Page:Life and journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-na-by.djvu/260

 met a canoe full of Indians, which proved to be Chief Kegedoons and his family, the father of our fellow traveller, Thos. Bigcanoe. The wind having now increased against us, we were obliged to land and encamp on the beach. Kegedoons also landed, and we soon entered into conversation about the Christian Indians, and about the prospects of his own people. He stated that for his part he had resolved to become a Christian, and he had already informed his people to this effect. He further informed me that he and Chief Wawanosh, had made an agreement, which was, that if either of them should embrace Christianity, the other should do so also. “I have now,” said he, “set the example for my brother Wawanosh, who must now follow me.” This Chief was remarkably friendly and communicative. In the afternoon I invited the Chief to come to our tent in order to tell him about the words of the Great Spirit. When I finished my talk, I called on Thomas Smith to speak, which he did, and related his former life. He concluded by exhorting him to turn to God. During these addresses the old Chief paid the utmost attention, smoking his long-handled or stem-pipe the whole time. At the end of each sentence he heartily repeated the usual council response by exclaiming “haahe!” Our hearts were much comforted and encouraged from what our eyes saw, our ears heard, and for what our hearts experienced of the goodness of the Lord at this meeting. We slept under a large cedar tree on the beach, for the night. Blessed be God for his goodness to us!

Tuesday 28th. — On rising this morning from my bed of blankets and cedar boughs, I found I had been sleeping on a large land lizard, which had been lying under the leaves when my cedar branches were spread for my bed. The idea of having been sleeping on such a hideous looking creature was rather unpleasant, but when Indians get accustomed to such fare the matter is little thought of. Before starting on our journey