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ness. An hour's further drive brought us to Hopedale. The congregation was just assembled for the evening-meeting. I therefore found nobody in the mission-house excepting sr. Vollprecht, who had remained there with the children. The other brethren and sisters soon returned from the church, and hearty was the welcome given us, and great our mutual pleasure. For, though informed of my projected journey, they had already given up the hope that I should undertake it in weather so inclement.

The four days of my stay at Hopedale were truly a season of refreshment for both soul and body. The state of the weather, however, permitted me only on the last day to venture a little out of doors. This circumstance prevents me from entering into a minute description of the place. Though surrounded by rocks and hills, the settlement has nevertheless an open, airy position. On ascending a rising ground at a short distance from the place, a very extensive view may be obtained of the islands with which the Bay of Hopedale is studded. Still finer is the panorama from the summit of the so-called "Ship-Mountain," about two miles from Hopedale, on which a small hut has been erected, and from which the Harmony has often been discovered by the Esquimaux, when she was yet very distant from the shore. Small and pretty clusters of fir and larch are scattered about in the neighborhood of the settlement; but a collection of trees, which might deserve the name of a wood, is not to be found within twelve miles; and these woods, as may well be imagined, have been considerably thinned, during the 68 years which have elapsed since the establishment of the station. This was for a long time the nearest place, whence the brethren obtained their timber and fire-wood, the gradual diminution of which occasioned many apprehensions for the future existence of the place. Its removal to a more favorable locality was in consequence repeatedly taken into consideration the last time in the year 1814. Afterwards, however, the brethren hit upon the idea of teaching the Esquimaux to float the trees from the locality where they are still found in tolerable abundance to the settlement; and this plan has been found to answer very well, and has since been uninterruptedly carried out. It is, indeed, not unattended with difficulty, and becomes more so every year, as the trees have to be conveyed to the shore from increasingly greater distances, over a rugged tract and through dense thickets; yet the Esquimaux earn a good deal by this kind of work. Ever since the introduction of this system of floating timber, Hopedale has even supplied the other settlements with wood for building purposes. There must be some fine woods at a distance of 24 miles from the place. I heard, among the rest, of a tree being felled, the trunk of which was 72 feet in length, three feet in diameter at the lower end, and ten inches at the upper. Another reason assigned for the removal of the settle

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ment was, the extreme severity of the climate. For it is remarkable, that in winter the thermometer falls not unfrequently lower at Hopedale than in any of the other stations, although these are situated far more towards the north. In summer, the temperature is more like that of Europe. For the preaching of the Gospel to the heathen Esquimaux, no situation, however, could be more suitable than the present, as it lies in the way of all the travellers passing to the north or south; and the experience of this year amply proves that this object has, to a considerable extent, been obtained, as upwards of 40 strangers, mostly of European descent were enabled to celebrate the Easter-festival with the congregation.

On the 29th, at four o'clock in the morning, having taken an affectionate leave of my fellow-laborers at Hopedale, I entered upon my homeward journey. The greater part of the Esquimaux congregation had assembled round my sledge to bid me farewell, and join in commending me to the Lord by singing a benedictory verse. The track and weather were good, and already, at four o'clock in the afternoon, we had reached the house of Annoratsiak, where we had passed a night when going to Hopedale. Our friendly host insisted upon our staying again over-night with him, but we preferred continuing our journey till night-fall. We found night-quarters in a wood, beneath a fine large tree, the boughs of which might have sheltered us against any storm. Our bed was soon arranged, by trampling together the loose snow, and spreading a bear-skin over it. At four o'clock in the morning we were again on our road. The very brightness of the weather rendered the last hours of our journey the most wearisome, as the sun was burning on our backs, whilst a cold wind in our faces would not allow us to take off our furs. To the eyes, the dazzling whiteness of the snow, the effects of which are, of course, most felt about the middle of the day, was, meanwhile, most trying. It is impossible to form an adequate idea of this in Europe. Dark spectacles, or a covering of some kind for the eyes, are quite indispensable; and many an Esquimaux, by the neglect of this precaution, has either lost or greatly impaired his sight. We fell in, on our way, with two Englishmen, who, with their Esquimaux wives and children, live by trafficking in furs and salmon. The one had his face so much swollen, and his eyes so much inflamed in the course of a few hours, that he was obliged to lie with his face upon the sledge. His sufferings may, however, have been owing less to the violence of the wind and the whiteness of the snow, than to the immoderate use of brandy, to which he is addicted. With his companion, to whom the Brethren at Hopedale give a good testimony, I had a very pleasant conversation. He told me, that in temporals he was very well off, here, and that the climate suited his constitution.

The only thing he greatly regretted was, his inability to go to church; if he could enjoy this privilege, he said, he should be quite contented. He appeared to be a worthy and a religious man. Having travelled with us for about two hours, they left us, and proceeded in another direction.

We were now at no great distance from home, which our dogs appeared likewise to know, for they redoubled their pace, without requiring the driver's whip. About noon, we arrived in safety at Nain, thankful to the Lord for the blessing and success he had granted to our expedition.

Extracts from the Diaries of 1851.

HOPEDALE, December 12th.-We celebrated with our flock a joyful festival, remembering, with gratitude, the blessings which the Lord has vouchsafed to these poor people since the year 1784. It was on the 12th of December of that year, that the four first Esquimaux of this place were added, by baptism, to the Church of Christ; and how many have, since that time, been made partakers of that blessed privilege! We were enabled, on this occasion, to present each of our chapel-servants with a pair of stockings, the gift of some friends of our Mission. Such presents having become rather scarce, these were received with the greater joy, being at that time of peculiar value, on account of the intensely cold weather. We take this opportunity to intreat our kind friends and benefactors, not to forget our poor Esquimaux altogether. For several years past, these gifts of love have almost entirely ceased, and we have often been asked by the poorer members of our flock, how it was that their brethren across the ocean no longer remembered them. We always reply to these and similar questions, that, owing to the wider extension of our missionary field, the sympathy of our friends is frequently directed to the more needy and more recent missions.

We had a remarkable instance, in the course of this month, of the faithfulness wherewith the Savior goes after the lost sheep, seeking it until He finds it. A married man of our flock, named Peter, returned sick from his summer expedition. After the expiration of a few weeks, he was so much enfeebled, that he could no longer rise from his couch. In spite of all the means employed, he remained in this deplorable condition, and was rapidly declining, leaving little hope for his recovery. We did not fail, when visiting him, to exhort him to employ faithfully the remaining short period of his life in preparing to meet his God, and to rely on Him alone for grace and mercy, for it was not unknown 10 us, that he had hitherto led a sinful life. However, he contin

ned reserved, and would only exclaim at times: "O might I be able to do as you bid me!" But in the beginning of December, a remarkable change took place in his mind. On being visited by one of the Missionaries, he endeavored to disburden his heart by a candid confession of his sins committed in secret, by which his illness had been chiefly brought on. After having done so, he felt much relieved, and exclaimed: "O how grateful I am, for having prevailed on myself to confess to you that which oppressed my heart by day and night. I have read the Scriptures diligently during my illness, and every where I found nothing but condemnation as the reward of my heinous sins. O that I likewise may walk before God in the light of the living!" On that very day his complaint took a more favorable turn; an abscess was formed on his hip, which being pierced after a few days, he gradually recovered, and, leaning on his staff, was enabled to be present at the Christmas services. Filled with gratitude and praise, he visited us in our house, and said: "The Savior has chastened me, but not cast me off; I prayed to Him, and He heard me. O might I henceforth live to His honor!"

March 20th. Two of our brethren paid a visit to a certain John Read, mentioned on former occasions as having settled at the Uksuktok-bay. This man, who for some time past has frequently attended our services, with blessing for his heart, appeared to be anxious for closer connexion with us. We determined therefore to visit him in his lonely dwelling. His house is about half a day's journey from Hopedale, and is situated near the seashore, in the midst of a forest. It is about 40 feet long and 14 feet broad, the whole well built, and the roof covered with birchbark. John Read and his wife received us most cordially; and we spent a very pleasant afternoon with them, in reading the Scriptures and singing hymns. The extensive forests which surround this beautiful bay, surprised us greatly. There is so much fire-wood to be met with, that Hopedale might be provided with it for centuries; yet timber is there likewise gradually becoming scarce, at least it is not found very near the shore. An extensive birch-wood and a good many poplars of no inconsiderable dimensions are found in the neighborhood. It is evident that a much milder climate prevails in this bay than about Hopedale, for even the highest mountains are over-grown with trees. When taking leave of these people on the following day, we could perceive that they felt gratified and cheered by our visit. We should have called, in the course of the winter, on other persons also residing in our vicinity, had not the want of food for the dogs been so great.

August 1st.-A small vessel, coming from Newfoundland, touched at our port. Her owner, Mr. Norman, an English trader, called on us, and shewed himself a well-informed and friendly

ınan, and well acquainted with the country. He had on board several Esquimaux from Eivektok, or Great Water-Bay, whose eagerness after books was quite surprising to us. According to their statements, eight families are residing at Eivektok, among whom a woman called Theresa, a former resident at Hopedale, acts as teacher. She teaches not only the children to read, but also the adults, and sings hymns sometimes with them; wherefore they were very eager in their inquiries after hymn-books, with which, however, we were unable to supply them, being ourselves in want of some.

NAIN. At the speaking previous to the celebration of the Holy Communion, in November, a young married man gave, with great emotion, the following account of a remarkable preservation of his life: "About the time when the sea was beginning to be covered with ice, I had the good fortune, one morning, to shoot a large seal from the shore. I immediately jumped into my kayak to seize upon my booty, but found it very difficult to work my way through the thin ice. Before I could reach the seal, I got into a strong current, which carried me along, and whilst striving to disengage myself from it, the violence of the wind increased so much, that I was driven into the open sea. To increase my

consternation, I observed that the neighboring islands were quite unapproachable on account of the thin ice by which they were surrounded, and which gradually so inclosed my kayak that it stood entirely still. I now knelt down and cried fervently to the Lord to have mercy on me. All my efforts to save my life being in vain, I lay down, confidently expecting that my last hour was come, but, exhausted by cold and fatigue I at length fell asleep. When I awoke, half frozen, and lifted myself up to see where I was, how great was my astonishment to find that no ice was any more to be seen. The wind had changed its direction, and had driven me a considerable distance towards the shore. The night was fast approaching, I therefore took again to my paddle, and though my limbs were stiff and benumbed by the cold, with great exertions, I reached the coast, and joined my family, who had already given me up for lost, and were in great distress on my account. The poor man could not find words to express his feelings of gratitude towards his Almighty protector, and exclaimed repeatedly: "I have escaped death by a miracle of divine mercy; and I consider this gracious answer to my prayers as a solemn call on me not to neglect my conversion.

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OKKAK. In a conversation with our national assistant Boaz, this diligent and faithful man expressed himself as follows: “In myself I find nothing that is good. I have indeed many a time approached the Lord's Table, and have partaken of His flesh and blood; but as for worthiness, I find none in myself. I am indeed often very much cast down; when I reflect, that, as one who is

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