"The dead chief was laid out, and all those of his crest came from the opposite village, bringing a large quantity of swan's down, which they scattered over and around the corpse. At my suggestion, they departed from the usual custom of dressing and painting the dead, and, instead of placing the corpse in a sitting posture, they consented to place it on the back. The remains were decently interred, and I gave an address and prayed; thus their custom of placing the dead in hollowed poles, carved and erected near the houses, has been broken through, and since this occurred many of the remains which were thus placed have been buried."
The first Hydah to come out distinctly as a Christian was a chief named Cowhoe, concerning whom an interesting incident is related. One day he brought a book to Mr. Collison, saying it had been given him many years before by the captain of an English man-of-war, and asking what it was. It proved to be a Testament, with this inscription on the fly-leaf—"From Capt. Prevost, H. M. S. 'Satellite,' trusting that the bread thus cast upon the waters may be found after many days." More than twenty years had passed away, and now that prayer was answered, though not by the instrumentality of the gift that bore the record of it. Cowhoe became a regular attendant at Mr. Collison's services and school, and we are told that at a meeting held on the Day of Intercession for Missions, Nov. 30th, 1877, he "prayed very earnestly for the spread of the truth amongst his brethren." When Admiral Prevost visited the coast in the summer of 1878, Cowhoe and his father went to Metlakahtla in a canoe on purpose to see the benefactor of their race. Of this visit the Admiral gives the following account:—
"Edensaw, the chief of the Hydah nation, arrived with his son, Cowhoe, and Mr. Collison. They had heard of my visit, and were anxious, to see me "face to face." I knew him in 1853, when I first visited the Queen Charlotte Islands in command of H.M.S. Virago. An American schooner had been plundered and destroyed by the Islanders; my object was to punish the offenders, but, after a searching enquiry, I was not able to fix the guilt upon any particular tribe. Some portion of the property was restored, and no lives being lost, I was obliged to be satisfied by assembling together all the chiefs, and reminding them of the power I held to punish the guilty. In my own mind, I believe Edensaw was the guilty person. From that time up to this hour, he has "been halting between two opinions"—a proud man—he could not give up his power, his wealth and standing over the heathens, to follow the Lord God; still he knew the Missionary had brought something better than he had ever possessed in all his glory, and it was expedient for him to be friends with the white men. When Duncan first arrived at Fort Simpson, in 1857, he frequently entreated him to come over and teach the Hydahs, and when I met him again on board the Satellite in 1859, he made a similar request to me. I may here remark that anxious as we were to establish a Mission amongst that fine race of Indians, it was not until October, 1876, the Committee of the C. M. S., were able to comply with their request. During that time hundreds, principally females, had passed into eternity through vice and disease contracted at Victoria.
"I may add, when I visited Massett last October (1879) with Bishop Ridley, he left Cowhoe with Sneath to assist him during the winter, the first native teacher from the Hydahs. I trust the good seed has taken root in many hearts. "God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform!" It was to show me this book, and to shake me by the hand, that the father and son came this long journey."
In the autumn of 1878, some touching evidences of the Spirit's work gladdened the missionary's heart. On October 26th he wrote:—
"Not a few are enquiring earnestly for the way of life. At a little social meeting which I had a few days past, the principal chief said: 'I was careless and unconcerned about the message which the white chief brought us, but I can be so no longer. Even at night, when I lie awake on my bed, I cry to God to pardon my many sins and save me. I know now it is true—all true, and I want to be safe in the Ark, even in Jesus the Saviour'; and he continued at some length exhorting the others to receive the Word.
"Another chief also spoke with intense earnestness and feeling. He said, 'A short time since I was blind, and knew nothing of these great things. But Jesus has opened my eyes, and now I see. Jesus is the way, and I am in that way now. I am happy, very happy; but one thing keeps me back, and when that is over, I will seek to be baptized, and live only for God.'
"This one thing referred to is a giving away of property on account of a deceased brother whose effects he took charge of, and promised to give away property, and put up a carved pole to his memory. As he has already promised, and given notice to the tribe, he does not wish to draw back.
"Another—a young man—is already obeying the injunction, 'Let him that heareth say, Come'; and at the salmon fishing and elsewhere has endeavoured to gather his friends together for prayer and praise."
And on March 20th, 1879, reviewing the winter's work, Mr. Collison again wrote:—