MISSIONARY LIFE IN THE NORTHWEST.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 217, 22 June 1877, Page 5

MISSIONARY LIFE IN THE NORTHWEST.

A hecent traveller in the Kootenay country gives the following elaborate description of the successful labours of the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate, under whose charge the district of Kuotenay is placed. The happy life of those Indians under the charge of Catholic missionaries, when compared with the degraded position of the Indian tribes under the " peace policy," presents a contrast that proves at once the beneficent influence of truly Christian missionaries in civilising and saving the remnant of the Indian race. This evidence is from a Protestant gentleman, whose impartial views will be read with, great interest. Alluding to the Oblate Fathers he says : — The Indians in this scattered district are "the wildest red men in this province " but they are friendly to the whites, thanks to the mission fathers, who are indefatigable toilers in the vineyard of the Lord. What these men suffer and endure for the sake of the savage is almost incredible. Attending sick calls in a parish the size of Ireland is no child's play. When one of the fathers in the month of April or May attends a call by the Columbian lakes or in some place more remote, he carries with him a few pounds of potatoes, and plants three or four in each place where he may hope to find a dinner in harvest when he returns on the path of duty. Fish-hooks and lines are very useful to the men ; they are often compelled to fish for a dinner, and find it or fast. When they return to the mission, it is not to rest, but to work— picking potatoes, cooking, ploughing. They are the only men I ever saw who could enjoy the pleasure produced l>y working* eighteen hours a day. Their influence over the Indian tribes is not at all surprising. I attended Mass on the 2nd of November, All Souls' day. In the centre of the chapel there was an empty coffin covered with black cloth, ani decorated with a white cross ; twenty caudles were lighted and placed round the coffin, and outside this circle the Indiana on their knees prayed with the priest for the souls of the dead, Mass over, the whole tribe, males and females, followed the priest to the grave-yard. He was preceded by the chief bearing a crucifix, and two Indian boys bearing lighted candles. They marched all around the graves singing the litanies. I did not understand a word of their language, but it electrified me. I followed the procession to see the sport and to laugh at the performance, but when I saw that crowd of savage men halt before the cross in the wilderness and kneel clown to pray, I took off my hat and knelt dowu with them and prayed in earnest; and I can tell you that praying ia earnest was new to me, and beautiful. It was a solemn scene. They returned iv silence to the village, the chief leading and followed by the priest and procession. At night the Indian village was a picture of domestic peace. No whiskey, no noise, no rudeness. There was good humor smiling on their faces, and there was the laugh that was musical because it was the echo of mirth. Who aro the savages, ourselves or the Indians ?