A band of about twenty Crees, encamped near the fort, came to shake hands cordially with me on my arrival. The joy my presence seemed to occasion them proved that I was not the first priest they had seen. Moreover, the greater number wore medals and crosses. They informed me that they too had been so fortunate as to have a Black-gown, (Reverend Mr. Thibault) who taught them to know and serve the Great Spirit - and baptized all their little children, with the exception of three, who were absent on the occasion. These children were brought to me - I administered baptism to them, and at the same time to one of my guides, a Kootenai. During their stay at the fort, I gave them instructions every evening.
Two Crees, of the same band and family, father and son, had been killed in a quarrel two years since. The presence of the offending party for the first time since the perpetration of the murder, rekindled in the others that spirit of rancor and revenge so natural to an Indian's breast, and which only the Christian religion is able to mollify, and there was every reason to apprehend fatal consequences from the old feud.
With the approbation of Mr. Harriote, I assembled them all in the fort; the Governor himself had the kindness to be my interpreter. He made a lung discourse an the obligation and necessity of their coming to a sincere reconciliation; the matter was discussed in form, each Indian giving his opinion in turn, with a good sense and moderation that sur prised me. I had the pleasure and satisfaction of seeing the calumet passed around the assembly. This is the solemn pledge of peace - the token of Indian brotherhood - the most formal declaration of the entire forgetfulness and sincere pardon of an injury.
The Cree nation is considered very powerful, and numbers more than Goo wigwarns. This tribe is one of the
27 Letter dated Fort of the 'Mountains, October 30, 1845,