Letter Robert Tomlinson to Mr. Wigram of the Church Missionary Society 25 July 1881
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[1] Metlakahtla
[2] July 25/81
[3] My dear Mr. Wigram
[4] I have refrained from
[5] writing to you before as I knew
[6] you would be anxious to know
[7] not only how I got back but
[8] how matters have been arranged
[9] since my return
[10] I made a quick trip from Europe
[11] to Victoria. only 21 days. though
[12] the time of the year and weather
[13] made it difficult to travel fast.
[14] I spent about 10 days in Victoria
[15] and then left for Metlakahtla
[16] when passing Fort Rupert we
[17] picked up Brother Hall who wished
[18] to consult with Duncan in some
[19] matters of importance, on reaching
[20] Metlakahtla we found Br[other]s Duncan
[21] Collison and Schutt. Unfortunately
[22] there was no possibility of the Bishop
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[1] being able to come to the coast for some
[2] time so the conference could not be held
[3] After a few days spent with the
[4] brethren I left for Kincolith
[5] there I was heartily welcomed by
[6] those over whom I had watched
[7] for so many years. and a pleasant
[8] sight it was to see them all again
[9] in their places in the house of God
[10] and a great course of their {???}
[11] to be permitted to address them once
[12] more. While at Kincolith the Indians
[13] there proposed to by the Sawmill.
[14] I had an opportunity of disposing
[15] of it to the H.B. Company for a
[16] somewhat larger sum in cash
[17] but preferred to sacrifice a little
[18] rather than alienate from the
[19] place what had originally been
[20] erected for their benefit. They
[21] paid up in full. in goods. money
[22] and furs over £150.0.0. Mr. Woods
[23] will take the goods off my hands
[24] at cost and thus save me all the trouble
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[1] The mill has now become the property
[2] of 30 of the Kincolith Indians who
[3] hold it in shares of from £1 to £9 and
[4] they are working it on their own
[5] account. On leaving Kincolith
[6] I spent two Sundays and the
[7] intervening time among those
[8] camped on the Naas River for the
[9] grease making. Great joy was
[10] expressed on all sides at my
[11] return. Not only by the [Chris]tians but
[12] also those still heathen. Man of
[13] the latter who in years gone by had
[14] bitterly opposed us greeting me in
[15] a most friendly manner and
[16] attended the services I held.
[17] As soon as the river was sufficiently
[18] free from ice to make it possible
[19] for a canoe to ascend it I proceeded
[20] to the head of Navigation, some 40 miles
[21] above the fisher. there leaving the
[22] river we took the trail and
[23] proceded travelled on foot the remaining
[24] 120 miles. The weather was
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[1] exceptionally fine and the hoare
[2] frost at night put a beautiful
[3] crust on the snow so that we made
[4] the 120 miles in 4 ½ walking days.
[5] On my arrival at Ankihtlast
[6] I found all well on my arrival
[7] and rejoiced to learn that they had
[8] passed through the winter without
[9] any mishaps. This is only but
[10] another of the many mercies
[11] bestowed upon us by our Heavenly
[12] Father which call for stories
[13] of praise and thanksgiving and
[14] move us to more earnest-desire
[15] to do his work. Two days after
[16] my arrival I visited B[isho]p Ridley
[17] at the Forks. his reception was cordial
[18] no reference was made to past
[19] events. since then I have seen him
[20] several times and at my invitation
[21] his visited us at Ankihtlast and
[22] stopped a night with us. At
[23] our last interview. We talked
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[1] fully of my visit to England
[2] and the causes of it He says he
[3] was entirely misled about the money
[4] supposed to be due by me to Mr. Duncan
[5] and others. He seems to have only
[6] seen one side of the account
[7] and that the debit one. I shewed
[8] him how detrimental his statements
[9] might have been to me and how
[10] difficult it might have been for
[11] me under other circumstances
[12] to meet the charge. I am glad
[13] to be able to assure you that all
[14] our interviews have been of the
[15] most friendly character and
[16] without any apparent reserve on
[17] either side so that any {glowing?]
[18] forbodings you may have had
[19] of the possibility of a personal
[20] clash between the B[isho]p and myself
[21] may be dispersed. At the same
[22] time it would not be wise to conceal
[23] from you that I see reason to believe
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[1] that the establishment of two missions
[2] among the Kitiksheans in such near
[3] proximity and yet worked on different
[4] principles must necessarily retard the
[5] progress of both and I would earnestly
[6] press upon you the need of satisfying
[7] the suggestion of the Conference to divide
[8] the ground with two districts. where
[9] each superintendent while responsible
[10] for his district may yet confer with his
[11] brother missionary on matters affecting
[12] the general progress. From my report
[13] handed into the Conference you
[14] will see how far I have been enabled
[15] to carry out the plans proposed and
[16] sanctioned. I hope you will
[17] excuse this hasty letter and with
[18] kindest regards to Mrs. Wigram
[19] and the children and many thanks
[20] from your many kindnesses.
[21] Believe me
[22] Yours very Sincerely
[23] Robert Tomlinson
