MISSIONARY 35

ander, or Alexandria, not far from which a number of
Chilcotins had also settled, as American aborigines can
settle, as well as those of Blackwater, were only the
remnants of a formerly numerous population; but the
other villages were at that time fairly populous.

In all of them, big or small, the new missionary
found well disposed Indians, weak indeed before
temptation, but more religiously inclined than the
Chilcotins. Many of them had been baptized, and the
practice of religion was already having a beneficial
influence on their lives which greatly pleased the young
priest. Lhuskez, the farthest place, lying on the
route of Alex. Mackenzie in 1793, was visited in July,
1883. Father Morice had expected to find there a
great many of the Lhkacho people, who had promised
to come and meet him; but they had left after waiting
two months for him. He had therefore to return
them the compliment the following year, by going
himself to see them at home.

This was in June, 1884. The trip was a cold one:
it snowed a good part of the first day.’ After a long
ride, the wayfarers, dressed in summer clothing, were
benumbed with cold and almost helpless when in the
evening they reached a place favourable for camping.
There, one of the first cares of the half-frozen party
was to make some warm drink. But, lo! when the
liquid that cheers but does not inebriate was ready,
it was found that there were no cups for it. They
had all been forgotten at Lhuskez!

A white man would have been somewhat non-
plussed under such circumstances; not so an Indian.
Without saying a word, one of the two who accom-

12 It may be remarked in this connection that Father Morice has

seen snow fall during all the months of the year, July included, in some
parts of British Columbia.