[BURWASH] GIFT TO A NATION 9 
hymns in the Cree character, and I yet feel encouraged to think I can 
print them in a few days.” December 3rd, “The Indians and children 
sing these hymns well and several read with some fluency. The short 
time which is required to learn to read and to write arises-from there 
being no such thing as learning to spell, every character in the alphabet 
being a syllable, so that when these are learned, all is learned. Several 
of the boys and young men can write any word in the language, seldom 
committing an error.” June 11th, 1841, “The men, women and 
children at Norway House write and read it with ease and fluency; 
as do some European gentlemen who speak the language of the Indians 
in different parts.” Such is the record of the first nine months of the 
use of this syllabary in an Indian School. 
Meanwhile Mr. Evans was struggling with another problem. To 
produce books for this people by means of his pen was an impossible 
task. He could furnish the simple alphabet and a few exercises for the 
scholars of his school, but if he was to reach the people with this new 
learning he must print. Up to this time the Hudson Bay Company 
had not permitted a printing press to enter their territory, and when 
first requested to do so the officers in the country refused. In any 
case this new writing required a type such as had never b2en east, and 
to this task Mr. Evans addressed himself at once. But we shall listen 
to his own record of his struggles. He opened his school on the fifteenth 
of September, 1840. On the twenty-eighth of the same month he 
writes ;—“ For a fortnight I have been endeavouring to cast type to 
print the Cree language, but every attempt*hitherto has failed. I have 
no proper materials, neither type metal, nor any other thing requisite. 
I hope, however, to conquer the difficulties and to begin printing the 
Cree language in a few weeks or months at furthest.’ September 30th; 
“I cut types in lead of two characters and took moulds in clay, chalk, 
putty, sand, and tried some other fruitless experiments.” His supply 
of lead was from the tea chests imported by the Company. “October 
13th;—I cast a plate of hardened lead, polished it and commenced cut- 
ting the Cree alphabet, making a sort of stereotyped plate.” “October 
15th ;—Last night I finished the alphabet plate, and to-day I printed a 
few sheets.’”’ “October 19th;—Several of the boys are beginning to 
read the written hymns in the Cree character, and I yet feel encouraged 
to think I can print them in a few days.” At last the triumphant note 
comes. “November 11th;—My type answers well. The hymn begin- 
ning with ‘Jesus my all to heaven is gone’ is in the press. I have struck 
off three hundred copies of the first three verses, making a small page. 
I have got excellent type, considering the country and the materials, 
at least they make a tolerably good impression. The letter or character 
I cut in finely polished oak. I filed out of one side of an inch square 
