Chapter I: Preface

The contents of the present volume are in a large measure the outcome of a long-continued personal correspondence with the late Bishop of Moosonee.

As Editor of the _Coral Magazine_ I received from him many appeals for aid in the various departments of his work. I asked for graphic descriptions of the surroundings; and I did not ask in vain. Questions concerning the daily life of himself and those about him, the food and habits of the people, modes of travel, dress, climate, products, seasons, and special incidents were duly answered and fully entered into. The bishop had the pen of a ready writer, and all that he wrote was graphic in the extreme. He was, however, modestly unaware of his talent in this respect, until his eyes were opened to the fact by the well-deserved appreciation of the letters and papers which came more frequently and more regularly increasing in interest as time wore on.

The bulk of this book is made up of extracts from this correspondence, with just enough information supplied to give the reader a clear idea of the bishop’s life and work. The journal of his first voyage to the distant sphere of his future labours he sent to me in quite recent years, with the expressed hope that it might be published. The various papers and letters afford not only a vivid picture of life amongst the Indians and Eskimo, but a valuable example of what may be accomplished, even under the most untoward circumstances, by indomitable perseverance, unwavering fortitude, and cheerful self-denial, accompanied always by prayer and a firm reliance upon God. ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me’ was the bishop’s watchword. His motto—‘The happiest man is he who is most diligently employed about his Master’s business.’

Should the pictures of life and work offered in the accompanying volume lead others to follow in Bishop Horden’s footsteps, their purpose will have been indeed fulfilled.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE VOYAGE OUT 13

II. ACQUIRING THE LANGUAGE 18

III. EARLY LIFE 23

IV. WINTER AT MOOSE FORT 28

V. A VISIT TO THE ESKIMO AT WHALE RIVER 42

VI. SCHOOL WORK 50

VII. FIRST RETURN TO ENGLAND 56

VIII. AGAIN AT WORK 60

IX. DAYS OF LABOUR 70

X. THE BISHOPRIC OF MOOSONEE 76

XI. A PICNIC AND AN INDIAN DANCE 83

XII. ORGANISATION AND TRAVEL 92

XIII. YORK FACTORY 105

XIV. THE RETURN TO MOOSE 116

XV. TRYING TIMES 132

XVI. CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S DAY AT ALBANY 150

XVII. THE PACKET MONTH 160

XVIII. CHURCHILL AND MATAWAKUMMA 172

XIX. A DAY AT BISHOP’S COURT 183

XX. CLOSING LABOURS 193

XXI. LAST DAYS 219

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

THE RIGHT REVEREND JOHN HORDEN, BISHOP OF MOOSONEE _Frontispiece_

A LOG HUT 9

MAP OF MOOSONEE 12

A TRADER’S STORE 36

A GROUP OF ESKIMO 46

SHOOTING A RAPID 99

CANADIAN TIMBER 119

MOOSE FACTORY 124

A PAGE OF THE CREE ‘PILGRIM’S PROGRESS’ 145

A DOG SLEDGE 151

ALBANY, HUDSON’S BAY 156

AN INDIAN TRAVELLING ON SNOW-SHOES 161

THE CHURCH AT FORT GEORGE 169

CHURCHILL IN SUMMER 173

ON THE CHURCHILL RIVER 177

A LARGE CANOE SHOOTING A RAPID 189

_Stanford’s Geogˡ. Estabᵗ. London_]

FORTY-TWO YEARS AMONGST THE INDIANS AND ESKIMO