ten male and forty-five female assistants.

The Board of Missions connected with the Presbyterian church sustain
missions among the Creeks, the Iowas and Sacs, and the Chippeways and
Ottawas; three missionaries and their wives and several teachers are
employed.

The missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church have
established missions among the Shawnees, Delawares, Wyandotts,
Kickapoos, Pottawatomies, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees, Senecas,
Creeks, Oneidas, Winnebagoes and some smaller tribes. From an old
report of this laborious society, 1844, I have copied a passage which
I will read you:

"It is now generally conceded, by those best acquainted with the
peculiarities of the Indian character, that however powerful the
gospel may be, in itself, to melt and subdue the savage heart, it is
indispensable, if we would secure the fruits of our missionary
labours, to connect the blessings of civilization with all our
Christian efforts. And we rejoice to learn, that among many of the
Indian tribes the civilizing process is going on, and keeping pace
with their spiritual advancement. They are turning their attention
more and more to agriculture, and the various arts of civilized life.
They have also established a number of schools and academies, some of
which they have liberally endowed from the annuities they receive from
the United States government. Some of these schools are already in
successful operation, and many of the Indian youth are making rapid
advancement in literary pursuits."

The Baptist Board of Missions have seven missions, embracing nineteen
stations and out-stations, thirty-two missionaries and assistants, ten
native preachers and assistants, fifteen organized churches and
sixteen hundred professing Christians. These missionary labours are
among the Ojibbewas, Ottowas, Tonewandas, Tuscaroras, Shawnees,
Cherokees, Creeks and Choctaws.

The United Brethren or Moravians, and the Board of Missions of the
Protestant Episcopal church, also maintain missions among the
Indians.

_Austin._ How do the missionaries preach to the Indians? Do they
understand their strange language?

_Hunter._ Your question calls to my mind one of the most interesting
and remarkable events of Indian history. I will endeavour to give you
a brief account of it. I refer to the invention of an alphabet by a
native Cherokee named George Guess or Guyst, who knew not how to speak
English and was never taught to read English b