children for baptism. There was an old chief of the Blackfeet nation, in the camp, with his son and his little family, five in all, who had been hitherto very assiduous in their attendance at prayers and catechism. The day succeeding my arrival I commenced giving three instructions daily, besides the catechism, which was taught by the other Fathers. They profited so well that, with the grace of God, 115 Flatheads, with three chiefs at their head, thirty Nez Percés with their chief, and the Blackfeot chief and his family, presented themselves at the baptismal font on Christ mas day. I began my masses at seven o'clock in the morning; at five o'clock P. M. I still found myself in the chapel. The heart can conceive, but the tongue cannot express the emotions which such a consoling spectacle may well awaken. The following day I celebrated a solemn mass of thanksgiving for the signal favors with which our Lord had deigned
to visit his people. From six to seven hundred new Christians, with bands of little children, baptized in the past year -all assembled in a poor little chapel, covered with rushes - in the midst of a desert, where but lately the name of God was scarcely known; offering to the Creator their regenerated hearts, protesting that they would persevere in his holy service even to death, was an offering, without doubt, most agreeable to God, and which, we trust, will draw down the dews of heaven upon the Flathead nation and the neighboring tribes.
On the 29th the large camp, accompanied by the Fathers, left its for the great buffalo hunt, and joined the Pend d'Oreilles, who awaited them at two days' journey hence; there will be above aoo lodges. I am filled with hope for the success and fresh victories, with which, I trust, God will deign to reward the zeal of his servant. In the meantime we occupy ourselves (Father Mengarini and myself) in translating the catechism into the Flathead tongue: and in preparing T ;O persons for their first communion.
Our good Brothers and the Canadians are engaged at the same time in erecting around our establishment a strong