42 
MISSIONARY LIFE 
which my men took over my defeat, as they pull- 
ed up the canoe to a certain town to get water. 
Only two hours before we had at least ten gallons, 
but in the nick of time all was gone. The oars- 
man sitting next to me, and not over four feet 
from me, managed to ply his toes on the spile of 
the water-cask while handling the oar, and thus 
let the water out. 
Let those who deny them a rational soul, and 
go so far as to call them brainless resemblances of 
the human species, tell us why other animals do 
not exhibit such skill and forethought in carrying 
out their purposes. They exercise so much in- 
genuity, calculation, and reason in all they under- 
take, — mainly for wicked ends, I admit, — that no 
unprejudiced and sincere mind can doubt their 
rationality. 
They have the elements in their nature to make 
them an inventive, enterprising, and prosperous 
people; but, as in the uncultivated field, weeds 
only are produced. Not until the plow of gospel 
truth destroys the weeds of sin and prepares the 
soil for the reception of the seed of God’s word 
can we hope for a bountiful crop of souls, purified 
and saved. 
