Rhee = NORAD B® my eeenerw eA aaa

Oh find out what damned foolishness it is
that he is telling me about having been told
by a Revelation to change wives! Goodbye!

Upon reaching X I made my way
through the village, passing Indians who
stared straight ahead and completely ignored
my presence. When I arrived at Gitem-
dultz’s house I knocked loudly on the door
several times before a voice within timidly
bade me enter.

I pushed open the door, stepped in and
found myself face to face with—THE
REVELATION. An Indian belle; stolid
of features; short of stature; broad of
beam and thick of limb! The daughter of
a neighbouring chief; about 17 years of age;
chewing gum with resounding smacks and
toeing inward at that angle, which, accord-
ing to the Indian standard of beauty is con-
sidered the acme of perfection.

When my surprise was overcome I asked
for Gitemdultz but got no reply. I tried,
apparently in vain, to make myself under-
stood and although I put my questions to
her in several different ways she showed no
sign of comprehension. Finally, remember-
ing the kind elderly woman whom I had
formerly seen here, I asked “Where is Mrs.
Gitemdultz?” This reached home. In no
uncertain tone she replied “Me, Mrs. Gitem-
dultz now” and disappeared through a
doorway toward the rear of the house.

From the adjoining’ room came the low
buzz of conversation for a few minutes and
then Gitemdultz appeared in person. He
enquired what words I had for him from
the Indian Agent and when I replied that

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I had been instructed to investigate his
marital affairs he became very indignant.
Why did the Indian Agent not come him-
self? Why were his words—he who had
never practiced deceit—doubted? Had not
the missionary preached many sermons about
people being taught by revelations and vis-
ions? Feeling that I had no answer for such
reasoning I departed saying that his words
would be taken to the Indian Agent who
would be glad (?) to hear them.

Returning to quarters I faithfully de-
livered the message and again the Agency
was a scene of many gatherings and on my
next trip I was instructed to tell Gitemdultz
that he must come to the Agency with me
and give an account of his actions.

When told of the Indian Agent’s wish
to see him Gitemdultz readily agreed and
in due course appeared before that tribunal.
Questioned by both church and state he
was never at a loss for an answer. Did they
not know him? Had he not been a good
and faithful servant for many years? All
that he wished to do was insure himself of
future happiness and eternal salvation. Why
had not some of his white teachers told him
that by living with a wife whom he had
taken unto himself by heathenish rites he
was in danger of missing all that he sought
to obtain? Why had they allowed him
to live in this unholy state until he had
been warned of his danger by a vision of the
night? After being so told why question his
sincerity; were they men of little faith?
Had he not, as a young man, divorced all
his pagan Deities in order to live a right-
eous life? Then why not one old woman?

CHAMPIONS OF THE WHITE MAn’s Law

At this stage the Indian Agent wisely
adjourned. Gitemdultz felt secure in his
position and the champions of the white
man’s law would not retreat from the stand
they had taken. The Indian Agent went
into a huddle with the missionary and
myself (I was developing from the cheech-
ako state). Something must be done; the
Indian Act and other statutes were hastily
scanned; there must be some way of meet-
ing such a situation.

At last a happy thought occurred to the
Reverend Gentleman. Gitemdultz, must
not be allowed to function as a chief or
counsellor unless legally married and this
wedding ceremony His Reverence would

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only perform when the bride would be the
original Mrs. Gitemdultz. Surely Gitem-
dultz would be amendable to reason once
this was explained to him. Surely no Indian
would lose such standing with his people
as this chief had enjoyed.

Gitemdultz was recalled and these facts
impressed on him. Closely scanning his
features at that moment I fancied that there
was a trace of a change of expresion; that
a sly twinkle lit up his eyes but as the light
was dim in the Agency office on that dull
winter afternoon I could not be certain.
However he strode from the room without
an answer and upon enquiring for him a
little later I had learned that he had left
for his home.

A few days later I called at X for an
answer to our ultimatum and was told that
he had “gone down river”. This led to
much speculation on our part when I next
reported to the Agency and various opinions
were offered. Was he ashamed to face de-
motion? Had he gone to parts unknown at
present to start life anew away from all
white influence as several of his irreconcil-
able brethern had done?

THE CHIEF TAKES WIFE No. 2

These questions were definitely answered
when I next went to X—_.. First I noticed
that some of the old spirit of goodwill was
returning to the people. Part of the pop-
ulation at least were quite their old selves.
There was to be a feast; a wedding feast.
Did I not know? Why Gitemdultz’s wed-

ding!

By making discreet inquiries I learned
that he had gone down the river a week’s
travel to a village where one of the newly
arrived missionaries was located and repre-
senting himself as the most eligible of bach-
elors, and his fiancée as a maiden unable to
secure paternal approval this missionary per-
formed the ceremony, no doubt fancying

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Page Forty-four