Page:Life and journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-na-by.djvu/126

 After the council. Colonel Givins desired my brother John and me to go to the Governor's office, as the Governor's Secretary had some communications to make to us. We accordingly went, and, after waiting an hour, were informed that owing to a multiplicity of business, they could not make the communications that day, but desired us to call to-morrow at 11 o'clock. Various were our conjectures about this strange Government proceeding.

Thursday 31st. — John and I called this morning on Dr. Strachan; he was very friendly, and made some enquiries about the general state of the Indians, and requested me to give him in writing a short statement of the condition of the Belleville and Rice Lake Indians, which I promised to do. At 11,, we again appeared at the Government House, but waited till 1 o'clock before any communications were made to us, when we were summoned into the presence of Major Hillier — the Governor's Secretary, Dr. Strachan, the Attorney General, and Col. Givins. To our astonishment, we were now informed by Dr. Strachan, that the Governor did not feel disposed to assist the Indians so long as they remained under the instruction of their present teachers, who were not responsible to Government for any of their proceedings and instructions, he was therefore unwilling to give them any encouragement. But should the Natives come under the superintendence of the Established Church, then the Government would assist them as far as laid in their power. When stating their reasons for wishing us to come under the teaching of the Church of England, the Dr. and Attorney General said, that the Indians were considered by the Government to be under the war department, and therefore it was necessary that they should be under their instruction; and that another reason was, that it would make the missionary establishments more permanent; whereas at present they were liable to fluctuation,