MR. M'COY'S JOURNAL, ADDRESSED TO THE Corresponding SECRETARY. Thomas, (Mich. Ter.) Lord's-Day, March 4, 1827.

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ter, which has been in this position || conjuring, which are sometimes many years. None can perceive performed for the recovery of the by what means it is sustained in sick, that our sick were oftener rethat state, nor dare any approach stored than theirs, and that they it under the penalty of the capsiz- ought to imitate our example, &c. ing of his canoe by an invisible This is the more remarkable as we hand. It is now reported that a had not attacked in direct terms large tree on the margin of the lake, their ceremonies, but had merely was set on fire last autumn, per- preached to them the plain truths haps by lightning, which has been of the gospel. burning ever since from the top downward. The stump is at this time about ten feet high. The snow in the surrounding country has been from a foot, to a foot and a half in depth, except for some rods distance around the burning tree, which has remained bare. Great fears are felt that when the fire reaches the earth it will enkindle in it, and continue to burn, as it is evidently a kind of fire unquenchable by water.

15, Lord's-day. Had a larger congregation than I ever before addressed in the wilderness. This however was not altogether owing to an increased desire to hear, but in part, to the great numbers which have recently pitched their tents near us, for the sake of fishing.

It is now our custom to assemble our congregation by the sound of a large trumpet. Worship commences at the ringing of a steel-bell. The morning's service is in the OtOn the evening of the 11th Feb-tawa language, and the afternoon ruary, there was seen in the neigh-in English; soon after which we bourhood of Thomas, what we have Sabbath school. It is comusually term a shooting-star; more mon of late for some of the neighbrilliant than is often seen. Its bours to attend our morning and disappearance was followed by a evening prayers, and a part of the report indicative of explosion. This service is performed in their lancircumstance was not a little alarm-guage.

ing to the Indians. Noonday call- 16. Noonday says that a female ed on me the following day to as-relation of his is at the point of certain my opinion respecting the death, occasioned by a collection of phenomenon, and if I deemed it small worms about half an inch in ominous of distress, &c. and if our length, in the upper parts of the good book gave us to understand lungs. Yesterday, Goauboi, (who what such phenomena indicated. is something of a conjurer,) appli29. With Mrs. M'Coy, I visited | ed a hollow tube about the size of the sugar-making places of Black- a goose quill to the breast, on a skin and his party. They appear- sound skin, and by magick and ed uncommonly delighted with our suction, extracted one of these misattentions. We were presented chievous insects. I asked if it with six pairs of neat moccasins, had required a great effort to disthree barks of sugar, (about 140 lodge the fellow which they had lbs.) and two floor mats, besides a taken? He replied, not a very plentiful treat of boiled corn and great effort, but he thought it would sugar. be hard to remove them all, and believed the case to be remediless.

April 8, Lord's-day. After publick service, Noonday, without ceremony, harangued his people, reciting much that he had learnt of the missionaries, and urging the propriety of their discontinuing the practice of feasting, dancing, and

I believe I have never known an Indian with a breast complaint, the rheumatism, or other disease locally seated beneath the skin, who did not attribute the cause to the ex[istence in the place of small insects.

Among other works of antiquity, on deer, but invariably without sucwe often find in these countries, cess. Soon after the company haltpieces of earthen pottery The ed one evening, Saugana fell asleep, Ottawas in regard to this relate the and slept soundly through the night. following tradition. Three ages In the morning he informed that ago, some Ottawas at this place, one whom he had seen in a dream feeling great inconvenience for had acquainted him with the cause want of a vessel in which to pre- of their misfortune. Chebass, who pare their food, set about making had been the chief actor in inducone of earth. But with repeated ing them to undertake the journey, trials they could make none that had neglected to sacrifice a feast bewould endure the heat of fire, or before they set out, according to custom impervious to water. Two days when business of importance was unsuccessful labour aggravated to be transacted. He had started their hunger, and heightened their and travelled as a white man would grief. Disheartened at length they have done. On account of this they sat down and wept. On a neglect of duty the Great Spirit following night a spirit appeared to was displeased, and had denied one of them in a dream and asked, them meat. In order to propitiate "Why do you weep?" The an- the Deity, Chebass must fast enswer was, Because I am poor-I tirely this day. Twelve men, neithhave no pot. Why did you make er more nor less, with their faces me, and place me here to suffer blacked, indicative of their hunger poverty and disappointment with- and their devotion, must proceed to out remedy? The spirit then their hunt, six on each side of the pointing down the lakes, said, "Go road. By the time the sun had in that direction, and you will find risen to such a point, (we would relief, and I will accompany you." say about 9 o'clock,) they would They set off; the spirit, unperceiv- have killed four deer. He knew ed by day, conversed with them at they would be successful, for in his night on their journey. They pass-dream he had seen the four deer ed the islands of Michilimackinack lying dead. and Montreal, and on arriving at Quebec, met with the French, who extended to them the hand of friendship, and gave them an iron pot, and other useful articles, on which their celestial companion departed. J-B who is part Indian, and married to an Indian woman, was one of the persons who aided in collecting the Putawatomies at the treaty with the United States Commissioners on Wabash, last September and October. While on the treaty ground he related to me the following story. Their company consisted of between 400 and 500 souls. The three first days of their journey they were unable to take any game, and consequently began to suffer with hunger. Their most expert hunters, sometimes 50 in number, were constantly out. They frequently fired

The hunters set off according to instruction, killed the four deer in time, and brought them to the company. A general halt was called, and the four deer were boiled, heads, feet, and all. Every one received a portion except Chebass. The feast was considered his, and therefore according to custom, he must not participate. After the setting of the sun he would be at liberty to break his fast. The feast was accompanied by several speeches. The company resumed their march about 12 o'clock, and on the following day killed five deer and one bear, and did not lack food on the subsequent two or three days of their journey.

I make these statements as evidence of the influence of superstition over these ignorant people.

25. One of our neighbours,

of religious instruction. He feared that, should he be separated from me, he should be drawn off again into wicked practices with other Indians. He said some years ago, the French Catholicks had sprink

that was good? I replied, we always baptized people as Jesus was baptized, and as the Scriptures told us others had been baptized, by immersion.

May 6, Lord's-day. I again asked him what was the state of his mind. O, said he, I am all the time-all the time sorry. I do not know what to do! Do you pray? Yes, a little. I prayed this morning. When you was preaching today, I tried to pray with myself, but I could only say, shamnado shuwinimin, shamnado shuwinimin, that is, Great Spirit, pity me, Great Spirit, pity me.

with a countenance expressive of deep concern, inquired if the righteous of whom we read in Scripture, such as Noah, the two women who visited the sepulchre of our Lord, and Joseph who had wrapped him in linen and buried him, had al-led water on his face-did I think ways been righteous from their infancy? In my reply, I stated the universal and entire depravity of man, &c. He said that many who had lately heard me preach thought they were now too old in wickedness to find mercy, they never could become righteous. What did I think? Would God have mercy on such as had been a long time sinful? I need not record my answer. I soon discovered that his inquiries were chiefly on his own account. He had, he said, for some time felt very bad in his mind, especially when he attended family and publick worship at our place. Our conversation was now interrupted 13, Lord's-day. In the course by other business. On resuming of the past week, Noonday freit, I asked, When was it, did you quently told me that on the mornsay, that you felt so sorry-a long ing of the next prayer day, he would time since? He answered, No; bring to us a boy of which he is before I went with you on that long guardian. As the boy was frejourney I did not feel bad, but ever quently at our house, I could not since our return I have felt sorry-conjecture why the old man should sorry all the time. I had said to be so particular in selecting the to my wife that I hoped when you Sabbath to place him in the school. came hither, and I should hear you This morning very early he arrived. preach and pray and sing frequently, I should feel better. This is not the case; I hear you preach every prayer day, and talk a great deal at other times; I attend with you at almost all your evening prayers, and still I feel no better. Do you feel sorry continually? O yes, continually, continually, continually, I am distrest. Do you pray? I pray a little. I do not pray much. It is very hard for me to pray. Sometimes I do not know what to say. Do you sometimes have bad thoughts? Yes, my heart is all bad. I cannot keep it straight.

He requested that should I make a journey to Green Bay, he might be permitted to accompany me, that he might enjoy the advantages

I have," said he, "brought hither my son to place him in the mission family. Jesus the Son of God, after his death, arose only on the day of prayer. On that account we meet every pray-day to sing, to pray, and to talk. It is not right to work on that day. As Jesus arose early on the day of prayer, I have brought my son on that day, and have brought him early in the morning. I do this in the hope that Jesus will pity him, and make him good. I now deliver him to you to be instructed in things that 'are good."

21. Brethren Lykins and Slater, having both arrived, I left Thomas for Carey, Mrs. M'Coy having returned to that place two weeks