customs. Very quickly he gained a remarkable influence over them, and
though the medicine-men were, of course, bitterly hostile, greater was
He who was with the Missionary than those that were with his opponents;
and the tokens of the working of the Holy Ghost were manifested sooner
than even an ardent faith might have anticipated.

During the winter of 1877-8, school was conducted daily, women and
children attending in the morning, and men in the evening, and the
Sunday services were generally attended by three hundred and fifty
Indians. Gambling, heathen dances, and the manufacture of "fire-water"
from molasses, began gradually to diminish; and Mr. Collison's growing
influence was well tested on the occasion of the death of a principal
chief:--

"I visited him during his illness, and held service in his house
weekly for the five weeks preceding his death. On the morning of the
day on which be died I visited him, and found him surrounded by the men
of his tribe and the principal medicine-man, who kept up his
incantations and charms to the last. He was sitting up, and appeared
glad to see me, and, in answer to my inquiries, he informed me that he
was very low indeed and his heart weak. I directed him to withdraw his
mind from everything, and look only to Jesus, who alone could help him.
He thanked me again and again whilst I instructed him, and when I asked
him if he would like me to pray with him he replied that he would very
much. I then called upon all to kneel, and, with bowed head, he
followed my petitions earnestly. He informed me that, had he been
spared, he would have been one of the first in the way of God, but I
endeavoured to show him that even then he might be so by faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ. Afterwards I sent Mrs. Collison to prepare some food
for him, and make him comfortable, and about mid day he sent for me