Perils by Water. 93

schoolmaster, both of them members of the tribe they are
striving to save. Twelve years ago I left there a Zimshian
teacher I brought from Metlakatla. Now the Native Church
has produced its own first stage of ministry. Three adults
during the winter were prepared by them for baptism and
are now baptized. Others are coming forward. There was
not a single Christian in the nation among any of the tribes
when I first saw them; now though only a few are found it
is rare to find any body of Indians without some Christians
among them. On the coast from the Skeena to the Naas
Heathenism has been conquered by the Cross, and a similar
process 18 in progress in the interior.

“Ts it not an unspeakable joy that heaven is nearer and
brighter to them than their sunlit mountains? The sense
of this abides as tempest and calm succeed each other. The
word of the Lord that is turning light on dark souls will
endure when river, forest, and mountains shall have passed
away, and the heavens overhead be rolled up as a scroll.
Then shall the full glory of the Lord be revealed, and the
immortal fruit of our mortal endeavours be His joy and
crown. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

The history of another stormy voyage is given in the
next letter, written in December, 1893, but the disappoint-
ment which it entailed must have been, to the Bishop, the
most serious part of it. After much careful preparation,
the Chief Sheuksh was pronounced ready for baptism, and
he earnestly wished that the Bishop would come from
Metlakatla, and admit him into the visible Church of Christ
before Christmas Day. The attempt was made—with what
results wili be seen :—

“How to get there is the difficulty. Not that the
distance is great—not farther than from the Isle of Wight
to Cherbourg, or from Holyhead to Dublin. The difficulty
springs from the inclemency of the winter, and the exposure
in a cockle-shell of an open boat, though I ought not to
disparage my fescue. But really nineteen feet by five feet

s

= Int ete