Preparations for establishing a settlement in Labrador.--A love
feast.--Missionaries leave London--erect a mission-house at
Nain--regulations for their intercourse with the
natives--visited by great numbers--manner of instruction--they
retire in winter, are visited by the Brethren in their
houses.--Death of Anauke.--An incantation.--Adventures in search
of a dead whale.--P.E. Lauritz deputed by the conference--visits
the missions--his excursion along the coast.--A sloop of war
arrives to examine the settlement--the Captain's report.--Jans
Haven's voyage to the north--interesting occurrences.--Lauritz
leaves Nain--his concluding address.--The Brethren propose new
settlements--disastrous voyage in search of a
situation.--Liebisch appointed Superintendant.--An Angekok
baptized--his address to the natives.--Jans Haven commences a
new station at Okkak--received joyfully by the natives--six
Esquimaux baptized--proceedings at Nain.--Missionary accompanies
the Esquimaux to a rein-deer hunt.--Third settlement--Hopedale
founded.--Remarkable preservation of the Missionaries.
Every thing being now settled for establishing a missionary station
among the Esquimaux, the Brethren were occupied during the winter in
making the necessary preparations for carrying their object into
effect. In this they were essentially aided by the same society who
had sent out the vessel on the previous year, and who, knowing the
difficulty Europeans lay under of procuring the necessaries of life
in that climate, resolved to send out one annually with supplies, and
to preserve the communication, notwithstanding the previous voyage had
been but a losing concern. The number of persons destined for this
arduous undertaking was fourteen, among whom were three married
brethren, Brazen Schneider and Jans Haven, accompanied by Drachart and
seven unmarried missionaries. Brazen, who had gone as a surgeon to
Greenland in 1767, and remained during the winter at one of the
settlements, was appointed superintendant of this mission. Before
leaving London, on May 5th, these devoted men had a meeting in the
Brethren's chapel with the congregation, and a number of other
Christians who felt interested in the undertaking, and with the most
delightful feelings they sat down together to a love feast, at which
the following letter from Mr Drachart to the church was read:
"Dearly beloved Brethren and Sisters,--We are now for the third time
going among the wild Esquimaux; and in their name we thank you for the
assistance you have afforded us in the past year to enable us to
declare among these savages the gospel of the sufferings and death of
Jesus. We thank the Saviour that he has so illuminated your hearts,
that you are as willing to give your wealth, as we are to venture our
lives to promote this cause. We now take our leave, and commend
ourselves to your love and remembrance before the Saviour. He is
indeed near to you, and to us, to help in all our difficulties,--that
our courage may not fail, but that we may look to him. It is his
cause, and he will support us; on him we hope, and on him we rely; and
in his name we venture our lives and all that we have, for he ventured
his life for us. When we think of this our hearts are melted, and we
fall down at his pierced feet, and exclaim, O! Lord Jesus, the little
confidence we have in thee thou hast given us; our goods, our lives,
we have from thee. Thou knowest we venture to go through the great
deep, through rocks and ice, that thy holy name may be glorified among
the Esquimaux. We pray that the angel of thy presence may accompany
the ship out and home again; be with our brethren, give them courage
to proclaim the tidings of thy love, which was stronger than
death--Dear brethren and sisters, the Saviour is present, he certainly
hears us when we join together to call upon him for ourselves and
others The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God be
with you all. Amen."
On the 8th of May they left London in the ship Amity, commanded by
Captain Mugford, and on the 9th August reached the place of their
destination, after a passage of peril and danger. They had constructed
a wooden house while in London, and had been kindly furnished by their
friends with household furniture, and a number of implements for
enabling them to work in carpentry, in iron, and for gardening.
Immediately upon landing they commenced their operations, by
surrounding the spot upon which they had fixed, and to which they gave
the name of Nain, with pallisades, and on the 20th of August laid the
foundation of their wooden house; they soon found their fortification
was unnecessary, as the natives, so far from offering any obstruction,
appeared eager to forward the building, which, on the 22d September,
was so far finished as to be habitable. As on the former occasion, so
on this, the Governor of Newfoundland issued a proclamation in their
favour, declaring the missionaries under the immediate protection of
the British; and at the same time he conveyed to themselves the
strongest assurances of his personal regard for their characters and
wishes for their success, as what would so materially tend to
tranquillize the country.
Among the excellent regulations adopted by the brethren, one, and not
the least important, was, in their transactions with the savages,
while they did them every kind office, to offer them nothing which
might appear in the shape of a bribe to induce them to embrace their
religion: they sometimes built boats for them, and sometimes improved
and repaired those they had, and furnished them with iron pots, and
arrows and lances for seal hunting, but they always required payment,
which the Esquimaux could easily render in whale fins, seals' blubber,
or such other articles as their dexterity could procure. Very soon,
instruments of European manufacture became so necessary, that the
natives were rendered industrious by the desire to possess them, while
they enabled them to render that industry doubly advantageous. In this
traffic the annual visits of the Society's vessel were important, and
the greater part of the barter was carried on through the agent or
supercargo.
More than a hundred Esquimaux, during the summer, planted their tents
round Nain, to whom the missionaries preached the gospel. Of the
manner in which they did this, Drachart tells us in his journal, "My
method," says he, "is first to give a short discourse, and then to ask
a few plain questions which only require a denial or assent; but they
do not always content themselves with this--for instance, if I ask if
they, as poor sinners, would wish to come to the Saviour, some would
say, Yes! we cannot deny that we are poor sinners, and we begin to
reflect upon what we have heard from you about this, and to converse
with one another on the subject. Others will boldly reply, No! we will
not think of it; and a third sort will confess they do not understand
any thing about the matter, but would be glad to know if I had any
knives to sell, for they had whale fins. I then pray to the
Saviour:--Thou hast in Greenland made many stupid minds to understand,
and many cold hearts warm; O do the same here, and bless my weak
discourse that I may not be put to shame, for it is indeed thine own
cause."
During the winter the natives retired to other places, the nearest of
which was many miles distant from Nain; individuals, however, came
from time to time to visit the brethren; among these were Mikak,
Tuglavina, and Segulliak, and the brethren returned their visits, as
far as the deep snow and excessive cold would permit. The friendly
reception they met with upon these occasions, and the willingness with
which the heathen heard the word, reconciled the missionaries to the
filth and inconvenience they had to encounter. Of these the following
specimen will enable the reader to form some idea.
About the end of January 1773, the brethren Schneider and Turner
visited Mikak in the island Nintok, at the distance of five and a half
hours from Nain. They found here two houses, each of which contained
twenty persons, the families only separated from each other by skins
stretched out between them. Mikak directed the brethren to an
apartment in one of these houses, to which, when they retired, they
were followed by great numbers of the Esquimaux, who gathered round
them, and heard in silence Schneider preach to them the death of the
Lord, and sing some verses on the same subjects. They here met with a
circumstance which greatly tended to comfort them amid other scenes
which weighed heavily on their spirits. In a division of the house
where they lodged, they found three widows dwelling together, and one
of them informed them that her husband, Anauke, who had died the year
before, had said to her, when she was mourning over him in his last
illness, "Be not grieved for me,--I am going to heaven, to Jesus who
has loved his people so much!" He was one of those who had remained
during the summer near Nain, and whose countenance bore strong marks
of the thief and the murderer, and had appeared at first to have more
than usual savage ferocity in his whole deportment; but it was
remarked that, before he left that vicinity, his very countenance had
changed, and his behaviour had become gentle; but the missionaries had
no decisive proof of his conversion to the Saviour, till they heard,
to their joy, this his dying profession of the faith. His countrymen
called him the man whom the Saviour had taken to himself. This man,
there is every reason to believe, was the first fruits of the mission.
Night is an appropriate time to call on the prince of darkness; and it
is observable that among all the heathen, that season has generally
been devoted to his service in deeds that shunned the light. In the
evening, when the missionaries had laid themselves down to sleep in
Mikak's house, they had another confirmation of this remark. There had
been a dreadful storm during the day, so that the natives had been
prevented from going to seal-catching, they therefore assembled in
her house after nightfall, to entreat her, as she was considered a
powerful sorceress, to make good weather, bring the seals from the
deep, and show the holes in the ice to which they came for air; also
where the greatest number of rein-deer were to be found. All the lamps
were immediately extinguished, and she began with deep sighs, and
groans, and mutterings, to call up Torngak. Sometimes she raised her
voice so loud that the whole house rang. At this signal, the people
began to sing, and to ask one another, what does Torngak say? At
length there was a tremendous crash, as if the whole place had been
falling about their ears, produced, as the missionaries supposed, by
the stroke of a stick on the extended skins. The sorceress then
proceeded to the door, beating with her feet, and uttering strange
sounds, at which some of the more sensible among the worshippers could
not forbear to express their sense of the ridiculous scene by their
laughter. Schneider, who had hitherto been silent, now cried to the
enchantress to cease calling upon Torngak, who was an evil spirit, and
reigned in darkness, and light the lamps again; but some one replied
it was the custom of the country, and proposed they should conclude
with a short song, in which all the company joined, after which they
separated for their resting places before the lamps could be
relighted.
With a heart greatly touched, and eyes full of tears, the missionaries
early next morning addressed the inmates of the house upon the true
light that is come to enlighten men, and to redeem them from the
spirit of darkness. He entreated them with great earnestness to turn
to the crucified Jesus, and renounce the evil spirit and his works,
and commended them in prayer to the compassionate heart of the
Saviour.
Disinterested exertion, not only to prevent themselves from being
burdensome to those among whom they labour, but to save as much as
possible any unnecessary expense to the churches or societies who send
them out, forms an admirable and a prominent feature in all the
Moravian missionary brethren. They follow the apostolic example, and
minister to their necessities by their own hands, and exhibit a
pattern to their infant establishments, not only of industry to
procure the means of personal livelihood, but to enable them to assist
those improvident heathen by whom they are surrounded, even when their
exertions are attended with danger and repaid by insult; and by these
means they often acquire an influence over the most savage minds,
which it were otherwise difficult to obtain. Of this we have a most
remarkable instance which occurred in the beginning of the present
year. Having received accounts that a dead whale was found at Comfort
Harbour, about seven miles south of Nain, the brethren, Jans Haven,
Lister, Morhardt, and Turner, resolved to go thither, accompanied by
some Esquimaux, in the hope that, by procuring the blubber and the
fins, they might be enabled to contribute somewhat to the support of
the mission, while they would assist the starving natives at this
season in obtaining a supply of provisions; and at the same time, they
would have an opportunity of commending the Saviour to these poor
benighted heathen.
They accordingly set out, under the guidance of an Esquimaux,
Mannmoima, whose house they reached February 17th about mid-day,
where, on account of the stormy weather, they were forced to remain.
"If," says Jans Haven, in his diary, "our European sisters had only
seen us here they would certainly have pitied us. We were forced to
creep on all fours through a low passage several fathoms long to get
into the house, and were glad if we escaped being bitten by the
hungry dogs, who take refuge there in bad weather, and who, as they
lie in the dark, are often trodden upon by the entrant; who, if he
escapes this misfortune, is compelled to undergo the more disgusting
salutation of being licked in the face by these animals, and of
crawling through the filth in which they all mingle. Yet this house,
notwithstanding our senses of seeing and smelling were most woefully
offended, in such frightful weather, was of equal welcome to us as the
greatest palace."
When Haven here began to speak of the Saviour, the Angekoks began to
exercise their enchantments. One man laid himself on his back, and
allowed his left leg to be fastened to his neck by a string like a
bow, while a woman who sat by his side, performed upon it with his
right as if playing on some musical instrument. The lady was then
asked if they might hope for good weather, and if the whale would be
driven away? but the company appeared to be divided; and while some
thought these operations were under the influence of Torngak, others
thought they might be directed by Jesus Christ, and asked the brethren
to pray that there might be good weather, and that the whale might not
be driven away. Haven answered, "We only pray, Lord be gracious to
us, and open the eyes of poor ignorant people, that they may know how
necessary it is for them to be washed in thy blood--but we are assured
that he will do nothing but what is good to us, because he loves us."
Next day, the missionaries, accompanied by eleven Esquimaux, attempted
to reach the whale; but when they were about an hour's distance from
the house, they perceived from a mountain near where the whale lay,
that the ice was broken, and encountered such a violent storm of wind
and snow that they were forced to return; while the frost was so
intense, that often their mouth and nose were frozen to their skin
coats, so that they had to break the ice before they could breathe,
and their eyes were so closed that they had to force them open with
their fingers.
As hunger now began to torment the party, the brethren were exposed to
great anxiety, suffering, and danger, from the perpetual importunity
of the Esquimaux for provisions, which they had no means of supplying,
but which they supposed they were the means of their being deprived of
obtaining. An old man began to cry, "Torngak moves me to say that he
will tell us the cause of this storm, and the breaking of the ice,
and the loss of the whale." "Let us hear," said they. "O! the sinews!
O! the sinews!" replied he.
Rein-deer sinews are what, according to the superstition of the
country, dare not be brought near a whale. But the brethren that
morning had plaited some whale sinew, and fastened the haft of the ax
with which they intended to cut up the whale; and he, supposing that
they had been the sinews of the rein-deer, raised the cry. Being
informed of his mistake, he changed his tone and exclaimed, "O! the
rotten wood! O! the rotten wood!" Rotten wood is expressly forbid to
be burnt in the preparation of food, but Jans Haven had brought some
pieces in a sledge along with the rest of the fuel; the Esquimaux, to
whom the sledge belonged, had carefully picked it out and thrown it
away, and the conjurer was informed that in this also he was mistaken.
He was then called upon to say, as he affirmed that Torngak was there,
how he could be mistaken. With an ingenuity that would have done
credit to a Jesuit, he answered, "There is one present that keeps us
back, he cannot go with us." Every person in the company being
mentioned, he pointed out Jans Haven. Haven immediately rose, and
looking the sorcerer full in the face, prayed to the Saviour to stop
the mouth of that wicked one. Struck with the unexpected intrepidity
of the missionary, and the appeal to a name of which they all had some
knowledge, the Angekok was utterly confounded; he grumbled and foamed,
but could not utter a word. Providentially at this very moment two
persons arrived with intelligence that the whale was lying safe, and
had not been driven away; and Haven, charging the fellow with his
imposture and lies, commanded him not to attempt accompanying them, or
removing from the place where he was. The astonished sorcerer made no
attempt to disobey.
The weather increasing in severity, the Esquimaux, who were confined
to their huts, came to their favourite Jans Haven, saying, "Tell us
about the Saviour." Jans answered and said--"What shall I say? I know
not what to say; I am grieved because I am constrained to hear and see
that the wicked spirit yet dwells within you and robs you of your
senses. He will hold your ears that you may not hear the love the
Saviour has for you, that after death you may dwell with him in utter
darkness. Yet listen to our words and follow us to the Saviour, who
will wash you from your sins in his own blood, that you may live
eternally happy with him, after you have left a world where sorrow
and pleasure are mingled together; where we must suffer hunger, and
thirst, and cold, and wretchedness, and misery, unless we believe in
Jesus, who will preserve us, and keep us, and bring us to be for ever
with himself, where there is no pain, but fulness of joy for
evermore." Still, on the succeeding day, the weather not abating, the
party were detained at the station, which the increasing scarcity of
food rendered now doubly uncomfortable; the brethren were obliged to
be on the watch whenever they eat, lest the Esquimaux should snatch
the scanty morsel from them, which now consisted of only one meal a
day. "One can hardly conceive," say they in their journal, "what we
endured: we had no rest neither night nor day; when we lay down to
sleep and gat warm, we were almost devoured with vermin; when we sat
up during the day, we were almost suffocated with stench and smoke."
At length a sledge, which had been sent off to the whale, returned
laden with fat and flesh, which afforded relief from the pressure of
hunger, "and made," say the missionaries, "all our hearts leap for
joy;" and on the succeeding day, the whole party set off for the
whale. When they reached it they found it of the middling size, about
sixty-four feet long, but covered with ice and snow almost a fathom
deep. The Esquimaux, however, crept into the mouth and cut off what
they wanted from the interior to supply themselves; but the wants of
the brethren were only increased, they could make little use of such
flesh, and they were without wood to dress it, had it been even more
palatable. They had no shelter but a snow-house, which they
constructed with the help of the Esquimaux. The women, however, had
forgotten their lamps, and the brethren had no resource for rendering
their habitation comfortable, but to construct a kind of temporary
lamp from a piece of whale's flesh, into which they cut a hole and put
a piece of moss, and then to kindle it, but the smoke and disagreeable
smell were insupportable; they also suffered greatly from the want of
water, as they could get nothing to drink but ice or snow melted,
which was done in a manner that in other circumstances would have
proved an absolute prohibition against tasting it--the Esquimaux
filled their gloves with snow, or put it in the intestines of the
seals which they had wrapped round them, and the natural heat of the
body reduced into a state of liquifaction--yet even this they were
happy to procure.
Amid these hardships Haven was seized with a violent pain in his side,
which the Esquimaux, who greatly loved him, much lamented, as they
said it was the disease that carried off so many of their countrymen.
Peaceful, however, in the hour of his suffering, the missionary was
enabled to testify to the heathen that death for him had no terrors;
nor was it to be dreaded by those who believed in the Saviour. They
showed their affection by procuring, with much difficulty, a lamp and
some skins on which they placed the invalid, and by the blessing of
God, the heat effected his cure. The brethren now began to try to hew
down the frozen whale, but the want of food had so enfeebled them that
they found themselves wholly unequal to the task, and were forced to
give it up and return home, worn out with the fatigue they had
endured, and without effecting their object.
In the same year, 1773, Paul Eugenus Laritz, from the Elders'
Conference of the Unity, visited the missions. He was accompanied by
John Ludwig Beck, who had spent some years in Greenland with his
father, and learned the language. They came in the ship Amity to
Newfoundland, which they left there for the purpose of fishing, and
proceeded to the coast of Labrador in a shallop or sloop with one
mast, which had been purchased for the use of the mission. On the 20th
of July they arrived at Nain, where the missionaries welcomed them
with tears of joy--the Esquimaux received them with shouting and other
rude expressions of pleasure. Of these, some hundreds, this summer,
had set up their tents around the settlements--many of them strangers
from a distance. In the evening they had a short discourse in the
mission-house, after which the brethren visited them in their tents,
and conversed further with them on what they had heard. The same
evening Laritz gave a short address to the assembled baptized
Esquimaux, and delivered the salutations of the European congregations
to them, Drachart being his interpreter. Then one of the Esquimaux
answered in name of the rest--"We, our wives and children, were
wonderfully glad when we saw the little ship come in; and we thank the
brethren that they have come to us, and brought us so many good words
that we have never heard before. We love all the brethren, and will be
ever their good friends. We will constantly visit them to hear the
good word of Jesus' sufferings. We think on the Saviour; we love him,
and will give up our hearts to him, and renounce all our old
heathenish customs. We agree with the Innuit who live on the east
coast opposite us. We, and our wives and our children, in our houses
and our tents, speak of the Saviour becoming man, of his sufferings
and death. We cannot deny that we are sinners, but we think the
Saviour will be gracious to us." As there was not room in the
mission-house to contain all the Esquimaux, wood was cut down to build
a large meeting-hall. Some appeared deeply impressed by the word of
God, particularly Manamina, his sister Alingana, and Akaplack, who
were received as catechumens.
Soon after Laritz's arrival at Nain, a sloop of war unexpectedly made
its appearance, dispatched by Commodore Shuldam from Newfoundland,
commanded by Lieutenant Cartes, to explore the coast, and to see if
the poor people who had settled there were all still in life. The
Lieutenant stopped some days with the brethren, and expressed his
astonishment and happiness to find them so well accommodated, and on
such good terms with the Esquimaux. He had expected to find dark,
sour, starving fanatics, living in huts of earth, and his
disappointment was therefore the more agreeable. Through Drachart he
told the Esquimaux, that they should go no more to the English
settlements in the south, nor rob and murder. They answered, We have
never either robbed or murdered, since the time we heard of the
Saviour. Robbers and murderers shall be punished as they deserve; and
when we come to the south to get fir-timber, we will bring with us a
letter from the brethren to the gentlemen of Cheteau Bay. The officer
assured them of his love, and said to Drachart, that the great change
in the behaviour of these people appeared to him a miracle of God, who
had begun his work among them.
While Laritz remained at Nain, Jans Haven and James Rhodes took the
vessel which brought him there, and made a voyage on the north coast
to Nachwach, 59 deg. 30 m. N.L. It lasted from the 7th August to the
17th September. They landed at different places, and the Esquimaux
everywhere, who had either before known or heard of Jans Haven,
received him with shouts! He told them what had moved the brethren to
settle in the country, and invited them to come to him. They heard him
with astonishment speak of the great love of the Saviour to men, and
asked if he was an Angekok, as he spoke of such high things as they
never had heard, even from their own prophets? Others asked, why the
Saviour, who made all things, had not before sent some one to tell
their fathers these good news, and now they were gone where they could
hear nothing? Havens answered, that "the times of their ignorance God
had winked at," but that he now shewed mercy to them in sending them
the gospel, and they ought to improve this the day of their
visitation. At Napartok, having declared to the natives the counsel of
God for their salvation, he thus continued: "I hear that there are
quarrels and backbitings among you, and that some even seek the lives
of others; all this proceeds from your not knowing the Saviour." He
then turned to the Angekok, Aweinak, who was a reputed murderer, and
said, "Hear these my words, 'Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man his
blood shall be shed.' Forgive one another, and live as brethren and
sisters in love and fellowship; make no difference between your own
countrymen and those of the north and south." The Angekok promised to
behave better, and begged Haven to repeat his assurance of friendship.
Haven did so, and turning to the by-standers, said, "You hear his
words; forgive him and love him, and if he ever again act wickedly,
let me know." At Arimek, the Esquimaux thanked him for what he had
spoken, and concluded by saying, "Though thou art not big, thou hast
a great soul and a brave spirit."
During an abode of two months at Nain, Laritz received every
information respecting the state of the mission, and having made the
proper arrangements for their further direction, he assembled the
brethren in the mission-house at Nain, and read to them a solemn
farewell address, and left it with them. "From the bottom of my
heart," he begins, "I praise the gracious counsel of our dear Lord
towards the poor and blind nations of the Esquimaux, and I return back
to Europe with a deep impression of it; for though I have as yet only
seen the springing of the seed, yet I feel in my heart a believing
confidence, that in the proper time and hour which the Lord himself
has appointed, a joyful harvest shall appear. Dear brethren and
sisters, as the Lord of his pure grace has placed you in a land,
where, since the creation of the world, his name has not been named or
praised, it seems to me to be more incumbent on you daily to renew the
deep consideration of your call and appointment to the fulfilling his
purposes of grace; for you are not called here, either collectively or
separately, of your own choice, or of the will of men, but of the
counsel of peace in the heart of Jesus. You must therefore have it as
a fixed principle in your hearts, and before your eyes, continually,
that you are sent here to make known among the Esquimaux, the
character of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvellous light. If you are not all able to do this in words, you can
place it before their eyes by a holy walk and conversation, and by
your earnest prayers and supplications be blessed helpers of their
joy. And first of all, as their fellow-servant, I pray that all the
servants of the Lord in this place, who bring the testimony of the
gospel to the poor heathen, may, as often as they with the mouth
praise the Saviour, be baptized with the Spirit and with fire, that
their testimony may appear the power of God, able to make those
blessed who believe it. And I beseech all the brethren to support and
help with their prayers, those of them who shall speak and preach to
the Esquimaux.
"You must not rest satisfied, my dear brethren, with daily meetings,
but you must carefully visit them in their tents and in their houses,
and put them in mind of what they have heard; for this end, all our
dear brethren and sisters must diligently use the gifts and talents
given them to learn the Esquimaux language. Let the joy of the Lord
animate you!--When you perceive the heart of any one awakened by the
Holy Spirit, and in distress fleeing for mercy to the blood of Jesus,
baptize such an one, as the Lord has directed, into his death, in the
name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: there shall be
joy in heaven over such first fruits, and on earth in the church of
Jesus. With respect to the Esquimaux, either as to gifts or European
food, do as we agreed on--neither, on the one side, neglect what
necessity or compassion require; nor, on the other, accustom them to
what would be injurious. When they labour for you, or go messages, pay
them according to the custom of the country; and when you work for
them, and make boats, sails, chests, lamps, arrows and lances, let
them also pay you, that by degrees they may be accustomed to an
orderly domestic life.
"To your little church in the house, I call in the name of Jesus, love
ye with a thorough inward sacred impulse; for God hath from eternity
chosen you to love. Consider this well, that our dear Lord has said,
'By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love
one to another.' You know from what source the apparent want of this
can be supplied; and I am sure, if every one would search out his own
fault, with kindness and benevolence acquitting others, then would you
feel that you loved one another from the heart fervently. Be of one
mind; live in peace, then shall your conferences be kept with much
blessing, and you be subject one to another in the fear of God. No one
will then tenaciously hold his own opinion as the best, or as
infallible, but every one will gladly take advantage of the other's
discernment, and rather follow what is likely to attain the desired
end, than his own private inclination. In the division of your labour
consider yourselves as members of one body--that the eye cannot be
supposed to do what the hand can, and the hand cannot do what the foot
can; and if ye are each of you conscious that you have, according to
the words of our Lord, done what thou couldst, let no one even in his
heart think that one of his brethren has done too little. Whatever the
congregation sends for your support and clothing, receive with
thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, who has enabled his people to
minister to you in these things: at the same time you must frugally
and faithfully improve every opportunity afforded by providence to
supply your necessary expenses, by working with your own hands, and
his blessing shall certainly accompany your labours.
"Commend us to the Lord, that his inestimable presence may be near us
by sea and by land; and, dearest brethren and sisters, I commend you
to God and the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and
give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified. The God of
love and peace sanctify you wholly, that your whole spirit, soul and
body, may be kept unblameable to the coming of the Lord Jesus; that
then you, with a great number of believing Esquimaux, may appear
before his presence with exceeding joy--'Faithful is he who hath
called you, and also will do it.'"
With this excellent address, the labours of Mr Laritz ended. After
partaking of the communion together, he bid adieu to the brethren on
the 29th September, and went on board the ship Amity, which had come
from Newfoundland, according to appointment, and arrived in London on
the 29th of October.
Circumstances, apparently the most unpropitious, frequently
contribute, in the course of Providence, to promote the most important
and most happy issues. While the brethren at Nain continued with
unwearied diligence to make known the salvation of Christ among the
Esquimaux, they observed with grief, that their deep-rooted heathenish
superstitions, and the violent and gross, but natural evil passions
which they delighted to indulge, and which led to the frequent
perpetration of adultery and murder, obstructed the entrance of the
word of God into their hearts, and had as yet rendered almost all
their labours fruitless. But what particularly distressed them was,
when they saw that the impressions which had been made on some of the
natives on hearing the gospel, while residing in the neighbourhood of
the mission-settlement, were wholly effaced when they removed to a
distance, and associated with their heathen countrymen.
Anxious, therefore, to retain them around their station, the brethren
proposed a method for rendering them comfortable during the winter, by
building a store-house where their provisions might be laid up, so
that the superfluities of summer should supply the wants of winter.
But the savages could not understand the use of refusing to gratify
their present appetites in order to provide for any distant
emergency--they preferred to revel in the plenty of summer, and to
rove to other places in winter in search of food, by which propensity
they were scattered above one hundred and twenty miles along the
coast. Yet, even these wanderers were the means of exciting the
attention of their kindred to the gospel, by telling them of the
strange things they had heard at Nain. It was therefore resolved to
follow the leadings of Providence, and, as soon as possible, to
establish two other missionary settlements, the one towards the north,
the other south of the present.
For this purpose, application was made to the Society of the Brethren
in London, who, entering fully into their views, obtained from the
Privy Council an order granting them liberty to search out and take
possession of land sufficient for their object. A commission was
accordingly sent for the brethren to explore the coast, and Brazen,
Lister, Lehman, and Jans Haven, offered themselves for this service.
On the 5th of August they set out for the north. "But just as we were
setting out," says Jans Haven, "an uncommon horror and trembling
seized me, so that, contrary to my former experience, I was
exceedingly intimidated, and wished rather to stay at home." They
proceeded however, and were every where received in a friendly manner
by the Esquimaux, and invited to settle among them. Their return
justified the presentiment of Jans Haven. Not far from Cape Keglapeit
they had the misfortune to encounter a dreadful storm, and when only
three miles from Nain, their vessel struck on a sunk rock where she
was wrecked.
After a fearful night, about 2 o'clock next morning they attempted to
get at the boat that belonged to their shallop, but through the
violence of the waves it was driven on a rock and almost dashed to
pieces. Brazen and Lehman were drowned, but Haven and Lister, together
with the sailors, succeeded in reaching a barren rock, where they
suffered much from cold and hunger--where they must have perished
miserably had they not providentially got their boat, which was in
tatters, drawn on shore, and with all the woollen clothes and seal
skins they could spare, patched it together. Still it was a wretched
barque, but they had no other resource, and were obliged to venture to
sea in it such as it was. The wind was favourable, and at length they
happily met Manamina in his kaiak, who towed them safely to Nain,
where they arrived on the evening of the 18th of September, truly
thankful to the Lord for his wonderful assistance. "After our return,"
Haven says in the account of his life, "I was overwhelmed with
sorrow--spent days and nights in sighs and tears--thought much of my
whole past life--cried to the Lord for help and forgiveness of all my
many failings, and renewed my vows to devote myself entirely to his
service." The bodies of both the brethren who were drowned were driven
on shore, and afterwards brought to the settlement, where they were
decently interred.
Sad as this catastrophe was, it did not prevent the brethren, in the
year 1775, from undertaking new journies to explore the south and
north coast; nor deter others from offering themselves to supply the
place of those who had perished in the cause. When the accounts of
Brazen's departure reached the Unity Elders' Conference, they
appointed Samuel Liebisch superintendant of the mission, who, on the
16th August, the same year, arrived at Nain with some new assistants
to the mission.
As usual, about the month of November, all the Esquimaux left the
neighbourhood of Nain for their winter places, but towards Christmas
great numbers came on their sledges over the frozen sea to visit the
brethren. Among their visitors was Kingminguse, who had formerly been
an Angekok, but who, by the preaching of the word of God, had
experienced such an apparent change of mind as to give hopes of his
conversion; and, indeed, early next year, on the 19th of February, the
day on which the meeting-hall at Nain was consecrated, he was
baptized as the first fruits of that mission, and received the name of
Peter. Some days before his baptism he told the brethren, "that he had
been an Angekok, and believed what his forefathers said, but now he
believed it no more; that he would give up all his former evil customs
and follow the Lord Jesus, though he should be persecuted by his
countrymen; that he was ignorant, but what the brethren who had come
thither had told him of the Lord who made heaven and earth, who had
become a man, and shed his blood from love to us, had taken fast hold
of his heart--he had rejoiced in it, and would forsake all for it. He
knew but little of the Saviour, but was willing to learn, and placed
his confidence alone on him, because he truly believed he only was
good; and that when the body died the soul went to the place of rest
to be with him, and happy for ever." Shaking hands with every brother,
individually, he promised that he would remain with the congregation
of the believers, to be constantly obedient to his teachers, and walk
worthy of the gospel. In the administration of the ordinance he was
quite overcome, as were also several of the other Esquimaux, who
expressed their wishes likewise to be baptized, which afforded the
missionaries an opportunity of speaking earnestly and affectionately
to them.
Peter, likewise, every where testified to his people his great joy
that he now belonged to the faithful; they viewed him with particular
respect, and listened attentively to his discourse about the Saviour,
which was remarkably urgent and affectionate. For instance, upon one
occasion he expressed himself in the following manner to them: "You
must turn wholly to the Saviour and place your confidence on him
alone, so shall he by his precious blood purify and fill your hearts.
You know that I am baptized, for this I am very thankful; and it would
be well with you would you but learn to know Jesus in time, for we
have no other Saviour either in this world or in the future. If we are
washed in his blood we need no more fear death or darkness, we shall
then come where it is ever light, and where we shall ever see the
Saviour. When we are sick or in pain, we must turn to him, for he hath
born all our sicknesses. He still calls us to come to him; this call
we have never hitherto understood, therefore he has sent the brethren
who know him, to shew our souls the way to him. You know they have
built a house, and ask nothing but to make the Saviour known to our
hearts. We cannot be grateful enough to him who sent them thither,
for it is of the greatest importance to us; and, even those among them
who do not know our language sufficiently to speak to us, pray to him
that we may feel the power of his blood on our hearts. I have learned
sorcery, and I have practised it, but that is the road to the greatest
darkness, and can give no peace to the heart; but he who looks to the
Saviour, and to his wounds, receives peace and joy in his heart, and
that is the only thing of any value in this world." In the following
summer there were above two hundred Esquimaux in thirty-seven tents
near Nain, and they were so assiduous in their attendance on the
meetings, that the new hall could not contain the crowd that anxiously
pressed to hear, and some were entered among the candidates for
baptism.
Liebisch brought with him a commission for Jans Haven to commence a
new settlement. "I felt," said Haven, "not a little anxiety on this
occasion, knowing the difficulties attending such a commission, but
accepted it in reliance on our Saviour's help." He accordingly,
accompanied by Stephen Jensen, proceeded in an Esquimaux boat to a
little creek, afterwards Okkak, which had been formerly fixed on as a
most eligible spot for a settlement, and purchased from the Esquimaux
a hundred thousand acres, or three German square miles, of land; they
expressing great joy at the prospect of the brethren coming to reside
among them. Stones were placed to mark the boundaries, and the place
taken possession of with the usual formalities. The following was the
mode of expression used by the brethren upon the occasion: "In the
name of our God and Saviour, and under the protection of our gracious
monarch, George III King of England, we take possession of this land
for the purpose of a missionary settlement for the Brethren's Unity,
and the Society for propagating the gospel."
During the following year, [1776,] the brethren were busily employed
in cutting down wood in the forest near Nain, and preparing it for a
dwelling-house at the new station; and so diligent were they in their
work, that in August, when the ship Good Intent arrived from England
with the other necessary articles for building the house, the timber
was all ready to be shipped for Okkak. On the 13th September, Jans
Haven, with his family and three other missionaries who had been
appointed for the new settlement, arrived there, and immediately went
to work and erected their house. "I had," says the devoted Haven,
"the peace in all trying circumstances to cleave to my Saviour, of
whose gracious assistance I had manifold experience. He was with us,
and gave us success in our present enterprise. Having finished the
building of our house, we moved into it; and in our first conference,
were so united by the power of Jesus' grace in brotherly love and
harmony, that we made a covenant with each other to offer soul and
body to the Lord, to serve him without fear, and bear each others'
burdens with a cheerful heart. Nor did we meet with the least
interruption during the whole year, so that I justly count it the
happiest of my life."
This station lies thirty German miles north from Nain, in 58 deg. 20
m. N.L., and is of great consequence both to the European settlers and
the Esquimaux, of whom above three hundred always live near it. There
is a good harbour for ships and boats--a supply of wood and of fresh
water in summer and winter--great quantities of fish, particularly
haddocks--also some whales, but few seals, so that the Esquimaux are
obliged to go to various places at a considerable distance for this
valuable animal, whose skins are among their absolute necessaries for
their tents and clothing. The mission-house is built at the side of a
high mountain, which serves as a protection from the north-west wind.
The natives received the brethren with great joy, and evinced a
pleasing desire to hear the gospel; but it was not till the 29th of
August 1778, that any baptism took place. On this occasion, however,
six adults were received into the church by this holy ordinance, and
several others soon followed. The baptized lived for the greater part
of the winter in the mission-house, where daily meetings were held,
and where they received farther instruction, for which purpose a
larger meeting-hall was built in 1779.
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 passed 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 masses 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 morasses; 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 superstitious 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 passed 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 ships, 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 illustrate both the danger of
that mode of travelling, and the peculiar protection afforded by God
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 shining with uncommon
lustre. 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 passed 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
shore. 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 shore,
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 God's mercy, it succeeded; both sledges gained
the shore, and were drawn up the beach with much difficulty.
"The travellers had hardly time to reflect with gratitude to God 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 mass 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 dashing 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 gratitude to God 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 God
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 gratitude for their safety, the enormous waves
driving furiously before the wind, like huge castles, and approaching
the shore, 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 quantity 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 passage 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 assisting 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 Kassigiak 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
passage 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
Kassigiak 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
Kassigiak 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. Kassigiak 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 God.
Kassigiak 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 hardship 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 Kassigiak 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 circumstances. Their present
distress dictated the necessity of venturing something to reach the
habitations of men, and yet they were rather afraid of passing 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 God'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 gratitude to God 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 God 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
assistants, exercised the office of superintendant until 1786, when
John Christian Ludwig Rose was appointed to this office.