302 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. VI. 
UPPER CANADA COLLEGE Boys. In Mrs. Jameson’s narrative of 
travels in Upper Canada in 1837, an account is given of a great assem- 
blage of Indians on the Manitoulin Island. Here an important treaty 
was made with Chippewas, Ottawas and Potawahtomees. Assikinack, 
the interpreter, and Shinguakongse, the chief, were there and made ad- 
dresses. The Black-Bird is, she states, a Christian, and extremely noted 
for his declared enmity to the dealers in fire water. 
As most of the Indians brought their families with them to such 
gatherings, there were no doubt two youngsters there enjoying the fun. 
One of these was Charles Tebisco Keejak, a Chippewa lad, the other 
was Francis Assikinack, a son of the interpreter. Some three years after 
this, Mr. Jarvis, the superintendent, arranged that these two boys should 
come to Upper Canada College for their education. Keejak was a true 
son of the forest, supple of form, quick of sight and movement, skilled 
in use of bow and arrow and rifle. One morning he raced for a wager 
on a half-mile stretch down University Avenue against a British officer 
on a trotting horse, and got first to Queen street. He soon mastered the 
English language, and showed skill as a linguist. He then aided the 
late Rev. Dr. O’Meara in translating the New Testament into his native 
tongue, and was for a time interpreter to the Reverend R. Robinson, 
Congregational missionary to the Georgian Bay Indians. He was a 
scholarly man of fine features. He settled at Wobonash, near Owen” 
Sound, where he died many years ago. 
When Francis Assikinack entered’ college, he was a tall, slim boy of 
sixteen, and was diffident because of his inability to speak our tongue. 
He soon overcame this, was on the prize list in 1841 for good conduct 
and map-drawing. In 1843 he was in the first form and first in writing, 
general proficiency, Greek and geography. Francis left college after 
entering the sixth form, to go into a situation in the Government Indian 
Department. He had excellent testimonials from Mr. Barron, the 
Principal, and shewed a docile spirit by continuing his reading of history 
and the classics under the care of Bishop Charbonnel. While still at 
college he joined cheerfully with his classmates in their games and 
amusements, and distanced most competitors in feats of agility. He 
cared little for cricket or baseball. In winter he delighted in the making 
and storming of snow forts with noisy tumult of mimic war. He could 
shoot a robin on the wing with his bow and arrow and never missed the 
bullseye with his rifle. He stood six feet in his stockings, was of lithe 
form, jet black hair, nose somewhat aquiline, piercing dark eyes, and had 
small beautiful hands and feet. He is thus described by several “old 
