Читать книгу The Moravians in Labrador - Unknown - Страница 4

Hudson's Bay Company first settle among the Esquimaux.—J.C. Erhardt suggests a mission—his letter to the Moravian Bishop.—M. Stach consulted.—London merchants undertake the scheme—engage Erhardt—its fatal conclusion.—Jans Haven employed by the Brethren, encouraged by the British Government, sets out on a voyage of discovery—his providential arrival at Quirpont—first meeting with the Esquimaux—his interesting intercourse—returns to England.—His second expedition, accompanied by Drachart and other missionaries—their proceedings.—Drachart's remarkable conversation with the natives—influence of the missionaries in preserving peace—their religious communications with the savages—the curiosity of the latter—their thievish tricks—their kindness to the missionaries—a dreadful storm.—Drachart and Haven entertained by an Angekok—his incantations—their parting addresses to each other—the missionaries return to London.

When the original Hudson's Bay Company was formed, 1688, for the purpose of trading in furs with the natives, the instructions they sent to their factors breathed the most liberal and benevolent principles. They directed them to use every means in their power to reclaim the heathen from a state of barbarism, and instil into their minds the pure lessons of Christianity; and at the same time admonished them to trade equitably, and take no advantage of their untutored simplicity. It does not appear that much attention was paid to either of these injunctions, or if there was, the efforts proved as abortive as those they made to discover the western passage. The moral wilderness still remains around their settlements on the East Maine, while those of the brethren on the opposite coast of Labrador bloom and blossom as the rose.

The first thought of attempting to establish a missionary settlement in that quarter among the Esquimaux, originated with a Moravian brother, John Christian Erhardt, a Dutch pilot. He had in early life made several voyages to Davis Straits; but in 1749, when sailing under Captain Grierson in the Irene, the vessel touched at New Hernhut in Greenland, where he saw the congregation that had been gathered from among the heathen in that land; and in conversation with the brethren they told him that they supposed the opposite coast of North America was peopled by tribes having the same customs and speaking the same language as the Greenlanders. This statement made a deep impression on his mind, and during his stay at Hernhaag, 1750, while musing on the state of that people sitting in the darkness of heathenism, and on how the light of the gospel might be communicated to them, a description of the journey undertaken by Henry Ellis, 1746-7, at the desire of the Hudson's Bay Company, to try to discover a north-west passage, accidentally fell into his hands. The account there given of these barbarous regions convinced him that the people were sprung from the same origin with the Greenlanders, and the methods suggested by Ellis for their moral improvement enabled him to bring his own scheme to a bearing.

In a letter, dated 20th May 1750, addressed to Bishop Johannes de Watteville, he laid before him his plan for establishing a mission on that part of the coast between Newfoundland and Hudson's Straits, which had as yet been but rarely visited by Europeans, and offered himself to undertake it. "Whoever," says he in this letter, "has seen our cause in Greenland, and what the Saviour has done to the poor heathen there, surely his heart and his eyes must overflow with tears of joy, if he possess any feeling of interest in the happiness of others: they are indeed sparkling rubies in the golden girdle of our dear Saviour, as the text for the day speaks, Rev 1 13. And I believe the Saviour has in these northern waters many such gems that he will also gather, and set in it to his praise and glory. My heart is much impressed with the thought of carrying the gospel to the before mentioned countries and places." "Now, dear Johannes," he concludes, "thou knowest that I am an old Greenland traveller; I have also an amazing affection for these northern countries, Indians, and other barbarians; and it would be a source of the greatest joy if the Saviour would discover to me that he has chosen me, and would make me fit for this service. It is not for ease or convenience that I so earnestly desire it. I think I can say before the Saviour, if this is of thee thou wilt cause it to prosper, if not, yet it is a good work, and no one will lose any thing by it."

On purpose to further the prosecution of this object, M. Stach, the first Greenland missionary, had been recalled to Europe, and in the year 1752 was sent for to London by Count Zinzendorff, to be consulted with upon the occasion. Application was at the same time made to the Hudson's Bay Company, for permission to preach the gospel to the savages in the neighbourhood of their factories; but this being refused, probably lest it should interfere with their mercantile projects, M. Stach returned to found new settlements near the scenes of his first labours. Meanwhile, three London merchants, but unconnected with the Hudson's Bay Company, Messrs Nisbet, Grace and Bell, fitted out a vessel for the coast of Labrador, to trade in oil and whale fins, and engaged Erhardt, then at Zeist, to act as supercargo, who, on account of his knowledge of the north seas, of the trade, and of the language, they judged well qualified for that office; but they also wished to make some preparation for a missionary settlement, and four brethren, Golkowsky, Kunz, Post, and Krumm, volunteered to remain in the country to learn the language, and endeavour the conversion of the heathen; for this purpose they took with them a wooden house ready to set up, a boat, various articles of furniture, and some kitchen garden-seeds.

Count Zinzendorff, who, from former experience, was opposed to mixing trading transactions with the work of a Christian mission, was not without doubts as to the issue of this undertaking, he did not however attempt to prevent it. The vessel on board of which this small society embarked, named the Hope, reached the south-east coast of Labrador on the 11th July 1752. The whole is precipitous, and skirted with numerous barren rocky islands; among these they had to steer their way under many difficulties, and with the greatest caution, without any proper chart, in misty weather, and with the sounding line constantly in their hands. At length they landed, and proceeded in search of the Esquimaux in order to traffic with them. On the 29th July they made their first appearance in five kaiaks, which they managed with great dexterity, and seemed highly delighted with Erhardt, who, from his knowledge of the Greenlandish, could make himself understood by them. They exchanged some whale fins for knives. July 31 they came to anchor 55 deg. 31 m. N.L. in a beautiful harbour, surrounded by a wooded high land, and bounded by meadow grounds, to which, from respect to the chief owner of the ship, they gave the name of Nisbet's Harbour.

There the brethren, with the assistance of the sailors, brought their house on shore, and erected it on this pleasant spot—for it was summer1—which they called Hoffenthal, i.e. Hopevale; they received from the ship all that was necessary for the supply of their present wants, and putting their confidence in the protection of their heavenly Father, they took up their habitation.

Erhardt, in the mean time, carried on a considerable trade with the natives, who seemed very desirous to assemble around him, and showed him particular marks of affection and attachment. Having remained till the 5th of September, and having seen the brethren, to all appearance, comfortably settled in their dwelling, the vessel left to proceed further to the north, for the purpose of completing her cargo, and Drachart, who had engaged to return to Europe, received in charge the brethren's letters for their friends, and bade them farewell.

Ten days after, on the 15th, the missionaries, to their astonishment, perceived the Hope again re-enter Nisbet's Harbour. Upon boarding her, they learned the painful heart-rending news, that Erhardt, the captain, ship's clerk, and four sailors, had left the ship in a boat filled with merchandize, and for one day had conducted a friendly and gainful traffic with the Esquimaux; but being enticed by the savages, had consented to repeat their visit, perhaps proceed farther into the country, or along the coast, and were never seen more. The vessel, with the remains of the crew, had waited in a state of the most anxious distressing expectation two days and three nights, in hopes of their return; but as they never made their appearance, and they had no other boat to send in quest of them, they were constrained to leave the district, under the distressing conviction that the natives, who had been observed lurking behind some of the small islands, had risen on the unsuspecting party, and murdered them for the sake of their property.

This intelligence threw the brethren into the greatest perplexity, as the person on whom the charge of the Hope now devolved pressed them earnestly to give him their boat, and return with him to Europe, because, from the loss of his best seamen, without additional hands, it would be impossible to navigate the ship. Having come thither at the expense of the merchants, the missionaries could not allow them to suffer in their temporal concerns; and although they would willingly have risked their own lives in the cause, they did not see it equally their duty to risk the lives of others, and the property of the merchants, on an unknown coast and a tempestuous ocean, and therefore agreed to comply with the new captain's request. Leaving provisions in the house, from which they departed with sorrowful hearts, in the feeble hope that perhaps some of those missing might yet be alive, and might be able to find their way thither, on the 20th September they bade adieu to the station, reached St John's, Newfoundland, on the 31st, and about the latter end of November arrived in London.

An issue so disastrous to an expedition so well planned, which apparently carried within itself every rational promise of prosperity, was calculated to throw a damp upon any renewal of missionary enterprize in that quarter; and it did so with those who imagined that they themselves could command success, if their projects were judiciously concerted, and the means sufficiently supplied. It had no such effect on that eminent servant of God, Count Zinzendorff. When the mournful accounts of the uncertain fate of Erhardt and his companions reached that nobleman, he was grieved, yet not distressed—perplexed, yet not in despair; for he saw much mercy mingled in the dispensation, and was thankful to God that four brethren had returned safe. Next year the vessel Hope re-visited the coast of Labrador, under the command of Captain Goff. He heard that some dead bodies had been found and buried, and that the missionary station had been burned, but no further particulars were ever learned. In this manner ended the first commercial adventure and first mission to Labrador—enforcing, in a salutary and impressive manner, the fundamental maxim of the brethren, that worldly speculation ought never to be joined with Christian enterprize.

Notwithstanding this failure, the brethren did not relinquish the hope that God would, in some way or other, direct them how to reach these savages, and there were not wanting men who showed a strong desire to carry the gospel among them. In particular, Jans Haven, a carpenter, from the moment he heard that Erhardt had been killed by the Esquimaux, could never get rid of the powerful impulse, and in his retirement constantly employed himself with charts and books relating to the subject, and by every means endeavoured to make himself acquainted with the inhabitants, customs, climate and situation of Labrador.

In the year 1758, Haven received a call to assist the Greenland missionaries in founding the new settlement of Lichtenfels. He then for the first time told Count Zinzendorff, that during six years he had cherished the idea of going to Labrador to make known to the heathen their Creator and Saviour. At first the Count hesitated whether he should allow him to go to Greenland, but upon consideration, he thought it would be better for him to proceed thither; and on taking leave, and giving him his blessing, he said, "Go first to Greenland and learn the language, and the Saviour will do the rest." He accordingly went thither, and was honoured, along with M. Stach, to promote the second settlement in that country.

With all the attachment and love, however, which he soon conceived for the Greenlanders, his predilection for Labrador never abated, while his determination to serve the Lord in those regions was ever present to his mind; and when in 1762 he returned to Germany, he laid his desire before the Conference at Engen, which at that time had the direction of the Brethren's Unity, and offered to undertake personally a voyage of inquiry into these regions. His proposals met with their most cordial approbation, and he took his departure from Hernhut for England in the spring of 1764, with the blessing of the congregation. He travelled on foot through Germany to Holland, and after encountering numberless difficulties—especially in England from his want of a knowledge of the language—he arrived in London. His first intention was to offer himself as a common sailor or ship's carpenter to the Hudson Bay Company, in order to procure a passage; but the brethren advised him rather to try and get to Labrador by the way of Newfoundland.

After many fruitless attempts, he was eventually introduced, through the means of James Hutton, Secretary to the Brethren's Unity in England, to Sir Hugh Palliser, Governor of Newfoundland, and Commodore of the squadron which sailed annually from England. Sir Hugh received him very kindly, and took a lively interest in what appeared to him so praiseworthy an undertaking as the conversion of the heathen; for he rationally concluded that it would also be most advantageous for commerce, if the population of that country were instructed and humanized. He at once promised all his assistance and support, and even offered to carry Jans Haven out on board his own ship. This the missionary declined, but requested letters of recommendation to the government officers at St John's, which were readily granted, and he set sail with the first vessel for that port. Upon his arrival (May 16th) he lodged at the house of a merchant, who treated him with great civility, and supported himself by working at his trade as a carpenter, while he endeavoured to obtain every information possible respecting the scene of his future labours. In the mean time, his disinterested love for the work he had engaged in was put to an eminently trying test. Many persons who heard of his intentions came to see and converse with him; but instead of endeavouring to strengthen his hands in his missionary designs, they made him several advantageous proposals for settling in Newfoundland, where there would have been no doubt of his speedily realizing a fortune. His heart, however, was bent on a nobler object. That he did not under-rate the difficulties he would have to encounter in his arduous work, appears from a letter written about this time; but he knew likewise where his strength lay. "Every one here," says he, "paints the Esquimaux in the most shocking colours; but I think they are men, and the word of the death of Jesus, which has produced such amazing effects on other barbarous nations, cannot fail to have an influence also on them."

Immediately upon his arrival in St John's, Newfoundland, the Governor issued a proclamation, expressive of his approval of the objects of the mission and of his desire to promote them. "As it would," said he, "be of the greatest advantage to the trade of His Majesty's dominions in North America, if a friendly intercourse could be established between the Esquimaux Indians that inhabit the coasts of Labrador, and the inhabitants of the colonies; and all attempts hitherto to accomplish this desirable object having failed—partly, it must be confessed, owing to the foolish, treacherous and cruel manner in which some of our people have treated the natives in their traffic with them on their own coasts—some of them being most deceitfully plundered, and others barbarously murdered; in consequence of which we have been brought into the greatest contempt, as if our only design was to lay a snare to get them extirpated: such flagitious proceedings being directly opposed to His Majesty's benign and humane disposition, it is his Royal will and pleasure that these Indians be henceforth treated with kindness, and encouraged to trade with his Majesty's subjects. In conformity with these sentiments of our gracious Sovereign, we deem it necessary to recommend to every possible assistance the bearer of this, Jans Haven, a member of the Moravian Brethren's Church, who has formed the laudable design of visiting these coasts, and if possible, to communicate the knowledge of religion to the poor ignorant heathen, and also endeavour to remove the prejudices which have prevented them from having a friendly intercourse with us. And further, we, His Majesty's Officers, &c. in Council assembled, having conversed with the said Jans Haven, and being highly satisfied with him, command that no impediment be thrown in the way of this his attempt, but rather that every possible friendship and assistance be given him, in order to promote a happy issue to his most Christian undertaking, as by this a great service will not only be rendered to the inhabitants of these colonies, but to His Majesty's subjects in general. Given under our hand, subscribed and sealed at St John's, 1st July 1764. (Signed) Hugh Palliser"

Fortified by this proclamation, which secured to the missionary the protection of the British Government, a protection which the Brethren have to this day enjoyed, he embarked on board a ship bound for the north, from which he was transferred to a French shallop engaged in fishing on the shores of Labrador. When they arrived on the coast, Haven for the first time saw the Esquimaux rowing about in their kaiaks, but none were permitted to approach without being fired upon, so great was the dread these savages had inspired. He landed, however, 24th Aug., near Chateau Bay, 52 degrees N.L.; but the inhabitants fled at his approach, at least none made their appearance till he left the shore, when they came in numbers to the beach, which was the subject of much merriment to the sailors, who made both him and his object the frequent subjects of their coarse ridicule—the few who sympathized in his disappointment advised him to return, and refused further assistance in what they considered so hopeless a cause. At the same time he was informed that a murderous project was in contemplation against the natives.

All these things filled his heart with the most pungent sorrow, preyed upon his mind, and wasted his body—and he cried to the Lord for relief and help in this distressing situation. Once, when writing down his heavy mournful cogitations in his journal, the master of the shallop entered his cabin, and seeing him in tears, inquired whether he was going to make a complaint to the owners? "No," replied he, "but I mean to complain of you to God, that he may notice your wicked conduct on the present occasion, for ye have taken his name in vain, and ye have mocked his word!" Struck with this address, the captain entreated his forgiveness, and promised that from henceforth he would do every thing to promote his design, which he faithfully performed, and landed him next day at Quirpont or Quiverant, a harbour in an island, off the north-east extremity of Newfoundland.

Here he landed in a most propitious moment—a number of unprincipled wretches had arrived, and were holding a council to concert a plan for destroying the Esquimaux. Instantly the missionary went to them boldly, showed them the Governor's proclamation, and strongly remonstrated with them; yet it was not without difficulty that he persuaded them to lay aside their diabolical design. To this harbour the natives frequently resorted to trade, or rather more frequently to steal; and here his first interview took place with the Esquimaux, which he records in his diary in the following manner: "September 4 1764 was the joyful day I had so long wished for, when one Esquimaux came into the harbour to see if Captain Galliot was there. While I was preparing to go to him, he had turned, and was departing to return to his countrymen, who lay in the mouth of the harbour, with the intelligence that the Captain had sailed. I called out to him in Greenlandish that he should come to me, that I had words to say to him, and that I was his good friend. He was astonished at my speech, and answered in broken French; but I begged him to speak in his own language, which I understood, and to bring his countrymen, as I wished to speak to them also, on which he went to them and cried with a loud voice, 'Our friend is come!'

"I had hardly put on my Greenland clothes when five of them arrived in their own boats—I went to meet them, and said, 'I have long desired to see you.' They replied, 'Here is an innuit.' I answered, 'I am your countryman and friend.' They rejoined, 'Thou art indeed our countryman!' The joy on both sides was very great, and we continued in conversation for a considerable time, when at last they invited me to accompany them to an island about an hour's row from the shore, where I should find their wives and children, who would give me a cordial welcome. I well knew that in doing this I put myself entirely in their power; but conceiving it to be of essential service to our Saviour's cause that I should venture my life among them, and endeavour to become better acquainted with their nature, I turned simply to Him, and said, 'I will go with them in thy name. If they kill me, my work on earth is done, and I shall live with thee; but if they spare my life, I will firmly believe that it is thy will that they should hear and believe thy gospel.'

"The pilot and a sailor who put me ashore, remained in the boat, and pushed off a little way from the land to see what would become of me. I was immediately surrounded, and every one seemed anxious to show me his family. I gave every boy two fish-hooks, and every woman two or three sewing needles; and after conversing about two hours, left them, with a promise of soon being with them again. In the afternoon I returned with the pilot, who wished to trade with them. I begged them to remain in this place during the night, but not to steal any thing from our people, and showed the danger of doing this. They said the Europeans steal also. I answered, if they do so, let me know, and they shall be punished. I seized every opportunity to say something about the Saviour, to which they listened with great attention. I then invited them to visit me next morning, and took leave.

"Next morning accordingly, eighteen Esquimaux came in their boats. I went out to sea to meet them, and as the French Captain was frightened at the sight of such a crowd, I only allowed six of them to come ashore with me, and directed the others to land somewhere else. I now informed them of Commodore Palliser's proclamation, and of the kind intentions of the British government towards them, assuring them, that in future no one should be allowed to do them the least injury, so long as they themselves behaved properly and peaceably—to all which they listened with great attention; but when I offered them the written declaration, which I had received from the Commodore, they shrunk back terrified, and would not be persuaded to touch it—for they supposed it a living creature, having seen me speak words from it. I then got into a boat and went with them again to their families, who received me as before, with the greatest show of kindness. In the evening, three French and one English boat arrived full of Esquimaux—the men came immediately to see me, and requested I would visit them in their tents. I read to them a letter written by the missionary John Beck, in name of the Greenlanders; and as I spoke to them of the Saviour's death, they appeared struck with terror—probably supposing that they were upbraided with some of their former murders. On which I showed them that he was a great friend to mankind—but they had no understanding of spiritual things.

"To my astonishment I spoke to them with much more ease than I supposed I could have done, and they expressed great affection for me, insisting always upon my being present at all their trading transactions with the sailors, to adjust matters between them; 'for,' said they, 'you are our friend.' When retiring, they entreated me to come again, and bring my brethren with me.

"On the day after, twenty-six men arrived, and requested me once more to pay them a visit before my departure. I begged the Captain to lend me his boat, which he readily did, as he wished to go along with me; the pilot, surgeon, and six sailors, all well armed, accompanied me. The captain had dressed himself in his most gaudy apparel, but of this the Esquimaux took no notice. They asked me if I really intended to come again next year? I said, Yes, if they did not murder me as they had my countrymen some years before—they startled, looked to the ground, and remained silent. I continued, 'I believe you did it through ignorance, but now that I can speak to you, I hope you will never do the like again.' They promised unanimously that no one should ever receive the least injury from them again. I said farther, 'When I come back I shall tell you things of the greatest importance, of the God that created you, and that redeemed you; and if you will but believe on him, then shall we live happy together.' One of them asked if God dwelt in the sun? I replied, 'God made the sun, and them, and me, and all things.' Another asked me, if he believed in this Creator, if he would be more successful in his business? I answered, there was no doubt of it, if he was diligent in his employment; but that the future life was of infinitely greater importance than the present, and it, those who believed on him, trusted in him, and lived according to his will, should enjoy. Some of them begged me to read again the letter that I had read yesterday; and when I wished to take leave, one of the chief persons among them, the Angekok Seguliak, took me into his tent, and embracing and kissing me, said, 'We are timorous now, but when you come back again we shall meet one another without fear, dread, or suspicion.' Another came with his drum and began to dance and sing, repeating often, 'Our friend is come! this makes us glad!' When he concluded, he asked me to answer him. I sung, while my heart was touched, this verse in the Greenlandish language, 'Jehovah, Lord of hosts—the true God—thou art the Creator of all nature—the Preserver of the world—What was ruined thou hast regained by thy blood, and by thy blood must sanctify—consecrated to thee we fall at thy feet.' When I had finished, they said, we are without words to express our admiration. They took their final departure on the 7th, but no sooner had they left the harbour than they began to steal. I offered, if they would give me a boat with four men, to go again and speak seriously to them, but no one would go with me."

Sir H. Palliser was so well satisfied with the missionary's report, that he sent him to Britain in the Lark frigate, to concert measures for carrying his benevolent design into execution. The Board of Trade, who perceived the immense advantages which would arise from a mission among these tribes, in promoting peace with the natives, and the security of the traders, were anxious to see the brethren established in Labrador; and the Directors of the Unity, under their especial patronage, in the year 1765, undertook a second voyage of inquiry upon the coast.

On this expedition Jans Haven was accompanied by Christian Laurentius Drachart, who had been a Danish missionary in Greenland,2 John Hill and Andrew Schlozer (Schliezer.) The British Admiralty accommodated them with a passage in a public vessel, and they (7th May) sailed from Spithead, in the Lark, Captain Thomson, the same frigate that had brought Jans Haven home. He landed them at Cosque, Newfoundland, where another government vessel, the Niger, received them, and conveyed them to Chateau Bay, at which place they arrived July 17th; but were there obliged to separate, the captain, Sir Thomas Adams, having received instructions to detain some of them, to keep up the friendly intercourse with the Esquimaux. With these directions, they not unwillingly complied, their object being to follow the leadings of Providence, and pursue the line which promised to lead to the greatest good. Haven and Schliezer therefore proceeded forward, and Drachart and Hill remained. The two former embarked in a schooner bound for the north, in order to prosecute their intended exploratory voyages; but after spending from the 25th of July to the 3d of September, and reaching the 56th deg. N.L. on the east coast, Labrador, they returned without having accomplished any thing of importance, not having met with a single native in any place at which they had landed. The other two had an opportunity of speaking with hundreds, whom the trade attracted to their neighbourhood, of which they gave the following account in their journals: "On the 17th August, we heard that Esquimaux were coming, and were about twenty English miles off. We sailed on the 18th, very early, with Sir Thomas, to meet them, and invited them, in the name of the governor, to Pitt's Harbour.3 After some hours we saw the first kaiak. As they approached, the savages began to call out, in broken French, 'tous camarades oui hu!' which the sailors answered in the same manner. Drachart allowed the first shout to pass over; he then took one of them by the hand and said in Greenlandish, 'Ikinguitigangut,' i.e. 'we are friends;' the native understood, and answered, 'Ikinguitsgenpogui,' 'we are also thy friends.' We then took some of them into the vessel. A man in a white woollen coat, said he got it as a keepsake from Jensingoak, i.e. Jans Haven, and inquired where he was. At their earnest invitation Mr Drachart went with them, and found upwards of three hundred assembled, crying out incessantly, 'We are your friends—be not afraid—we understand your words—where do you come from?' He answered, 'I have words to you;' on which the whole adjourned to a green plain without the camp, and sat down around him. He then told them, 'I come from the Karalit in East Greenland, where at one time I had a wife, children, and servants.' When they heard this, they cried out, 'These Karalit are bad people,' thinking he meant the North Indians; but he said, 'I come not from the north, I came over the great sea from the Karalit in the east, of whom you have heard nothing, for it is very long since they went away from this place. But they have heard of you, and therefore Jensingoak came last year to visit you, to see if you are Karalits, and I now see myself that you are; and I am sent to say, that the Karalits in the east are your friends, that they know the Creator of all things, who is our Saviour, and they wish you also to know him.'

"Greatly perplexed at this discourse, the savages made him repeat it again and again, saying to each other, 'saog?' what does he say? when an old man undertook to interpret. 'He means,' said he, 'Silla,'4 throwing his hands around his head, and at the same time blowing with his mouth. 'Yes!' repeated Drachart immediately, 'Silla!—the great Creator of the world, is our Saviour.' A young man, somewhat astonished, stepping forward, exclaimed, 'Saviour! what is that? I do not understand what that means.' Another asked, 'Where is he?' Drachart then moving his hand in circles around his head, as the old man had done, said, 'He is every where in Silla, but he became a man, as we are.' 'Are you a teacher?' asked one. 'Yes, I was in the east,' replied the missionary. 'Are you an Angekok?' was the next question. 'It may be,' was the cautious response. On which two aged men, with long beards, coming up to him, said, 'We are Angekoks.' Drachart took them by the hands, and introduced them to Sir Thomas Adams, who, with the sailors, had been standing by during the conversation, and told them, 'This is our captain, who is sent by a greater captain to invite you to visit him to-morrow.' Sir Thomas then hastened back to Pitt's harbour, to give an account of this interview to the Commodore, who had remained there, and we continued our course a few miles farther north in St Louis Bay, where we remained during the night."

Now scarcely a day escaped without the brethren's having some intercourse with the Esquimaux, though this was attended with much difficulty, and many a sleepless night, as, in passing and repassing to their encampment, they often had nothing but the canopy of heaven to cover them from the wind and the rain. Sir H. Palliser employed Mr Drachart as his interpreter in the negociations which followed, for placing the trade with the Esquimaux on such a footing that all violence should from that time cease on both sides, and that mutual confidence might be restored and maintained. He also learned by his means the chief places of their residence, and their actual numbers—important points for regulating his future intercourse with that nation. In these respects, the missionary was unweariedly diligent, and his efforts were so successful, that, during the whole time he and his brethren remained, peace and good will was preserved among all parties.

But at the same time he neglected no opportunity to exhibit the crucified Jesus, and commend him to the heathen as their Saviour. The following excerpts from his diary may serve as a specimen:—When he spake to them of the corruption and depravity of all men, they thought he only meant the Kablunat, or foreigners, not them, they were good Karalit. "Have you ever," said he, "any bad thoughts?" "No." "But when you think we will kill the Kablunat, and take their boats and their goods, are not these bad thoughts?" "Yes." "Would you not then wish to be delivered from your bad thoughts, words, and actions?" "We do not know,"—concluded their catechism.

When the missionary told them that the Greenlanders had been washed from their sins in the blood of Jesus, they were amazed, and said, "they must have been very wicked fellows!" and when he spoke to them of eternal damnation, they supposed it was only the Kablunat that were sent to hell, (because they did wicked things,—as for them they were good Karalit.) Having upon one occasion mentioned God to them, they said, "Thou speakest of Torngarsuk." He then asked them if Torngarsuk created all things; they answered, "We do not know." But an Angekok said immediately, "Torngarsuk ajungilak,"—the great spirit is good and holy; and another added, "Ajuatangilat,"—nothing is impossible to him; and a third subjoined, "Saimavot,"—he is gracious and merciful. They, however, could form no idea of what he said to them of a Saviour and Redeemer; he was obliged to explain that word to them by parables, when they would ask if this mighty Personage would be their good friend, for they could conceive of him in no other way than as a great lord who was to come and deliver them from the Kablunat, and assist them against the northern Kraler. With the fickleness so natural to savages, they would listen attentively to the first instructions, but when it was often repeated, they would say, as both ancient and modern Athenians, "we know all that already, tell us something new," or like the Greenlanders, sometimes profess to believe it, and the next moment declare they neither understood nor cared about it. With those who had patience, and were so disposed, the missionary went over every doctrine about which they spoke in a catechetical way, and endeavoured by short questions, to see if they comprehended it, and tried to allure them to make further inquiry.

During their whole intercourse, the Esquimaux showed themselves very friendly, and were particularly glad when they saw Jans Haven again; some of them recollected many things he had told them the year before, and praised him for keeping his promise of returning, and others boasted of the good they had heard of him from their countrymen. The brethren could go any where among them with the utmost security; but they were under the necessity of submitting to their curiosity, and allowing them to handle every thing they saw, even when they perceived this liberty to be attended with danger; yet even now, such was the influence of their friendly behaviour, that very little damage was incurred. In one tent, they searched Drachart's box, and carried every thing off, taking also his hat along with them. Without uttering any reproachful complaint, the missionary went to some of the older people, and said, "Now I have got no hat to skreen me from the sun." They instantly called to the young men, and desired them to give him back every thing, which they did with the utmost coolness, and only requested a knife as a keepsake.

At another time, when they had secretly emptied his box, no sooner did the chief elders of the tribe perceive the circumstance, than they called every person belonging to the tent to come before them, and desired that what had been taken away should be restored; the thief immediately came forward, and without betraying any consciousness of having done wrong, threw down what he had taken, saying, "Thou needest it thyself!"

Though at a great distance, and scattered over a considerable extent of country, Haven and Drachart were especially anxious to visit them in their own houses: this they seized every opportunity of doing, searching them out, and under every difficulty wandering after them. But they were gratified by the reception they generally met with; for when they informed them that they intended next year to come and live among them, the answer uniformly was—"Come and build a house with us, and live with us; but do not bring Kablunat with you, bring only Innuit—men as we are, and you are; and Jensingoak shall help us to build boats, and to repair them; and Drachart shall teach us to read and write, and we shall live together as friends: then our flints5 and harpoons shall no more be used against each other, but against the seals and rein deer."

A dreadful storm of wind and rain occurred on the 12th September, which gave rise to some interesting incidents, and appears materially to have furthered the object of the missionaries, by shewing the Esquimaux their fearless intrepidity and unsuspecting confidence, which strongly affected the savages, and greatly increased the affection and respect in which they before held them. The missionaries, when attempting to get on board their vessel, were prevented by the violence of the tempest. Their shallop was driven on shore and grounded on the rocks. In vain they endeavoured, with the assistance of the Esquimaux, to get her off: eight of them waded into the water breast-deep and toiled for upwards of an hour, but could not move her; meanwhile the vessel went away, and they were left alone with the natives. Hill and the ship's surgeon endeavoured to follow the vessel in a small boat, in order to attempt some arrangement; but just as they had reached her, they were dashed by the waves against the ship's side and overset, and narrowly escaped with their lives. Drachart and Haven now betook themselves to the stranded shallop, but they were destitute of provisions, and the rain fell in torrents. The Esquimaux, who perceived their wretched situation, came and represented to them that the boat could not possibly float before the tide returned in the morning, and invited them to lodge for the night in their tent, a proposal with which the poor drenched brethren were glad to comply. Immediately Segulliak, the Angekok, plunged into the water and brought them successively on his back to the shore; he afterwards carried them to his tent, caused his wife to procure them dry garments, and spread a skin on the floor for them to sit and sleep on. The tent was soon crowded with people, who frequently asked them if they were not afraid? "We do not know what you intend," answered they, "but you are our friends, and friends are not afraid of each other." "We are good Karalits," was the universal rejoinder, "and now we see you are not Kablunat, but Innuits, and our friends; for you come to see us without weapons, we will do you no harm." The Esquimaux then gave the brethren fish, water and some bread they had got from the sailors, and in about half an hour prepared for rest, Segulliak kindly covering them with two other skins. The conjurer himself did not, however, appear inclined for repose: falling into an ecstacy he first sung with his wives, then muttered some unintelligible jargon, made strange gestures, blew and foamed at the mouth, twisted his limbs and body together as if convulsed, throwing himself into every possible posture; and at intervals emitting the most frightful shrieks, then again he held his hand on Drachart's face, who was next him, and concluded the first act of his demoniacal pantomime by groaning out, "Now is my Torngak come!" Observing Drachart, who was awake, appear startled when he came near him, as often as he laid his hand on his face he kissed him. He then lay still for a while as if dead—after a little began to moan, and at last raised himself up, and requested that they would kiss him, as that gave him some relief, after which he sat down and began to sing. The brethren told him they would sing something better, and accordingly sung some Greenland hymns—to these the Esquimaux were very attentive, and repeated every word, observing, "We know only a little of what you say."

Wearied and restless, the brethren lay down, but could not sleep; they therefore frequently arose and went out of the tent: but Segulliak, who appeared to view their motions with suspicion, always took care to go out along with them: in the morning, at his desire, they divided among his people glass-beads, fish-hooks, sewing needles, &c. as payment for their night's lodging. At parting, Segulliak addressed them, "You may tell your countrymen in the east that you have slept a night with me in safety—you are the first foreigners that ever remained a night in my tent—yet you are not foreigners but men, our friends, with whom all dread is at an end, for we know each other." Drachart being taken ill, it was not till the 21st September that the brethren were able to take their final departure, on which occasion Jans Haven, when bidding the natives farewell, made them promise that they would not forget what Drachart had spoken to them. "We shall now," said he, "see you no more this year; but remember your Creator and Redeemer, and when we come again next year we shall be happy with each other—The Saviour be gracious unto you and bless you, Amen!" On the 30th September the four brethren returned to Newfoundland, and after a friendly interview with the governor, embarked on board the Niger, Nov 5th, for England, being again granted a free passage by government. On the 25th they landed at Plymouth, and reached London on the 3d of the same month.