tead of
giving it to its rightful claimant, the Reverend James Evans. It is a
remarkable fact, that so perfectly did Mr Evans do his work, that no
improvement has been made as regards the use of these characters among
the Cree Indians.

Other missionaries have introduced them among other tribes, with
additions to meet the sounds used in those tribes which are not found
among the Crees. They have even been successfully utilised by the
Moravians among the Esquimaux.

On our arrival at Rossville the Indians crowded in to see the new
missionary and his wife, and were very cordial in their greetings. Even
some pagan Indians, dressed up in their wild picturesque costumes, came
to see us, and were very friendly.

As quickly as possible we settled down to our work, and tried to grasp
its possibilities. We saw many pleasing evidences of what had been
accomplished by faithful predecessors, and were soon convinced of the
greatness of the work yet to be done. For, while from our church, and
the houses of our Christian people, the songs of Zion were heard, our
eyes were saluted by the shouts and yells of old Indian conjurers and
medicine-men, added to the monotonous sounds of their drums, which came
to us nightly from almost every point in the compass, from islands and
headlands not far away.

Our first Sabbath was naturally a very interesting day. Our own
curiosity to see our people was doubtless equalled by that of the people
to see their new missionary. Pagans flocked in with Christians, until
the church was crowded. We were very much pleased with their respectful
demeanour in the house of God. There was no laughing or frivolity in
the sanctuary. With their moccasined feet and cat-like tread, several
hundred Indians did not make one quarter the noise often heard in
Christian lands, made by audiences one-tenth the size. We were much
delighted with their singing. There is a peculiar plaintive sweetness
about Indian singing that has for me a special attractiveness. Scores
of them brought their Bibles to the church. When I announced the
lessons for the day, the quickness with which they found the places
showed their familiarity with the sacred volume. During prayers they
were old-fashioned Methodists enough to kneel down while the Sovereign
of the universe was being addressed. They sincerely and literally
entered into the spirit of the Psalmist when he said: "O come, let us
worship and bow down: let us kneel befo