THE INDIAN SETTLEMENT. 



201 



they were most decorous and attentive. The singing 

 was very sweet, and all the forms of the service appeared 

 to be understood, and practised quietly and in order by 

 the dusky worshippers. A seraphino was played by 

 Mrs. Cowley to accompany the singers ; the responses 

 were well and exactly made, and the utmost attention 

 was given to the sermon. The prayers were read in 

 English, the lessons in Ojibway, and the sermon was 

 delivered in Cree. After service an Indian child, neatly 

 dressed in white, was baptized. A few of the women 

 and girls wore bonnets, but the greater number drew 

 their shawls over the head. 



The minister and part of the congregation suffer under 

 the mutual disadvantage of being separated by the river. 

 The settlement is chiefly on the left, the church, school, 

 and parsonage on the right bank of the river. A good 

 ferry, which will probably soon be procured, would en- 

 able the congregation to cross with ease. The Eev. Mr. 

 Cowley enjoys no sinecure ; he is not only missionary, but 

 the doctor, magistrate, and arbitrator of the settlement. 

 During my short visit of a day and a half, he was sent 

 for three times to visit sick children, and he says that 

 when the Indians require his services during the night, 

 they come into the parsonage, the door of which is never 

 locked, and tap gently at the stove-pipe, which passes 

 from the sitting-room into his bed-room above, to arouse 

 him. They agreed among themselves that they would 

 adopt this novel kind of night bell, and he has never 

 known them endeavour to call him, after retiring to rest, 

 in any other way ; they open the outer door and steal 

 without the slightest noise, in the darkest night, to the 

 well known stove-pipe, give two or three low Indian taps, 

 and quietly await the result. 



A wonderful contrast do the subdued Indian worship- 



