Robert Tomlinson Annual Letter to the Church Missionary Society 1879-80
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[1] May 19/80 N. Pacific
[2] Annual Letter
[3] Ankihtlast
[4] Kishpiyoux
[5] Reverend and Dear Sirs
[6] My annual letter this year must essentially
[7] differ from any you have received for some years past
[8] in as much as it refers to the breaking up of old ties, the
[9] forming of new ones and the difficulties of moving inland
[10] and starting a new mission. The effort to disconnect
[11] myself from Kincolith of which in the providence of God
[12] I had held the oversight for so many years proved a more
[13] difficult and tedious matter than I had anticipated.
[14] There I was unavoidably detained from the middle of April
[15] till the 178th of May. A delay which proved disastrous
[16] in many respects. Hardly had we left Kincolith
[17] when partially through the carelessness of those in charge, the scow
[18] with the animals (two horses, a foal and five head of cattle)
[19] on board upset and one of the horses and two head of cattle
[20] were drowned. This caused a further delay of three days
[21] and during this time the river rose rapidly so that
[22] when we started again we could only take the scow
[23] a few miles up. Disembarking the animals we had
[24] to drive them for about 30 miles through trackless
[25] forests and across swollen mountain torrents often
[26] at no small risk not only to the cattle but also to
[27] ourselves. Mrs Tomlinson and the children were not
[28] with us this part of the journey. They had gone forward
[29] in a canoe to the head of Navigation. When we met
[30] we made our arrangements as follows. First Indian
[31] nursemaid carrying our little girl aged 3 then Indian
[32] boy carrying our little boy aged one year. Mrs Tomlinson
[33] and our little girl Alice aged 7. Mr. Woods (Mrs
[34] Tomlinson’s brother who voluntarily accompanied us)
[35] carrying a pack and leading horse with pack,
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[1] my eldest son Robert aged 9 leading old cow with pack
[2] Indian man with pack and leading young bull with
[3] pack., Myself with pack and leading young steer with pack.
[4] We had more than one hundred miles of rough country to
[5] cross and two deep rivers to ford in one of which we lost
[6] our young bull. Notwithstanding the rough travelling
[7] and exposure we all enjoyed excellent health and
[8] were in good spirits until we had crossed the mountain and
[9] had defended into the Kishpiyouix valley. Here while
[10] still forty miles from our destination in the providence of
[11] God Mrs. Tomlinson was attached with Typhoid fever.
[12] The situation was critical, our supplies were nearly exhausted
[13] and the nearest place for replenishing them fifty miles
[14] away. I sent the Indian man forward with direction to
[15] travel as fast as possible. On his return we made a
[16] stretcher for Mrs. Tomlinson and carried here some 6
[17] miles to a higher and dryer camp where we could
[18] get good spring water instead of the lake water we had been
[19] drinking. The change was blessed to her and God was
[20] graciously pleased to restore her to health. as soon as she
[21] could sit on horseback we proceeded on our journey.
[22] Our advent was expected so nearly all the Keshpiyoux
[23] were at their village. They were all glad to welcome us but
[24] it became evident that they were anxious to know
[25] how far our settling among them would affect their
[26] holding on to their heath customs. After two or three days
[27] consultation all the principal men of the village
[28] assembled around our tent and sent for all the
[29] other men of the village. Instead of each saying what
[30] he thought they chose one to act as spokesman to
[31] make know their interments. They first expressed
[32] their respect and regard for me personally. Their hope
[33] was that I would help them to put an end to thieving
[34] and quarrelling among them said they were prepared
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[1] to keep the sabbath and asked me to help them by a store
[2] and mill together good food cheaper an to build better
[3] houses. At the same time they gave me to understand that they
[4] were not prepared to give up the practices of giving away
[5] property and the heathen customs attendant on it but hoped
[6] I would overlook this and come away them. They ended
[7] by saying that as they had opened their lands freely to me
[8] they hoped I would do the same and tell them why I had
[9] come and what I proposed to do. In reply, having thanked them
[10] for their kind regard for me and expressed my satisfaction
[11] at their wishing to live peaceably and observe the Sabbath
[12] I told them that the object of my coming among them was to teach
[13] them the word of God and that while I would not compel them
[14] to give up, I would unflinchingly oppose every custom
[15] or practice which was contrary to the teaching of the Bible
[16] that with regard to their temporal interest I hoped if it pleased
[17] God to spare me to be able to show them how deep an interest
[18] I took in them but that if I came among them it will
[19] be to endeavour to lead them from all heathen ways to
[20] serve God in simplicity and truth. They thanked me
[21] for my frankness. The old man said they were wedded to their
[22] heathen customs but would leave it to the young men to
[23] say if they wanted a church and school at the village. They
[24] set the young men apart and bid them deliberate among
[25] themselves and let us all know the result. After less than
[26] half an hour deliberation the young men declared that
[27] they wished for the church and school. This decision took
[28] the old men by surprise and called further several vehement
[29] speeches. The young mens answer was characteristic. We have no
[30] wish, said they, to oppose you. You asked our opinion we gave
[31] it. You now tell us we must not have what we want let this
[32] teacher go elsewhere but remember if we get scattered and {…}
[33] you have only yourselves to blame. It now remained for us
[34] to decide where we would go. We might leave on to the
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[1] Kishgapass an equally large village where I knew we
[2] would be welcome and had I wished to localize myself at
[3] any village I would have gone there but my wish was
[4] for a central spot from which to iterate among all.
[5] We decided to move to a place about seven miles
[6] from the Kispiyoux Village on on the Kispiyoux
[7] river. From this place we can reach all the other
[8] villages in a shorter time then from anywhere else.
[9] Moreover we are on one of the principal trails through
[10] this part of the country and I think it will be found
[11] we have made a wise relocation. The young men
[12] expressed the greatest delight at our decision
[13] and the old ones are acquiesce. Ankihtlast is its
[14] Indian name. It is the first of a succession of
[15] beautiful flats stretching along the northern bank
[16] of the river and bounded by undulating hills. We
[17] reached here on the first of July and set to at once to
[18] erect the mission house and such outhouses and
[19] stables as were absolutely necessary. We would have been
[20] badly off indeed for hauling logs &c had I not succeeded
[21] in purchasing on my own account a horse from a packer
[22] passing us on his way with cattle to the Stikeen River.
[23] This horse more than replaced the one that had been drowned.
[24] In July I received a letter from Brother Duncan telling me
[25] That Bp. Ridley was expected at the close of this month
[26] and that he thought it would be well for me, if possible
[27] to come to Metlakatla to met him. In August I left
[28] for Metlakatla. On my way I stopped and preached at
[29] several Salmon houses. I also made arrangement for
[30] {other?} supplies and had an opportunity to discuss
[31] matters with with Admiral Prevost. Notwithstanding these
[32] breaks I made the round trip 450 miles in three weeks
[33] Work was necessarily at a standstill in my absence
[34] and though on my return I pushed everything forward
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[1] as fast as possible without incurring additional
[2] expense. Yet we did not get our roof on before the snow
[3] which came a month earlier then actual caught us
[4] and it was not until the 22nd of November that we had
[5] three rooms sufficiently forward to be habitable. Such
[6] as they were we were glad of their shelter after 6 months
[7] camping out. Especially as the weather was becoming
[8] rapidly colder. Though so ritely employed in building
[9] we did not forget our higher duties. All through the
[10] summer and autumn we regularly with two exceptions
[11] visited the Village every Sunday and held services
[12] beside caring for many sick and injured and
[13] then we had prayers and a scripture lesson morning
[14] and evening with the workmen and such others
[15] as were camped near us. The winter has been the most
[16] severe here for many years. The snow deeper and
[17] the temperature lower. In December it reached 35
[18] degrees below zero Fahr. and in January 65°
[19] degrees below. This last proved too much for the horses
[20] which were already suffering from an attack of
[21] worries. Truly our losses have been severe and often
[22] have we been tempted to say with the Patriarch of
[23] old. “All these things are against me”. But when
[24] we would place our mercies and blessings over
[25] against our losses and hardships. We can but exclaim
[26] “Bless the Lord on my soul and forget not all his benefits”
[27] Not one of us as sick for a single day during all that
[28] winter and long protracted cold and that when
[29] we were not prepared for it. As regards to the horses, while
[30] we feel their loss severely I have the satisfaction of knowing
[31] that none of the Society’s money expended on them has been
[32] lost. They had more than paid for themselves by the
[33] work they had done in hauling logs &c.
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[1] In my last annual letter I mentioned that one source
[2] of anxiety was not have some responsible person to leave
[3] in charge when I visit the Villages around and I asked
[4] for your assistance to enable me to employ some one. I am
[5] now happy to be able to inform you that this source of anxiety
[6] is likely to be removed at least for some time and that
[7] without any additional expense to you. My brother in law
[8] Mr. Woods who joined us last spring proposes to remain
[9] with us. He will not only look after the farm in my
[10] absence but is also ready to give voluntarily any
[11] spare time he may have to helping forward God’s
[12] work. This God in his own way seems to be supplying us
[13] our need. Since our arrival here several from the
[14] surrounding tribes have visited us at different
[15] times and all express their satisfaction that
[16] we are not going to confine our efforts to one
[17] tribe but will seek to benefit all.
[18] The custom of giving away property to which
[19] the old men said they were so much wedded
[20] has received a shock this winter. While many of the
[21] Kishpiyoux were assembled at the Kishgapass to take part
[22] in one of these great displays when the heathens rites were
[23] at their height a row occurred about some gambling
[24] transactions which resulted in four persons being shot.
[25] Two have died. Since then several of the older people
[26] have changed their tone. I can hardly remind
[27] you how we need your prayers and the prayers of all
[28] who work for and are endeavouring to help forward God’s
[29] Kingdom that our feeble effort on this wild district
[30] among so many scattered heathns may by his Spirit
[31] blessing the need down to all powerful to the pulling
[32] of Satans strong holds. Yours very sincerely and
[33] respectfully
[34] Revd Robt Tomlinson
