Joseph Howe had pow-wow with Greenfield chief

This letter, which Henry Ross wrote to the editor of the Halifax Chronicle, was loaned to me by Mrs. Freda Freeman:

"The reminiscences of Howe related by your correspondent from Queens County in the issue of the Morning Chronicle of the 18th instant, recall what was told by the late Edward D. Davison Jr., of Bridgewater, twenty-five years ago; and with your permission I should like to supplement Mr. Morton's - (the Chronicle Herald's correspondent) - sketch.

In 1857, Edward Davison, Sr., then a resident of Mill Village on the Medway River, was a member of the Provincial Legislature for the County of Queens in Nova Scotia. About that time a saw mill was built at the foot of Ponhook Lake on the Medway at what is now Greenfield in that county. A grant of land covering the site of the mill had been made to the builders.

There was an Indian burial ground at or near where the mill was built. The Indians of the locality strongly resented the making of the grant. Cobbeyall, their Chief, gave voice to their complaints, and a remonstrance was addressed to Howe as Premier of the province. The Legislature was in session at the time and Howe sent word to the Indians that when the Legislature prorogued he would visit Ponhook to discuss the matter with them. A day was accordingly set for the meeting and Howe, accompanied by Mr. Davison, reached Ponhook on the mid-afternoon to find all the Indians on the Medway and Rossignol assembled.

The reception was not all friendly. After brief preliminaries, the Indians sat down in a semi-circle on the ground in front of Howe, who began to address them on the subject of their grievance. The reasons for making the grant were presented at length, and with all the art of conciliation and persuasion of which Howe was master. The faces of the Indians during the speech remained sullen and impassive. Finally Howe ended and then Cobbeyall rose to his feet.

Edward D. Davison Jr. remembered Cobbeyall. He described him as possessed of an imposing and handsome physique, with an air of dignity and haughty reserve.

His words were few: 'Howe, I believe you lie!'

No further parley was possible and with that abrupt word the conference ended. Mr. Davison felt chagrined at the outcome. But, as Howe was to proceed from there by canoe through the upper waterways to Annapolis, he went to the mill cook -house to arrange for a meal for Howe before his departure. This accomplished, he returned to the scene of the conference, but Howe was nowhere in sight.

On enquiry he learned that Howe and Cobbeyall were last seen walking down the river bank. He followed, and two or three hundred yards farther down, found them seated on a rock, concluding a meal of smoked kayaks (Indian name for alewives), furnished by Cobbeyall, eaten without the use of knives or forks. The meal concluded, Cobbeyall produced his pipe, lit it, took a few vigorous puffs and handed it to Howe.

Mr. Davison accompanied his guest two or three miles up to the head of the first lake, where he took his leave.

At parting, Howe felt his coat pocket and said, 'By the way, I have Cobbeyall's pipe; take it back to him!' Then, after a moment he added, 'No, I'll keep it, here's a dollar for Cobbeyall!'

And now for the sequel: nothing further of complaint ever came from the Indians about their burial ground after that day! The resources of Howe, the diplomat, were not limited to skill in speech. When that failed he could adopt the tradition of the Indian; and smoke the pipe of peace with him to accomplish the end mutually desired."