Page:Life and journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-na-by.djvu/255

 poor Indian sister! Before getting into our canoes we knelt down on the shore and prayed. We left Brother James Currie and David Sawyer to labour amongst this band, which number about 200 souls. The school will number between fifty and sixty scholars, old and young. My company now consisted of eight persons beside myself. John Sunday's party consisting of Thos. Biggs and four other praying Indians from this mission. Having a fair wind, we hoisted blanket sails and soon got out of the Penetanguishene Bay, and were now on the waters of the Lake, which are pure as crystal. In the afternoon we landed, had our refreshments, and had a word of prayer on the beach. In the evening we arrived at the mouth of the Nottawasaga Bay, where we lodged for the night. We made a fire on the beach, and then turned over our canoes as a shelter for our heads whilst we slept. After supper we had prayers, and then laid down to sleep. About midnight a storm of rain came upon us, which discomposed us a little. I, however, slept very well, and I felt thankful to God who giveth the weary traveller rest.

Saturday 18th. — After breakfast the rain abated a little, and we ventured to embark. The wind blew from the south, and the Bay ran about south east and north west. The distance to the head of the Bay is between twenty and thirty miles, and the same across to the other side, from where we were. We had a consultation whether to go along the shore to the head of the Bay, or venture across the same, so as to save a day's journey. Our old men thought it would be running a great risk in attempting to cross over such a long sheet of water; but our young men thought we might run the risk, so we concluded to cross. The wind being partly in our favour, we hoisted sail, and at the same time paddled with all our strength. The wind increased as we got about the middle of the Bay, which alarmed some of our more prudent Indians. Through