CHAPTER VI.

LABRADOR.

Several fruitless efforts to establish a mission-At length succeed-Danger of the Brethren--Three settlements formed-Some converts-General awakening- -Pleasing instances of Indian experience-State of the mission and translations.

The first attempt to carry the Gospel to the inhospitable coast of Labrador, was in 1752. Some of the Brethren, in company with several merchants, fitted out a vessel for trade in that region; and sent in it four missionaries, with a house ready framed, a boat, and various implements and seeds for the cultivation of the ground. On their arrival the missionaries made preparations for a settlement. The ship meanwhile went further north for traffic. The natives being afraid to go on board to trade on account of the guns, Ehrard, the mate, ventured to land with five men unarmed. Neither he nor any of his companions returned.

This circumstance ruined the mission. The captain having lost his best men, was unable to navigate the ship without assistance. The Brethren were obliged to return with him to Europe. They intended to renew the attempt the following year, but judged it advisable, first to learn, if possible what had become of Ehrard and his companions; that they might form some opin ion of the character of the inhabitants. The ship returning and finding some remains of the bodies, it was judged they were murdered, and that it would not be safe to renew the enterprise.

Twelve years after Jens Haven, who had been some years a missionary in Greenland, offered to make a second attempt among the Esquimaux in Labrador. These Indians were now universally considered as a thievish, treacherous, murderous race of savages.

Their climate, too, though they are situated between: the 55th and 60th degrees of latitude, is more intense than that of Greenland; the thermometer being commonly, from December to April, 70 degrees below freezing point, and rum freezing in the air like water.* Haven, however, sailed on the dangerous undertaking, and after landing in various places, succeeded in finding some of the natives; with whom he was able to converse on account of the similarity of their language to that of Greenland. They were astonished to hear a European speak in their tongue, and treated him with great kindness. No foreigner had before been safe with them a moment. He however found it neces sary to return to Europe for assistance. Indeed this first essay was intended principally to explore the Gountry. He came back the following year with two of the Brethren, and travelled some distance into the interior, preaching the Gospel. But a settlement

could not yet be formed.

In the mean time Mikok, the well known Esquimaux woman, was brought to London. She rejoiced to find in Jens Haven one who could speak her language, and she entreated him to return and help her poor countrymen. She excited so much interest among people of rank in England, that the Privy Council issued a charter to the Brethren for establishing a settlement o.. the coast of Labrador; and a company of merchants agreed to employ a vessel in an annual voyage thither, for the purpose of conveying the mis. sionaries and the necessary articles for carrying on the mission.

In 1770, Jens Haven, with two Brethren, went out to fix on a place for a settlement. They pitched on the spot now called Nain. The following year, Haven, with ten other Brethren, (three married,) sailed from London, carrying with them materials for building a house immediately, and provisions for one year. After a dangerous voyage, and touching at St. Johns * Account of Mission among the Esquimaux Indians, p. 28.

in Newfoundland, they arrived in three months at the place of destination.

When the Indians learnt that the Brethren would dwell among them, they expressed great joy. The situation of the missionaries was, however, critical, so faithless were these savages. It was, as one of them wrote, "as if each, with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held a weapon." They succeeded in erecting their habitation and establishing themselves. To secure the friendship of the natives they contrived to be of use to them, in building boats and other small vessels. They soon discovered a visible improvement. At first the savages were bold and impudent, looking on the Europeans as dogs, and giving them the appellation Kablunets, that is barbarians; and calling themselves Innuit, which signifies men. But they soon expressed their desire to hear the good news, and shewed, of their own accord, that they had no secret murdering knives concealed in their sleeves or under their jackets, nor arrows and darts hid in their kajaks.*

The Brethren, by delay of the ship the following year two months beyond the usual time, were reduced to the prospect of starvation. When it arrived they had only two pieces of meat left, and very little other provision, with a Labrador winter before them. They had gathered some red and black berries under the hills, besides which, they had nothing. No aid could be expected from the poor improvident savages, as they often suffer great want themselves, and some almost every year die with hunger. Their joy and gratitude, on the arrival of supplies, may be conceived but cannot be expressed.

They had, before this, made some progress in their mission. "The word of the cross," say they, "and of

* Acc. of Mis. among the Esquimaux Indians, p. 10.

†They had been in such want the foregoing winter as to dig up ice eight feet thick on the strand, to procure muscles and sea weed for the preservation of life.

the great atoning sacrifice, has been at every opportunity, yea, without cessation, preached by us unto the Esquimaux. Brother Drachart has particularly shewn great faithfulness herein, for he scarcely ever speaks to them of any thing else. They hear it, and for the greatest part wonder at it. Sometimes they will not hear, go away from him, and begin to laugh; but he is still patient and goes on in hope."* Even during the excessive cold of winter they went over the ice and snow, visiting the natives in their winter houses.† They found the Indians having some notion of a great Being who created heaven and earth, but without any worship, or any method of paying him devotion; and almost without any sense of guilt. Those addicted to lying pleaded they were not thieves; thieves, that they were not murderers; and the murderers, that they were not so bad as some barbarians. But when the Gospel was preached, some were affected and confess. ed they were sinners, needing a Saviour. One named Annauk became a very serious inquirer. He died soon after. When his wife began to howl and cry, "Oh! my dear husband, wilt thou leave me and thy two children? he answered, "Weep not, I go to the Saviour who loves mankind so much." The Brethren soon formed a class of catechumens.

In 1774, Jens Haven, with three others of the Brethren, went to explore the coast northward of Nain. On their return, the vessel was wrecked, and two of them drowned. A new settlement was however commenced two years after, (the Brethren first purchasing land from the Esquimaux) about 150 miles to the north of Nain, and called Okkak. For several years their la

They

* Acc. of Mis. among the Esquimaux, p. 13. Their houses are built of snow in the following manner. choose a large drift, and dig an oval hole in it as large as they want the house. This hole they arch over with large pieces of snow, leaving an opening in the top to admit the light. The entry is through the bank, long, crooked, and secured by a slab of snow. An elevation of about 20 inches is left in the middle of the house, and on this they spread skins and sleep, Acc. p. 14.

bours there, were attended with many difficulties and vicissitudes; but at length, some of the savages manifested the power of divine truth on their hearts.

Soon after this, a third settlement was made at Hopedale, south of Nain. The wandering habits of the Esquimanx, however, prevented their being many yet fixed in congregations. Some were gained. Among these was a man named Tuglawina, who had been baptized some years before at Chateau Bay, by a Presbyterian. He was distinguished among his countryman, having acquired an astonishing ascendancy, not only by his courage, dexterity, hardiness, and success in hunting, (qualities most essential to a great man, in the opinion of the Indians ;) but by a vigour of mind, and elevation of intellect, far superior to most around him. He was besides a great sor.erer, and was supposed to be possessed of supernatural powers bestowed on him by the Torngak, or familiar spirit, whom he pretended to consult on all occasions. Such was the credulity of the natives, that if he declared, on the word of his Torngak, that any one ought not to live, he was often instantly murdered. Many thus fell a victim to his mal

ice.

The Brethren would not have escaped, had he disapproved their settling in the country. But the Lord inclined him to favour them. He even bore reproof from them, trembling and weeping when they mentioned his guilt. He excused himself however, by saying the devil forced him to sin, and he could not avoid it. At length he gave evidence of being a sincere convert, and was received into fellowship.*

In 1803, a considerable awakening began at Hopedale and spread to the other settlements, Okkak and Nain. If we may judge from its fruits, it was a real work of the Spirit. A few extracts, from the journals. of the Brethren in 1805, will best shew its nature.

Speaking of a man lately baptized, who had been very vile, wallowing from his infancy in every kind of

* Period. Acc. Vol. II. pp. 60, 222, 328.