
beauty of the bewildering panorama. In a moment the
little lakes appear above the plains, and the distant bluffs
of aspen dance in mid-air. From these majestic scenes the
untutored Indian paints his future paradise. Alas for
him, his religion makes his heart no better; yet, however
steeped in sensuality or stained with blood, the native
loves nature. He will sit for hours on the hill-top, and

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 141
gaze with placid satisfaction on the wild and beautiful.
Thank the Lord, we have now both Crees and Stonies who
look from nature to nature's God, and with joyful hearts
they worship the Creator who is blessed forever.
August 20th, Sabbath. — Our services are still well at
tended, and the holy day sacredly kept. This is our sowing
time. We shall reap if we faint not. On the plains there
is much to divide the attention ; the stock must be guarded,
and there is a constant dread of an attack from the enemy.
After the morning service we were informed that a
stranger had entered the camp under suspicious circum
stances. The rider had no saddle. A cold rain was falling,
but the fugitive was naked. When questioned, his answers
were evasive, until a Christian woman took him into her
tent, gave him her son's coat, and placed food before him.
Kindness prevailed, and he stated that yesterday before
dawn he started with his companions, hoping to find game,
and while crawling through the brush he saw something
black, and thinking it was a bear, fired, when a woman threw
up her arms and cried out, " I am killed ! I am killed ! " She
was one of the party ahead of us, who, in company with her
sister, had gone into the woods in search of berries. This
statement was perfectly true, and the wretched man was
fleeing from the avenger.
August 23rd, Iron Creek. — This beautiful stream derives
its name from a strange formation, said to be pure iron.
The piece weighs 300 lbs. It is so soft you can cut it with
a knife. It rings like steel when struck with a piece of iron.
Tradition says that it has lain out on the hill ever since
the place was first visited by Na-ne-boo-sho after the flood
had retired. For ages the tribes of Blackfeet and Crees
have gathered their clans to pay homage to this wonderful

142 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
manitoo. Three years ago, one of our people put the idol
in his cart and brought it to Victoria. This roused the ire
of the conjurors. They declared that sickness, war, and
decrease of buffalo would follow the sacrilege. Thanks to
a kind Providence, these soothsayers have been confounded,
for last summer thousands of wild cattle grazed upon the
sacred plain. Battle River, August 23rd.
The future inhabitants of these rich lands will find no
lack of water power. This river, which rises in the pine
forest near the foot of the mountains, and runs parallel with.
the Saskatchewan for more than 400 miles, is from its
source to its confluence one continuous water power. The
same may be said of the numerous tributaries of the larger
rivers. All supply water at an elevation that will meet any
demands for milling purposes.
26th. — Hard times. All order has fled. Men, women,
and children are seen running in every direction in search
of berries, roots, — anything that will satisfy the craving of
hunger. For days they have had scarcely any food, and
the great camp which so recently passed over this trail
felt nothing for us ; but how true, " Man's extremity is
God's opportunity." Earnestly have we prayed for help,
and now it comes. One of our hunters signals from a hill
that buffalo are in sight. Hurrah! Hurrah! In a
moment' all the sufferings of the past are forgotten. The
runner mounts his horse and dashes off in the direction
indicated. From a rising ground we witness the charge.
In less than ten minutes ten fat beeves are on the ground.
Exclamations of joy are shouted by the women. These
buffalo will be baked, boiled, and roasted for supper.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 143
September 1st. — The great camps, the Edmonton, the
Victoria, and the Blackfeet, numbering more than 10,000
souls, are all within a short ride of each other. The plain
Crees, driven in by the Blackfeet, have fled to us for pro
tection. The Edmonton people have had a skirmish with
the enemy, and blood was shed. Last evening the Black
feet sent us word that they would fight us to-day at noon, and
300 men are anxiously waiting for them. I have ventured
to say they will not come. A long experience amongst red
men has satisfied me that when they threaten they seldom
strike. The Blackfeet are also aware that there are two mis
sionaries in the camp, and their superstition will prevent
them from coming. With feelings not easily expressed, I
sat upon a knoll and reflected upon surrounding circum
stances. Our tents are pitched upon one of the most
magnificent plains in America. Unnumbered herds of
cattle are fattened on free pasturage.
Hundreds of lakes offer drink to man and beast. Here
we have a perfect realization of a hunter's dream, and what
are the facts 1 sin has poisoned all. In these camps we see
the untrained development of the vilest passions, hating
and being hated. There is no peace for the wretched people.
Their degradation cannot be written. One hardly knows
how to apologise for the mis-statements of intelligent tour
ists, who have travelled these plains. They must have
written as they ran. Their descriptions of the noble, vir
tuous, honest native, are all from the pure ideal point of
view. Let them come down to real work, and study the lan
guage and life of the people, and live amongst them, as
your missionaries have to do, and they will be able to

144 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
appreciate the wonderful change wrought on many of them
by the teaching of the Gospel. Delivered from the slavery
of demon worship, the Indian is the happiest of men.
Once truly converted to God, he presents a noble specimen
of what the Gospel can effect. While under the influence
of heathenism, his mind is filled with a strange mysterious
dread. His religion teaches that an evil " Genius," that
never slumbers, follows him from the cradle to the grave.
Omens, presaging sorrow, are daily presented to his dark
imagination. A significant word from a conjurer, the
flight of a bird, or a dream, are all intecpreted to foretoken
death or sickness.
The pagan believes that his " Genius " instructs him in
the hours of sleep, and the consequence is frequently awful.
A Plain Cree, with whom I am acquainted, dreamed that
his Puh-wah-gun, demanded three human victims, and he
actually murdered three of his own tribe. A young heathen,
whose father lives at our mission, fancied that his demon
demanded three human sacrifices, and last summer he shot
a young half-breed, with whom he was on the most friendly
terms. A short time ago I conversed with this young man.
He frankly acknowledged his determination to complete
the number, alleging as a reason, that if he was not faithful
to the instructions given, a fearful retribution would follow.
But I must stop, for were it necessary I could unveil
some of the mysteries of paganism, and tell of deeds of
darkness that would make the heart sick. War, murder,
gambling, polygamy, and demon-worship are all producing
their natural effects; and if civil law and Gospel light are
not speedily brought to the rescue of these tribes, they will
perish from the earth.
Making plain provisions in the hunters' camp, with all

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 145
its wild surroundings, the man of leisure may pass his time
very pleasantly; but there is another class, who find more of
fact than fiction in killing wild cattle — to this party belongs
the missionary.
A long winter stares him in the face. There is no market
where he can go to for supplies. Offer a man gold for flour
in the Saskatchewan and he would laugh at you. $60
per barrel has been tendered to the Hudson Bay Company,
and the money has been refused ; and no wonder, for every
pound of the precious luxury has been dragged over the 1,800
miles from St. Paul, and that in Red River carts. But the
good time is coming. The royal standard is now supplant
ing the bunting of the Hudson Bay Company. Brother
Dominionites ! our majestic rivers invite your steamboats ;
our natural road extending from the Winnipeg to the
Rocky Mountains, wide as the limitless prairie, is waiting
for your land transport. This wild, uncouth younger bro
ther of the confederation family only waits the chance for
development, and the youth will become, what geographi
cally and naturally he really is, the heart and soul of the
country. But I must go back to the camp, and the first
thing is to kill the animal, cut it up, and bring the meat to
your tent. Then the process of curing and drying takes place.
Then follows pounding and making up pemmican. True,
you can have help, but my experience of buffalo eaters goes
to prove that however numerous the servants, the master is
the greater vassal. Then you must shoe your own horse,
mend carts, and what is more trying, keep a day and night
guard upon your animals, for horses are constantly disap
pearing very mysteriously. These are some of the toils of
the hunter. The missionary has additional ones. Night
and morning he collects the people for prayer ; he must

146 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
visit the sick ; his tent must be a refuge for the aged and
for the afflicted. The avenger of blood is awaiting his
time; the missionary must be the mediator.
Not long since one of our young men, influenced by
jealousy, shot at his companion, but providentially missed
him. The next morning I saw the offended man cleaning
up his six-shooter, and he confessed to me, that he was
watching his chance. In the evening, by the help of some
friends, we brought the two together, and effected a lasting
peace. Then there are the Sabbath services ; these are
highly appreciated by our people.
In some suitable place the Union Jack is hoisted on a
pole ; a crier goes round the camp, and invites all to unite
in the worship of the one true God, and often have we felt
while addressing the Stonies, the Crees, and the half-breeds,
"That labor is rest, and paia is sweet,
If Thou, my God, art here." Geo. McDougall.
Immediately after we find in the same manuscript
the following, which in the light of events subsequently
happening, is significant. Father had been brought
into contact with Roman Catholicism and Roman
Catholic priests ; and, indeed, with many of the latter
he had been on very friendly and neighborly terms,
and yet, here is what he says. This would be the
latter part of the year 1869 :
The Papacy, the man of sin, is powerfully represented in
this country. There are five priests to one Protestant

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 147
missionary. They are anti-British in their national sym
pathies, and if we may judge the tree by its fruit, anti-Christ
in their teachings.
Their converts have a zeal, but their fervor prompts them
to propagate a system and not a Saviour. By them the
Sabbath is desecrated, polygamy tolerated and the Bible
ignored. Their churches are the toy shops where the poor
heathen get their playthings, such as idols, beads and
charms, and where the Anglo is denounced as no better
than a brute beast; or to quote from one of their sermons,
" No better than the buffalo that herd upon the plain."
They carry with them large pictures, representing two
roads — one terminating in Paradise, the other in the bottom
less pit. On the downward track all Protestants are
travelling surrounded by demon spirits ; while on the other
road, throng all Roman Catholics, priests, nuns, etc.
By these baptismal regenerationists the sacred ordinance
has been so desecrated that many of the heathen receive it
as they would a charm from one of their sorcerers. One of
the tricks played by these gentlemen is, when a child is
born in a Protestant family, a female agent enters the tent,
fondles the infant and then professing to show it to their
friends, carries it to the priest, who baptizes the babe ; but
the policy of the missionary has been to avoid all contro
versy, and simply preach Christ. The very opposite has
been the practice of the priest, and if trouble should arise
between the tribes of this country and the whites, the cause
in a large degree, will be at the door of the Papacy. These
priests are hard workers, summer and winter they follow
the camps, suffering great privations. They are indefatig
able in their efforts to make converts, and these converts
when made, if stripped of the external badges of Papacy, are

148 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
still heathen ; for of them it may be truly said, they have
not so much as heard of a Holy Ghost. These poor baptized
pagans have never been pointed to the Lamb of God.

Another letter to Dr. Wood about this time reads
thus: Victoria Mission.
Many thanks for your timely advice in the Missionary
Notices. Only let the Government act up to those sugges
tions, and untold trouble will be averted. We are doing all
in our power to save the country from bloodshed. A large
number of Crees and mixed bloods have signed an address
to the new Governor, asking for a peaceable settlement.
Our position at the present time is one of the most per
plexing possible. The Blackfeet are the trouble. They
profess to be friendly with your missionaries, and yet kill
our people and rob your missionaries. When good old
Mas-kee-pe-ton was murdered, I felt it was time to take a
stand. Since then they have made a raid upon Victoria,
and some fighting has taken place. I then sent the Black
feet a message, stating that I had often saved their lives and
buried their dead, and that now they must send back the
stolen property, and give me a promise never again to attack
our mission. There reply was, "You harbor our enemies,
and we must fight them." Since that time my son has
ventured amongst them, and he intends going again in
February. But I feel there is danger. These men have
shed so much American blood, that there is no trusting them
until they get a humbling.
Until a treaty is made with the Crees, it is highly im
portant that my son John should be among the Plain Crees.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 149
His thorough knowledge of the Cree language has been of
great service to us during the past summer.
If our poor Indians are to be saved from the terrible fate
of the American tribes, the earnest missionary must be the
agency. Impressed with these feelings, I shall keep my son
amongst the Plain Crees until I hear from you. He is there
now, and I assure you our anxieties are not lessened by
knowing that two murders have been committed on the
track he was to travel, and these within the last two
months. No change can be for the worse in this blood
stained land.
Next spring I expect to have to move my family into the
woods until the men return from Red River and the plains,
as there will be no safety along the banks of the river. Our
plan is, what few men will remain in the country will reside
at the mission, but the women and children we shall have
to hide.
Fortunate for us the Blackfeet are greatly afraid of the
Wood Indians. Pray for us. We are resolved, come what
may, to remain at our posts. Woodville Mission is out of
the way, and the Blackfeet dread the Stoneys. Brother
Steinhauer is comparatively safe, being twenty miles from
the plains. Last summer we had no crops, and flesh must
be our food for many months to come. Since early fall I
have suffered from inflammation of the eyes ; this, with other
trials, has often made my proud heart groan ; but I trust
my God will, according to the riches in Christ Jesus, uphold
his unworthy servant. Knowing the deep interest you have
felt in the poor Blackfeet, I will offer my opinion.
These men will yet be humbled by the Americans, and
that very soon ; things cannot rest as they are now ; let us
be ready to improve the first opportunity.

150 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
Their country is the finest part of the North-West, and
must be occupied ; and it is worthy of note that twice in
the last two years the buffalo have left the country. This
will bring them to terms faster than military power.
On the plains the buffalo are the sole dependence of the
Indian. In the meantime we must watch and pray. As
regards the Cree, national interest, humanity, and love for
perishing souls combine to make their case a pressing one.
Had we ten faithful laborers they could all be well employed.
At present there is a chance of a peaceful settlement with
them. But L must close. I can, with difficulty, see the
letters. George McDougall.

The following, which we have also discovered among
his old papers, and evidently written about the same
time as the preceding, will show his foresight, as also
evidence his philanthropy and patriotism. The article
begins thus :
" The importance of an immediate settlement with
the plain tribes." — Every resident in this country knows
that a feeling of dissatisfaction prevails to an alarming
extent among these Indians. Six years ago the sight of
a pale face in a Cree camp was a cause of rejoicing ; now
the very opposite is the fact. One of the principal reasons
is the rapid decrease of the buffalo. In the winter of 1867-8
these Indians suffered great destitution, and the whole cause
is attributed to the whites. Recent events have added
much to their previous dissatisfaction. In all past time
they have regarded the honorable Company as the highest

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 151
representatives of the Queen. Now a rumor reaches them
that a power greater than that Company will soon be here
to treat with them for their lands. Injudicious parties
have informed them that their old neighbors have received
a large sum for these lands, and the Indian is not so igno
rant but to enquire to whom has he ever ceded his hunting-
grounds. They have no idea of civil government. We have
spent days in trying to explain to them that they would be
justly dealt with, and the answer invariably has been : " The
Hudson Bay Company told our grandfathers that always,
and you missionaries have been repeating the same story for
twenty years, and yet nothing has been done." These men
are exceedingly jealous of the miner and the settler, and a
collision with either party will bring upon this noble coun
try all the horrors of not simply war, but massacre.
We have observed in the papers that much is expected
from the Hudson Bay Company's influence in settling with
the natives, and as regards the Wood Indians there is no
doubt but their assistance would be considerable ; but from
these we have nothing to fear, and as for the Plain tribes,
they have neither the power nor the influence to control
them. For years their traders have not ventured into the
Blackfeet camp.
The last time they attempted a trade with these nobles,
their carts were robbed. Some of the Plain Crees are .very
little better. Twice last summer they pillaged the Com
pany's agents. Of these Indians I speak from personal
observation. For years I have visited them in their camps.
Last summer, in company with my son, who has a per
fect knowledge of their language, we spent eighteen weeks
amongst them, -attended their councils and listened to their
Speeches, and the' impression received was, if Canada is

152 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
going to extend her humane policy to these Indians, there
is no time to be lost. At present there are agents that
might be powerfully employed to effect a permanent settle
ment. West of Carlton there cannot be less than 700
mixed bloods. These are all anxious for civil protection,
and a treaty with the Indians. The Hudson Bay. Com
pany's servants, who at present live by the sufferance of the
natives, would gladly lend their influence.
Another party from whom we would expect much, is the
natives that have been trained at the Protestant missions.
Many of these are sufficiently enlightened to know the
power of the white man, and on the whole are for peace.
Then there is still a lingering love for the Union Jack.
Many of the Crees call themselves " King George's men,"
and they all dread American encroachment. With all the
ardor of a Canadian who loves his country, and who desires
for its honor that justice may be done this remnant of a
once numerous people, I would advise that no time be lost
in meeting them at their councils, treating with them for
their lands, and by potent explanation, allaying the present
excitement. Let it not be forgotten that in the upper Saskatchewan
there are at least 20,000 natives who by a wise and just
policy can be made the friends of the Government. Let
this once be accomplished and the country will speedily be
settled. Between the Bow River and the North Saskat
chewan there are gold fields of sufficient extent to fill this
country with an enterprising population. There are now
scores of families who would gladly settle in the neighbor
hood of Victoria, but the best friends of the country must
discourage immigration until the Indians are treated with.
G. M. McDougall.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 153
The foregoing extracts from father's journal will
fully show his views on these matters, but if there
were mutterings of discontent on the Saskatchewan,
when the packet arrived it brought tidings to the
isolated settlements in the west of an outbreak in the
eastern portion of the North-West.
The half-breeds and natives of Red River were said
to be in rebellion. The months that intervened be
tween this news, and the final suppression of the rebel
lion by the advent of General Wolseley and his com
mand, were times of serious anxiety to us in the
Saskatchewan. Father felt the responsibility keenly.
There was a consciousness that the same influences
which created disorder in Red River were working
for the same purpose in the Saskatchewan. From
Victoria constant communication was kept up with
the Sweet Grass, the Big Bear, and the Wood Cree
camps, the object being to counteract, if possible, any
disturbing or disloyal influence. In the spring father
became so anxious, not only in regard to the possibility
of trouble, but also in regard to supplies for these mis
sions during the coming year, that he determined to
go to Red River himself, and was there during a short
period of the reign of the rebels. He reconnoitred
Fort Garry himself, and offered to be one of twenty
men to surprise and recapture it from the rebels ;
11

154 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
but if there were nineteen such men as himself in that
country at that time, they were not to be found.
Previous to his starting for Red River there had come
up from the plains south of us rumors to the effect
that the small-pox was among the Blackfeet and
Bloods. Father had told us that if the disease reached
this country before his return, to do all we could to
scatter the Indians. His last words were, as he started
for Red River : '' Now, John, if the small-pox reaches
the Saskatchewan, isolate the people as much as you
can." Sure enough, the season had not far advanced,
when we heard that the small-pox was among the
Plain Crees. All felt then that it must inevitably
reach us. Such was the lawless state of the country,
such was the migratory habit of the Indians, that soon
from camp to camp, and from post to post, the fearful
epidemic was carried.
When it reached Victoria how we longed for father
to return. There was no one in the country in whose
medical knowledge we had so much confidence. As
the Indians began to arrive, we did as father had in
structed us, and urged them to separate and isolate
themselves. Our words to them were, "If you continue
in large camps, and congregate together, this disease
will grow in power, will assume a virulent form, and
will be almost sure death to any who may take it; but

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 155
if you scatter as you have been advised, very many of
you will escape the infection, and even those who may
have already become infected, may reasonably expect
the milder forms of the disease, if they do as we say."
This advice very many took, and there was a scatter
ing through the wood lands and prairies of the north.
But in this we were thwarted by the directly contrary
advice of the priests. They gathered the people to
gether, they assembled them in meetings, and they
used our action in the matter as an argument against
us. They said, " You now see who are your friends; as
soon as calamity comes, the Protestant missionary
drives you from him, while we say come to us ; " the
consequences were that many of the Indians and half-
breeds gathered together, and died like rotten sheep.
At Victoria we closed the church, and dismissed
the schools, held no meetings, told the people as much
as possible to refrain from visiting each other. " By all
means, as you love your families and your people,
keep away from the infection." It was impossible for
us to do this with the poor ignorant Indians from
the plains, as they came around us in all stages of the
disease. The writer was one of the first in the mis
sion party- to catch it. But in the meantime many
had died. In almost every fence corner around the
mission, all along the banks of the river, were the

156 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
dead and the dying. In the midst of it, to our great
delight, father arrived. The rebellion was over, but a
worse thing had come upon us. No one can describe
the misery and wretchedness of such a time as this.
Night and day the missionaries and their families were
busy with the dying and the dead.
Letter from father at this time to Rev. Dr. Wood :
Victoria, August 16th, 1870.
Surrounded by circumstances that cannot be described, I
sit down to pen you a few lines. The evening we left Red
River I learned that the small-pox had reached the Saskat
chewan. Anxious to be with our people we crossed the
plains in nineteen days, and at Carlton we met the destroyer
of the poor red man. One hundred had died at Fort Pitt,
and along the road we encountered bands flying from the
plague, yet carrying death with them.
On reaching Victoria I found my worst fears more than
realized. My son had induced the Crees to scatter, but
many, already struck down with the small-pox, were incap
able of helping themselves. Two days after my arrival
John was taken very ill, and is now in a critical state. For
weeks my dear boy has had very little rest. Day and night
he has waited on the sick and the dying. Many of our best
members have passed away. On Saturday, our most be
loved local preacher, Thomas Woolsey, died in great peace.
His death has made a great impression. Some of his last
utterances showed a depth of spiritual knowledge truly
astonishing. Forgetful of his great sufferings, he spent his
last night on earth in exhortation, prayer' and praise.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 157
Glory to God, who, in the midst of Popery and paganism,
proclaims His sovereign power to save to the uttermost.
At this mission, the past summer has been a time of
danger and great anxiety. The Blackfeet, driven to despera
tion by the awful scourge which has cut off more then one-
half of their tribe, have sought to propitiate their deities
by murder and robbery. They have stolen our horses and
killed our cattle ; articles of clothing and human hair, in
fected with the small-pox, have heen left in our village ;
and so reckless of life were these wretched men, that of a
war-party numbering. eleven, who made a raid on Victoria,
ten died. Some of their bodies were found by our people.
Sad new has reached us from the Mountain Stonies. The
Blackfeet left clothing in their neighborhood ; the thought
less Stonies took the blankets, little thinking that one-half
of their nation would be the price.
From Bro. Campbell I have not heard since my return.
With White Fish Lake we have no intercourse. The last
report was that the disease had not reached that neighbor
hood. What gives the greatest trouble in this land of robes
and leather, is to find clothes for those who have recovered.
We cannot allow them to return to their families with their
infected clothing to spread the disease. Very little meets
the wants of the poor Indian. Friends of suffering human
ity, pray for us. Verily the judgments of a just God are
now upon this land of blood and idolatry ; and yet, of how
many of these suffering creatures, it may be truly said
"they know not their right hand from their left."
G. M. McDougall.
Towards autumn there came a deceitful lull in the
disease, and- it became imperative to prepare for win?

158 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
ter. Father's instructions to his son were, gather the
people together who are as yet disinfected and go with
them on to the plains. In the first place, do all you
can to keep your camp from infection ; in the second
place, do all you can to obtain provisions for the com
ing winter. Accordingly we got ready. As carefully
as possible we avoided the infection. Sad was the
party under these circumstances. There seemed to be
a consciousness that in this life we should not all meet
again, and so it was. Our party had not been more
than two weeks away when the disease broke out in
the mission. All were taken down with it except
mother. Three of the household died in terrible agony,
and father recovering from the disease, and slowly re
gaining his strength, with the assistance of my brother
David, themselves buried their dead. Here are some
more of father's letters : Victoria, Oct. 21st, 1870.
As there will be no other chance for writing until winter
expires, I send this on to Carlton, hoping it may reach you.
Since I last wrote, the harrowing scenes we have passed
through cannot be detailed. Small-pox has swept away
hundreds. To relieve the sufferers, and to 'seek to lighten
the sorrows of the bereaved, has been our work. Of all men,
the ignorant, destitute red-man is the most wretched when
a strange disease appears amongst them ; many have died
alone and unattended.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 159
Not a few have sought relief by plunging into the river,
and multitudes who recovered from the disease have perished
from destitution.
We have sought by every means in our power to stop
the spread of this great destroyer, and with deep gratitude
I record the fact, that, up to the present date, not one of
the old settlers of White Fish Lake or Victoria have died
of small-pox. Our trouble has been with the poor Plain
Crees who fled to the mission in their distress. Many of
these have died within sight of our door, and yet my own
family, which, including adopted children numbers nineteen
souls, have hitherto escaped. To God alone be all the praise.
Never was the arrogance and bigotry of Popery more mani
fest. Having taught their deluded followers to look to them
as to a god, when the scourge first appeared they collected
their people into large camps : the bodies of the dead, the
infected, and the well, were all collected in the church. The
spiritual power of the priest proclaimed the grand specific,
but all has failed. At their mission, ten miles from Ed
monton, upwards of one hundred have died, mostly French
half-breeds, while numbers of the same people have died on
the plains.
My son has gone with the Victoria camp to the plains.
Our people must have provisions. Brother Steinhauer is
out with his people. I enclose you a note written the day
he started. Brother Campbell was here last week ; my son
and he have arranged (D.V.) to start on a visit to the
Mountain Stonies the first snow. Our poor Stonies ! I
fear most of them are gone. So great has been the mor
tality amongst these western tribes in the last eight years,
that, but for the assurance that numbers have died in the
triumph of our faith, our Work would be most discouraging,

160 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
I have just received a letter from Mr. Hardisty, of Fort
Edmonton. Two hundred of the St. Albert people are re
ported dead. There will be great distress this winter, the
fall hunt being a failure. When I left for Red River I
had three good horses, I took two with me, leaving one with
Mrs. McDougall. The Blackfeet, during a thunder-storm,
stole the horse from the door yard, and also killed one of
our cows ; but these are small matters compared to the loss
some have sustained. My most intelligent neighbors believe
that Jesuitism is at the bottom of all our Blackfeet troubles.
One thing we do know, that we have been represented to
them as harboring their enemies, killing their people, etc. If
ever the rights and liberties of British subjects are enjoyed
by Saskatchewanites, the world shall know some of the dark
deeds of the past two years. Geo. McDougall.

Victoria Mission, December 2nd, 1870.
When I wrote you last our people, accompanied by my
son, were starting for the plains. We used every precau
tion to prevent all that were infected with small-pox from
going with the party. I followed them to their first en
campment, and there we detected small-pox, and had the
family removed. Thanks to the Great Preserver of life, no
other case occurred among them during their long sojourn.
This was the more remarkable, as they passed over a part of
the country where the Blackfeet had left scores of their dead
in an unburied state. At one place they passed the tent of
the celebrated chief Nah-doos, the principal murderer of our
Mas-ke-pe-toon. An enemy more to be dreaded than the Cree had over-

THE PIONEER,. PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 161
taken him ; and now, surrounded by numbers of his dead
warriors, his body was left to be devoured by wolves. From
a pole projecting at the top of the tent floated a Union
Jack, and the warrior's coat mounted with ermine. We
have not yet ascertained the number of Blackfeet who have
died with small-pox ; but judging by the number of un
buried bodies left at each encampment, the mortality must
hav^ been very great. In the Upper Saskatchewan, not
including the Blackfeet, there cannot have been less than
one thousand deaths at the French half breed settlement ;
near Edmonton, three hundred have died, and many are
still afflicted. Our position at Victoria has been a trying
one. The more intelligent of our people, who acted upon
our advice given them in the early part of the season, have
escaped the disease. There has been but one case here
among the English half-breeds ; and our old chief, who,
with a part of his band fled to the woods on the breaking
out of the disease, has, up to this date escaped the sickness.
Yet great have been the sufferings we have witnessed. Our
mission has been a centre to which the diseased from all
parts came destitute of food ; and, in dread of the Black
feet, they crowded around the mission house.
We- have had to bury the dead and wait upon the dying.
In these labors we have been assisted by the Hudson Bay
Company's officers, who at the risk of their lives, have
never failed at the' post of duty.

extracts from journal.

September 25th, 1870.
The disease first appeared in my own family, and on the
13th of October our youngest daughter, aged eleven years,

162 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
died. How precious to our bleeding hearts her dying words!
Flora loved the Saviour. October 23rd, 1870.
We are now passing through deep waters, all prostrate
with the fearful disease, except Mrs. McDougall, and she
exhausted with watching. Yesterday I felt it was high
time to set my house in order. For two nights my mind
has been wandering, and what course the disease may take
I cannot tell ; but I bless God, come what will, I feel all is
right. I feel I am an unworthy sinner, but a sinner saved
by grace. I had a long conversation with my much-be
loved daughter, Georgiana, and gave her directions as
regards the future. Little did I think, as she stood beside
me the picture of health and youthful energy, that before
I fully recovered myself, I should lay her in the grave.
Last night she was taken very ill, and to-day it was dis
tressing to witness the change that has taken place in her
appearance. 2ith. — Last night I resolved to sit up, and not allow
myself to sleep. Most earnestly I prayed that I might
retain my senses, and, blessed be God, He has heard my
prayer ; and to-day, though the disease has developed, I am
enabled to wait upon others.
25th. — This morning a Cree woman came to me and
begged that I would baptize her infant grandchild, who
had been taken ill with the small-pox. I walked to the
tent and attended the duty, and though the day was stormy,
I have felt no evil consequences.
26th. — This morning I heard a person crying at the
garden gate, and on going out found a worthy Cree, whose
family were aU suffering from the sickness. The poor

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 163
fellow said that his only son had just died in his arms, and
he wanted me to help to bury him. I went and dug the
grave, and assisted the afflicted father in burying his child.
In less than a week he himself was in his grave.
28th. — This morning I buried our Anna. My son-in-
law, Mr. Hardisty, dug her grave at the foot of Flora's.
They were warm friends in life, and in death they have
been but a few days parted. Anna was fourteen years old.
She was the daughter of the late O-ga-mah-wah-shis. He
gave her to us a few hours before his happy death. She
was the best looking native girl in this part of the country;
of a docile, tractable disposition. We were all much at
tached to Anna. November 1st, 1870.
At five o'clock this afternoon our Georgiana breathed her
last. The last intelligible words she uttered were prayer.
A few days before she was taken ill she told her sister that
during one of the services in the church her soul was
greatly blessed, and we all observed a marked change in
her conduct. The great Master was evidently preparing
her for a better life. Georgiana died at her post. For
months she has labored incessantly for the good of this suf
fering people. Conversant with their language and modes
of thought, she proved herself a judicious counsellor. My
kind neighbors, Messrs. Hardisty and Tait, brought the coffin
and placed it at the gate, and my son and self carried her
mortal remains to the grave. When we were filling in
the earth, he uttered an expression which found an echo in
my poor heart, " Father, I find it hard to bury our own
dead ; " but just then the words of the apostle were applied
with such force to my mind that I could not restrain myself
from shouting them aloud : " O, death, where is thy sting ?

164 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
O, grave, where is thy victory1! Thanks be to God who
giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
November 13th. — This morning I returned from my
sixth visit to a miner who lives about ten miles north of
Victoria. The poor fellow has been very ill with inflam
mation of the lungs, and I trust the Lord is sanctifying his
affliction. About twelve o'clock last night I noticed that he
was very much excited, and, throwing up his hands, he
exclaimed, " O, wretched man that I am ! The son of a
pious mother, often have I laid these hands upon her knee
and repeated prayer, and many a time she has led me by
the hand to the class-meeting — and yet, for twenty years,
I have forsaken my mother's counsel. Oh, my God, I will
return ! " And my afflicted neighbor has returned, and
found peace in believing. And here let me say, take
courage, ye praying mothers. This is the third case I have
met with among these wild adventurers who, in the time of
extremity, have turned their thoughts to their pious mothers.
The mother may never know it, but a covenantkeeping God
has answered her prayers.
November 18th, Quarterly Meeting. — After an intermis
sion of two months, we have again ventured to hold a
public service. Our meeting was deeply affecting : there
were vacant seats to remind us of the past. There could be
little done in the way of preaching. Both missionaries and
people wept before the Lord. I could not refrain from re
viewing the past. Since my connection with the mission
more than one hundred adults, natives, have passed away.
Some of these were marked men and women, earnest
Christians, who were a credit to the Church of Christ.
Then the multitude of dear children, my own among the
number, who delighted in singing the sweet songs of Zion,

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 165
These have all disappeared from among the living. At first
sight there was something very discouraging, and we felt
that if in this life only we had hope, we should be most
miserable, but ours is a work for eternity, and these are not
lost to us. Our love-feast was a season of power ; the Com
forter was present.
November 22nd. — Started for Edmonton in company
with Captain Butler and Messrs. Hardisty and Clarke.
The Captain is out on a tour of inspection, and takes a
deep interest in the great North-West. He declares the fact
is humiliating to an Englisman that so fine a country should
have been totally neglected. The weather is very fine,
the plains free from snows, stock of all kinds taking care of
themselves. When I told the Captain that the average of
such was two out of three, he appeared surprised, and de
clared the country superior to parts of the United States
immediately south of us. At Fort Edmonton we were
cordially received by Mr. Christie, whose long residence in
this country enabled him to give much valuable information
to the Commissioner.
On Monday I was present at a novel ceremony (at least
in the Saskatchewan), the swearing in of Mr. Christie and
Mr. Hardisty as magistrates for the western territory.
Their power will be nominal until troops are sent in ; and
yet it will enable us to protect ourselves against the whiskey
traders, for if we cannot enforce the law here, we shall
assuredly follow them to Manitoba. We have also the
prospect of a monthly mail next summer, and this will be a
grand advance when compared with one express in the year.
While at Fort Edmonton, through the kind co-operation of
Mr. Christie, we raised $100 towards finishing the Stoney
church. I would add that I have recently heard from all

166 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
the brethren in the District. They and their families have,
up to this date, escaped the pestilence. Geo. McDougall.

The writer will never forget the experiences of a
day in the beginning of the winter of 1871 and 1872.
With the blessings of heaven, we had loaded our carts,
succeeded in keeping the infection out of our camp,
though several times we had to stand with our guns
in our hands to do so. We were on our way home,
and about forty miles from the mission, when we met
an Indian, who told us the sad news : " Three have
died in your house before I left, and it was said your
father was not expected to live." Mounting a horse,
the writer started for the mission. Some time after
dark, he walked up to the gate of the yard. Hearing
a step on the plank walk, from the gate to the house,
he presently heard a voice say, " Is that you, my son ? "
"Yes, father," was the answer. "Don't come in," was the
response ; " all are doing as well as can be expected in
the house. Your sisters lie yonder ; they died happy.
Go out to your camp ; keep those who are free from
the infection from it, as much as you can. Good-bye,
my son." And the heroic, unselfish missionary turned,
though he himself tottered, to another night's vigil.
Cold weather set in and helped to break the disease ;

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 167
but weeks elapsed before it was possible to raise the
quarantine, and meet once more.
After all, our settlement, and the Indians who really
belonged to us, and who listened in spite of other
influences, suffered very, very much less than any
others throughout the whole country. East and west
and south, all over the land, the death roll was fear
ful ; fully fifty per cent, of the people being carried
away. A large portion of these lay unburied. During
all this time there was not a single medical man
nearer than Fort Garry. A story got abroad among
the Plain Crees that it was the missionary at Victoria
that brought in the small-pox. The more intelligent
Indians knew that it was the Plain Crees themselves
who had brought the epidemic up from the south,
where they had gone on one of ' their horse-stealing
expeditions ; but with the dissatisfied and now desper
ate and ignorant class, any story, laying the blame on
some one upon whom they could vent their vengeance,
would be received gladly. The winter of 1871 and
1872 was, in consequence of this, a time of serious
anxiety. Here we will insert the following, written
to Dr. Wood : Victoria, March 1st, 1871.
The medical gentleman sent up by the Board of Health is
now returning to Red River, giving us an extra oppor-

168 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
tunity for communicating with the frontier world. There
have been very few cases of small-pox since the doctor's
arrival. Whether the disease has exhausted itself, or
whether it will break out afresh in the spring, are questions
anxiously asked by many. That the whole country is
infected there is no doubt, and it is beyond the powers of
man to disinfect an Indian community. Our hope is, that
the disease being so violent last summer, and in most com
munities very few escaped the contagion, we may now be
relieved from its further ravages.
Our consolation is, we are in the hands of a God who
will order all things right. As regards the business of the
country, we are placed in a difficult position ; according to
the Governor's proclamation, nothing in the shape of trade
can be exported. The Hudson Bay Company, in order to
meet the wants of the poor Indians, have, at much sacri
fice, continued their business. To withhold from the
natives ammunition and clothing would have been death
to them. What the merchant will do with the pelts taken
in return for these things is now a question. Notwithstand
ing all adverse circumstances, our work is progressing
encouragingly. February 5th. — Chief Factor William J. Christie spent
the Sabbath at Victoria, visited our Sabbath-school, and
in a very feeling manner, addressed the scholars. Next
morning, as Mr. Christie and Mr. Hardisty were about to
start for Lac la Biche, a letter was handed me from the
former, which, upon opening, I found to be one of condo
lence, and also expressions of deep interest in, and kind
sympathy for, the cause of missions. Enclosed were two
fifty dollar cheques, one for the White Fish Lake School,
and one for Victoria. This liberal donation was most

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 169
gratefully received, for the appropriation made by the
Board, though ample for other lands, will scarcely cover the
board bill of a teacher in the Saskatchewan.
Thursday, 9th — Accompanied by my son, I met Mr.
Christie and the Company's officers at White Fish Lake.
The school examination, which occupied the whole day, was
most satisfactory ; the exercises were commenced by Brother
Steinhauer presenting a very appropriate address to the
Chief Factor ; then the young Crees were called upon to
perform their part. Their attainments in reading, writing
and spelling, geography, arithmetic and Bible history, were
very creditable, so much so, that the gentlemen present ex
pressed themselves as agreeably surprised at the proficiency
manifested by these native children.
Great credit is due to Mr. Ira Snyder, their teacher.
Our pious young brother labors hard for the. spiritual good,
as well as the mental improvement, of his large school.
Our young brother is also a useful local preacher, rapidly
acquiring a knowledge of the native tongue ; and, if faith
ful to the grace bestowed, will at some future day, occupy a
still more important position. At the conclusion of the exer
cises, Mr. Christie addressed the parents and the scholars.
He commenced by referring to a circumstance connected
with his own family. Nine years ago his youngest
daughter passed the winter at Norway House ; there she
had for a companion the youngest daughter of the mission
ary ; from her she learned to sing many of the sweet pieces
which he had listened to that day. When the first epidemic
passed over the Saskatchewan, his dear little daughter was
one of the sufferers. Among her last utterances were por
tions of those hymns. This fall his mind was deeply
affected when he heard that the little maid, from whom she
12

170 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
had learned to sing, had fallen a victim to the small-pox.
He could only say to the afflicted parents, " Let us console
ourselves with the happy assurance that our dear children
are now where no sorrow will mingle with their songs."
My sou was requested to take note of the address ; and
in the evening, to the great satisfaction of all present, he
repeated it, almost verbatim, in the native language.
Brother Steinhauer deserves the sympathy of the
Christian Church. His people are decidedly in advance of
all other natives in the Saskatchewan. Principally by his
own labor, he has built a good parsonage. On the ground
floor there are five commodious rooms ; the partitions, the
panel doors, the neatly ceiled walls, all display taste and
workmanship. Assisted by his people, he is now collecting
material for the building of a larger church. If some of
our liberal friends would lend him a hand by assisting to
procure nails, glass, etc., they would be investing in what is
a paying enterprise. A church in which the blessed Gospel
is preached will be a greater power for subduing and con
trolling these Plain tribes than stone forts, rifle or cannon.
Saturday, 11th. — We returned to Victoria. The inter
ruption which our school suffered during the time of pesti
lence retarded its progress, but now we are doing well, and,
notwithstanding the great scarcity of provisions, the aver
age attendance is from forty to fifty. Over twenty of these
can read the Word of God, and almost the entire school un
derstand English. We have also a week-night reading
class. Our plan is a very simple one, but it has proved a
great success. Some six or eight are called upon to read
pieces each evening. They are allowed to select their own
reading, with the understanding that nothing immoral or
fictitious will be introduced. So far we have had to admire

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 171
the good taste displayed. Great effort has been made to ac
quire a thorough knowledge of the reading, and the different
tastes have given us quite a variety. Christian biography,
temperance, history, and dialogues all pass before us. In
fact, so profitable have been the exercises, that we intend
to introduce them among the natives, training those who
understand the syllabic characters to interest their people
with portions of the Bible. Notwithstanding that famine
and pestilence have swept over us, our poor people have not
been unmindful of their obligation to do something for the
support of the cause of God. Last fall we intended to hold
missionary meetings at each appointment, but were pre
vented by the epidemic. For local purposes we have
received the following sums : For White Fish Lake
School, $250 ; for Victoria School, $100; from Chief Factor
Christie, Esq., $100 for general school purposes ; and from
our friends at Edmonton, to assist in finishing the church
at Woodville, $100. In addition to this they, last summer,
presented Brother Campbell with two horses, our good mis
sionary being so unfortunate as to have lost all his horses
the winter previous. 1 regret that my son, who left here
fifteen days ago for the great camp at Elk River, has not
returned, for important information relative to the work
among the Plain Crees might have been given. John had
a three-fold commission : he carried out with him the Gov
ernment proclamations, which we are all anxious should be
explained to that people ; he was also commissioned to con
vey to the chiefs tokens of good will from the company, and
presents in tobacco and ammunition. His journey will be
a hard one, for the camp is more than half-way to the
boundary line. The buffalo having left the Saskatchewan,
the Indians have had to follow them on to the bare plains,

172 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
and we fully expect to hear of great suffering, if not death,
from starvation. George McDougall.
To add to the general misfortune, the buffalo kept
far out on the plains. The Indians stuck to the last
points of woods and were barely existing. In the
month of February they began to break across a
seventy-mile stretch of bare plain to the Hand Hills.
Here they obtained wood and were so much nearer to
the buffalo. In the meanwhile they kept away from
the Hudson Bay posts. They began to counsel among
themselves, and presently word was brought in to
Edmonton that the Indians were gathering for a war of
extermination among the whites. They laid the blame
of all their calamity upon these. The Chief Factor of
the Hudson Bay Company, then in charge of the
whole district, felt anxious. He travelled down to
Victoria and conferred with father, and the result was
that father sent his son, equipped by the Hudson Bay
Company, to visit these Indians, and to ascertain the
true state of affairs and, if possible, to clear away the
misapprehensions that were on their minds, and to
negotiate with them in the interests of peace.
No one will imagine for a moment that the father's
heart was not full of the strongest earthly affection
for his boy, but such was the character of the man, he

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 173
would not hesitate for a moment in such a case. As
parent and as superior in authority, his words were,
" Go and do your duty." The three weeks it took to
accomplish this work, in a country where there were
no means of communication, were weeks of anxietyi
not only in the mission house at Victoria, but all along
the river. The mission was a success. The clouds
were dispelled, and the heart of many a native was
made to feel that the good Great Spirit was yet his
friend, and that He was mightier than all the powers
of evil.
As spring came on, the buffalo took a northerly
turn as they moved eastward, and helped to smooth
matters, by furnishing meat for these travelling camps.
April 1st, 1871.
Now that the dark cloud, which for more than a year
has enveloped this land, begins to disperse, we naturally
enquire, For what reason has God, in His mysterious' pro
vidence, suffered these terrible things to come upon us 1
More than one-third of the inhabitants have been swept
away by that fearful disorder, the small-pox, and yet, how
ever paradoxical the statement, the language of Joseph is
applicable : " But God meant it for good to bring to pass
as it is at this day, to save much people."
In the last three or four years, the Plain tribes have
manifested a ferocity among themselves, and a contempt for
the white-faced stranger, very striking when compared with

174 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
their past history ; so much so that all hopes of a peaceful
settlement seemed to vanish.
Last summer the Master of Life permitted a visitation
which has deeply humbled these vain men ; and while we
witnessed with anguish of soul their indescribable suffer
ings, we also felt it was better to fall into the hands of God
than into the hands of man ; better far to perish by pesti
lence than by sword — the inevitable end if no change had
come. We have good reason to believe that their afflictions
have been sanctified.
My son, who has lately returned from visiting the Plain
Crees, reports them as very quiet, and anxious to listen to
the missionary. Quite a number have resolved to give up
the chase and settle at our missions.
The poor Blackfeet, who for months, and that on Dom
inion soil, have been pillaged and depopulated by American
alcohol traders, are now sending us messages of peace. Their
case on the part of our Government demands immediate
attention, not only for the sake of the unfortunate
natives, but also as regards the peace and prosperity of
this great country. If multitudes of unprincipled men, to
avoid the laws of their own country, can at pleasure cross our
lines and establish scores of low grog-shops, then from the
Missouri will roll back on us such a flood of intemperance
and demoralization as shall make the fairest part of this
North-West one vast field of blood and contention.
In the upper Saskatchewan we are face to face with a
powerful and enterprising neighbor, who, with astonishing
energy, is erecting military and trading posts ; and this
would give us no anxiety if similar improvements were
made on our side. The American punishes with severity
the infringement of the law prohibiting the sale of intoxi-

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 175
eating drinks to Indians, but Benton and Montana traders
cross the 49th parallel, and, in defiance of the law, carry on
their loathsome traffic. To quote from a letter of a close
observer, who spent December and January among the
whiskey vendors of Belly River : " No language can describe
these drunken orgies ; more than sixty Blackfeet have been
murdered ; and if there can be a transcript of hell upon
earth, it is here exhibited."
I know there are those who will say, " All right, the
sooner the red-skin is swept from the plains the better."
Thank God this is not the voice of Canada ; her sons and
daughters have been trained to sympathize with the poor
Indian, and view with commiseration his struggle for ex
istence before the ever-increasing flood of civilization.
In the Saskatchewan they must be protected, and the only
way by which this can be done is to establish a military post
at Bow River, where the revenue laws would be enforced,
and impartial justice to red and white administered. The
present time is favorable for a settlement with these
tribes. An enemy more terrible than war has, to some ex
tent, subdued their fighting spirit. Their country is the
finest part of the North-West. I have travelled in every
part of the western prairies from Lake Winnipeg to the
mountains, and I have seen nothing to compare to Bow
River section. Gold, coal, and timber abundant; number
less small rivers and rivulets flowing from the mountains,
with their snow-capped peaks, add to the prospect a sub
limity and beauty that cannot be described. Statesmen of
Canada, here is a field worthy of your noblest efforts;
Christian philanthropists, to you we appeal on behalf of a
trodden down and rapidly perishing people; the precious
gift they need, you can bestow. The Gospel is not an ex-

176 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
periment. Scores of Stonies and Crees have proved its
power to save to the uttermost, and they are now in heaven.
Last fall, when the terrible pestilence was upon us, I saw
the poor Cree lying upon the cold earth, in the last stage of
the loathsome disease ; the long night passed without drink,
fire, or clothing, yet within that heaving bosom lived a
power no human misery could, crush — the deathless love of
Christ. Our ardent desire is to proclaim this matchless love to
every man, woman and child in the Saskatchewan. Alas !
we have not the power. Our numbers are too few. I am
now entreating the Mission Board for one additional man —
ten could be well employed. Citizens of favored Canada !
to you and to your children are given the hunting-grounds
of the poor Indian. Their natural day will be short; hasten
to their rescue, remember them in your prayers, forget them
not in your alms-giving, and He who has purchased them
with His own blood will reward you.
I shall not attempt to narrate the wonderful events of the
past year. Notwithstanding the consolations of rehgion, our
hearts are sad ; many of those for whom we have labored
for years are gone. Not less than 1 40 Stonies are cut off,
our poor Crees broken, scattered, and strewn like the leaves
of autumn. Aged native Christians and sweet little Sab
bath-school songsters all gone ! All that is mortal of two
of our own dear daughters lie in the mission garden; we
mourn, but not as those " who have no hope, for if we be
lieve that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that
sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." We will try and
be grateful for mercies. In the midst of death all our mis
sionaries have been spared. Twice the restraining power of
God was very manifest in the preservation of my own

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 177
family. Once Mrs. McDougall, my eldest son, and two
daughters were in the field, weeding turnips, and, not a
hundred yards from them, secreted in the long grass, lay
eleven Blackfeet. They came to pillage and murder; but,
as they afterwards acknowledged, were restrained from
firing. At another time they crawled through the barley,
so as to witness all that was doing in the house, but did no
harm. My son and a Christian Cree were crossing the
river in a skiff, and as they were in the act of hauling the
boat up the bank, a ball passed between them, tearing up
the earth close to their feet.
Many are the hair-breadth escapes experienced by mem
bers of this mission, but no blood has been shed. Surely
the good Lord has prevented it ! In the past winter we
have been trying to redeem the time ; our services both on
Sabbath and week days are well attended, and some of the
heathen are receiving the truth.
The day-school is faithfully taught, and a more orderly
class of children could not be found. The Sabbath-school
averages between fifty and sixty. Twenty of these are
committing the Wesleyan catechism to memory, and some
of them have completed the task, and have also correctly
recited the fifty-two lessons in Scriptural doctrine. With
a thorough knowledge of this admirable system of theology,
we have no fear that any of our young people will ever
become Papists. Monday evening is spent in public read
ing and singing.
A course of lectures has been delivered on "History," by
Hudson Bay officers and others, calculated to prepare our
people for the change now taking place in their country.
Temperance has been prominently kept before their

178 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
minds, and, with few exceptions, both young and old have
pledged abstinence from all that can intoxicate.
On Sabbath afternoon we preach at a small settlement
ten miles distant, and there a promising Sabbath-school has
been established, where both European and native, who
once blasphemed, now spend a part of the holy day in
teaching others to read the Word of God. Next to the
spiritual interests of our people, we have felt it our duty to
labor for temporal improvement. In this we are greatly
encouraged. More seed will be sown, and more land culti
vated this spring than in any previous year. With the
powerful aid of the Hudson Bay Company, material has
been collected for a flour inilL
Thankful for past mercies, hopeful for the future, with
sincere hearts, we would give to God the glory for all the
good that has been accomplished.
Geo. M. McDougall.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 179

CHAPTEE VII.
Moves to Edmonton — Three Years' residence at this place — Jour-
neyings and experiences connected with this new field.
IN the spring of 1871, father began a mission at
Edmonton. For a long time Edmonton had
stood on the list of stations in connection with the
Methodist Church. This simply meant that it was, in
a way, the headquarters of the evangelist mission
aries, Rundle and Woolsey, who had been the guests,
when at home, of the Hudson Bay Company. As yet
no mission had been attempted, but as Edmonton was
the head of the district, and the mercantile depot for
the whole country, and was on every hand beginning
to attract settlement, it was thought by the District
Meeting that this post should be taken up, and the
chairman himself was the best man to do it. Accord
ingly father moved up to Edmonton and began work.
This season the streams were very high, and in one of
the many situate between Victoria and Edmonton,
father came very near losing his life. Descriptive of
this, we will insert right here a leaf or two from
mother's journal :

180 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL, June, 1871.
We moved from Victoria ; my husband and self, and two
of our neighbors, started on our journey to Edmonton. The
roads were very bad, the banks of every stream we came
to flooded. The two first were crossed without very great
difficulty ; the third, called Sucker Creek, was raging, the
waters rushing and foaming -with swiftest speed. When I
first saw it, I wondered how we were to cross it, and turning
round to speak to Mr. McDougall, I saw he was preparing
to cross by moving the luggage from the buckboard and
placing it on the cart ; and when ready he drove down the
bank of the stream, and at the same time spoke to the boy
who was driving the cart to follow. Scarcely had the horse
struck the current when he was thrown on his side, and
horse and buckboard, with Mr. McDougall standing on the
buckboard seat, were carried down the river. There were
trees projecting from the bank into the stream on either
side, and presently all were carried under one of these trees,
and horse, buckboard and driver were tangled up together
by the force of the current. This was repeated several
times, and very soon all disappeared around the point out
of my sight. All this happened, as it seemed to me, in a
moment. I tried to speak, but could not. I turned to the men, but
I saw them running through the bushes down along the
bank of the river, and my first thought was to follow, and
I was going to do so, when the boy with the cart drew my
attention. He had been directed to follow, and had just got down
the bank of the stream, and the horse had stopped, with the
water above the shafts, and I went to see if I could do any
thing to help him.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 181
I found that it was impossible, the steep bank shoving
the horse and cart towards the current. We could not pos
sibly back the cart out. I told the boy to sit still, and I
spoke a few words to the noble animal, and he stood per
fectly quiet, bracing against the current as if he knew both
life and property were at stake. In the meanwhile I was
continually looking to God, and praying that my clear hus
band's life might be saved from a watery grave, and while
doing so, I realized all would be well. I had only to wait,
but the time seemed very long before anyone came, and
how my heart leaped for joy when I heard his voice, calling
to me, and I ran to meet him.
His first words were, Let us praise the Lord for the pre
servation of my life. He had been near the gates of death.
The wet and sticky reins had become wound around his
arm, and thus sometimes under the buckboard, and some
times coming to the surface, he had been dragged along with
the horse and rig ; and not until he had suceeeded in biting
away the reins from his arm was he able to swim for the
shore. He said the horse had struck a bar at the foot of a
steep bank on the other side of the river, and was standing
there with just his head and neck out of the water. He
said, if I can get across now with this other horse, I may
yet save him.
He stopped not to change his wet garments, but took off
his boots and plunged into the water, and unharnessed the
horse which was in the cart, and mounting him, he struck
out into the stream. This horse was a strong, spirited ani
mal, and soon I saw Mr. McDougall and his steed climb
the other bank, and, disappearing down through the woods,
presently he came back with the other animal, and both
horses and master looked as if they were ready and fresh

182 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
for any other emergencies that might happen. In talking
over this circumstance the satne evening with old Harry
House, one of the neighbors who accompanied us, he said :
" Mr. McDougall and the animals' lives were saved in an
swer to prayer. Madame," said he, "you must call to mind
the prayer that was offered by Mr. McDougall this very
morning before we started on our way. Near the close of
his prayer he asked God to bless us in our journey, and
asked Him that the lives of both men and animals entrusted
to them might be precious in His sight, and it was so." Tears
of joy were streaming down the good old man's cheeks as
he thus spoke to me of the day's experience.
Friends rallied round him, and in a little more than
a year he had comfortable mission premises, and better
than this, a flourishing cause. In the meanwhile he
visited the missions under his charge, White Fish Lake,
Victoria, and Woodville. The amount of w.ork in the
building of a mission in a new country, one thousand
miles from a saw-mill ; in erecting mission-house and
church, and establishing school can be estimated only
by those who have gone through the experience.
In the spring of 1873 he started for the south
western country, and reached the Bow. The reader
will remember that all the region southwest of Ed
monton was for hundreds of miles the Blackfeet
country. Here the Blackfeet, the Sarcee, the Piegan,
and the Blood were allied against the Stoney and the
Cree. This was the scene of many a tragedy. In this

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 183
fair land and on the banks of the Elk, in the valley of
the Bow, along the margins of High River and Old
Man's River, and in the intervening countries, many a
white man had come to a terrible end. To make
matters worse, an illegitimate traffic was being smug
gled in by a wild class of lawless men from the
southern border. The southwestern portion of our
country was at this time the rendezvous of the hard
cases. From Fort Benton and other parts of Montana
alcohol was being smuggled across the line, and whis
key, warranted to craze and kill, was being manufac
tured at different points. Very little was known about
this region by the people who lived in the north
country. Very few white men, though they resided in
the Saskatchewan for years, knew anything of the
Bow River country.
Hundreds of Indians along the North Saskatche
wan, notwithstanding their migratory habits, have
never been so far south, but the mountain Stoney,
whom the missionary met on previous trips, and also
at Woodville and the old mountain fort, said it was a
goodly land, and importuned for a mission somewhere
in that region along the eastern base of the Rocky
Mountains. These Mountain Stonies were our people.
They had been faithful to us, and they had won
father's heart, and his sympathies were with them.

184 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
Though few in number, they had held their own, in
the whole width of British territory along the eastern
base of the mountains. They had done this against
the combined hosts of the plain tribes. Father ad
mired their pluck ; moreover, his foresight told him
that by planting a mission somewhere at the foot of
the Rocky Mountains in that southern region, with
these Mountain Stonies, with their warlike prestige,
as its body-guard, not only the interests of Chris
tianity, but the peace of the country and the future
settlement of it, would be in a large measure secured
without collision with the natives.
Subsequent events have more than verified his pro
phetic action. To explore for this he, in company
with a single native, travelled through this region.
Reaching the Bow, they came out upon this valley a
few miles east of the present Morley. It was about
the end of May or first of June. I can imagine father,
as he sat upon the hill, picturing to himself the changes
that he felt were coming. Little did he then dream
that in front of him and at his feet would, in less
than fifteen years, lie the steels that belt the conti
nent. Little did he think that up this valley would
roll the tide of the world's westward travel ; that
down the slopes before him would pour the produce
of China and Japan ; and yet he knew it was coming.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 185
Having seen the country for himself, he came back
and endorsed the Mountain Stoney's opinion of his
native land. He, in company with other missionaries,
the same summer, travelled across the plains to Win
nipeg, and met at this place Drs. Punshon and Wood,
also John Macdonald and other friends, who had come
up from the east to shake hands and encourage the
missionaries. A delightful missionary conference was
held ; the hearts of the so often isolated missionaries
were cheered by conference with these eloquent and
wise brethren.
Father secured the endorsation of his scheme for the
opening of the new mission at the foot of the moun
tains, which he had so much at heart, and then bid
ding the brethren good-bye, he, with others, again set
their faces westward. It was his privilege to travel
across the plains in company with Sandford Fleming,
the chief engineer of our Government, and Dr. Grant,
now Principal of Queen's College, Kingston, and Pro
fessor Macoun, the famous botanist ; they, in turn,
were fortunate in falling in with the old pioneer
missionary. The following spring, early in the month
of April, he and his son visited the Mountain Stonies,
who were then camped in the valley of the Bow, at
the foot of the Rockies, continued the exploration
of the country, and came to the conclusion that no
13

186 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
more central place for the new enterprise could be
found than in the Bow Valley. While on this trip
the missionaries remained several days with the
Stonies, and travelled with them southward along the
mountains, holding meetings morning and evening, in
short, all the time, with these people.
At this time father assured these Indians that he
would do all in his power for the planting of a mission
in their country. Then retracing their way, the mis
sionaries travelled homeward by a different route,
keeping along the mountains, and then striking east
erly towards Pigeon Lake, they came across another
large camp of Indians, moving out from the woods to
the north. Spending some time with these, they con
tinued their journey and came to Woodville from the
other side. Father then went on alone to Edmonton.
The following letter to Dr. Wood is descriptive of
this trip : Edmonton, May 28th, 1873.
According to previous arrangement, April 29th, I started
for Bow River, and in the, evening met my son at what is
called the Forks of the Mountain Road.
May 1st. — At the foot of the Bear's Hill we fell in with
a party of Victoria Crees, most of them our own people.
With these we spent some time in religious exercises ; and,
after exchanging prairie news, we pushed on to Battle
River, where we met another party belonging to the same
place. The head man of the camp is one of the noblest

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 187
specimens of a Christian native I have met with in this
country. Our friend Noah invited us to his tent; we made
our supper on a yellow crane. With these we held two
services and baptized two children, and were made ac
quainted with a fact demonstrating the power of Christian
ity on the native mind. An aged, blind woman visited our
tent who, some months previous, had been cast away by
her inhuman children. They had long felt the old woman
a burden, and one morning while she was asleep they all
slipped away from the camp, leaving her, as they expected,
to perish. Our good brother and his party found the unfor
tunate mother, and were taking the best care of her in their
power. On the evening of the second we reached the north bank
of Red Deer River. For four days we had been travelling
through a country ready for the agriculturist ; a rich black
loam resting upon a clay bottom ; abundance of the finest
pasturage and the purest water. Once across the Red
Deer River, and the traveller observes a change. Here the
celebrated hunch grass begins, and the tough, level sod of
the northern prairie disappears, and the soil is so loose that
your horse sinks at every step, and wherever the badger
had thrown up the earth, we observed a mixture of lime
stone, gravel and clay.
" Springs and streams are abundant, and although the
climate has not been practically tested by the agriculturist,
there is not a doubt but that, for stock-raising purposes, it
is one of the finest countries on the continent. In winter
there is scarcely any snow, and in summer the horse-fly and
mosquito, so numerous in Manitoba and the Saskatchewan,
are seldom seen south of the Red Deer.
Sabbath, 4th. — We spent at Dog Pound Creek, where

188 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
we enjoyed a magnificent view of the mountains. In
the afternoon an old bull came down to the spring to drink,
and not being disturbed, he fed beside our horses until the
next morning.
Monday, 5th. — We travelled up the Little Red Deer, a
beautiful river, the banks of which are well covered with
agpen and pine. In the afternoon we killed a bull, and I
caught a young calf, and we camped near to a large sulphur
spring, where waggon loads of the mineral maybe collected*
It is also in this neighborhood where the natives find alum.
I have seen them with specimens of it weighing from six
to ten pounds.
On the afternoon of the 6th we struck the Stoney trail,
and were a little discouraged to notice that they had passed
some eight or ten days before our arrival. In the evening
we camped on the bank of the Bow River, close in with the
mountains. The prospect was one of the grandest I had
ever witnessed, and Morleyville will yet become the favor
ite resort of the tourist.
Wearied with a hard day's ride, we selected a spot for
our night's encampment where we could have a full view
of the mountain sunset. Our camping equipage is very
simple ; we have no tent ; a pair of blankets, a kettle and
axe, a little flour, tea and sugar, and a piece of oil-cloth to
protect us in time of storm, constitute our baggage.
There being no game laws in force, and having studied
the nature of wild animals as well as wild men, with the
blessing of Providence we have no fear of starvation. Just
as we had settled down for the night a stranger made his
appearance among the hills, and cautiously approached our
camp. In this solitary lawless land a certain amount of
suspicion marks the first meeting of all travellers ; but here

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 189
was one of our own good Stonies ; he had seen our camp
smoke from afar, and made haste to inform us that his peo
ple had been waiting some nine days on the opposite side of
the river, hoping the missionary would pay them a visit.
We at once packed up and moved to the camp, where we
were received with a volley of fire arms, and a hearty shake
hands from young and old.
Here we found 42 tents, 73 men, 82 women, 58 boys, 71
girls, 199 horses, 24 colts, and 169 dogs. A stranger
might smile at us in placing the dogs on the catalogue, but
the mountaineer knows how to make use of this kind of
stock. The dog has to pack from 25 to 100 pounds. I
saw some of them carrying an eight-skin tent, that is a tent
made of eight moose or buffalo hides. We were at once
conducted to the Bear-paw's tent, where we made a good
supper on the flesh of a white swan ; then we all united in
singing a hymn in the Stoney language, and in thanksgiv
ing to our common Benefactor. But there was no sleep for
the weary ; the Stonies were so overjoyed at our arrival,
that prayer and praise were continued until morning.
On the morning of the 7th we moved out oh to the plain
and had a general meeting, after which, in company with
the two principal chiefs, we started on a prospecting tour.
They had supplied us with a pair of first-class mountain
ponies, and the object of our ride was to visit some fish-
lakes that lie in the bosom of these mountains ; also to in
spect the timber and hay grounds, etc.
Our mountaineers led us off at a good canter up hill and
along precipices, then descending into valleys where the
descent was almost perpendicular. At first I felt a degree
of hesitancy in following these reckless fellows; but seeing
that their horses carried them safely over ground where a

190 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
Canadian horse would have broken his neck, I whipped up,
and for the remainder of the day kept alongside of our
guides. In the afternoon we came to the great chasm in the
mount through which the river rushes.
From a very high foot-hill we gazed on this prospect with
admiration and wonder. Within three miles stood the
grand old mountain, the wild goat and sheep sporting on
its highest summit. At the foot of the hill, and in perfect
ignorance of our presence, a band of buffalo were feeding
on the richest pasture. To the right of us, and on the
north bank of the river, lay the location which we have
selected for our new mission.
In the rear of the plain there are large hills covered with
valuable timber, and from these elevations scores of little
streams run down into the valley. Further on, beyond the
first range of mountains, there is a large lake which the old
Indian tells us is bottomless, and the water so clear that
salmon trout can be seen at a depth of thirty-five feet. In
fact I was surprised at the clearness of these mountain lakes
and streams. Late in the evening we returned to the camp
tired and hungry.
At the evening service it was decided that on the mor
row we should pitch southward, our people having an en
gagement to meet the Kootanies about the end of May. I
had now ample opportunity for observing the conduct of
this singular people. Twenty-five years ago they embraced
Christianity, and though most of the old people have passed
away, and they have only been occasionally visited by your
missionaries, and for several years have been exposed to the
destroying influence of whiskey-traders, yet, with few excep
tions, they have been faithful to their religious principles.
Many of them can read the Bible. In every tent there is

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 191
family prayer ; they are passionately fond of singing. The
week we spent with them was emphatically a camp-meeting.
We retired to rest, listening to the voice of song, and
awoke in the morning to hear the Stonies engaged in the
same exercises. Sabbath, the 11th, was a day of incessant
labor. We baptized thirty-one children, and married one
couple, and at midnight lay down to rest, grateful to God
for blessing the day. Monday, the 12th, at mid-day we left
for the Saskatchewan, and crossed the High Water River;
and on the 13th, with a great deal of difficulty, we suc
ceeded in fording the Bow River. Expecting to meet some
Stonies, we made a straight course through the country to
Woodville, and on the evening of the 16th reached Battle
Lake, where we found eighty of our people.
On Sabbath morning we preached to this camp, baptizing
¦four children, and then rode over to Woodville, where we
found two hundred waiting for us. In the evening we ad
ministered the Lord's Supper to about sixty communicants.
On Tuesday, at noon, I reached Fort Edmonton, grateful to
God for all His mercies. In the last twenty-two days we
have passed through some dangers and difficulties, rapid and
dangerous rivers have been rafted, localities have been vis
ited where only a short time before human blood had been
shed, where the American whiskey-trader and Blackfeet
had met in deadly conflict. But through all our exposure
the Lord has preserved us.
Six hundred and thirty-five Stonies have been visited,
and upwards of one hundred Crees ; and, best of all, the
presence of God has been strikingly manifested in our ser
vices. To His name we ascribe the praise.
G. M. McDougall.

192 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
The same season the Secretary of the Missionary
Society, the Rev. Lachlan Taylor, visited these mis
sions. Father met him at Fort Pitt and travelled with
him to White Fish Lake ; from there to Victoria, and
on to Edmonton ; out to Woodville, back again to Ed
monton; from Edmonton, out on to the big plains
to the large Cree camps ; from the Cree camps to the
mountains, being captured, and after two days released,
by the Blackfeet en route; from the mountains in
Bow River, south-eastward to Fort Benton, on the
Missouri, taking in the famous Whoop-up country by
the way. Then bidding the Secretary good-bye, and
having delivered him within the possibilities of stage
and telegraph lines, father returned for the most part
by a new route across the country to Edmonton. Most
of this travel being accomplished by him in the sad
dle. The greater part of the trip was subject to con
stant danger, father taking his turn on guard, and
in everything sharing the burdens of this long
journey. During the winter of 1873 and 1874 he visited the
missions on the Saskatchewan, and worked away at his
own charge, which was growing in interest. Anyone
looking up the reports of our Missionary Society will
see what was done by this newly-beyun mission durino-
the years of 1871, 1872, and 1873, for the general

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 193
cause, which is a good index of all other matters. In
the meanwhile the missions at the foot of the moun
tains were begun late in the year of 1873.
In the summer of 1874 father visited the new mis
sion, and was very much encouraged with the results
already achieved. Made some journeys into the
mountains during his stay, and then returning to
Edmonton, began to make preparations to go to
his native land, for which he had received a hearty
invitation for himself and mother from the Missionary
Committee of our Church.
The two following letters will describe the experi
ences of this time. Edmonton, July 20th, 1874.
Last Friday we received the first mail for six months. I
heartily thank you and our worthy President. The only
damper to the joy of Mrs. McDougall is — for she is very
anxious to see her friends once more — that we cannot leave
until a supply arrives. I have spent too many hard days in
the Saskatchewan to leave this mission until our men come.
The last six months have been the hardest I have seen in
the mission field. Popery is rampant, and we have hard
work to hold our own. After visiting Victoria, on April 1st,
I went to Athabasca, where we have over thirty Stonies and
other adherents, then to Bow River, and last week to Lake
St. Ann's. In making these journeys I have forded, rafted,
or swam thirty rivers. It is twenty-five years since the
mountain streams have been so high.

194 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
I have now to take Woodville, and then, should help come)
the long trail to Red River. For the first time I am nearly
used up. John, subject to my consent, was appointed agent
by the Government to visit the Blackfeet and Stonies, and
explain to them the policy of the Government in sending
troops, etc. All expenses to be paid, and $1,500 to be dis
tributed in tea, tobacco, powder, ball and flour.
Believing the appointment to be providential, Mrs. Har
disty and I sent off a man to bring John in. He will have to
report to the officer in charge of the troops. I shall request
him to send you a copy. I have sent on to Red River a,
meteoric stone weighing 400 pounds, the great memento of
the plains, and requested Brother Young to forward it to
your address. I intended it for Victoria College, but shall
be guided by your advice. Please have an eye if it turns up.

Edmonton, July 20th, 1874.
Since the winter packet arrived we have been all in the
dark as to matters civil and ecclesiastical, but fondly hoped
that, during the summer, there will be a change for the
better. Since the month of April I have made some labo
rious journeys ; first to Victoria, then to Athabasca, and
subsequently to Bow River. I felt it was a duty not only
to our people, but also to the isolated mission family, to
make a run to Morleyville. Wednesday, June 5th.
Accompanied by Mrs. McDougall and one of my daugh
ters, we left for the Mountain, and as the streams have been
unusually high, we built a handy little punt, and mounted

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 195
it on a cart. On a number of occasions we found the bene
fit of the arrangement, for the mountain streams were all
foaming. The journey from Edmonton to -Morleyville was
made in seven days, including the Sabbath, and only those
who live 200 miles from their nearest neighbor can realize
the pleasure with which we were received, not only by the
mission family, but also by a camp of Mountain Stonies,
who very fortunately arrived the same day. In the even
ing I went with my son to visit an old patriarch, Kis-chee-
po-wat, a man who was once guide to Mr. Rundle, and who
was with the pioneer missionary when he ascended the
mountain now known to travellers as " Mount Rundle."
This venerable native was evidently, to use his own lan
guage, very near the great camping-ground ; but rich in the
consolations of the Gospel, and one of its blessed fruits was
very apparent in his case, for while the aged among the
heathen are often left to miserably perish, the family of this
old man treated him with the greatest kindness.
Sabbath was a day of special blessings, and in the love-
feast many were witnesses of the power of saving grace. I
was much gratified with the efforts that have been made to
establish this mission. Finding it impossible to build a
church sufficiently large to accommodate the numerous con
gregations, the missionary has run up a rough building,
covered it with bark, floored it with pine brush, lighted it
with parchment windows ; and here Blackfeet, Crees,
Stonies, and the traveller from other lands, meet to worship
the Lord of all. In the meantime, timber has been pre
pared for respectable buildings ; sashes, nails, etc., brought
from Fort Benton, and we hope by next summer a fair start
will be made on this important mission.
Having a few days at command, I made up my mind to

196 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
prospect the adjacent country. Our first excursion was up
the Bow River Pass. The distance from Morleyville to the
foot of the mountains cannot be less than fifteen miles, the
most deceptive prospect I ever gazed upon, for the gen
eral impression is, when you first look across this beautiful
valley, that a ten-minutes' walk would take you to the base
of these snow-capped peaks, and yet we were two hours and
a half in reaching the entrance of the pass, at a smart
canter. As we approached the great canyon, I was forcibly
impressed with the thought that there stood before us a fit
emblem of both time and eternity. Of time, for the scene
was ever changing. As the sun mounted higher in the
heavens, and the snow began to melt on the summits
of the mountains, small streams rushed over vast precipices
and spent themselves in spray before they reached the
foot of the mountains. To the north of us, a heavy
thunderstorm enveloped the peaks, and we noticed, when
it had passed over, that at a certain elevation there had
been a heavy fall of snow.
In a few days' sojourn in these mountains the prospect is
ever changing. Then there are the huge rocks, in some
places presenting a perpendicular wall 6,000 feet high,
grand representatives of the everlasting, and yet these shall
pass away. While sojourning among these mountains, I
was profoundly impressed with my own ignorance. Here
was a grand field for the geologist, and all I knew about
the science only increased curiosity. Here is a perfect
paradise for the botanist, for among the multiplicity of
flowers and plants, I think I have seen some new specimens,
but find it difficult to classify. And here I have seen the
wild goat upon the mountains, and my party have killed the
big horn sheep, the mountain marmot, and the large black

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 197
partridge ; even the rabbit and the squirrel are unlike any
thing I have seen in other parts of the Dominion. Here is
a grand field for the naturalist.
But, anxious to show the resources of our mission, we
resolved to visit Lake Taylor. Marvellous stories had been
told us by the Stonies of this strange sheet of water ; and,
after a careful inspection, we were certain the half was not
told us. The lake is about eight miles long by one mile
and a half wide, and probably very deep, located between
two huge mountains, and evidently full of the finest trout,
for standing on the shore my party caught eight very fine
specimens. The Stonies tell us they sometimes take them forty
pounds in weight. In fact, every stream we met with was
full of salmon and brook trout. This beautiful lake is not
more than twenty miles, in a straight line, from the mission.
While camped on the shore our Stoney guide pointed out a
path that led straight over the mountain to Morleyville, but
when requested the next day to take us by this route, he
replied, if it were the end of August, in place of June, he
would willingly do so, but at present the snow is too deep
for horses.
Such are the contrasts in this strange land. Close by
our feet the strawberry is ripening, the gooseberry nearly
ready for use, and yet not half a mile distant the snow is
still several feet deep. While conversing with my son, who
has just returned from Benton, I gathered a good deal of
very useful information in reference to the state of things
on our frontier. The past winter has been one of unusual
activity on the part of the fur traders, and a large amount
of valuable furs have been carried out of our country. I
observed in the Notices, that where I had stated in a letter

198 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
referring to their transactions one year ago, "that more
than 50,000 robes had been carried out of British territory
by these whiskey-traders," one cipher had been dropped by
some of my cautious friends, making it "5,000." The secular
papers that had copied the paragraph also made it " 5,000."
Now I reiterate my statement, on the best anthority,
that more than 50,000 robes have been traded from our
Indians annually for a number of years, and that nearly all
the return that these wretched people have received at Ben
ton, for what was worth $250,000, had been alcohol. And
the terrible effect on the tribes is very apparent. Ten years
ago the Blackfeet were rich in horses, and no observer could
visit their camp without being struck with their fine physi
cal appearance as a body of natives; now they are an im
poverished, miserable-looking race. Last winter the usual
amount of shooting took place ; and the worst feature of
this sad work is, the innocent suffer, and not the guilty.
But as the Indian kills the first white man he meets for the
death of his friend, no traveller is safe on these plains until
a stop is put to the infamous conduct of traders.
While I was at Bow River our people found the
body of a white man, who evidently had been killed by
the Blackfeet ; and since our return to Edmonton a
report has reached us that a young man who was in
the Hudson Bay Company's employ last winter had been
killed On this side of Elk River. And all this cata
logue of crime and death can now be traced to the unprin
cipled whiskey-trader. I have frequently received letters
asking for information as to this country, and in which
reference is made to the Missionary Notices. In answer
to such parties, we would just say, as far as our observation
goes, that one of the best stock-raising countries in the

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 199
Dominion will be found south of Elk River. The horned
cattle at our mission arrived at Morleyville late last fall.
Most of the oxen had been worked through the summer,
and those belonging to the missionary performed a large
amount of labor in the winter ; and yet these cattle,
although having to feed themselves, were fit for a trip to
Benton early in the spring. To those who may wish to set
tle on the eastern slope of the mountains, it may be Useful
to know that both provisions and stock can be bought much
cheaper in Montana than in any part of the Dominion. I
saw two enterprising Canadians who, this spring, bought
fifty head of four-year old oxen for twenty-four dollars each.
They are bringing them over to the Saskatchewan, and
I have been informed by my son that half-breed Texan
cattle can be bought for even less than that ; and there is
no doubt in my mind but that the day is not distant when,
on our Dominion soil, we will be able to compete with our
American neighbors in the stock department. As to cereals,
I cannot speak confidently, for they have never been tried
this side of Sun River. One advantage we will have over
Montana — we shall not have to irrigate, for up to the forty-
ninth parallel there is, most seasons, an abundance of rain.
As to the Indian question, which seems to deter many from
making their home in this great country, I would just
remark, that, should the Government give us protection,
the best informed in the country are of the opinion there
will be very little trouble with the Indians.
If they are judiciously treated by the Government, we
apprehend no difficulty in settling the Indian question.
Two things we would earnestly impress on the attention of
those in authority in the country : First, that no notice be
taken by the civil powers of the crimes that have taken

200 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
place in the past. If every murderer were to be arrested,
there would be no end of trouble, and the Government
would most probably become involved in civil war. The
next difficulty will be to know who are Dominion Indians,
and who that cross our lines are not. And this, I appre
hend, will be a difficult matter to decide.
The Blackfeet proper have all along been regarded by
the Americans as their Indians ; but from all we know of
them, they can never be induced to settle on the American
side. The Piegans and Bloods receive annuities at the
American agency, and yet they spend a large part of their
time on our side, and frequently trade at the Hudson Bay
Company's forts. Now this is a question that will have to
be settled before we can treat with these tribes, and until
it is done we cannot expect to have peace on our borders.
Some of these remarks may appear foreign to the work of
a missionary ; but our position is peculiar ; we are often
importuned for information, and if anything we say can
tend to the spiritual and temporal elevation of an unfortun
ate race, we shall feel amply rewarded.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 201

CHAPTEE VIII.
Visits Ontario — Pleads the cause of Missions — Takes a short trip
to the Mother Land — Once more sets his face Westward— Is
employed by Government to conciliate the excited Plain Tribes
— His tragic end.
ONCE more father drives across the plains. This
will be mother's first visit since she left,
fourteen years before. Those years have effected a
wondrous change in the northern part of the conti
nent of America. A line of steamboats is on the Red
River. The Northern Pacific crosses this river near the spot
where the missionary and his family fourteen years
before had camped ; at that time the whole country a
howling wilderness. No man appreciated better than
father did the possibilities of the great North-West,
and these wonderful changes which had already taken
place were sources of great joy to him.
Proceeding eastward, father reached Toronto in time
to be present at the first General Conference of our
Church in Canada. Here he met a hearty wel
come, the whole Conference cheering as he entered its
presence. Some people may imagine that the invita-
14

202 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
tion to come home for a year, given by the committee
of our Church to the missionary in the far-off field, is
suggestive of a period of rest and recuperation, but
this is not so ; every energy of mind and soul must be
resurrected on the part of the returned missionary.
The tension of every nerve must be tightened a little
more, and the whole strain of wear and tear of such
a life as the southerly acclimated frontiersman is now
called to bear, proves often harder on him than the
rough years already passed through.
The crowded houses, the badly-ventilated and over
heated audience-rooins, the cold and chill, though
stylishly arranged, sleeping places — all these things
affect his body ; while ever present to his mind is the
difficulty of presenting his thoughts to a different
people, and possibly expressing them in a language
to which he is not accustomed. If there should come
a Sabbath in the course of the year, which the Mis
sionary Secretary has not included in his programme
of work for the missionary, there are always a few
score of brethren who have been watching this oppor
tunity, and by dint of importunity, they let the mis
sionary off with two services and a Sabbath-school
address sandwiched in between. And herewith we
would announce to all missionaries : If you want rest,
don't go home ; seek it elsewhere. Father, during the

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 203
•
winter succeeding the first General Conference, pretty
well did the Eastern Provinces. Ontario, Quebec,
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, were all visited in turn,
and everywhere the cause of missions and the great
North-West were his theme.
Towards spring he ran over to New York. Coming
back, he sailed for the Old Country. Addressed
meetings in London. Took a run into the Highlands,
from whence his forefathers had come, and then once
more turned his face westward.
He arrived in Ontario in time to be present at his
own Conference. Secured additional help for the work
on the Saskatchewan ; and starting with mother and
his new mission party, he continued the journey west
ward, and to him, homeward ; though in reality just
now he is without a home, for the missionary com
mittee have concluded to undertake a new enterprise
and establish a mission yet further south in the region
of country which is known to-day as Southern Alberta.
Reaching Winnipeg by steam, the real work of the
journey now begins. Carts and oxen must now be
purchased.. Transport provided for families Fortu
nately for the missionary and party, they meet at
this point with Mr. David McDougall, than whom
there is no better guide or frontier traveller on the
continent. He couldu't be much less, being the son of

204 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
his father. Just at this juncture news is brought
over the plains of trouble among the Indians and
half-breeds in the vicinity of Carlton, and westward
beyond it. The facts were, the Government was
proceeding with telegraph lines, and railway, and geo
logical and other surveys. Material was being poured
into the country, and all this, prior to treaties with the
Indians. No explanations had been made, and no
wonder that the natives were concerned about these
things, which ought to be felt by any man of equitable
mind as something altogether "too previous." Sur
veys were stopped, and serious trouble was anticipated.
Father's opinion was sought ; and he gave it as his
view that the trouble had arisen because of a lack of
understanding on the part of the Indians. That if
proper explanations had been made prior to these sur
veys having been attempted, he believed there would
have been no trouble. Immediately he was requested
by Lieutenant-Governor Morris, of Manitoba and the
North-West, to undertake this mission. Accordingly,
receiving his commission, he started with mother, and
proceeded directly to Carlton.
From Carlton he went to Prince Albert, and having
met the natives in these vicinities, he then started out
with his little party westward on to the big plains.
Travelling from camp to camp, he explained these

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 205
matters to the excited Indians, and assured them, as
his instructions were, that the following year commis
sioners would be sent into the country to treat with
them. He was received everywhere with confidence,
and his words were believed ; and the Indian mind all
over the country was set at rest for the time being.
Having travelled westward to Tail Creek on the
Elk River, and thence northward to Edmonton, and
from thence eastward to Victoria on the North Sas
katchewan, thus covering the territory, and reaching
the people most interested in this matter, he then '
started for the mountains and Morley, and the recently
located mission in the valley of the Bow, at which
place he arrived simultaneous with his party, which
he had separated from on the Red River some months
before, and which had been coming as directly as
possible in those days to this its destination. How
joyous the meeting of these missionary parties. Some
have been laboring in the country, others are just
returning from the east, some are new-comers ; all
are here for the same purpose, the taking-up of this
land in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. These
men and women are here to sow the seed of Chris
tianity and civilization, to plant the standard of
empire, to uproot and destroy the savageism of
the native, to restrain the cupidity and selfish-

206 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
ness of the new comer. Truly theirs is a mighty
work, and only by the grace of God can they do it.
Winter is already here. What are the plans for the
future ? Listen to the leading spirit as he speaks to
his son, the resident missionary at Morley : " John,
myself and teacher will have to stay with you this
winter ; it's too late now to begin 150 miles further
south without a chip of preparation as yet having
been made. We are both willing workers ; we will
jump right in and help you to put up your church
and other buildings this winter, and then I want you
to come over with us next spring to Old Man's River,
and give us two or three months with your men and
teams." " All right," I said.
In the meanwhile father's restless spirit moved him
on, and within a few days we were on a trip of explo
ration south along the mountains, our object being to
hunt up the site of the proposed mission, and also
make ourselves acquainted with the best way of reach
ing this point. Between two and three weeks were
occupied on this journey, during which time several
large camps of Indians were reached, and the oppor
tunities for preaching the Gospel were many. The
new Fort McLeod was also visited, and father was
kindly received by the mounted police, this place
being at that time their headquarters. Returning

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 207
from this journey, the fact that our large party
required a fresh supply of provisions came up; and
while some of us went out on to the plains for this,
father proceeded with building operations and other
work connected with the mission. Owing to very
severe weather, and the distance the buffalo had gone
into the plains, the hunting party failed this time, and
were forced to go home in a state of starvation. Late
in December he started on a missionary tour to the
mouth of High River, where there were several trad
ing establishnents, and also quite a number of In
dian camps. Early in the new year he returned to
Morley, bringing word that the buffalo were now
moving westward, and that this was now an oppor
tune time for striking for meat, and as this was very
much wanted by our party, arrangements were made
to go out. Horses driven in, sleighs mended, and, at
the last minute, the man we expected to go with us
was not forthcoming. In vain we looked for another,
and then father said, " I will go with you, for we must
have meat." Our flour was getting low, and there were
many mouths to fill. We started for the hunt, and
procuring fire-wood by the way, pushed out on the
plain. On the third day we came to the buffalo. The con
dition of the prairie for running with unshod horses

208 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
was very bad. The weather was extremely cold. How
ever, we secured some animals ; but Saturday morning
found us with about half loads, and the weather get
ting colder all the while. We saw that the buffalo were
slowly moving westward, we concluded to go back
with our teams to the first point of willows, where we
could get wood, and there spend the Sabbath, hoping
that the weather would moderate, and the buffalo
draw nearer. We spent a quiet Sabbath in our leather
lodge. Our party numbered five. An Indian and his
boy, about twelve years of age, had joined us to
obtain meat for themselves. Our party proper was
composed of father and his nephew, a lad he had
brought from Ontario on his last trip, and the writer,
Monday morning, from a hill alongside of our camp,
we could see buffalo. Father and I, taking four sleighs
with us, and a little wood on one of them, and two
loose horses for running started out towards them.
The Indian and his son, with one sleigh, accompanied
us. We left my cousin to look after the camp and
watch the horses. The weather had moderated some,
but the prairie was still very bad for unshod horses.
Coming as near as we could without starting the
buffalo, father took charge of the horses and sleighs,
and I attempted to run, but so slippery was the prairie
with its patches of snow and ice everywhere, that the

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 209
sharper hoofed buffalo could get away from the unshod
horse. Changing horses three times, getting one tremen
dous fall, which shook me up pretty well all over, I
eventually succeeded in killing six buffalo. The Indian
had not been successful. We gave him one and began
the work of skinning and cutting up the other five.
It was now late in the afternoon. We had butchered
and put on to the sleighs three of the buffalo. We
were at the fourth. While I was working at this one,
father said, " I think I will melt some snow, John, and
boil the kettle, and we will have a cup of coffee."
Taking the little bundle of wood we had brought with
us from the sleigh, father soon had a fire built, and
the kettle boiling. It was now becoming dark. The
coffee made, father said, "Come along, my son, this will
do you good after the shaking up you have had to
day." We had a few small cakes with us. Eating
these, and sipping coffee and talking about our work,
thus the night came on. I remember there was an
odd cake ; father said, " John, you eat that, you have
been working harder than I have to-day." The coffee
drank, we went at the buffalo again. Just as we were
finishing the fourth animal, we heard the Indian call,
and answering him, he came to us with his sled loaded
with the animal which had been given him. Alto-

210 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
gether then we moved on to the fifth animal, and now,
with the Indian's help, we soon had this one skinned
and cut up and loaded on to the sleigh. This being
done, I put my running pad on one of the loose horses,
and gathering up the lariat attached to the halter,
handed it to father, expecting him to ride. I then
said to the Indian, " Go ahead, now, and I will drive
my sleighs after you." He said, " I don't know the way ;
I am a Wood Indian, I am not so much accustomed to
the plains as you are." I said, "I will tell you the way;
you lead off with your horse and I will drive our four
sleighs behind you, and if I see you going wrong, I
will shout to you." The Indian did as 1 told him, and
I strung out our sleighs behind him. We were about
eight miles from camp, and I should judge it was
about eight o'clock at night. There was some wind
blowing and some snow drifting along the ground, but
overhead the stars were clear, and the night was fine.
As I walked behind the last sleigh, father would
ride beside me, or, dismounting, sometimes walk. We
conversed about the future, we talked about the
orphanage that he hoped to build and be instrumental
in establishing at the new mission he was to move on
to in the spring.
We came to the valley of the Nose Creek. Here
there was a long incline to the creek. The Indian

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 211
started off on a run before his horse, and I cracked
my whip, and sent my horses after him. Father had
been walking when we came to the top of this hill,
and as the rest of us ran down the slope, we left him
some distance behind. We crossed the creek, and were
nicely strung out on the flat on the other side of it,
and as fast as we could were making our way to the
gently-rising hill near the summit of which our camp
was situate. I should judge we were about two miles
from camp, when father having mounted his horse,
came up at a gallop. Instead of stopping behind, he
rode up alongside. I said, " Father, are you going on ?"
" Yes," said he. " I think I will go and get supper
ready. That bright star there is right over our camp,
is it not?" said he to me. I looked, and answered,
" Yes." It was impossible for me to think that he
could go astray. The landmarks were extremely good ;
the night was not stormy. Away he rode into the
darkness. Little did I think that I had spoken to my
father for the last time in this world.
We went on to our camp until we were within two
hundred yards of it, being situate down in a little
valley. When I came in sight of the spot I saw no
light ; my heart misgave me. I rushed the horses up
to the tent, and shouted, '' Father ; father. Moses ;
Moses." (This was the name of my cousin we had

212 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
left in the camp that morning.) But no answer came.
I jumped into the lodge. There was no fire. I felt
around, and found the boy buried under the buffalo
robes, he evidently having become frightened as night
came on. I shook him up. Said I, " Moses, did father
come V He said, " No ; I have not seen him." I jumped
out and grasped my rifle, which I had fastened on one of
the sleighs, and fired several shots in rapid succession.
I told the Indian to shoot off his old flint-lock, and he
did so repeatedly, putting in large charges of powder.
Then I said to myself, how foolish to get so excited.
If father has missed the camp, he will be in before I
can get these horses unharnessed ; or he has ridden
past to hunt up our horses we left here to-day ; and
with this thought I went to work and unharnessed the
horses, and disposed of them for the night. But no
father came. We did the best we could.
The next morning, with the first peep of day-light,
I found the horses, and was glad to see that the one
he had ridden was not with them, for I had thought,
that father might have been thrown, and hurt badly,
and if so, the horse would come to his partners. He
was not there, and again I said to myself, it is now
daylight, and by the time I get these horses back to
camp father will be there ; but he didn't come. The
Indian and myself scoured the country the whole day.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 213
. We did it systematically. The Indian was a first-class
moose-hunter. I was no novice in such work. Even
ing came without a clue ; then I said, father missed
the camp last night, and passing on up to the ridge
west of us, Morley would appear so near to him this
morning, that he concluded to go right on to the mis-
•sion. Some one will come out to meet us to-morrow.
This was my theory ; the Indian thought so too. Since
Sunday the weather had been moderating.
Monday night, when father left us, it was compar
atively fine. Tuesday was a beautiful winter's day.
Tuesday at midnight the weather was still fine.
Shortly after this the wind changed, and a most
terrific northwest storm set in. It was impossible to
move on the plains. Sheltered as we were in the
valley, we had hard work to keep the fire going. We
said, No one will start from Morley to-day. The
storm continued all day, and a greater part of the
following night.
Thursday morning, bright and early, we started for
home. Getting my party fairly on the way, I left
them to come on, and hurried home, reaching there
late Thursday night, but father was not there. Then
he must have gone to Calgary. We hurried down to
Calgary. There were no tidings of him. We secured
help and began the search. Saturday afternoon we

214 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
found the horse. Saturday night we heard from some •
half-breeds that they had seen a man leading a horse,
the whole description corresponding to him and his
horse. The time they had seen him was on Tuesday
afternoon. Some continued the search, and others
went for more help, and on Sunday we had all the
available force we could get out on the search, but the
weather became intensely cold, and Sunday night we
had to fall back on Calgary for food ard wood
We then saw the necessity of better equipment, and
we went home and gathered in all our available horses
and sleighs, and starting out with all the men we
could get, we camped on the spot, and continued the
search. The following Sunday I was riding up a cooley,
had dismounted and tied my horse, so that I might
more effectually search the clump of brush I found
there. Presently I heard some one shouting ; running
out, and getting on to my horse and moving up the
hill, I found it was the man next to me in the line of
search. Said he to me : " They are making signs to me over
yonder." Ah, thought I, father is alive. I had not yet given
him up. When I reached the now rapidly congregat
ing party, my poor broken down brother said, " Oh,

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 215
John, father is dead; they have found his frozen
body." A half-breed, one who was not with us on the
search, but was out hunting, had killed a buffalo, and
going back to his camp, had taken his horse and sleigh
and was making a bee line as much as possible to
where his buffalo lay, and in so doing drove right on
to father's lifeless body. He put him on the sleigh,
and took him back to his camp, and sent us word.
Soon we stood beside his lifeless form. A kind native
woman had spread her shawl over it. I lifted the
shawl, and as I saw the position in which he had
frozen, I said, " Just like him ; he was thoughtful of
others, even at the last moment." As I looked at him,
and beheld his features, I said, " Whatever may have
happened to father, towards the last he was conscious,
and feeling that death was upon him, he had picked
a spot as level as he could, and laid himself out
straight upon it, and crossing his hands, had thus pre
pared to die." His face was perfectly natural. There
seemed to me to be the expression upon it of conscious
satisfaction. Reverently we lifted him and laid him
on the sleigh, and solemnly we started on that Sunday
afternoon on our homeward journey.
The next day the party reached the mission. For
tunately we had as our mission teacher at this time a
medical man, Doctor Verey. I asked him to examine

216 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
the body, but to disturb it as little as possible. How
ever, no clue as to what caused his death was discov
ered. My own theory is, that some disease affecting
either his heart or brain, so acted upon him that for
the time being he was unconscious of his surround
ings ; otherwise I cannot explain his being lost. We
left him clothed as he had lived and walked last, in
Western costume, thoroughly prepared for storm, as
he knew well by long experience how to be. Thus
he had taken his last walk, and strength failing, had
laid him down and died.
It was a sorrowful company that bore his remains
to the grave. With trembling utterance we laid him
in it, in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrec
tion. His work is finished, but not forgotten, nor yet
will it be. A faithful son, a true husband, a fond and
righteous parent, a real patriot, a faithful missionary,
such was father.
We here insert his last letters, written to the Hon.
James Ferrier, Montreal.
Morleyville, Bow River,
Rocky Mountains, December 17th, 1875.
Hon. James Ferrier, Montreal :
Dear Sir — If our young friends of Great St. James will
just glance at the map, and follow their missionary in his
wanderings since we parted on that delightful Sabbath

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 217
evening, I am persuaded they will need no apology for my
not having written sooner. The journey to Winnipeg is
an old story. There we parted with our mutual friend,
the venerable Dr. Wood, and, accompanied by brother Man
ning and the school-teachers, struck out for the great North-
West. After travelling with the party for some days, I
left them as we approached Fort Ellice; and having a com
mission to visit the Crees and Stonies, I made all possible
haste to reach Fort Carleton.
Here you will observe we had to cross the South Sas
katchewan, a river which was formerly a terror to the
travellers. More than once I had to make a canoe out of
buffalo rawhide, and ferry goods and carts across the rapid
stream; now there is a ferry-boat. After visiting the In
dians of Carleton, and explaining to them the great Queen's
letter, I proceeded down the river sixty miles to the Prince
Albert Presbyterian Mission, where I also met the Indians
of that part of the country, and was treated with great
kindness by Mr. McKellar, the missionary. Here I had
the pleasure of taking a leading part in the opening ser
vices of a new church, and was forcibly struck with the
fact that our country is greatly indebted to the missionary
for its material development. When I passed through this
country eleven years ago all was wild and desolate ; now
there are three churches in the settlement, and where the
prairie grass waved but a few years ago, there are now vast
fields of the finest wheat ; the settlers expect to have 30,000
bushels. Most of these people are mixed bloods, but there
are quite a number of Indians who regard Prince Albert as
their home.
Having completed the work in that section of the coun
try, in company with a gentleman of your city, Mr. Ellis,
15

218 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
the geologist, I started westward, following up the South
Saskatchewan. Now, in your favored land of railroads and
steamboats, it may appear but a very small matter to travel
from Carleton to the Rocky Mountains, and the day will
soon come when it will be but a small matter here ; but to
me it was a very serious one. The buckboard was our mode
of conveyance, the tent our lodging-place. There is not a
twig or a bush for hundreds of miles, owing to the Indians
having followed the buffalo so far out into the big plain,
and we were therefore obliged to spend weeks in a woodless
country. Now just look at the effluence of the Elk or Red
Deer River. Here I met with a deeply interesting people,
the Plain Stoney ; they had seventy leather wigwams.
These children of the prairie were greatly pleased when
I told them what the Gospel had done for their brothers of
the mountains. Now run your finger along the map in a
westerly direction, and your eye will catch a place called
Buffalo Lake ; some call it Bull's Lake.
Here, by appointment, I met our missionary party, and
also my son from Morleyville, and a large number of Chris
tian Indians from Whitefish Lake and Victoria. My next
journey was north, to old Fort Edmonton, thence east to
Victoria. At every point I met with a most cordial recep
tion from our Indian friends, who were all delighted to hear
that the " Great Ogeeinah " was going to treat with them
for their lands.
From Victoria we proceeded straight to Morleyville, by
Edmonton. Now, just look for old Bow Fort, or Bow River;
six miles east of that stands your mission. Having spent
three or four days amongst the Stonies, accompanied by my
son, I started for Fort McLeod. You will observe that,
running nearly parallel with the mountains, there is a vq,st

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 219
range of hills called the Porcupine. To find a road through
the great valley was one of the objects of our journey. We
were guided by the Stoney interpreter, James Dixon, a
very remarkable man, who for years has been the patriarch
of his people. James, in a five days' journey, could point
out every spot of interest ; now showing us the place where,
more than twenty-five years ago, the venerable Rundle vis
ited them, and baptized many of their people ; a little fur
ther on, and the location was pointed out to us as where
his father was killed by the Blackfeet ; then again, from a
hill, our friend pointed out the spot where a company of
German emigrants, while crossing from Montana to the
Saskatchewan, were murdered — not one left to tell the
painful story.
This occurred seven years ago. How wonderful the
change ! We can now preach the Gospel to those very
people who, but a few years ago, sought the life of every
traveller coming from the American side. Just examine
the latest Canadian map, and see if you can find Play
ground River. Here is the place where we hope to estab
lish our new mission.
This beautiful valley and river is named after the won
derful Nahneboshou, the Indian deity. The red man
believes that while this great personage was on an inspect
ing tour, he was so delighted with the prospect presented at
this place, that he rested, and amused himself by playing
with some stones ; some of them were pointed out to us,
and I should think they are quite as large as the mountain
in the rear of your beautiful city. From the playground of
the deity we could see the mountains of Montana, the great
valley of the Belly River, and the boundless prairie away
towards the rising sun, and thousands of buffalo grazing on

220 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
the plains ; in the rear of us, our guide pointed to the place
where the Stoney hunts the wild goat, and the big horned
sheep, the black tail, the white tail, and the graceful ante
lope. No wonder the poor Indian sighs when he tells you
the story of the past ; a great change is now rapidly passing
over this paradise of the hunter ; yonder stands Fort
McLeod, at the mouth of the Playground River, the grand
old Union Jack waving over that very spot where, only
two years ago, I witnessed the sad effects of a drunken
fight between the whiskey trader and the Blackfeet. Here
we visited a large camp of Blackfeet, and informed them
that we hoped soon to open a mission for their benefit. The
head chief, who is quite an intelligent man, spoke of the
future with anxious forebodings, and I think his statements
were correct ; let me illustrate his position by comparison.
Just suppose that all supplies were cut off from Montreal ;
all factories closed because there was nothing to manufac
ture ; the markets forsaken, because there was nothing to
sell ; in addition to this neither building material nor fuel
to be obtained ; how sad would be the condition of the tens
of thousands of your great city.
Now, the situation of these prairie tribes is exactly anal
ogous to this state. For ages they have lived upon the
buffalo ; with its pelt they have made their wigwams,
wrapped in the robe of the buffalo they feared not the cold,
from the flesh of this ox they made their pemmican and
dried meat, while they possessed his sinews they needed no
stronger thread, from its ribs they manufactured sleighs.
I have seen hundreds of Blackfeet boys and girls sliding
down these hills on this kind of toboggan. The manure of
the buffalo is all the fuel they had— in a word, they were
totally dependent on the buffalo.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 221
Now, these unfortunate tribes behold with amazement
the disappearance of these animals, upon which they have
existed for ages. Unfortunate people ! nothing but their
abandonment of paganism and conversion to Christian
ity can save them. Well, let us now go back to Morley
ville. We shall go straight across the bare prairie. There
is no fuel, but we shall carry a few small sticks for our first
encampment, and hope on the second evening to reach the
timber. Our journey was far from pleasant ; at times the
storm swept past us, and at night we had but very little
fire to warm us.
November 6th. — We reached the encampment of our
friend Dixon ; there were 380 Stonies present. Next
morning we held a service, and though the frozen grass was
the best accommodation we could offer our hearers, yet, no
sooner was the announcement made, than men, women and
children gathered round us, and sang with great energy,
" Salvation, oh ! the joyful sound." Here I counted over
one hundred boys and girls . who ought to be attending
school, and who, I hope, will be, as soon as we can get a
place erected sufficiently large to accommodate them. I
must tell you now how I expect to pass the remainder of
the winter. Since our arrival we have built a place of
worship, and fitted up a room for each of the families. For
tunately, my school master is a good carpenter, and I am
an old hand at building, so we have resolved to assist my
son in completing the mission church. The only appropria
tion made for this important mission was $500 ; the im
provements now in progress will cost considerably ^over
$3,000. We cannot ask the Society for another appropriation
under existing circumstances; so, if the Lord gives us

222 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
health, we intend to do the work ourselves. Perhaps my
young friends may enquire, Why do you not hire somebody
to do the work 1 The answer is simply this : In a country
where the mounted police are paying mixed bloods $90
per month as guides and interpreters, and where a
stock-raiser pays his herder $150 per month, it is not easy
for missionaries to procure laborers. Some future day,
when this great country is filled with Christian men and
women, we shall be able to build churches just as you do in
Montreal. At present, if your missionaries would succeed,
they must not be afraid of a little manual labor. I expect
next week to visit the mounted police on Bow River; if
spared to return, I have a number of Indian facts which I
hope to send you.
Your affectionate friend and missionary,
G. McDougall.

Morleyville, Bow River,
Rocky Mountains, January 6th, 1876.
Hon. James Ferrier, Montreal :
Dear Sir, — In the midst of much confusion and toil, I
send you another paper for your model Sabbath-school. I
wrote you a short time ago ; as to the matter or manner, I
shall be thankful to receive any suggestions from you or
the intelligent teachers of your school. There is something
that strikes on all hearts in the spectacle of a great man's
funeral. The hearse, the solemn inarch of the procession,
are both very impressive ; and yet the subject of all this
show may have been heedless of the great Salvation, and,
if so, is now suffering the doom of a lost spirit. No feel
ings of this kind trouble the heart of the believer as he foi-

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 223
lows the young disciple of Jesus to the resting place of the
body ; of these it can be truly said, " Blessed are the dead
that die in the Lord."
Reflections like these often cross the mind of the Indian
missionary as he looks for the last time upon all that is
mortal of one of his Sabbath-school scholars. In the past
twenty-five years I have assisted at the burial of hundreds
of these little red children. The squirrel now gambols in
the boughs of the trees that overhang their graves, and the
partridge whistles in the long grass that floats over the soli
tary place ; but the incidents connected with their short
pilgrimage cannot be forgotten. Little Ka-be-o-sense was
about three years old when his parents, and his grand
father, Ke-che-da-da, were converted on the south shore of
Lake Superior, about sixty miles west of Sault Ste. Marie ;
and, at the first camp-meeting ever held in that country, on
Sabbath afternoon, while the Rev. Peter Jones was conduct
ing the communion service, the mighty power of God was
so manifest that many were constrained to cry aloud. To
use an Indian idiom, this was the hour when the relatives of
Ka-be-o-sense first sighted the promised land. His mother,
a very delicate young woman, but one susceptible of strong
impression, there consecrated herself to Christ, and from
that moment religion was to her, not only a new life, but a
passion. Henceforth she talked to her little boy about the
Saviour, just as she would about some very dear friend ; she
taught him to sing ; she brought him regularly to class-
meeting and Sabbath-school ; and what is most gratifying
to a pious mother, she observed that with the first awaken
ing of the mind, the blessed Spirit was influencing and
moulding the heart.
How fortunate when parents and teachers understand

224 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
and sympathize with a sin-sick child who longs to love the
Saviour ! This forest boy was taught the simplest truths of
religion, and shortly we had scriptural authority for be
lieving that our little friend was happy in the emotions of
joy and peace. When nearly six years old, little Ka-be-o-
sense caught a very bad cold, which, in a few short weeks,
terminated in consumption. I was in the Sabbath-school
when a messenger from the cabin of Ke-che-da-da arrived,
requesting that I should immediately visit the little sufferer.
On arriving at his humble abode, I at once perceived that
the struggle of life had nearly ended ; the dear child re
ceived me with a smile, and pointing with his finger to a
corner of the room, said, " Jesus has sent for me ; the
heavenly people are waiting for me." His mother informed
me that for more than an hour he had been directing their
attention to that part of the room, and telling them that
the angels of the Great Mun-ee-doo had come for him. He
then requested us to sing, and while the songs of the earth
calmed and comforted the sorrowing friends, the redeemed
and saved spirit of little Ka-be-o-sense passed away to the
realms of rest. With deep emotion we thought of the mar
vellous change which had taken place in a few moments.
Present to the natural eye, was the humble home of an
Indian child, the weeping friends and the lifeless body, but
the eye of faith beheld the ascending spirit, the rejoicing
angels, and above all, the welcome received from the
adorable One, who said, " Suffer little children to come unto
me." Before parting with Ke-che-da-da's family, I wiD
briefly relate a circumstance showing the ardent desire of a
native Christian to read the word of God. I had noticed
that the father of Ka-be-o-sense always brought his Bible
to church, and followed the reading of the lessons with

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 225
marked interest, and the circumstance excited my curiosity.
I knew he was what we termed an inland Indian, and that
no school teacher had ever penetrated the wilderness where
he was born. Approaching him after service, I said, "You
can read 1 " and his answer was, " Yes." "Who taught you
the letters 1" "I do not know them," was his reply. "Then
tell me how you can read." Without any embarrassment
he replied, " This is the way. I observe that when you
pronounced any of our words that they were broken up
into small parts. (I would here state that at this time we
used Peter Jones' translation, in which, though he employs
English orthography, all the words are divided into syl
lables. That Muneedoo is written Mun-ee-doo.) When the
white man says '' Indian," you write it " Uh-ne-she-nah-ba."
When I went to my tent, I would take a hymn-book, and
ask my wife to repeat one of the hymns she had learnt by
heart, and I soon became acquainted with the form of all
the syllables." Now, the simple fact flashed upon my mind,
that this poor Indian, by intense and unremitting study,
had mastered every syllable in his language. May not
something of this kind have first suggested to the ingen
ious and indefatigable James Evans, the first idea of
the syllabic character. When the light of Christianity first
reached this young pagan, he was about eighteen years old,
and the fire then kindled in his young heart was no tran
sient flame. Very few in two short years have labored
harder or accomplished more for the good of their people.
Often, since my lot has been cast amongst these wild,
sensual tribes of the west, I have thought of zealous Ah-
nee-me-ke, and felt constrained to plead with the God of
missions that He would raise up and thrust out from
amongst the Blackfeet young men like Ah-nee-me-ke, filled

226 GEORGE MILLWARD M'DOUGALL,
with the Holy Ghost. My young friend was not what men
called gifted ; unlike many of his countrymen, he was a
poor orator, and his gift of song was very limited ; yet,
wherever this young man went, a blessed influence followed,
and, until his health entirely broke down, he was inces
santly at work for the Master.
I have heard him plead with the Sabbath-school children,
entreating them to give their hearts to Christ, until all
were in tears. I have seen him kneel beside a hardened old
conjurer who had bewitched his people with sorceries for
many years, until he trembled, and began to pray. The
secret of all this young man's power was his entire conse
cration to God. I can now recall my feelings when as
sisted by this devout young man, for though we greatly
rejoiced in his success, we saw that he was rappidly slipping
away from us. It was in the spring of the year when he
was first confined to his humble bed. I daily spent an hour
with him, and invariably came away blessed in my own
soul by the conversation and experience of this dying In
dian boy. The last time I called upon him his father was
sitting by his couch, the rest of the family being out in the
sugar bush.
Taking him by the hand, I enquired how he felt, and his
reply was, "You have just come in time, for I am dying."
Just at that time a Church of England minister entered
the room. I informed my friend we were about to have
prayer, and requested him to lead, which he readily did.
Kneeling beside my native brother, I took his hand in
mine, and, while the man of God was commending the
departing soul to the Saviour which redeemed it, the young
disciple fell asleep in Jesus. When we arose from our
knees I informed Wah-bun-noo-sa of what had taken place.

THE PIONEER, PATRIOT AND MISSIONARY. 227
In this old man there was still a leaven of paganism, yet he
fully believed in Christianity. He said that three things
had caused him greatly to rejoice : 1st. That two ministers
had been present when his son died. 2nd. That his dear
boy was so happy in the prospect of death ; and lastly, that
the Great Mun-ee-doo had called his son away at exactly
twelve o'clock ; and what specially filled his heart with
gratitude was, that the sky was perfectly clear, allowing
the departed a glorious ascent to the home of the Great
Spirit. We did not, at that time, try to instruct this poor
man by informing him that his son had entered that land
where there is day without night. I shall be glad, at some
future time, to inform you about some of our living Sab
bath-school scholars, some who have been rescued from the
deepest poverty and ignorance, and are now creditably fill
ing positions of responsibility.
With kindest regards, I remain your missionary,
G. McDougall.
Trusting that this simple detail of the life of my
father may stimulate some hearts to a broader patri
otism, and brighter Christian life, is the earnest prayer
of the writer.
Morley, 1888.

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MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.

THE reader of the preceding chapters will have
wandered, in imagination, with us over an
immense region of country. First, we went down the
valley of the Red and Nelson Rivers, to the shores of
the Hudson Bay, then turning westward we climbed
the slopes of the continent into the shades of the
Rocky Mountains.
Traversing the big plains and woodlands, situated
immediately to the east of these mountains, we camped
southward on the banks of the Missouri, and went
northward, on to the tributary streams of the great
McKenzie, flowing into the Arctic Ocean.
And yet we have placed upon record but little con
cerning the natural resources of this big country.
From father's letters we readily learn that he valued
these resources, and always prophesied a grand future
for this, the land of his adoption, and however san
guine his faith, none the less is ours in the solid
material worth of this portion of our great Dominion.
Our reasons for thus believing are as follows ;

232 MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.
1st. Size. — From Rat Portage to the summit of the
Rocky Mountains, and from the forty-ninth parallel
to Great Slave Lake, we have a block 1,000 miles
square ; beyond this we leave a large margin to be
prospected and experimented upon by posterity. Con
fining ourselves to the above square block, we have an
acreage of 640,000,000. Because of swamps and water
and unarable parts, let us discount this by half. Mind
you, I do not discount any portion ; long since I
learned to believe that any part of God's creation
would eventually fall into line, it being man's mission
to discover and utilize. All came from one great
Mind. Each is wealthy in its kind. However, deduct
ing half, we have 320,000,000 acres, which would give
a population of 3,200,000 souls 100 acres each. No
small inheritance this for any people.
2nd. Climate. — All over this big stretch of country,
spring opens from the first to the twentieth of April,
and winter begins from the first to the twentieth of
November. Altitude and latitude are such that in the
summer season there is very little night, thus there is
a large percentage of sun, which to a great extent does
away with the probability of frost in summer. Then
its situation puts it on the northern slope of the Con
tinent, and thus it is always dropping away from the
height of land which lies east and west and south

MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. 233
of the forty-ninth parallel. And this fact is to us a
very sufficient reason for our not being nearly so sub
ject to storms, blizzards and cyclones in this country
as they are in the states and territories south of us.
By experience we know that, as other parts of
America have been subject to climatic changes conse
quent upon settlement and occupancy by civilized
man, so has this in the portions already thus occupied,
and we have no doubt that these changes will mul
tiply as the development and settlement of the coun
try moves on. We believe that nowhere else in the
Dominion is there so large a percentage the year
round of clear sky and sunshine.
3rd. Soil. — Of course, in so vast a territory, there
is variety. Light and heavy soils alternate according
to geographical position and antecedent conditions.
But we believe we are safe in challenging the North
American Continent anywhere else to show as much
good arable soil per acre as Manitoba and the North-
West is possessed of. At Hudson Bay posts and
mission stations everywhere in spots through the
country, the soil was tested many years since, and the
fact practically demonstrated that all the hardier
kinds of cereals and roots could be grown, and does
not the crop this year satisfy even the most unbeliev-
16

234 MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.
ing as to the possibilities of our western country as a
bread producing land.
4th. The Pasture. — Here we have one of the
largest and best pasture fields in the world. The
natural grasses are rich and varied in their quality.
In the prairie sections the autumn winds and dry
weather, characteristic of that period of the year, cure
the grasses and prepare them for winter fodder.
Along the base of the mountains there are large sec
tions which are pre-eminently suited for winter ranges.
For fifteen winters I have had cattle running at large
all the year, with no other provision than that pro
vided by nature. For seventeen years our principal
food was buffalo meat, and of course the only food of
these animals was the natural pasture to be found all
over the North-West. When I first came to the
plains, the migrations of these vast herds were north
and south ; north in fall -and winter, and south in
spring and summer. It would take 1,000 railway
trains, each carrying 500 head of stock, to move the
number of God's cattle I have seen at one time from
the summit of one hill by a glance of my naked eye
over the country stretching from my feet in every
direction. Interspersed among them were thousands
of antelope, also feeding upon this big pasture. All
these lived and thrived, and grew fat without the ex-

MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. 235
penditure of any thought or labor on the part of man;
and when, in the order of Divine Providence, these
wild animals, having served their purpose, disap
peared, they left their immense rich pasture for the
occupancy of the economic and thrifty civilized man,
who can, if he will, herein raise and graze his flocks
and herds away up into the millions in multitude.
To-day we have in Manitoba and the North-West, of
stock of all kinds, about 350,000 head. At twenty
acres per head we have room and pasture for 16,000,-
000 head:
5th. Water. — A very small portion of the North-
West Territory may be termed arid, and even here
there is considerable surface water, and through this
the South Saskatchewan flows, and every here and
there are to be found living springs, so that what is
generally looked upon as the dry portion of our coun
try is not really so, but west and north, and east of
this, there is abundance of splendid water.
There are very many small lakes, and the perennial
rivers and creeks that flow through the country in
every direction are simply " legion." Among all the
big ranges of hills general through the country, but
more especially along the immediate base of the moun
tains, magnificent springs of the finest water are to be
found on almost every quarter section.

236 MANITOFA AND THE NORTH-WEST.
The drop of the continent to the east and north is
such that every stream is a succession of water powers.
The rain-fall in the months of June and July is as a
rule large, and the dew is also plentiful. Many times
have we been wet through and through while hunting
stock in the early morn, amid the rank growth of pea
vine and blue joint, common to the whole of the Sas
katchewan Valley. In twenty-eight years' sojourn
north and west of Winnipeg, I have experienced but
one season of drouth.
6th. Minerals. — That gold, silver, iron, copper, lead
and coal form part of the wealth of this country is a
well-known fact.
As yet, with the exception of coal, very little has
been done towards developing these natural factors in
the material advancement of a country. Some placer-
digging for gold has been carried on among the bars
of the North Saskatchewan and Peace Rivers, and
for more than a score of years the sands of the Sas
katchewan have been made to yield a revenue to a
number of men, who have every spring and fall, with
the crudest machinery, washed the glittering gems
from the black sands ; and though these deposits are
continually going on, no one has up to this time found
the source. Some day this will be discovered; in the
meanwhile quartz leads have been found in the moun-

MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. 237
tains, rich in copper, silver, gold and lead, but the
capital for the opening of these has not yet come to
the front. The country is young, and capitalists are
careful ; but presently some of the enterprise of the
older parts of the world will turn this way, and our
mountains and foot-hills will become " hives of indus
try." As to coal, it is everywhere. All the larger rivers,
and many of the creeks, cut through and run over
beds of " black diamonds." Both bituminous and an
thracite mines are already being worked, and we have
no doubt that as railroads penetrate this hitherto
wilderness land, the coal industry will assume vast
proportions. The states and territories to the south, and our own
big prairie section, will need an immense amount of
fuel, and here in the North-West we have an unlim
ited supply of good coal, and the mining and trans
port of this will furnish employment for thousands in
the near future.
I have traced what seems to me to be one immense
coal bed from within a few miles of the boundary line
to the northern end of Lesser Slave Lake, a distance
of 500 miles.
7th. Timber. — While Manitoba and the North-West
cannot challenge either the Eastern Provinces or

238 MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.
British Columbia in this respect, yet our timber
supply is not to be overlooked. With the exception
of the most southerly portion, a region of about 400
miles long by 200 miles wide (and in this there are
the Moose, Woody, and Cypress Mountains, which
are well wooded), all the rest of the country is more
or less timbered, prairie and woodland alternating
the one with the other everywhere.
The settler, with very little exception, will find on
his own homestead fencing and fuel, and material for
pioneer buildings, and in many parts he will find him
self adjacent to spruce forests, which will attract saw
mills, and thus his lumber supply for the future will
be assured. The further north and east one travels
the denser is the timber growth, and when settlement
and legislation put a stop to prairie fires, this growth
will travel southward, for there are valuable kinds of
timber indigenous to the soil of the North-West, which
only want a chance to grow.
8th. Appearance.— This is a land of beauty. There
is nothing monotonous about the North-West. The
scenery is as varied as the country is large. Here is
opportunity for the indulging of every taste. Do you
want a flat, even expanse to stand on, a vast level, and
let the horizon drop all around you, like unto an in
verted bowl ? Then Manitoba, from Rat Portage to

MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. 239
Portage la Prairie, and from the boundary line to Lake
Winnipeg, will suit you. Would you rather a gently un-
undulating land, small hills, broad valleys and graceful
slopes ? From Portage la Prairie to Calgary, and from
the boundary line to Edmonton and Battleford, in a
vast area, you have your choice in almost bewildering
variety. Do you hanker after water and headland
and bay, after gems of islands and labyrinths of intri
cate waterways ? Is it music to your ear to listen to
the rippling of currents, and tumbling of cascades, and
roaring of rapids ? Take the country to the north of
Rat Portage, and about Norway House and the north
shore of Lake Winnipeg, and on, on to Hudson Bay,
and westward into the Athabasca country. Here you
may paddle and portage " your own canoe " for thou
sands of miles and never need to sigh,
" Oh ! for a lodge in some vast wilderness."
Do you like to ride or drive to the height of some
grand range of hills, and from thence look out upon a
wondrous panorama of the beauty and variety of
God's creation ? Come with me to the Nose, or Eye,
or Ear, or Sickness Hills, ranging along in distances
from the South Branch northward to the Saskatche
wan, and from the summit of any one of these your
eye will reach out forty and fifty miles in every direc
tion, and, will gradually accustom itself to taking in

240 MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.
the rich landscape scenery which in grand profusion
is before us.
Hills and valleys, shapely as they have fallen from
Nature's lathe. Islands of timber and fields of prairie,
artistically arranged, and so placed that however cul
tivated your taste, you would not change them if you
could. Glistening lakelets and winding creeks, " like
threads of silver " intersperse the scene. In season
the smell of rank vegetation, and the aroma of thou
sands of wild rose beds, is wafted to your nostrils, and
to crown all, you expand your lungs and breatuei a
most glorious atmosphere ; for you are on the High
lands of America and in the garden of the Dominion,
and strange to say, that, as yet, from any one of these
high places I have mentioned, you will look in vain
for the smoke from a settler's chimney, for up to the
time of my writing none have reached thus far.
Perhaps you crave something vaster, grander, more
majestic still ; let us stand on one of the ranges of
hills running north and south, about 150 miles east
of the base of the Rocky Mountains ; if the day is
clear and bright, we will look upon a painting worth
making an effort to behold. Yonder, rising range
beyond range, and stretching north and south and
giving us the compass of an immense region, are
the Grand Mountains,

Manitoba and the north-west. 241
"Where to cloudland and glory
God transfigures the sod. "
The forests as they climb the steeps and the perpen
dicular rocks as they stand heavenward darken the
scene, but above them the snow-clad fields and glaciers,
that never melt, glisten in the sun. Perhaps, as we
look, a fleecy cloud catches on some peaks, and for a
little veils ' these from our vision, or lower down a
thunder-storm rolls up against the mountains, and
while we see the lightning and hear the distant roar
of thunder above the dark cloud, we see the summits
shining with reflected rays, unmoved and unnerved by
the force of electric shock and storm upon their sides.
Let us draw nearer, and presently we begin to notice
the Foot Hills. Like many an aesthetic Christian, we
had been looking above, and missed seeing the beauties
and duties of lower life. Now these great hills attract
our attention, their wooded slopes and summits finely
shaded by Douglass and spruce trees, with the prairie
sod growing in among their roots, strike us as very
gems of picnic grounds. Take the Foot Hills from
the Old Man River to the Athabasca, and they rival
the most perfect natural scenery. Here we have
mountains, prairie, woodland, river, lake, all harmon
iously blended by nature, into a great, grand and ever-
changing picture.

242 MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST.
Going into the mountains, we find that they are not
all rock and snow, but that intersecting them every
where there are charming valleys and thousands of
ready-made camping grounds, and an infinitude of
streams and lakes, all more or less full of fish, so that
for years we might spend the whole summer, and by
changing our routes, always have fresh fields and
scenes. Just one thought more. When you hear any one
say, "I know all about the North-West," please dis
count that statement ; do so largely, for no man living
knows all about this great, big, wonderful land. Geo
logical, geographical and botanical surveys may con
tinue for years to come (and it is proper they should),
but after all " the half will not have been told."
My opportunity has been a good one, perhaps better
than that of any living white man, especially as to
what is termed " the Fertile Belt," and yet I am free
to confess, I know but little. The field is so large, the
problem so great, it will take time to discover and
solve ; but here let me place on record that I firmly
believe in the capability of this part of our great Do
minion for the maintenance of a large population,
which will be in no wise disappointed in the heritage
God has reserved for them.
J. McDougall.
Morley, April 6th, 1888.