12 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
written form, little material for the construction of a literature, and 
absolutely no training of the native mind for such a work. Their 
literature must be borrowed from the white man. Hence the task of 
translating. Already we have seen that something had been accom- 
plished in this line in various branches of the Algonquin family of 
languages, by means of the Roman alphabet. Eliot had long since 
accomplished a great work in the East. Jones, Evans himself, Wilkes, 
Hill and James had translated into Ojibway. Some of the Hudson 
Bay people had done a little in Cree. But the work of Evans now 
opened up large possibilities and called for many labourers in the new 
field. 
The men chiefly interested in this new field were the Missionaries 
of the Christian churches engaged in the religious instruction of the 
Indians. To them translations of the Scriptures, Liturgies, Hymns, 
Catechisms and other books of instruction were necessary. And 
Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Methodists were all soon engaged in 
preparing translations for their work of instruction. The question was 
should these be printed in the Syllabic character or in the Roman 
alphabet? We have seen that as early as 1842, the Methodist Mission 
at Norway House was provided with a press and type. In 1852 or 3 
the Church of England Mission at Oxford House was similarly furnished. 
And in 1855, the Rev. Thomas Hurlburt, Missionary at Norway House, 
writes: —“I have calls for books from various quarters and the 1200 
copies of St. John’s Gospel and the first Epistle will not supply the 
demand for any length of time. Our people being very much scattered, 
and many of them absent for so great a portion of the year, renders it 
a duty incumbent on us to furnish them with the word of God in a 
portable form for their edification. Besides many who reside in no 
mission have acquired the art of reading, and from this source there is 
quite a demand. The two native brethren we sent out last summer 
found some of the Chippewayan Indians with our books: and although 
they have never had a missionary, they would assemble in a large wig- 
wam made for the purpose, and would frequently read and listen to the 
words of the book all night.” I did not know what to think of this, 
until Mr. Barnston informed me that the Cree was the learned language 
of the Chippewayans along the border of the Cree country; and that 
all who wished to be considered genteel and well bred must speak Cree. 
I will endeavour to get the opinion of all the Missionaries interested 
whether the Roman or Syllabic character should be used in our future 
publications. I incline to the opinion that the verdict will be in favour 
of the Syllabic. We will then require paper, ink and binding material 
for 2000 copies of the entire New Testament; and by the time these 
articles arrive we will be prepared to proceed with the work.” From 
