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excited state because of blood quairels of many months stan- 

 ding in which many had tuken a chief part, now on one side, 

 noM" on another, aware oí' danger I liad convened a special 

 meeting to guard against an increase of the evil. At Ihis meeting 

 ^^•e were able so to realise to the native mind the danger they 

 were in, & the folly and sin of the course they had been so long 

 following that they at our instigation solemnly promised to 

 help no side, & to do their best to sto[) all l'urlher tlghting & 

 mui'der. No sooner Avas this impression made & these promises 

 given than a large parly of mon prepared for a murderous tlglit 

 with a party then resident at the slation. But they had come too 

 kite, and in a short time they scattered among our people, & 

 no fighting took pkice. It Avas an important crisis. Murders 

 & thefts were numerous, & few men indeed there were whose 

 persons did not attest by many a scar of the quarrelsomeness 

 of the people as a race. They were very ready to take offence, 

 and they ordinarily were very careful not to give offence. Their 

 relations to each other were very much improved when they 

 came under Christian influences, lile & property became secure 

 and each ones rights lespected, and public opinión ruled the 

 community for good. This opinión was however largely rided 

 by US, at our daily meetings for instruction & divine worship. 



In proof of the superstition that used to prevalí I mention 

 the following. 



An elderly, and very strong man, and a great rogue had 

 brought me some fish for sale. I let him into the kitchen, & 

 had occasion to go into another room to get the wherewith to 

 purchase it. Having paid him to his saíisfaction he left. Some- 

 time after liaving occasion to use a knife I went to tlie kitchen 

 table to find it, but it was not there. After thinking, 1 carne to 

 the assurance that my fishman had stolen it. I forthwith went 

 alone to his wigwam to accuse him, & regain my knife. Howe- 

 ver he disclaimed all knowledge of the knife, and I could only 

 State the reasons 1 had to believe that he had taken the knife 

 I said I should speak to the people tomorrow on this subject 

 unless the knife was reíurncd. I Ihen went up to my house. 

 Not long afterwards I lieard a great noise of coughing & Vomí- 

 ting, and on opening the door was surprised to find my culprit 

 with my knife in his hand, but all wet. He had just coughed 

 it up he told me. He said he had not stolen the knife, but 

 wishing to convince me he was a true wizzard, his spirit had 

 taken the knife, and now he had brought it up again. He as- 

 ked me not to speak of the subject tomorrow. 



