320             MISSION TOUR.
missionary bury him, and the next morning calmly passed away, trusting in Jesus.
A small residence was erected for the missionary, and a school-house and chapel, thirty by forty feet in size. Getting started in the lower village, another mission was established in the upper one, twentyfive miles distant. This is the darkest and most wicked village on the river. They do not bury their dead, but have a feast, make a great fire in the house, throw on the body, and dance around it while it burns ; but they are seeking for light. Heathenism was carried on by doctors and conjurors to a great degree, ten being at work when the missionaries arrived. They preached the first night to a large congregation. The next day they visited the sick, giving them medicine and pointing them to Jesus. A large number of the people followed them from house to house, eager to catch every word. On Sunday the large house was filled; many, being unable to get even standing room, climbed up the roof to the open square, through which the smoke escapes, and there listened attentively, through the whole service, to the precious word, although snow was falling. On Monday they had a meeting, and at the close asked the doctors and conjurors to abandon their deceptive work. They confessed before all the people that they knew that they could not help any one, and promised that they would give it up and burn their mysterious boxes at once.
One day an old chief came to ask a question. He said, " The white people are very wise; they know a great deal, but the Indians are a very foolish people;