ON THE NORTH-WESTERN TRIBES OF CANADA. 7

croft’s ‘ History of British Columbia,’ this mission, which was commenced
in 1858, had in 1886 ‘developed into a town containing some 1,500 so-
called civilised natives, with neat two-story houses and regular streets.
The principal industry was. the weaving of shawls. There were also a
salmon cannery, with a capacity of 10,000 cases a year; a sash and door
factory ; and a sawmill and a brickyard. The church, built entirely
by the natives, and the materials for which, with the exception of the
windows, were of home production, had a seating capacity of nearly a
thousand, and was one of the largest in British Columbia.’

The unfortunate events which resulted in the withdrawal of Mr.
Duncan and five hundred of his people from the province need not be
referred to here, further than by stating that they led to the appointment
of a commission, composed of two members, representing respectively the
Dominion and the Provincial Governments, to inquire into the condition
of affairs in this quarter. 'The commissioners visited the various stations
on the Tsimshian coast in the autumn of 1887, and presented a very
able and interesting report, which is published in the volume of that
year. Their descriptions fully confirm all that has been said concerning
the great and indeed astonishing advances which have been made by
these natives in all the ways of civilisation. Of the village of Kincolith,
comprising a population of about two hundred, they say :—

‘The houses are mostly on the plan of those at Metlakahtla, one and
a half stories high, with a room for reception and ordinary use, built in
on the space between each two houses. Some of the houses are single-
story, and several ‘“‘ bay windows” could be seen. There are street-
lamps and sidewalks, and the little village bears every indication of
prosperity. The place was tidy and orderly, and the Indians evidently
thriving and well-to-do.’

The larger town of Port Simpson, with a population estimated at
about a thousand, is thus described: ‘The Indian vill: ge, spread over a
considerable area, with several streets and numerous houses, presented
quite an imposing appearance. The houses are substantially built, and
are varied in fashion by the taste of the natives. A long line of houses
fronts upon an esplanade, commanding a fine sea-view, and another on
Village Island faces the harbour. The cemetery on the extremity of this
island is largely in modern style, and contains many costly monuments.
The island is connected with the rest of the town by a ‘long bridge.’
There are a handsome church—said to rank next in size to the one at
Metlakahtla, which is the largest in the province—a commodious school-
house, and a well-conducted orphanage, all bearing testimony to the
energy of those in charge of the mission. There are a fire-brigade house
and a temperance hall; street-lamps are used; and a brass band was
heard at practice in the evening. On the commissioners’ arrival a salute
was fired and a considerable display of bunting was made.’

The report of these impartial and liberal-minded commissioners shows
that these Indians held themselves to be completely on a level with the
white settlers, and that they felt a natural unwillingness to be confined to
a ‘reserve,’ and to be placed under an ‘Indian agent.’ Their sentiments,
manly and self-respecting, were precisely such as might have been ex-
_. pressed by a colony of Norwegians or Japanese, but with the added
claim to consideration that the claimants regarded themselves as the
rightful owners of the land, on which their people had resided from time
immeniorial.

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