The Life History and Travels of Kah-ge-ga-gah-bowh, 1847
The Life History and Travels of Kah-ge-ga-gah-bowh, 1847
Chapter VII
The missionaries first visited us on the island called Be-quah-qua-yong, in 1827, under the following circumstances. My father and I went to Port Hope, to see our principal trader, John D. Smith, in order to obtain goods and whiskey, about twelve miles from Rice Lake. After my father had obtained the goods, he asked for whiskey. Mr. Why, all the Indians at Credit River, and at Grape Island, have abandoned drinking, and are now Methodists. I cannot give you any whiskey.”
“Tah yah! (an exclamation of surprise,) it cannot be, I must bave whiskey to carry home; my people expect it,” said my father. He wished to buy a barrel, but only obtained, after much pleading, about five gallons. My father promised to drink no more when the missionaries should have come to Rice Lake. We reached home the same day about one o’clock, and the Indians were awaiting our arrival, that they might have some fire-water. They assembled themselves together and began to drink and to smoke. Many of them were sitting on the grass when the whiskey began to steal away their brains. One of our number suddenly ran in the crowd, and said, “the black coats (missionaries) are coming, and are on the other side of the point.” Each looked at the other with perfect astonishment. My father said to our informer, “invite them to come over to us;”? and to the one who was dealing out whiskey, “cover the keg with your blanket, and don’t let the black coats see it.” The whiskey was concealed, and then came the messengers of glad tiding of great joy. They were converted Indians, saved by grace, and had been sent to preach to us, and to invite us to attend a camp meeting near Cobourg. After shaking hands all around, one of them delivered a speech to the half drunken Indians. He referred to the day when they were without the good news of salvation. He spoke with great earnestness, and the tears fell from his eyes. He said, “Jesus Christ, Ke-sha-mon-e-doo O-gwe-son, (i. e. the Benevolent Spirit’s son,) came down to the world, and died to save the people; all the Indians at the Credit River, and Grape Island, are now on their road to the place where the Saviour has gone. Jesus has left a book containing his commands and sayings to all the world; you will see it, and hear it read, when you go to Cobourg, for the black coats have it. They wish you to come and hear it. To-morrow is the Sabbath, and on that day we do not hunt, or work, for it is the day which the Great Spirit made for himself.” He described the way that the Son of God was crucified. I observed some of them crying; my mother heaved deep sighs; the half drunken Indians were struck dumb, and hung their heads. Not a word was uttered. The missionaries said, “We will sing, and then we will kneel down and pray to the Great Spirit He gave out the following hymn:—
“Jesus ish pe ming kah e zhod.”
“Jesus, my all, to heaven is gone.”
They stood up and sang. O what sweet melody was