ing in what
they had promised. Sometimes those who had promised beaver, would be so
fortunate as to meet with a herd of reindeer, and thus would return with
their contribution in venison, perhaps four times in excess of the
beaver promised. Or perhaps the man who promised a couple of wildcats--
and they are not bad eating--while out diligently searching for them,
would detect the tiny ascending thread of vapoury steam from a great
snowdrift, which told him, that low down there in a den were sleeping
some fat hears. These would be dug out, and killed, and part of the
meat would be brought in to the feast. Again it sometimes happened--as
hunter's luck is very uncertain--that some who promised a large
contribution were not able to bring so much. However, with the
donations from the fur-traders and the mission house, there would be a
large supply: and this was necessary, as Indians have good appetites.

As the different kinds of animals were shot or captured, the meat would
be brought to the mission, and well secured from cunning dogs in the
large fish-house; where it would freeze solid, and so keep in good
condition until required. About a week before the day of the feast, the
missionary's wife would call to her assistance a small number of clever
Indian women; and, aided by some men who would cut the frozen meat into
pieces of suitable size, they would roast or boil the whole of this
great assortment. It was an "assortment," and proudly would they look
at it, and rejoice. Out of the flour, plums, sugar and bear's grease--a
substitute for suet--great plum-puddings would be made, hard and solid;
but the chunks cut off with an axe, gave much satisfaction to the hearty
eaters.

When the day arrived, preparations for the feast began very early. The
seats were removed from the church, and tables the whole length of the
interior, were quickly made and put in position by the native
carpenters. Great roaring fires were built in the two iron stoves, and
the inside temperature of the building made as nearly tropical as
possible; while outside it was fifty degrees below zero, or even colder.
This intense heat was necessary to thaw out the meat, which, after it
had been cooked a day or two before, had quickly cooled and frozen
solid. The great supply was soon carried into the hot church, and after
the few hours that elapsed before the feast began, it was in capital
condition for the twelve or fifteen hundred hungry Indian