the school. They should strive to the utmost to acquire the manners, the knowledge, and the language of the missionaries. "It is true," said they, "your fathers have long possessed this land, notwithstanding their ignorance of these things. But this you cannot expect to do, unless you become civilized. Your situation is rapidly becoming different from the situation of those, who have gone before you.

The

white people were once at so great a distance, that there was but little intercourse between them and your forefathers. Now, the white people are settling around you in every direction. It is therefore indispensably necessary that the rising generation should be educated and learn the ways of the white people.

"Some of the same religious family, by whom you are here taught, have taken two youths from this nation, and are giving them an education. In a few months, we hope you will see them return to this nation; and in them, it is believed, you will see a convincing proof of the utility of a good education. The land, in which these young men are receiving their education, is the one in which the missionaries were born and instructed. The missionaries can not only teach you to read and write, but also to cultivate the ground, and to do various mechanical works. The time has come, when you should give the most diligent attention to these things, and make great efforts to attain them. Should you wisely improve the privileges you now enjoy, the period will soon arrive, when you will be considered the counsellors, and in short, the glory of your country.

"Some of the other sex are also acquiring an education, and learning to manage domestic affairs as the white people do. When their education is finished, they will wish to be connected with young men who are refined like themselves."

30. Some Choctaws being present in the afternoon, we gave them an account of the creation of the world, the fall of man, and the way of salvation through a Redeemer. Maj. Pitchlyn interpreted.

Address of Barney.

July 1. An Indian, named Barney, visited the school. He addressed the scholars in a very animated manner. While telling them of the great advantages they enjoyed he often raised his hands and his eyes to heaven, and said,-It must be in consequence of the movings of the great Nah-nish-ta-ho-lo on the hearts of the missionaries, that they are induceed to do so much for those, from whom they exact no pay. "Your teacher," said he, "is better for you, and does more for you than your fathers and mothers. Here you

29. This was the day appointed for the chief, the captains, and warriors to assemble here, in order to see the school and hear our taik respecting it. Only a part of them have arrived. They are generally two or three days in collecting, when there is to be a council.

30. This evening Mush-00-la-tub-bee arrived with 15 or 20 captains and warriors from his part of the district. He had been detained a day waiting for some of his people. The chief brought two of his sons and a nephew to place them in the school. Another aged Indian, who had been here two or three days, and who had previously intimated that he had brought two children to the school, came and formally gave them up to our care and instruction. One was a grandson; the other was his own daughter. When he gave up his grandson, he said he was a beloved child. He had thought much of him, and wept over him, as other old men did. "But now," says he, "I give him to you. I wish you to take him by the arm and the heart, and hold him fast. I shall hereafter only hold him by the end of his fingers." All this he enforced by very significant gestures. He added, that he should come occasionally to see his children, but not to be troublesome and live upon us.

The Choctaws examine the School, &c.

31. About 9 o'clock in the morning, the chief, and his people assembled and took a view of the various buildings which have been erected for the accommodation of the school; the apparatus for cooking; the accommodations in the dining-room; the well; the plantation; the stock; the horse-mill, which is not yet completed; and the blacksmith's shop, where they saw one Choctaw and one half-breed lad, beating hot iron. At the joiner's shop they saw two halfbreed boys at work with their planes. One of these boys also gave a specimen of his skill at the turning-lathe. They expressed great satisfaction at what they saw.

About 10 o'clock they visited the school. Both the male and female scholars were assembled in the new building erected for the boys' school, and which is not yet completed. The scholars were arranged at one end of the house, and Mush-oo-latub-bee and his warriors at the other, where they could see and hear all the performances of the children. About fifty Indians were present on the occasion. The number of scholars, exclusive of two received

last night, was 45,-37 boys, and 8 girls. The exercises commenced by reading a short portion of Scripture. Mr. Hooper then repeated and sung a short hymn, after which a prayer was offered, the nature and object of which were explained to

them.

The boys were divided into nine classes. Considering that the school had been in operation only three months; that some of the scholars had been here only a few weeks; and that many of them when they -came were entirely ignorant of our language; their progress was very pleasing. They read and spelt in various places in the spelling book; and several of them in the hardest parts with promptness and accuracy. A class, most of whom had attended school at Elliot, read a portion of the Bible with much propriety, and answered questions relative to what they had been reading. One half-breed lad, 18 or 20 years of age, who had been in school only 14 days, and who did not know a letter when he came, read and spelt with facility in words of two syllables. In addition to reading and spelling, some of the more advanced scholars were examined in punctuation, and the sounds of the vowels. The girls also read and spelt in two classes. Some of these read well in the Bible. Those unacquainted with English, were exercised in speaking it. Objects were pointed out to them by the teacher, and all as one would give its name in English. Choctaw words were also required to be translated into English.-After these exercises, the chief addressed the scholars, expressing his great satisfaction at what had been witnessed. "When I was young," says he, "such a thing was not known here. I have heard of it, but never expected to see it. I rejoice that I have lived to see it. You must be obedient to your teachers, and learn all you can. I hope I shall yet live to see my council filled with the boys who are now in school, and that you will know much more than we know, and do much better than we do.”— After the address of the chief, Mr. Hooper repeated a short hymn, which the boys rehearsed after him in one voice; they then repeated and sung it line by line, as in the morning, and the exercises closed.

Mr. Kingsbury's Address to the Council.

At 3 o'clock, P. M. the council assem.. bled again in the same place, and Mr. Kingsbury addressed them in a talk which occupied an hour and a half.

In this talk it was stated, that this school had been established at the request of their council, and that it had cost a great deal of money. The Choctaws had contributed $4,000 towards it from their annuity.

VOL. XVII.

Their father, the President, had paid $1,275 and the society of good people had given 'more than $8,000. They were particularly reminded that their white brothers had been at the greater part of the expense of the school; and that they did not owe this to the Choctaws, but had given it of their own good will for the education of their children. The missionaries, also, gave their time, and labor, and instruction, without pay.

They were next told why the President, why the good people of the United States, why the missionaries, were doing so much for them. It was to save them from ruin. What had befallen the numerous nations, which once inhabited the United States, was stated to them; and they were told that the Choctaws would share the same fate, if something was not done. When the white people first came to this country, they were few; and the red people were many. Now the white people filled the land; and the red people had become few.

It was then explained to them why the white people prospered and became numerous: and the red people became few and feeble. It was because the white people brought the good book with them, and listened to the instruction of the great Spirit, and taught their children to read the good book. This book taught the white people many good things,-it taught them to be industrious; to be sober; to educate their children; to obey the great Spirit. The red people never had this good book; never have been taught the good way; have not educated their children. This is the reason why they have become few, and feeble, and poor.

Their father the President, and the good people, have taken these things into consideration, and have sent the missionaries with the good book to instruct them, and to educate their children.

They were next told in what their children must be educated. They must be obedient. If they will not be obedient, they must be punished. This the good book teaches. Parents must not be displeased when their children are corrected.,

The children of the school must be brought up to industry. To this rule there can be no exception.

Parents who approve the school, and bring their children here to be educated, must place confidence in the missionaries, and not suffer their minds to be disturbed by idle reports. The missionaries would not have been sent here, if they had not had the confidence of those who sent them.

They were then informed, that the clothing, which is received for their children, is not sent as the annuity goods are, to pay for laud. They are a free gift, sept

48

to encourage the Choctaws in getting their children educated. These clothes are sent to the missionaries to be disposed of by them, as they think best. The Choctaws ought to consider this business of clothing their children, as a very great favor. The white people are under no obligation to continue to furnish clothes. The Choctaws ought highly to esteem and improve their present advantages. When children go home in the vacation, they must not take all their clothes, that are given them at the school. Parents will not think it hard to furnish their children with elothes, when at home.

When parents come to visit the school, they must not come too many at a time, nor stay too long. The provision here is furnished for the children, and not for the parents.

There is a particular time appointed for children to leave school, and for them to return. Parents must be punctual to observe this time. They must not suffer trifles to hinder them from returning their children at the time. When we were requested to come and establish this school, trifles did not hinder us.

At the close, they were urged to consider the great importance of these schools; how much had been done to provide them; by whom this had been done; and the great advantages wich would result to the Choctaws, if they would rightly improve these schools.

One prominent object of the preceding talk, was to impress on the minds of the natives the great obligations they were under to the white people for the schools which had been established among them; and that they must expect them to be managed in all respects, not according to their own views, but according to the views of the President, and the good people who established them.-A frank, upright and independent course, is the only one that will be successful with Indians.

At first, the talk did not appear to be relished quite as well by the chief, and some of the warriors, as one of a more flattering character would have been. But after a little conversation among themselves, they approved of it all.

Deliberations respecting Whiskey.

The council then took up the subject of whiskey. Several speeches were made by the chief and others, in all of which they agreed in condemning it as a very bad thing. It was proposed by some of the captains to adopt strong measures in this district to prevent the Indians from purchasing it, and bringing it into the nation, and selling it to each other. But as one of the principal captains was

absent, they de

ferred settling the regulation, till they could have a full council. Two captains, however, declared their intention forthwith to dash every keg of whiskey that should be brought among their warriors. Captain Folsom says he will answer for them, that they will be as good as their word. Four years ago, both of these men were notorious drunkards. It is evident, that the mission has already been a great benefit to the Choctaws. August 1. to leave us.

The Indians are preparing Most of them will go to a council to be holden about 30 miles from Mayhew, with the Chickasaws, for the purpose of settling the boundary line between the two nations.

Conversation with the principal Chief.

Had a conversation with Mush-oo-la-tubbee respecting the great evils resulting to his people from whiskey; the sin and disgrace of drunkenness in chiefs and rulers; and the great importance of industry and education. After listening some time with attention, he broke out in an animated strain:-"I can never talk with a good man, without feeling displeased. The first thing I hear, is about the drunkenness and laziness of the Choctaws. I wish we were travellers; then we would see whether we are worse than every body else. However, I am determined it shall be so no longer. We will have a great talk, and stop the whiskey. I am tired with hearing my people branded every where with drunkenness and laziness." He said he should have but one talk respecting the schools. "I have been in favor of it from the beginning. I always shall be. White people sometimes come to me to persuade me not to send my children to the missionaries. They say they I will make them work too hard. I tell them that I was one of the first men to request the school. I requested it for the purpose of sending my children to it. The work is not hard upon the children. It is proportioned to their size." He says, when he tells them these things, they soon go off and leave him.

ELLIOT.

Extracts from the Journal of the Mission:

(Continued from p..182.)

On the 15th of March, the missionaries were under the necessity of dismissing from the school a boy, who persisted in acts of disobedience. The case was rendered the more unpleasant by the fact, that the boy was countenanced in his bad conduct by one of his relatives.

April 8, 1822. We received a letter from the Corresponding Secretary, in which we found the gratifying assurance, that the Prudential Committee would endeavor to send us such assisting laborers, as appear to be suitable and of real promise to the mission, as fast as they offer themselves, till a complete supply is furnished.

11 Two hired men arrived from Mayhew. A few days since, two other men arrived from the same place. It is a great accommodation to us to be able frequently to obtain hired help by means of the brethren at that station. We are now well supplied with laborers, having nine white men and five black persons.

12 We had a storm of hail. Some of the stones were one inch and a quarter long, and three quarters of an inch thick.

[The journal, under date of the 13th, mentions the arrival of Mr. Goodell, an agent of the Board, in company with Dr. Pride. They came from Mayhew, having visited Mr. Williams's station on their way.]

They were much fatigued by the journey, having been often drenched in rains, and obliged to swim their horses through many creeks. But the Lord graciously protected them, and allowed us the rare and precious privilege of welcoming to our home, one who has just come from visiting a great number of the churches, and who is expecting one day to preach the Gospel at Jerusalem.

[With the consent of the brethren at both stations, Dr. Pride was to remain at Elliot as a physician; and to visit Mayhew, as circumstances should require. When this arrangement became known in the vicinity, several chiefs expressed much satisfaction with respect to it]

22 We began this day to plant corn. -There is now a large assembly of Choctaws at Mr. Isaac Perry's, two miles distant, collected to end the days of mourning for Captain Levi Perry, who was killed there in January last. (See the June Herald, p. 180.) On such occasions the Choctaws frequently feast and drink a number of days. Some of the brethren, however, went to Mr. Perry's and when a favorable opportunity offered, attempted to instruct the ignorant multitude. They were received very kindly.

[On the third of May, the missionaries gave to a very promising Choctaw boy, the name of Samuel Spring; to a little Choctaw girl the name of Isabella Porter; and to another, the name of Ann Homer. To the boy mentioned

in the following extract from the journal, the name of his patron was given. The case of this youth is briefly noticed in vol. xvii, p 308.]

May 5. About dark, a man came here bringing with him two little girls, and the lad who, about a year since, applied for admission to the school, but, on account of our limited resources, was refused. We are happy in being able to receive him; provision, having been made for him by the Rev. John Giles, of Newburyport, Mass. We have repeatedly sent for this boy, since we heard of Mr. Giles's kindness, but have been unable to have him brought to the school, till now. Last fall he was beyond the Mississippi river, in company with some Indians, hunting wild game. He told us, that when he came here, a year since, he was "four sleeps" on his way.

[The journal, from this date to the 21st of August, narrates many things, which it is important should be known to the Committee, but which would not be specially interesting to the public. Several members of the family had been sick with the common intermittent fever of the season, but, through the divine blessing on the use of means, had recovered--It may, perhaps, be interesting to our readers to be reminded, that only four years previous to the 18th of August last, the first tree was felled at Elliot.]

Aug. 21. Messrs. Byington and Wood went to attend a meeting at the house of a Mr. Perry, who lived about 12 miles from us, and who died in June, aged about 79 years. He was a white man, friendly to our mission, and possessed much influence with the natives. He had lived 50 or 60 years among the Choctaws. His children, who are half-breeds, and his other friends, had assembled agreeably to the custom of this nation, to "cry the last cry" at his grave. Two of his sons sent a letter, requesting Mr. Byington to visit them, while together, on a day which they named. On the morning of this day, there was a heavy rain, which continued two or three hours, and prevented the brethren from starting early. They arrived at Mr. Perry's house about two o'clock in the afternoon, and, to their great grief, found, that nearly all the people had dispersed;-not having expected the brethren, on account of the rain. After staying a little while, the brethren returned. They were happy to learn, that all drinking of whiskey was forbidden by the chief. The head-men present helped him to carry his purpose into effect. Some whiskey was indeed brought to the place by certain Indians; but it was kept at a distance in the woods.