THE INDIANS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 635 



coasts of Vancouver Island and tbo mainland opposite. After a long 

 series of years, they abandoned the task among the so-called Kwakiutl 

 tribes in despair. Their success among the tribes on the raainland 

 opposite Victoria was far greater, and on the west coast of Vancouver 

 Island they are making rapid progress at the present time. 



When the Catholic Cburch left the Kwakiutl tribes, the Church of 

 England took up the v/ork, but with little or no success ; while near 

 Victoria they and the Methodists were successful. From experience 

 derived from a life with the Indians of all these tribes, it may safely 

 be said that the only successful way of civilizing these tribes — and this 

 refers to the Alaska tribes as well as to those of British Columbia — is 

 to teach them to work. Then they will gradually abandon their fear- 

 ful cannibal ceremonies and Shamanistic dances. 



The traditions of these natives make them very ready to accept 

 the Christian faith, as their principal legend tells of the Son of God, 

 who descended from heaven and traveled all over the world, doing 

 miracles everywhere. But I must state here that even the sincerest 

 Christians among the Indians, who observe Sunday and preach in their 

 churches, are not thoroughly civilized ; that is, their way of thinking 

 is not ours, but still under the influence of their ancient customs. The 

 best proof of this is the fact that any one returning to a heathenish 

 tribe will again adopt their mode of life, a very few perhaj.s except- 

 ed. This is not meant as a reproach to the missionaries or Indians. 

 It is founded in psychologic laws, and we only consider it a mistake 

 to believe that an acculturation to our civilized ways is a thorough 

 civilization. This is true in regard to Duncan's Indians and all 

 others. 



Though remarkable progress has been made and the condition of 

 many tribes has greatly improved, a general dissatisfaction exists 

 among the Indians of British Columbia, which led to disturbances 

 among those of Metlakahtla. There are two reasons for this state of 

 affairs, which is of some importance, considering that 38,.500 Indians 

 live in British Columbia. During the last few years, reservations were 

 allotted to each tribe and the rest of the land declared government 

 land. Now, the Indians of the coast are not migratory, but claim to 

 be autochthonous in their several districts. All tribes, from Puget 

 Sound to Alaska, believe that the Son of God gave every gens a 

 piece of land which they consider their personal property. In confin- 

 ing the tribes to reservations, the single man feels that his property 

 has been taken from him without equivalent compensation. Treaties 

 have not been made according to these facts with every gens, as these 

 ethnological facts are unknown to many of the officers, and therefore 

 the Indians feel as though they were treated unjustly. 



The second reason for the discontent among the Indians is a law 

 that was passed, some time ago, forbidding the celebrations of festi- 

 vals. The so-called potlatch of all these tribes hinders the single fami- 



