e, on improvised beds and couches, we gathered about us the afflicted
ones, making them as comfortable as our limited means would allow.

Over at Oomeme River, our Christian Indians fortunately escaped; but the
pagan Indians, among whom the disease broke out, were wild with fear,
and in many cases acted in a manner to aggravate the disease. Some of
them, when they broke out, rushed from their heated wigwams and rolled
themselves in the snow, which of course was most disastrous treatment,
resulting in the death of numbers. Thereupon, their relatives became so
terrified, that, being afraid to bury their bodies, they stripped the
wigwams from around them, leaving them exposed to the devouring wolves;
and then, sent word over to me, that if I desired their friends to be
decently buried, I must come over and do it myself. Hearing this, I
took some boards, nails, hammer, spades and other things necessary, and
with some Indians, hurried over to the place. After some persuasion, I
succeeded in getting an Indian family to move their wigwam from the spot
where it had stood the whole winter, and where constantly the fire had
been burning; and there, where the ground was yet warm and unfrozen, dug
the grave, making it sufficiently large for all who had died. With our
boards we made the coffins, and after a simple religious service buried
their dead.

At Berens River, our method of procedure among our sick was something
like this. Early in the morning, large pots partly filled with water
were hung over a good fire. Into them were put several pounds of the
good fresh beef or mutton which we had brought from civilisation. When
well boiled, several pounds of rice were stirred in and the whole left
to boil until cooked into a rich nourishing soup. Then nourishing flat
cakes were made in abundance. While this breakfast for the sick was
being prepared, the missionary, with his assistants, was busily engaged
in making the rounds of the sick. Their various wants were attended to,
medicine was given, and every thing that could be, was cheerfully done
for their comfort. Then, the missionary's wife, with her helpers,
followed with kettles of warm soup, bread and tea. Meals of this
nourishing food were given to, and much relished by, the afflicted ones.
There were some such severe cases, that at times it looked as though it
would be impossible to save them; but with heaven's blessing on our
efforts, we were successful in bringing a