Notes from Diary of Reverend Robert Tomlinson from March 30th to August 31 1868
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[1] Notes from Diary of Revd Robert
[2] Tomlinson. from March 30th to
[3] December 31st August 31st 1868
[4] Kincolith
[5] Nass River
[6] March 30
[7] Left Kincolith this morning with a crew of
[8] 5 men, 2 boys and one woman wife of the
[9] owner of canoe all belonging to this station.
[10] Camped out at night and arrived
[11] at Metlakathla next morning. Dear brother
[12] Duncan was delighted to see me. After
[13] a delay on one day we started on our
[14] journey again.
[15] April 4
[16] Put into a creek in Milbank sound this evening.
[17] The weather since we started has been warmer
[18] and what wind there was against us so that
[19] we have had to paddle all day. Our average
[20] time for travelling was 15 hours out of 24.
[21] One day we were as much as 19 hours but
[22] though all very tired and looking forward
[23] with pleasure to the rest of the Sabbath we
[24] are all in good spirits and well.
[25] April 5
[26] Held two services with crew, and Sunday School.
[27] It is in all probability the first time that hymns
[28] of praise and prayer have ever ascended
[29] from this little island.
[30] April 10
[31] Arrived at Fort Rupert which stands on the
[32] most N.E. of Vancouver Island, about noon.
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[1] was hospitably entertained by Capt and Mrs
[2] Mowatt. Left again at 3 pm.
[3] April 12
[4] Easter Sunday. Another week has passed
[5] we have not had a fair wind for one whole
[6] day since we left. Nevertheless we have made
[7] very good progress. Our position today is
[8] not at all as pleasant as we could wish.
[9] However it might be much worse, our Food
[10] is beginning to run short so it was with
[11] much pleasure we saw one of our number
[12] bring in a large deer yesterday. We had
[13] the services and Sunday school on last Sunday.
[14] April 18
[15] Saturday. About 2 pm. Arrived in Victoria
[16] harbour and proceeded up the arm of the sea
[17] to Mr. Wood’s house which is prettily situated
[18] ^on the shore^ about a mile from Victoria. Here I was most
[19] warmly and heartily welcomed. Before leaving
[20] Kincolith I had arranged with my crew
[21] that they should not put up while at Victoria
[22] at the Indian ranch but that I would find
[23] them some suitable place. Accordingly Mr.
[24] Woods kindly let them occupy his wood house.
[25] here they made themselves very comfortable.
[26] My visit arrival was quite unexpected by
[27] anyone of the family and they were still more
[28] surprised when I made known my
[29] desire to have my wedding next week and
[30] to leave the beginning of the following week.
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[1] April 19
[2] Sunday. I brought my crew to church with
[3] me this morning. Their conduct was most exemplary.
[4] In the afternoon I had service with them in the
[5] house.
[6] April 24
[7] Friday. Today my marriage was solemnized
[8] by the very Rev[eren]d Dean Cridge in St. John’s Church.
[9] My crew were present at the ceremony and
[10] afterwards at the breakfast they were arranged
[11] at a table placed outside one of the windows
[12] where they could have a full view of everything
[13] and partake of the good things handed to them
[14] from the table. The breakfast was a strictly
[15] teetotal one. Not only because I am a teetotaller
[16] myself but more especially for the sake of the
[17] crew.
[18] April 28
[19] Tuesday. Left Victoria this morning with my darling
[20] wife followed by the blessings and prayers of
[21] many of God’s faithful people.
[22] April 29
[23] Heavy rain all last night and this morning.
[24] Notwithstanding every precaution Mrs Tomlinson
[25] was completely drenched when we arrived
[26] at the Rev Mr.Reece’s at Cowichan. Mrs and
[27] Mrs Reece had formerly been teachers at the
[28] Ladies College and Mrs. Tomlinson wished
[29] to pay them a farewell visit. When we had
[30] partaken of breakfast and somewhat dried
[31] ourselves we started again about 3 pm, the
[32] sun shining brightly.
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[1] May 3
[2] No little alarm was caused this afternoon
[3] by the arrival of 3 canoes of {Euclatore?} Indians
[4] a very fierce tribe. Though very noisy they
[5] showed no signs of hostility. After evening
[6] service has begun 3 of them came and knelt
[7] down with their hands folded on their breasts.
[8] They continued in this position during the
[9] service. After service one of this number brought
[10] in a glass frame with a highly illuminated
[11] picture of the Virgin and infant Jesus and a
[12] prayer on indulgence written under it. He seemed
[13] to have the greatest reverence for it such is the
[14] teaching the Church of Rome gives poor heathens.
[15] May 6
[16] Arrived at Fort Rupert this afternoon. Capt[ain]
[17] and Mrs Nouatts entreaties were unavailing to
[18] keep us we left that evening not that we expected
[19] to make much progress today but we wish
[20] to get off about 3 am tomorrow morning.
[21] May 16
[22] Saturday. Arrived at Metlakathla today
[23] about 6 pm. Here notwithstanding the joyful
[24] reception given us our hearts were sorrowful
[25] for a sad calamity had befallen our poor
[26] people when I was away.
[27] On April 28th some Niskah Chiefs at the
[28] Villages gave a whiskey feast to which they
[29] invited a large number of Tchimsheans. as
[30] may easily be anticipated when the liquor
[31] began to take effect a war resulted ^contention^ arose which
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[1] resulted in a fight. 3 men we shot (2 killed and one
[2] wounded). Of those killed was a Tchimshean. Some
[3] of his fellow tribesman unable to revenge his death on
[4] the scene of the fight devised the diabolical design
[5] of making a tour down the river and murdering every
[6] Nishkah they might meet. 5 men accordingly started
[7] in a canoe. The first Niskahs with whom they met
[8] were two Agwilkets from the head of the Skeena
[9] River more than 100 miles from here who had come
[10] on a visit to Nass. These two fell victims to the rage
[11] of these Tchimshean. But they were not satisfied
[12] by this slaughter but proceeding farther down the
[13] river and where not a mile from this station they
[14] met with a canoe in which were 2 men and two boys.
[15] All ignorant of the desc ^what^ all that had taken place
[16] up the river and never suspecting any ill design
[17] on the part of the Tchimsheans. 3 of these four fell
[18] were barbarously murdered. One of them had settled
[19] here last year and was building a new house. He was
[20] a quiet inoffensive man with a wife and one child.
[21] The other man was his brother in law and was to have
[22] lived with him in the same house. he also was married
[23] the little boy who was murdered was brother of one
[24] [of] the settlers here who was with me in the canoe.
[25] Such were the events that ^were^ related to me on my
[26] arrival at Metlakathla I need not say that when
[27] I heard all these this sad story and that most
[28] of my people had gone back to their old homes
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[1] my heart burned within me to return and though
[2] Mr. Duncan longed much to have an opportunity
[3] of making Mrs. Tomlinson’s acquaintance still
[4] we both felt that my place was with my people.
[5] June 4
[6] On my arrival most of those who had gone
[7] up the river returned all went on quietly
[8] and favourably. Shortly before my arrival
[9] from Victoria the measles had broken out amongst
[10] these tribes with great virulence My hands were
[11] full. While the measles was at its height. H.M.S.
[12] Sparrowhawk with the Hon[ourable] Admiral Hastings on
[13] board paid a visit. Admiral Hastings expressed
[14] the warmest attachment to the mission work
[15] among the people and assured us of his
[16] support.
[17] June 19
[18] A little before noon today one of my people who
[19] had gone a short distance up the river for a log for
[20] a new house he was assisting to build returned
[21] without the log. and in a very excited state. he
[22] reported meeting with a Tchimshean canoe with
[23] 5 men in her. that the men had threatened to shoot
[24] him and said that they had that morning
[25] murdered a number of people in a canoe
[26] bound for this place. The excitement among those
[27] here was intense. They wanted to man their canoes
[28] at once. I asked them what they wanted to do Did
[29] they want to shoot men on a report such as that
[30] they answered that they did but that they
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[1] they did not want to murder ^shoot^ anyone but
[2] they wanted to know whom the Tchimsheans had
[3] killed and what they had done with the bodies
[4] I felt that their demand was a just one and
[5] that we were entitled to know what the Tchimsheans
[6] wanted prowling about this place. Feeling satisfied
[7] that it was my duty to accompany them as my
[8] presence was sure to have some weight and
[9] looking for guidance and strength from above
[10] I ordered two canoes to be manned. and every one
[11] to be properly armed. At the same time I forbid
[12] any attempt at firing ^without^ permission
[13] into the first canoe I stepped myself unarmed
[14] for I feel that while it was my place to use every
[15] effort for the defense and peace of this place
[16] it did not become me to take up arms. Hardly
[17] had we embarked on the canoes when the
[18] Tchimshean Canoe appeared in view
[19] we made a straight course for it. when in speaking
[20] distance I commanded the Tchimsheans to
[21] land. They obeyed. Their canoe and the one
[22] I was in came to land almost simultaneously
[23] Of the 5 in the Tchimshean Canoe 4 immediately
[24] disemboarded. Bidding those in the canoe in which
[25] I was seated to keep their seats for a moment I leaped
[26] from the canoe. and stepping up to one of the
[27] Tchimsheans asked him for his gun he looked
[28] thunderstruck but complied a second one
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[1] complied. The third refused at first but when
[2] I laid my hand upon it and commanded him
[3] instantly to comply he did so. The fourth gave
[4] his up at once. The fifth who was still in the canoe
[5] stood up with his gun pointed I bid him sit
[6] down. He obeyed immediately. The four guns
[7] I had locked up on my house. The whole matter
[8] occupied much less time that it takes to write.
[9] There were two reasons for this step the 1st was
[10] that these Tchimsheans had reported that their
[11] whole tribe were up the river and would be down
[12] in a few minutes. and it might have been
[13] very awkward to have ^armed^ enemies on land as well
[14] as on shore. The second was that by this sudden
[15] maneuver I placed them at a disadvantage
[16] and so was more likely to make them listen
[17] to my terms. The Tchimsheans when questioned
[18] admitted that their report of having murdered
[19] the Niskahs that morning was false and only
[20] invented to frighten my people. When questioned
[21] as to why they came to Nass. they said that
[22] they came to avenge the deaths of their chief
[23] who had been killed in the drunken row.
[24] To my enquiry as to what they wanted near this
[25] place. They at first equivocated and said that
[26] they were on their return but when pressed more
[27] closely they said that had purposed lying in
[28] wait here for the first Niskahs that they could
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[1] attack with impunity. I endeavoured to explain
[2] to them that this was not a proper course. that
[3] we had come here to live at peace and to learn
[4] about God that we did not want to interfere
[5] in any of their quarrels unless they interferred
[6] with our people. They said that it was the
[7] custom among the tribes to revenge the death of
[8] a chief. I said I knew of the custom but that
[9] they must make a distinction between those
[10] who were mixed up in a fight and those who
[11] come away from such scenes and wanted
[12] to serve God. I also told them that I would
[13] not give them back their guns then but that
[14] if they went quietly home I would send them
[15] to them. On this assurance they left but in
[16] stead of going home went up the river
[17] in a short time they reappeared and 3 additional
[18] canoes with them. The four canoes came
[19] to land but only a few of those in them landed
[20] They demanded the guns and in a most peremptory
[21] way. I refused to comply. Whereupon they said
[22] it was no business of mine that they did not
[23] want to shoot me. I told them that those who
[24] came to injure my people must injure me
[25] and those who came to shoot my people
[26] must shoot me. and that I would not give up
[27] the canoes guns. Whereupon an orator in one of the
[28] canoes got up. and made a violent and
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[1] threatening speech. but all to no purpose I
[2] knew we had the advantage of them in every
[3] respect. We were more numerous, better armed
[4] and better placed. besides and what was
[5] more than all they were doing what was wrong
[6] and they felt it. seeing that I was immovable
[7] they changed their tones and begged of me
[8] to return the guns. Said they they had come
[9] up to shoot a chief at the Nass Villages and
[10] that if they returned with out the guns all
[11] the other tribes at Fort Simpson would laugh
[12] at them. I had a long talk with them as to
[13] their coming up. They asked me was I going
[14] to support Niskahs both bad and
[15] good simply because they were Niskas. I answered
[16] most certainly not That as far as Kincolith
[17] was concered. Neither Niskahs should face
[18] down lie in wait here for Tchimsheans nor
[19] Tchimsheans for Niskahs. that if either party
[20] came here They had to give me their guns
[21] while they stayed. We wanted peace that
[22] they had no business where they were found
[23] After a long talk and when I saw that they
[24] were sincere in their assurance I returned
[25] the guns and recommended their immediate
[26] return home. A step which they fortunately
[27] for themselves adopted. Third. thank God
[28] no blood was shed and a proper understanding
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[1] come to. But my troubles were not yet at an
[2] end. Next day came down all the ablebodied
[3] men from Nass in pursuit. They also wanted
[4] to lie in wait here. and being the relatives and
[5] friends of these people their case was harder to
[6] deal with however I assured there was one law
[7] for all if they wished to stay here they must
[8] leave their arms with me. We talked this matter
[9] over I had some of the Chiefs in my house.
[10] and they all said it was good they knew
[11] what we had settled here for they asked if they
[12] might bring their sick here (the measles was then
[13] raging) of course I not only consented but strongly
[14] urged the step. They left us with every mark
[15] of set being thoroughly satisfied. Thus it is that
[16] God has brought good out of evil. in less than
[17] a week ^fortnight^ from the time of their departure more
[18] than 60 cases of measles were brought down to here
[19] And not only have my humble efforts for
[20] the cure of the disease been blessed but many
[21] have decided to settle permanently here.
[22] July 25
[23] H.M.S. Sparrowhawk arrived here today. The
[24] enemies of the mission [two words crossed out] using their efforts to against
[25] the already already only half formed determining
[26] of the government have triumphed. The Government
[27] will do nothing at present. The enemies of the
[28] mission feared that if the government were to
[29] act It would base the missions on a more
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[1] solid footing among the colonial institutions
[2] at least this is what I gather from their words
[3] and actions of some of them. But even now
[4] while I write I see the dawnings of new
[5] life and new strength in the missions from
[6] this very supineness of the Government which
[7] the enemies of the mission are fostering.
[8] During the month of August the “Beaver”
[9] H.M.S. surveying ship visited these parts
[10] I regret to say that the conduct of some of
[11] her officers was calculated to cause grief
[12] instead of pleasure ____
[13] Mrs. Tomlinson likes this place and ^the^ people
[14] as well as I do myself which is saying
[15] more than I could have expected. for I feel
[16] almost like one of them.
[17] Yours Very Sincerely
[18] Robert Tomlinson Clerk
