The Moravians in Labrador

CHAPTER I.. Hudson's Bay Company First Settle Among the Esquimaux.--J.c.

Hudson's Bay Company first settle among the Esquimaux.--J.C. Erhardt suggests a mission--his letter to the Moravian Bishop.--M. Stach consulted.--London merchants undertake the scheme--engage Erhardt--its fatal conclusion.--Jans Haven employed by the Brethren--encouraged by the British Government, sets out on a voyage of discovery--his providential arrival at Quirpont--first meeting with the Esquimaux--his interesting intercourse--returns to England. His second expedition, accompanied by Drachart and other missionaries--their proceedings.--Drachart's remarkable conversation with the natives--influence of the missionaries in preserving peace--their religious communications with the savages--the curiosity of the latter--their thievish tricks--their kindness to the missionaries--a dreadful storm.--Drachart and Haven entertained by an Angekok--his incantations--their parting addresses to each other--the missionaries return to London. 37

CHAPTER II.. Contests Between the Colonists and Savages Revive--Murderous

Contests between the colonists and savages revive--Murderous skirmish.--Mikak.--Karpik, his conversion and death.--The Moravians receive a grant of land on the coast of Labrador-- resolve to renew the mission--voyage to explore the land.-- Jans Haven, Drachart, &c., arrive at Labrador--their interview with the natives--meet Mikak and Tuglavina--their kindness.--Segulliak the sorcerer.--Anxiety of the Esquimaux for their remaining among them--ground purchased for a settlement--manner of bargaining with the Esquimaux--sail for Esquimaux bay--the natives troublesome--the Captain's method of checking them.--Conduct of the missionaries--they preach on shore.--Conversation with the Esquimaux.--Search out a place for a settlement--purchase it of the natives--ceremonies used on the occasion--take formal possession. Deputation return to England 73

CHAPTER III.. Preparations for Establishing a Settlement in Labrador.--a

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. 97

CHAPTER IV.. Esquimaux Visit the English Settlements--Pernicious

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. 154

CHAPTER V.. Variable Appearances of the Mission At Nain and Okkak--More

Variable appearances of the mission at Nain and Okkak--more favourable at Hopedale.--Death of Benjamin.--Spirit of love among the converted.--Happy communion and close of the year.--Providential escape of the Resolution.--New epoch in Labrador.--A remarkable awakening commences at Hopedale-- meetings--schools.--Letter from a converted Esquimaux to his teacher.--Industry of the awakened.--Declension of religion at Nain and Okkak.--State of the children at Hopedale.-- Progress of the adults in knowledge, love, and zeal--instances.-- Striking conversion of two young Esquimaux, its effects upon their countrymen.--Awakening spreads to Nain and to Okkak.--Zeal of the converts towards the heathen rouses backsliders.-- Behaviour of the awakened in sickness, and the prospect of death.--Remarkable accessions from the heathen.--The son of a sorcerer. 201

CHAPTER VI.. Mutual Affection of the Christian Esquimaux and

Mutual affection of the Christian Esquimaux and Greenlanders--their correspondence--letter from Timothy, a baptized Greenlander.--Delight of the Esquimaux in religious exercises.--Order of the congregations--distressing events, apostasy of Kapik--awful end of Jacob--peaceful end of believers--Judith, Joanna.--Revival among the communicants.--A feast by a Christian brother to the Esquimaux.--Winter arrangements.--Childrens' meetings--schools.--The brethren's settlements contrasted with the heathen.--Progress of religion at the different stations.--Books printed in the Esquimaux language.--Number of the settled Esquimaux.--Epidemic at Nain--its consequences.--General view of the mission. 238

CHAPTER VII.. Desire of the Heathen to Hear the Gospel.--Brethren Meditate a

Desire of the heathen to hear the Gospel.--Brethren meditate a new settlement--voyage to explore the country.--Quiet course of the mission--advantages of their church discipline.--Death of Burghardt.--Exertions of the aged survivors.--Schreiber, superintendant, arrives.--Anxiety of the native Christians to attend the ordinances of religion.--Advantages of the Bible as a school-book.--Four missionaries unexpectedly carried to England.--Baptized Esquimaux seduced by traders.--Perilous voyage of the returning missionaries--striking accident.-- Schreiber retires from the superintendance--Kohlmeister succeeds--his journeyings to Okkak, to Nain.--Stability of the work of God at Nain--hopeful deaths--conversion and recovery of a young native.--Remarkable preservation of an Esquimaux youth. 269

CHAPTER VIII.. Fiftieth Anniversary of the Missionary Vessel's First Arrival

Fiftieth anniversary of the missionary vessel's first arrival in Labrador--jubilee of the mission celebrated at Nain.-- Summary view of the success of the gospel in Labrador during that period.--Instance of maternal affection.--Esquimaux contribute to the Bible Society.--British sloop of war, Clinker, visits Hopedale.--Captain Martin's testimony to the good effect of the brethren's labours--visits Nain and Okkak--consequences of his favourable report. 304

CHAPTER IX.. The Brethren Obtain a Further Grant of Land on the East Coast

The Brethren obtain a further grant of land on the east coast of Labrador--projected fourth settlement delayed.--Progress of the three settlements in the interval.--Instances of wonderful preservation--Ephraim--of Conrad, Peter, and Titus.--Report of the Superintendant, Kohlmeister, on the general state of the Mission.--Letter from Brother and Sister Kmoch, to a friend in Edinburgh.--Commencement and progress of Hebron, the fourth station. 318

THE MORAVIANS IN LABRADOR.

INTRODUCTION.

The Moravian Mission in Labrador was attempted under circumstances scarcely less discouraging than those under which the brethren were enabled to achieve the moral conquest of Greenland, was attended with incidents still more romantic, and blest with a success equally remarkable. But it possesses a peculiar interest to British readers, having been commenced under the auspices of the British government, and promising a more extensive influence among tribes with whom British intercourse is likely to produce a wider and more intimate connection.

The Peninsula of Labrador extends from the 50th to the 61st deg. N.L. It is somewhat of a triangular form; bounded on the north by Hudson's Straits, and indented by Ungava Bay; on the east by the northern ocean; on the south by Canada and the Gulph of St Lawrence; and on the west by Hudson's and James' Bay, which last coast, by a kind of anomaly in nomenclature, has been called the East Main, from its situation to that great inland sea.

The German geographers do not appear to doubt, what some of our own have called in question, that the discovery and the name of this Peninsula, at least of its eastern shores, were owing to the Portuguese, Gaspar Cortereal, who, in the years 1500 and 1501, in an expedition fitted by the king to discover a western passage to India, reached the coast of Newfoundland about the 50th deg. N.L., and sailed northward to nearly the entrance into Hudson's Bay. This tract of country was originally called after its discoverer, Terra Cortereali, a name since superseded by that of Terra de Labrador--the land capable of cultivation. Davis Straits, here about one hundred miles broad, separates it from Greenland, whose southernmost point, Cape Farewell, lies in the same degree of latitude, [60 N.L.] with Cape Chudleigh, the northernmost extremity of Labrador. The Straits of Bellisle run between it and Newfoundland. The land along the shore is abrupt and precipitous, indented with many little creeks and vallies, surrounded by innumerable islands, and rendered extremely dangerous of access from the multitude of sunken rocks. The interior is mountainous, intersected by marshes, and abounding with streamlets and lakes.

Detached from the Arctic lands, this country ought to partake in some degree of the temperate cold regions, but whether owing to the elevation of its mountains, or the influence of the perpetual fogs that cover the neighbouring seas, it is as frozen a region as those to the west of Hudson's Bay; and though it lies some degrees farther south than Greenland, yet the cold during the long winter is far more severe, the thermometer being frequently 32 deg. below 0 deg. of Fahrenheit. Perhaps the immense quantity of drift ice which accumulates on the eastern shores, and which extends for so many miles out to sea, may have some influence on the temperature of the climate. The summer, on the other hand, during the short time that it lasts, is proportionally warmer, the thermometer rising from 70 deg. to 80 deg. above 0. Vegetation then proceeds with uncommon rapidity; the shrubs and plants expand as if by enchantment; and the country assumes the luxuriance and beauty of a European summer. Forests of pine and larch are scattered over the country, the trees of sufficient size to be used in building, or to be sawn into boards; there are also willows, birch, aspen, and alder, in considerable quantities.

The land animals are the same as those in Greenland. The rein-deer, this beautiful and useful creature, is found in considerable herds, but has not hitherto been domesticated, being only hunted for its flesh, which makes an agreeable variety of food; and its skin, which is an elegant and necessary article of clothing, as the fur is always richer in proportion to the intensity of the cold, against which it forms an excellent defence; they are hunted with dogs, and formerly used to be easily killed with the bow and arrow, but the introduction of fire arms has proved much more destructive. When hard-pressed, they soon take to the water, and swim so well that a four oared boat can scarcely come up with them, but an Esquimaux in his kaiak more readily overtakes them. Hares are tolerably plenty. The Arctic fox also is numerous; their skins are used for the purposes of commerce, and their flesh is esteemed preferable to that of the hare. Black bears are frequently killed, and are relished as food by the Esquimaux. But the most formidable among the tribes of these regions is the Polar bear, whose ferocity and courage render him an object of terror even to the well armed European. The dog is the most useful of the quadrupeds to the Esquimaux; he bears a strong resemblance to the wolf; is in height about the size of the Newfoundland, and is well furnished with a thick hairy coat, peculiarly adapted to the climate. As a hunter, his scent can trace the seal or the rein-deer at a considerable distance, and he does not dread, when in packs, to attack even the white bear itself. His chief value, however, consists in his qualities as a draught animal; for this he is carefully trained from his infancy, and undergoes severe and frequent floggings to break him regularly into the team. He becomes then remarkably submissive, comes at his master's call, and allows himself quietly to be harnessed to the sledge. In fastening them care is taken not to let them go abreast: they are tied by separate thongs, of unequal lengths, to a horizontal bar on the forepart of the sledge; an old knowing one leads the way, running ten to twenty paces a head, directed by the driver's whip, which is often twenty-four feet long, and can only be properly wielded by an experienced Esquimaux; the other dogs follow like a flock of sheep, and if one receives a lash, he bites his neighbour, and the bite goes round. Their strength, and speed, even with an hungry stomach, is astonishing; and to this they are often subjected, especially by the heathen, who treat them with little mercy, and force them to perform hard duty for the small quantity of food they allow them. Their portion upon a journey consists chiefly in offals, old skins, entrails, rotten whale flesh, or fins, or whatever else the Esquimaux himself cannot use; if these run out, or if the master, whose stomach is not of the most delicate contexture, requires his dogs' meat, then the poor creatures must go and seek for themselves, in which case they will swallow almost any thing, so that it is always necessary to secure the harness over night, if the traveller wishes to proceed in the morning. The teams vary from three to nine dogs, and this last number have been known to drag a weight of more than sixteen hundred pounds, a mile in nine minutes.

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