led; but recollecting that John the Baptist, could live on these insects, I thought I might venture, at least, to eat one meal. I therefore sat about the work, and found it a most delicious breakfast, verifying the truth of the saying, that "hunger is the best sauce." I have yet to go for the first time to an Indian house or camp, and not be invited to eat.

In eating, they seldom have more than one ladle in the kettle or tray; and the whole company has to be served with it. When one takes a sup, he hands the ladle to the one that sits next to him, and he to the next, until it goes round. In the mean time, if there be any flesh, you may take a piece of that with your knife, or fingers, and eat away until the ladle comes round. If, however, there is nothing but hommony, you have time enough to chew it well, especially if there be four or five in the circle.

Two white men came to an Indian camp on the Scioto, thirty-seven years ago, very hungry. The females set before them a kettle of hommony, with one ladle in it. One of the men seized it, and fell to work; and instead of handing it to the other, and taking ladle-full about, he ate on with great voraciousness. This waked up the indignation of the women, and one said to the other, "That fellow eats like a hog-he is a hog." She was so much displeased that she took the ladle from him and gave it to the other, exclaiming, "Yute! quis quis!" This is the most contemptuous expression, and the worst name an Indian can make use of in his own language. Yute is the expression of contempt; and quis quis is a hog. Indians cannot swear in their own language.

Great confidence may be placed in their friendship. This also I have experienced in confiding myself, horse, and money, to their care. I was once traveling from De

troit, in the year 1800, in company with two others. We came to the camp of old Tar-hee, or Crane, head chief of the Wyandott nation. We had sold a drove of

cattle, and had money, which we gave up to the chief in the evening. The next morning all was forthcoming; and never were men treated with more fervent kindness.

On another occasion I lodged at a camp where many of the Indians were intoxicated, and were singing, dancing, and fighting. I lay down in my blanket by the fire, undisturbed. I do not think one of them trod on my blanket the whole night. I confess, however, that I had some misgivings. In my whole acquaintance with them, I have found them warm and constant friends; but implacable, subtle, and dangerous enemies, who never tire in seeking revenge, and seldom forgive or forget an injury.

CHAPTER III.

Introduction of the Gospel among the Wyandotts—Their degraded condition before this Their reception of the Roman Catholic religion-Its bad effects on their minds and lives-John Stewart-His conversion-Is impressed to preach to the Indians-Leaves Marietta for this purpose-Comes to Goshen, on the Tuscarawas Then to the Delawares at Pipetown-Adventures there-Comes to Upper San'dusky-Kindly received by the Walkers-Interview with Jonathan Pointer, who discourages him in his undertaking-First preaching of Stewart among the Wyandotts-Decision of Mr. Walker respecting the Protestant and Catholic Bibles Stewart departs for MariettaRobert Armstrong-Visits of local preachers to the WyandottsThey are recognized by the Ohio Conference as a missionary station-Rev. James Montgomery appointed missionary-Leaves the station, and becomes sub-agent at Lower Sandusky-Moses Henkle, Sen., supplies his place-First Indian quarterly meeting held at Ebenezer Zane's, November 19th, 1819-Interesting exercise of the meetingExperience of Between-the-logs-Of Hicks-Of Scuteash-Mononcue's exhortation, and his remarks on whisky-Between-the-logs describes their ancient religion, that of the Roman Catholic, and the Seneca and Shawnee prophets The Wyandott mission peculiarly *blessed-Religion alone truly civilizes savage men-The author pursuades them to have a school, and adopt the habits of civilized lifeAddress of the nation, dated August 7th, 1821, to the conference held at Lebanon-Dangerous voyage to Detroit-The bark canoe-Quarterly meeting at Detroit-Voyage to Portland-Journey to Lower Sandusky-An Indian poney.

HAVING taken these preliminary views, and given a brief outline of the history of this interesting people, I will now proceed to give an account of the introduction of Christianity among them.

. The Wyandott nation being on the borders of the white population, and mixing with the most abandoned and vicious, soon became sunk in the most degrading vices, such as drunkenness, lewdness and gambling, until many of them became the most degraded and worthless of their race.

The Wyandotts had been under the religious instruction of the Roman Catholics for many years. But it appears, both from their morals and from the declarations of many who professed to be Catholics, that they did them little or no good. To carry a silver cross, and to count a string of beads; to worship the Virgin Mary; to go to church and hear mass said in Latin; and be taught to believe that for a beaver skin, or its value, they could have all their sins pardoned, were the amount of their Christianity, and served but to encourage them in their superstition and vice.

In this situation, God in mercy remembered and took pity on them, and sent them the word of eternal life. Not by the learned missionary, but by JOHN STEWART, a colored man of no learning, "that the excellency might be of God, and not of man." John Stewart was a mulatto, free born, whose parents claimed to be mixed with Indian blood; but he could not tell of what tribe, or what was their relation to the Indians. His parents were of the Baptist persuasion, and he had a brother that was a preacher of that order. He was born in Powhatan county, in the state of Virginia. He became disabled in early life. His parents moved to the state of Tennessee, and left him behind. Sometime after he followed them; and on his way to Marietta, Ohio, was robbed of all his property. In that place, where he took up his abode, he gave full scope to his intemperance, until be was so far gone, and his nerves were so affected by it, that he could scarcely feed himself. At length he came to the resolution to put an end to his miserable existence, by drowning himself in the river. He told me that the loss of his property, the idea of poverty, and the disgrace he had brought on himself by his course of dissipation, and the

wretched state of his soul, had impelled him to this course. The tavern-keeper with whom he lived, refused to let him have liquor as before, so that he had time to become sober, and his mind was in some degree restored to the exercise of reason. Then he asked himself, "Would not my parents be better pleased to hear that I was poor, and honestly trying to make a living, than to hear that I had committed suicide?" And he then determined that he would do better; and undertook to attend a sugar camp at some distance from town, which gave him an opportunity to reflect and pray. At this place he remained, by himself principally, through the sugar season. But the more he read, reflected and prayed, the more he was convicted of his sins; and by a constant struggle of soul, he at length found peace and pardon. But on his return to town he could not resist the influence of his wicked companions, and was soon prevailed on to attend a dance, at which the struggles of his mind were powerful-so much so, that he was sometimes almost constrained to cry aloud. But at last, his mind became more hard, and he comforted himself with the reflection, that once in grace he could not fall from it; and so resumed his course of folly. But one of his comrades dying suddenly, it alarmed his guilty fears, and his convictions all returned, so that he was often constrained to cry out, "O wretched man that I am."

Stewart, from the influence of his education, had imbibed a deep-rooted prejudice against other denominations, and especially the Methodists. But one evening, passing along the street, he heard in a house the voice of singing and prayer. It was a Methodist prayer meeting. He drew near, and after some struggle of soul, he ventured in, and made known his state. With these he fre