The Moravians in Labrador Part 3

At length at Nain, also, the brethren had the pleasure in the winter of 1779-80, to see five Esquimaux families, consisting of thirty-seven souls, come to the resolution of remaining during that season in their neighbourhood, and the year after their number increased from seventy to eighty; by this means the brethren were enabled to collect small congregations at each station, and in the winter at least carefully to observe their conduct, and to give them regular employment. Meanwhile the mission work proceeded; they held daily meetings, where the gospel was preached to the resident Esquimaux and numerous visitors. A school was opened for children, besides which, the baptized were twice a-week instructed in writing. A weekly meeting was likewise kept with the latter for furthering their knowledge on doctrinal points, particularly on the meaning of the Lord's supper. During the season when the baptized were necessarily called away from the settlement, one of the missionaries generally attended them. In the year 1780, William Turner made two visits of twenty miles each into the interior of the country from Nain in their company when they went to hunt the rein-deer, along with a number of the Esquimaux; the first in February, and then from the 8th of August to the 25th of September.

They travelled over wild mountains between lakes and pools. The rein-deer, which sometimes pa.s.sed in large herds, were driven into the water by the Esquimaux and there killed. In the winter journey, Turner suffered much from the cold and the want of warm food, and was also frequently in imminent danger from the snow storms, when the great drift-heaps collected upon the mountains rolled down in tremendous and threatening ma.s.ses like Alpine avalanches. Nor was the summer expedition free from its dangers and difficulties. The party consisted of fifty men, who travelled on foot; about a hundred dogs followed, laden with the baggage that was to be transported over barren mountains and through mora.s.ses; and often, after all their exertions and deprivations, they got very few rein-deer. The main design of his journeys too, was but imperfectly obtained, as his people were so very much occupied in the hunt that they could pay but little attention to the preaching of the word; and their heathen companions disliked the presence of a missionary, as it caused those to keep back who believed in their superst.i.tious customs and practices, and who practised them, and on whom, according to their notions, the success of the hunt depended.

From the promising appearances of the two settlements, the brethren now began to think of a third, to be situated south from Nain; and in July 1779, Schneider, Lister and Jensen went to Arvertok, which Jans Haven, Lister and Beck had formerly visited, and pitched upon a spot deemed the most proper for a missionary station. Having purchased the land from the Esquimaux, and fixed the boundaries, placing stones as on the former occasion; they then returned to Nain, where the wood was prepared as for the missionary house at Okkak, and brought to its destination by the Good Intent, on her arrival from England. In the meantime, Jans Haven, who had been on a visit to Europe, arrived with his wife, after having experienced a wonderful escape on their voyage.

When approaching near the coast of Labrador, they discovered an ice-berg of prodigious extent and height approaching them, and had scarcely pa.s.sed it in safety ere it fell to pieces with a tremendous crash, putting the surrounding sea into the most dreadful agitation and foam. Had it happened but a few minutes before, they must every soul have perished in the immense ruin.--All the preparations being finished, the building was begun in 1782 at the new station, and Jans Haven was employed as first architect. On the 21st September of that year it was finished so as to be habitable.

This settlement, which is thirty German miles south of Nain, and lies in 55 deg. 40 m. N.L., was called Hopedale, in remembrance of those brethren, who, in 1752, had erected their dwelling a little farther to the south, at Nisbet's Harbour, and given it this name; the ruins of which had been discovered in the exploratory voyage, 1775.

The appearance of the s.h.i.+ps, which were now annually sent from England to Labrador, was hailed with joy. They visited all the three stations, supplied them with necessaries, and made considerable profit by what they got in exchange. In the interim, the brethren held as much intercourse as possible together, during summer, by the Esquimaux boats that sail along the coast, and in winter, by travelling from one station to another, in sledges drawn by dogs. The land-road was extremely difficult on account of the steep rocky mountains. The way over the frozen sea was much more easy and pleasant, but often extremely dangerous, as, where it is not inclosed and fixed by the islands, in changeable and stormy weather it is liable to be broken up, and exposes the travellers to almost inevitable destruction. A most remarkable interposition of providence in behalf of two of the brethren, which occurred this year, will ill.u.s.trate both the danger of that mode of travelling, and the peculiar protection afforded by G.o.d to those who have devoted their lives to his service. We shall relate it in the words of the Rev. C.J. Latrobe, Secretary to the mission, who compiled the narrative from the private journal of one of the party:

"Brother Samuel Liebisch being at that time entrusted with the general care of the brethren's missions on the coast of Labrador; the duties of his office required a visit to Okkak, the most northern of our settlements, and about one hundred and fifty English miles distant from Nain, the place where he resided. Brother William Turner being appointed to accompany him, they left Nain on March the 11th, early in the morning, with very clear weather, the stars s.h.i.+ning with uncommon l.u.s.tre. The sledge was driven by the baptized Esquimaux Mark, and another sledge with Esquimaux joined company. The two sledges contained five men, one woman, and a child. All were in good spirits, and appearances being much in their favour, they hoped to reach Okkak in safety, in two or three days. The track over the frozen sea was in the best possible order, and they went with ease at the rate of six or seven miles an hour. After they had pa.s.sed the islands in the bay of Nain, they kept at a considerable distance from the coast, both to gain the smoothest part of the ice, and to weather the high rocky promontory of Kiglapeit. About eight o'clock they met a sledge with Esquimaux turning in from the sea. After the usual salutations, the Esquimaux alighting, held some conversation, as is their general practice, the result of which was, that some hints were thrown out by the strange Esquimaux that it might be as well to return. However, as the missionaries saw no reason whatever for it, and only suspected that the Esquimaux wished to enjoy the company of their friends a little longer, they proceeded. After some time their own Esquimaux hinted that there was a ground-swell under the ice. It was then hardly perceptible, except on lying down and applying the ear close to the ice, when a hollow disagreeable grating and roaring noise was heard, as if ascending from the abyss. The weather remained clear except toward the east, where a bank of light clouds appeared, interspersed with some dark streaks; but the wind being strong from the north west, nothing less than a sudden change of weather was expected.

"The sun had now reached his height, and there was as yet little or no alteration in the appearance of the sky; but the motion of the sea under the ice had grown more perceptible, so as rather to alarm the travellers, and they began to think it prudent to keep closer to the sh.o.r.e. The ice had cracks and large fissures in many places, some of which formed chasms of one or two feet wide; but as they are not uncommon even in its best state, and the dogs easily leap over them, the sledge following without danger, they are only terrible to new comers.

"As soon as the sun declined towards the west, the wind increased and rose to a storm, the bank of clouds from the east began to ascend, and the dark streaks to put themselves in motion against the wind. The snow was violently driven about by partial whirlwinds, both on the ice and from off the peaks of the high mountains, and filled the air. At the same time, the ground-swell had increased so much, that its effects upon the ice became very extraordinary and alarming. The sledges, instead of gliding along smoothly upon an even surface, sometimes ran with violence after the dogs, and shortly after seemed with difficulty to ascend the rising hill; for the elasticity of so vast a body of ice of many leagues square, supported by a troubled sea, though in some places three or four yards in thickness, would in some degree occasion an undulatory motion, not unlike that of a sheet of paper accommodating itself to the surface of a rippling stream.

Noises were likewise now distinctly heard in many directions like the report of cannon, owing to the bursting of the ice at some distance.

"The Esquimaux therefore drove with all haste towards the sh.o.r.e, intending to take up their night's quarters on the south side of the Uivak. But as it plainly appeared that the ice would break and disperse in the open sea, Mark advised to push forward to the north of Uivak, from whence he hoped the track to Okkak might still remain entire. To this proposal the company agreed; but when the sledges approached the coast, the prospect before them was truly terrific--the ice having broken loose from the rocks, was forced up and down, grinding and breaking into a thousand pieces against the precipices with a tremendous noise, which, added to the raging of the wind, and the snow driving about in the air, deprived the travellers almost of the power of hearing and seeing any thing distinctly. To make the land at any risk, was now the only hope left, but it was with the utmost difficulty, that the frightened dogs could be forced forward--the whole body of ice sinking frequently below the surface of the rocks, then rising above it. As the only moment to land was that when it gained the level of the coast, the attempt was extremely nice and hazardous. However, by G.o.d's mercy, it succeeded; both sledges gained the sh.o.r.e, and were drawn up the beach with much difficulty.

"The travellers had hardly time to reflect with grat.i.tude to G.o.d on their safety, when that part of the ice from which they had just made good their landing, burst asunder, and the water, forcing itself from below, covered and precipitated it into the sea. In an instant, as if by a signal given, the whole ma.s.s of ice, extending for several miles from the coast, and as far as the eye could reach, began to burst and to be overwhelmed by the immense waves. The sight was tremendous, and awfully grand--the large fields of ice, raising themselves out of the water, striking against each other, and plunging into the deep with a violence not to be described, and a noise like the discharge of innumerable batteries of heavy guns. The darkness of the night, the roaring of the wind and sea, and the das.h.i.+ng of the waves and ice against the rocks, filled the travellers with sensations of awe and horror, as almost to deprive them of the power of utterance. They stood overwhelmed with astonishment at their miraculous escape, and even the heathen Esquimaux expressed grat.i.tude to G.o.d for their deliverance.

"The Esquimaux now began to build a snow-house, about thirty paces from the beach; but before they had finished their work, the waves reached the place where the sledges were secured, and they were with difficulty saved from being washed into the sea.

"About 9 o'clock all of them crept into the snow-house, thanking G.o.d for this place of refuge; for the wind was piercingly cold, and so violent, that it required great strength to be able to stand against it.

"Before they entered their habitation, they could not help once more turning to the sea, which was now free from ice, and beheld with horror, mingled with grat.i.tude for their safety, the enormous waves driving furiously before the wind, like huge castles, and approaching the sh.o.r.e, where, with dreadful noise, they dashed against the rocks, foaming, and filling the air with the spray. The whole company now got their supper; and having sung an evening hymn in the Esquimaux language, lay down to rest about ten o'clock. They lay so close, that if any one stirred, his neighbour was roused by it. The Esquimaux were soon fast asleep, but brother Liebisch could not get any rest, partly on account of the dreadful roaring of the wind and sea, and partly owing to a sore throat which gave him great pain. Both missionaries were also much engaged in their minds in contemplating the dangerous situation into which they had been brought, and amidst all thankfulness for their great deliverance from immediate death, could not but cry unto the Lord for his help in this time of need."

The wakefulness of the missionaries proved the deliverance of the whole party from sudden destruction. About two o'clock in the morning, brother Liebisch perceived some salt water to drop from the roof of the snow-house upon his lips. Though rather alarmed on tasting the salt, which could not proceed from a common spray, he kept quiet till the same dropping became more frequently repeated. Just as he was about to give the alarm, on a sudden a tremendous surf broke close to the house, discharging a quant.i.ty of water into it; a second soon followed, and earned away the slab of snow placed as a door before the entrance. The missionaries immediately called aloud to the sleeping Esquimaux to rise and quit the place. They jumped up in an instant.

One of them with a large knife cut a pa.s.sage through the side of the house; and each seizing some part of the baggage, it was thrown out upon a higher part of the beach, brother Turner a.s.sisting the Esquimaux. Brother Liebisch, and the woman and child, fled to a neighbouring eminence. The latter was wrapped up by the Esquimaux in a large skin, and the former took shelter behind a rock, for it was impossible to stand against the wind, snow and sleet. Scarcely had the company retreated to the eminence, when an enormous wave carried away the whole house, but nothing of consequence was lost.

They now found themselves a second time delivered from the most imminent danger of death; but the remaining part of the night, before the Esquimaux could seek and find another more safe place for a snow house, were hours of great trial to mind and body, and filled every one with painful reflections. Before the day dawned, the Esquimaux cut a hole into a large drift of snow, to screen the woman and child, and the two missionaries. Brother Liebisch, however, could not bear the closeness of the air, and was obliged to sit down at the entrance, when the Esquimaux covered him with skins to keep him warm, as the pain in his throat was very great.

As soon as it was light, they built another snow house; and miserable as such an accommodation is at all times, they were glad and thankful to creep into it. It was about eight feet square, and six or seven feet high. They now congratulated each other on their deliverance, but found themselves in very bad plight. The missionaries had taken but a small stock of provisions with them, merely sufficient for the short journey to Okkak. Joel, his wife and child, and Ka.s.sigiak the sorcerer, had nothing at all. They were therefore obliged to divide the small stock into daily portions, especially as there appeared no hopes of soon quitting this place, and reaching any dwellings. Only two ways were left for this purpose--either to attempt the land pa.s.sage across the wild and unfrequented mountain Kiglapeit, or to wait for a new ice-track over the sea, which it might require much time to form. They therefore resolved to serve out no more than a biscuit and a half per man per day. But as this would not by any means satisfy an Esquimaux's stomach, the missionaries offered to give one of their dogs to be killed for them, on condition that in case distress obliged them to resort again to that expedient, the next dog killed should be one of the Esquimaux's team. They replied they should be glad of it, if they had a kettle to boil the flesh in; but as that was not the case, they must suffer hunger, for they could not even yet eat dogs' flesh in its raw state. The missionaries now remained in the snow-house, and every day endeavoured to boil so much water over their lamp as might serve them for two dishes of coffee a piece. Through mercy, they were preserved in good health, and brother Liebisch quite unexpectedly recovered on the first day of his sore throat. The Esquimaux also kept up their spirits, and even the rough heathen Ka.s.sigiak declared that it was proper to be thankful that they were still alive, adding, that if they had remained a very little longer upon the ice yesterday, all their bones would have been broken to pieces in a short time. He had however his heels frozen, and suffered considerable pain. In the evening the missionaries sung an hymn with the Esquimaux, and continued to do it every morning and evening. The Lord was present with them, and comforted their hearts by his peace.

Towards noon of the thirteenth, the weather cleared up, and the sea was soon, as far as the eye could reach, quite freed from ice. Mark and Joel went up the hills to reconnoitre, and returned with the disagreeable news that not a morsel of ice was to be seen even from thence in any direction, and that it had been forced away from the coast at Naasornak. They were therefore of opinion that nothing could be done, but force their way across the mountain Kiglapeit. This day Ka.s.sigiak complained much of hunger, probably to obtain from the missionaries a larger proportion than the common allowance. They represented to him that they had no more themselves, and reproved him for his impatience. Whenever the victuals were distributed, he always swallowed his portion very greedily, and put out his hand for what he saw the missionaries had left, but was easily kept from any further attempt by serious reproof. The Esquimaux eat to-day an old sack made of fish skin, which proved indeed a dry and miserable dish. While they were at this singular meal, they kept repeating in a low humming tone, "You was a sack but a little while ago, and now you are food for us."

Towards evening, some flakes of ice were discovered driving towards the coast, and on the 14th, in the morning, the sea was covered with them. But the weather was again very stormy, and the Esquimaux could not quit the snow-house, which made them very low-spirited and melancholy. Ka.s.sigiak suggested that it would be well "to attempt to make good weather," by which he meant to practise his art as a sorcerer to make the weather good. The missionaries opposed it, and told him that his heathenish practices were of no use, but that the weather would become favourable as soon as it should please G.o.d.

Ka.s.sigiak then asked, "Whether Jesus could make good weather?" He was told that to Jesus was given all power in heaven and in earth, upon which he demanded that he should be applied to. Another time he said, I shall tell my countrymen at Seglek enough about you, how well you bear this misfortune. The missionaries replied, "Tell them that in the midst of this affliction, we placed our only hope and trust in Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who loves all mankind, and has shed his blood to redeem them from eternal misery." To-day the Esquimaux began to eat an old filthy and worn out skin, which had served them for a mattress.

On the 15th the weather continued extremely boisterous, and the Esquimaux appeared every now and then to sink under disappointment.

But they possess a good quality, namely, a power of going to sleep when they please, and if need be they will sleep for days and nights together.

In the evening, the sky became clear and their hope revived. Mark and Joel went out to reconnoitre, and brought word that the ice had acquired a considerable degree of solidity, and might soon be fit for use. The poor dogs had meanwhile fasted for near four days, but now, in the prospect of a speedy release, the missionaries allowed to each a few morsels of food. The temperature of the air having been rather mild, it occasioned a new source of distress; for by the warm exhalations of the inhabitants, the roof of the snow-house got to be in a melting state, which occasioned a continual dropping, and by degrees made every thing soaking wet. The missionaries report, that they considered this the greatest hards.h.i.+p they had to endure, for they had not a dry thread about them, nor a dry place to lie down in.

On the 16th the sky cleared, but the fine particles of snow were driven about like clouds. Joel and Ka.s.sigiak resolved to pursue their journey to Okkak by the way of Nuasornak, and set out with the wind and snow full in their faces. Mark could not resolve to proceed farther north, because, in his opinion, the violence of the wind had driven the ice off the coast at Tikkerarsuk, so as to render it impossible to land; but he thought he might proceed to the south with safety, and get round Kiglapeit. The missionaries endeavoured to persuade him to follow the above mentioned company to Okkak; but it was in vain, and they did not feel at liberty to insist upon it, not being sufficiently acquainted with the circ.u.mstances. Their present distress dictated the necessity of venturing something to reach the habitations of men, and yet they were rather afraid of pa.s.sing over the newly frozen sea under Kiglapiet, and could not immediately determine what to do. Brother Turner, therefore, went again with Mark to examine the ice, and both seemed satisfied that it would hold. They therefore came at last to a resolution to return to Nain, and commit themselves to the protection of the Lord. On the 17th, the wind had considerably increased with heavy showers of snow and sleet, but they set off at half-past ten o'clock in the forenoon. Mark ran all the way round Kiglapiet before the sledge to find a good track, and about one o'clock, through G.o.d's mercy, they were out of danger and reached the bay. Here they found a good track, upon smooth ice, made a meal of the remnant of their provisions and got some warm coffee. Thus refreshed, they resolved to proceed without stopping till they reached Nain, where they arrived at twelve o'clock at night. The brethren at Nain rejoiced exceedingly to see them return, for by several hints of the Esquimaux, who first met them going out to sea, and who then, in their own obscure way, had endeavoured to warn them of the ground swell, but had not been attended to, their fellow missionaries, and especially their wives, had been much terrified. One of these Esquimaux, whose wife had made some article of dress for brother Liebisch, whom they called Samuel, addressed sister Liebisch in the following manner:

"I should be glad of the payment for my wife's work." "Wait a little,"

answered she, "and, when my husband returns, he will settle with you, for I am unacquainted with the bargain made between you." "Samuel and William," replied the Esquimaux, "will not return any more to Nain."

"How, not return, what makes you say so?" After some pause, the Esquimaux returned in a low tone, "Samuel and William are no more! all their bones are broken and in the stomachs of the sharks." Terrified at this alarming account, sister Liebisch called in the rest of the family, and the Esquimaux was examined as to his meaning; but his answer was little less obscure. He seemed so certain of the destruction of the missionaries, that he was with difficulty prevailed on to wait some time for their return. He could not believe that they could have escaped the effects of so furious a tempest, considering the course they were taking.

It may easily be conceived with what grat.i.tude to G.o.d the whole family at Nain bid them welcome. During the storm, they had considered with some dread what might be the fate of those brethren, though at Nain its violence was not felt so much as on a coast unprotected by any islands. Added to this, the hints of the Esquimaux had considerably increased their apprehensions for their safety, and their fears began to get the better of their hopes. All therefore joined most fervently in praise and thanksgiving to G.o.d for their signal deliverance.

In August 1783, Liebisch returned to Europe, and took his place in the Unity's Elders Conference as a member, and Lister, with some a.s.sistants, exercised the office of superintendant until 1786, when John Christian Ludwig Rose was appointed to this office.

CHAPTER IV.

Esquimaux visit the English settlements--pernicious consequences--dreadful accident--famine--unexpected supply of food and skins.--Emigration from Okkak--missionaries' care of the wanderers, who return disappointed.--Terrible tales from the south.--Inquirers separated from the heathen.--Popish priest attempts to seduce the converts.--Brother Rose inspects Hopedale.--Karpik the sorcerer.--Peter's fall.--Visits to the south renewed.--Parting address of the brethren.--Epidemic.--Death of Daniel--of Esther.--Conversion and peaceful end of Tuglavina.--Last days of Mikak.--Indians come to Hopedale.--Rose's remarks on the internal state of the missions.--Instances of the power of grace among the Esquimaux--striking observation of one of the baptized.--Jonathan's letter to the Greenlanders.--Affecting confession of Solomon.--Conduct of a young woman sought in marriage by a heathen.--State of the settlements at the close of the century.--Prospects begin to brighten.--Remarkable phenomenon.--Avocations of the missionaries--their trials--preservation of their vessels--of their settlements--their brotherly love.

Eleven years had the brethren now laboured for the conversion of the Esquimaux amidst many difficulties and dangers, when circ.u.mstances occurred which threatened to blast these fair hopes of success. In the summer of 1782, the Esquimaux, for the first time since missionaries had settled in the country, visited the English settlements in the south. Tuglavina had persuaded Abraham, one of the baptized of Nain, to go with him to Chateau Bay; and when they returned in October, they reported that the Commander-in-chief had been quite overjoyed to see baptized Esquimaux, and wished that more of them might come to visit him, for he also had been baptized, and hoped that his soul after death would go to heaven. He had reproved Mikak for not being baptized, and warned then all against murders and adultery. Abraham had bought a boat and still owed half of the price, yet he and Tuglavina had each received a present of a musket and powder and ball, nor had the women been sent empty away; also, while they were there, they had had plenty to eat, a gratification of no minor importance.

By these splendid accounts of their kind reception, a general desire was excited among their countrymen to go likewise to the south; and the next consequence was, insolence and opposition to the missionaries and teachers. If they were reminded to be sparing of their winter provisions, they sarcastically replied, by reminding the brethren of the manner in which Tuglavina and Abraham had been treated by the "good" Europeans in the south; or if they came into the mission-house and got nothing to eat, they immediately exclaimed, with the Europeans in the south we can have plenty to eat. And when one was turned out from the palasadoes, he angrily remarked, the Europeans have no palasadoes. By these representations the greater part of the baptized were seduced and deceived; the brethren with meekness endeavoured to put them right, reminded them that at their baptism they had promised to love Jesus only, and to follow him, not to leave the congregation of the faithful, and to obey their teachers. They also particularly described the dangers to which they would be exposed in their journey to the south, and desired them to consider the impressive warnings the Commander-in-chief had so lately given them--but all was in vain.

In the following winter, a famine broke out among the Esquimaux in Nain; their number amounted to eighty-two souls, whereof thirty-five were baptized and candidates for baptism. All these looked to the brethren when in want of the necessaries of life, who afforded them a.s.sistance to the utmost of their ability; but received little thanks for their kindness, for if they did not give them what they thought enough, they upbraided them with the conduct of the good Europeans in the south.

On the 4th December a dreadful accident happened at Ankpalluktak, about six hours distant from Nain. A large ma.s.s of snow was precipitated from a mountain and overwhelmed an Esquimaux winter house, wherein were thirty persons, young and old. No one could escape to tell the tale of their disaster or procure a.s.sistance; but it happened, by the merciful providence of G.o.d, that Nathaniel, with another Esquimaux, went to Ankpalluktak to bring Sirmek to Nain; to their astonishment they found him lying half-frozen, unable either to stand or walk, yet still alive. They then heard a voice from the midst of the ruins, by which they perceived there were still some persons alive beneath the snow; and hastening back to Nain with Sirmek, they returned with additional hands, and the necessary tools from the brethren. They soon found that there were more Esquimaux within, and by great exertion and labour succeeded in extricating nine persons from the rubbish, but one of them was so much bruised that she died very soon after. By this visitation twenty-one persons lost their lives. The Esquimaux were greatly alarmed by it for a little, but the impression soon wore off, and all was forgotten.

In January and February 1783, the famine increased among the natives, and the brethren redoubled their endeavours to supply their necessities, which however appears only to have had the effect of encouraging their indolence, for so long as they could get food in this way they would not stir abroad, or make the least exertion to supply their own wants. If urged to go in search of food, they alleged that hunger prevented them; "for," said they, "when we go out and catch nothing it makes us the more hungry." If advised to go and hunt, they replied, "We have no gun." Yet did not this waywardness tire the patient benevolence of the missionaries; but, like children of their Father in heaven, who causeth his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust, when the famine had reached its height, brother Lister sent to Okkak to fetch a sledge load of dried fish.

Ere they arrived, news was brought that the Esquimaux in the island of Kerniteksut, two hours distant from Nain, had been so fortunate as to find a dead whale. On hearing this, the whole inhabitants of the country hastened to the place to satisfy their hunger; an immense number of foxes came for the same purpose; these they killed, and thus the starving natives were supplied both with food and riches, the skins of these animals forming a princ.i.p.al article of exchange with the Europeans. But this last occurrence proved that wealth among savages, as well as in more civilized countries, is not always a blessing; it renewed anew the desire to go to the south, as the greater part were now in circ.u.mstances to carry merchandize thither, to barter with the good and kind Europeans. Nothing then was spoken of but trade in the south, and they could hardly wait for the season to undertake the journey. When the brethren visited them in the spring, they treated them with the greatest indifference and even insolence; the gospel of Jesus found no access to them; and though, through a certain dread of the missionaries, which they could not cast off, they were not so outrageously brutal as formerly; yet in secret they returned to the indulgence of many of their vile practices.

Early in the approaching summer, more than eighty Esquimaux went from the country round Nain to the south, among whom were nineteen of the baptized, and even Peter, the first fruits of the mission, accompanied them. The majority had determined to spend the winter there, and get plenty to eat, and tobacco, and guns, and powder, and ball, and other articles which they could not purchase so advantageously from the brethren. From the country round Okkak too, above an hundred of the natives went south in four boats, among whom were Luke and his family, who were baptized.

When the brethren saw that the baptized would not be prevented from going to the south, though sorely grieved, yet anxious for their welfare in their ill advised expedition, they gave them a written certificate, stating that they, the missionaries, had been sent there by an agreement with the governor of Newfoundland, in the years 1771 and --2; that they had lived in love and concord with the Esquimaux, and had no cause of complaint against them; that there was no other reason for their present journey than the invitation of Europeans in the south; then recommended them to the care and friendly treatment of the colonists, and concluded by giving a short account of the progress of the mission since its commencement.

At the new mission station, Hopedale, some beginnings of a stirring among the heathen were perceived, but the same giddy infatuation which had seized their countrymen laid hold on them also, and blasted this pleasing prospect. A boatful of them undertook the voyage to the south, while the others who remained, had their minds wholly dissipated.

From this propensity of the Esquimaux to go to the colony, the outward circ.u.mstances of the mission appeared to be in great danger. For as the wanderers carried considerable quant.i.ties of merchandize to the southern settlements, the home freight of the Society's s.h.i.+p, the Amity, which consisted of the same articles, was much less this, than it had been in any former year.

On the 5th of October five families of Arcktok came from Chateau Bay back to Nain; they now spoke in a very different tone respecting the "good and kind" Europeans; they had quarrelled with their friends, who had seized their wives, and afterwards maltreated and threatened to shoot themselves; while they, probably, had not altogether refrained from their old thievish practices. The year before, they said, the people in the south are better than you, they give us plenty to eat;--now they said, "You are the _Innuit_, our true friends, we will never leave you more."

The following year, 1784, Tuglavina arrived at Nain on the 6th of September with three boats, on his return from Chateau Bay--the accounts which he and others gave of their residence there pierced the missionaries to their inmost souls. Of the nineteen baptized who went south five had perished, David, Abraham, Moses, Timothy, and Deborah; the latter, there was ground to hope, had a blessed departure. David was drowned in a kaiak on the sea, and on this account, by the counsel of old Nerkingoak, his sister Killatsiak was ordered to be burnt to death. Abraham, while striking fire for this purpose, slightly wounded his finger; but trifling as the hurt appeared, it brought him to his miserable end. Moses was shot by Tuglavina. Timothy was likewise a.s.sa.s.sinated. When Tuglavina touched at Hopedale, being asked, "Where is Moses?" he coolly answered, "He is lost." "Where is he lost? is he gone over the sea?" was next asked. "No! I have killed him," answered the savage. "And wherefore did you kill him?" said they. "Because he was good for nothing," was the careless reply. It was apparent, however, that they had been murdered for the sake of their women.

Moses had three baptized wives, who were given or sold to three northern men; Kathmina was purchased by her brother, Kekluana of Pitteklaluk, for a great coat, a hatchet, a folding knife, and a spoon. These conjugal bargains Tuglavina related to brother Lister, quite unasked and without emotion; indeed his whole appearance was as if he had been possessed by an evil spirit. The brethren slept none that night for grief.

By such horrible occurrences the desire of the baptized to travel to the south was somewhat checked, and the following year only a single boat went thither. But the colony possessed particular attractions for the natives; as there they could be supplied with muskets, powder, and ball, which having learned the use of, had now become absolutely necessary for them in hunting. The missionaries had, hitherto, doubted the propriety of arming them with such dangerous weapons; but as they could no longer be kept from them, they got themselves supplied with them from England as articles of trade, to prevent, if possible, the Esquimaux from making this a pretext for emigrating.

Daily observation more and more convinced the brethren of the injury the baptized and the inquirers had sustained while they continued to live among their heathen countrymen; the constant incitements to their superst.i.tious sinful customs, and to their heathenish juggling and games, they were frequently little able to resist, especially when their old inclinations were seconded by the calls of affection or friends.h.i.+p. When, for example, some spell was to be tried on a sick relative, and any of those who had been taught something of Christianity opposed it, they were reproached with hating the invalid, and wis.h.i.+ng him dead. Another source of seduction to the half-informed heathen, was the use which the Angekoks made of the little knowledge of Christianity which they had obtained. These sorcerers, who are held in great veneration and dread by the people, and whose atrocities, as well as their pretended inspirations, render them objects of terror; when they saw the influence of the missionaries, and felt their own importance begin to shake, introduced into their incantations the name of Jesus, whom they acknowledged to be a powerful supernatural being, inferior only to Torngak--and the believers themselves were apt to retain and to mix some of their old opinions with their new creed.

To preserve these tender plants from the contagious breath of a heathen atmosphere, the brethren determined that in future, they should have fixed habitations adjacent to their own dwelling, and they erected houses in a substantial fas.h.i.+on not far from the missionary station, into which they received no Esquimaux except such as expressed their sincere resolution to renounce heathenism. In Hopedale they had often experienced the baleful consequences of being in the neighbourhood of the heathen at Avertok. This was peculiarly evident from a declaration of some of the baptized who had spent the winter among them. A meeting was called on the 12th April 1786, to consult about the subject, when all the men inhabiting the station attended; it was held in the open air, and as the weather was exceedingly fine, continued for upwards of three hours. Here the brethren were informed of the transactions which had taken place the winter before, and one professed believer thought himself bound to make a confession of the superst.i.tious and sinful practices in which he had formerly engaged.

As these were among the actions and deeds which ought not so much as to be named among Christians, the brethren strictly forbade any such confessions in future, but particularly in public, and before the heathen; who being strongly addicted to the same abominations, and unable to distinguish between a penitent confession and an actual approval, might be hardened in their sins by hearing such narratives, which they would naturally conclude proceeded from the pleasure the persons still took in practices they delighted to talk of.

A new trial, of perhaps a more distressing kind, afflicted the brethren, from an attempt made by a Roman catholic priest to seduce the baptized and the inquirers, by presenting them with a form of Christianity which had some appearance to that they saw among the Moravians, while it permitted an indulgence in those vices which the doctrines of the latter could not tolerate. A warm and a flattering invitation sent by a Frenchman named Macko, from Canada, who had an establishment in the south at Avertok, awakened with redoubled force the propensity of the Esquimaux to go to the south, though they now could get shooting materials at the settlements, better, and on more advantageous terms, than they could there. This Frenchman, who acted not only as a merchant, but as a Roman catholic priest, made them the most extravagant promises; and besides, he said he would pray daily with them to Jesus, and that he had the most beautiful writings--_i.e_.

pictures--of the Saviour. In consequence, a company of thirty-two persons, and among them fourteen of the baptized, went thither in the summer of 1787, so that the number of inhabitants in Hopedale was reduced from fifty-nine to thirty. Macko invited the Esquimaux to wors.h.i.+p G.o.d with him; this seemed more pleasant and convenient than to remain under restraint with the brethren, for there they saw "Christian" sailors who allowed themselves to follow every species of sinful dissolute conduct. On their return they said, the Europeans have meetings yonder as you have, and they have Jesus as you have here.

The repeated distressing accounts from the brethren of the apparently insurmountable obstacles with which they had to struggle in attempting the conversion of the heathen, gave occasion to the venerable Bishop Spangenberg to write an impressive letter to the believing Esquimaux.

This letter was translated into their language, and read to the baptized and the candidates for baptism at all the stations.