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Page 53
In fact the Takelly language has not a term in it to express the name
of Deity, spirit, or soul. When the Columbia religion was introduced
among them, our interpreters had to invent a term for the
Deity--Yagasita--the "Man of Heaven." The only expression I ever heard
them use that conveyed any idea whatever of a superior Being is, that
when the salmon fail, they say, "The Man who keeps the mouth of the
river has shut it up with his red keys, so that the salmon cannot get
up." One of our gentlemen, a member of the Roman Catholic Church,
teaching the Takellies to make the sign of the cross, with the words
used on the occasion, his interpreter translated them, "Au nom du
P�re, de son Fr�re, et puis de son petit Gar�on!" (In the name of the
Father, his Brother, and his little Boy!)
The accompts and despatches for head-quarters being finished in the
beginning of March, I was ordered to convey them to Fort Alexandria,
to the charge of which post I was now appointed. This post is
agreeably situated on the banks of Frazer's River, on the outskirts of
the great prairies. The surrounding country is beautifully diversified
by hill and dale, grove and plain; the soil is rich, yielding abundant
successive crops of grain and vegetable, unmanured; but the crops are
sometimes destroyed by frost. The charming locality, the friendly
disposition of the Indians, and better fare, rendered this post one of
the most agreeable situations in the Indian country. In spring,
moreover, the country swarms with game--pheasants and a small species
of curlieu in the immediate vicinity, and ducks and geese within a
short distance. The sport was excellent, and, with the amusement the
cultivation of my garden afforded me, enabled me to vegetate in great
comfort--a comfort I was not destined long to enjoy.
Mr. Ogden, chief factor, arrived from Fort Vancouver about the end of
May, and Mr. Fisher from Stuart's Lake a few days afterwards; and
having consulted together, determined that I should retrace my steps
to Stuart's Lake without delay. When I arrived at Fort St. James its
dreadful solitude almost drove me to despair. I found myself sitting
alone in the hall where my late excellent bourgeois and friends had
passed the time so happily, and I felt a depression of spirits such as
I never experienced before. Fortunately for me, my old friend Mr.
Fraser, a gentleman of a gay and lively disposition, arrived soon
after, and continued with me for the remainder of the season, and his
company soon drove melancholy away.
The particulars of an affair which had occurred here some years
before, and threatened the most serious consequences to the post, were
about this time related to me by Waccan, the interpreter.
A native of Frazer's Lake had murdered one of the Company's servants,
and, strange to say, no steps were taken to punish him; he concealed
himself some time, and finding he had nothing to apprehend, returned
to his village. At length he was led by his evil genius to visit
Stuart's Lake, then under the command of a Douglas. Douglas heard of
his being in the village, and though he had but a weak garrison,
determined that the blood of the white man should not be unavenged.
The opportunity was favourable, the Indians of the village were out on
a hunting excursion, the murderer was nearly alone. He proceeded to
the camp accompanied by two of his men, and executed justice[1] on the
murderer. On their return in the evening, the Indians learned what had
happened, and enraged, determined to retaliate. Aware, however, that
Douglas was on his guard, that the gates were shut and could not be
forced, they resolved to employ Indian stratagem.
[1] "Wild justice,"--Bacon.
The old chief accordingly proceeded to the Fort alone, and knocking at
the gate desired to be admitted, which was granted. He immediately
stated the object of his visit, saying that a deed had been done in
the village which subjected himself and his people to a heavy
responsibility to the relatives of the dead; that he feared the
consequences, and hoped that a present would be made to satisfy them;
and continuing to converse thus calmly, Mr. Douglas was led to believe
that the matter could easily be arranged. Another knock was now heard
at the gate: "It is my brother," said the chief, "you may open the
gate; he told me he intended to come and hear what you had to say on
this business."
The gate was opened, and in rushed the whole Nekasly tribe, the
chief's brother at their head; and the men of the Fort were
overpowered ere they had time to stand on their defence. Douglas,
however, seized a wall-piece that was mounted in the hall, and was
about to discharge it on the crowd that was pouring in upon him, when
the chief seized him by the arms, and held him fast. For an instant
his life was in the utmost peril. Surrounded by thirty or forty
Indians, their knives drawn, and brandishing them over his head with
frantic gestures, and calling out to the chief, "Shall we strike?
shall we strike?"
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