Page:Life and journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-na-by.djvu/267

 large shade on the green grass, with coarse linen cloth, for the purpose of holding the council, as they called it, with us. The men seated themselves in a ring under the shade, with their principal Chief at the head: we sat down in the centre of them. I then asked the Chief if they were all present, to which he answered in the affirmative. I informed him that our oldest man in company would address them first. Bro. Thos. Smith then rose up and spoke. After Bro. Smith had concluded his speech I spoke to my Indian brethren; the substance of my remarks to them were these. In the first place I expressed our gratitude to God for permitting us to meet together, and to shake hands with each other. In the second place I gave them a short account of the conversion of the Indians in the east; the happiness they enjoyed in their hearts while worshipping in the new way, and the hope that they have of obtaining eternal life, and happiness after death, in the kingdom of heaven, and assured them that the promises of God were to them and to their children, and to all them that should believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, &c. After a short pause the head Chief, Pezbekezhikquashkum made the following reply: “Brothers and friends, I arise to shake hands with you, not only with my hands, but with my heart also do I shake hands with you. Brothers and friends, the Great Spirit who made the earth, the waters, and everything that exists has brought us together to shake hands with each other. Brothers and friends, I have listened to your words that you have spoken to us this day. I will now tell you what is in my heart. Brothers and friends, the Great Spirit made us all; he made the white man, and he made the Indian. When the Great Spirit made the white man he gave him his worship, written in a book, and prepared a place for his soul in heaven above. He also gave him his mode of preparing and administering medicine to the sick different from that of the Indians. Brothers and friends, when