KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 141

2. They should use their inﬂuence, as soon as the Indians are well educated, and understand the laws of the land, to have them placed on the same footing as the whites.

3. They should try to procure for them a territorial or district government, so that they may represent their own nation.

4. They should obtain for them, deeds of their own lands; and, if qualiﬁed, according to law, urge their right to vote.

The Indians will be sure to waste and squander what- ever they may receive from the American or British Government, unless some, at least, of the above sugges- tions, shall have been put into practice.

The Council was now dissolved. The President, Chief Sawyer, proceeded to His Excellency, the Gover- nor General, and presented the petitions, in the name of the General Council. These petitions, as we learned afterwards, were received with a simple nod ! of the head. 0 mercy! is this for ever to be our destiny? Common humanity, at least, might have induced his Lordship to speak a few consolatory words, if nothing else. Our reception was both discouraging and chill- ing. When we havea press of our own, we shall, perhaps, be able to plead our own cause. Give us but the Bible, and the inﬂuence of a Press, and we ask no more.

The General Council appointed me to go to Walpole, to present their address to the Walpole Island Indians, entreating them to embrace Christianity. I visited them in July.