Page:Life and journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-na-by.djvu/162

Monday 19th. — This morning we were visited by Mr. Scott, the Baptist minister, who proposes to assist the Rice Lake Indians in procuring lands from Government for them, and in building houses. Elder Case had much talk with him on the subject, and Mr. Scott declared, in the presence of a number of witnesses, that it was not his intention to interfere with the religious sentiments of the Indians, nor with the proceedings of the Methodists, wherever Christianity had been introduced amongst them. All he wished, was to better their temporal condition, by furnishing them with lands and houses; and that he would leave it with the Wesleyan Missionary Society to provide missionaries and school teachers. He then informed us that he had appointed to meet in council with the Chief's at Captain Anderson's, where he wished me to be present. We accordingly started with Mr. Biggar for the Rice Lake, and in the afternoon met the Chiefs and principal men in Council, when Mr. Scott made his proposals known to them. The Indians willingly accepted the offers, and expressed their thanks to him, and the company across the great waters, who had sent him, for their benevolent desires to assist the poor wandering Indians in bettering their condition. Peter Rice Lake, one of the Chiefs, rose and said, "Brother, I am happy to see you and hear your good words; we have been very anxious to settle down and enjoy the blessings of civilization, that our women and children may be made comfortable and happy; we are glad that you are willing to help us to build houses, and get oxen and farming utensils, for we are very poor and needy; but should we get this assistance we shall be better able to provide for our families the comforts of life. Brother, we are very happy to hear that you have not come to turn us from our way of worship, as we intend to serve the Great Spirit in the way we first found him." Mr. Scott gave the Indians to understand plainly that they might serve the Lord