"The Country of the Chilcats 



had been preached and the last speech of the Indian 

 chief and headmen had been made, a number of the 

 sub-chiefs were talking informally together. Mr. 

 Young, anxious to know what impression he had 

 made on the tribe with reference to mission work, re- 

 quested John to listen and tell him what was being 

 said. 



"They are talking about Mr. Muir's speech," he 

 reported. "They say he knows how to talk and beats 

 the preacher far." Toyatte also, with a teasing smile, 

 said: "Mr. Young, mika tillicum hi yu tola wawa" 

 (your friend leads you far in speaking). 



Later, when the sending of a missionary and teacher 

 was being considered, the chief said they wanted me, 

 and, as an inducement, promised that if I would 

 come to them they would always do as I directed, 

 follow my councils, give me as many wives as I liked, 

 build a church and school, and pick all the stones out 

 of the paths and make them smooth for my feet. 



They were about to set out on an expedition to 

 the Hootsenoos to collect blankets as indemnity or 

 blood-money for the death of a Chilcat woman from 

 drinking whiskey furnished by one of the Hootsenoo 

 tribe. In case of their refusal to pay, there would be 

 fighting, and one of the chiefs begged that we would 

 pray them good luck, so that no one would be killed. 

 This he asked as a favor, after begging that we would 

 grant permission to go on this expedition, promising 

 that they would avoid bloodshed if possible. He 

 spoke in a very natural and easy tone and manner, 

 always serene and so much of a polished diplomat that 



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