a command of their language, but any attempt to carry out order without
a fair knowledge of their tongue might only insult and estrange them."

To the privations thus endured were soon added those attendant on
sickness First, their eldest child was attacked by fever, and for some
weeks his life was despaired of, and then Mr. Collison himself was
struck down and brought nigh unto death Both, we need not say, were
tenderly nursed by the wife and mother, and both, by the mercy of God,
were raised up again.

In the same letter Mr. Collison describes a remarkable peculiarity of
the Hydah villages--

"In approaching a Hydah village from a distance one is reminded of a
harbour with a number of ships at anchor, owing to the great number of
poles of all sizes erected in front of every house. These are carved
very well, with all kinds of figures, many of them unintelligible to
visitors or strangers, but fraught with meaning to the people
themselves. In fact, they have a legend in connection with almost every
figure. It is in the erection of these that so much property is given
away. They value them very highly, as was instanced lately on the
occasion of the Governor-General's visit. He was most anxious to
purchase one, but they would not consent to it at any price."

Patiently and prayerfully for the next two years and a half, with one
or two intervals for visits to Metlakahtla, did Mr. Collison labour
among the Hydahs, on the same lines as Mr. Duncan had done originally
among the Tsimsheans; first, diligently trying to pick up their
language, and making himself known as their friend; then opening a
school; then seeking to win them from some of their most degrading